SALVATION: BELIEVING IN THE FINISHED WORK OF GOD!

THE FATHER'S ROLE IN OUR SALVATION

*  John 3:16-18 - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.  He that believes on Him is not condemned:  but He that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
 *  Acts 2:29-32 - "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.  Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; he seeing this before spoke of the Resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption.  This Jesus has God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses."
*  John 6:44 - Jesus said, "No man can come to Me, except the Father Who has sent Me draw him:  and I will raise him up at the last day."

THE HOLY SPIRIT'S ROLE IN OUR SALVATION

*  John 3:3-8 - "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus said unto Him, How can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again.  The wind blows where it will, and you hear the sound of it, but you can not tell from where it comes, and where it goes:  so is everyone that is born of the Spirit."
*  John 16:7-14 - "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away:  for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.  And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  of sin, because they believe not on Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and you see me no more;  of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.  I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now.  However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth:  for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak:  and He will show you things to come.  He shall glorify Me:  for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you."

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST'S ROLE IN OUR SALVATION

*  John 12:27-33 - "Now is My soul troubled; and what shall I say?  Father, save Me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.  Father, glorify Thy name.  Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.  The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered:  others said, An angel spoke to Him.  Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of Me, but for your sakes.  Now is the judgment of this world:  now shall the prince of this world be cast out.  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.  This He said, signifying what death He should die."
*  Luke 24:1-8 - "Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.  And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.  And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.  And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:  and as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but is risen: remember how He spoke unto you when He was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.  And they remembered His words."
*  Luke 24:19-27 - "...And they said unto Him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, Who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:  and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and have crucified Him.  But we trusted that it had been He Who should have redeemed Israel:  and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done.  Yes, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, who went early to the sepulchre; and when they found not His body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that He was alive.  And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said:  but Him they saw not.  Then Jesus said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." 

OUR ROLE IN OUR OWN SALVATION

*  Romans 10:9-13 - "That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.  For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture says, Whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile:  for the same Lord over all is rich unto all who call upon Him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

GOD KNOWS YOUR THOUGHTS, WORDS, AND DEEDS!

*  Deuteronomy 29:29 - "The secret things belong unto the LORD our God:  but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this Law."
*  Psalm 44:21 - "Shall not God search this out?  For He knoweth the secrets of the heart."
*  Psalm 90:8 - "Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance."
*  Ecclesiastes 12:14 - "For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."
*  Isaiah 3:17 - "Therefore the LORD will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts."
*  Jeremiah 23:24 - "Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him, saith the LORD? Do not I fill heaven and earth, saith the LORD?"
*  Jeremiah 49:10 - "But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself:  his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbors, and he is not."
*  Matthew 6:4, 6, 18 - "That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father Who seeth in secret Himself shall reward thee openly....But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father Who seeth in secret shall reward thee openly....That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father Who is in secret: and thy Father, Who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly."
*  Mark 4:22 - "For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad."
*  Romans 2:16 - "In the day when God shall judge the secret of men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel."
*  1 Corinthians 14:25 - "And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth."


*  Psalm 139:1-12 - "O LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me.  Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off.  Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.  For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, Thou knowest it altogether.  Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid Thine hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.  Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit?  Or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?  If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there.  If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.  If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.  Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day:  the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee."

WHERE ARE THE DEAD?

THE PLACE OF DEAD BEFORE CHRIST'S RESURRECTION

       There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously everyday:  and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table:  moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom:  the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and seeing Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 
       And he cried and said, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." 
       But Abraham said, "Son, remember that you in thy lifetime received good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and you are tormented.  And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed:  so that those who would pass from here to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, who would come from there."
       Then he said, "I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house:  for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment."
       Abraham said unto him, They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them."
       And he said, "Nay, father Abraham:  but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent."
       And he said unto him, "If they would not believe Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." (Luke 16:19-31).

THE PLACE OF THE DEAD AFTER CHRIST'S RESURRECTION

       But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who cunningly shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom The Way of Truth (see John 14:6) shall be evil spoken of.  And through covetousness shall they with deceptive words make merchandise of you:  whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not.  For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; and spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those who afterward should live ungodly.... (2 Peter 2:1-6).


       For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:  if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.  For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened:  not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.  Now He Who has wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, Who also has given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.  Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:  For we walk by faith, not by sight:  so we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:1-8).


       But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have died, that ye sorrow not, even as others who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those who have died believing in Jesus will God bring with Him.  For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede those who have died.  For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).

PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS!

