I am reminded by this post that during the holocaust the officials saw the horrific responses of the guards who had to kill the Jews. The officials knew that the guards were having emotional responses that caused them to not be able to carry out their killing. When they had to murder people face to face day after day it was having serious psychological affects on them, making their army weaker and unable to carry out their duty to kill.
In response to this realization the authorities devised a way the guards could kill without seeing their victims, therefore developing the gas chamber in which the guards could administer lethal poison to the people without seeing or hearing their screams.
This is basically why abortion has been so widely accepted, the mothers don't have to see their dead babies, the screams in the womb or afterward when the body is placed in a dumpster. On the other hand one has to wonder of the monstrous wickedness in a doctor who does the taring apart of the infant as its mouth cries out in pain while its limbs are being torn apart.
There have been abortion doctors affected by these monstrous thoughts who could no longer do it. They were the ones with a conscience and a measure of compassion. The there are those who keep on doing it day in and day out every year, piling up their bank account while living in mansions off of the tiny little backs of dead human beings.
I praise God that one day there will be justice as I pray for the salvation for those doctors who are influenced and dominated by the devil. May the Lord open their eyes to their own evil and bring them to repentance.
Thank you Trudi for this story, it is the extreme that brings us to the logical conclusion.
Trudi Gretsinger said this:
READ THIS NEW YORK!!!
I love this story.....never gets old.....So much truth in this....
A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said:.....
Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 1 year old and I'm pregnant again. I don't want kids so close together.
So the doctor said:............Okay and what do you want me to do?
She said:........I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this.
The doctor thought for a little, and after some silence he said to the lady:.......
I think I have a better solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you too........
She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request. Then he continued:.....
You see, in order for you not to have to take care of 2 babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms.
The lady was horrified and said:......
No doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child!......I agree, the doctor replied......
But you seemed to be OK with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution. The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point. He convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that's already been born and one that's still in the womb. The crime is the same!
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Born Again Believers Can Be Disobedient
There are those who believe born again believer never sin after they are saved. This could not be further from the truth. Our Spirit is perfect, that is Christ in us, but we are trapped in this body of death and must fight against the natural inklings of that body as well as the constant battering of the devil toward our minds. The devil influences many people because they do not pray, they do not ask Christ Who lives in them for wisdom or guidance. Or they ask for guidance for their own desires.
James 4:2-3
2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures."
Written to believers in Christ who are saved!
James 4:4-10 "4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? 6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
In the case in 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 there was a believer who was sleeping with his father's wife, not his mother. Paul chastised them for tolerating his sin, even being proud of their tolerance. We find that God commanded them to discipline him, putting him out so that he would be ashamed and confess to be cleansed. That man was not treated as an unbeliever, he was disciplined and allowed to return to the gathering after he confessed and turned from that sin. God referred to him as a sinning brother, not as an unbeliever.
Believer do sin and sometimes badly. The Spirit in us is Christ He never sins, but we still in our flesh are capable of sin. In these last days many believers are worldly making it difficult to know who is a tare and who is a wheat.
Matthew 13:28-30 "…28‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. So the servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 ‘No,’ he said, ‘if you pull the weeds now, you might uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat into my barn.’”
Romans 7:23-25 "…23 But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin."
Those who believe they never sin again after salvation are sinning in proclaiming so.
1 John 1:7-9 was written to believers:
"…7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
It is a horrible prospect to be married to a believer who thinks they never sin, they will never admit anything that might mend a problem. We must confess to be cleansed. Some people will give an account before the throne for sins they would not confess. They will not be punished for their sin but they will lose rewards they might have had.
1 Corinthians 3:14-16 "…14 If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames. 16 Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?…"
James 5:15-16 "…15 And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail."
This post will not give permission to sin, but warn that if we belong to God and we choose to sin then we will see the consequences of that. Perhaps even taken out of the world early losing many rewards they might have had, if they had only confessed their sin and turned from it.
The only choice God removes from us when we become born again is the desire to trust Christ. After that we do not lose our salvation but we invite Gods discipline, even life long misery because of a stubborn heart.
Let us not base our theology on what someone might do or think because we tell them the truth. Let's tell the truth and leave their thinking and choices to God.
Yes, there are many tares in the church today who are influencing born again believers who are weak. They are weak because they love Christ but are more concerned about fitting into the culture than they are in pleasing the One Who lives in them, that is Jesus Christ. Some of these people are born again and many are not. Don't be worried about figuring out who is who, just correct wrong thinking, warn those who walk disobediently that they might not be saved and send them to God to find out.
