Be Reconciled To God (Get Right)

As a result of the first sin of Adam and Eve, disobedience to a direct command from God, sin entered into the world, and death through sin. Many people have argued that only Adam and Eve were punished for their specific sin against God, however, this is not true. Every succeeding generation has a natural inclination to sin against the Laws and perfect will of God. This is sufficient enough evidence to see that all have sinned in Adam and Eve, because every human being born after Adam and Eve have sinned, and will sin, because they have a gnawing desire inside that presses them to sin against God and man, some more than others, but all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one (Romans 3:10). Nobody is righteous; nobody can attain the righteousness that God requires while he or she is in this flesh, and that will keep everyone out of heaven. This sounds discouraging, and it should. It may make you think that God is unfair or unkind. Think of it this way; God is perfect; not like man’s standard of perfection, He is “Perfection”. He meant for us to be perfect, as the Bible says in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” In order to be perfect, we must be reconciled to God, we must have a removal of all of our past sins. Without holiness no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). How do we have our past sins removed? How do we become perfect? How do we become holy so we can see the Lord? --Reconciliation through Jesus Christ!! He must be our redeemer and mediator between God and us. He must, first, remove our sins by taking the punishment for our sins on the cross, and then, by His ascension into heaven, He sits at the right hand of God making intercession for us always. This is the only way, as it is written in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.” This excludes every other false way of getting saved and making it to heaven. You have two choices; believe what Jesus said, that He is the only way, or reject what Jesus said, call Him a liar, and wind up in hell. Romans 5:8-11 puts it very well, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” He will save us by His death, if we believe in Him, and we shall be saved by His life, because He is still alive and makes intercession for us. Make Him your savior, AND Lord, today. Don’t put it off. Amen.

Once again, what matters?

What is the ultimate goal of being a Christian? Is it so we can "fill a void in our hearts"? Is is so we can "have our best life now"? No. Neither. The ultimate goal is spending eternity with our Father in Heaven. Jesus Christ made this possible by taking our place of eternal punishment, nailing it to a cross, dying, raising from the dead, ascending to heaven and ruling as Lord and King. The Lord is not willing that any should perish and go off to everlating hell. Not just separation from God, as most modern evangelists put it; ever-lasting-hell. Because of your sin you will be shut out of heaven and cast into hell, unless you repent and put your trust in Jesus. It's not about wearing nice clothes to church, having a blessed life on earth, having emotionally healthy spirituality or all that garbage; it's about being saved from wrath! It's about loving God with all your heart for being so loving as to give you a way to escape hell. Turn to Him today, surrender your life and follow Jesus. Read your Bible and pray every day.

Five Solemn Facts

THERE are five solemn facts with which I want to deal -- facts of such vital importance, that to ignore them is to wilfully reject the warning and entreaty of God's infallible Word, and deliberately disregard the danger signals of divine truth.

First: All Will Not Be Saved

There is no such thing as universal salvation; some will be saved, others-lost. Make no mistake, let no one deceive you. A day of separation is surely coming, a separation of the wheat from the tares, the good from the bad, the sheep from the goats. On one side or the other, every man and woman will be arraigned. Such is the solemn declaration of Scripture over and over again; and the question is, will you be among the saved or the lost?

Second: Multitudes Will Be Lost

"Wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat." Many does not mean few. Many means many. "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Few does not mean many. Few means few. There will be many on the broad way and few on the narrow (Matthew 7:13-14).

Third: Many Will Perish Who Expect To Be Saved

This is the saddest fact of all. Multitudes who confidently expect to be in heaven, will awaken when it is too late, to find that they have never been born again. All their lifetime they have been deceived. Satan has kept the scales on their eyes to the very last, and, finally, when it is too late, the scales fall off and they realize that they have never been saved. Oh, awful thought! - to be on a false foundation, unsaved, self-deceived, and lost eternally. Profession without possession, and the door of mercy closed.

Oh, my friend, can it be possible that this will be your fatal doom? Has Satan blinded your eyes; are you deceived? You who have listened to the Gospel all your life; you who have been an active member of the church-tell me, are you resting on a false foundation; and will you discover when it is too late that you were never saved at all?

Fourth: There Is No Salvation After Death

We read in God's word of a great gulf. We are told two things about this gulf. First, it is fixed. That means it can never be moved. It is permanent. Second, it is impassible. No one can cross from one side to the other.