GLIMPSES OF THE POWER OF OUR OMNIPOTENT GOD

*  Matthew 6:9-13 - "...Our Father Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:  For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.  Amen."


*  Matthew 28:18-20 - "And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  Amen."


*  John 1:10-13 - "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.  He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.  But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:  who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."


*  Romans 1:16-17 - "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:  as it is written, The just shall live by faith."


*  1 Corinthians 1:18, 23-24 - "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God....But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God."


*  1 Corinthians 2:4-5 - "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:  that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."


*  Hebrews 1:1-3 - "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."


*  1 Peter 1:3-5 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."


*  Jude 1:24-25 - "Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.  Amen."

HE IS WORTHY OF OUR LOVE, OBEDIENCE, AND SERVICE!

BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS LOVE THE LORD

*  Mark 12:32-33 - "And the scribe said unto Him, Well, Master, Thou hast said the truth:  for there is one God; and there is none other but He:  and to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
*  John 14:21, 23 - "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him....Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words:  and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him."
*  1 Corinthians 2:9 - "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."
*  James 1:12 - "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation:  for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him."
*  James 2:5 - "Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?"
*  1 John 4:19 - "We love Him, because He first loved us."

BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS WILLINGLY OBEY THE LORD

*  Mark 1:27 - "And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this?  What new doctrine is this?  For with authority commandeth He even the unclean spirits, and they do obey Him."
*  Mark 4:41 - "And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"
*  Acts 5:32 - "And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, Whom God hath given to them that obey Him."
*  Hebrews 5:7-9 - "Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared; though He was a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him."

BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS WILLINGLY SERVE THE LORD

*  Luke 1:74-75 - "That He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life."
*  Revelation 7:13-15 - "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes?  And whence came they?  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest.  And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple:  and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them."
*  Revelation 22:3-4 - "And there shall be no more curse:  but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him:  and they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads."

A MAN IS NOT SAVED BY LOVE, OBEDIENCE, OR SERVICE.

BUT A SAVED MAN WILL LOVE, OBEY, AND SERVE HIM!

FOUR PICTURES OF JESUS IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

JESUS AS OUR CREATOR

*  Hebrews 1:1-3 - "God, Who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."

JESUS AS OUR INTERCESSOR

*  Hebrews 4:12-16 - "For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight:  but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do.  Seeing then that we have a Great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

JESUS AS OUR REDEEMER

*  Hebrews 12:1-2 - "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

JESUS AS OUR PERFECTER

*  Hebrews 13:20-21 - "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen. 

COMING EVENTS ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE

JESUS IS COMING TO GET THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM 

*  John 14:1-3 - "Let not your heart be troubled:  ye believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many mansions:  if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

BELIEVERS MUST BE CHANGED INTO HIS LIKENESS

*  1 Corinthians 15:49-54 - "And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:  for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."
*  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.  For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede them which are asleep.  For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
*  1 John 3:1-2 - "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:  therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is."

THE TRIBULATION; DANIEL'S 70th WEEK; TIME OF JACOB'S TROUBLE

---- THEN ----

THEY SHALL SEE CHRIST'S SECOND COMING

*  Matthew 24:29-30 - "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven:  and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

MARANATHA - COME LORD JESUS!

HALLEL PSALMS SING PRAISE TO THE LORD

*  Psalm 7:17 - "I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness:  and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high."
*  Psalm 22:26 - "The meek shall eat and be satisfied:  they shall praise the LORD that seek Him: your heart shall live forever."
*  Psalm 33:2 - "Praise the LORD with harp:  sing unto Him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings."
*  Psalm 102:18 - "This shall be written for the generation to come:  and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD."
*  Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31 - "Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!"
*  Psalm 109:30 - "I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise Him among the multitude."
*  Psalm 111:1 - "Praise ye the LORD.  I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation."
*  Psalm 115:18 - "But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.  Praise the LORD."
*  Psalm 117:1 - "O praise the LORD, all ye nations:  praise Him, all ye people."
*  Psalm 118:19 - "Open to me the gates of righteousness:  I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD."
*  Psalm 135:3 - "Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good:  sing praises unto His name; for it is pleasant."
*  Psalm 146:1-2 - "Praise ye the LORD.  Praise the LORD, O my soul.  While I live will I praise the LORD:  I will sing praises unto My God while I have any being."
*  Psalm 147:12 - "Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem;  praise thy God, O Zion."
*  Psalm 148:7 - "Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps."
*  Psalm 150:6 - "Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD.  Praise ye the LORD."

NO MATTER WHAT SATAN THROWS AT YOU,

HE IS DEFEATED WHEN YOU PRAISE THE LORD!