2 Corinthians 13:5-6 " 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you— unless you actually fail the test? 6 And I hope you will realize that we have not failed the test.…"
It is good to challenge those who claim to be Christian to see if they are really born again or just a pretender. Send them to Christ and then leave it there in God's hands. What they do with His truth is up to them. If they remain in sin without confession and repentance, then they cannot be constant companions with those who are walking obediently, they will merely dilute the work of Christ in those who are fervent.
James 4:2-3
2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures."
Written to believers in Christ who are saved!
James 4:4-10 "4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? 6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
In the case in 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 there was a believer who was sleeping with his father's wife, not his mother. Paul chastised them for tolerating his sin, even being proud of their tolerance. We find that God commanded them to discipline him, putting him out so that he would be ashamed and confess to be cleansed. That man was not treated as an unbeliever, he was disciplined and allowed to return to the gathering after he confessed and turned from that sin. God referred to him as a sinning brother, not as an unbeliever.
Believer do sin and sometimes badly. The Spirit in us is Christ He never sins, but we still in our flesh are capable of sin. In these last days many believers are worldly making it difficult to know who is a tare and who is a wheat.
Matthew 13:28-30 "…28‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. So the servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 ‘No,’ he said, ‘if you pull the weeds now, you might uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat into my barn.’”
Romans 7:23-25 "…23 But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin."
Those who believe they never sin again after salvation are sinning in proclaiming so.
1 John 1:7-9 was written to believers:
"…7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
It is a horrible prospect to be married to a believer who thinks they never sin, they will never admit anything that might mend a problem. We must confess to be cleansed. Some people will give an account before the throne for sins they would not confess. They will not be punished for their sin but they will lose rewards they might have had.
1 Corinthians 3:14-16 "…14 If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames. 16 Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?…"
James 5:15-16 "…15 And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail."
This post will not give permission to sin, but warn that if we belong to God and we choose to sin then we will see the consequences of that. Perhaps even taken out of the world early losing many rewards they might have had, if they had only confessed their sin and turned from it.
The only choice God removes from us when we become born again is the desire to trust Christ. After that we do not lose our salvation but we invite Gods discipline, even life long misery because of a stubborn heart.
Let us not base our theology on what someone might do or think because we tell them the truth. Let's tell the truth and leave their thinking and choices to God.
Yes, there are many tares in the church today who are influencing born again believers who are weak. They are weak because they love Christ but are more concerned about fitting into the culture than they are in pleasing the One Who lives in them, that is Jesus Christ. Some of these people are born again and many are not. Don't be worried about figuring out who is who, just correct wrong thinking, warn those who walk disobediently that they might not be saved and send them to God to find out.
2 Corinthians 13:5-6 " 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you— unless you actually fail the test? 6 And I hope you will realize that we have not failed the test.…"
It is good to challenge those who claim to be Christian to see if they are really born again or just a pretender. Send them to Christ and then leave it there in God's hands. What they do with His truth is up to them. If they remain in sin without confession and repentance, then they cannot be constant companions with those who are walking obediently, they will merely dilute the work of Christ in those who are fervent.
Monday, February 4, 2019
One Cannot Lose What One Did Not Earn
Jesus Christ died and shed every drop of blood to cover our sinfulness. We are sinful by nature but when we become born again Christ comes to dwell in us as a helper. We do not always avail ourselves to His help, causing us to sin. However, The Holy Spirit will convict us of sin and cause deep guilt in us until we confess. If we do not confess our sin then we sill endure the consequences to teach us not to sin. We never lose our salvation we are punished through consequences and loss of rewards in heaven if we do not confess before we die.
1 Corinthians 3:14-6 "…14 If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames. 16 Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?…"
Ephesians 1:12-14 "…12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory. 13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth— the gospel of your salvation— you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.…"
When Christ changes us into a new creation we cannot go back into the old creation.
When the butterfly emerges from the cocoon he cannot go back to the worm in the cocoon again. His change is permanent and completely changed.
We are trapped in this body of death which is sinful. Our Spirit is completely changed by God forever. We do not want to go backward, but in our weakness as the flesh pulls upon us, we have a battle against it our entire lives until we die.