This means that there is no second chance, in spite of what Jehovah's Witnesses have to say about it. If you, my friend, die unsaved, you will remain unsaved. The Bible does not offer a glimmer of hope to anyone who rejects Christ in this life. There is no hope beyond the grave, no second chance.

Fifth: This May Be Someone's Last Opportunity

"Yes, I would like to be a Christian, and intend to sometime," said a man to his friend one day, "but I want to enjoy the pleasures of the world first."

"Well, that's all right,' responded his friend. "Go on and enjoy the world! You can become a Christian afterwards."

"But just when should I become a Christian?" inquired the other, in a somewhat serious tone of voice.

"Oh, five minutes before you die will be time enough," replied his friend.

"But I don't know when I'm going to die," he exclaimed, "I may not have another five minutes."

"In that case," remarked his friend, "the time to become a Christian is now."

"Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth" (Prov. 27:1). You may have another opportunity, but remember there is a time coming when you will not, when you will have to make the final choice. And this, my unsaved friend, may be that time. A sure as God lives, the hour will strike when you will attend your last meeting, hear your last sermon, and make your last choice. There is no "tomorrow" with God. "Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2).

Oh, then be warned before it is forever too late, or you will be lost and lost eternally; for remember, God says "My Spirit shall not always strive with man" (Gen 6:3). These are the solemn words of God Himself and you dare not ignore them. If you are going to be saved, now is the time. Will you then take the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Saviour? Will you turn from your life of sin to the only Saviour of sinners? If you do not, have you considered the destiny that awaits you?

In Matthew 25, the Lord Jesus Christ describes the multitudes of lost souls going away from the Last Judgment. Going away from the fair scenes of home and country for ever -- away from all the beauty of this world.

-- Away from friends and home and loved ones -- Away from songs of praise to God-Away from the appeals of faithful preachers -- Away from the prayers and tears of Christian friends. Away from Christ. Away from the Bible with its heavenly truths, and the Gospel invitations-Away from peace and purity and hope -- Away from God forever. Christ said, "These shall go away into everlasting punishment" (Matt. 25:46).

Then you must flee to Christ. You must turn away from every other hope of heaven-your church, your baptism, your prayers, your tears, your good works. None of these can remove your sin. O, delay no longer. Time is fleeting. Eternity looms before you. Seek the Saviour for pardon now. He will save you.

The above tract is from the Free Presbyterian Church's website and copies can be purchased from the address below.

Five Solemn Facts
Lifeline Publications
1600 Neilson Road, Scarborough,
Ontario Canada M1X 1S3
From the Free Presbyterian Tract Society

What I Believe

I will be writing for a little while on what I believe. Tonight, I post the Nicene Creed, an ancient Christian creed summarizing the essentials of Christian belief. This is usually used by liturgical churches before Holy Communion is distributed as a statement of faith. If you cannot say this creed and mean it from your heart then you should not be receiving the Body and Blood of our Lord.

The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life; who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

Amen

Getting Right With God

I had an awakening today. It happened as I was driving my car to the courthouse to license our new car. I won't get into details, but I had a fear come over me, maybe more of an anxiousness, that lingered for a long time. Today is the Jewish Holiday Rosh Hashanah, what is known as the Jewish New Year. At sunset trumpets are blown on this day. It reminded me of a Bible verse that says that at the last trumpet Christ will return. 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." I was listening to the radio and heard that Russia has just tested the largest bomb the world has ever know, and that Vladamir Putin has dissolved his cabinet. Palestine and Israel are having peace talks again which will include sharing the site of the old Jewish Temple. These are big things. As I pondered them it freshly reminded me that Jesus could return at any moment, and if He doesn't return right away you still do not know how long your life is. The Bible warns that in the last times things like these would happen, and these things are happening abundantly. It both frightened and excited me. What was frightening was that there are many people who I have failed to fully expound Jesus to, and their necessity for repenting and turning to Him for forgiveness. I also had joy, knowing that, because I love God and Jesus Christ that He first loved me. There is no way that I could love God if He did not first love me. The Bible says, "We love him, because he first loved us." (I John 4:19). God will not cast anyone He loves into the lake of fire. I have the promise that is written in the book of Revelation, "...Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

I am washed in Christ's blood, my sins are gone, because He loves me, and no other reason. He didn't see that I was a good person and then decide to save me, for the Bible says, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." This is from Romans 5:8. While I was living in my sins, Jesus died for me, He loved me, He saved me from everlasting hell. Oh Jesus, why have I not loved you back like I should? I have not been living like I should and knowing what I know I have not told people about you. I will from this time forward walk in the light of your Holy Spirit, by Your mercy and grace. Thank you for having mercy on me.