WORTHY IS THE LAMB TO RECEIVE HONOR

*  Matthew 2:1-11 - The Gentile Magi worshipped Jesus.


*  Matthew 8:2 - The leper worshipped Jesus.


*  Matthew 9:18 - A Jewish ruler worshipped Jesus.


*  Matthew 14:33 - His disciples worshipped Jesus.


*  Matthew 15:25 - A Canaanite woman worshipped Jesus.


*  Matthew 20:20 - The mother of James and John worshipped Jesus.


*  Matthew 28:9 - The women who went to the tomb worshipped Jesus.


*  Mark 5:6 - The demoniac worshipped Jesus.


*  Luke 24:52 - The disciples present at His Ascension worshipped Jesus.


*  John 9:38 - The man born blind worshipped Jesus.


*  Hebrews 1:6 - The angels of God worshipped Jesus.


*  Revelation 4:10 - The twenty-four elders worshipped Jesus.

JESUS DIED TO PAY FOR YOUR SINS AND HIS FATHER RAISED HIM FROM

THE DEAD TO RULE AND REIGN AS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS! 

IS JESUS NOT WORTHY OF YOUR WORSHIP?

IN GOD WE TRUST

*  Matthew 12:21 - "And in (Jesus') name shall the Gentiles trust." [See Acts 15:14]


*  Matthew 27:43 - "(Jesus) trusted in God; let (God) deliver Him now, if He will have Him:  for He said, I am the Son of God."  [See Acts 2:23-27]


*  Mark 10:24 - Do not trust in riches!  [See Matthew 16:26]


*  Luke 11:22 - Do not trust your ability to defend yourself!  [See 2 Thessalonians 3:3]


*  Luke 18:9 - Do not trust in your own righteousness!  [See Romans 10:3]


*  John 5:45 - Do not trust in the Law of Moses!  [See Acts 13:39]


*  2 Corinthians 1:9 - Trust in God Who will raise the dead!  [See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18]


*  Ephesians 1:12 - Trust only in Christ!  [See Acts 4:10-12]


*  1 Thessalonians 2:4 - Trust in the Gospel!  {See Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4]


*  1 Timothy 4:10 - Trust in the living God!  [See 1 Corinthians 1:9; 10:13]


*  Philemon 1:22 - Trust that God hears your prayers!  [See 1 John 4:6]


*  Hebrews 2:13 - Trust in Jesus!  [See Matthew 17:5; John 14:6]

"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."  Hebrews 13:20-21

JOHN KNEW JESUS AS GOD MANIFEST IN THE FLESH

*  John 1:1-3 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The Same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made."


*  John 1:10-13 - "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.  He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.  But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:  which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."


*  John 3:14-18 - "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.  He that believeth on Him is not condemned:  but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."


*  John 6:28-29 - "Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him Whom He hath sent."


*  John 9:35-38 - "Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?  He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him?  And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee.  And he said, Lord, I believe.  And he worshipped Him."


*  John 14:1-3 - "Let not your heart be troubled:  ye believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many mansions:  if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."


*  1 John 3:1-2 - "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:  therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is."


*  Revelation 19:11-16 - "And I (John) saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself.  And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood:  and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations:  and He shall rule them with a rod of iron:  and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

SOME THINGS ARE BEYOND MY COMPREHENSION

The other day, one of my nieces asked me to explain how Cain, after he was banished for killing Abel, his brother, went to live in a land called Nod, and there, he married a woman.  To be quite honest, I didn't know the answer.  So today, I want to look at the passage to see if I can figure it out.  The passage is found in Genesis 4:16-17, which says:  "And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.  And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch."


First of all, I want to know what "the land of Nod" means.  According to Young's Analytical Concordance, the Hebrew word is נוֹד (Nowd), which occurs only once in the Bible, means "land of wandering."  In other words, it was not a nation, but was much like the forty year wilderness journey of the Jews.  I have often thought of the Garden of Eden as being located somewhere in Israel, and since the "land of Nod" was east of Eden, that could put Cain's wandering in the same place Israel would wander more than two millennia later. 


Secondly, from where did Cain find his wife?  I have always thought he married one of Adam's female children, because Genesis 5:4-5 states:  "And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years:  and he begat sons and daughters:  and all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died."  But my daughter is sure that when God created man in Genesis 1:26-27, he created mankind, not Adam and Eve.  That sort of makes sense if we take the description of the creation of Adam and Eve found in Genesis 2 as describing two special individuals who were to take care of the garden (Gen. 2:5).  It would also explain why Cain built a city (Gen. 4:15).


