Christian, Inspirational

The Secret

The best kept secret of the Holy Bible should be shared with your children at an early age. No one ever told me of this and for most of us it is probably too late.

It is found in Isaiah 56:4-5 KJV, For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; [5] Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

Most of us are simply blessed to be considered sons and daughters of God when we separate ourselves and don’t touch the unclean thing. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 KJV tells us, Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, [18] And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

That is certainly special,  but in an age when errant preachers teach of special crowns and awards at the throne of Jesus by a separate judgment there is one actual award available for youth and the rare adult to seek. It is found in Isaiah 56:4-5. A name and place greater than sons and daughters, that is truly an award worth seeking!

Keep in mind you can be a eunuch by choice. Matthew 19:12 KJV says, For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

So I believe this requirement is met by a lifetime of abstinence and living for the Lord. I have never heard anyone teach about these verses before, but I wonder if these verses are the basis for monasteries and nunneries. It’s worth noting you don’t need to join a monastery or nunnery to live out these verses. I am reminded of an article I read about becoming Amish. The interviewed Amish man said if you want to live like us then simply do it, you don’t need to join an Amish community to follow our lifestyle. That being said, I do believe community can strengthen one in their walk with Jesus.

Of very important note, seek God first not awards. This is an Old Testament promise, therefore it is possible it’s no longer valid under the New Testament Covenant.

Finally, for clarification purposes, I believe there is one judgment for all, both for believers and non-believers, to decide their final disposition of either Heaven or Hell for all eternity. God may indeed give rewards and crowns, but the final and most important judgment of all  happens only once at the end of days. Are you saved?

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Christian, Inspirational

Heard

There are two words in the Bible in two key verses that encompass the heart of the entire Christian faith.

The word believe in 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.

And the word call in Romans 10:13 KJV For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Both of these words incorporate the sum of all scripture in their definitions. If you call upon the Lord you want to be heard. In order to be heard your call should be in accord with God’s word, the Holy Bible.

You must know Jehovah. You must know Jesus. Jeremiah 29:12-13 KJV says, Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. [13] And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

After discovering Jesus as Lord, we seek to please him by keeping his word. One of the first things we must do is be baptized by immersion in water. Mark 16:16 KJV He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

To keep his word we must know it. The Ten Commandments can be found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. They are still in effect under the New Testament Covenant. 2 John 1:6 KJV says,  And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

Walk in the light, remembering after baptism 1 John 1:9 (confession) exists for the remission of sins and Hebrews 10:26-27 exists to warn us against further wilful sin.

Ultimately it’s up to God to respond to your call. It is my personal opinion that you should continue to call upon the Lord even if you are currently stuck in sin. The Lord delivered me from cigarettes and porn. For me it wasn’t instantaneous. It took years of desiring to quit, reading the Holy Bible, and asking the Lord for help, but I can now say I’m finally living righteously and trying daily to walk in the light.

Don’t give up! Call upon the Lord. Call upon him out of need or fear. Call upon him out of love! Your salvation depends upon it!

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Double Jeopardy

Can women be called to pastor or lead a church? No. The Bible clearly states in 1 Corinthians 14:34 KJV, Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

If you are a woman who feels called, the above New Testament law is clear. I suppose this leaves opportunity to teach outside of the church, perhaps at home, yet there is also 1 Timothy 2:12 KJV to consider, which says, But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

To follow the will of God can be difficult both for men and women, but if you are a woman and violate either of these two commandments you are off to a bad start. If you continue against God’s will, you will also be judged for any errant doctrine you teach, hence double jeopardy.

Ladies, God is giving you a pass that men don’t have. Take it. Don’t follow after your own desires or people who cannot read. You can testify to others by your life and move them by your conversation.

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Can You Lose Your Salvation?

Can you lose your salvation?

YES!

Romans 6:23 KJV tells us, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Additionally, Hebrews 10:26-27 KJV says, For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, [27] But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

While no one can remove us from the Father’s hand (John 10:27-29), we can willingly let go and walk away from Him by continuing in sin. Jesus states in John 8:34 . . . Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. He also said in Matthew 6:24 KJV, No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Finally, salvation is a gift, like any other gift it can be refused, rejected, and even despised. If you accept and respect Christ’s sacrifice, you will strive to walk in the light by living righteously and eschewing (shunning) sin.

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Christian, Inspirational

You Already Know

While principalities of darkness and people work to obfuscate, change, and confuse the meaning of repentance, you already know the truth. You know in your heart what repentance means, because repentance is a matter of the heart.

Repentance means to be sorry for your sin, desiring to turn from evil behavior unto righteous living with a Holy God.

You know inherently that you need to be cleansed of past sins. Which is why after learning of the grace of God and good news of salvation, we seek out confession and water baptism.