If you are living in sin, stop before it is too late. If you have taken the Lord's name in vain; if you have put anything before God; if you have not gone to church to worship God as you are commanded for ONE HOUR OUT OF AN ENTIRE WEEK; if you have not respected and honored your father and mother; if you have committed or are committing sexual sin; if you have committed murder or hate someone without cause; if you have lied, stolen, desired your neighbors wife or material goods, today is the day of salvation; today is the day to know that if you do not repent and ask Jesus for mercy that you may not have another day to do so. Jesus died to take away your sins; SO WHY DON'T YOU LET HIM!? Get right with God today, please.

Christianity is a Kingdom

Hello blogger friends. I just felt like writing about a thought I had recently. Christianity is not a democracy, it is a kingdom. Jesus Christ states that His second coming will be to establish His Kingdom, and that the current establishment on earth is a kingdom (the Church), and that the kingdom of God is within us. The Church is not to be run by people, although people are the Church of God. People should not vote on what is truth, what kind of worship should be offered to God, what kind of social actions should be taken by the people of God, etc... These issues are not a matter of man’s personal opinion. We don't have a right to "vote" on what we agree is the truth. We must humbly present our requests for truth before the King and wait for His answer. However, He did give us His holy word, the Bible, His will for living each day of our life with every answer to all of life's questions. One must be guided by the Holy Spirit in order to correctly interpret and understand the Holy Scriptures or there is a possibility of falling into error, which so many have done. We must also spread the word to all creation that their rightful King is returning to establish His kingdom and He will be judging the living and the dead. Submission to the King is not an option. He is, however, a good and loving King. Amen.

The Way of Life

The goal of the Christian is to be a slave of Christ. That is what the very word Christian means. A Christian or a disciple is one who lives under a certain discipline; a way of life. The Lord Jesus Christ told us what this way of life is in His sermon on the mount found in the Gospel according to Matthew, chapters 5-7. After all of the religious practices, all devotional practices, all striving to meet a certain way, the goal is our way of life summed up in these three most beautiful chapters of the Bible. It is the best sermon ever written. It is amazing to me how to the point and clear the Lord Jesus is in His teaching. It is amazing how simple and how deep His teaching is. It also amazes me how much He cares for us and how much He wants us to care for our fellow man. If you are in the covenant with God, then fill your heart with love and gratitude for God, let it overflow and consume you. The riches found in God are so above our imagination and so deep we cannot comprehend them. When I consider the mercy that He has granted me in my life I am terribly grateful. In the sermon on the mount the Lord Jesus teaches us to be thankful for our daily blessings and to be content with what we have. He also teaches us to Love the Lord God above all things. I have heard many people say that Christianity is not about a way of life. I beg to differ. It is very much a way of life, and if anyone cares to mature as a Christian they should begin now to practice this way of life found in Christ's sermon on the mount. I write this to myself as well as others, because the Lord knows my heart and I know that I need to grow to maturity in Christ.

Truth is Truth Even if You Refuse to Believe It

Jesus Christ is God in the flesh; that is truth. He really lived and walked on this earth; that is truth which is even documented outside the Bible. He was really crucified; that is truth. He really rose from the dead and ascended into heaven; that is truth. He really is coming again to judge the living and the dead; that is truth. Are you prepared to face the truth? Do you know that even the Scripture says that the demons believe in God, and tremble with fear? The demons have seen God, they know who He is and what power He holds. Yet the demons are still condemned for their disobedience to God. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me." What did He just say? The only way to the heavenly Father is through Christ. You have two options; accept this truth and live by it or reject this truth and be condemned. You can pretend these truths don't exist, but guess what? It doesn't make the truth go away. It is still there, and it is up to you what you do with this truth. Jesus Christ is king! He is a loving and merciful king. He wants you to be a part of His Kingdom. His Father is perfect and Holy, and we can't stand before perfection and holiness, but Christ can make us clean and make us inheritors of eternal life and make us a home in heaven. Praise be to the King of kings, our Lord Jesus Christ!!

