HIS WORD SAYS I SHALL BE LIKE HIM

Long before Jesus created the Universe and all that is in it (Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:1-2; etc.), God had a plan for mankind.  God's plan was to share eternity with created beings that were the very image and likeness of God, Himself (Gen. 1:26-27).  I can just picture the conversation between the Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit.  The Father says, "I have a plan to redeem humanity from the penalty of their sin, but I need a volunteer."  And, just like Isaiah said, when God revealed His need of a volunteer, Jesus said, "Here am I, send Me" (Isa. 6:8).  The fact that Adam ceased to be in God's likeness when he sinned, did not catch God by surprise.  He had already prepared for Adam's sin, and for those of all would come after him; God gave His only begotten Son, not just at the time of the cross, but before time itself!  Compare what the Word says:

"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (Jn. 1:29).

"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship Him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8).

Jesus came to pay for our sin.  Just like the unblemished lambs that Israel was to offer every year at Passover (Lev. 23:XX), "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. "For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Cor. 5:7)!  He was "the Lamb for the slaughter" (Isa. 53:7)!  The Apostle Peter wrote: 

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God" (1 Pet. 1:18-21).

It is the epitome of ironies is that God would offer to take on the likeness of man, in order to provide a pathway for man to, once again, be in the likeness of God (Jn. 14:6; Phil. 2:5-8)!  And yet, today, God is at work transforming those who accept Jesus Christ, back into His likeness (Phil 1:6; Rom. 8:28-29; etc.)!  And one day, all who place their trust in Jesus will be like Jesus (1 Jn. 3:2)!

I don't know about you, but that day cannot come soon enough for me!
 

MY IDENTITY IS FOUND IN CHRIST

Moses asked God what His name was, so that when the Jews asked him about which God he was speaking, he would be able to tell them. This request implies that the Jews believed there was more than one God. They had been slaves in Egypt for four hundred years, and had given up hope that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would save them from bondage. In fact, any who had heard the stories of how they arrived where they were knew that it was He that had delivered them into bondage in the first place. God, knowing how useless it would be to tell them it was the God of the patriarchs, He told Moses His name was YHVH. Of course, in Hebrew it is HVHY (HE, VAV, HE, YODH - see Psalm 119:33, 41, 73). The KJV translates this as "I AM THAT I AM," and God also gave Moses the shorter version, "I AM" (Exod. 3:14).

Not that it happens that often, but on occasion I have been asked for my name, and that being followed by "Yes, but who is Paul Mutschler?" When asked, I usually respond by giving a biographical sketch varying in length depending upon the time allotted for a reply. There is no short answer. I have had a life of seventy-two years which has defined who I am. I am, or have been, a son, a sinner, a high school drop-out, a sailor, a husband, a father, a Catholic, an atheist, a born again Christian, retired military, a college and seminary graduate, a grandfather, an ex-pastor, an ex-teacher, an ex-principal, a great grandfather, and a blogger (in chronological order). I am an American nicknamed "Skip" from before I was born. But mostly today, I am tired! I long for the day when I can say, "I am like Him" (1 Jn. 3:2). And the sooner, the better.

From time to time, I have been asked to give my testimony at a friend's church, and although I have given it many times over the forty-three years I have been a Christian, I am not really sure what I should say. God has been working in my life in so many ways over the years, that I feel somewhat like John must have felt when writing about Jesus (Jn. 21:25). Frankly, my life has few mountain-tops and a whole lot of very wide valleys. And yet, it is in those valleys that I have been closest to the Lord. You might think that strange, but when on the mountain-top, I am loving Him; in the valleys, I am aware that He is loving me.

I have heard Him speak to me at least five times, and every one of them was when I was in despair. I have heard Him say words to this effect, "You wanted to love as I love, and see, you are unable to handle it. Let me work love into you. Be patient." On other occasions: "Turn to September second." (That one was repeated three times until I relented.); "Jesus wept."; "As much as possible, get along with all men."; and the last time I heard Him, He said, "You go, and let her come on the weekends." I know, you are thinking I am one of those weird guys who hears voices, but five times in forty-three years is not exactly a daily conversation with and imaginary friend. In fact, on none of the five occasions did I reply. I simply felt the awesome presence of Almighty God, and I instantly experienced total peace. Not only did I know He was there, I knew He knew me as only God can know someone. He knew my thoughts. He knew my emotions. He knew my need. I knew I was loved!

 May all those who read this know that God feels the same way about you!

SEEKING TO KNOW GOD'S WILL

Here are seven steps that you can follow in discovering God’s will for you: 

1. Be willing to do God’s will no matter what it is: "Lord, I want whatever You want! Help me to want what You want!"
    
2. Go to God’s Word and ask yourself, "Does the Bible tell me anything that would help me to know what God’s will is in this situation?"
    
3. Pray to God, even as Jesus did, "Lord, not my will but Thine be done!"
    
4. Wait on the Lord. Do not make any hasty or quick decisions. Do not move ahead of the Lord. Give God some time to show you what He wants. Don’t be in a hurry.
    
5. God is in control of all the circumstances and He is over everything that happens. Things happen for a reason.  Trust Him!
     
6. Seek godly counsel. Go to someone who is wiser than you and who knows God’s Word better than you. Sometimes your parents, your Sunday School teacher or your Pastor will be able to give you good solid help and advice.
     
7. Use your God-given common sense. God has given you a mind to think with: USE IT! Think things through carefully. Try to come to the best and wisest decision that you can. Make sure you have followed these steps to the best of your ability.
     

After you have followed or considered all of these seven steps, come to a final decision. Don’t go by feelings. ("I should go visit my cousins because I have a funny feeling in my big toe!")  Don’t expect a voice from heaven saying, "THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO...." When you have arrived at your decision, then go ahead and do it in faith. Even if you did not make the very best decision, God can still guide you. It is much easier to steer a moving car than a car that is not moving!

