Where Will Your Soul Be During Your Funeral?

Death.  It happens every day.  And yet, mercifully, it doesn’t hit us close to home every day. Are you dealing with death? With the recent loss of a friend or loved one?  If so, then you know that it’s a very difficult and painful time of life for those left behind.  It is at times such as these that we’re often faced with major questions such as:  

*           Will I ever see that person again?

*           Where do we go from this life?  

The fact of the matter is that God has not left us in the dark about these questions. The problem is that most people either don’t believe the answers or don’t like the answers. But the answers are available. They’re found in the pages of the Holy Bible: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” [Heb 9:27]. Those who die “in their sins” will hear God say the following to them: “depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” [Matt. 25:41]. Those whom God saves…who die having had their sins paid for by Jesus Christ…will hear God say these wonderful words: “Well done thou good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of the Lord” [Matt. 25:21].

How do we know if our sins are paid for by Jesus Christ? When God saves a person He puts His Spirit into that person. They take on a new nature: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” [2Cor. 5:17]. The thinking of a saved person changes. They don’t just turn over a new leaf.  The bad things they used to do become distasteful to them and they have no peace or joy doing those sinful things any longer. Their old friends start to think they’ve ‘become religious’.  

When a person becomes saved, they start to enjoy things they never liked before — things such as being seriously committed to a local church, reading the Bible, spending time with other Christians, and telling everyone around them of their love for their Savior Jesus Christ. They also have a strong desire to warn their friends, families and others about hell and the coming judgment of God. They realize that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to heaven  — just like He said He was: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” [John 14:6].

People whom God saves realize that no amount of human effort can get anyone to heaven: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” [Eph. 2:8-9].  “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” [Isa. 64:6]. Those people who have become new creatures in Christ realize that Jesus died for them personally, and by His death He fully paid for every sin they ever committed or ever will commit: “Christ died for the ungodly” [Rom. 5:6].  ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” [Rom. 8:1].  

Since we cannot usually know the exact moment when we’re going to die, we all should seek God now while we still can cry out to Him to have mercy on our soul: “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near” [Isa. 55:6].  Jesus spoke more about hell than about heaven. He warned people about their need for salvation many times: “And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” [Luke 12:4-5].  Jesus also said that people who thought they were religious or who thought they were OK with God, were in the most danger spiritually: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” [Matt.7:21-23].

You may be offended by the following question but it’s asked out of genuine concern for your eternal spiritual welfare and it’s a question that everyone should seek the answer to: Do you know where your soul will be while they are preaching at your funeral?  You need to know because God warns us in the Bible that: “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” [Heb. 10:31].  “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” [Rev. 20:15].  Have you dealt with death yet – your eventual death?  You need to. We all need to.  

The Bible has the answers we need in order to make sure that we’re dealing with death the way that God says to. Don’t trust this matter to anyone else’s opinion. Lots of people have religions that satisfy themselves. The problem is that their religions don’t satisfy God. Also, many individuals think that because there are so many people in their religion, that they must be OK. But according to the Bible, numbers are a sign of spiritual danger: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” [Matt. 7:13-14].

To God Be The Glory!

Biblical Absolutes — Food for Thought

Here is some food for thought as we celebrate EASTER 2008.   I’m expecting some will want to argue the conclusions in this posting.  My intent is get our collective brains in motion during this special time of the year as we celebrate and remember our Lord’s suffering, crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection.  We’ll begin with three of the chief attributes of God and then draw some logical conclusions.

The information provided here is intended to be thought provoking.

Three Attributes of God are:

Omnipotence – He has the power to do anything He desires (Job 42:2; Luke 1:37).

Omnipresence – He is in all places, all the time (1 Kings 8:27; Psalm 90:2).

Omniscience – He knows all things (1 John 3:20).

Out of these attributes flow His works:

Election – choosing who is saved (John 6:37-40; Eph. 1:4;11; Rom.. 8:29-30; Acts 13:48).

Creation – bringing the universe into existence (Isaiah 44:24; Col. 1:16-18).

Providence – guiding and providing for His creation (Psalm 135:7; Ecc. 3:13; Acts 14:17).

There are natural conclusions to be drawn from God’s attributes.

A. If He is omnipotent, then He has the power to accomplish anything He desires. He can create, alter, or uncreate a universe and all that is in it.

*** Therefore He is able to Create whatever He desires.

B. If He is omnipresent, then nothing is hidden from Him – this means every dimension; all time whether past, present, or future; and every form of existence either thought, action, or substance.

