WORDS THAT WILL TRULY CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

THE BIBLE, THE HOLY WORD OF GOD,

DOES NOT TELL US EVERYTHING,

BUT IT TELLS US ALL WE NEED TO

KNOW ABOUT ALL WE NEED TO KNOW!

Matthew 1:1 - The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.

Mark 1:1 - The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God....

Luke 1:1-4 - Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the Word; it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto you in order, most excellent Theophilus, that you might know the certainty of those things, wherein you have been instructed.

John 20:30-31 - And truly, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book:  but these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, you might have life through (faith in) His name.

Acts 1:1-4 - The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He, through the Holy Ghost, had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen:  to whom also He showed Himself alive after His passion (His suffering and crucifixion) by many infallible proofs, being seen by them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:  and, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which He said, you have heard from Me.

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; by which also you are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless you have believed in vain.  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 alive by Peter, then by the twelve:  after that, He was seen by more than five hundred brethren at one time; of whom the greater part remain alive unto this present day, but some have died.
1 John 1:1-4 - He Who was from the beginning, Whom we have heard, Whom we have seen with our eyes, Whom we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, the Word of Life; for the Life (see John 14:6) was manifested, and we have seen Him, and bear witness, and show unto you that Eternal Life, Who was with the Father, and was manifested unto us; Whom we have seen and heard, we declare unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us:  and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.  And we write these things unto you, that your joy may be full.

Revelation 1:1-3, 19 - The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto (me) His servant John:  Who (does here) bare record of the Word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he (that I, John) saw.  Blessed is he who reads, and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep (hold fast and treasure) these things which are written here: for the time is at hand. . . . Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are (which you now see), and the things which (I shall show you that) shall be hereafter....

Revelation 22:18-20 - For I testify unto everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:  and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.  He Who testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly.  Amen.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 

[Note:  All Scripture quoted is based upon my understanding of the King James Version.]

WE ARE SAVED BY FAITH, AND OUR FAITH

COMES FROM BELIEVING GOD'S HOLY WORD!

GRIEVING AND QUENCHING THE HOLY SPIRIT!

A BELIEVER CAN GRIEVE THE SPIRIT WITHIN:

SINS COMMITTED AND GOOD OMITTED!

Ephesians 4:23-32 (in my words) - Be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and put on the new man, who is created by God in righteousness and true holiness.  Therefore, putting away lying, speak the truth to others:  for we are members the family of God.  It is alright to be angry, but do not let your anger cause you to sin; deal with division before the end of the day, otherwise, you risk giving Satan a place to cause trouble.  Let those who were formerly thieves, steal no more, but let them earn a living so that they might have to give to the needy.  Do not say things that are harmful and tear down others, but use your words to minister to others by building them up, by encouraging them.  Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God within you, by Whom you have been sealed to the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, and malice be gone from you, and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.

A BELIEVER CAN QUENCH THE SPIRIT IN OTHERS:  SINS COMMITTED AND SINS OMITTED!

1 Thessalonians 5:19-23 (in my words) - Now we exhort you, brethren, to warn those who are unruly, and to comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient toward everyone.  See that none of you render evil for evil unto anyone; but always do that which is good, both among yourselves, and among those who are unsaved.  Always rejoice in all things, even your trials.  Live a life of prayer, and in absolutely everything, give thanks to God; for all things that He allows to happen are ultimately for your own good!  It is God's will that those of us who are in Christ Jesus, remember His great love for us!  Do not quench the Spirit in others by rejecting His work through them; do not despise their prophesying.  Listen to what they say, and check them against God's Word; hold fast to that which is true, for it is always good.  Abstain from even the appearance of sinning.  And know that the very God of peace is sanctifying you.  I, Paul, thank God Who is able to preserve your body, soul, and spirit, blameless until the return of our Lord Jesus Christ!

NONE OF US IS PERFECT - WE ALL STILL SIN;

BUT PERFECTION IS OUR GOAL BECAUSE THE

GOD WHO SAVED US IS WORTH OUR EFFORT!

BIBLE VERSES CHRISTIANS SEEM TO IGNORE!

BELIEVERS ARE NOT SINLESS!

Romans 7:14-15, 24-25 (in my words) - For we know that God's Law is spiritual:  but we prisoners of our bodies which love sin.  For that which we preach against, we find ourselves doing. . . . O WRETCHED HYPOCRITES THAT WE ARE; WHO SHALL DELIVER US FROM THESE BODIES OF SIN AND DEATH?  I thank God, we are going to be delivered through Jesus Christ!  So, until then, we will determine to live according to God's will, but realize that Christ's likeness has yet to be formed in us!   

Philippians 1:3-6; 2:13 (in my words) - I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all, making requests for you with joy, thanking God for your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now; and being confident of this very thing:  HE WHO HAS BEGUN A GOOD WORK IN YOU, WILL CONTINUE WORKING IN YOU UNTIL THE DAY JESUS CHRIST IS COMPLETELY FORMED IN YOU. . . . For it is God Who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

1 John 1:8-10; 3:2 (in my words) - If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar, and His Word is not in us. . . . Beloved, now are we the children of God, and although it does 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!

BUT BELIEVERS ARE TO SIN LESS!

John 5:14 (in my words) - Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, you are made whole: SIN NO MORE, unless a worse thing should come upon you.

John 8:10-11 (in my words) - When Jesus had lifted Himself up, and saw no one but the woman, He said unto her, Woman, where are your accusers?  Has no one condemned you?  She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn you:  GO AND SIN NO MORE!

1 Corinthians 15:33-34 (in my words) - Be not deceived:  evil communications corrupt good manners.  AWAKE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND DO NOT CONTINUE SINNING; for some lack a true knowledge of God:  I speak this to your shame.