GOD'S CHILDREN ARE THANKFUL

Anyone who has heard the Gospel and believe Jesus died for his or her sin, that He was buried, and that the Father raised Him from the dead according to the Scriptures, is a child of God (Jn. 1:12; Rom. 1:16; 1 Jn. 3:2; etc.)!  Knowing that we belong to Almighty God by pure grace alone, literally forces us to be grateful, to be thankful (Eph. 2:4-9)!  Amen!

A word-study of "thanksgiving" in the Old and New Testaments clearly illustrates the difference between being under the Law, and living under Grace.  Under the Law, thanksgiving was legally required to be accompanied by a sacrifice (Lev. 7:12-15; Ps. 107:22; Amos 4:5; Jonah 2:9; etc.).  It was to start with the prayers of the priests (Neh. 11:17; 12:8).  But by the time of David, when the twelve tribes of Israel were less interested in having God as their King, thanksgiving had become defined as "public praise" (Ps. 26:7; 50:14; 69:30; 95:2; 100:4; 147:7; Isa. 51:3; Jer. 30:19).

In the New Testament, we are no longer under the Law.  Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, were the fulfillment of the Law; the word "fulfill" in its various forms, appears thirty-nine times in the Gospels.  Jesus, Himself, said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the Prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill" (Mt. 5:17).  Born again believers are no longer subject to the Law, but are filled and led by the very Spirit that breathed the Word of God into its writers (Rom. 6:14-15; Gal. 3:22-25; 5:18; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21; etc.)!

Our thanksgiving glorifies God - 2 Cor. 4:15 - "For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God."

Our salvation is cause for thanksgiving - Col. 2:6-7 - "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him:  rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."

Our liberty leads to thanksgiving - 1 Tim. 4:1-5 - "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith . . . forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.  For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:  for it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer."

This Thanksgiving, I am very thankful that I know Corey is in heaven!

For what are you thankful?

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

All men sin (Eccl. 7:20; Rom. 3:23; Gal. 3:22; etc.).

All men will die (Num. 16:29; Eccl. 7:2; Rom. 5:18; etc.).

All men can be saved from damnation (Jn. 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:4; etc.).

All men's sins have been paid for by Jesus (Jn. 1:29; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; 1 Jn. 2:2; etc.).

All men are drawn to Jesus (Jn. 6:44; 12:32; Titus 2:11; etc.).

All men need to repent and believe (Lk. 24:47; Acts 17:30; 26:20; etc.).

All men who come to Jesus will be saved (Jn. 1:12; 6:37, 45; Rom. 10:9-10; etc.).

AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH....

THE DAYS OF NOAH	THE COMING OF CHRIST
In the days of Noah men were very wicked and God had to judge them (Gen. 6:5-7).	In the days before Christ comes men will be very wicked (Mt.24:12) and God will have to judge the world.
In the days of Noah men made fun of Noah and did not believe that God would really send a flood.	In the days before the coming of Christ men will make fun of what the Bible says and will not believe that Christ is coming again (see 2 Pet. 3:3-4).
In the days of Noah God waited a LONG TIME before sending judgment. God waited 120 years during which time Noah built the ark (Gen. 6:3).	In the days before Christ comes God will be very LONGSUFFERING (2 Pet. 3:9). For the past 2000 years God has been waiting and giving men an opportunity to be saved.
In the days before the flood Enoch was taken to heaven before God judged the world (Gen. 5:24.).	In the days before Christ returns to the earth believers will be taken to heaven before the world is judged (Jn 14:3; 1 Thes. 4:13-18).
In the days of Noah the wicked people were surprised by the flood. They were eating and drinking and doing other normal things. Suddenly the flood came and destroyed them! Then it was too late (Mt. 24:36-39).	There will be wicked people who will be completely surprised when Christ comes to judge the world. They will be eating and drinking and doing other normal things. Suddenly Christ will come, and then it will be too late!
In the days of Noah found grace, and his family were left on the earth. After the flood those in the ark were still alive and their job was to multiply and repopulate the earth (1 Pet. 3:20; Gen. 9:1).	In the day when Christ returns, people who are saved by grace, will be left on the earth. These people will remain on the earth and will become part of Christ’s kingdom (Mt. 25:34). Their job will be to multiply and repopulate the earth
In the days of Noah the wicked people were taken away (Mt. 24:38-39). This means that they were destroyed by the flood.	In the day when Christ returns the wicked people will be taken away (Mt. 24:40-41; Lk. 17:34-37). This means that God will judge them and they will be removed from the earth (Mt. 13:41-42).

WE ARE SEALED UNTO GOD

Most born again believers understand that their "new birth" is a gift from God to all who place their faith in the death, the burial, and the resurrection of God's only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:12; 3:3-8, 13-18; Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Eph. 2:8-9; etc.)!  Unfortunately, throughout the history of Christianity, there have been believers who forgot their salvation was by the grace of God, Himself.  The Apostle Paul continually battled with believers who, although they knew their salvation was free, somehow failed to comprehend that their new live was ETERNAL!  They forgot that the God Who began their transformation into the likeness of His dear Son, was the One Who accepted the responsibility for seeing the job through to the end (Rom. 8:28-29; Phil. 1:6; etc.)!  One passage is clear regarding such folks:

"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?  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?" (Gal. 3:1-3).

Two words in Scripture are foundational in understanding our change into His likeness is God's work:  God has set His SEAL on His children, and we have His EARNEST (down payment) within us!  Hear the Word of the Lord:

"Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him (Jesus) hath God the Father SEALED" (Jn. 6:27).

"Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who has also SEALED us, and given the EARNEST of the Spirit in our hearts" (2 Cor. 1:21-22).

"Now He that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, Who also hath given unto us the EARNEST of the Spirit" (2 Cor. 5:5).

"That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.  In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were SEALED with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the EARNEST of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory" (Eph. 1:12-14).

