Trusting in Christ

[Coconut]

Hi Family,

I felt it would be good to provide a study on the subject of salvation by setting forth why no person can be saved by anything they can do in their own efforts. Until this truth is realized, the struggle over salvation will always be there. Let's talk about it.

This is Bible Study DU005 - Trusting in Christ.

The subject title is the seed truth. It is the very essence of Biblical salvation. Being saved has nothing to do with anything we can offer to God. What can a sinful race offer to a holy God. Everything we touch is imbued with sin. Our unsaved hearts are hearts of sinners. The human race is charged with sin, infected by sin, directed by sin, and corrupted by sin. What can our sinful hands offer to God what would not be an offering of sin? Nothing at all. We are bankrupt of any righteousness.

So, what can we offer God with a view to salvation? What do we sinful creatures have that would be good enough for God to accept us? Again the answer is, nothing. We can't clean ourselves up. There is nothing on our part that we can do to be accepted by God. Until we recognize this basic truth, we will never understand what salvation is all about.

Let's press this further. Nobody prays through to salvation. Speaking in tongues has never been an issue of salvation. Fasting and prayer are not issues of salvation. Having uncut hair does not get God's attention. Whether you drink or smoke has nothing to do with salvation. Going to movies or not going to movies is not a thing of salvation. No matter what we may think about these things, they have no relationship to salvation itself. No person ever becomes good enough to get saved.

So let me repeat -- We are powerless in ourselves to think that anything good can come from us. Salvation can only come from God Himself. He alone is righteous and without sin. He alone is good.

Stop and think about what John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus, and the apostles all taught on the issue of salvation. They were addressing a Jewish audience. The Jews hung their hats about being saved on the merits of Abraham. Without quoting a lot of Scripture, let me simply share what Paul said concerning both Jews and Gentiles:

"There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one." Paul is quoting from the Psalms.

Did you see it? There is none. There is none. There is none, not even one.

Paul's point was that until the Jews realized that they were just as lost as the pagans, they themselves could not be saved. Why is that? Because salvation can only come from God Himself. And the sinful state of Adam had casts its shadow across the whole of mankind. In fact all unsaved people are under the power and authority of a spiritual being beside God. Satan is actually called the god of this world.

Paul brings this out in Ephesians 2, where he says, "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest."

Have we nailed this issue down firm enough? Once again, until a person realizes that they cannot be saved by any effort of their own, they will remain stupefied in how to be saved. What then is the answer? The answer never changes. Salvation is trusting wholly in Christ and in His Lordship. Reading a bit further in Ephesians 2, we hear Paul say this:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

Now for the argument. It goes this way, 'But, that is too easy. Anyone can say they trust in Christ. Where is their experience? Where is their holiness? Where is their witness of speaking in tongues? Where is their separation from the world? Where is their...where is their...where is their...???'

Do you see the problem with the argument of 'Where is?' All these responses continue to miss the message of salvation. What then is the central message of salvation? John 3:16,17 sums it up; "For God so loved the world, that He gave His own begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the he world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him."

Did you catch it? Salvation is through the Son alone. The Son took the place of the human race. The Son took to Himself our separation from God. The Son died in our place. The Son was judged with our judgment. The Son was declared sin so that we could be declared right before God. The Son resurrected from the dead as a sign that judgment had been met. The Son entered back into heaven. And the Son is now Lord of all. He is above all. He has all authority in heaven and on earth.

So how then are we saved? We are saved by appealing to the Son. This is why the prophet said, and, by the way, was quoted by both Peter and Paul, "And it shall be, that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Cf. Acts 2:21; Rom10:13)

Out of the cross came the eternal law of salvation. It is the one law that Satan hopes no person ever sees clearly. This is why he keeps adding religious ritual to religious ritual, condition upon condition, law upon law, tradition upon tradition, and anything else he can throw into the mix. He knows that any person who calls upon the Lord Jesus Christ by view of salvation, will be saved. It is as simple as that.

Satan knows it. We need to know it. We need to be able to preach this simply message of faith in Christ to the harlot, to the beggar, to the drunkard, to the sinner of the deepest cut. This is the one message that carries the authority of heaven in it. This is the true message of salvation.

