2 Tim
{4:3} For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears
{4:4} And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables
**
Not endure sound doctrine.
They will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts.
They shall stop listening to the truth.
They shall be turned to fables.
**
People don't want sound doctrine they want to hear things they like to hear, they want to be told lies to make them feel good. Have you ever heard that as an excuse...'I was just telling them what they wanted to hear.' It's the truth that people feel better when they get confirmation of things they *like*, rather than things they don't *like* to hear. Who wants to be told they'll die eternally if they don't accept Jesus Christ as their Savior? People like to believe that upon death a better life awaits them no matter what. While they might accept they need to believe in Jesus, they don't fully accept that He commands them to do more than that. People like stopping at the believe part but Jesus Himself said to the man who asked what he had to do to have eternal life the following--
Luke
{10:25} And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
{10:26} He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
{10:27} And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy
mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
{10:28} And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
You'd think Jesus would say just believe me if that were it, right? Seriously.
But people want to hear just believe, they don't want to hear anything else because then they jump up and say you can't work your way to heaven and...and... loving God and my neighbor falls into that category.
Seriously. We are so self absorbed that putting others first actually becomes a chore, we have to stop and think before we automatically put others first. We have to do so much and yet people only want to believe, just believe.
We're told people don't want to hear sound doctrine, they don't want to hear the truth, they want people who will tell them things they like to hear rather than the truth, they want fables and they're happy.
The time is here, it's not to come, the time is now. People are turning their ears away from the truth right now.
We can't be among them, we just can't!
The truth has to be heard no matter how much we don't want to hear it, and don't fool yourself, it's not always easy to hear at all. We want it to be, we really do, but it's hard, the way is hard, narrow and yet worth any sacrifice a person might make, Jesus made the greatest sacrifice of all and any thing we might have to do to is worth it. Believe in Him yes, yes, yes, without the faith there is no hope. Believe and follow Him. Believe and do as He says. Love. And love isn't easy, selfless love is truly impossible without Him and yet it's what He'd have for us all.
Amen.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Destitute of truth.
Freedom.
Every single mentally capable human being today can be free.
A bold statement and a true one. The only thing in question is- what is my idea of freedom that makes this true?
Surely there are people enslaved all over the world in places we'd never dream of slavery existing. White slavery, black slavery, Hispanic, Latino, Asian, European, you name a single race and there are slaves among that people. Just the other day another *sex slavery ring* was busted, so yes, slavery does exist and it's not only for manual labor, but sexual labor, perverted labors, you name it.
Some people say they are a slave to their job and they mean it, why wouldn't they? They're not able to do what they please but rather are figuratively chained to their desk or whatever it is they do, chained to their occupation because to stop would me hardship- great hardship. They might be free to become homeless and destitute but the other alternative is slavery to their job.
Yes, you can say anyone can quit their job and get another one. They can go to school and start over. They can do this, they can do that, no one has to be a slave to their job. Well, I say they can be. I say you can be without a job, you can live so you don't have to answer to a single other human being, you can do as you please come and go at will without anyone telling you what to do or where to go and you'll still be a slave.
Wait, wasn't this about that bold statement I made, 'Every single mentally capable human being today can be free.'? Here I am practically saying we're all slaves so which is it? Both? Neither? Some where in between?
We're all slaves to sin, and we're all free in Christ.
Truth.
Even those literally enslaved by masters can be free in Christ. Freedom in Christ with a hope of eternal life. Easy for me to say because I'm not the one being tortured, I'm not the one who has to bend to the will of another human being day in and day out living a life of pure agony? Probably. It has to be a lot harder for one enduring hardship to rise above it simply because the one not enduring it is already above it. Bold words, freedom for all, but true words.
Here Paul is instructing the people-
1 Timothy
6:1} Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
Count their masters worthy of all honor? What if they're animals, torturers, inhuman in their defiling, demeaning, degrading treatment of said servant? Love thy neighbor, do good....
Luke
{6:27} But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
{6:28} Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
{6:29} And unto him that smiteth thee on the [one] cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not [to take thy] coat also. {6:30} Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask [them] not again.
{6:31} And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
{6:32} For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
{6:33} And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
{6:34} And if ye lend [to them] of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
{6:35} But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and [to] the evil.
{6:36} Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
{6:37} Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
{6:38} Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
*
1 Timothy
{6:2} And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
{6:3} If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
{6:4} He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
{6:5} Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
{6:6} But godliness with contentment is great gain.
{6:7} For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
{6:8} And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
{6:9} But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
{6:10} For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
{6:11} But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
{6:12} Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
'destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness'
Destitute of truth.
If we believe that living a life of physical freedom, materialistic possessions, of counting ourselves blessed simply because we have surrounded ourselves by possessions- we are so far off the mark it's not funny.
We are richer than the richest man in the world who has the greatest monetary wealth if we have the truth, and it is a richness we only increase by giving it away. The truth is ours to give. The truth is ours to share. We can be rich in the only way it really matters because as the Bible says--
{6:7} For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
Nothing.
May God help us to fully realize that the greatest riches we could have are those that cost nothing and are only increased when we give them away endlessly.
We are free in Christ, free in the truth, free no matter our earthly bonds, no matter what shape or form they take our freedom is in Christ now and always.
{6:12} Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life
Praise God for His love, for His mercy and truth, His grace and goodness, in Christ Jesus' name.