As we listen to the Holy Spirit, confess our sins as they emerge we grow a little more. We are never sinless, but we do sin less as we move forward. If we backslide into sin we are not comfortable there. There is no one more miserable than the born again believer who is in sin.
The unbeliever is not miserable in their sin, they love it and believe its perfectly alright. It is the born again one who hates the sin they do. Sometimes the believer who does not confess lives with earthly consequences that plague their lives until they are taken home.
Sometimes if our witness is too fruitless we are taken home early so as not to harm our Christian witness. Ananias and Saphirah were believers whom God killed for lying to the Holy Spirit. Notice they were not accuse of merely lying. They were guilty of "lying to the Holy Spirit." They were born again, in the family of God, no mistake.
Believers do sin and sometimes in big ways, but they will not be comfortable there as unbelievers are. When someone fights with us brazenly to defend their sin, they were probably never born again. The believer is ashamed of their sin and tormented with guilt until the sin is removed through confession and cleansing of Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:14-6 "…14 If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames. 16 Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?…"
Ephesians 1:12-14 "…12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory. 13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth— the gospel of your salvation— you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.…"
When Christ changes us into a new creation we cannot go back into the old creation.
When the butterfly emerges from the cocoon he cannot go back to the worm in the cocoon again. His change is permanent and completely changed.
We are trapped in this body of death which is sinful. Our Spirit is completely changed by God forever. We do not want to go backward, but in our weakness as the flesh pulls upon us, we have a battle against it our entire lives until we die.
As we listen to the Holy Spirit, confess our sins as they emerge we grow a little more. We are never sinless, but we do sin less as we move forward. If we backslide into sin we are not comfortable there. There is no one more miserable than the born again believer who is in sin.
The unbeliever is not miserable in their sin, they love it and believe its perfectly alright. It is the born again one who hates the sin they do. Sometimes the believer who does not confess lives with earthly consequences that plague their lives until they are taken home.
Sometimes if our witness is too fruitless we are taken home early so as not to harm our Christian witness. Ananias and Saphirah were believers whom God killed for lying to the Holy Spirit. Notice they were not accuse of merely lying. They were guilty of "lying to the Holy Spirit." They were born again, in the family of God, no mistake.
Believers do sin and sometimes in big ways, but they will not be comfortable there as unbelievers are. When someone fights with us brazenly to defend their sin, they were probably never born again. The believer is ashamed of their sin and tormented with guilt until the sin is removed through confession and cleansing of Christ.
Saturday, February 2, 2019
We are Sealed and We are Disciplined, That's Just How Much God Loves Us
God commands us to be baptized, when we do not out of choice, then we are in disobedience, but it does not lose us our salvation.
Baptism is a matter of obedience not determining our salvation. Christians disobey God all the time, it is not a matter of salvation. God disciplines those who belong to them, but He does not remove their "changed into a new creation" status.
Christians do disobey often. God will bring consequences and chastisement until one confesses and changes their behavior. The Holy Spirit will bring guilt to that end.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
Just because something is not necessary does not mean its unimportant. Obedience to God is always important. God said that there are those who will barely make it to heaven because they had little to no fruit. They were saved but did not always obey.
By the way: Everyone will have some dross to be burned away. How much is up to God.
1 Corinthians 3:15 "…14 If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames. 16 Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?…"
The Holy Spirit never ever says that water baptism is necessary for salvation, however no one can be saved who is not baptized in the Holy Spirit. IF the Holy Spirit does not dwell in someone then they are not saved no matter how many times or how vigorously they proclaim that they are Christians.
We must differentiate between the expression of our salvation through water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In the water baptism we are obeying to demonstrate that we have been born again, its obedience to Christ. In the baptism of the Holy Spirit God is sending Christ to live in us, its all His work and to seal us with His Spirit as a guarantee that we belong to Him.
Ephesians 1:13-14
"13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory."
Baptism is a matter of obedience not determining our salvation. Christians disobey God all the time, it is not a matter of salvation. God disciplines those who belong to them, but He does not remove their "changed into a new creation" status.
Christians do disobey often. God will bring consequences and chastisement until one confesses and changes their behavior. The Holy Spirit will bring guilt to that end.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
Just because something is not necessary does not mean its unimportant. Obedience to God is always important. God said that there are those who will barely make it to heaven because they had little to no fruit. They were saved but did not always obey.
By the way: Everyone will have some dross to be burned away. How much is up to God.
