Are We Bringing Others To Christ?

We find in Matthew 9, Mark 2, and Luke 5 a story of a man sick of the palsy, which had persons who were determined to bring him to Jesus for healing.

1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

I would just like to make a few points here I think we could all do to remember sometimes in our busy lives:

1. Christ was preaching the Word.

2. There was a sick man unable on his own to come unto Jesus.

3. There were persons who were interested enough in the wellbeing of the sick man to take time out of their day to help him come to Jesus.

4. There was faith in Jesus that he could heal the man.

5. Luke says “there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by”, but the religious crowd did not stop them from coming to Jesus.

6. The place was apparently so full of people no one else could enter, but the mass of people and crowded building did not stop them from coming to Jesus.

7. By removing the roof to lower the sick man to Jesus, those who bore him went above and beyond normal expectations to ensure he came to Jesus.

8. When Jesus saw their faith the man was healed.

Had there been no faith, no help from others willing to care for another, or fear of the religious and crowd, how would the sick man ever have met Jesus and been made whole?

The Word is being preached. What are we doing to ensure we ourselves come to Christ, and those around us are brought to Him for the cleansing of sin also?

Ephesisans 2 - How Do You See Yourself?

Ephesians 2

God’s involvement in sending Christ and working in mankind for our redemption reconciles us in our relationship with Him and each other.

(vs. 1) And you hath he quickened - to make alive

1. So, the first question is: Have you been quickened, made alive?

You say, made alive from what? (vs. 1) Being dead in trespasses and sins
• Just as Christ was dead and resurrected to life – so are we dead spiritually have a need to be made alive.

Before Conversion (spiritually dead)
(vs. 2-3) Scripture makes reference to our natural state before being quickened.

1. Walked according to the course of this world (is the world in unison or contrast to God?)

2. Walked according to the prince of the power of the air
a. (2 Corinthians 4:4) 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.

3. Conversation in the lusts of our flesh, and fulfilled the desires of the flesh and mind
a. 1 John 2:16: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life
i. Genesis 3: saw tree was good for food, pleasant to the eyes, make one wise
ii. Satan: saw God, desired His position, wished to ascend over God

4. Were by nature the children of wrath

Change of Conversion (spiritually alive)
(vs. 4-7) BUT GOD!
1. God’s mercy
2. God’s love
3. God’s grace

God has given us mercy, love, and grace (through Jesus Christ) – not because He saw something good in us, for we were by nature the children of wrath fulfilling our own desires – BUT in spite of our sin!

Why? That the riches of His grace through Christ may be shown to others.

(vs. 8-9) Salvation is ALL grace through faith in Christ Jesus! WITHOUT works!

Purpose of Conversion (spiritually active)
Though we as Baptist often quote Ephesians 2:8-9 as to our beliefs that one is saved by grace through faith in Christ without works, we seldom quote Ephesians 2:10 to get ourselves out of the pew and into the work.

(vs. 10) We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (ordain = to decree, establish, predestine before hand)

2. So, the second question is: What are you doing for God, as the result of salvation not to gain salvation?

(vs. 11-12) Scripture reminds us Gentiles who we are in the flesh.
1. Gentiles (Uncircumcised)
1. Without Christ
2. Aliens from the commonwealth of Israel
3. Strangers from the covenants of promise
4. Having no hope
5. Without God in the world

Not only were we (1) dead spiritually, we were (2) without hope in the flesh.

To be alien from God and without Christ, is to be without redemption!

(vs. 13-19) BUT NOW
We have been grafted into Christ by the circumcision made without hands (Colossians 2:9-13); the separation of our sinful flesh, and our quickened spirit.
1. Once being dead in sin, we have been quickened by Christ and the Spirit of God.
2. Once being uncircumcised in the flesh, we have been forgiven of sin and reconciled to God.

We have a double reconciliation through Christ:
1. Satisfying the demands of justice, reconciled the Jew and Gentile to God.
2. Abolishing the Mosaic institutions, reconciled the Jew and Gentile into the unity of one body.

Christ
1. Abolished the enmity between us and God
a) Sin always causes enmity (a feeling or condition of hostility; hatred)
 "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed" (Genesis 3:15).
 The friendship of the world is "enmity with God" (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15, 16).
• 1 Jn. 2:16: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life
 The "carnal mind" is "enmity against God" (Romans 8:7).
• 2 Cor. 10:5-6: Cast down imaginations and bring into captivity every thought unto God.

3. So, the third question is: Do you have enmity (hostility or hatred) between the flesh, the world*, and the devil, or do you have enmity between you and God?
* the system of beliefs and lusts against God, not individuals.

The Jews bragged they were the children of Abraham, God’s chosen people, were the carriers of the truth – yet they chose idols, men, and lustful desires over God and His Word. Are you doing the same?


Christ
2. Abolished the enmity between the Jew and Gentile
a) Reconciled both to God
b) Made twain at peace in one body (body of Christ, the Church)
c) Though once ‘a far off’, we have been made ‘nigh’ to God
 To the Jew, God dwelt in the temple where Gentiles could not go.
 To the saint, God dwells in our temple, our body.
• 1 Cor. 6:19: Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you.
• 1 Cor. 3:16: Ye are the temple of God.
d) Access by one Spirit unto the Father
 (Ephesians 4:4-6) There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. *not multiple ways*
e) No more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and household of God
 1 Cor. 10:32 mentions the Jew, the Gentile, then the Church of God.
 Being in the church, we are one body, neither Jew nor Gentile – we are saints!
 I pray you are in the church of God, more so than looking at yourselves as Jew, Gentile, or even Baptists!

4. So, the fourth question is: Are you doing as the Jews in keeping God to yourselves within the local church building, or are you sharing the light of the gospel with the strangers to bring them into the household of God?

Pride and race seemed to affect the relationship between the Jew and the Gentile; does it affect your ability or inability to share the gospel with people?

(vs. 20-22) Christ laid our foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11), and is the cornerstone of all that we are:
1. In our becoming one body
2. In our indwelling of the Spirit
3. In our habitation for God

5. So, the fifth question is: Are you building on the foundation of Christ, merely sitting idle, or tearing down the household of God, the body of Christ? Or trying to build your own building in the flesh?