"And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are SEALED unto the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30).

THE MOON IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

BEFORE THE TRIBULATION

"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring" (Lk. 21:25; Gen. 1:14).

 

"The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come" (Acts 2:20; Joel 2:10, 31).

 

DURING THE TRIBULATION

"And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood" (Rev. 6:12).

"And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon...was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise"  (Rev. 8:12; Joel 3:15).

"And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars" (Rev. 12:1).

AFTER THE TRIBULATION

"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" (Mt. 24:29; Isa. 13:10).

"But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light" (Mk. 13:24; Ezek. 2:37).

"And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof" (Rev. 21:23).

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MOON

"There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory" (1 Cor. 15:41; Gen. 1:16).

"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days" (Col. 2:16).

FIRST JOHN CHAPTER FIVE: WE KNOW

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat (God, the Father), loveth Him (God, the Son) also that is begotten of Him (see Jn. 3:16).  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments (when we love others, we are fulfilling God's will - Gal. 5:14).  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?  This is He that came by water (He had a human birth) and blood (He had a human death), 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 (our God is a triune God, a Trinity).  And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood (Jesus, eternal Spirit was born in the flesh, and He died physically - Jn. 1:1, 14): and these three agree in one.

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He hath testified of His Son.  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in Himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son.  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.  And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will (remember, His will and His commandments are the same), He heareth us:  And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.

If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.  All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.  We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not (habitually sins - born again believers still sin - Rom. 7:15-25); but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.  And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.  And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ.  This is the true God, and eternal life.  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

WHEN THE SICK KNOW THEY ARE SICK, THEY SEEK A PHYSICIAN!

Repentance is a change of mind, and is more than a mere intellectual change or a mere mental affirmation.  It is deeper than that.  This change is effected by the Spirit of God in the very heart of the person, in the very depths of his soul.  The person's whole being is affected by this new outlook.  It involves a different attitude about God, sin and self.  The sinner must see himself as God sees him.  Isaiah had a clear vision of God and His holiness, and thus had a clear vision of himself:  "Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips" (Isa. 6:5).

 

The change of thinking involved with repentance relates especially to sin.   Consider Luke 5:29-32: 

 

"And Levi made Him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against His disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.  I came not to call the righteous (self-righteous), but sinners to repentance."

 

All men are sick with sin (Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:10-12; 3:23) but the Pharisees and scribes did not recognize their own sinfulness.  They were self-righteous.  They were not actually righteous, but they thought they were.  They saw themselves as righteous.  The Lord's point was simple:  No one will go to a physician unless he realizes how sick he is.  No one will go to the Savior unless he realizes how sinful he is.  The same point is made in Luke 15:1-7.  The implication in both Luke 5 and Luke 15 is that repentance involves a recognition of one's own sinfulness.  The person who considers himself as righteous has not repented and the Savior of sinners cannot help that person. 

 

Another example of repentance is found in the parable of the prodigal son.  The term "repent" is not used (though it is used in the first two parables of Luke 15) but the idea is certainly found in Luke 15:17.  The wayward son "came to himself."   He changed his mind.  He recognized the foolish and sinful way in which he had been living.  He went to his father. He did not change his life. He came in rags and in his filth. The father is the one who clothed him and fed him. He came to himself and said, "I am unworthy." He simply came to his father. He came in his poverty.  He came in his sin.  He came just as he was.  He did not even change his clothes or take a bath.  However, his inner attitude had totally changed.

 

Repentance also involves a change of mind concerning false objects of trust in which the sinner once put his confidence.  If a sinner is trusting in his own good works, or his religious, his law keeping ability, or anything else, then there needs to be a complete change of mind to realize that none of these things can save him. Instead all his confidence must be in Christ and Christ alone.  "It is asserted that repentance, which is a change of mind, enters of necessity into the very act of believing on Christ, since one cannot turn to Christ from other objects of confidence without that change of mind" (Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology, Vol. III, p. 378).

THE ONE SIGN THAT CAN SAVE

YOU HAVE MY WORD (PS. 138:2; JN. 1:1, 14)!

I WILL SHOW YOU A SIGN (MT. 12:37-30; 28:1-10; MK. 16:1-11; LK. 24:1-12; JN. 20:1-18)!

I WILL GIVE YOU A MESSAGE, THE GOSPEL (ROM. 1:16; 1 COR. 15:3-4)!

I WILL SAVE ALL WHO ACCEPT MY SON, AND WHO BELIEVE I RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD (JN. 1:12; 3:14-18; ROM. 10:8-13)!

I WILL SAVE ALL WHO CALL MY SON "LORD" (JN. 13:13; ROM. 10:8-13; 1 COR. 1:2)!

I WILL KNOW MINE BY THEIR OBEDIENCE TO JESUS (MT. 7:20; LK. 6:46; JN. 14:15)!

THE SIGN OF JONAH (MT. 12:38-40)!

 

According to 1 Corinthians 1:22, the Jews require a supernatural sign from God, in order to believe the Gospel (1 Cor. 15:3-4).  Paul wrote:  "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom."  In Matthew 12:9-37, Jesus had healed a man, and being accused of working the miracle in the power of Satan, He warned the Pharisees that they were committing "the unpardonable sin."  I believe that whenever the Holy Spirit convinces someone that the Gospel is true and the person rejects the truth, they are calling the Holy Spirit a liar; ironically, Satan is actually call the father of liars (Jn. 8:44)!

 

Apparently, they reconsidered their statement, and they decided to ask Jesus to perform another miracle (Mt. 12:38)!  Basically, Jesus responded by telling them miracles are "one per customer!"  He responded by saying: 

 

"But He answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:  For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Mt. 12:39-40). 