However, that cannot be the answer, in that, Genesis 3:20 says, "And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living."  Obviously, if Eve was to be labeled as such, there could not have been multitudes of humans created in Genesis 1:26-27.  That also means that Chapter Two is a detailed description of how God created Adam in Chapter One.


Finally, in answer to the though that God had to have created many humans, mammals, birds, and sea creatures, He began replenishing the earth with a single pair of all the animals following the flood.  I also believe that Adam was the first man because it is through his sin, that all mankind face death; if there were others at the time of Adam's life, they would not be his offspring, and hence, would not be under the curse of death.


I have been studying the Bible since I accepted God's free gift of eternal life forty-six years ago, and the longer I study it, the greater my amazement at how little I know!  I cannot wait until Jesus comes for me, and I will know, even as I am known (1 Cor. 13:12; 1 Jn. 3:2)!  God bless you as you serve the Lord with gladness, and meditate on His Word day and night!


 

SALVATION IS BELIEVING IN THE LORD, CHIRST JESUS!

SALVATION IS GOD'S GIFT TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

*  Romans 5:15-18 (NLT) - "But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift.  For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many.  But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.  And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin.  For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.  For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.  Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone."
*  Romans 6:23 (KJV) - "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
*  Ephesians 2:8 (KJV) - "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God."

FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST RESULTS IN BEING BORN AGAIN

*  John 3:3-8 (SLV) - "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus asked Him, How can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water (physical birth) and of the Spirit (spiritual birth), he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, You must be born again.  The wind blows where it will, and you hear the sound of it, but you can not tell where it comes from, and where it goes:  so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit."
*  Acts 16:31 (KJV) - "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
*  Romans 10:9-10, 13 (SLV) - "That if you confess your faith in the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you are saved.  For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation....For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

FROM WHERE DOES OUR FAITH IN THE LORD COME?

*  Romans 10:17 (SLV) - "So then faith comes from hearing and believing the Word of God."
*  1 Peter 1:23 (KJV) - "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever."

KNOWING ABOUT JESUS IS NOT THE SAME THING AS KNOWING HIM AS LORD!

RELIGIOUS WORKS CANNOT SAVE YOU

THE RELIGIOUS THINK THEIR WORKS WILL SAVE THEM

*  Matthew 7:21-23 - "Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father Who is in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name?  And in Thy name have cast out devils?  And in Thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity."

SALVATION IS NOT OF WORKS, BUT OF FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST

*  John 6:28-29 - "Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him Whom He hath sent."
*  Romans 3:24-27 - "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  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; to declare, I say, at this time His righteousness:  that He might be just, and the justifier of him who believeth in Jesus.  Where is boasting then?  It is excluded.  By what Law?  Of works?  Nay:  but by the Law of faith."
*  Romans 4:2-5 - "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.  For what saith the Scripture?  Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.  Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
*  Romans 9:30-32 - "What shall we say then?  That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.  But Israel, which followed after the Law of righteousness, hath not attained to the Law of righteousness.  Wherefore?  Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the Law.  For they stumbled at that Stumblingstone."
*  Romans 11:6 - "And if (salvation is) by grace, then is it no more of works:  otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace:  otherwise work is no more work."
*  Galatians 2:16 - "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the Law: for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified."
*  Galatians 3:2-3 - "This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith?  Are ye so foolish, having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?"
*  Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  not of works, lest any man should boast."
*  2 Timothy 1:9 - "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."
*  Titus 3:5 - "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost."

SALVATION IS A GIFT FROM GOD TO ALL WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST!

JESUS IS THE LORD OF ALL CREATION

I have noticed that there has been an increasing number of challenges to the Judeo-Christian belief in God as the Creator of the Universe.  While denial of a Creator is nothing new (see Romans 1:18-32), it has recently taken on a threatening tone, with men like "Bill Nye the Science Guy" vowing to lead a crusade against creationists.  Even in the Church, with its lack of solid biblical teaching on the subject, doubts have surfaced, with many denominations even accepting Theistic Evolution as truth!  The Apostle Paul described this so-called science in 1 Timothy 6:20-21; he wrote:  "O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:  which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen."


The Bible contains the word "created" thirty-eight times; "create" eight times; "Creator" nine times; and "creation" six times!  In addition, the following passages identify the Creator as Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son:


*  John 1:1-3, 10, 14 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The Same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made....He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not....And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
*  Colossians 1:16-17 - "For by Him (Jesus) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers:  all things were created by Him, and for Him:  and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist."
*  Hebrews 1:1-2 - "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds."


