All the Thief Did Was to Believe

The thief on the cross had no works, all he had was belief in Christ. All he asked was "remember me."

Luke 23:41-43 "…41 We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” 43 And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”…"

The Struggle is Continual

Day after day I meet people who believe they don't sin. Those who believe they will lose their salvation if they sin. Therefore they have to declare that they never sin to justify the belief that one can lose their salvation.

The questions that always come to mind is, "which sins are big enough to cost someone their salvation?" "How long do we have to be in a sin before our salvation is removed?"

God never tells us the size nor the length of sinning that loses one their salvation because our salvation is not based on whether or not we are sinners.

Our salvation is based completely on trusting the shed blood of Christ to cover our sinfulness.

Isaiah 646 "6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind. "

No one can do enough good to gain salvation and no one can do enough good to keep it. There is no good in us that warrants anything but death. It is only Christ Who is good, only He Who can keep us saved.

Acts 20:28 "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."

Christ purchased us with His own blood! We cannot do anything to add to that or that is greater than that.

If someone is trusting in their own efforts to keep their salvation they are not trusting in Christ.

Hebrews 9:12
"12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."

Ezekiel 16:8
"Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine," declares the Lord GOD."

The Ezekiel passage is a picture of what God does when He saves a born again believer. He no longer sees our sinfulness but He sees Christ in us. We have been made into a new creation Spiritually, but we are trapped in this sinful body which will be our struggle until God takes us home.

If there does not seem to be a struggle going on in someone then there is probably not salvation. Those who do not struggle are comfortable with their sinfulness. Those who are born again see everyday the struggle they have against the flesh that dwells in them.

Romans 7:14-25
14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.
15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.
16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good.
17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.
20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.
22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,
23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?
25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin."

I worry about those who think they do not struggle with sin. It must be that they are denying their pride, their denial of what goes on in their minds from day to day.

We cannot be born again and absent of the struggle from the hatred of sin that dwells in us.

If someone is not struggling against the sinful nature within them, they might not be saved. Only those who know that Christ is their righteousness and that they have nothing good in themselves will struggle with their sin nature.

When the focus of the believer is more on whether or not they are doing all the right things they will not be focused on the things Christ needs to do in them. He is not the focus, their one righteousness based on deeds is their focus.

“Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh” (Galatians 5:16–17).

Church Pretenders

1 John 2:19
"19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us. 20 You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.…"

Just because someone attends church or has attended church for years does not mean they were ever born again.

There are so many who have joined a cultural Christianity in which they follow the rules to fit in. Often rejecting most of God's principles, the ones that are culturally acceptable to ignore.

Most of these cultural Christians do not know their bible, they don't read it, they act embarrassed when the name of Christ comes up but they would identify as Christian.

We do not come to Christ on our own terms, deciding to be a Christian does not save anyone.

Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved is a decision including the realization that no one can be good enough to earn heaven. Christ paid the penalty of sin, it is His shed blood that covers the sin of the believer. It is His sacrifice that paid it all on that cross. However, there is a condition for the unbeliever, He must trust (believe in Him) Christ to be saved.

Those who have a cultural Christianity to fit into family and to feel safe will not be saved. Their motive is fleshly without a desire to know God or obey Christ.

When we become born again Christ comes to live in us, we love His ways, we fail, confess and go on a little more cleansed.

There are so many who fit into the category of pretenders. They want the safety of the religious system. It gives them a sense of having someone to turn to when things get rough. They want to use God but they don't even really like Him, there is no love for Him and no desire to seek Him unless they are in trouble and want to be bailed out.

These cultural Christians are not born again, they live to self without Christ. Their purpose is safety, personal gratification, friends and self exaltation for any good deeds they do. These deeds are done in the flesh to impress others.

When the name of Christ or His principles are mentioned they become agitated and even angry. Their response to teaching in the word is one of angst toward the one who dared to bring up God's Word. Embarrassment wells up in them when Christ or the Bible is mentioned.

Here is the fate of those who had fleshly good deeds, spiritually and emotionally rejected Christ but pretended to belong to Him:

Matthew 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
Those who are saved are those whose sins are covered in the blood of Christ. Those who are not saved are those who have rejected Him through self will and aggrandizement.

He Alone is Holy

There have been those who accuse me of preaching another gospel by asserting that born again believers do sin.

Why would God discipline those He loves if they never sinned after salvation?

Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"

Why did Jesus Christ shed every drop of blood on the cross?

It was to pay for our sinfulness.

Romans 3:24-25
"24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:"
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;"

The "passover" is a picture of Christ's shed blood over the sins of those who are born again.

When God instructed the Israelites to kill a perfect lamb and spread its blood over the door posts He was not doing away with their sin, He was passing over them as justified because of their trust in Him. When they obeyed God and spread the blood, the Holy Spirit passed over them sparing them the first born sons.

They were still under the law at that time, everything they did was a picture of future events that would actually cover the sin of those who trust in Christ. The obedience to the law brought blessing but it never actually took away their sin.

