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

When Work is No Longer Work

There are many today that argue we cannot be saved by works. They profess our actions can neither save or damn us. Some of these even claim that you don’t have to follow the law. But,

Is it work for you to not murder?

Is it work to not steal?

Is it work to not lie?

Is it work to not commit adultery?

Go through the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. Are any of them really work? For some people, one or more of them might be. I tell you, unless you write God’s Commandments on your heart and do them, you will find yourself facing eternal damnation. However, if you walk in the light and truly follow Jesus; what you once found to be work can become effortless. Doing the right thing will just come naturally. Indeed his (Jesus) yoke is easy and his burden light.

Matthew 11:28-30 KJV
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

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Christian, Inspirational

Let’s Begin

There’s are those that say keeping the law is impossible.

The Bible says:

Mark 9:23 KJV Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Philippians 4:13 KJV
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Matthew 5:48 KJV
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

In the movie, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda said, do or do not, there is no try.

I say don’t let naysayers (Matthew 23:13) keep you from your home in Heaven. Learn the law and try to keep it. With God’s help you can and will succeed.

A great place to begin is by learning the Ten Commandments. They can be found in Exodus 20.

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Confusing Duty with Works

Many proclaim we are not saved by works, but by grace alone. They cite these verses found in Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Does this mean we have no duty to our Master and Saviour? Absolutely not.

We have a duty to respect his sacrifice.

We have a duty to keep the law.

We have a duty to love and act in charity.

Jesus said in Luke 17:10 KJV … when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

My faith tells me duty and works should not be confused with one another. It also makes me wonder; how may I be a profitable servant of Christ.

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Do You Know Him?

You may know who Jesus is. He is the only begotten Son of Jehovah, our Heavenly Father. He is God himself who died on the cross for our sins. He is our Savior, the promised Messiah.

But do you know him? Are you his follower?

Jesus is our example. Jesus died showing us how to live. He kept the law. He never sinned. He always did the Father’s will. Knowing this and that the wages of sin is Death, we should strive to not sin. Be perfect even as he was perfect. Matthew 5:48, Hebrews 4:15.

Believing in Jesus we must repent and be baptized. Acts 2:38. While it is true that love can cover a multitude of sin, the only sure forgiveness after baptism is confession. 1 John 1:9. Followers of Jesus do not continue in sin. Hebrews 10:26-27. Rather we strive to be as our Master, Jesus, who lived perfectly before the LORD.

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A Gift

Salvation is a gift of God.

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

Like any other gift it matters how you receive it and if you decide to keep it.

When a gift is offered you have to receive it. This is known as acceptance. Do you accept Jesus as the Son of God? Do you accept his sacrifice on the cross as an offering for your salvation? John 3:16, John 3:18, Hebrews 7:26-27, Hebrews 9:14

Have you been baptized in water for the remission of sins in the name of Jesus Christ?

Acts 22:16 KJV
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. See also Acts 2:38.

Have you decided to keep your salvation?

1 John 1:7-9 KJV
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. [8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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Christian, Inspirational

A Race To Be Won

Have you heard Jesus did it all, it is finished, you don’t need to do anything for your salvation?

Jesus completed his race. He lived an Holy life teaching us to follow him and the Heavenly Father. He was scourged and died on the cross as the final sacrifice for our sins.

What about our race? Do we have to do anything to be cleansed in Jesus’ blood? Do we have to do anything to make it to Heaven?

If you accept Jesus as Messiah, you need to repent and be baptized (submerged in water) in the name of Jesus for the remission or forgiveness of sins in your life till that point. Acts 2:38 After baptism forgiveness of sin can be covered in love and by confession. James 5:20, 1 Peter 4:8, 1 John 1:9.

This is at the heart of the race assigned to us all: Preach the truth to others – Mark 16:15-16, Keep the Commandments – Romans 2:13, John 14:15, Ecclesiastes 12:13, Love one another – John 13:34.

As Paul hoped to finish his race well, 2 Timothy 4:7-8, so do we. Jesus completed his life and work proclaiming, “It is finished”, while on the cross, but our race as we follow him is yet to be won!

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They/Them

They say Christianity isn’t about following rules. That’s religion not relationship.

They say Christianity isn’t about attending Church services. That’s religion not relationship.

They say Christianity isn’t about doing good deeds. That’s religion not relationship.

They redefine religion, so millenials and Gen Z can feel more comfortable doing what they desire.

My relationship with Christ is built on things labeled religion. My relationship with Christ is keeping his Commandments. My relationship with Christ is fellowship and worship at a local Church. My relationship with Christ is good deeds and works. My relationship with Jesus is living out my Christianity. It is my religion.

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Do You See What I See

Keeping the law is not intended to be difficult.

Matthew 11:28-30 KJV
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Is it work to not murder? Is it a pain to not steal?

Write the Commandments upon your heart and the rest will follow.

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Christian, Inspirational

Conditions Too

Some claim the love of God is unconditional. They do not know God nor the scriptures.

In an earlier post we discovered the first condition of Christianity in John 3:16. It is belief.

What are some other conditions? Mark 16:16 tells us that in addition to belief in Christ we must be baptized to be saved!

Let’s look at some other verses to see if we can spot the condition:

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 KJV 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.

If we want to be a son or daughter of God Almighty, what must we do? The condition is clear. Be separate and touch not the unclean thing.

John 14:21 KJV He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

If we want the Father and son’s love we keep his commandments.

Learning to spot conditions in scripture will help teach you proper discernment and help you in rightly dividing the Word of God.

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