Amen.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Perilous times
2 Timothy
{3:1} This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. {3:2} For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedientto parents, unthankful, unholy, {3:3} Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, {3:4} Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God{3:5} Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.{3:6} For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, {3:7} Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Rare indeed is the society we see which seems to genuinely care for others before themselves.We think of ourselves first.We do.We think of ourselves first because we are lovers of ourselves.You might think you hate yourself, but the next time you say the word *I* who are you thinking of and in what context?
We are lovers of our own selves. Number one comes first, gotta look out for number one, who is number one? Self. Covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy...
We are ALL of these things.
Perilious times.
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof
...from such turn away.
How can we turn away from such when it seems that these are the only people left- including ourselves?
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
So sad...
...ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
We need the truth desperately. Without the truth it's impossible for us to be saved. Impossible.
Ever learning......never able.
May God help us all in these very perilous times.
We'd be fools to think these aren't the last days, and even though each generation believes such, it's the way it has to be or people would become complacent.
Perilous times indeed.
I don't want to ever be one who is 'ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.' The truth is found in Jesus Christ and it is to Him I hold fast, by the grace of God, our Father.
Amen.
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”- Colossians 2:6-7
{3:1} This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. {3:2} For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedientto parents, unthankful, unholy, {3:3} Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, {3:4} Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God{3:5} Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.{3:6} For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, {3:7} Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Rare indeed is the society we see which seems to genuinely care for others before themselves.We think of ourselves first.We do.We think of ourselves first because we are lovers of ourselves.You might think you hate yourself, but the next time you say the word *I* who are you thinking of and in what context?
We are lovers of our own selves. Number one comes first, gotta look out for number one, who is number one? Self. Covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy...
We are ALL of these things.
Perilious times.
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof
...from such turn away.
How can we turn away from such when it seems that these are the only people left- including ourselves?
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
So sad...
...ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
We need the truth desperately. Without the truth it's impossible for us to be saved. Impossible.
Ever learning......never able.
May God help us all in these very perilous times.
We'd be fools to think these aren't the last days, and even though each generation believes such, it's the way it has to be or people would become complacent.
Perilous times indeed.
I don't want to ever be one who is 'ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.' The truth is found in Jesus Christ and it is to Him I hold fast, by the grace of God, our Father.
Amen.
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”- Colossians 2:6-7
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Recover themselves out of the snare of the devil
2 Timothy {2:22} Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.{2:23} But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. {2:24} And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men,] apt to teach, patient, {2:25} In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; {2:26} And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
**
Flee also youthful lusts- youthful lusts. It's no secret that when you are youthful you do have untempered lusts. Some teenagers let their lusts consume them. Men and women have these lusts as well and often men an women are loathed to let the youthful lusts be tempered and carry them on into adulthood. We're no longer allowing youthful lusts to stay there are we? If we talk sex alone just look at the explosion of erection drugs out there for men who have trouble getting and staying that way. More and more youthful lusts are sought after and encouraged not being turned away from. 'Flee also youthful lust', perhaps there is a reason for this, perhaps dwelling on and encouraging youthful lust is a huge distraction from all that would help a person grow in Christ. Youthful lusts are purely selfish aren't they? Self-gratification, self absorbtion, and we know that selfishness is against all that is God.
Told to flee youthful lust we are also told to... 'follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.'
Further we are admonished, 'But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing they they do gender strifes and the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gently unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgeing of truth and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive by him at his will.'
Wow, so much there.
We are admonished flee youthful lusts, rather follow good. We are told to avoid foolish and unlearned questions, avoid strife. People like to goad other people into arguments don't they? Well sometimes. Debating is something we're encouraged to do, and keeping it civil of course is the best way but often debates can get heated. Some people-- most people-- like to be right about whatever it is they're arguing for and Christians are told not to argue, not to cause strife, but to be gentle, teaching, patiently, meekly.
God does give repentance to those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior who died for them so they could have eternal life, and that is the truth. Without believing in the truth repentance is impossible.
Repentance to the acknowledging of truth and that they my recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive at his will.
Recover themselves ouf of the snare of the devil. Amen!
The devil does take captives as he wills, we might not want to believe it, but it's true. Captive into sin, snared by the devil, no one wants that do they? No one wants to be snared by the devil. How many are snared and don't even know? Recovering themselves out of that snare is done by obtaining repentance by acknowledging the truth. Through Jesus and Jesus alone we can find repentance can we be recovered out of Satan's snares.
Praise God for His love through Jesus!
Amen
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”- Psalm 100:4-5
**
Flee also youthful lusts- youthful lusts. It's no secret that when you are youthful you do have untempered lusts. Some teenagers let their lusts consume them. Men and women have these lusts as well and often men an women are loathed to let the youthful lusts be tempered and carry them on into adulthood. We're no longer allowing youthful lusts to stay there are we? If we talk sex alone just look at the explosion of erection drugs out there for men who have trouble getting and staying that way. More and more youthful lusts are sought after and encouraged not being turned away from. 'Flee also youthful lust', perhaps there is a reason for this, perhaps dwelling on and encouraging youthful lust is a huge distraction from all that would help a person grow in Christ. Youthful lusts are purely selfish aren't they? Self-gratification, self absorbtion, and we know that selfishness is against all that is God.
Told to flee youthful lust we are also told to... 'follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.'
Further we are admonished, 'But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing they they do gender strifes and the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gently unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgeing of truth and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive by him at his will.'
Wow, so much there.