Did you know that the apostle placed a curse upon anyone who would preach any message of salvation aside from calling upon the Lord? Every works-righteousness preacher likes to fire-blast the peoples with, "Though we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed." They do this to prop up their own distorted message of salvation. But these same preachers do not understand what they are saying.

Paul is saying that if a preacher adds one iota to the salvation message other than faith in Christ alone, that is, anything other than our calling upon the Lord Jesus, this preacher has mispreached the gospel message. And he has placed himself under a curse.

Let's take a moment to clarify this statement of 'Though we or an angel.' Listen again to Galatians 1:8, "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed." (Paul repeats himself in verse 9)

The key statement is 'What we have preached to you.' I would challenge any person who is still struggling over the salvation message, to make a review of Acts to see what the apostles actually preached. They all preached the same message. Paul sets this message forth in Romans 10, by tell us what the apostles preached. Listen carefully:

"But what does it say? 'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart' -- that is, the word of faith WHICH WE ARE PREACHING, that, if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." (Rom10:8-10. Caps for emphasis.)

Now listen to what Peter says at the council of Jerusalem in Acts 15; "After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, 'Why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are."

In bringing this part of the study to a close, let me offer an adage that places salvation where it belongs. The saying goes, "We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone." Add anything to that simple statement of salvation and we no longer have Biblical salvation.

Think about it. The study is open for discussion. Feel free to share your thoughts.

Blessings


Christian Challenge International

 

[jiggyfly]

Great article Coconut. I like what Paul says to the believers at Colosse.

Colossians 1:18-23
18 Christ is the head of the church, which is his body. He is the first of all who will rise from the dead,* so he is first in everything. 19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20 and by him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood on the cross. 21 This includes you who were once so far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions, 22 yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through his death on the cross in his own human body. As a result, he has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. 23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed by God to proclaim it.

There is so much being declared here by Paul, but I want to make mention of just a couple of them. In verse 20 Paul states in past tense that God has reconciled all things to Himself and made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by Jesus' blood on the cross. That means that everything necessary concerning reconciliation is already done. Paul then goes on to say (verses 21&22) that Jesus has brought those who were enemies back as faultless friends into the presence of Father. So when were you reconciled back to Father? Was it when you believed? I say no, it was at the moment Jesus died on the cross. Reconciliation took place at the cross but you were assured of this when you received and believed this Truth of the gospel by HolySpirit.

Another aspect of this statement is that we were all brought by Christ into Father's presence at the time of the cross. The confirmation of this is when the veil in the old covenant temple that seperated the holy of holies from the rest of the temple was torn into. The reality of this is the pentecost that followed and Father poured out His Spirit on all flesh. Many today are yet unaware of Father's presence, and some even deny it, but that doesn't change the Truth or the reality of it. HolySpirit continues to reveal this Truth and His presence which is the essence of the Gospel.

Receiving and believing in this Truth is a huge victory and portion of the path that leads to abundant life. Believing in this Truth is to cease from the carnal work of trying to enjoy fellowship with Father on your own recognizance. Thinking that you can behave a certain way to qualify or justify fellowship with Father is in direct rebellion to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:4-6
4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds. 5 With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ. 6 And we will punish those who remained disobedient after the rest of you became loyal and obedient.

This is what Paul meant when he instructed us to continue in the faith. Faith in what? Not what but whom? Jesus the Christ, the Holy Lamb of God that was slain for us, making us faultless in the very presence of Father.

 

[judgement]

i pray this article helps

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Are you truly a believer?
jim wright
(Matthew 7:21-23 NIV) "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. {22} Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' {23} Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

I want to look at that statement Jesus made. First Jesus says that these people will call Him Lord. I think this means that these people know who He is. Further they will remind Him that they did works in His name, such as prophesying and driving out demons and other miracles. I believe these are people who believe they are Christians. I think that these will be both leaders and followers.


How could this happen? I think it is happening right now before our very eyes and in fact is happening because of our actions. Christianity has become a consumer religion. You can go to any Christian book store and find many books on how to market your church. How to draw in the people and how to keep them coming back week after week.

The problem is that we have cheapened the gospel and belittled the cross of Jesus and what He did for us! We no longer call the unsaved "sinners", instead we market our churches to seekers. We no longer tell people that they are sinners and are doomed to an eternity in hell because they have been sentenced to spiritual death by a Just, Holy and Righteous God.