2 Timothy 2:19 (in my words) - Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows those who are His.  And, LET EVERYONE WHO NAMES THE NAME OF CHRIST DEPART FROM INIQUITY! 

BELIEVERS ARE FAR FROM PERFECT,

BUT WE DO NOT HAVE LONG TO WAIT!

COME LORD JESUS!

THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!

We all know the story of how many centuries ago, God told His prophets the things concerning the birth of His Only Begotten Son, how He would be conceived by the miracle of the Holy Spirit, and be born of a virgin.  We have read about the shepherds visiting Him in the manger, and how, perhaps a year later, wise men visited Him in His home in Bethlehem, bringing Him gifts and worshipping Him.  There is so much more that we know about Him, and Mary, His mother, and Joseph, His "foster father."  

But, as awesome as that first Christmas was, it didn't last long; for soon His family had to escape to Egypt, and when they returned, they no longer were residents of Bethlehem, but they raised Jesus in the northern city of Nazareth.  According to the Bible, Jesus visited Bethlehem often throughout His short life, but it was never "home" to Him.  In fact, Jesus often told His followers that no place on this planet really could be called His home, because He was not "of this world!"  His true Father lived in Heaven, from where He had lived before becoming that little babe in the manger.  But that is a story for another time.  We are talking about Christmas.

You see, the greatest Christmas happened in the year A.D. 2019!  It was the Christmas which saw the homecoming of Great Grandma Judy, who spent the day at home after being in the hospital and in a rehab center for over two months.  She was well enough to come home!  Then too, it was a Christmas that saw Great Grandpa Skip up and about, using a walker, but still truckin' along.  He had nearly died, have to survive a dozen "codes" in which his heart had stopped.  His heart was still pumpin' with the help of a pacemaker.  And Grandma Dawn, who had been so heavy for so many years, was needing to keep her eye on her weight, as she was actually getting "skinny!"  Her Muscular Sclerosis was somehow "lying low."  Thank God, she is such a help to us!

The date was Saturday, December 28, 2019, and our house was inundated with four generations of kin.  By the time we had eaten, and while we were opening the presents, suddenly more than half of those present disappeared!  Their clothing was still where that sat and stood, but they were gone!  Then one of those remaining began weeping loudly, and saying "They were right!  Jesus did return for those who had trusted in Him for forgiveness, and to be the Leader of their lives!"  She then began telling those around her that the Bible said Jesus would return to gather His followers out of this old world, and that they would be changed, they would be caught up to meet Him in the air.  The Rapture happened!!!!!!!  

Some might ask why such an event was good news, for there were still many remaining here.  The good news is that they remembered what those gone had told them about Bible prophecy.  They had ignored them, and often laughed at them behind their backs, but now, today, they realized the Bible was truth; that the Jesus Who came as a gentle Lamb, was about to return as the Lion of the Jewish Tribe of Judah!  They believed!  And although they were sorry for their former attitudes, they began telling others about the soon coming King of kings and Lord of lords!  And, some believed, and began looking for His Second Coming!  

Obviously this is a story of what I want to happen today.  It is not likely that it will, but I have an absolute certainty, it will happen, and it will happen soon!  I hope you are ready; I hope you believed Jesus died for your sins, that He was buried by men, but raised the third day by God Himself.  If so, look up; today may be the best Christmas party ever!!!!!!!  

MY UNDERSTANDING OF GOD'S CRITERIA FOR ONE TO GO TO HEAVEN!

IT IS JESUS WHO DECIDES WHO GOES TO HEAVEN!

John 14:1-6 (in my words) - Let not your heart be troubled:  you 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 you may be also.  And where I go you know, and the way you know.  Thomas said unto Him, Lord, we do not know where You are going; so how can we know the way?  Jesus said unto him, I AM The Way, I AM The Truth, and I AM The Life:  no man comes unto the Father, but by Me.

FIRST, JESUS HAD TO PROVIDE THE WAY!

John 1:29 (in my words) - The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world.   

1 Corinthians 5:7 (in my words) - For even Christ, our Passover Lamb, is sacrificed for us.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (in my words) - For God has made Jesus, Who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Hebrews 4:14-16 (in my words) - 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 of faith in Him.  For we have not a high priest Who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but Who was in all points tempted like us, and yet He remained sinless.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in our time of need.

1 John 2:1-2 (in my words) - My little children, I write these unto you, that you sin not.  And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ The Righteous:  and He totally satisfied our sin debt:  and not ours only, but also the sins of the whole world.

THIS IS HOW JESUS SHALL JUDGE MANKIND!

Revelation 20:11-15 (in my words) - And I saw a great white throne, and Him Who sat on it, from before Whose face heaven and earth fled away; and there was no place found for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books* were opened:  and another book** was opened, which is The Lamb's Book of Life:  and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books,* according to their deeds.  [*Note:  I believe "the books" are the books of the Law of God, and because All of us sin, our deeds convict us and declare us guilty!]  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them:  and they were judged every man according to their deeds.  And death and hell were cast into The Lake of Fire.  This is the second death.  And whosoever's name was not found written in The Lamb's Book of Life was cast into The Lake of Fire.  [**Note:  I believe that Jesus, as the Lamb of God, is the author of the Lamb's Book of Life, and those whose names are written there by Him, have trusted in Him for their salvation.]  

DO YOU BELIEVE JESUS DIED FOR YOUR SINS?

DO YOU BELIEVE GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD?

ARE YOU TRUSTING IN GOD'S MERCY AND GRACE?

IF SO, LOOK UP - OUR REDEEMER IS COMING SOON!