 

It is clear that Jesus was referring to the fulfillment of the first three of Israel's Seven Feasts of the Lord.  In its shortest span of time possible, it would take three complete and separate days to fulfill Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits.  Jesus did so in three days!  He is our Passover (1 Cor. 5:7); He was sinless (Heb. 4:15), and said He is "the Bread of life" (Jn. 6:35); and finally, Jesus is the First Fruits from the grave (1 Cor. 15:20)!

 

Christ's Resurrection is THE sign; to be saved, you must believe it (Rom. 10:9-10)!

GOD BECAME MAN FOR YOU AND ME!

Salvation is the result of a man believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ; the Gospel IS the power of God unto salvation, to everyone who believes it (Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 15:3-4)!  Jesus has come, past tense, and He died for our sins, according to the Scriptures.  And, He came as the Son of God! 

Jesus is the only begotten Son of God

"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him" (Jn. 1:18).

"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" (Jn. 3:16-18).

"By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure" (Heb. 11:17-19).  [Abraham and Isaac are a figure of God and His Son]

"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 Jn. 4:9-10).

Salvation is based upon our faith that He came to die for us!

 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was 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" (Jn. 1:1, 14).

"Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God" (1 Jn. 4:2).

"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" (1 Jn. 4:3).

"For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.  This is a deceiver and an antichrist" (2 Jn. 1:7).

THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE BELIEVER

The following poem is much more than a poem; it is meant to be sung to the music of the Battle Hymn of the Republic.  I has appropriately been entitled:  The Battle Hymn of the Believer, words by James Delany, Pastor of the Salem Bible Church, Salem, New Hampshire.

 

Mine eyes have seen the splendor of the glory of the Lord,
We behold Him in the mirror of the Word, the Spirit’s sword,
Christ the God-Man now in glory, is forever more adored,
Christ is our victory!

 

As we dwell upon the Savior and the cross-work He's performed,
We from glory unto glory in His image are transformed,
To the world we died with Jesus; we refuse to be conformed, 
Christ is our victory!

 

Christ arose and now is seated at His Father’s own right hand,
With Him risen, we’re positioned in that fair and heavenly land,
Looking always unto Jesus, we from heaven take our stand,
Christ is our victory!

 

Causing hearts to love the world and hoarding treasures here below,
‘Tangling soldiers in the earthly, ‘tis the tactic of our foe,
Though the battle for our hearts and minds still rages yet we know,
Christ is our victory!

 

On the cross our foes defeated, hardship gladly we endure,
Marching in His strength and power, for my weakness He’s the cure,
Christ in us the hope of glory, we in Him, the conquest sure,
Christ is our victory!

 

CHORUS

 

Glory, glory, hallelujah, Glory, glory, hallelujah,
Glory, glory, hallelujah, Christ is our victory!

HEAVEN: FOR THOSE WHO WERE LOST AND FOUND

This was written, by me, to the sweet young girl who delivered her third child shortly after losing her husband and son in an automobile accident.  She survived the crash, as did her daughter, and my great granddaughter.  Alex will eventually heal of her multiple broken bones, but the Lord only knows how she will handle seeing her daddy and being trapped in the car for what must have seemed like an eternity.  I hope it is an encouragement to all who have lost loved ones.

"I fully understand, from my own experience, as Corey Wilcoxen's grandfather, some of what you are experiencing over the loss of your husband and son. The only solace one has in cases such as ours, is the peace we have in knowing we will see our departed loved ones again. The Book of Job says, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him" (13:15), and again, the Apostle Paul wrote, "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8)!

There is a strange jealousy believers have, knowing their loved one is enjoying the splendor of heaven before we are able to join him or her.  1 John 3:1-2 says, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God...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!"

We who believe that Christ died for our sins, that He was buried, and was raised from the dead, according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), can stand in the face of such grief as ours.  And, knowing that the same God who raised Jesus from the grave, loves us as much as He loves His Son Jesus (John 17:23), gives us hope and peace!

God bless you and may He provide and protect you and your two sweet girls!  May you be strong for them, and tell them the reason you are able to keep going; that they are loved by you, and by Him! Amen!"

The greatest gift you can leave behind, is knowing we will see you again!

"GOSPEL" BEGINS WITH "GO!"

Are you a born again believer in Jesus Christ?  Do you believe He willingly died for your sins?  Do you believe He was buried for three days and three nights?  Do you believe God, your Father, raised Him from the dead?  If so, you are equipped with all you need to win souls!  The Gospel has the power of God to save all who will believe!  To you, God's Word says:

“And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mk. 16:15).

“Go ye therefore, and teach [make disciples of] all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Mt. 28:19).

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” (Jn. 20:21).

“I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the Gospel to you that are at Rome also” (Rom. 1:14-15).

 

“For though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory of:  for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel” (1 Cor. 9:16).

“But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts” (1 Th. 2:4).

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:19-20).

“And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Eph. 6:19-20).

“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” (Rom. 1:16).

LETTING THE BIBLE ANSWER FOR ITSELF

Here is a personal Bible Study on how one acquires God's free gift of eternal life.  Print out a copy, and then look up the verses.  After you have completed your study, you will have a tool for sharing your faith with others.  All Bible Study must be according to the Word of God!  Enjoy!