We are admonished flee youthful lusts, rather follow good. We are told to avoid foolish and unlearned questions, avoid strife. People like to goad other people into arguments don't they? Well sometimes. Debating is something we're encouraged to do, and keeping it civil of course is the best way but often debates can get heated. Some people-- most people-- like to be right about whatever it is they're arguing for and Christians are told not to argue, not to cause strife, but to be gentle, teaching, patiently, meekly.
God does give repentance to those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior who died for them so they could have eternal life, and that is the truth. Without believing in the truth repentance is impossible.
Repentance to the acknowledging of truth and that they my recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive at his will.
Recover themselves ouf of the snare of the devil. Amen!
The devil does take captives as he wills, we might not want to believe it, but it's true. Captive into sin, snared by the devil, no one wants that do they? No one wants to be snared by the devil. How many are snared and don't even know? Recovering themselves out of that snare is done by obtaining repentance by acknowledging the truth. Through Jesus and Jesus alone we can find repentance can we be recovered out of Satan's snares.
Praise God for His love through Jesus!
Amen
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”- Psalm 100:4-5
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Who gave himself a ransom for all
Ezk.
{7:5} Thus saith the Lord GOD; An evil, an only evil, behold, is come.
{7:6} An end is come, the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come.
1Tim.
{2:3} For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour
{2:4} Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
{2:5} For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
{2:6} Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
**
God would have ALL men be saved.
God would have ALL men come to the knowledge of truth.
One God.
One mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus.
Christ Jesus who gave himself -
a ransom for all-
to be testified in due time.
A ransom.
Jesus is a ransom for us.
ransom (ràn´sem) noun
1. a. The release of property or a person in return for payment of a demanded price. b. The price or payment demanded or paid for such release.
2. Theology. A redemption from sin and its consequences.
verb, transitive
ransomed, ransoming, ransoms
1. a. To obtain the release of by paying a certain price. b. To release after receiving such a payment.
2. Theology. To deliver from sin and its consequences.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
If salvation could be bought how much would you pay for it? Seriously how much money would you spend to buy eternal life? What if there were a special on eternal life, buy it now in the next twenty-four hours and receive an extra eternal life for a loved one? What if it were a once a lifetime offer that if you passed it up you'd never get another chance to purchase eternal life? What if eternal life was some days offered for 1 penny and other days 1,000,000 dollars, only you never would know in advance when it would be offered for lower or higher? Would you risk missing out on eternal life by *not* buying it as soon as it was offered to you, knowing you could die the moment after and be lost forever?
That's a lot of what if's isn't it?
Salvation can't be bought by us though. It's one of those things you just can't buy no matter how rich you are. Salvation isn't exclusively for those with money, prestige, power, nor for just the middle class, or the poor. There isn't a single person who can buy salvation, not one, it's not for sale. I might say it's like the air you breathe but even that would be a falsehood because some people need extra air- oxygen from tanks to live and those people have to buy their air, so it's not like the air you breathe at all.
It's my believe that salvation is automatic for all children under the age of accountability. A bold statement? Perhaps, but it's my personal belief.
A babe newly born is no more a sinner than Jesus. Seriously, how can that baby be a sinner? You say the babe inherits it through its parents? That because Adam and Eve sinned that automatically everyone is born a sinner? I have to disagree and tell you what I think. I think we're born from parents who are sinners (obviously they're past the age of accountability and they sinned at some point in their life. You know that first- for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.) How can I say that babies haven't sinned if *all* have sinned? I believe babies inherit the tendencies to sinned and once their age of accountability comes around and they begin to know right from wrong and commit wrong knowingly- they've sinned. Their flesh is weak as all human flesh is because we are born from sinful parents all the way back to Adam and Eve.
Sin is the transgression of the law.
1 John {3:4} Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Romans {3:31} Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
There has to be a law in order for there to be a sin, yes? Yes.
There has to be a breaking of the law for there to be a sinner, yes? Yes.
Salvation is guaranteed to babies who have not broken a single law.
You know what I think is one of the first laws to be broken by a child? I could be wrong, but I think it's the one about honoring your mother and father. A child starts to slip into the awareness of that authority in their lives and they learn that they need to obey that authority and yet they defy the authority of the parent- knowingly. Seriously. Think about it. What child doesn't grow up learning that they have to *listen* and *obey* what their parent says? A parent tells a child- 'Go get into your pajamas.' A child tells the parent, 'No. I'm not ready to.' Is that the sin? Not yet. The parent then says, 'Listen to me, I'm your mother/father and I said go get into your pajamas and when I say go get into your pajamas you do it. You have to listen to me, I know what's best for you.' The child then after hearing all that says, 'No. I don't want to.' Is it sin yet? We want to say NOOoooooo! We want to say the child is just being normal with normal defiance, the child is just stretching his wings so to speak, seeking independence a bit. We can come up with all sorts of excuses for what the child is doing, we could, I could. Is it a sin yet? Yes. It's knowing right from wrong and still doing it. Some might say no, it's not sin because the child doesn't realize he/she should obey their parents and why should they do so on the say so of the parent. This parent they're defying has been the same parent who has been in their life since birth, the same parent who has taught them so many things up to this point of defiance. This parent has shown love to the child, they've nurtured him/her, fed them, clothed them, soothed them when they were frightened. This parent has been an authority in their life all along. This parent isn't a stranger ordering the child around, but someone they love and trust. Why shouldn't they listen to the parent is a better question.