We only speak about God's unconditional love. Yes God's love is unconditional, but His acceptance of us is not unconditional, it is conditioned on our repentance and faith in His Son Jesus. We don't mention repentance anymore, we tell people all they have to do is accept Jesus as their Savior. All they have to do is accept the free gift that God is offering them. We don't tell people that they must turn from their sins. That is part of what it means to repent of our sins, but if we don't ever mention repentance how are they to know? Accepting Christ sounds good but what does it mean?

Look at the story of the demoniac whom Jesus delivered: (Mark 5:2-8 NIV) When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. {3} This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. {4} For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. {5} Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. {6} When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. {7} He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" {8} For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!" Notice that the demons accepted that Jesus was who He claimed to be: Son of the Most High God. So is it enough for a person to accept that Jesus is God's Son? (James 2:19 NIV) You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. Fallen angels are not afforded the opportunity to repent, but my point is still the same, just believing is not enough.

Jesus taught us that we must believe on Him, but that is not the only thing He taught: (Luke 13:2-5 NIV) Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? {3} I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. {4} Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them--do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? {5} I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." (Luke 15:7 NIV) I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Don't be fooled by the feel good gospel. We are saved by faith through the grace of God, when we repent of our sins. This is what the Holy Spirit said through Paul: (Acts 20:21 NIV) I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. Anything less than repentance from our sins is worthless. It is like standing on a sinking ship and saying that you believe that the life boat will save you, but never getting into it. The first step is done, but you need to follow through on that faith.

We apologize for the harsh language in the Bible about death, hell, eternal torment and wrath. We present a gentler, kinder more loving God, or at least that is what we think we are doing. We are lying to ourselves. Which is a more loving God, one who accepts us as we are, or one whose Holy nature demands death as payment for our sins, but who loved us enough to pay that price Himself? See what I mean? We have a loving God, who has shown His boundless love for us, why do we try so hard to block out His holy wrath against sin?

In fact we minimize sin. Sin is nothing more then the mistakes we have all made. No! Sin is an offense against a Holy God which must be paid for and the payment is death!! We also tend to give the impression that God needs our love or our company. We give a picture of God pining away in heaven begging 'seekers' to please come to Him. That is not an accurate picture of the Most High God. He pines for no one, He begs no one, rather He demands that we repent and place faith in His Son. (Ezekiel 18:4 NIV) For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son--both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die.

People are no longer saved, they just become Christians, like joining a social club. After all if they don't have any sins to repent of and God has no righteous wrath, what in the world are they being saved from?

We end up with a bunch of weak Christians. Their past haunts them because they were not set free. They struggle with sin in their lives because they were not changed. They don't understand the Bible when they try to read it and so don't try very often, and the reason is that the Bible is understood spiritually and they are still dead spiritually.

This can be seen clearly in the defeated lives many Christians live. Yet the Bible clearly tells us that those who are redeemed are free: (1 John 5:3-5 NIV) This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, {4} for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. {5} Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. If you are not free from the past, if you have not overcome the world, but instead it is overcoming you, then maybe you need to go back to the foot of the cross in repentance and find the freedom Christ paid for.



Today the cross is a symbol of God's love not an instrument of death. Jesus said to be His disciples we must take up our cross daily, but people romanticize it. They think it means to identify with Christ. No! It means to put your flesh to death daily so that you may live spiritually through His Spirit!

We don't tell people that they need to work at their relationship with God, because that sounds so legalistic. Well any relationship you don't work at won't be a good relationship. We tell people that they are unconditionally accepted by God once they come to Christ, yet we ignore all the passages in the New Testament which speak of holiness and righteousness, they are just too harsh for sensitive new believers or for that matter 'mature' believers. Passages like this: (James 4:4 NIV) You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. But we are quick to quote this passage: (Romans 8:1-2 NIV) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, {2} because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Don't get me wrong, that is a wonderful passage and of course it is true, but we take it out of all context and try to use it to say that we are fully justified and fully accepted no matter what kind of life we lead now. That is a LIE!!

God makes it clear what He expects from us: (1 Peter 1:14-16 NIV) As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. {15} But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; {16} for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." He leaves no doubt as to what the consequences are of disobedience either: (Hebrews 10:26-27 NIV) If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, {27} but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

Does this all seem too harsh? It is true that people might start fearing God, but is that all bad? (Proverbs 1:7 NIV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 15:33 NIV) The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor. (Proverbs 19:23 NIV) The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble. Why don't we teach what God's word says?