The Bible teaches creation from the very first verse, and declares it in the very last book, the Book of Revelation:


*  Genesis 1:1 - "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
*  Mark 10:6 - "But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female."
*  Mark 13:19 - "For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be."
*  Romans 1:20 - "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse!"
*  Romans 8:22 - "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."
*  Revelation 1:8 - "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."
*  Revelation 3:14 - "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God."
*  Revelation 21:6 - "And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely."
*  Revelation 22:13 - "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."

THE JESUS WHO OFFERED HIMSELF AS SAVIOR,

IS THE LORD OF ALL CREATION!

NOW ARE WE THE SONS OF GOD

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water AND of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which IS born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth:  so is every one that IS born of the Spirit" (John 3:3-8).

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they ARE the sons of God.  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.  The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we ARE the children of God" (Romans 8:14-16).

"But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is NOW" (Galatians 4:29).

"Do all things without murmurings and disputings:  that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:14-15).

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever" (1 Peter 1:23).

"If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness IS born of Him" (1 John 2:29).

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:  therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.  Beloved, NOW are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. (1 John 3:1-2).

"Whosoever  IS born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he IS born of God" (1 John 3:9).

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth IS born of God, and knoweth God. (1 John 4:7).

"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ IS born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of Him.  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments.  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.  For whatsoever IS born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 5:1-5).

"We know that whosoever  IS born of God sinneth not; but he that IS begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not" (1 John 5:18).

COMFORTING WORDS ON THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH

1.  John 14:1-3 - "Let not your heart be troubled:  ye believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many mansions:  if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."


2.  John 14:27-29 - "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you.  If ye loved Me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father:  for My Father is greater than I.  And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe."
    
3.  1 Corinthians 11:23-26 - "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread:  and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, Take, eat:  this is My body, which is broken for you:  this do in remembrance of Me.  After the same manner also, He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood:  this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come."


4.  1 Corinthians 15:50-54 - "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."


5.  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words."


6.  1 Thessalonians 5:5-11 - "Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day:  we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken, are drunken in the night.  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do."


7.  Revelation 3:10-11 - "Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.  Behold, I come quickly:  hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."

TRUST JESUS FOR YOUR SALVATION, AND TO RETURN FOR YOU!

THE RAPTURE AND THE SECOND COMING

At Christ's First Coming, He came to teach His disciples the Gospel, and to be Crucified for the sins of man according to the Scriptures, to be buried, and to be raised from the grave, also according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3-4).  He ascended into heaven and awaits the timing of His two-phased Second Coming (To Rapture His Church, and to assume His role as the Resurrected King of kings and Lord of lords)!  Here are ten factors that show the difference between the two phases:


The time of the Rapture:  before the tribulation (Rev. 3:10).
The time of the Second Coming:  after the tribulation (Mt. 24:29-30; Rev. 19:11-16).


The quickness of the Rapture:  in the twinkling of an eye (1 Cor. 15:52).
The quickness of the Second Coming:  all have time to see it (Mt. 24:27; Rev. 19:19).


The date of the Rapture:  unknown to even Jesus (Mk. 13:32).
The date of the Second Coming:  7 yrs. after the covenant (Dan. 9:24-27; Rev. 11:1-3).


The preceding signs of the Rapture:  none (Titus 2:13; Rev. 22:20; etc.).
The preceding signs of the Second Coming:  many (Mt. 24:3-28; Rev. Ch. 6-18).


The visibility of the Rapture:  by the church only (1 Th. 4:17; 1 Jn 3:2).
The visibility of the Second Coming:  every eye shall see Him (Rev. 1:7; Mt. 24:24-27).


The location of the Rapture:  in the air (1 Th. 4:17).
The location of the Second Coming:  on the earth (Zech. 14:4; Acts 1:11).


Those removed at the Rapture:  only believers (1 Th. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-53; Jn. 14:3).
Those removed at the Second Coming:  only unbelievers (Mt. 24:37-41; Lk. 17:34-37).


The purpose of the Rapture:  to receive His bride (Jn. 14:3; 1 Th. 4:17).
The purpose of the Second Coming:  to receive His kingdom (Lk. 19:22; Rev. Ch. 19-20).


The believers at the Rapture:  we shall be changed (1 Cor. 15:52-53; 1 Th. 4:17; 1 Jn. 3:2).
The believers at the Second Coming:  will enter the kingdom in natural bodies (Mt. 25:31-40).