Anyway, I'm sure people have all sorts of thoughts on this particular subject but I fully believe that once we learn right from wrong and we choose to do wrong knowingly then we're accountable for that wrong.
Salvation can't be purchased for us sinners, not by us. We cannot buy salvation. We are effectively hostages to sin, yes, hostages and all we can do is accept the fact that another has to pay the ransom for our salvation. Sin will not release us willingly, sin will hold fast to us and keep us captive to it with a desperation we can't even imagine. We think only of *rich* people being kidnapped to ensure *rich* ransoms will be paid for them. But sin isn't a respecter of wealth, we are all a great treasure to Satan and he'll pull out all the stops to keep us from being ransomed, or rather, from accepting the ransom that is being offered to us. Before you think it odd that any kidnapped person would want to stay with their abductor, think again. There is case after case of people who are kidnapped who after time can't imagine not being with their abductor, they even sometimes fall in love with their abductors. Satan is like the most seductive of abductors. He knows everything to do to keep us *happy*, to fulfill our *needs*, he could be touted to be the best, most skilled abductor in all history. His victims include almost everyone. Not only is he skilled in keeping his kidnapped people content, he has the record for being the most prolific kidnapper in all history as well. The thing is, his skill lies in deception. He deceives people in such away they don't even know they've been kidnapped, how's that for skill?! If you don't feel kidnapped, if you don't believe you are kidnapped, then how can you ever want to be ransomed? See, it works great for him, perfect even.
Recognizing that this evil principality, this evil spiritual power does exist and does have the power to keep us captive to him is the first step towards Salvation from being kidnapped. Relying on God, relying on the gift of Salvation through the ransom of the blood of Christ, who died in our place to save us from our kidnapper is necessary. We have a Savior, we have a Redeemer, we have to cling to Him daily because Satan is an insidious kidnapper and just because he might lose you to salvation when you run to your Savior, doesn't mean he's going to stop trying to kidnap you. If anything, he might employ more devious tactics to try and steal you away back to him. He'll never stop trying, and if he can find a way to sneak in and get you, he will.
Truly we need spiritual armor just as the Bible tells us we do.
Ephesians
{6:11} Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
{6:12} For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
{6:13} Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
{6:14} Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
{6:15} And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
{6:16} Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
{6:17} And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
{6:18} Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints
God would have us all saved. That we all would know the truth.
1Tim.
{2:3} For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour
{2:4} Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
{2:5} For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
{2:6} Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Jesus died for us all and wants to save each and everyone of us.
Salvation is free, we don’t have to pay for it, it was paid by the Son of God for us, we just have to claim it, we just have to choose to be saved.
Praise be to God, all glory and power, all honor to our God, to our Father, to the Son Jesus Christ, to the Holy Spirit now and forever.
Amen.
{7:5} Thus saith the Lord GOD; An evil, an only evil, behold, is come.
{7:6} An end is come, the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come.
1Tim.
{2:3} For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour
{2:4} Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
{2:5} For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
{2:6} Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
**
God would have ALL men be saved.
God would have ALL men come to the knowledge of truth.
One God.
One mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus.
Christ Jesus who gave himself -
a ransom for all-
to be testified in due time.
A ransom.
Jesus is a ransom for us.
ransom (ràn´sem) noun
1. a. The release of property or a person in return for payment of a demanded price. b. The price or payment demanded or paid for such release.
2. Theology. A redemption from sin and its consequences.
verb, transitive
ransomed, ransoming, ransoms
1. a. To obtain the release of by paying a certain price. b. To release after receiving such a payment.
2. Theology. To deliver from sin and its consequences.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
If salvation could be bought how much would you pay for it? Seriously how much money would you spend to buy eternal life? What if there were a special on eternal life, buy it now in the next twenty-four hours and receive an extra eternal life for a loved one? What if it were a once a lifetime offer that if you passed it up you'd never get another chance to purchase eternal life? What if eternal life was some days offered for 1 penny and other days 1,000,000 dollars, only you never would know in advance when it would be offered for lower or higher? Would you risk missing out on eternal life by *not* buying it as soon as it was offered to you, knowing you could die the moment after and be lost forever?
That's a lot of what if's isn't it?
Salvation can't be bought by us though. It's one of those things you just can't buy no matter how rich you are. Salvation isn't exclusively for those with money, prestige, power, nor for just the middle class, or the poor. There isn't a single person who can buy salvation, not one, it's not for sale. I might say it's like the air you breathe but even that would be a falsehood because some people need extra air- oxygen from tanks to live and those people have to buy their air, so it's not like the air you breathe at all.
It's my believe that salvation is automatic for all children under the age of accountability. A bold statement? Perhaps, but it's my personal belief.
A babe newly born is no more a sinner than Jesus. Seriously, how can that baby be a sinner? You say the babe inherits it through its parents? That because Adam and Eve sinned that automatically everyone is born a sinner? I have to disagree and tell you what I think. I think we're born from parents who are sinners (obviously they're past the age of accountability and they sinned at some point in their life. You know that first- for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.) How can I say that babies haven't sinned if *all* have sinned? I believe babies inherit the tendencies to sinned and once their age of accountability comes around and they begin to know right from wrong and commit wrong knowingly- they've sinned. Their flesh is weak as all human flesh is because we are born from sinful parents all the way back to Adam and Eve.
Sin is the transgression of the law.
1 John {3:4} Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Romans {3:31} Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
There has to be a law in order for there to be a sin, yes? Yes.
There has to be a breaking of the law for there to be a sinner, yes? Yes.