*** Therefore He encompasses all He creates.

C. If He is Omniscient, then He eternally comprehends all things actual as well as potential.

1. All things actual means all things that do exist.

i. This includes all combinations of all objects and events that exist.

a) This includes every dimension; all time whether past, present, or future; and every form of existence either thought, action, or substance.

2. All things potential means all things that could exist.

i. This includes all combinations of all events that might exist but do not.

a) This includes all that exists only in the mind of God but was not chosen by Him (through His creative action) to exist outside of His mind.

*** Therefore, He knows everything about everything He has created.

Conclusion: With all knowledge, God has absolute control over all He encompasses.

In creation God brought into being a finite set of actualities derived from an infinite set of potentialities. (By actuality I mean all that does exists. By potentiality I mean all that could exist.)

A. The combinations of the actualities are not infinite,

1. because the actualities are finite to begin with and are, therefore, incapable of infinite combination.

2. because having been created and set in motion by God the actual number of combinations has been decided upon by Him.

B. None of the actualities are accidental, nor can they be accidental,

1. since accident would suggest something beyond God’s omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience.

2. since accident would imply another creator outside the knowledge, presence, and control of God.

C. None of these actualities can function in a manner that is outside the knowledge, presence, or control of God

1. because they have been brought into being by Him.

2. because God cannot make something greater than He.

*** Therefore all that exists is under His knowledge and control.

All that exists, exists not because of accident, but because God has chosen it to exist.

A. including any result of any combination of events.

1. since that result would have been foreknown and, therefore, brought about by God as He selected the causes that brought that result.

B. Therefore, all results are foreknown; that is, they are known because they are brought about by God, and, by logic, must be what God has caused to occur

1. therefore it is foreknown to occur.

C. This includes those events which are the results of creatures with wills because,

1. no will could exist apart from the knowledge or control of God because God created all wills and/or the condition that provides for the existence of the will.

It follows then that evil is something permitted by God and under His absolute control.

A. Evil is the permitted rebellion against God, yet it is not greater than He, nor is it out of the reach of His control, nor beyond His knowledge.

B. God encompasses all that is, including evil. That is, evil is like a circle within a circle.

1. Evil, apart and separate from God, operates within His controlled realm.

2. Since nothing could exist outside God’s control.

C. Evil, then, operating within the realm of God, can be used by God for His good (Gen. 50:20; Acts 2:23).

Additionally, it also follows, then, that everyone is either elected or not elected into salvation.

A. This is because in God’s infinite control of all things in all time, nothing can exist that He has not brought directly or indirectly into existence, through direct creation or the consequence of His creation.

1. This includes the person with the will to choose or reject God.

i. Each person is created by God with tendencies, preferences, and abilities.

    a) This includes the “tendency” to believe or not as some maintain.

ii. Each person is put, by God, in an environment that is helpful or not helpful to receiving the gospel.

iii. God is aware of all these variables, knows the outcome, and places the person there.

iv. Therefore, salvation is dependent solely upon God.

    a) because God is in control of all variables of all situations including the wills of His creation.

It could be no other way.

What thinkest thee? 

HE IS RISEN!

The “Offer” of the Gospel

(Rom 10:13 KJV) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

We’ve probably all been in churches where the pastor pours out his heart in preaching the Gospel; then at the end of the service, he makes an appeal to those in attendance that the “offer of the Gospel” is open for you…that you should come and receive Christ and become saved.  Many churches, even those touting the reformed doctrines, will claim that the “offer of salvation” is open to all.  I’ve also heard some churches say the offer is sent forth, but only God’s elect will respond to that call. This is true, for if God qualifies a person to respond to the Gospel for salvation, then they will come.

However, the question really is “Does God send the offer of salvation to the entire world?”  Is this what the Bible teaches concerning evangelism? The answer may surprise you because it’s a resounding NO!  Nowhere in the Bible does God make an offer of salvation to anyone. He doesn’t even offer the gospel to His Elect!

“The Bible teaches that the Gospel will be “preached” to the entire world but God will only apply it to the elect.”

The Bible never uses the word “offer” in connection with the Gospel. The word used in conjunction with it is “preached” or “proclaimed.”  Salvation through Jesus Christ is to be proclaimed throughout the world, but never is an offer to be made to accept Him or for salvation.

(Mat 24:14 KJV) And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

(Mat 26:13 KJV) Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. 

(Mark 6:12 KJV) And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

(Mark 16:20 KJV) And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

(Luke 4:44 KJV) And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.