1.  According to Ephesians 2:8 and Romans 6:23, eternal life (salvation) is the ______ of God.
2.  According to 1 Peter 1:18-19, His gift to us was bought and paid for by _______________ .
3.  According to John 1:11-12; 3:18, 36; do all men receive the gift of eternal life?  _____ .
4.  According to John 3:16, what happens to those who reject God's gift of eternal life?  ______________________ .
5.  According to Acts 4:12 and 1 John 5:11-12, is it possible to be saved (have eternal life) without accepting Jesus as one's Lord and Savior?  _____ .
6.  According to Galatians 2:16, 21; 3:10-11, can a person earn salvation by keeping the Law?  _____ .
7.  According to Ephesians 2:8-9 and Titus 3:5, can our good works save us?  _____ .
8.  According to John 17:3, how does God define "eternal life?"  ________________________________________________________________ .
9.  According to John 17:3, is eternal life the result of doing something, or knowing Someone?  ______________________ .
10. According to John 17:3, is eternal life gained through our religion, or is it from having an intimate relationship with God by faith in His Son?  ________________________________________________________________ .
11. According to John 6:29 and 6:47, what must a person do to have eternal life?  ________________________________________________________________ .
12. According to Acts 16:31, what must a person do to be saved?  ________________________________________________________________ .
13. According to Ephesians 2:8, what actually saves us?  ________________________________________________________________ .
14. According to John 19:30, what was finished with Christ's death on the cross?  ________________________________________________________________ .
15. According to Romans 10:9-10, what does God guarantee He will do for all those who believe He raised Jesus from the grave, and believing, trust in Jesus as Lord?  ________________________________________________________________ .
16. According to John 1:1, together with 1:14, who is Jesus Christ (the Word)?  ________________________________________________________________ .
   

HOW I KNOW I AM A BORN AGAIN BELIEVER

I see myself as a guilty, lost sinner who stands condemned before a holy and righteous God (Rom. 3:10-19, 23).   I recognize that my own heart is deceitful and wicked and incurably sick (Jer. 17:9; MK. 7:21-23).   I see myself as deserving of death and hell (Rom. 6:23).   I realize that if God were to give me what I deserve and repay me for the way I have lived, then I would be totally destroyed (Ps. 130:3; compare Ps. 103:10).  

I recognize that there is absolutely nothing I can do to save myself (Ti. 3:5).  I understand that trying my best to perform good works will never gain me or earn me an entrance into heaven (Eph. 2:8-9).   I realize that my church or my religious system cannot save my soul (Jer. 17:5).  I am convinced that my own righteousness and my own goodness falls far short of the righteousness that God requires and demands (Rom. 3:10-12; 1 Cor. 6:9-10).  I, in and of myself, have no personal credentials that are acceptable before God (Isa. 64:6). 

I believe that Jesus Christ is God’s only Solution to my sin problem (Acts 4:12).  I recognize Him as the only way to God (Jn. 14:6), the only Door to salvation (Jn. 10:9), the only Savior for sinners (Mt. 1:21) and the only One who can give me eternal life (Jn. 10:28; 17:3).  I understand that Jesus Christ is the eternal God (Jn. 1:1-3) who came into this world and became a man to save me (Jn. 1:14; 1 Tim. 1:15; Jn. 3:17).   Am I convinced that He loved me even when I was a great sinner (Rom. 5:8; Jn. 3:16) and that He died and rose again to save my soul (Rom. 4:25).  I persuaded that the Lord Jesus died on the cross for my sins and that He died in my place as my perfect Substitute, dying in my stead and paying completely the full penalty for my sins (Isa. 53:6; 1 Pet. 3:18; 2 Cor. 5:21). 

 

I am trusting in Him and in Him alone to save me (Acts 16:31).  I have come to Him in simple, child-like faith (Jn. 6:35, 37; Mt. 11:28).  I have, by faith, personally received the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior (Jn. 1:12).  I am resting my entire self on who He is (Jn. 8:24), on what He has done (1 Cor. 15:3-4) and on what He has said (Jn. 6:47).  I believe that He is able to completely save all those who come unto God through Him, including me (Heb. 7:25).  I believe the statement of Christ found in John 5:24.  John 3:16 true of me.  As a result, I have shared with others that Jesus Christ is my Savior (Rom. 10:9-10; Mt. 10:32).

 

 

Jesus is my Creator, my Savior, and my Lord - yes, I am born again! 

IF HE IS EQUAL, OBEY HIM!

Few would balk at the idea of worshipping and obeying Almighty God.  It is clear from Scripture that man is to worship only God, and to obey Him; Luke 4:8 says, "And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind Me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve."  And yet, Jesus commanded that His disciples obey Him (compare Mt. 28:18-20 with Acts 5:29)!  He did not challenge them when they worshipped Him, either (Mt. 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 28:9, 17; Jn. 9:38; 20:28; etc.)!

From His miraculous birth, when the Magi worshipped Him as a child (Mt. 2:1-11), the devils recognized Him (Mt. 8:28-29), and His enemies clearly understood exactly who He declared Himself to be.  John wrote:

"The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.  And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath Day.  But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.  Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God" (Jn. 5:15-18).

The Apostle Paul wrote that, not only did Jesus recognize that He was equal with His Father, He also was commended by His Father, to the point that He declared that EVERY knee should bow to Him, and EVERY tongue should acknowledge Jesus as Lord!

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:5-11).

I am not sure what your understanding is, concerning the identity of Jesus, but it is absolutely clear that the Bible declares Him, not only to be equal with His Father, but that He is, in fact, Himself, God (compare Gen. 1:1 w/ Jn. 1:1-3, 14; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:1-2; etc.)!

Jesus is equal to God, because He IS God!

MATTHEW ON THE LITERAL FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY

There are hundreds of Old Testament prophecies concerning Christ's two Advents, or Comings.  The Gospel of Matthew is primarily focused upon those which pertain to His First Coming as the Lamb of God, to die for the sins of mankind, to be buried, and to be raised again (1 Cor. 15:3-4).  Hence, his book is called the Gospel of Matthew.  Matthew used some form of the word "fulfill," at least eightteen times to describe the LITERAL FULFILLMENT he observed during Christ's life:

Mt. 1:22-23 "Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with Child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."
Mt. 2:15 "And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called My Son."
Mt. 2:17-18 "Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not."
Mt. 2:23 "And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene."
Mt. 3:14-15 "But John forbad Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me?  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered Him."
Mt. 4:13-16 "And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum...that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great Light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death Light is sprung up."
Mt. 5:17-18 "Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the Prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled."
Mt. 8:17 "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses."
Mt. 12:17-18 "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Behold My servant, whom I have chosen; My Beloved, in whom My soul is well pleased: I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He shall shew judgment to the Gentiles."
Mt. 13:14 "And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive."
Mt. 13:35 "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world."
Mt. 21:4-5 "All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass."
Mt. 24:34 "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled."
Mt. 26:54-56 "But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?  In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take Me?  I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on Me.  But all this was done, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook Him, and fled."
Mt. 27:9-10 "Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; and gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me."
Mt. 27:35 "And they crucified Him, and parted His garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted My garments among them, and upon My vesture did they cast lots."