Salvation is guaranteed to babies who have not broken a single law.
You know what I think is one of the first laws to be broken by a child? I could be wrong, but I think it's the one about honoring your mother and father. A child starts to slip into the awareness of that authority in their lives and they learn that they need to obey that authority and yet they defy the authority of the parent- knowingly. Seriously. Think about it. What child doesn't grow up learning that they have to *listen* and *obey* what their parent says? A parent tells a child- 'Go get into your pajamas.' A child tells the parent, 'No. I'm not ready to.' Is that the sin? Not yet. The parent then says, 'Listen to me, I'm your mother/father and I said go get into your pajamas and when I say go get into your pajamas you do it. You have to listen to me, I know what's best for you.' The child then after hearing all that says, 'No. I don't want to.' Is it sin yet? We want to say NOOoooooo! We want to say the child is just being normal with normal defiance, the child is just stretching his wings so to speak, seeking independence a bit. We can come up with all sorts of excuses for what the child is doing, we could, I could. Is it a sin yet? Yes. It's knowing right from wrong and still doing it. Some might say no, it's not sin because the child doesn't realize he/she should obey their parents and why should they do so on the say so of the parent. This parent they're defying has been the same parent who has been in their life since birth, the same parent who has taught them so many things up to this point of defiance. This parent has shown love to the child, they've nurtured him/her, fed them, clothed them, soothed them when they were frightened. This parent has been an authority in their life all along. This parent isn't a stranger ordering the child around, but someone they love and trust. Why shouldn't they listen to the parent is a better question.
Anyway, I'm sure people have all sorts of thoughts on this particular subject but I fully believe that once we learn right from wrong and we choose to do wrong knowingly then we're accountable for that wrong.
Salvation can't be purchased for us sinners, not by us. We cannot buy salvation. We are effectively hostages to sin, yes, hostages and all we can do is accept the fact that another has to pay the ransom for our salvation. Sin will not release us willingly, sin will hold fast to us and keep us captive to it with a desperation we can't even imagine. We think only of *rich* people being kidnapped to ensure *rich* ransoms will be paid for them. But sin isn't a respecter of wealth, we are all a great treasure to Satan and he'll pull out all the stops to keep us from being ransomed, or rather, from accepting the ransom that is being offered to us. Before you think it odd that any kidnapped person would want to stay with their abductor, think again. There is case after case of people who are kidnapped who after time can't imagine not being with their abductor, they even sometimes fall in love with their abductors. Satan is like the most seductive of abductors. He knows everything to do to keep us *happy*, to fulfill our *needs*, he could be touted to be the best, most skilled abductor in all history. His victims include almost everyone. Not only is he skilled in keeping his kidnapped people content, he has the record for being the most prolific kidnapper in all history as well. The thing is, his skill lies in deception. He deceives people in such away they don't even know they've been kidnapped, how's that for skill?! If you don't feel kidnapped, if you don't believe you are kidnapped, then how can you ever want to be ransomed? See, it works great for him, perfect even.
Recognizing that this evil principality, this evil spiritual power does exist and does have the power to keep us captive to him is the first step towards Salvation from being kidnapped. Relying on God, relying on the gift of Salvation through the ransom of the blood of Christ, who died in our place to save us from our kidnapper is necessary. We have a Savior, we have a Redeemer, we have to cling to Him daily because Satan is an insidious kidnapper and just because he might lose you to salvation when you run to your Savior, doesn't mean he's going to stop trying to kidnap you. If anything, he might employ more devious tactics to try and steal you away back to him. He'll never stop trying, and if he can find a way to sneak in and get you, he will.
Truly we need spiritual armor just as the Bible tells us we do.
Ephesians
{6:11} Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
{6:12} For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
{6:13} Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
{6:14} Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
{6:15} And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
{6:16} Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
{6:17} And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
{6:18} Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints
God would have us all saved. That we all would know the truth.
1Tim.
{2:3} For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour
{2:4} Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
{2:5} For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
{2:6} Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Jesus died for us all and wants to save each and everyone of us.
Salvation is free, we don’t have to pay for it, it was paid by the Son of God for us, we just have to claim it, we just have to choose to be saved.
Praise be to God, all glory and power, all honor to our God, to our Father, to the Son Jesus Christ, to the Holy Spirit now and forever.
Amen.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Bound to give thanks
2 Thess.
{2:13} But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth
From the beginning God knew that should man fall that a way would be made for them to be made holy again. That's was sanctification means, being made holy, in this case 'through sanctification of the Spirit'
Dict.
1. To set apart for sacred use; consecrate.
2. To make holy; purify.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
Salvation through being made holy. Salvation through spiritual sanctification. Believing in the truth and being made holy of the Spirit, this is salvation. The truth is Jesus Christ our Lord is our Savior, He is the truth. Believing in the truth, believing in Jesus, being made holy of the spirit. Our spirit being...in the process of becoming holy. The holy spirit can sanctify us, the holy spirit allowed to work in us can make us acceptable to God.
Romans
{8:12} Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
{8:13} For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
{8:14} For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
{8:15} For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
{8:16} The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
{8:17} And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him,] that we may be also glorified together.
Isn't that wonderful?!
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.
Spirit to spirit, sanctification of the Spirit.
2 Thess.
{2:13} But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth
Giving thanks.
Appropriate again :)
Thanksgiving is right around the corner less than a week away and there are many instances of giving thanks throughout the Bible.