Modern Contemporary Consumer-oriented Christianity: I'm Tired of It

Contemporary Christian music is most definitely more focused on the performer than on God or Christ. The performers are glorified on the covers and the inlay cards, and they most usually look just like secular rock performers. There is no separation from the world. The lyrics are usually so ambiguous that the song could either be about their girlfriend or God; that way they get maximum radio play and make more money. This isn't to say that all modern Christian music is wrong or bad, or that all contemporary Christian musicians are in it for the wrong reason, because there are some (a few) genuine and sincere artists. But usually this music leads Christian kids away from godliness and true Christianity and into a worldly form of life. Churches now appeal to people’s lusts and desires and it is based on what is hot in contemporary American culture. This is a far cry from what the church should be. Friendship with the world is enmity with God. 1 John 2:15 reads, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." Don't you think that imitation of the ways of the world is exactly what the above verse is talking about? I don't care how much you argue around the fact that the church needs to be "relevant", the relevancy the modern churches speak of is simply love of the world. What is John speaking of in the verse above? What are the things of the world? Well, what does the music of the world sound like? What does contemporary Christian music sound like? Is it not a mimicking of the music of the world? How do the heathen youth of the world dress? How do the youth in contemporary Christian churches dress? Is it not also a mirror image of the world? These people who advocate "relevant" Christianity defend their reasons for dressing like the world, speaking like the world, listening to the music of the world, etc.; however, they have no defense coming from the Scriptures. It is blatantly obvious that the Bible OVER AND OVER AGAIN calls for our separation from the world and worldly things. I cannot see how imitating the world can do any good for God, but I can see how it is a complete disregarding of what the Scriptures teach. Love of one's own sins is what allows them to enter into a church and worship God they way THEY want and to do things the Lord hates. I have spoken with non-Christians who have said that they think it is stupid when Christians try to mimic the world, try to be "cool", try to be "relevant". The heathen LAUGH at modern versions of Scripture that include modern "relevant" language and they mock the weakness and whiney sound of contemporary Christian "rock". I know this because I am in the U.S. Navy and I speak with non-believers and God rejecters every day. This movement does not bring the world to Christ but brings the people of Christ to the world and causes mass confusion. I believe it will be a contributor to the decline of Christianity in the U.S.; Christianity could soon become a tiny flickering light in a very dark land, a smoldering wick near extinction; but Christ will not leave His Church in this state because He has said He will never leave us or forsake us. However, if we continue to be disobedient to His word and choose to love the world and the things therein, the church will remain only a remnant of true believers and can receive no blessing.

Westminster Moment

About Christian Liberty. So many Christians fall on the doctrine of the liberty which Christians have when confronted with their way of life. They do falsely fall on this liberty, because the liberty spoken of in the New Testament is not the same liberty which these people speak of. As the Westminster Confession of Faith states in Chapter 20, "but under the new testament, the liberty of Christians is further enlarged in their freedom from the yoke of the ceremonial law, to which the Jewish Church was subjected, and in greater access to the throne of grace, and in fuller communications of the free Spirit of God, than believers under the law did ordinarily partake of." Christians presumptuously take liberty in the worship they offer to God, in the way they lead their life, the music they listen to, the television they watch and the commandments of God they choose to obey. This is wrong, and this is not what Christian liberty is. The Confession of Faith goes on to say, "They who, upon pretence of Christian liberty, do practise any sin, or cherish any lust, do thereby destroy the end of Christian liberty; which is, that, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, we might serve the Lord without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life." The liberty which was purchased for us under Christ is the liberty to serve the Lord with our whole life from our heart with love, and freedom from the tedious ceremonial law of the Jews. It is no license to sin. Why would a Christian want to, under the banner of liberty, do the things that the Lord hates and continue the very things which Jesus Christ had to be crucified for in order to save us, his elect children? So, the next time you meet a person who is living with their boyfriend of girlfriend outside of godly marriage, or who continues to disregard baptism, or neglects attending church, or listens to music that the Lord hates, you can be assured that it is not Christian liberty which they practise; they are just still sinners living in sin who need to know Jesus and who need to be enlightened; who need His salvation. There is no halfway Christian, no "almost there" point to Christianity. One is either born again or not. There is such a thing as a maturing and growing Christian who may seem stuck in between both worlds, but even this persons conscience is so made aware of the Lord and His will that he or she feels that they need to discard their old life and continue on with the life message they are receiving from the Holy Spirit. You don't believe me? Then believe what the Bible says. Read the Bible, pray, do some research and then come and discuss with me.