1 Corinthians 3:15 "…14 If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames. 16 Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?…"
The Holy Spirit never ever says that water baptism is necessary for salvation, however no one can be saved who is not baptized in the Holy Spirit. IF the Holy Spirit does not dwell in someone then they are not saved no matter how many times or how vigorously they proclaim that they are Christians.
We must differentiate between the expression of our salvation through water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In the water baptism we are obeying to demonstrate that we have been born again, its obedience to Christ. In the baptism of the Holy Spirit God is sending Christ to live in us, its all His work and to seal us with His Spirit as a guarantee that we belong to Him.
Ephesians 1:13-14
"13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory."
When devils are made equal to God in the minds of those who are deceived.
Devils are made equal to God in the minds of many when it is proclaimed that they had the same ability as God did to spiritually impregnate a human woman.
Nephilim as described in the Bible were a race of giants. When the scripture pertaining to them is closely evaluated, there is no part of the scripture that says they were as a result of demons and humans mating. It is merely mentioned that there were giants in the land at that time.
Devils are made equal to God in the minds of many through the belief that devils can dwell in the same body with Christ in the born again believer.
Devils have always hated the presence of God, they flee when the name of Christ is invoked to cast them out.
If someone has a devil in them they were never born again.
The people who are teaching false doctrines about devils have equal power and dominance the same as Christ are diminishing Christ to the level of just another "god" who cannot be in control of the devil.
When mankind gets to the point of equalizing the power of the devil with the power of God, we surely know we have entered the end times.
So many of the popular thinking of today was revealed during these last days. They were around in ancient pagan writings but remained fringe elements of radical thinking brought on by seculars.
Many of the beliefs that have surfaced today were rejected by learned and godly men two generations ago. They didn't listen to the "crazy fringe" who brought false doctrine. Now the "crazy fringe" are prominent in our culture as this culture is ready for false teachings based on sensationalism.
Many preachers like their elevated status as one who has "new and exciting" revelation. Anyone who comes against them with truth is seen as ignorant and foolish.
The only way to know the truth about these false doctrines is to ask Christ Who lives in us while we read His word. Do not go to other teachers or popular writers to find truth. I listen to lots of people but toss them away when they begin to introduce in false and deceptive doctrines and ideas.
1 Timothy 4:1
"4 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"
Nephilim as described in the Bible were a race of giants. When the scripture pertaining to them is closely evaluated, there is no part of the scripture that says they were as a result of demons and humans mating. It is merely mentioned that there were giants in the land at that time.
Devils are made equal to God in the minds of many through the belief that devils can dwell in the same body with Christ in the born again believer.
Devils have always hated the presence of God, they flee when the name of Christ is invoked to cast them out.
If someone has a devil in them they were never born again.
The people who are teaching false doctrines about devils have equal power and dominance the same as Christ are diminishing Christ to the level of just another "god" who cannot be in control of the devil.
When mankind gets to the point of equalizing the power of the devil with the power of God, we surely know we have entered the end times.
So many of the popular thinking of today was revealed during these last days. They were around in ancient pagan writings but remained fringe elements of radical thinking brought on by seculars.
Many of the beliefs that have surfaced today were rejected by learned and godly men two generations ago. They didn't listen to the "crazy fringe" who brought false doctrine. Now the "crazy fringe" are prominent in our culture as this culture is ready for false teachings based on sensationalism.
Many preachers like their elevated status as one who has "new and exciting" revelation. Anyone who comes against them with truth is seen as ignorant and foolish.
The only way to know the truth about these false doctrines is to ask Christ Who lives in us while we read His word. Do not go to other teachers or popular writers to find truth. I listen to lots of people but toss them away when they begin to introduce in false and deceptive doctrines and ideas.
1 Timothy 4:1
"4 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"
Friday, February 1, 2019
Just One Example!
We really only need one example from Scripture to prove salvation is by faith in Christ. That example is the thief on the cross. He is a great example, he had no works of any kind only belief in Christ.
Luke 23:33-43 says:
"When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”
And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The
soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Luke 23:33-43 says:
"When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”
And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The
soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
You Cannot Be Good Enough to Earn Heaven
It occurred to me this morning that so often at funerals and memorials people love to say, "he/she is in a better place now." Even those who are not Christians believe in the after life as a "better place" and all that die go there.
I am not sure why they believe in a better place when the only evidence that there is one is in the Bible along with the other place that is a monstrous place, hell.