(Acts 8:5 KJV) Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

(Acts 9:20 KJV) And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

(Acts 13:5 KJV) And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

(Acts 14:7 KJV) And there they preached the gospel.

(Col 1:23 KJV) If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

The term “preached” in the New Testament is used sixty times. These ten verses are representative of the entire sixty verses.  The Gospel is preached and there’s never an offer linked to that proclamation.  Nowhere in the Scriptures do we ever find the (blasphemous) idea that God is begging or pleading with sinners to “accept” His Son. 

If God makes no offer of salvation to the non-elect, then neither should we. That’s a false and misleading method of trying to bring people into the Kingdom.  We are to preach and proclaim the Good News, and God makes the application to those that He has predestined.  In other words, we faithfully water and God gives the increase.

This idea of the offer of salvation comes from the belief that spiritually dead people can regenerate themselves by their own free will unto salvation.  They’ll be able to do that when physically dead people can raise themselves back to physical life. And that will never happen!

In Scripture, any time dead people were restored back to physical life, it was God doing it. So reading these resurrections in Scripture, how can someone believe that a spiritually dead person can raise themselves to newness of life? Spiritual resurrection must be done by an outside source, and that source is the Lord Jesus Christ.

(John 10:28 KJV) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

(John 17:2 KJV) As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

Notice what these two verses are teaching. They’re very straightforward:  the Lord Jesus Christ gives eternal life to His children. He doesn’t offer it to the world but He gives it to His children.  Let’s be crystal clear about this: the salvation spoken of in the Gospel is to be preached to the world, but never offered.

To God Be The Glory!

“ALL” — What does it mean in the New Testament?

“ALL”

We are indebtted to Dr. Ken Matto for this word study.  The word “all” in the New Testament is the Greek word “pas” (pas) which depending upon the context carries with it the meaning of “all”; “every”; ”each”; ”everyone”; or ”everything.”  This posting is intended to serve as a supplement for Requested Topic #1: Unconditional Election (http://jeffandcindy.wordpress.com/2006/12/06/requested-topic-1-unconditional-election/) and Requested Topic #2: Limited Atonement (http://jeffandcindy.wordpress.com/2006/12/07/requested-topic-2-limited-atonement/) 

WHEN “ALL” ISN’T ALL!

(Mat 2:3 KJV) When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Did every person in Jerusalem hear the Magi’s message and was everyone troubled?

(Mat 3:5 KJV) Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

(Mark 1:5 KJV) And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

Did everyone in Judaea and all the surrounding region come out to see John the Baptist and then get baptized?

(Mat 10:22 KJV) And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Does this all include Christians?

(Mat 25:31 KJV) When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

(1 Tim 5:21 KJV) I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

Here we see that all the holy angels are the elect angels of God!

(Mark 1:37 KJV) And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

(Rom 3:11 KJV) There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

Does everyone seek Jesus? Better Question does anyone seek Him?

(Rom 5:18 KJV) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Is The second “all” equal in meaning to the first “all”?

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

If I believe I can I fly, should I jump off a building?

(Mark 13:23 KJV) But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

Did Christ tell us exactly when He is returning?

(Luke 2:1 KJV) And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

Did the Inca’s, the Chinese, the American Indians have to pay a tax too?

(Luke 2:10 KJV) And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Does the unbeliever rejoice in Christ or do they celebrate Santa Claus?

When God uses the word “pas”, He qualifies the use of it.  

________________________________________________________________

When “All” is “All”!

(Luke 2:20 KJV) And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

The Shepherds rejoiced over all the things they heard and saw.

(Luke 2:47 KJV) And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

Those who were present to hear the words of Christ in the temple.

(Luke 3:16 KJV) John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

Here we see that John the Baptist spoke to all who heard him.

(1 Cor 10:1 KJV) Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

Did not all the Israelites pass through the Red Sea and were under the cloud as spoken of in Exodus? (Exo 40:36 KJV) And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:

(Rom 9:6 KJV) Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

Here God speaks of two Israels. He states that not all those of national or physical Israel are of the Israel of God, which is the redeemed body of Christ.

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We’ve taken a few verses and we have seen that God uses the word “all” in two ways: First, to show completeness of what’s in view (when all is all); secondly, to show a completeness within a particular subset (when all is not all).  Here’s an example of that:

The news comes on and reports that an airliner crashed in New York City and all were killed. Who was killed? Those in the airliner or all those in New York City?  Can you see the principle of completeness within the context of a particular subset? The inhabitants of the plane were killed but not everyone in New York City. The same careful methods of application must be applied to biblical interpretation; otherwise, we come to incorrect conclusions. The unfortunate reality is that many Christians neglect this method of interpretation.   