Read Colossians 3:8-17
• But now… (10-12) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Galatians 5:14 says, For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. That love includes sharing the gospel with the diversity of people.

1. Can you see and feel God’s involvement in your life?
2. Is it changing your relationship with God and with man; making it better?

Christ lived and died calling unto men to repent and believe, to have their sins forgiven and to be reconciled unto to God. What are you doing?

OSAS Does Not Justify Abounding In Sin

I recently picked up the book entitled Green Zone (aka Imperial Life in the Emerald City) by Rajiv Chandrasekaran. In chapter 3, You’re in Charge!, I came across the following, which caused me to ponder the comparative thought many seem to believe when it comes to Once Saved Always Saved (aka OSAS).

“My driver, an English-speaking law student who had not dared to flout a traffic rule before the war, now coolly drove on the wrong side of the street, into opposing traffic at times, to avoid traffic jams. When I asked him what he was doing, he turned to me, smiled, and said, ‘Mr. Rajiv, democracy is wonderful. Now we can do whatever we want.’” (p. 52)

Paul tells us in Romans 5:20b-21 and 6:1-2, ‘But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?’

Although scripture declares we are not to abound any longer in sin, but have been ordained to walk in good works by the workmanship of God (Ephesians 2:8-10), all too often many professing Christians find ourselves (whether consciously or subconsciously) gravitating to wickedness rather than righteousness. And even though we may not declare such outwardly, within our hearts we almost (or sadly even outright) seem to try to justify our lack of obedience.

Many times in our lost state we may have moments of fear, genuine worry, about where we may spend eternity based on our acknowledgment of poor morality or measuring up to God’s standard of holy perfection. Then we profess Christ with our mouth at our doorstep, a local event (concert, tent meeting, stadium, crusade, etc.), or local church; claiming we realize we are a sinner who needs the forgiveness of Christ, to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. So, we ask Christ to come into our hearts, possibly get baptized (but there be some who do not even make it to this step of obedience), and then we are all but done with our Christian walk and fellowship with our Savior.

We have done what we have been told must be done to give us a clear conscious and free eternal access to heaven, NO MATTER WHAT WE DO HEREAFTER. We allow sin to abound in our life, expecting, almost demanding, grace must also abound to cover whatever our flesh desires to do; even if is in total opposition to God and His Word, for we have prayed the prayer. As the taxi driver above, we smile, ‘Once Saved Always Saved (salvation) is wonderful. Now we can do whatever we want.’

With our backs pressed hard against the wall we may not claim this, but our actions declare it loud and clear both to God and man. When asked, we quickly mimic, ‘I am a Christian’, though we have no desire to attend church, pray, read or study scripture, speak or ponder the things of God, nor has there been any change in our thoughts and actions since the day we claim to have put faith in Christ.

No, Christians are not perfect, but there is more to Christianity than simply stating ‘I am a Christian’. James tells us (ch. 2) ‘Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.’

Now, let me make it fully clear, I am an advocate who believes scripture teaches once a person is truly saved, they cannot lose salvation; for we are in Christ (Romans 8). Yet, grace is not a license to sin, nor is profession of faith without works WHICH MUST FOLLOW (because of the spiritual quickening and indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us) a proof one is forgiven and bound for heaven. Anyone who claims salvation, yet has no desire for a personal relationship with Christ, needs desperately to examine themselves and seek repentance; for a truly repentant heart does as Christ: gives themselves over to the will of God rather than their own will.

A Question for Calvinists? Or, Non-Calvinists As Well?

On a forum I frequently visit, the following question was posed as a ‘Calvinism question’:

1. Did God create some people for hell?

On the surface, such a question may appear to be directed only to Calvinists, with the possible inclination of leading into an attack upon it. The idea of election, foreknowledge, predestination, and possibly limited atonement may come to mind rather quickly, but that is limiting the scope of the question to one set of teachings, namely Calvinism. But, the question actually supersedes Calvinism, and encompasses also non-Calvinist Christian theology regarding the salvation and punishment of sinful man.

Sometimes the non-Calvinist will confront a Calvinist, immediately claiming that the Calvinist theology makes God a tyrant that chooses to create some persons just to go to hell. Just the thought of such would make most people cringe. How could a holy God create a person and predestine them to go to hell? How can holy God do such a thing, and not be guilty of sin Himself?

The answer may come in a variety of ways, ranging from ‘I don’t fully understand it myself’, to the quoting of scripture such as Romans 9:19-24 regarding vessels of wrath and mercy.

With this, the non-Calvinists may find themselves puffing out their chest, considering they have exposed the flaw of Calvinism once and for all. Prideful they smile; sharing with everyone it is they who hold to the true doctrines of the faith regarding salvation and punishment.

Now, pose again the question to a non-Calvinist, and one will most likely answer, ‘No.’ Whereby I must ask, ‘How so?’

Most Christians (at least that I know – whether Calvinist or not) hold to the belief that God is omniscient (all knowing), and therefore His foreknowledge would include having knowledge of who will and will not accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior before they are ever created. If God creates a person knowing they will not accept Christ, has He not basically created one for hell? A non-Calvinist cannot escape such a question, without denying the perfect foreknowledge of God. So, the question becomes more personal, and cannot be simply directed at others.


* The purpose of this post was not to prove, disprove, or explain the question, but to show that this question [Did God create some people for hell?] is more than just a Calvinist one. It is a question that needs much prayer and meditation in the Word of God, and not just something that can be tossed about like a grenade to seemingly crumble another’s theology without also causing one to take a look at their own.

New Atheist Voice Against Christianity

'Yes my four year old daughter told me that the only person who would ever help her to be a good girl was Jesus Christ, because she could not do it on her own. I have never told her this. I would have thought this is too deep for a four year old to understand. That she was a sinner, she could not control her sinful nature. She wanted to be good but she could not, instead she did things that where wrong no matter how she tried to be good. Her theology is far deeper than that of many preachers today. I mean she gets it. It is only by the finished work of Christ on the cross that we can be delivered from sin.'