Thanks
Dict.
thank (thàngk) verb, transitive
thanked, thanking, thanks
1. To express gratitude to; give thanks to: He thanked her for the gift.
2. To hold responsible; credit: We can thank the parade for this traffic jam.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
Expressing gratitude.
'Bound to give thanks alway to God for you' Gratitude to God always. Gratitude to God, Thanks to God. It is through God that Salvation is made possible. Through God, through the truth, through the Spirit.
There is no other way to God, to salvation except through the Son.
It is wonderful that we are saved, wonderful that God from the beginning knew that there would be those who would choose salvation through Him.
We should thank God, all the time. Thank Him for His wonder, for His amazing love, for so much.
No, we might not always feel thankful, we might not always want to thank God especially when things are going wrong in our lives and yet He's in control if we allow Him to be. All the trials we go through in life, all the horrors great and small, they all will somehow, someway work out for good if we trust the God is in control. We don't have to like it, we won't like a lot of things, we're not meant to seek a life of ease and smooth-sailing and call any upset a result of God's punishing us, we're not. We can't think that way. We can't *blame* God, Satan would have us blame God, and God would have us trust in Him, trust in God for the ultimate promise through Jesus.
We have to thank God because He is in control of the chaos that is often our lives. He's in control and there is comfort in knowing that while we don't understand a single thing, He sees the huge picture and knows the end from the beginning. He'll guide us, He'll sustain us, He'll give us all we need to believe and trust in the salvation through Jesus and that salvation will lead us to a life we can barely comprehend because we only have tiny glimpses of the glory waiting for us.
Thank you God!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! A million times thank you!
I don't understand it all and I'll never claim to understand it all. I know I don't always give thanks when I should, but I need to try and do so more and more. By the Grace of God, thank you God, now and always.
Amen.
“I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;”- 1 Corinthians 1:4-5
{2:13} But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth
From the beginning God knew that should man fall that a way would be made for them to be made holy again. That's was sanctification means, being made holy, in this case 'through sanctification of the Spirit'
Dict.
1. To set apart for sacred use; consecrate.
2. To make holy; purify.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
Salvation through being made holy. Salvation through spiritual sanctification. Believing in the truth and being made holy of the Spirit, this is salvation. The truth is Jesus Christ our Lord is our Savior, He is the truth. Believing in the truth, believing in Jesus, being made holy of the spirit. Our spirit being...in the process of becoming holy. The holy spirit can sanctify us, the holy spirit allowed to work in us can make us acceptable to God.
Romans
{8:12} Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
{8:13} For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
{8:14} For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
{8:15} For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
{8:16} The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
{8:17} And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him,] that we may be also glorified together.
Isn't that wonderful?!
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.
Spirit to spirit, sanctification of the Spirit.
2 Thess.
{2:13} But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth
Giving thanks.
Appropriate again :)
Thanksgiving is right around the corner less than a week away and there are many instances of giving thanks throughout the Bible.
Thanks
Dict.
thank (thàngk) verb, transitive
thanked, thanking, thanks
1. To express gratitude to; give thanks to: He thanked her for the gift.
2. To hold responsible; credit: We can thank the parade for this traffic jam.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
Expressing gratitude.
'Bound to give thanks alway to God for you' Gratitude to God always. Gratitude to God, Thanks to God. It is through God that Salvation is made possible. Through God, through the truth, through the Spirit.
There is no other way to God, to salvation except through the Son.
It is wonderful that we are saved, wonderful that God from the beginning knew that there would be those who would choose salvation through Him.
We should thank God, all the time. Thank Him for His wonder, for His amazing love, for so much.
No, we might not always feel thankful, we might not always want to thank God especially when things are going wrong in our lives and yet He's in control if we allow Him to be. All the trials we go through in life, all the horrors great and small, they all will somehow, someway work out for good if we trust the God is in control. We don't have to like it, we won't like a lot of things, we're not meant to seek a life of ease and smooth-sailing and call any upset a result of God's punishing us, we're not. We can't think that way. We can't *blame* God, Satan would have us blame God, and God would have us trust in Him, trust in God for the ultimate promise through Jesus.
We have to thank God because He is in control of the chaos that is often our lives. He's in control and there is comfort in knowing that while we don't understand a single thing, He sees the huge picture and knows the end from the beginning. He'll guide us, He'll sustain us, He'll give us all we need to believe and trust in the salvation through Jesus and that salvation will lead us to a life we can barely comprehend because we only have tiny glimpses of the glory waiting for us.
Thank you God!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! A million times thank you!
I don't understand it all and I'll never claim to understand it all. I know I don't always give thanks when I should, but I need to try and do so more and more. By the Grace of God, thank you God, now and always.
Amen.
“I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;”- 1 Corinthians 1:4-5
Thursday, November 20, 2008
That they all might be damned ...
**
We're heading into the flu season and lots of people nowadays get a flu shot. They are inoculating themselves in hopes of warding off the flu. No one likes being sick, at least no one I've ever known. The flu can be so nasty, and in some cases even deadly, it's no wonder people want to inoculate themselves from getting it, or at least if they do get it then it's a much milder form. Who wants to gamble with their lives like that? You might say a lot of people because not all get the flu shot. I have yet to get mine, but I'm hoping to next week. I want to be inoculated against the flu. You know last year I was inoculated and guess what? I still got sick, really sick, like you have to take medicine to get better sick, not just wait it out and it goes away. Anyone that knows me, really knows me, knows I hate taking medicine and don't unless it's a last recourse. Why did I get so sick if I had the shot and paid 25.00 to get it? Because later on it was made known that they guessed the virus strains wrong. That's all it really is, guessing which viruses might appear in a given season and getting a vaccination prepared to fight what you GUESS, even educated-ly guess, might be out there ready to strike you down. Some years you get it right, some years you get it wrong, last year they got it wrong and supposedly this year they've acquired better guessers and it's supposed to be a lot better.