 

All prophecies concerning Christ's two Advents, will be LITERALLY FULFILLED!

I AM A VETERAN

I came to know the Lord as my Savior while stationed with the Navy in Pensacola, Florida.  Having been an atheist, and having little knowledge of the Bible (what I did know was bits and pieces I had gleaned from listening to others arguing about it), I believed genuine Christians should be pacifists.  I could not reconcile Christians being in the military.  So, I went to the personnel office, and requested that I be listed as a conscientious observer.  While there, I saw a Chief Petty Officer named Hal Judd.  He had tried to tell me about Jesus months earlier, and when I called his name, he responded, "What do YOU want?"  Our previous conversation had not gone well, and to be blunt about it, Hal did not like me. 

I told him I had accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and his whole demeanor changed!  He was like a child at Christmas.  He invited me to his church, even giving me the address.  Because it was only Tuesday, I glanced at it and then put it in my wallet.  After all, Church was on Sunday.  Right?

The next day, Wednesday, February 3, 1971, a friend and I were discussing my desire to go to Bible College and Seminary.  When I asked what courses I should take to prepare for it (he had been a Seminary student at one time), he said, "It has been so long ago; why not call a pastor and ask him?"  He opened the phone book and began giving me phone numbers (it took six calls to reach a pastor).  When I finally found one, I told him of my plans, and I heard music in the background.  Wednesday.  He took my number and said he would call me back in about an hour, as Church was starting.

An hour later, he called.  He asked me if I knew Hal Judd!  I had inadvertently called the Church of which I had the address in my wallet!  He told me that Hal had come to Prayer Meeting, all excited, and praising God because the young man he had been having their Church pray for, had been saved.  He then asked, "Are you the Paul stationed with the Blue Angels?"  After I told him yes, he wanted me to meet with him the next night at the local Krispy Kreme. 

We met, and he immediately introduced me to some guy, and said we would meet in an hour back at the Church.  He sent me on visitation with this stranger!  We visited a Marine Colonel who had been at home recovering from a medical problem.  The fellow I was with didn't say anything, so I told them both that I had just accepted Christ.  I told them the story of how I had miraculously called their Church, and why I had called.  The Colonel asked if he could show me some passages in the Bible which supported Christians in the military.  In just a few minutes, God used him to encourage me to complete my enlistment.  Later, God would guide me to complete my career before going to Seminary, which I did fifteen years later.  I graduated in 1990, and began as Pastor of a little country Church a few months later. 

Today, on this Veteran's Day, I thank God for allowing me to earn a pension, to have my family's medical bills covered, and for my eight years of Bible College and Seminary.  But most of all, I thank God for hearing the prayers of a man who disliked me, and for the free gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ!  Today, I wear the armor of a believer, in a battle which cannot be seen!  And, I already know that WE WIN!  Praise God!

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE BORN AGAIN?

The New Testament is replete with verses that refer to a person being born again.  But if you want to understand what the Bible teaches concerning the new birth, you first need to look at what Jesus had to say about it.  In the third chapter of the Gospel of John, we read:

"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" (Jn. 3:3-8).

Earlier in John's Gospel, he wrote:  "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" (Jn. 1:11-13).  Jesus came as the long-awaited Messiah of Israel, but when they rejected Him and crucified Him, the risen Christ offered salvation to "whosoever" would receive Him as his or her Lord (Jn. 1:12; 3:16; Rom. 10:9-10; etc.)!

Following the Lord's Ascension (Acts 1), His apostles finally understood salvation was for any and all who would believe in Him:  Jews (Acts 2), Samaritans (Acts 8), and Gentiles (Acts 10).  Still, it took a while for them to comprehend that Gentiles did not have to become Jews in order to be saved (Acts 15).  The new birth was for any and all who trusted in Jesus Christ.

We know from John 3 that the new birth is the work of the Holy Spirit.  We also know that both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are always in harmony with the Father.  Their work on our behalf, is in accordance to His will.  We read that in John 1:13).  In fact, the new birth produces children of God (Jn. 1:12; 1 Jn. 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18; etc.)! 

Have you believed that Jesus died for your sins?  That He was buried and rose the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:1-4)?  Have you called upon the risen Lord to save you from your sins (Rom. 10:9-10)?  If so, then you are a child of almighty God!

Behold, today is the day of salvation!  It may be your last chance to accept Him!

A BELIEVER'S CURE FOR DEPRESSION

Verses in Psalms which begin with "Praise."

"Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings" (33:2)!
"Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever" (106:1)!
"Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation" (111:1)!
"Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in His commandments" (112:1)!
"Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise Him, O ye servants of the LORD" (135:1)!
"Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto His name; for it is pleasant" (135:3)!
"Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul" (146:1)!
"Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely" (147:1)!
"Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion" (147:12)!
"Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise Him in the heights" (148:1)!
"Praise ye Him, all His angels: praise ye Him, all His hosts" (148:2)!
"Praise ye Him, sun and moon: praise Him, all ye stars of light" (148:3)!
"Praise Him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens" (148:4)!
"Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps" (148:7)!
"Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and His praise in the congregation of saints" (149:1)!
"Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in His sanctuary: praise Him in the firmament of His power" (150:1)!
"Praise Him for His mighty acts: praise Him according to His excellent greatness" (150:2)!
"Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet: praise Him with the psaltery and harp" (150:3)!
"Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed instruments and organs" (150:4)!
"Praise Him upon the loud cymbals: praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals" (150:5)!

"Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD" (150:6)!

LEARNING FROM NOAH

"And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  And it repented the LORD that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart.  And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth Me that I have made them.  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" (Gen. 6:5-8).

"But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be" (Mt. 24:37-39).

"And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all" (Lk. 17:26-27).

"Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water" (1 Pet. 3:20).

What can we learn from the life of Noah? 

1)  He was, as are all saved men, unrighteous apart from the righteousness given us by God's grace (Gen. 6:8; 2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 2:8-9; etc.)!

2)  Like Noah, the generation living at the time of Christ's return, will be totally wicked (Gen. 6:5; Mt. 24:37; Lk. 17:26; etc.)!  Following the Rapture of the true Church (the Body of Christ - Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 12:27; 15:50-53; 1 Th. 4:16-17; etc.), and the seven-year Tribulation (Dan. 9:27; Jer. 30:7; Mt. 24:3-29; Rev. ch. 6-18; etc.), Jesus Christ will return to a world about which He asked in Luke 18:8, "I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?"  The answer is no; those having faith were removed at the Rapture!

3)  God is patient, but there will come a time when He will judge mankind (1 Cor. 4:5; Eph. 1:10; 1 Tim. 6:15; 1 Pet. 1:20; 3:20; etc.)!  Will you still be here?

 

WARNING:  our world is at least as bad as it was in the days of Noah!

CALVIN'S FAVORITE FLOWER WAS NOT A T.U.L.I.P.

How Calvinistic was John Calvin? What did he teach concerning the extent of the atonement? Let us ponder his own words:

 

Isaiah 53:12- "I approve of the ordinary reading, that He alone bore the punishment of many, because on Him was laid the guilt of the whole world. It is evident from other passages, and especially from the fifth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, that many sometimes denotes all."

Mark 14:24- "The word many does not mean a part of the world only, but the whole human race." In other words, Christ’s blood was shed for the whole human race.

Matthew 20:28- "‘Many’ is used, not for a definite number, but for a large number, in that He sets Himself over against all others. And this is its meaning also in Rom. 5:15, where Paul is not talking of a part of mankind but of the whole human race."

John 1:29- "And when he says the sin OF THE WORLD, He extends this favour indiscriminately to the whole human race....all men without exception are guilty of unrighteousness before God and need to be reconciled to Him....Now our duty is, to embrace the benefit which is offered to all, that each of us may be convinced that there is nothing to hinder him from obtaining reconciliation in Christ, provided that he comes to him by...faith."

John 3:16- "He has employed the universal term whosoever, both to invite all indiscriminately to partake of life, and to cut off every excuse from unbelievers....He shows Himself to be reconciled to the whole world, when He invites all men without exception to the faith of Christ."

Romans 5:18- "He makes this favor common to all, because it is propoundable to all, and not because it is in reality extended to all (i.e. in the experience); for though Christ suffered for the sins of the whole world, and is offered through God’s benignity indiscriminately to all, yet all do not receive Him."

2 Corinthians 5:19- God "shows Himself to be reconciled to the whole world" and Calvin goes on to say that the "whole world" means "all men without exception."

Galatians 5:12- "It is the will of God that we should seek the salvation of all men without exception, as Christ suffered for the sins of the whole world."

Colossians 1:15- "This redemption was procured by the blood of Christ, for by the sacrifice of His death all the sins of the world have been expiated."

Hebrews 5:9- "He (the writer of Hebrews) has inserted the universal term ‘to all’ to show that no one is excluded from this salvation who proves to be attentive and obedient to the Gospel of Christ."

Calvin even taught that the lost were purchased by Christ's blood:  "It is no small matter to have the souls perish who were bought by the blood of Christ" (The Myster of Godliness, p. 83).

GO MAKE ME SOME COPIES

Following His crucifixion (Mt. 27:27-66), His burial in a borrowed tomb (Jn. 19:38-42), and His resurrection (Mk. 16:1-11), Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1:8-11), and He is now seated at His Father's right hand (1 Pet. 3:22).  Note these facts are being testified to by Matthew, John, Mark, Luke, and Peter.  In addition, the Apostle Paul wrote of the Lord's death, burial, and resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, and he added that the resurrected Son of God was seen alive by over five hundred people, most of whom were still alive at the time of his writing (1 Cor. 15:5-8)!

There you have it:  The Gospel!  The message of good news!  We are sinners (He died for our sins - 1 Cor. 15:3).  Witnesses saw Him buried, and they saw Him being risen from the dead.  Paul wrote that these few facts have the very power of God within them, to save lost souls (Rom. 1:16)!  He also wrote that our salvation is a free gift - we just have to believe it and accept it (Eph. 2:8-9). 

I have found that those who realize what Jesus has done for them, ALWAYS want to show their gratitude to Him!  They hunger to know what He desires of them, in order to please Him.  Of course, by the time someone has come to believe and trust in Jesus, he or she knows that He wants us to love our Father (Mt. 22:37), and also to love humanity (neighbors AND enemies - Mt. 5:43-44).  But, in what has become known as the "Great Commission," He wants His disciples to share the Gospel, to baptize those who are repentant (have had a change of heart), and to teach them His will, His commandments ("whatsoever I have commanded you")!  In other words, His desire is for us to be like Him, to obey Him, and for us to train those who accept Christ, to do the same!  Look closely at the wording in Matthew 28:16-20. 

"Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.  And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him: but some doubted.  And Jesus came and spake 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 alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Mt. 28:16-20).

Though we are not saved by good works, we certainly are expected to do them!

SALVATION IS A GIFT

ALL ARE GUILTY OF SIN

"Now we know that what things soever the Law saith, it saith to them who are under the Law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.  Therefore by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the Law is the knowledge of sin.  But now the righteousness of God without the Law is manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:  for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:19-24).