The above comes from the blog of a Christian mother doing her best to raise her four year old daughter with honest Biblical principles.

Sent to me by a friend, the reason I advertise this blog is for Christians to take a moment and read the responses by Atheists to this mother's post regarding the Christian faith and her child.

She gives a clear testimony of the forgiving, saving knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and many begin to claw and gnaw like rabid wolves against it. Sadly, many of them simply 'receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto [them]: neither can [they] know them, because they are spiritually discerned,' '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.'

Pray for them, both the Atheist and the Agnostic, but please realize that the voice of that spirit of antichrist is making its way across American and this whole world.

There is already a boasting of 'Why believe in a god?' campaign coming this year. 'The American Humanist Association unveiled the provocative $40,000 holiday ad campaign Tuesday.'

Interestingly, at the same time unbelievers would have us (or like to) sensor our voice of praise and trust in Christ, so they don't have to hear it (and be convicted of sin?), their claim is '"We are trying to reach our audience, and sometimes in order to reach an audience, everybody has to hear you," said Fred Edwords.'

New Atheism, Antitheism, it is on the rise. Don't just sit there with your head in the sand Christian, 'Put on the whole armour of God' for the spiritual warfare is upon us more everyday.

John Bunyan’s Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners

What a marvelous work did I happen upon in picking up John Bunyan’s Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners. From the onset he describes his wretched soul, as we all as sinners have been. He tells of the dreams and warnings of the Lord which came while he was yet a child, which caused his heart to ponder such things of heaven and hell, though they soon faded as he continued in sin. He shares of finding a religious experience, which both intrigued him and shallowly gave him comfort, but in his sin was he yet still. We find that even through the rebuke of the lost to one another can change one in the flesh, yet their spirit may remain dead in trespasses and sin. Yet, through it all, the God of Heaven shares mercy and grace to a sinner who, blinded by the flesh and the devil, falls to the depth of believing there is no hope for them, for they are too much of a sinner to find forgiveness in Christ. Oh, how great a change may be shown by the religious and the hypocrite, yet merely skin deep, the heart and soul never truly knows of the conversion whereby we are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise. Trusting not in Christ for forgiveness, though His very Words were nigh even upon his lips and fingertips, he did strive to obey the law to earn that which may only be given: salvation. Though asking God for forgiveness, it was misplaced by mere thoughts of the flesh saying ‘I can do better’ instead of putting faith in His Son’s sinless life and taking our place upon the cross. Praise be to God that dear John Bunyan indeed found salvation by grace through faith, by the mercy of God he found it, and so may every sinner that turns in faith, at the moving of the Holy Spirit, away from themselves and toward the sinless Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.

I have just started this work, but would recommend this to any sinner desiring to know more about Christ, the new convert who has come to know Christ, and to the believer that he may remember the day they met Christ.

A Couple of Strikes, But Not Out!

"It's amazing over the past few years what God's done in my life, and how quickly He's done it," Hamilton told ESPN's Erin Andrews after his record-setting performance. "I'd like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving me this opportunity."

Article

Hypnotic Spiritless Singing

Scripture declares, we are to speak to “yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” and “one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord,” but are we taking this a little too far nowadays?

What I mean is it is no secret that music (whether Christian or non) moves our emotions both in positive and negative ways. I would also be willing to say that it is most often the beat, melody, etc. more so than the words that move us rather than the other way around, for sometimes the words can barely be made out or even heard. While other times, some words found in the so-called Christian music (not limited to just contemporary either) can be easily heard, but are so far from Biblical Truth, it is quite amazing that we (well some) still use them.

Just because it falls under the label of psalms (not the Psalms), hymns, or spiritual songs doesn’t mean it is Biblically sound. Just curious, to YOU, what makes a song spiritually sound? Is it the words, the music, both, or because grandma, grandpa and the local church have always sung it?

I have a fear that many a person in modern-day Christianity is experiencing emotional highs with Christian music, but their very soul remains dead in trespasses and sin. Sure they feel good, their flesh may even enjoy the sound, the beat, and even the choruses, but does their spirit rejoice with the moving of the Spirit of God? I’m not saying I can look at one and tell, I believe this is something we each need to ask ourselves when we believe we are “in the Spirit” being moved by the music played by the band, soloist, choir, or pianist.

Let’s be honest, can not many a soul be moved to both joy and sadness by the tunes of a movie, a play, a missionary story, etc.? Is this by the Spirit of God or merely our emotions being moved by what we see and hear at the time, only to walk away from such back into our “normal” lives whereby we usually forget such?

Please tell me why we have so many giving their lives to Christ, shouting “Holy, holy, holy”, crying out with great tears, falling down to worship God, ONLY to walk out of the church, the stadium, wherever merely returning to their daily lives as if the “experience” never really happened and their lives are never really changed?

Did (Does) the music move their (our) souls to confession, repentance, and salvation, or has it just been a case of Hypnotic Spiritless Singing embraced by the flesh and emotions never reaching their (our) dead or backslidden spirit?

Let us not be hoodwinked by our emotions simply being tossed to or fro during the hype of music, but let us judge our experiences by being grounded in the Word of Truth.

On the Topic of the Handicap, Mentally Ill, and Salvation

A good friend of mine, concerned about lost souls, asked the question, "what happens to them after death. I wonder how God judges them? If they ever could actually comprehend the gospel?"

I do think it is a difficult question, maybe with few or no easy answers, considering the destination of the mentally handicapped people. But, to me, the discussion of the topic creates a burden within our hearts for souls, and not just the souls of the mental but also of all lost people. If we stop caring about souls, then we are merely a castaway to the Christian faith and cause of Christ. We can all try to live the legalistic life of the Pharisee, but are merely full of dead men’s bones if we have no desire to share the Message with the lost.

First, I believe, we must agree with Scripture that every soul ever born will either reject the gospel of Jesus Christ or accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, and therefore spend eternity in Heaven or Hell. Second, we must also acknowledge that God is love, is holy, is just, and perfect; therefore, we cannot blame Him if a soul (whether mentally ill or not) spends eternity in hell for rejecting Him. Thirdly, we must accept the truth that the soul that spends eternity in hell are themselves responsible for their rejection of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and not their friends, family, or the devil though all three may have played a part in the soul not putting faith in Christ.