The point I'm making here is we often go to great lengths to protect ourselves, our health, our safety, we want to live healthy and accident free. We place great store on keeping ourselves as up to date on things that will ensure our protection from anything that would harm us, biological or not. Why shouldn't we? Again I reiterate, no one likes to be sick. No one likes to put themselves in such jeopardy they risk death- hold on, daredevils, mountain climbers, race car drivers, foot ball players, motorbike racers, surfboards, the list is endless for those who DO put their lives at risk. These people enjoy the thrill of living on the edge, teetering on the precipice of life and death, they call it a high, the ultimate rush. So I suppose I can't say NO one likes to live dangerously, but I can say MOST people don't like to be sick or live dangerously. Most people don't like to gamble with their well-being in that way.
The very people that take the utmost precautions against becoming ill and getting injured often neglect the very thing that can protect them the most. No, it can't protect you like a science fiction body shield making you a super human being, but this protection offers the greatest protection you'll ever have. Protection for your eternal life. Protection that offers you life everlasting without a day of pain, sickness.
What's the thing that can protect us? How can we inoculate ourselves for eternal life? By daily, sometimes hourly, minutely, secondly injections of the truth.
Stop groaning. It's true.
The only thing that can save us ultimately is the truth. Eternal life isn't guaranteed to you just because you were born. You're not guaranteed a life of happiness after death. There isn't a realm you roam happily automatically. That light people see at the end of the tunnel when they have near death experiences and come back, that light isn't the promised eternal life. Even people that want nothing to do with God whatsoever, who have committed gross sins and only want to commit more of them have had near death experiences and have seen the so-called light, the so-called promise of happy life everlasting. Some might argue that was to change their lives around giving them a second chance, showing them what they have to lose, but no all those people are changed by the experience. Some are thrilled that they know they'll go on to a better life no matter what they do.
Deception.
Make the majority of humanity believe that they go on to a better place upon death. That every little boy or girl whose mommy or daddy die can believe their lost loved one is in heaven watching them.
Deception.
We can be assured of eternal life with Christ alone. We need a love of the truth if we're not to be deceived. LOVE of the truth, one super inoculation coming up. Keep the love of the truth in your life at all times, not some of the time, but at all times and you know that you're protected.
Let's pretend for a moment a wicked disease sweeps over all the earth and millions of people die before scientist come up with a cure. The cure is something you need to take all the time, something like a patch that has to administer low doses of the protection all day long. The guarantee that you'll die if you don't wear the patch is certain. Would the majority of people choose not to wear the patch? No, they want to stay protected, they want to live.
We need a low dose Jesus patch that we wear every day, all day long ministering to us His love, His forgiveness, His Holy Spirit, the truth. We need a love of the truth. A love so great that we never forget it not even for a moment. In all we do, in all we are we have to have Jesus with us, we have to have a love of the truth, a love of God.
Read the following which about why a lot of people will perish and not have eternal life--
2 Thessalonians
{2:8} And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming {2:9} Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders
{2:10} And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. {2:11} And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie
{2:12} That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Read it again. You know how I like you to read things again just to bring the point home.
2 Thessalonians
{2:8} And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming {2:9} Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders
{2:10} And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. {2:11} And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie
{2:12} That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
In them that perish... they are deceived by unrighteousness, deceived by the workings of Satan, deceived by powerful forces, deceived by signs- signs that people will believe are from God, deceived by lying wonders- wonders that are amazing and all lies. Deceived because people will NOT receive a love of the truth that they might be saved. They don't want it! They don't want the patch that'll keep them alive. They don't want the inoculation, they don't want to protect themselves with the truth. They want to draw a nice cloak of deceivability around them and believe lies and wonders, signs that are so close to the real thing, they want to believe all that but they don't want to believe the truth, they don't want to love the truth.
Once dead set (pardon the pun) on believing the pretty lies that are so close to the truth it's hard to tell that they're not, God's going to let people believe that lie. Meaning what?
Meaning the truth is out there for all to see. The love of the truth is available to everyone. Not everyone wants the truth, in fact the majority would much rather be deceived, it feels better on their conscience.
All that choose to be deceived rather than love the truth found in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, will perish, there will be NO eternal life for them, these people will never know true joy, true peace, true love, never. The pleasure they get is in unrighteousness, not from the truth.
People want a special protection bubble to keep them from all of life's many anxieties, heartaches, despairs, but that doesn't exist. Our hope has to be in eternity and the promise of that life to come in Jesus. We can overcome the world and all it's pains, but that doesn't mean we won't suffer. The only way we overcome is with a love of the Truth, a LOVE of the gospel found in Jesus Christ.
Amen.
