Tag Archives: death

Christian

Wages

Jesus did not die on the cross so that you don’t have to obey God and keep his laws.

Salvation is truly a gift of God, no argument there. But of late I’ve heard two teachers (one on Twitter and one on CBN) say that you don’t have to keep the law and salvation is not because of obedience. These statements are simply not true.

Romans 6:23 KJV For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

You can’t disregard the first part of this verse and accept the second. The wages of righteousness is salvation. Conversly, if you continue in your sin, you will die. To say it plainly this means spiritual death. You will not enter Heaven, your eternal destination is the lake of fire.

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Christian

Crossroads

Two things Jesus’ sacrifice at the cross never did despite what you may have heard:

1. Jesus did not live a perfect sinless life and be crucified so that you wouldn’t have to follow the law. Romans 6:23 tells us the wages of sin is death. This means we must still keep the law of Christ or face eternal damnation (the second death).

2. Jesus did not take your place on the cross so that you would never have to die. While it is unlikely you will be put to death by crucifixion, you or I can still be put to death for our faith. In fact in Revelation Jesus warns us to be faithful unto death. See also John 15:20. This means as Christians that trials, temptations, torture, and even death (physical death) are still real possibilities.

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Christian

When did the New Testament take effect?

The New Testament begins at Matthew 1:1 and ends at Revelation 22:21. KJV

A Testament is generally written before death. In Jesus case it was written by his life and with the aid of his friends. A Testament takes effect after death, but the death of the Testator does not cancel any part of the Testament.

If you don’t want to keep the Sabbath as Jesus and his early followers did or you don’t want to pray the Lord’s supper now because Jesus hadn’t died yet, that is your choice. However, you are errant if you think these examples of living after Jesus are not part of the New Testament.

Another word for Testament is will. The New Testament of the Holy Bible is exactly that. It shows us the will of God through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. In it Jesus is the perfect example of following the Father’s will. And it tells us how we are beneficiaries of God’ will.

When does the New Testament take effect?

You can argue at Jesus’ death.

You can argue at its biblical compilation.

Or you can just accept it begins at Matthew 1:1 and ends at Revelation 22:21.

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Christian, Inspirational

At What Cost

Christ did die on the cross for us. But a dangerous and misleading teaching is that Christ died on the cross so that we don’t have to.

It can be a bit confusing, but it’s important to get it right. Jesus died so that we will not have to die the second death as long as we believe, are baptized , and follow him. The second death is being found unworthy and cast into Hell forever. It is eternal separation from the Lord, where the Bible says our soul is destroyed.

Jesus did not promise us that we should never suffer or die. In fact the opposite is true. John 15:20 KJV says, … If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you… . Revelation 2:10 KJV says … be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

So why is this important. You may have been taught Jesus has already done everything necessary for your salvation or that he died on the cross in our place. The realistic version is that as a Christian you may suffer and you may even be called to give your life for Christ.

To those of you that are called and chosen. Be mindful that one thing yet remains:

Be faithful unto death!

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Christian, Inspirational

Healed

The Bible says in Isaiah 53:5 KJV, But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Recently, I have heard many preachers saying that this means our physical healing of things such as diseases and ailments is already completed. They say Jesus bore them on the cross.

I don’t think this is what the verse means.

If we value the sacrifice and death of Jesus (his stripes) we will not continue in sin (we are healed) from iniquity.

In fact this is a theme of the Old and New Testament. Will we come to God and the truth to be healed?

Jesus said in Matthew 13:15 KJV For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Spiritual healing is critical to our salvation. In fact, it is more important than physical healing. Iniquity is an illness leading to the second death. Hear the truth, value Jesus and his acts, and you will be healed!

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Christian, Inspirational

Missing the Mark

I really didn’t care for missing the mark as a definition of sin. It seemed to me to minimalize the seriousness of sin.

Yet, with further examination maybe it’s not such a bad definition. If. If the person is serious about marksmanship. If it is a lifestyle and not a game or hobby. The marksman is constantly striving to hit the mark. A miss is a disappointment and shame.

What would have happened if David missed the mark in his fight with Goliath?

Keep in mind the wages of sin is death. If we follow Christ and walk with him, he will teach us with practice to hit the mark every time. We can be perfect for a few seconds, then for a few minutes, and soon enough days turn into weeks of righteous living.

Job 17:9 KJV
The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

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Christian, Inspirational

Tell and Turn

1 John 1:9 KJV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

This is a promise.

Proper baptism covers past sins, but what do we do if we sin after baptism? First and foremost we should fear God and strive not to sin. We have to value Jesus’ sacrifice. 

There are those that preach a difference between public sin and private sin and intentional and unintentional sin. These preachers do great damage to the Kingdom of God. One preaches 1 John 1:9 doesn’t apply to private sin another says 1 John 1:9 is not for intentional sin. I know from past experience how hard it is to confess. These preachers make it harder. There is darkness and death in silence.

I once typed a page with my sins, printed about 30 copies, and handed it out at church because I could not find the courage to speak it publicly. I also called the police once and confessed to them for a past deed that troubled me greatly. It is both scary and difficult to confess, especially if you are denied a forum.

What are the requirements of confession? 

What is the purpose?

I believe confession is made to another, not just praying silently to God for forgiveness. James 5:16. He already knows them, so where is the act of confession, if this is all we do?

The purpose of confession is to tell and turn, to bring darkness to light, death to life. Repentance walks hand in hand with confession. We are sorry for our sin and we will quit the sinful activity. 

Don’t die in your sins. Tell and Turn.

Proverbs 28:13 KJV He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

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