Happy Palm Sunday to ALL

The Gospel: What It Is NOT!

Today’s posting addresses what the gospel of Jesus Christ is NOT.  This is the most important of all questions because upon it hinges the eternal destiny of our souls. (see the related topic from 11 March 2007).

If we do not OBEY that Gospel, we are damned for all eternity:

“… the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” [2Thess 1:7-9] 

 

However, even if we know what the Gospel is, we cannot obey the Gospel perfectly in and of ourselves. Wonderfully, Jesus Christ obeyed the Gospel perfectly, on behalf of those He came to save. Those whom Christ saves are then supposed go out into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature – to all those whom God puts in their path as they journey through life. Therefore believers in Christ need to know what this Gospel is so that they can present it to others, as clearly and accurately as possible.Many people, who may be genuine Christians, often do not have a proper understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They do not fully understand what it is that saves a soul or how it is that God performs His work of salvation in a person. Just like Apollos, they need to be instructed in the way of God more perfectly:

“And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.”[Acts 18:24-26]

WHAT THE GOSPEL IS NOT

A helpful way to understand the Gospel is to point out some common misconceptions about salvation. The true Gospel of Jesus Christ is none of the following, no matter how many people may be saying these things:

1. God has a wonderful plan for your life.
2. God loves the sinner but hates the sin.
3. You can be saved anytime you want just by accepting Christ.
4. Say some “sinner’s prayer” and if you really mean it, you are saved.
5. Anyone who believes in God (according to just about any religion) will get to heaven.
6. Anyone who is a “good” person will get to heaven.
7. Anyone who believes in Jesus and calls Jesus “Lord” is a Christian.

Let us look in more detail at these things that the Gospel is NOT:

Misconception #1: God has a wonderful plan for your life.

In truth, God might a plan for your life that you may not like in the least – if you are not among those whom Christ came to save. Even true believers are told throughout the Bible that all who live godly lives in Christ can expect to be persecuted, while the unsaved may live lives full of material blessings and other blessings. Ultimately, those who die lost can expect their lives in eternity to be most miserable…

Romans 9:22 – “What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:”

Romans 2:5-6 – “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:”

Prov 29:1 - “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

What is God’s plan for your life? Do you know? Are you seeking the Lord while He may be found?

Misconception #2: God loves the sinner but hates the sin.

In truth, God hates the workers of iniquity AND their wicked works…

Psalm 5:5 – “The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.”

Psalm 11:5 – “The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.”

Prov 15:9 – “The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.”

Does God love you or are you still spiritually lost and living according to your own standards or your church’s standards instead of according to the Bible?

Misconception #3: You can be saved anytime you want just by accepting Christ.

In truth, salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9), not of man. God alone determines who He will save and when He will save them. God is the giver of all life, both physical life and spiritual life. No one is born into His kingdom unless He orchestrates everything necessary for that birth to occur…

1Cor 15:8 – “And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.”

John 1:13 – “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Eph 1:4-5 – “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”

We don’t accept Christ and His rule in our lives until He first accepts us and converts our rebellious hearts:

Ephesians 1:5 – “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

Has Christ accepted you yet? How do you know?

Misconception #4: Say some “sinner’s prayer” and if you really mean it, you are saved.

In truth, God will have mercy on whom He will have mercy. God doe not owe anyone salvation. Nor does a person’s prayer cause God to do something, otherwise that person would be more sovereign than God…

Romans 9:15,18 - “For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.”

Daniel 4:35 – “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?”

Your motives for saying some prayer may be entirely selfish. You may have no desire whatsoever to repent and come under the Lordship of Christ – you may only be trying to avoid judgment without having to turn from your sins. In fact, since the human heart is so corrupt and so easily deceived, you may not even know what you are really saying or doing, for as the Bible says:

Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Proverbs 28:9 – “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.”

When you pray, do you know if God hears you? Your prayers are an abomination to God if you are still living in rebellion to Him.

Misconception #5: Anyone who believes in God (according to just about any religion) will get to heaven.

In truth, you must believe in Jesus, the Jesus of the Bible, and Him alone. Believing in a man made Jesus such as the Jesus of Catholicism, Mormonism, or Jehovah’s Witnesses will save no one…

Acts 4:12 – “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

John 14:6 – “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

John 14:9 – “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?”

Acts 17:2-3 – “And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.”