The judgment following the Rapture:  The Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:10-15).
The judgment following Christ's earthly kingdom:  The Great White Throne  (Rev. 20:11-15).

BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS HAVE OVERCOME!

CHRIST'S MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH:  WE NEED TO OVERCOME!

*  Revelation 2:7 - "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."
*  Revelation 2:11 - "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death."
*  Revelation 2:17 - "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."
*  Revelation 2:26 - "And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations."


*  Revelation 3:5 - "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels."
*  Revelation 3:12 - "To him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My new name."
*  Revelation 3:21 - "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne."

THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES TO OVERCOME!

*  1 John 2:12-14 - "I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.  I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning.  I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.  I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning.  I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one."


*  1 John 4:1-4 - "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:  Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:  and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them:  because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."


*  1 John 5:4-7 - "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?  This is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood.  And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."

TO BE AN OVERCOMER IS TO BE A CHILD OF THE LIVING GOD!

*  Revelation 21:7 - "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son."

IMPORTANT BIBLE MOTHERS ON MOTHER'S DAY

In honor of Mother's Day, I thought it would be interesting to discuss five significant mothers who have a special significance in the Bible.  First though I would ask you, have you ever noticed that there are women mentioned in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus?  Not only are they special in that they are part of His genealogy, they are also special because, as women, they have the rare distinction of being listed in the genealogy of a Jew! One need only look at Luke's genealogy of Jesus to illustrate the point (Lk. 3:23-38). 


*  Matthew 1:3 - "Judah the father of Perez and Zara, whose mother was (Thamar) Tamar."
*  Matthew 1:5 - "Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was (Rachab) Rahab."
*  Matthew 1:5 - "Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth."
*  Matthew 1:6 - "David was the father of Solomon, whose mother (Bathsheba) had been Uriah’s wife."
*  Matthew 1:16 - "Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus."  [Note that Joseph is not called the father of Jesus - Luke said it this way:  "And Jesus Himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph...." (Lk. 3:23)].


In addition to these five women being mentioned in the Lord's genealogy, there is something even more astounding, in that, they do more to cause His "family tree" to be rejected, than to be accepted!  *  Tamar (Thamar) needed to "play the harlot" in order to get her father-in-law, Judah, to give her a child!  She had twins named Pharez (Phares) and Zarah (Zara).
*  Rahab (Rachab) was not a Jew, but was a harlot living in Jericho.  She was the mother of Boaz.  Amazingly, she is also mentioned in Joshua 2, 6; Psalm 87, 89; Isaiah 51; Hebrews 11; and James 2!
*  Ruth was a Moabite and not a Jew!  She was the mother of Obed.
*  Bathsheba committed adultery and then married the man who had her husband killed!  She was the mother of Solomon.
*  Mary, the mother of Jesus, was accused of being with child by someone other than her husband to be (Mt. 1:18-19; Jn. 8:41).


As we have seen, even though not all mothers are perfect, these examples would indicate that, like you and me, they do their best.  Yes, like all human beings, mothers sin; but unlike all human beings, mothers love and nurture their children - they have been given a special heart from God to love unconditionally their less than perfect children!  Thanks be to God for mothers!

HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER!

THE FIRST AND SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST

CHRIST'S "TRIUMPHAL ENTRY" INTO JERUSALEM

*  Matthew 21:1-9 - "And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the Mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway you shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her:  loose them, and bring them unto Me.  And if any man say ought unto you, you shall say, The Lord has need of them; and straightway he will send them.  All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your King comes unto you, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.  And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set Him thereon.  And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.  And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David:  Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest."

CHRIST'S "TRIUMPHAL RETURN" TO RULE FROM JERUSALEM

*  Revelation 19:11-16 - "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He Who sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He does judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself.  And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  And out of His mouth went a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations:  and He shall rule them with a rod of iron:  and He shall tread the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And He had on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 
*  Revelation 19:19-21 - And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him Who sat on the horse, and against His army.  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image.  These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.  And the remnant were slain with the sword of Him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of His mouth:  and all the fowls were filled with their flesh."
*  Revelation 20:4 - "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."

WHAT DOES "SAVED" MEAN?

BY WHAT ARE WE SAVED?

*  Romans 5:10 - "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."
*  Romans 8:24 - "For we are saved by hope:  but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for it?"

FROM WHAT ARE WE SAVED?

*  Luke 1:71 - "That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us."
*  Romans 5:8-9 (SLV) - "But God demonstrated His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."

BY WHOM ARE WE SAVED?