We are so afraid that God's word will turn people off that we refuse to state the truth to them. Yet what good does it do them to think they know who God is and to think that they are on their way to heaven if in fact they have no idea who God is and are still under His righteous wrath?



Satan has deceived the church into thinking that the old time gospel is going to chase people away from God, and that for a new enlightened age we need a new gospel. The message that it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God is no longer taught. We candy coat the message to appeal to more people, but we never give them a fighting chance to know the truth, or escape judgment.



If you are a shepherd and you have been soft pedaling the gospel, even if it was done with the best of intentions, quit. Start preaching the gospel that saves sinners from torment in hell! You will be held to a higher standard because of the position you hold, don't allow fear of the gospel's abrasiveness to keep you from proclaiming it as it is meant to be proclaimed. (James 3:1 NIV) Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

True repentance and salvation will be evidenced in the person's life. God has not changed, He is still in the business of changing lives. If you are seeing many converts but few changed lives, then you are really seeing few converts!! (Ephesians 5:6-10 NIV) Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. {7} Therefore do not be partners with them. {8} For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light {9} (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) {10} and find out what pleases the Lord.

 

[judgement]

salvation here is some scriptures

the gospel of Jesus Christ, Christ died, was buried, and rose again the third day.

moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. for I delivered unto you first of all which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried , and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures"( 1st Corinthians 15:1-4).IN WHOM YOU ALSO TRUSTED , AFTER THAT YOU HEARD THE WORD OF TRUTH, THE GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION: IN WHOM ALSO AFTER THAT YOU BELIEVED, YOU WERE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE. Ephesians 1:12-13). THAT THE GOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE FATHER OF GLORY, MAY GIVE UNTO YOU THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM. Ephesians 1:17).

but I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. for I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ." Galatians 1:11-12).

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of god to salvation to everyone that believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

for the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of god.

But as many as received him, JESUS) to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: john 1:-12}.

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. john 1:13}.

JESUS said this in the book of Luke (24:44-47). Then he said to them, these are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of MOSES and the PROPHETS and the PSALMS must be FULFILLED." then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, THUS IT IS WRITTEN, that the CHRIST should SUFFER and on the THIRD DAY RISE FROM THE DEAD, and that REPENTANCE and FORGIVENESS of SINS should be PROCLAIMED IN HIS NAME TO ALL NATIONS, BEGINNING FROM JERUSALEM.

REPENTANCE IS A CHANGE OF HEART/mind WHICH CAUSES YOU TO TURN TOWARD GOD AND AWAY FROM YOUR PRESENT SINFUL WAY OF LIFE, AND TURNING TO CHRIST FOR FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS.

TESTIFYING BOTH TO THE JEWS, AND ALSO TO THE GREEKS, REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD, AND FAITH TOWARD OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. acts 20:21). BUT SHOWED first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the gentiles, that they should REPENT AND TURN TO GOD, AND DO WORKS MEET SUITABLE) FOR REPENTANCE. ACTS 26:20).


Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted, but the sorrow of the WORLD PRODUCES DEATH. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10.

2. Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of GOD leads you to repentance. Romans 2:4

Why do we need a savior, God says for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23}.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by Sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have SINNED. Romans 5:12}.

FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH;" Romans 6:23}.

For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. Ecclesiastes 7:20}.

WE need JESUS because of our heart condition. THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS, AND DESPERATELY WICKED: WHO CAN KNOW IT?" Jeremiah 17:9).

FOR FROM WITHIN, OUT OF THE HEART OF MEN, PROCEED EVIL THOUGHTS, ADULTERIES, FORNICATIONS, MURDERS, THEFTS, COVETOUSNESS, WICKEDNESS, DECEIT, LASCIVIOUSNESS, AN EVIL EYE, BLASPHEMY, PRIDE, FOOLISHNESS: ALL THESE EVIL THINGS COME FROM WITHIN, AND DEFILE THE MAN. mark 7:21-23).

GOD SAID THESE PEOPLE WHO DIE IN THESE SINS WILL NOT GET INTO HEAVEN.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, Fornication, Uncleanness, Lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, Hatred, Variance, emulations, Wrath, Strife, Seditions, Heresies, Envying, Murders, Drunkenness, Revel lings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. GALATIANS 5:19-21).