Acts 2:36 – “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Col 1:13-19 – “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;”

Gal 1:8 – “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

John 4:24 - “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

When, and only when God converts a sinner, do they have a proper relationship to God and do they accurately understand who Christ is, especially as their Lord, as eternal God, who became their sin-bearer, their substitute and all-sufficient Saviour from the eternal wrath of an infinitely holy God. So, only a converted sinner whom God has put His Spirit in, is capable of believing in God properly – in spirit and in truth.

Which God do you believe in? The God of the Bible or a god invented by you or your church.

Misconception #6: Anyone who is a “good” person will get to heaven.

In truth, no one is good in God’s eyes…

Romans 3:10&23 – “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: … For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Isaiah 64:6 - “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

Isaiah 59:1-2 – “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

God’s standards of righteousness and holiness are far higher than man’s standards. According to God’s standard, committing just ONE sin qualifies a person for hell for all eternity:

James 2:10 – “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

God expects perfection, something we are all incapable of:

Matt 5:48 – “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

This puts us in a hopeless situation, unless Christ grants us a complete pardon for all our sins but that pardon cannot be granted without someone paying for our sins. That someone is Christ who paid the complete penalty for all the sins of all of His people:

Matt 1:21 – “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”

Are you one of His people? How do you know?

Misconception #7: Anyone who believes in Jesus and calls Jesus “Lord” is a Christian.

In truth, if God does not convert the person’s heart, they are none of His. They must have been born spiritually by the Spirit of God, so that they know the One whom they believe in and so that they will be able, willing and anxious to serve Him as their Lord. They must serve Christ according to what the Bible says, not necesssarily according to what their church may  teach…

Matt 7:21-23 – “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

James 2:19 – “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

Do you believe in the Jesus who saves people without the help of anyone else?

To God Be The Glory!

The Gospel: What It Is!

This Spreading God’s Word posting addresses the gospel of Jesus Christ…and what it is.  This is the most important of all questions because upon it hinges the eternal destiny of our souls. 

If we do not OBEY that Gospel, we are damned for all eternity: “… the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” [2Thess 1:7-9]  

However, even if we know what the Gospel is, we cannot obey the Gospel perfectly in and of ourselves. Wonderfully, Jesus Christ obeyed the Gospel perfectly, on behalf of those He came to save. Those whom Christ saves are then supposed go out into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature – to all those whom God puts in their path as they journey through life. Therefore believers in Christ need to know what this Gospel is so that they can present it to others, as clearly and accurately as possible. Many people who may be genuine Christians often do not have a proper understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They do not fully understand what it is that saves a soul or how it is that God performs His work of salvation in a person. Just like Apollos, they need to be instructed in the way of God more perfectly: “And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” [Acts 18:24-26]

WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

The Gospel or Good News of Jesus Christ is God’s plan of salvation and it can be summarized as follows:

1. ALL are spiritually lost – all have sinned and are unfit for heaven. (Rom. 3:10-23)

2. God is holy and NO SIN can be in His presence. So even one sin qualifies me for eternal separation from God (James 2:10)

3. ETERNAL punishment in hell is the penalty for sin. (Luke 12:4-5, Rev. 14:11, Rev. 20:15)

4. No works, no human effort of any kind can provide salvation, nor can anyone participate in their salvation (Eph. 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, Isa. 59:1-12, Rom. 10:3)

5. Only a Divine substitute who takes the punishment for ALL my sins can eliminate the need for me to go to hell (Isa. 43:11, Isa. 63:5)

6. Jesus Christ – and ONLY Christ – is that Divine substitute – the “Lamb of God”. (Isa. 43:11, Luke 2:11, Acts 4:12, Isa. 53, John 1:29, Titus 2:13, 3:6)

“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

God is the One who opens our blind eyes to the truth of who God is and who we are and He does this by regenerating our spiritually dead soul:

John 11:25-26 – “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

God does everything when it comes to a person becoming saved:

Ezekiel 36:25-27 – “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” John 16:7-8 – “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment”

God has chosen to use believers to get this gospel (or “good news”) out, to sow it in men’s hearts:

Mark 4:15 – “And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.”

Once we have preached the Gospel to someone it is up to God to do what He wills with our seed sowing. Nevertheless, we are obligated to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers to water the seed that we sow and to pray to God to have mercy on the souls of men just as Moses interceded for Israel. When it is God’s time to save someone, He will give them new life from above. He will put His Spirit in them.

What Gospel are YOU trusting in?

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” [Galatians 1:8-9]

To God Be The Glory!