This is what makes sin and the devil so terrible, because they confound the lost, confuse the saved, and easily manipulate us into obeying them over obeying God and His Word. Usually, simply because we choose to follow them (the flesh, the world, and the devil) instead of heeding to godly wisdom and the Spirit of God, we sow to the flesh destruction and ultimately the loss of rewards for the saved and eternal condemnation for the lost. So, though they may lead us astray and blind us to the truth, we are responsible for choosing (or allowing ourselves) to follow them instead of being as Joshua, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Though we must remember [1] we cannot serve God, even if we want to, without the Spirit working in us to do so, and [2] without giving ourselves over to the reading, studying, mediating on the Word of God and having a faithful prayer life. We do not save and convert souls, nor can we convince a soul they are lost and need Christ. It is the Father, Son, and Spirit that move in us to present the gospel and in the soul to accept the gospel. Remember Paul said, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”

With the mentally handicapped we have a great variety, and here is just three groups I can think of, and a little as to what I believe concerning salvation:

1. Born mentally handicapped – People that are born mental can have degrees of handicap, where some comprehend more than others. This would include those born to drug addicts or simply gene and birth defects. I totally believe that God can and does communicate with them, for we must remember God is all powerful, and what is it but a simple thing for the Creator to speak to His creation. Remember when Moses was crying about his speaking? God said, “Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?” So, to say God could not communicate to them so they freely get to go to Heaven would mean [1] God isn’t all powerful, and [2] they do not need the Savior Jesus Christ. But we know they are still sinners for Scripture declares, “all have sinned” and if we deny we sin we are a liar. Here lies the issue, we would like to assume that they could all go to Heaven because we feel sorry for them, but if we believe God can communicate with them on their level (whatever that may be) then we must also realize that they have the option to either accept or reject the truth presented by the Holy Spirit on their level.

And speaking of levels or types of mental illness, if John the Baptist can be filled with the Holy Spirit before ever leaving the womb (without a developed mind to comprehend the written Word of God), I believe the Spirit of God is not hindered at all by the mental issues of any soul.

2. Become mentally handicapped – To me this group is somewhat different because (though could have at different ages in life) they had an opportunity to hear the gospel and mentally understand it before they became mentally ill by drug use, accidents, genes, etc. I mean, if I were presented the gospel of Jesus Christ today and reject it, get in a wreck tomorrow and become mentally disabled, is God really under any obligation to guarantee me the opportunity of the Spirit of God to speak to me again in my mentally ill state? I would pray that He would, and I believe by our prayers and witnessing God will offer his salvation to these souls yet again as long as they are yet alive. Yet again, they were responsible for rejecting the truth when they could understand and hear it, and may even been at fault for the reason that they can no longer hear or understand it. And many times these things cause people to go one of two ways: [1] turn to trust in God, [2] rebel and hate God.

3. Demon possessed handicapped – I don’t want to discuss too much concerning this, but the Scripture is clear this does occur. I honestly believe many or some of the souls kept in mental institutions are demon possessed. I believe we fail to acknowledge it because they are not on the streets like during biblical times, because we have them locked away out of society and out of our minds. Also, I believe that we use so much medication in today’s society, whereby many of the possessed souls merely stay in a hypnotic, drugged induced state. You know what the problem with this is? Yes, they may hurt themselves or others if they were to be taken off of the drugs, but while on the drugs who can witness to them? Again, I believe the Holy Spirit can, but not all possessed souls get freed from oppression – but remember God is still not at fault for their rejection of his gospel, for God knows the entirety of every soul’s life and their opportunities whereby they were presented the gospel whereas we do not.

Now, please consider the above as merely my understanding from my walk through Scripture, and I am far from being a theologian. Trust God, trust the Book, and pray for both the lost souls to come to Christ and the saved souls to be about the Christian walk. We must acknowledge that ALL souls MUST go through CHRIST, for He is the way, the truth, and the life; therefore, if this be the case, and it is, this includes the mentally handicapped soul as well as the genius.

Christian Children's Book: Salvation, Baptism, & Eternal Security

The initial purpose behind writing this book is to focus on the current questions my children have concerning salvation, baptism, and eternal security.

One of the greatest ministries we have as Christian parents is to teach our children about the things of God. Can there be any teaching more important than the Gospel itself, of how the love of God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Willing to suffer the death of the cross, Jesus Christ gave Himself ransom for all those which put their faith in Him. Through His death, burial, and resurrection, we as sinners can find forgiveness of sins and eternal life in Jesus Christ. Our children deserve to know of this great love. As Christian parents we owe it to our children to tell them of the things of God, and as saved sinners we owe it to God to be obedient to His Word.

Although the pages of this book may be read by the children alone, I would suggest that the parent(s) consider spending a moment with their children with it. This book is not meant to save your child, or to convert them to Christianity. Only the Spirit of God can convict the heart of sin, and grant them repentance and faith unto salvation. My hope is that any child that reads, or has read to them, this book, it will cause their minds and hearts to ponder the things of God, and their parent(s) will be there to expound on the Word of God concerning their questions.

Avaliable at lulu.com.

Faith vs. Unbelief

What I have recently learned on my blog while speaking to Atheists:

1. Acceptance of science’s theory of evolution is not belief that it is actually true, but merely holds that it is the best theory science has. The word “consensus” is used, meaning “opinion”, which cannot be used as authoritatively fact.

2. Science has not/can not prove there is no God (some assume because it is a negative), because He is out of the natural realm.

3. Science cannot prove there is a God, because He is out of the natural realm.

4. To science, God is non testable, because “The idea of a supernatural explanation (i.e. god) is not even considered, because science cannot test or falsify supernatural explanations. They are outside the bounds of science.”

5. Science does not work with absolutes, so all is relative to current knowledge which may change at any given time due to new evidence overwriting old evidence, or “consensus”, meaning “opinion”.