THE PENALTY FOR SIN IS DEATH

 

"The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him" (Ezek. 18:20).

 

"For the wages of sin is death..." (Rom. 6:23).

 

 JESUS PAID OUR DEBT AT THE CROSS

 

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.  But God commendeth 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" (Rom. 5:6-9).

 

ALL WHO CALL UPON THE LORD JESUS WILL BE SAVED

 

"...if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same LORD over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved" (Rom. 10:9-13).

THE RAPTURE AND SECOND COMING

1. TIME

RAPTURE--before the tribulation (Rev. 3:10). The church will be kept out of that hour or time of testing which will come upon the whole world.   SECOND ADVENT--after the tribulation (Mt. 24:29-30).

2. QUICKNESS

RAPTURE--in the blinking on an eye (1 Cor. 15:52). It is very sudden. It will happen before people will realize it is happening.  SECOND ADVENT--slow enough for people to realize and see what is happening (Mt. 24:27). The second coming of Christ to the earth will be visible and obvious to all. No one will miss it.

3. DATE (THE DAY ON WHICH IT WILL TAKE PLACE)

RAPTURE--UNKNOWN DAY (Mk. 13:32).  SECOND ADVENT--KNOWN DAY. The date of the second coming can be calculated to the very day. It will occur 2520 days from the time that Antichrist makes a treaty with Israel (Dan. 9:27) and it will occur 1260 days (3½ years) from the time of the abomination of desolation (Mt. 24:15).

4. PRECEDING SIGNS

RAPTURE--NONE (Tit. 2:13; Rev. 22:20; etc.). He may come for His Church at any time and nothing needs to be fulfilled before He comes.   SECOND ADVENT--MANY (Mt. 24:3-28; Rev. ch. 6-18).

5. VISIBILITY

RAPTURE--Christ seen only by the church (1 Th. 4:17; 1 Jn. 3:2).  SECOND ADVENT--Christ seen by every eye (Rev. 1:7; Mt. 24:24-27).

6. LOCATION

RAPTURE--in the air (1 Th. 4:17).  SECOND ADVENT--on the earth (Zech. 14:4; Acts 1:11).

7. ASSOCIATED JUDGEMENT

RAPTURE--the judgment seat of Christ (2 Tim. 4:1,8; 1 Pet. 1:7).  SECOND ADVENT--destruction of the wicked armies (Rev. 19:17-19) and the judgment of living nations (Mt. 25:31-46).

8. IDENTITY OF THOSE REMOVED AND THOSE REMAINING ON THE EARTH

RAPTURE--Believers are removed; unbelievers remain (1 Th. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-53; Jn. 14:3).  SECOND ADVENT--Unbelievers are removed; believers remain (Mt. 24:37-41; Lk. 17:34-37).

9. PURPOSE OF CHRIST'S COMING

RAPTURE--to receive His bride (Jn. 14:3; 1 Th. 4:17).  SECOND ADVENT--to receive His kingdom (Lk. 19:22; Rev. ch. 19-20).

10. THE BODIES OF LIVING BELIEVERS

RAPTURE--both dead and living believers will be changed (1 Cor. 15:52-53; 1 Th.. 4:17).  SECOND ADVENT--believers who survive the tribulation enter the kingdom in natural bodies (Mt. 25:23), and will re-populate the earth.

ACTS 2:21-39 - A CALL TO BELIEVE IN JESUS

This is the first evangelical, Spirit-filled presentation of the Gospel message to an unsaved multitude, by a member of the Body of Christ, the Church.  Note the description Peter gives of Jesus Christ.  It begins with God's offer of salvation by grace through faith: 

"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved!"

"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:  Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:  Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it."

"For David speaketh concerning Him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:  therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:  because Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.  Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; Thou shalt make me full of joy with Thy countenance."

"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 spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption."

"This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.  For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, sit Thou on My right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."

"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

Jesus died for you and God raised Him from the dead to be both Lord and Christ!

 Do you believe it?

TO ACCEPT JESUS IS TO WORSHIP HIM

It is very clear from the words of Jesus, Himself, that no person, no place, or no thing, is to be worshipped, except for Almighty God.  When tempted of the devil, Jesus said, "...Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve" (Mt. 4:10).  And yet, the Gospel of Matthew records seven occasions where Jesus was worshipped, and He did not rebuke the person or persons doing so.

1)  The Magi traveled a long distance to worship Jesus - "And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh" (2:11).

2)   A leper came and worshipped Jesus - "And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean" (8:2).

3)  Jairus, a Jewish ruler, worshipped Jesus - "While He spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay Thy hand upon her, and she shall live" (9:18).

4)  Those in a ship during a storm worshipped Jesus - "Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped Him, saying, Of a truth Thou art the Son of God" (14:33).

5)  A Canaanite woman came and worshipped Jesus - "Then came she and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, help me" (15:25).

6)  The women at His tomb worshipped Jesus - "And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshipped Him (28:9).

7)  After His resurrection, His disciples worshipped Jesus "And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him: but some doubted" (28:17).

Seven is the number of completeness.  The number seven occurs 391 times in the Scriptures, and is most often related in some way to God Himself.  So when Matthew presents his Gospel to a predominately Jewish audience, relaying seven occasions where Jesus accepted worship, is no accident.  The number they connected to God Almighty, was the number they should relate to His Son, Jesus Christ!

When you think of Jesus, you should be worshipping the One who died for your sins!

BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR

John 14:1-3

[1] Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.
[2] 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.
[3] 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 Corinthians 15:50-57

[50] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
[51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
[52] 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.
[53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
[54] 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.
[55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
[56] The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
[57] But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

[13] 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.
[14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.
[15] 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.
[16] 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:
[17] 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.
[18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

"Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."