Proverbs 28:13 KJV says, He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. And 1 Corinthians 11:31 KJV tells us, For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

The heart convicts, while the mind and spirit can produce change. Call upon the Lord. God himself will help you walk in the light.

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Counting Crowns

I have seen several television personalities wrongly divide the word of God. They see in the Holy Bible separate judgments for salvation and rewards for works.

I have read the entire Bible several times and see only one judgment. It’s the only one that truly matters. Are you saved? Or will you be damned?

You can count your chickens before they’re hatched or you can work out you own salvation with fear and trembling.

Even if I’m wrong about no separate judgments for believers and unbelievers, there is one thing you should keep in mind: if you’re not saved you don’t have to worry about rewards at the Bema Seat. If you are saved, blessings and rewards are at the right hand of God forevermore.

The only crown that matters is the Crown of Life given to the saved.

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Love in Action

I previously defined Charity as love in action. That could easily be the same definition for Salvation. Salvation is God’s love in action. It is also our love in action.

In my preceding post, In the Mix,  I compiled a list of actions demanded of us in God’s plan of salvation. For sake of convenience and issues of readability, I did not offer scripture to back up those actions. The following should remedy that situation.

Jesus died teaching us how to follow the Father. John 8:28, John 14:9. Although he is the ultimate sacrifice for our sin (Romans 5:8-11), salvation does require effort on our part (James 1:22, Ecclesiastes 12:13). We have to accept Jesus as Messiah. Acts 8:36-37  We have to repent and be baptized by immersion in water by another in Jesus name (Acts 2:38) or in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19). Acts 22:16, Mark 16:16. We have to strive to not sin. Hebrews 10:26-27. We have to confess future sins after baptism and forsake them. Proverbs 28:13, 1 John 1:9. We have to confess Jesus (Matthew 10:32-33) and teach others the Gospel (Matthew 28:18-20). We have to remain faithful until death. Revelation 2:10 Finally, as we are blessed, do it all with love. 1 Corinthians 13.

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Christian, Inspirational

In The Mix

Give me the Bible
Holy message shining,
Thy light shall guide me
In the narrow way.
Precept and promise,
Law and love combining,
‘Til night shall vanish
In eternal day.

So what does the Bible so beautifully reveal to us that the above song clearly commemorates? Jesus combined the law and love, teaching us by his example how to live out the law with love. Likewise, the promise of salvation carries with it certain precepts. Salvation is a mix of you and God. It’s not Jesus’s sacrifice alone. Philippians 2:12 KJV says, … work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. And James 1:22 KJV adds, But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Jesus died teaching us how to follow the Father. Although he is the ultimate sacrifice for our sin, salvation does require effort on our part. We have to accept Jesus as Messiah. We have to repent and be baptized by immersion in water by another in Jesus name or in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. We have to strive to not sin. We have to confess future sins after baptism and forsake them. We have to confess Jesus and teach others the Gospel. We have to remain faithful until death. And finally, as we are blessed, do it all with love.

That may sound like a long list of works. Jesus never said we could do nothing and go to Heaven, he did promise us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light.

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Christian, Inspirational

The Way You Know

And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. – John 14:4 KJV

Jesus was about to be sacrificed and go to Heaven. Through example he had taught his disciples how to join him there.

So what did Jesus do that we are suppose to imitate and follow? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. – Matthew 5:48 KJV.

Many argue that perfection is impossible. But, would Jesus ask us to do the impossible?  . . . The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. Luke 18:27

So by living with God’s guidance and God’s help we can live as Jesus, following the will of the Heavenly Father. Jesus said in Matthew 12:50 KJV, For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Jesus taught us the Father’s will by demonstrating obedience and walking in love. He being God said, If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15

What are God’s Commandments?

Matthew 22:37-40 KJV
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.

How do we begin to learn to love God and our neighbor? Visit Exodus 20 or Deuteronomy 5. With God’s help you can keep his word and step towards perfection.

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Christian, Inspirational

A Way of Escape

Despite the fact that many Christians hope to escape judgment day and some even claim that all that is left is a dispensation of rewards, the Bible says in Revelation 20:13 KJV … and they were judged every man according to their works.

Matt Crouch, owner of TBN has said several times, “It’s not about what I have or have not done, it’s what He did. ” I do not doubt he heard this in time of distress as he claims, I do doubt it was the voice of God. There will be a judgment day. And all mankind will be judged according to their works (how each man and woman lived their life, what they did or did not do).

There is no magic loophole to be found in the Bible to escape judgment.

2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV tells us, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

If you hope to have a home in Heaven, Believe in Jesus Christ, Be Baptized, Confess your Wrongs, Don’t Sin, and if you are so blessed, live life with an abundance of Love.

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