6. I am not to use science to prove there is a God, because science is evidence and fact not belief and faith.

With even this little bit of “consensus” I have gleaned from some of the Atheists comments from my blog, it clearly shows we merely return to the Scriptures context of Faith vs. Unbelief.

When it comes to God, there is either Faith or Unbelief. Science has no apparent voice, authority, or opinion of God, for He is “outside the bounds of science”.

Now before someone jumps at the word “unbelief”, any honest Atheist must adhere to its definition and admit that in fact they hold to “unbelief”.

Unbelief: “the state or quality of not believing; incredulity or skepticism, esp. in matters of doctrine or religious faith.”

Scripture declares, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Be forewarned that, “the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Neither are you who say that you believe in God, but refuse to repent and accept Christ as Lord and Savior of your life by faith, safe, for even, “the devils also believe, and tremble.”

There must be Faith, for it is written, “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.”

There is no more security in science for any to assume, by its inability to prove God is not, or in oneself by the inability to physically see or completely understand the things of God, to hold to a personal opinion that God does not exist.

It simply boils down to a personal choice of Faith or Unbelief.

I would ask that you, “repent ye, and believe the gospel”.

What then is the gospel?

1 Corinthians 15

1 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:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

Mr. Pope Says We Have No “Means of Salvation”

It looks like the new pope has tried to limit salvation again by limiting the true Church of God to only the earthly religion of Catholicism. I say, very well they may indulge themselves in believing they have “the ability to trace their bishops back to Christ's original apostles” for I would rather trace my salvation to Christ rather than man any day.

To say those that trust in Christ outside of the Roman Catholic Church do not have the "means of salvation" is only opinion and/or tradition based nowhere in Scripture Mr. Pope. Scripture does not say, “The Catholic Church is the only way, truth, and life”, or that "The Pope is the only way, truth, and life", but that Jesus Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”.

I do find it interesting that one says, “"I don't know what motivated it at this time," she said. "But it's important always to point out that there's the official position and there's the huge amount of friendship and fellowship and worshipping together that goes on at all levels, certainly between Anglican and Catholics and all the other groups and Catholics."”

What do they mean by “official position”, if they can easily ignore it?

What is the unofficial position? Is that like saying, “I know none of you Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Lutherans are saved, but would you still like to get together to fellowship and worship? We’ll still let you preach and pray sometimes, even though the church (and the Pope) doesn’t believe you even have the means to be saved.”

I believe the truth of this statement comes down to one point, which is mentioned in the article: “it said they lack something because they do not recognize the primacy of the pope”.

Sorry Mr. Pope, I have a High Priest in Jesus Christ, I don’t need a Pope for salvation.

The “Means of Salvation” are not in an earthly church, but in the man Christ Jesus which was a Jew, not Roman Catholic.

My Personal Corrections or Thoughts toward “Christianity in Four Acts”

An atheist blogger has done their best so simplify Christianity into what they call “Christianity in Four Acts”. As a Christian, I first ponder why the post at all. Is it to promote Christianity, mock Christianity, or simply to understand Christianity? I will assume they may actually desire to understand Christianity, so below I shall give what I believe should be the corrected “Christianity in Four Acts” whereby I believe they erred in some of their thoughts. Please bear in mind that bringing Christianity to such a simple layer of understanding does not guarantee the full understanding of it, nor the importance of it, nor does it remove questions but actually produces more, which could be considered a good thing. To ponder the things of God is a good start.

ACT I

God is indeed all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere present, but these are but a few of the attributes of God. God is supernatural and could be considered outside and inside natural time and space. God is the Creator of time therefore outside of time, having no beginning and no ending God is not bound by time. Yet God works within time and sees all that was, is, and will be in a continual state of present. God is not merely somewhere in the great beyond, but is everywhere present with man always throughout all of history.

We know of Him because He has instilled it within our being. We also know because of inspired writers of Scripture by which we have the Word of God to read, study, and meditate upon; along with the Holy Spirit which enlightens us to understanding and acceptance of Truth.

ACT II

All mankind has been born sinners because of the sin nature passed unto all people born of woman by the first man Adam’s sin. We are born spiritually dead in sin in a state of total depravity whereby we do not have fellowship with a Holy God and are therefore seen as unclean in His sight.

As sinners we are worthy of the wrath of God, whereby a sinner is given their reward of their own desire to rebel against God, but He does not glory in their punishment nor is He swift to wrath but is longsuffering toward man that they may repent; sending the sun and the rain on both the just and the unjust and allowing the tares to grow with the wheat till the day of reaping.

ACT III

It is impossible that man can come to God on his own and earn by his own hands the worthiness to be accepted by a perfect, holy, sinless God, for man is corrupt and stained by both the sin nature and the sins of his own doing. Sins can be forgiven, but they must also be paid for.

Through an act of love God the Father sent Jesus Christ His Son to atone for the sins of sinners. Scripture declares man can be saved only by the grace (unmerited favor) of God, by mercy (not getting what one deserves), through putting faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Whereby Christ is God in the flesh, lived a sinless life, was crucified, buried, and rose again for the justification of those that will accept Him as Lord and Savior. Christ arose in flesh and bone appearing unto more than 500 persons.

ACT IV

Jesus Christ does not show a way, but is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one will be accepted in the eyes of the Holy God without the righteousness of Christ upon them. Through regeneration and the quickening of the Spirit one is brought from spiritually dead in sins to spiritually alive in Christ. Although one remains attached to the flesh, which battles against the spirit, whereby one on earth shall never be perfect, till at death they are welcomed into the dwelling of Christ to be sinless forevermore.

Because of this new birth, we have God working in us by which we have the Spirit moving us to do that which is right and to proclaim (witness) the gospel message of the forgiveness of sin and reconciliation to God which can be found only by putting ones faith in Jesus Christ. We witness for the love of God that we may be obedient, for we desire the lost world turn from sin in repentance and accept Jesus Christ as Savior unto salvation, not for annoyance sake or personal gain.