*  Luke 2:30 - Simeon took Jesus, blessed God, and said, "For my eyes have seen Your salvation."
*  Luke 3:6 - John, in preparing the way of the Lord, said of Jesus:  "And all flesh shall see the salvation of God."
*  Acts 4:10, 12 - "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified, Whom God raised from the dead, even by Him does this man stand here before you whole....Neither is there salvation in any other:  for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
*  1 Thessalonians 5:9 - "For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."
*  2 Timothy 3:15 - "And that from a child you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

HOW ARE WE SAVED?

*  Romans 1:16 - "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one who believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
*  Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
*  Romans 10:9-10, 13 (SLV) - "That if you shall declare with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.  For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation....For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

WHEN SHOULD ONE ACCEPT JESUS AS LORD?

*  2 Corinthians 6:2 (SLV)  - "For He said, I have heard you in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I helped you:  behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

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THE MESSAGE OF GRACE DOES NOT SAVE THE LOST

Because all religions, including most Christian denominations, are based upon avoiding sin and doing good works in order to get to heaven, most evangelicals have totally focused their preaching on God's grace.  Perhaps the most often used passage of Scripture for those interested in winning souls for Christ, is no longer John 3:16, but is Ephesians 2:8-9, which practically defines "grace" by itself; it says:  "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God:  not of works, lest any man should boast." 


While this passage from Ephesians is critical when one is addressing a person who is mistakenly relying upon a works-based religion, it, in itself, is not capable of bringing the lost to salvation.  Romans 1:16 states that it is the Gospel message that has the power necessary to bring someone to Christ; it reads:  "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." 


So, what exactly is the Gospel?  The Apostle Paul defined it as being composed of three historical facts as seen in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: 
  1.  Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures.  Because all are guilty of sin, and because the judgment of God is that sin must be paid for by death (Rom. 3:23; 6:23; etc.), man has two choices - he can pay for his sin with his own death, or he can accept the One Who volunteered to pay that death for him (Rom. 5:8)
  2.  Jesus' body was placed in a borrowed tomb; He was buried (Mt. 27:57-61; Mk. 15:42-47; Lk. 23:50-56; Jn. 19:38-42).  In addition, His body was guarded so that no one could steal it and claim He had risen (Mt. 27:62-66; 28:11-15)!
  3.  Jesus rose again from the grave three days later as the Scriptures had promised (Ps. 16:10; Mt. 12:38-40; Acts 2:27; 13:35; Mt. 28:1-10; Mk. 16:1-11; Lk. 24:1-12; Jn. 20:1-18; etc.)!


It is by faith in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection for us, that results in salvation.  But, salvation is not the end of our relationship to Christ, but the beginning.  We are saved to live for Him, to obey Him as Lord.  The Ephesians 2:8-9 passage is immediately followed by verse ten which says:  "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."  We have been saved, true, but we are also commissioned to share the Gospel with others (Mt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; etc.)!  We serve our Lord as His ambassadors on earth (2 Cor. 5:20).  We are the Lord's "hands and feet" (Mt. 25:31-46)!  And, out of gratitude, we not only make every effort to avoid sinning, but more than that, to avoid even the appearance of sinning (1 Thes. 5:22)!

THE SEALING WORK OF GOD

When the Bible refers to the sealing work of God, there are two categories:  the first is the eternal sealing of specific persons including Jesus, Born Again Believers, and Believing Jews; the second refers to God's mysteries which remained sealed until a time appointed by God that they should be revealed.  All that God seals, belongs to Him!


Prophecy -
*  "And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray:  and he answers, I cannot; for it is sealed" (Isa. 29:11).
*  "And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end" (Dan. 12:9).


Jesus -
*  "Labor not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you:  for Him has God the Father sealed" (Jn. 6:27).


Born Again Believers -
*  "Now He Who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God; Who has also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts" (2 Cor. 1:21-22).
*  "In Whom you also trusted, after that you heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation:  in Whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise" (Eph. 1:13).
*  "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30).


The Book of Seven Seals -
*  "And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals" (Rev. 5:1).


The 144,000 Jewish believers (see note below) -
*  "Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.  And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.  Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.  Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.  Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.  Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand" (Rev. 7:3-8). 


Note:  See Revelation 14:1-5, which says: 
*  "And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father's name written in their foreheads.  And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder:  and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:  and they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders:  and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goes.
These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.  And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God."

HE CREATED US KNOWING WHAT OUR SIN WOULD COST HIM

GOD HAD A SOUL-SAVING PLAN LONG BEFORE CREATION

*  John 17:5 - And now, O Father, glorify both Me and Yourself with the glory which I had with You before the world was.


