I just heard on Three Cosmic Messages Earth’s Final Conflict, “We do not follow God’s Commandments in order to be saved, but because we are saved.” I have heard a similar message before: “We are not saved by our best efforts”, “Jesus finished the work on the cross.”
To be frank, these statements are misleading. In fact they aren’t far from the false doctrine “once saved, always saved”. They imply there is nothing we have to do on our part.
I’m not convinced Jesus is finished working. If he were finished, why do we yet pray?
Jesus dying on the cross is an offer of salvation. What must we do? Accept by believing in accordance with John 3:16, be baptized by immersion in water in the name of Jesus or in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Mark 16:16.
What else must we do to be saved? What does the Bible say?
Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Romans 2:13 KJV (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
And let’s not forget 1 John 1:9 and Proverbs 28:13. If we err and sin these verses instruct us on how to be free.
Finally, with belief, we are saved by our best efforts in Christ who gives us both strength and guidance that we may walk in the Light. And when we need help with our efforts, we call upon the Lord. Roman’s 10:13.
Category Archives: Christian
Seeker
I have heard of late, on WayFM and from certain teachers of the Word: “God loves you”, “He loves you more than you know”, or “God adores you, he is pursuing you”. Again, we see someone speaking on God’s behalf. It may be true, but it might not be.
Don’t get me wrong, we are told God is love and that he sent Jesus to gain many sons and daughters. But, if we read the Holy Bible it appears God wants us to pursue him.
Jeremiah 29:13 KJV
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Matthew 6:31-33 KJV
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? [32] (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. [33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Love is truly a two way proposition. And if we want love, perhaps we should show love. Jesus said in John 14:15 KJV
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
On His Behalf
It is very dangerous to speak on behalf of God. If you say, “God said …” and he did not, you are flirting with disaster and perhaps damnation.
God will not be made a liar.
Even saying something like “God loves you he really does” may be dubious. The truth: it could be true and it can have a strong sales aspect to new converts. However, it could be false. Certainly Esau is not the only person God ever hated.
To be safe when you want to quote God, quote him from the Holy Bible. His word is true and worthy of repetition.
John 3:16-21 KJV
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. [17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. [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. [19] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. [20] For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. [21] But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
The Source
I put my faith in the KJV. It is my source. Do you want to put your trust and faith in the KJV or in the hubris of men?
People like Jim Bakker and Rick Renner claim there are mistakes in the KJV and through their own hubris or pride they think they can translate better.
Do you want to make these men your foundation or do you want to make the KJV your strong and true foundation?
The King James Version Holy Bible was translated by a team of learned men appointed by a King appointed by God. Daniel 2:21-22. These 47 men according to wikipedia were trained scholars. They worked at the behest and instruction of King James. In my opinion this work was done under the supervision of the Holy Ghost and they translated from the Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic into a pure language.
Keep your source pure and it will overflow in you.
Does God Speak To Everyone But Me?
I watch a variety of religious channels and programs. Most and I do mean most of the pastors and teachers I’ve watched claim to have heard from God.
I have my doubts. I think most of them are just trying to convince their viewers that they are a man or woman of God.
You’re allowed to think I’m crazy, but I’ve heard voices that weren’t me. Perhaps they were in response to a question I’d posed or just an odd thought out of the blue. Maybe they were indeed some aspect of me or perhaps they were angels or demons. Yet, I’m not going to say that I’ve heard from God unless I’m 100% positive it was God.
The only way to be sure:
If you want a word from God and you want to be 100% sure – read the KJV, the King James Version Holy Bible!
Also keep in mind, if you hear something that contradicts the Holy Bible, it is not of God.
Happy Holidays
Thank you everyone for your readership. Especially thank you for your likes, I always find them encouraging.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to all!
Desire Change
I really believe that confession as requested of us in 1 John 1:9 for the forgiveness of sins is best made to another human being.
I just wonder, how can you confess to God who already knows. Yet if confession to God is all you have in you, I suggest you try. Lord forgive my sins … .
Don’t let me dissuade you or cause you to give up. If your confession is sincerely seeking forgiveness from God it includes the desire and intent to change and no longer walk in sin.
In Matthew 9:12-13 KJV Jesus said … They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. [13] … I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Change and repentance walk hand in hand.
Proverbs 28:13 KJV says, He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Past, Present, and Future
I’ve heard a lot of evangelists proclaim that Jesus died for all our sins, past, present, and future. This is true, but those evangelists often neglect to explain God’s full plan for forgiveness and tell you the whole truth.
Our past sins are forgiven at baptism. It’s more than just a figurative ritual. With belief you truly are washed in Jesus’ blood at baptism. With belief and repentance you are washed and become a new member of God’s family.
After baptism the idea is to walk in the light and quit sinning. Future sins should they happen are only forgiven by the act of confession. 1 John 1:9
Proverbs 28:13 KJV says, He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Discernment Part 2
I think that a lesson I learned in my first year of law school could be applied to learning or teaching spiritual discernment and development.
When writing an essay on exams first year law students are taught to use IRAC. IRAC stands for Issue, Rule, Analysis, and Conclusion. The question, usually a hypothetical with various facts determines the issue. When the issue is identified you determine the Rule or the law that applies to the facts of the situation. Analysis takes the law or laws into consideration and you provide discussion on how they may relate to the hypothetical facts. Finally your conclusion, how do you think the issue should be resolved.
Dean was wondering if he should lie to his girlfriend about meeting another girl at the bar last night.
Issues: How serious is the relationship with his girlfriend and is the relationship approved of by God’s law? What are his intentions to the girl he met last night? What was he doing at a bar? Should he lie? What are his motives for lying?
Rule(s): Fornication is sin. Hebrews 13:4. Lust is sin. Matthew 5:28. Drunkeness can lead to damnation. Galatians 5:21. Thou shalt not lie. Exodus 20:16
Analysis: Knowing the law, Dean should develop a Christian relationship with his girlfriend in consideration of marriage. Dean should not go to bars and drink too much. Dean should not look on a woman with lust and Dean should not lie.
Conclusion: Following God’s word can be hard. Knowing his law is key. If you know the rule you let the rule govern. Keeping God’s law is crucial to Christian living. The result of keeping his law is strong and healthy relationships on Earth and the promise of a future in Heaven.
Discernment Part 1
Can you learn discernment between right and wrong, between good and evil? I believe the answer is yes.
One easy way to learn and/or teach discernment is with a game of what’s worse? It’s a game we’ve been playing since the time of creation. What’s worse, lying or murder? What’s worse, murder or stealing? Societies have developed their moral codes over the centuries. If you’re wondering what the correct answer is, which is worse, Google the average sentence for murder in the US, the average sentence for theft in the US, the average sentence for perjury in the US. The general consensus or public idea of justice and judgment are reflected in the sentences of convicted offenders. To see what other societies think, google the offense in the country in question.
I think God is the ultimate judge, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t develop our own sense of justice and judgment.
Here’s one example of what’s worse: not understanding baptism or believing that people go to Heaven immediately when they die. I believe the answer is not understanding baptism. Understanding and being baptized properly are critical to ones salvation. Mark 16:16. Beliefs of what happen to people when they die, whether they sleep awaiting judgment or go immediately to be judged, are not in my opinion necessarily critical to a person’s salvation.
Saltwaterheart 