By these four so-called ACTS, does this clear up Christianity and leave us with no questions at all? By no means does it, for there may be yet Christians that disagree with what I have written, whereby they are entitled to their ideas. But the inability to grasped the entirety of God and His plan should be expected for we being the created can not expect to supersede or compare ourselves to the Creator in knowledge, power, or deed. This is the pride of man whereby he is left in a state of condemnation due to his unbelief in a God which He cannot understand and a Savior he will not submit to.

The entire gospel can be summed up in this below, by which one either accepts unto eternal life, or rejects unto eternal damnation. By choice you hold God blameless as to where you decide to make your final abode.

1 Corinthians 15: I declare unto you the gospel…Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

Christ, was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

How is it possible that Christ could take the sins of men upon Himself that we may be saved? Because He Himself is sinless and He Himself is God.

I Used To Be a Christian, I Promise

On an atheist blog (yeah, I’ve been visiting one) I posted this comment which many may disagree with, so I decided to post my comments here and hopefully some will pay a visit to explain why they believe I am wrong.

I said:

It appears that some people here claim they used to be Christians.

My concern is not with whether or not a person believes they have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior by grace through faith, but the words used to be a Christian.

What I mean is that biblically speaking, if a person does repent of sin and by faith accepts Christ as Savior; they are in fact saved at that very moment and become what is known as a Christian. As a Christian we are to following the Word of God (Bible) as our authority, even if it means going against the traditions of men that also claim to be Christians.

Baptist, which I am, believe we are saved by faith alone, we are baptized in obedience (without it effecting our salvation one bit), and that tongues are not for today, which most fail to follow 1 Corinthians 14 anyway.

When one says that they used to be a Christian, they are immediately placed into one of two categories:

1] They actually did receive Christ as Savior one day and have currently decided to turn their backs on all that they know to be true, yet are still saved.

2] They never actually received Christ as Savior and are currently still unsaved.

At the very point of salvation (this is where one has to know their own experience with Christ) - without tongues or baptism - they are sealed by the Holy Spirit [Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 4:30], they are kept by the power of God [1 Peter 1:5], cannot be separated from the love of Christ [Romans 8:33-39]. Therefore, salvation cannot be lost.

So being a Christian is because of the new birth by Christ. All the things that follow like going to church, etc. come from the new birth because one is now a Christian, they do not make one a Christian - Christ did.

Therefore if you truly accepted Jesus Christ when you say you did, then you are still a Christian today - not because you choose not to do the things the Bible says, but because Christ saved you the day you called on Him. On the other hand if you did not really accept Christ that day (and only you know) then you never were a Christian and aren't one today.

I hope this clears up what I mean, even if you disagree. Here is a verse to ponder.

2 Timothy 2:13, If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Do All Babies Go Heaven? If So, Why?

Sometime back the topic of "all babies going to heaven" came up in a group that I frequently visit. Recently a person present me with the notes they had that one had used to proved that indeed all babies go to heaven because they are innocent. Below I have color the notes in blue with my comments being in green.

Please feel free to agree or disagree and present your case.

As I begin this reply, please keep in mind that I am NOT saying all babies go to hell, some babies go to hell, or no babies go to hell. I do firmly believe ALL must go through Christ, whether baby, child, youth, or adult and therefore it is not simply because they are innocent.

Are Babies safe? Babies can not be saved in the normal sense
I really don’t understand the answer here. I am not sure what the “normal sense” means. If they are speaking of walking an isle, praying a prayer, confessing sin, etc. I guess not, but neither did the OT saints who are just as saved as any NT saint is. We must remember that John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb [Luke 1:15] and Isaiah was called from the womb [Isaiah 49:1]. As mentioned later.


Are they under a special plan? Deut 1:39.. No knowledge of good and evil
To use this as a proof text that all children get to go to heaven, one could also use Moses being refused the opportunity to enter this same land as a Christian losing salvation and not being able to go to heaven – and for 1 sin.


James 4:17 Is it not sin if he doesn't know good and evil?
This verse speaks of a Christian that knows what is good and does not do it is sinning in disobedience of what God says he SHOULD do. This reference is not talking about what God has said NOT to do.


Jer 19:4-5 the small children and babies sacrificed were called innocents (clean, blameless, guiltless, exempted)
This is speaking of the fact that babies (it only says sons) had done nothing worthy to be offered as sacrifices. This is not speaking of sin, for even an adult would have been innocent of not being worthy of being sacrificed to false gods. It means it was not their choice.


I Cor 5:10 judgement according to works, sin committed during this life.
This reference is telling Christians who not to have company with. This deals with nothing concerning about babies or judgment of works.


If God sent a baby to Hell he'd be basing judgement on something else. His mercy and grace would be violated. There would be no divine judgement as the child would have no idea what he'd done.
First, mercy IS NOT giving someone something they DO deserve.
Second, grace IS giving someone something they DO NOT deserve.
If by reason we are saying babies are not “saved in the normal sense” and are “under a special plan” because they don’t “know good and evil” and we are only judged by “sin committed during this life” – it would bear to reason this person is saying they do not need mercy or grace at all, for they have done nothing wrong to require either.


God deals with his creations according to what they are and what they have done. He remains just, righteous, merciful
Adam disobeyed God, therefore a sin nature and dead spirit is passed down to every child when they are conceived, not when they reach an undisclosed time often called “the age of accountability”. There is not a single baby conceived that is innocent in the eyes of God, because fellowship has already been broken with mankind with Adam.


Sin is transgression...willful, knowingly, stubbornly choosing to cross the line. Infants and small children are not capable of this
Consider John 3:18, He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
So then, are we condemned because we sin or because we do not have faith in Christ? So granted, John the Baptist and Christ preached repentance to the world, for those in the world have sins to turn away from. Though repentance is not enough to save, for clearly faith in Christ is preached. Yet the wicked speak lies from the womb [Psalm 58:3].


Jer 1:5 The prophet had a special relationship with God before his birth.So did John the Baptist. If these two had died before birth would they have gone to Heaven?
This is only proof that these men were chosen by God for a purpose, not a standard of “all babies go to heaven”, especially since these did not die, but lived to obey God. What if’s don’t prove anything.