*  John 17:24 - Father, I will that they also, whom You have given to Me, will be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which You have given Me:  for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.


*  1 Corinthians 2:7 - But we declare the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.


*  Ephesians 1:4 - The Father has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.


*  2 Timothy 1:9 - God has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began.


*  Titus 1:2 - We have hope of eternal life, which God, Who cannot lie, promised before the world began.


*  1 Peter 1:20 - Jesus Christ was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.

WE THANK GOD FOR HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US!

Romans 8:24-31 (SLV)

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope:  for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for it?  But if we hope for that we do not see, then we, with patience, wait for it.  Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities:  for we know not for what we should pray as we ought:  but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  And He Who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  For those He did foreknow, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover, those He predestined, He also called:  and those He called, He also justified: and those He justified, He also glorified.  What shall we then say concerning these things?  If God be for us, who can be against us?

IF YOU ARE SAVED, YOU CANNOT HELP BUT WITNESS TO OTHERS!

There are several verses in the Bible that speak of believers in Christ being witnesses to unbelievers.  Here are a few:
*  Witnesses testify in Church discipline - Matthew 18:16.
*  The behavior of religious hypocrite witnesses against them - Matthew 23:31.
*  False witnesses conspire against Jesus - Matthew 26:59-62.
*  Two discouraged disciples became witnesses of Christ's Resurrection - Luke 24:45-48.
*  The Holy Spirit would lead the disciples to witnesses for Christ world-wide - Acts 1:8.
*  The disciples proclaimed that they were witnesses of the risen Lord - Acts 2:32.
*  Again, they witnessed to Jews of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection - Acts 3:15.
*  When told not to witness, they said they would obey the Lord and not men - Acts 5:28-32.
*  The disciples witnessed to Gentiles the same message - Acts 10:39-42.
*  They witnessed Jesus teaching for forty days before His Ascension - Acts 13:28-35.
*  The Lord raised up two witnesses to proclaim the Gospel during the first half of the seven-year tribulation - Revelation 11:3-12.


Notice that the repeated theme of these testimonies of eye-witnesses, was that Jesus was Crucified unjustly, and that He was seen alive for several days following His Resurrection.  That is because the disciples were commanded to preach the Gospel to the Jews and the Gentiles; in other words, to all of humanity.  The Gospel is stated in 1 Corinthians 15:1-6:
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also you have received, and wherein you stand....For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:  and that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:  after that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep."


With all that is written in the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), why do you think the disciples focused upon His death for mankind's sins, the proof of His death in His burial, and that He is no longer in the grave, because God raised Him from the dead?  Well, I can think of two very good reasons; as Paul so eloquently argued, had not Christ risen from the dead, we would remain destined for hell because our sin-debt would not have been satisfied.  He wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:14-17:
"And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.  Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ:  Whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:  and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; you are yet in your sins."


The second reason is that it is the Gospel message which has the power to bring us to faith in Christ, with the result that in believing, we become the forgiven children of God (John 1:12; Romans 1:16)!

BY FAITH IN JESUS, WE INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE!

HEIRS AND JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST

THE QUESTION THAT REVEALS A MAN'S IGNORANCE

*  Mark 10:17 - "And when He was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to Him, and asked Him, Good Master, WHAT SHALL I DO that I may inherit eternal life?"


*  Luke 10:25 - "And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, Master, WHAT SHALL I DO to inherit eternal life?"


*  John 6:28 - "Then said they unto Him, WHAT SHALL WE DO, that we might work the works of God?"

THE ANSWER IS BY FAITH IN CHRIST, NOT IN WORKS

*  John 6:29 - "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that you BELIEVE ON HIM (Jesus) WHOM HE (the Father) HAS SENT."


*  Acts 20:32 - "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to (believe) THE WORD OF HIS GRACE, (a gift; unmerited favor) which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."


*  Acts 26:17-18 - Jesus told Saul of Tarsus, "I send you to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among those who are sanctified BY FAITH THAT IS IN ME."


*  Romans 8:14-17 - For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of ADOPTION, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:  and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ...."


*  Galatians 3:18-22 - For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise....for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.  But the Scripture has concluded all under sin, that the promise BY FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST might be given to those who BELIEVE."


*  Colossians 1:12 - "Give thanks unto the Father, Who has made us meet (eligible) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light."


*  1 Peter 1:3-5 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God THROUGH FAITH unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."


*  Revelation 21:7 - He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son."  (NOTE:  "overcoming" is defined in 1 John 5:4 - "For whosoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even OUR FAITH.")