We're heading into the flu season and lots of people nowadays get a flu shot. They are inoculating themselves in hopes of warding off the flu. No one likes being sick, at least no one I've ever known. The flu can be so nasty, and in some cases even deadly, it's no wonder people want to inoculate themselves from getting it, or at least if they do get it then it's a much milder form. Who wants to gamble with their lives like that? You might say a lot of people because not all get the flu shot. I have yet to get mine, but I'm hoping to next week. I want to be inoculated against the flu. You know last year I was inoculated and guess what? I still got sick, really sick, like you have to take medicine to get better sick, not just wait it out and it goes away. Anyone that knows me, really knows me, knows I hate taking medicine and don't unless it's a last recourse. Why did I get so sick if I had the shot and paid 25.00 to get it? Because later on it was made known that they guessed the virus strains wrong. That's all it really is, guessing which viruses might appear in a given season and getting a vaccination prepared to fight what you GUESS, even educated-ly guess, might be out there ready to strike you down. Some years you get it right, some years you get it wrong, last year they got it wrong and supposedly this year they've acquired better guessers and it's supposed to be a lot better.
The point I'm making here is we often go to great lengths to protect ourselves, our health, our safety, we want to live healthy and accident free. We place great store on keeping ourselves as up to date on things that will ensure our protection from anything that would harm us, biological or not. Why shouldn't we? Again I reiterate, no one likes to be sick. No one likes to put themselves in such jeopardy they risk death- hold on, daredevils, mountain climbers, race car drivers, foot ball players, motorbike racers, surfboards, the list is endless for those who DO put their lives at risk. These people enjoy the thrill of living on the edge, teetering on the precipice of life and death, they call it a high, the ultimate rush. So I suppose I can't say NO one likes to live dangerously, but I can say MOST people don't like to be sick or live dangerously. Most people don't like to gamble with their well-being in that way.
The very people that take the utmost precautions against becoming ill and getting injured often neglect the very thing that can protect them the most. No, it can't protect you like a science fiction body shield making you a super human being, but this protection offers the greatest protection you'll ever have. Protection for your eternal life. Protection that offers you life everlasting without a day of pain, sickness.
What's the thing that can protect us? How can we inoculate ourselves for eternal life? By daily, sometimes hourly, minutely, secondly injections of the truth.
Stop groaning. It's true.
The only thing that can save us ultimately is the truth. Eternal life isn't guaranteed to you just because you were born. You're not guaranteed a life of happiness after death. There isn't a realm you roam happily automatically. That light people see at the end of the tunnel when they have near death experiences and come back, that light isn't the promised eternal life. Even people that want nothing to do with God whatsoever, who have committed gross sins and only want to commit more of them have had near death experiences and have seen the so-called light, the so-called promise of happy life everlasting. Some might argue that was to change their lives around giving them a second chance, showing them what they have to lose, but no all those people are changed by the experience. Some are thrilled that they know they'll go on to a better life no matter what they do.
Deception.
Make the majority of humanity believe that they go on to a better place upon death. That every little boy or girl whose mommy or daddy die can believe their lost loved one is in heaven watching them.
Deception.
We can be assured of eternal life with Christ alone. We need a love of the truth if we're not to be deceived. LOVE of the truth, one super inoculation coming up. Keep the love of the truth in your life at all times, not some of the time, but at all times and you know that you're protected.
Let's pretend for a moment a wicked disease sweeps over all the earth and millions of people die before scientist come up with a cure. The cure is something you need to take all the time, something like a patch that has to administer low doses of the protection all day long. The guarantee that you'll die if you don't wear the patch is certain. Would the majority of people choose not to wear the patch? No, they want to stay protected, they want to live.
We need a low dose Jesus patch that we wear every day, all day long ministering to us His love, His forgiveness, His Holy Spirit, the truth. We need a love of the truth. A love so great that we never forget it not even for a moment. In all we do, in all we are we have to have Jesus with us, we have to have a love of the truth, a love of God.
Read the following which about why a lot of people will perish and not have eternal life--
2 Thessalonians
{2:8} And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming {2:9} Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders
{2:10} And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. {2:11} And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie
{2:12} That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Read it again. You know how I like you to read things again just to bring the point home.
2 Thessalonians
{2:8} And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming {2:9} Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders
{2:10} And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. {2:11} And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie
{2:12} That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
In them that perish... they are deceived by unrighteousness, deceived by the workings of Satan, deceived by powerful forces, deceived by signs- signs that people will believe are from God, deceived by lying wonders- wonders that are amazing and all lies. Deceived because people will NOT receive a love of the truth that they might be saved. They don't want it! They don't want the patch that'll keep them alive. They don't want the inoculation, they don't want to protect themselves with the truth. They want to draw a nice cloak of deceivability around them and believe lies and wonders, signs that are so close to the real thing, they want to believe all that but they don't want to believe the truth, they don't want to love the truth.
Once dead set (pardon the pun) on believing the pretty lies that are so close to the truth it's hard to tell that they're not, God's going to let people believe that lie. Meaning what?
Meaning the truth is out there for all to see. The love of the truth is available to everyone. Not everyone wants the truth, in fact the majority would much rather be deceived, it feels better on their conscience.
All that choose to be deceived rather than love the truth found in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, will perish, there will be NO eternal life for them, these people will never know true joy, true peace, true love, never. The pleasure they get is in unrighteousness, not from the truth.
People want a special protection bubble to keep them from all of life's many anxieties, heartaches, despairs, but that doesn't exist. Our hope has to be in eternity and the promise of that life to come in Jesus. We can overcome the world and all it's pains, but that doesn't mean we won't suffer. The only way we overcome is with a love of the Truth, a LOVE of the gospel found in Jesus Christ.
Amen.
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