"Therefore the death of an infant is proof of its salvation" (R.A.Webb)
A statement of personal thought, with no biblical support. What about death of a 10 year old?


Luke 18:15-17 Jesus prays over the little children told disciples to forbid them not to come, to allow them
1) We know adults must come like little children
2) a child's faith is enough, the right kind, quality
3) There is a special relationship between Jesus & babes
4) "of such is the Kingdom of Heaven" Is Heaven occupied by billions ofsouls of babies?
I agree Christ told them to bring him the child and forbid them not to come. Christ did not say heaven was full of babies. He said, “Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” [17]. Christians are called the children of God. As a child puts faith if what their father says and believes him, so must we with the heavenly Father.


II Sam 12:7-10, 14-18. 23 David's child
Babies are safe because
1) they do not meet the conditions of judgement
2) God takes note of their innocence
3) Jesus claimed a special relationship with babies
This text is most likely of all the text presented that babies may all go to heaven. For we know that David went to Paradise and so met his child there. Although, it could be that God gave David special revelation as to that fact for his child alone. Both are “white page” reading at best. Even if we take the passage to conclude all babies go to heaven, it does not anywhere in the text or context state that they are received by Christ into glory based on their innocence – again, if that be the case, they need no Savior.


With that said, I truly believe that scripture teaches even babies (including aborted babies) must believe in Christ to go to heaven. Now before I draw negative feedback saying I believe they go to hell because someone says, “But they can’t get saved because they can’t hear or understand the word preached” – I gave examples of John the Baptist and Isaiah, and even David speaks of God being his from his mother’s womb [Psalm 22:10].

We must remember God is the creator, not us, therefore it is possible for the Spirit to draw babies (aborted or not) to have faith in Christ.

There is no scriptural support for one to claim babies get a free ride into heaven because they don’t know good and evil, because they are innocent of sin, and/or because they are pure – for that, my friend, would mean they need no Savior at all.

It has also been brought to my attention that babies cannot confess as Romans 10:9, 10 says they should:

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

We must remember this was Paul talking to those which have recently denied Christ. They must now believe and confess Him.

Also if we make this the standard, we are saying most deaf and mute are unable to get saved.

God forbid...

Almost, But Lost

“Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian”

In Acts 26, we have the story of Paul speaking before King Agrippa. Paul could have cried and fallen into such self pity that he would have been useless as a testimony for Christ and surely King Agrippa would have tired and sent him away, but instead Paul chose to use the opportunity to give witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

My dear friend Almost is not close enough. To be at the very edge of the narrow way, to gaze upon the finish line through the haze, to witness those which stride with purpose as they run the course, to wave and ponder the joy they must have, yet you yourself sit in the broad way pointed to the way of the narrow, with your eyes and ears fixed upon the glorious wonders of such a race, yet without faith you dare not cross the paths to come over, is burdensome to my heart.

Why friend do you sit when you could run, why ponder when you can know, why deny when you can enjoy, why reject when you can embrace, why feel rejected when you can be accepted, why doubt when you can have faith?

Don’t be an Almost statistic. Almost is still lost, and lost is without Christ, and without Christ there is no fellowship with God, and without fellowship with God there is no hope.

Trust him fully today, I pray that you would.

Are you in the race and know of one that is Almost? Do not leave the race by jumping to the broad way, but pray that the Spirit moves them, and bid them come to the narrow. Encourage them so they may believe, share your testimony so they may understand, bear the torch so they may follow, reach out your arms and beg them to come!

Playing the Fool

Scripture declares in Matthew 5:22, “whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire”, but the fool himself is indeed headed to the chastisement and/or the wrath of God. No one should desire to be called a fool, and none should take joy in calling one as such.

Our interim pastor recently preached on this topic, so I thought I would present the points he used to share with the readers here, along with my thoughts. I believe they are important and should make us aware that we need to witness to those around us before it is too late for them, and that may be things that we need to repent of.

Today we will see four (4) classes of which the scripture calls fools:

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[1] “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” [Psalm 14:1; Psalm 53:1]

This class can be broken down into two groups, but literally they are actually only one.

[a] There is the one that claims there is no God, which is called the atheist. Within this group you have those which could care less about God and then those which work to rid the world of everything that says God. They are in need of the very God they reject, and without trusting in Christ. For in denying the Savior, they are ridding themselves of the only way to escape the wrath of God.

[b] There is the one that claims there is a God but lives as though there is none. Scripture, 2 Timothy 3:5, describes them as “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” and tells us “from such turn away”. This is both detrimental to the very soul of the lost and to the testimony of the saved. Neither are pleasing in the sight of God.

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[2] “Fools make a mock at sin”. [Proverbs 14:9]

This class can include both the saved and unsaved. To make a mock of sin is sickening in the eyes of God. We are told to depart, abhor, and repent of sin, we are never told to make fun, mimic, or encourage it. We are in a perverse generation that will be judged for endorsing, promoting, and embellishing sin instead of calling on men, women and children everywhere to repent and flee from such wickedness. “The wages of sin is death” [Romans 6:23], it is far from being something to be mocked.

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[3] The fool trust in his own works and not in the work of Christ. [Luke 12:19-21]

This class, yet saved or unsaved, is those which trust in riches of this world and lay not up treasure for the next. Scripture says, Revelation 3:17, there are those which “sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked”. Don’t let the riches of this world keep you from trusting in Christ, nor let it allow you to get cold to the things of God and forget that we are to be about His work.

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[4] “The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness” [1 Corinthians 1:18]

This class is the unsaved that fail to see the importance in trusting in the only begotten Son of God to have sins forgiven and fellowship restored with God through the finish work of Christ on the cross. They see no need of a Savior. Maybe once they have “sowed their wild oats” or come to a tragic time in their life, but not while they are young and full of energy, not while everything is going well at the office and they have plenty of money, not while they are enjoying retirement and traveling the globe, but maybe in that quiet time right before they enter eternity. My dear friend, what if you never make it there?