It was only Christ's blood that covers the sin of mankind and only if they believe on Him.

When THE Perfect Lamb of God was sacrificed, that is Jesus Christ, there was no longer a need for the picture, the picture had been fulfilled. Now we trust in Christ Who has come, on the cross He said "it is finished", no longer any need for animal sacrifices that didn't save, now we have the actual sacrifice that does save. No man can add any works to that to make it better or complete.

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16-17
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."

Hebrews 9:12
"He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption."

Galatians 2:20
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Those who bring a false gospel of works to add to what Christ did, often accuse us of preaching a false gospel. There are far more of these people than we realize. The world loves to feel they have participated in their own salvation, but in Christ there is nothing we can do that would measure up to Christ's death and shed blood on the cross. The idea that we could add to it is preposterous.

Isaiah 46:6 " 6All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind."

My suggestion to those who think they are earning their way to heaven by being good enough, stop paying so much attention to your good deeds and begin focusing on Christ.

When we focus on Christ we have no reason to feel good about ourselves. He alone is Holy!!!!

Love God's Way

Friends, do not be dismayed if your spouse does not bring you something for Valentines day. It was not a holiday God commanded.

So many of these holidays were not given by God, but can cause hurt feelings when someone doesn't do what the world does or what someone else expects them to do.

There is no need for a special day to express our love toward someone. We do that every day as we walk through life with them if we are a kind and empathetic person.

Many years ago when I was very young I thought it was necessary for a spouse to do what everyone else was doing, with the candy, flowers and cards.

When I became born again I realized that a one time a year expression of friendliness with these things was not an indication of love, it was tradition people thought they had to do.

When our expression of "love" is based on expectations of others it loses its impact. I prefer to be shown love every day and in all circumstances than to be ignored all year and receive something that is "expected" out of obligation.

Our world has burdened the believer by all these "expected" holidays that have nothing to do with Christ's love or living His life.

The devil knew what he was doing when he developed these holidays. He managed to make people angry at someone for not giving them a gift, as though a gift is the real expression of love.

Then the devil managed to get other people to call one another up, further pressure, to ask "what did you get for Valentines day."

I am thankful that Christ never gave these holidays that promote psudo-love, based on appearances. God's love is played out every single day in those that love Him.

Isn't service and companionship toward those we love far more valuable than any gift that arrives once or twice a year?

None of the holidays were given by God! God gave the Lord's supper which is to be done whenever we come together and the focus is Christ.

When Christ is the leader, the lover and the purpose, then our love will be seen clearly without any fanfare.

Ephesians 4:2
"With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,"

The love of Christ in us is a daily matter, continual and consistent. I would rather have a loved one sit with me while I am sick than a gift sent to the house once a year.

I am blessed that during my surgeries my husband took very good care of me. He served me meals, sat with me when he could and saw to my every need. Flowers or candy once a year could not compare to that devotion.

Those who walk through life with you are the ones who love you. Christ does that everyday. The gift of God is companionship in hard and good times. Sharing the sadness along with the joys is what happens when there is love.

1 John 3:14-19
We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

Forget about the once a year gifts and remember the ways your spouse stood by you when you needed them.

Dehumanization is a Fallen World

We are living in a time of dehumanization. There are many people who treat friends and relatives like objects to be used and discarded when they are no longer useful.

Two very good examples of this is divorce and remarriage as well as abortion.

When we can throw people away because they are having problems or don't act exactly the way we think they should, we are practicing dehumanization.

The Nazi death camps were a demonstration of the dehumanization of human beings. People being treated like objects always leads to atrocities.

Do not think for one moment that we have escaped this mentality of using and tossing human beings. Our culture is full of people who discard someone before they can ever work out a problem.

It is very difficult in our time to talk with most people about problem solving. Since no one is willing to admit their sin against others, using justification and blaming as their main tactic, they cannot stand by someone who is irritating them to be able to have empathy for them.

Self is on the throne in our culture, so much so that attempting to work out a problem is often the catalyst to escalation. War breaks out often when one party wants to talk a matter through and the other is enraged at the suggestion.

2 Timothy 3:1-5
3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."

We can maintain our joy when we know this is to be expected in these last day. Its not about us, its the condition of the world we live in and its spiritual.

Peace makers and peace keepers are two different things.

A peace maker tells the truth so that believers walk righteously. The peace maker gets to the bottom of the problem to bring about truth and change.

The peace keeper is one who compromises just to make everyone feel happy. The peace keeper is often the enabler unable to help in a very real way. Sort of like sweeping the dirt under the rug, the dirt is still there but will make others trip over the pile under there.

Peacemakers are hated by most people but peace keepers are often loved by all.

Mark 13:12-13 "…12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 13 You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved"

James 4:4
"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."

Romans 1:29-30
"being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,"

Those who have experienced what the Bible describes know that not everyone will hate us, those who love Christ will not, however, those who do not love Him above all else will be angry at the truth we speak. Even when we do not speak they hate us for not being them.

There is great joy in knowing that we speak truth to please God, it doesn't matter if someone hates us for it.