So often people assume there is only a better place and not the place of torment that God says most people will end up.
Matthew 7:13-14 "13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it."
Those who had no desire to love Christ in life will not enjoy His blessing of a home in heaven. Only those who have trusted Christ and desired to be cleansed by Him will be in heaven with Him, all other go to hell.
James 1:14-15 "…14 But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. "
Proverbs 11:19
"Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death."
Being a good person does not save anyone. Even a good person who does not trust Christ will go to hell because God is clear that no one is good. All good deeds done by unsaved people have an element of personal glory in them, if even they do not realize it.
Romans 3:10 "10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. 11 There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God."
Many people believe they are good people who have rejected Christ as their Lord. The prisons are full of people who believe they are basically good. One cannot do a crime unless one has sin. One cannot become enraged unless they are already an angry person.
The only way to become born again and free of the stain of sin is for the one who is a sinner to confess their sinfulness. They must trust Christ and His cleansing blood to cover their sin in order to be changed by Him.
Anyone who will not admit their sinfulness and desire to be changed by Christ, will not be saved from hell.
Revelation 21:8
"But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Matthew 25:41
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
If you think you are a good person without Christ, worthy of a better place after this life, you are choosing to believe what you want that has no basis in the Bible. Your works will not save you, your words will not save you. Only trusting in Christ and desiring to be made into a new creation by Him will save you from the fires of hell.
Romans 2:6-8
"He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury."
It is common these day for people to pluck passages out of their context to avoid facing the truth in the ones they ignore. To say you believe in heaven but not hell, is to remove the passages about heaven from their context to leave out hell. If you say you believe the Bible then you must keep all its passages in context with each other and with the entire Bible.
Revelation 20:15
"And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
Is your name written in the book of life that God keeps? It is so very easy to find your name there, just confess your sinfulness and trust Christ to cleanse and save you. After we have done that you will begin to change. The things you loved before that were sinful you will begin to hate. The things you despised before that were righteous you will begin to love. You will hate what God hates and love what He loves.
Psalm 33:5 "…4 For the word of the LORD is upright, and all His work is trustworthy. 5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His loving devotion. "
Psalm 37:28
"For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off."
I am not sure why they believe in a better place when the only evidence that there is one is in the Bible along with the other place that is a monstrous place, hell.
So often people assume there is only a better place and not the place of torment that God says most people will end up.
Matthew 7:13-14 "13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it."
Those who had no desire to love Christ in life will not enjoy His blessing of a home in heaven. Only those who have trusted Christ and desired to be cleansed by Him will be in heaven with Him, all other go to hell.
James 1:14-15 "…14 But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. "
Proverbs 11:19
"Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death."
Being a good person does not save anyone. Even a good person who does not trust Christ will go to hell because God is clear that no one is good. All good deeds done by unsaved people have an element of personal glory in them, if even they do not realize it.
Romans 3:10 "10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. 11 There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God."
Many people believe they are good people who have rejected Christ as their Lord. The prisons are full of people who believe they are basically good. One cannot do a crime unless one has sin. One cannot become enraged unless they are already an angry person.
The only way to become born again and free of the stain of sin is for the one who is a sinner to confess their sinfulness. They must trust Christ and His cleansing blood to cover their sin in order to be changed by Him.
Anyone who will not admit their sinfulness and desire to be changed by Christ, will not be saved from hell.
Revelation 21:8
"But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Matthew 25:41
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
If you think you are a good person without Christ, worthy of a better place after this life, you are choosing to believe what you want that has no basis in the Bible. Your works will not save you, your words will not save you. Only trusting in Christ and desiring to be made into a new creation by Him will save you from the fires of hell.
Romans 2:6-8
"He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury."
It is common these day for people to pluck passages out of their context to avoid facing the truth in the ones they ignore. To say you believe in heaven but not hell, is to remove the passages about heaven from their context to leave out hell. If you say you believe the Bible then you must keep all its passages in context with each other and with the entire Bible.
Revelation 20:15
"And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
Is your name written in the book of life that God keeps? It is so very easy to find your name there, just confess your sinfulness and trust Christ to cleanse and save you. After we have done that you will begin to change. The things you loved before that were sinful you will begin to hate. The things you despised before that were righteous you will begin to love. You will hate what God hates and love what He loves.
Psalm 33:5 "…4 For the word of the LORD is upright, and all His work is trustworthy. 5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His loving devotion. "
Psalm 37:28
"For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off."
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