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If you find yourself in one or more of these classes today, it is easy to get out. Come to the risen Savior, Jesus Christ, confess yourself a sinner, repent and turn from your sin, by faith put your trust in Him that He was crucified for your sin, was buried, and was raised that you may be forgiven and cleansed from all unrighteousness and have fellowship with God forevermore!

Are you Playing the Fool?

Deny the flesh and embrace the Spirit!

Let today be the day of your salvation!

Once Saved Always Saved or Perseverance of the Saints

Eternal Security, the belief that when a person is genuinely converted to salvation by putting their faith in the finished work of Christ, that they are kept by the power of God and sealed by the Holy Spirit whereby it is impossible for them to lose that salvation and be separated again from the love of God. Although one may sin, as all do, following conversion, unconfessed sin is dwelt with by God through chastisement and not the loss of ones gift of salvation.

Within the camps of Eternal Security believers, there lies in this corner Once Saved Always Saved (OSAS) and in this corner Perseverance of the Saints (POTS). At face value one might assume that they mean the same thing just different terminology. But that, my friend, would be an incorrect assumption, for they are very much different. Whereas the ends may meet as the individual crosses over into glory unable to lose his salvation, the means or actions by which he took while on this trip up the narrow road is indeed different.

For the sake of length and clarity, I will do my best to simplify both corners without a multitude of words. This is not a defense of either, but a simple act of trying to show that by no means are they the same. Please feel free to express your thoughts and correct me if you believe my understanding to be wrong.

Once Saved Always Saved (OSAS)
This position holds that a person may be genuinely saved by Christ and become a born again believer. Although saved, one may then return back into their fallen sinful state as if they had never been regenerated. They may have a lifestyle of the unsaved, yet because at one point in their life the trusted Christ, regardless of how they live their life or die, they are saved forevermore. An example would be while witnessing to a person they bow their head and ask Christ to save them, yet they never come to church or display any Christian qualities for the rest of their lives. This position claims that “if they really meant it”, then regardless that they never acted as a Christian, they are indeed one by virtue of them at one point in their life asking Christ to save them. No one can 100% say that they are saved or are not saved, by ones actions, for only God knows our hearts and if someone has actually asked Him to save them then they are indeed saved.

Perseverance of the Saints (POTS)
This position agrees that a person is genuinely saved by Christ and becomes a born again believer. It also agrees that nothing, including sin, can separate a believer from the love of God and that it is impossible for one to fall from grace. Where this camp disagrees is that a true believer cannot and will not return to or remain in their previous unregenerate lifestyle. Not that a believer will be sinless, but that their lifestyle will become and remain that of a person striving to serve God, rather than that of a lost person disobeying God. It is not the individual which causes this, but the working of God within them. Lifestyle of the believer appears to be the difference. Because of the work of God within them, the believer’s desires shall be to serve God, even though they may faultier, yet they never turn to rejection of God, or a total non-desire, and back into their depravity. Although they may agree no one can know 100% who is and is not saved, one can know them almost positively by their fruits, their works and lifestyle.

I have been told that my thinking above is incorrect, but I have sat under teaching that believes one may be saved without acting like a Christian, whereas the others says when one is saved they will act like a Christian. In my opinion that is not the same teaching...

Further reading…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perseverance_of_the_saints

When Sight Is Too Late

Sometimes we hear people say, “If God is real, why can’t we see Him” or “Why doesn’t He show Himself”? It should come as no surprise, for mankind is very much a sight oriented creature. “See it, to believe it” theology seems to be bound somewhere inside the very core of our DNA.

Scripture says that we are to put faith in Christ, which indeed is against our desire of wanting to see, but we must remember that there were plenty of those which physically saw Christ (even religious leaders) yet denied Him as the Messiah and Savior of lost man. Sight does not guarantee belief or acceptance.

But, because we serve a holy, just, and loving God, He will indeed give people what they have cried out for: “Show yourself!” “Here am I”. The problem will be that Sight Is Too Late.

Revelation 6:12-17 speaks of mankind getting their request answered, for they would now be able to see the Creator. Did they embrace Him; do they welcome Him into their lives and hearts?

15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

But I thought the cry was “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Of a much greater concern is where one may find themselves in the end, if they refuse to accept salvation by faith in Christ, to have sins forgiven, and fellowship restored with God at the present. (Matthew 7:22, 23; Revelation 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. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Indeed we shall all see God, for it is written, “every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” Just don’t withhold putting faith in Christ for the sake of not physically seeing Him, for at the judgment, Sight Is Too Late.

Jacob Have I Loved, Esau Have I Hated

I am sure most recognize this snippet from Romans 9:13. I am also guessing that the reader is now saying, “I know where he is going with this”, but I may surprise you so please continue.

If you don’t know the story of Jacob and Esau, please take the time and start reading in Genesis 25. You most likely will find yourself in one of these brothers, at least at some point in your life, and some good lessons can be learned from their examples.

It should not be hard to see why God could say, “Esau have I hated”. We are born sinners, and as sinners we do not believe in God and we reject the truth found in Jesus Christ. We are indeed the enemies of God, for we cleave to sin and fail to repent and turn to God in obedience. We lack the faith necessary for salvation in that we trust in self and deny the Savior as the only way, truth, and life.

What we should find amazing is that God could say, “Jacob have I loved”. Study the life of Jacob, and one will find just how amazing it is. We, as Christians, should also look at our own lives in this light. God didn’t look down from heaven and love us because of who and what we were, but “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” [Romans 5:8]. It is amazing that a holy and just God could look upon sin and depravity of a rejecting creation and still have enough love to send “his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” [John 3:16]. Not to mention a despised and rejected Savior, Jesus Christ, which loved fallen man enough, in obedience to the Father, was slain for our offences, yet was raised for our justification [Romans 4:25].

So next time you hear someone say they are too bad for God to love or save, remind them that so were you, and that God loved the world enough to send His Son, Jesus Christ the Savior, that through Him sinners might become saints.

And when pride begins to show its ugly head, boasting that you have achieved, and how much holier you are than that lost sinner, remember where Christ found you; It wasn’t in the holiest of holies dressed in fine linen, but in the mire of depravity and sin “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked”.

1 John 4:19, We love him, because he first loved us.