BUT the FEARFUL, and UNBELIEVING, and the ABOMINABLE, and MURDERS, and WHOREMONGERS, and SORCERERS, and IDOLATERS, and all LIARS, shall have their part in the LAKE WHICH BURNETH WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE: WHICH IS THE SECOND DEATH. revelations 21:8).

AND even as they did not like to retain GOD in their KNOWLEDGE, GOD gave them over to a REPROBATE mind, to do those things which are not CONVENIENT; being filled with all UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, FORNICATION, WICKEDNESS, COVETOUSNESS, MALICIOUSNESS; FULL OF ENVY, MURDER, DEBATE, DECEIT, MALIGNITY; WHISPERERS BACKBITERS, HATERS OF GOD, DESPITEFUL, PROUD, BOASTERS, INVENTORS OF EVIL THINGS, DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING, COVENANT BREAKERS, WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION, IMPLACABLE, UNMERCIFUL:

WHO KNOWING THE JUDGMENT OF GOD, THAT THEY WHICH COMMIT SUCH THINGS ARE WORTHY OF DEATH, NOT ONLY DO THE SAME, BUT HAVE PLEASURE IN THEM THAT DO THEM. Romans 1:28-32).

"FOOLS MAKE A MOCK AT SIN. proverbs 14:9}.

AND AS IT IS APPOINTED UNTO MEN ONCE TO DIE, BUT AFTER THIS THE JUDGMENT:. Hebrews 9:27).

AND THIS IS WHY A MAN AND A WOMAN DO NOT COME TO JESUS FOR SALVATION. AND THIS IS THE CONDEMNATION: THAT LIGHT Jesus) IS COME INTO THE WORLD, AND MEN LOVED DARKNESS RATHER THAN THE LIGHT, BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL.

FOR EVERY ONE THAT DOETH EVIL HATETH THE LIGHT, NEITHER COMETH TO THE LIGHT, LEST HIS DEEDS SHOULD BE REPROVED.

BUT HE THAT DOETH TRUTH COMETH TO THE LIGHT, THAT HIS DEEDS MAY BE MADE MANIFEST, THAT THEY ARE WROUGHT IN GOD. john 3:19-21).

A warning from GOD to those that don't believe in the gospel and why.

In whom the god Satan), of this world hath BLINDED the minds of them which BELIEVE NOT, least the light of the GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF CHRIST, who is the IMAGE OF GOD, SHOULD SHINE UNTO THEM.{2 Corinthians 4:4}.

Because of our SIN, we DESERVE DEATH, ETERNAL PUNISHMENT, the WRATH OF GOD. But GOD, because he loves us, has provided a means to have eternal life with him. that means is the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

BUT GOD commendeth his love toward us, in that, while WE were yet SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US." Romans 5:8).

FOR CHRIST also hath once SUFFERED for SINS, the JUST for the UNJUST, that he might bring us to GOD, being put to DEATH in the FLESH, but quickened by the SPIRIT."(1 peter 3:18).

what will the blood of JESUS do?
WHOM GOD hath set forth to be a propitiation through FAITH IN HIS BLOOD." Romans 3:25).

UNTO him that LOVED us, and WASHED us from our SINS IN HIS OWN BLOOD", revelation 1:5).

AND the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin."(1 JOHN 1:7).

IN whom we have redemption through his BLOOD, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS." Ephesians 1:7).

AND having made PEACE through the BLOOD OF HIS CROSS, by him to RECONCILE all things unto HIMSELF," Colossians 1:20).

MUCH MORE THEN, BEING NOW JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, WE SHALL BE SAVED FROM WRATH THROUGH HIM." Romans 5:9).

AGAIN you must RECEIVE HIM. nobody is born into salvation you must be BORN AGAIN OF GODS SPIRIT.

BEING BORN AGAIN, NOT OF CORRUPTIBLE SEED, BUT INCORRUPTIBLE, BY THE WORD OF GOD, WHICH LIVETH AND ABIDETH FOR EVER.(1 peter 1:23).