One by One They Fall

It is a sad thing to see converts fall away from the faith so quickly. They spring up with joy so fast, a desire to read the Scriptures, a determination to change their life, and then--nothing. They no longer have joy in the Lord, they no longer spend time in the Scriptures-or very little time, their determination to change things like quitting cursing, using the Lord's name in vain, harsh and perverse joking. Jesus says in John Chapter 3 that we must be born again. After the second birth a person grows, just as a new born baby grows. If there is no evidence in a persons life of regeneration or second birth then there never was a second birth. Just like a newborn baby, the new Christian should be hungry for the milk of the Word. They should be rapidly growing and changing just as a baby does. People who do not grow or desire the milk of the word are those who Christ speaks of in the parable in Luke chapter 8, "A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture." and then "Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection." Jesus knew these things would happen; He warned us. I wish, however, there were more that fit this description, "But the seed that fell on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." I'm glad the Lord knows those who belong to Him. I'm glad that I belong to Him.

The Problem With Some Professing Christians

I had a random urinalysis today and I was sitting with the other people who were waiting for their turn. One person I sat by was a friend and co-worker of mine. I overheard him speaking with the girl next to him about religious stuff. Then he brought me in on the conversation, asking me what I thought about Christians drinking alcohol, and pointed to the verse where Jesus made water into wine. I noted that yes, the wine was more than likely alcoholic because there was no method of purification from fermentation until the 1800's and that the Bible always mentions wine "making the heart merry". I mentioned to them both that the Bible doesn't condemn drinking wine but it warns against getting drunk because being drunk causes the mind to have perverse thoughts, and no one can deny this fact; and drunkenness on many occasions causes many bad memories and sinful moments. The girl began to rail on other Christians for "judging" and being hypocritical, mentioning that many people tell her not to do things when they themselves do them. She wouldn't give a specific incident, which is usually the case with so-called Christians who somehow claim to be Christians but hate other Christians. She also said that sometimes she just doesn't want to go to church and people should leave her alone and not bug her about it. Church might last for an hour, maybe two depending what church service she goes to. She also mentioned that she likes to go to the clubs on Saturday nights, and I'm sure she spends far more than an hour or two at the clubs, yet she complains that people ask her to spend an hour at Church to worship the God who created her. She still claimed to be a Christian, saying that she believes in God. I told her that she should know, then, when she is doing wrong, and that if she is a Christian she should WANT to go to church to worship the God who saved her. The book of James says that "even the demons believe, and tremble". Demons believe in God. As a matter of fact, they have a greater understanding of God's greatness because they are spirits who were once partakers of heavenly things. This doesn't make them good with God, their belief in Him doesn't do one thing for them. They are lost and condemned to hell for eternity. It is so frustrating to hear people who claim to be Christians cut down Christianity and call people hypocrites. These people don't realize that they are being "hypocritical" and confessing their hypocrisy as they judge others. These kinds of people are happy to live in sin. The Church is full of false converts and new Christians who mess up. Christians are not perfect people. They should strive to be godly people, and yes, Jesus does say, "be ye perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect." Unfortunately, I didn't get to say all I wanted to to her. A truly saved person doesn't behave that way. Yes, a saved person will notice hypocrisies and will be disappointed from time to time, but they love Jesus Christ at all times and could never speak a bad word against Him or His Church. So many people have forgotten the greatness of the Lord, our God. He is to be feared, praised, reverenced, loved and obeyed at all times and by all people. So many Christians are in it for themselves, what they can get out of this whole "Jesus thing". I'm afraid these people are in for a big let down. Jesus promised sufferings and persecutions. He also promised eternal life, and that is the prize. Being a Christian is about falling on our faces and saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabbaoth" and giving thanks always. All things come from the Lord and the very breath you just took, the heartbeat that just pumped is because the Lord gave you life, air and the food that you ate this day. Give thanks with a grateful heart and love the Lord.