THAT if thou shalt confess with thy MOUTH the LORD JESUS, and shalt BELIEVE in thine HEART that GOD hath RAISED him from the DEAD, thou shalt be SAVED. FOR with the HEART MAN believeth unto RIGHTEOUSNESS; Jesus) and with the MOUTH CONFESSION is made unto SALVATION. FOR the SCRIPTURE saith, WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH ON HIM SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED.

FOR WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the LORD SHALL BE SAVED. Romans 10:9-13).

DEAR soul, you cannot earn the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD by good DEEDS, CHURCH MEMBERSHIP, SACRAMENTS, BAPTISM, or ANYTHING that YOU DO. IF YOU DO SOMETHING FOR IT, then it is SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

THE BIBLE SAYS, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to HIS MERCY HE SAVED US." Titus 3:5).

BUT to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for RIGHTEOUSNESS." Romans 4:5).

EVEN the RIGHTEOUSNESS of GOD which is by FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST UNTO ALL AND UPON ALL THEM THAT BELIEVE." Romans 3:22).

FOR by grace are you SAVED through FAITH; and that not of YOURSELVES: it is the GIFT of GOD: not of WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST. Ephesians 2:8).

know you not that the UNRIGHTEOUS shall not inherit the KINGDOM OF GOD. BE NOT DECEIVED: NEITHER FORNICATORS, NOR IDOLATERS, NOR ADULTERERS, NOR EFFEMINATE, NOR ABUSERS OF THEMSELVES WITH MANKIND, NOR THIEVES, NOR COVETOUS, NOR DRUNKARDS, NOR REVILERS, NOR EXTORTIONERS, SHALL INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.(1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

AND the WICKED SHALL BE TURNED INTO HELL" psalm 9:17).

AND WHOSOEVER WAS NOT FOUND WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. revelations 20:15).

MY prayer is that you go to your BIBLES and read the SCRIPTURES, the HOLY SCRIPTURES, which are able to make you WISE unto SALVATION THROUGH FAITH WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS.

ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS: THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE PERFECT, THOROUGHLY FURNISHED UNTO ALL GOOD WORKS.(2 timothy 3:15-17).

21But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

22All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.

23Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

24But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

26When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.

27Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

28Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Ezekiel 18:21-28

8Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Hebrews 13:8

3I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:3

12And they went out, and preached that men should repent. mark 6:12

15And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. mark 1:15

 

[jiggyfly]

Don't be fooled by the feel good gospel. We are saved by faith through the grace of God, when we repent of our sins. This is what the Holy Spirit said through Paul: (Acts 20:21 NIV) I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. Anything less than repentance from our sins is worthless. It is like standing on a sinking ship and saying that you believe that the life boat will save you, but never getting into it. The first step is done, but you need to follow through on that faith.

We apologize for the harsh language in the Bible about death, hell, eternal torment and wrath. We present a gentler, kinder more loving God, or at least that is what we think we are doing. We are lying to ourselves. Which is a more loving God, one who accepts us as we are, or one whose Holy nature demands death as payment for our sins, but who loved us enough to pay that price Himself? See what I mean? We have a loving God, who has shown His boundless love for us, why do we try so hard to block out His holy wrath against sin?

In fact we minimize sin. Sin is nothing more then the mistakes we have all made. No! Sin is an offense against a Holy God which must be paid for and the payment is death!! We also tend to give the impression that God needs our love or our company. We give a picture of God pining away in heaven begging 'seekers' to please come to Him. That is not an accurate picture of the Most High God. He pines for no one, He begs no one, rather He demands that we repent and place faith in His Son. (Ezekiel 18:4 NIV) For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son--both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die.

The article is well written and in line with most protestant beliefs, it just doesn't line up with the scriptures or Father's stature. It still focuses on sin rather than the Savior and on the individual's ability to ask for forgiveness for sin. I too, used to believe this because I was taught this way from an early age (9), there was a struggle and God tore down what man had built and I had to make a choice. Stay and rebuild what God tore down or move to where God is building. I'm not sure when or how the "good news" became more focused on what we were "saved from" then what we have been reconcile to. Did the thief on the cross repent of his sins?

 

[stephen]

Simply trusting every day
Trusting through a pilgrim way
Even when my faith is small
Trusting Jesus.......that is all

Singing if my way is clear
Praying if the path is drear
If in danger for him call
Trusting Jesus, that is all

Trusting him while life shall last
Trusting him till earth be past
Till within the golden wall
Trusting Jesus, that is all