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Archive for the ‘Salvation’ Category

Unless I Wash You, You Have No Part With Me

01 Nov

John 13:6-8 – 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

 7Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

 8“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
      Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

It’s amazing how many things one text can have in it.  I have written on how Jesus was giving us an example on how to serve others concerning this verse in the past.

Today I want to concentrate on what He is trying to explain to Peter.

He even tells Peter in verse seven that you don’t realize what I’m doing but you will later.  This is because He hadn’t died yet.  Redemption hadn’t happened and the Jews were all looking for the King who was going to take over and rule.  Peter didn’t know what to expect at this time.  He did later though just as Jesus said he would.

If we’re not covered in the Blood of the Lamb, we will not have any part of Jesus or the Kingdom of God.  The blood is what washes you clean from your sin.  Who’s blood?  The blood of Jesus, which is the blood of God Himself.  You see that’s why it’s powerful enough to wash your sins away.

Peter saw his Lord and King trying to wash his dirty feet.   He was thinking to himself no way I want my King to have to serve me in this way.  Once Jesus explained that if he didn’t wash him and he couldn’t be a part of Him, he wanted the whole meal deal. 

John 13:9 –  9“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

Peter knew that if the Lord said it was that important then let’s take it to the fullest.  You have to love Peter’s enthusiasm towards wanting what Jesus said he needed.  We all need to have this want of pleasing the Lord.

Jesus explained to Peter that they didn’t need the whole bath because all but one of the disciples believed that he was the Lord already.  They were believers that he was the Lord.  Very important as once He died they were saved and covered.

John 13:10-11 –  10Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

Why is it important that Jesus died for our sins?  Because it was God’s blood cleansing the penalty we were all going to have to face someday.  He Himself paid that and has saved us from it.

Everyone that does not accept that He is Lord and died for their sins will have the full understanding of what that penalty is.  Don’t be one of them.  I have over in the upper right hand column a page that will run you through how to accept Jesus as Savior if you haven’t yet.

Remember Jesus said, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

 
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Posted in Encouragement, Inspiration, Salvation

 

Absent From the Body Is To Be Present With The Lord

14 Oct

It’s a scripture many have heard but it helps put to rest the idea that we go into a place unconscious sleep upon death until the rapture or some set time.

2 Corinthians 5:8 – 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. (NKJV)

Paul says it here in 2 Corinthians and then also has this to say in 1 Thessalonians 5:10.

1 Thessalonians 5:10 – 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. (NIV)

Regardless of rather we sleep, which is another term for this body dying on earth, we live together with Him.

What does Jesus say on the subject?

Luke 23:39-43 – 39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

 40But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

 43Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Here’s a thief on a cross and he recognized Jesus as the person He said He was.  He acknowledged Jesus as Lord.

Jesus said, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

You can bet that the greatest place you can come up with on earth will fall a thousand times short of paradise with the Lord.

 
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To SON, Or Not To SON, That Is The Question?

01 Oct

Hal Lindsay recently inspired this post.  It is a very powerful reminder.

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

Believes!  Don’t confuse this word.  The devil believes in Jesus and he isn’t saved.  You need to believe Jesus is your Lord and Savior.  If all you had to believe is in his existence then this scripture wouldn’t exist.

Matthew 7:21-23 – 21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Actions speak louder than words!  If Jesus is your Lord it shines through.  If something else is your Lord, it will also shine through.

Next is the old killer of the gray area.

John 3:36 – 36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

This scripture makes it pretty clear that life begins after this one.  Many people are trying to live their life right now to the fullest, but according to scripture God says they will NEVER see life.

If one rejects the Son, God’s wrath remains on that person.

UPDATE:  As one reader stated, I left people hanging.  He is right.  To get to know Jesus, it starts by one accepting Him as Lord.  I have a page over in the right hand upper column that will run you through on how to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  God Bless.

 
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Posted in Inspiration, Motivation, Salvation

 

God Offers The Promised Land, But…..

30 Sep

God offered the Promised Land to those he brought out of Egypt. 

Deuteronomy 1:19-21 –  19 Then, as the LORD our God commanded us, we set out from Horeb and went toward the hill country of the Amorites through all that vast and dreadful desert that you have seen, and so we reached Kadesh Barnea. 20 Then I said to you, “You have reached the hill country of the Amorites, which the LORD our God is giving us. 21 See, the LORD your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your fathers, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

After all that the Lord had shown them, did they take Him up on His offer?

Deuteronomy 1:26-28 – 26 But you were unwilling to go up; you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. 27 You grumbled in your tents and said, “The LORD hates us; so he brought us out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us. 28 Where can we go? Our brothers have made us lose heart. They say, ‘The people are stronger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky. We even saw the Anakites there.’ “

The land was theirs.  The Lord had paved the way.  He already delivered them out of the great nation of Egypt.  What happened when they doubted Him and didn’t respond to this free gift?

Deuteronomy 1:34-36 – 34 When the LORD heard what you said, he was angry and solemnly swore: 35 “Not a man of this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your forefathers, 36 except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land he set his feet on, because he followed the LORD wholeheartedly.”

They didn’t inherit the Promised Land.  They remained out in the desert until they died off and then a believing generation came along and accepted the promise.

You’ll find many parallels in the Bible.  We have been rescued from death, by the blood of Jesus.  The promise of eternal life with the King awaits.  However, if one doesn’t accept the sacrifice and promise, one does not enter into the eternal Promised Land.

It’s not enough to acknowledge God exists.  The Israelites were not a bunch of atheists after watching miracle after miracle.  They were a stiff necked bunch of individuals who didn’t act upon their faith.  They didn’t trust God.  Do you trust Jesus? 

So what does one have to do?  One needs to accept Him as Lord.  Can you refer to someone as Lord if you never pay attention to Him?  Can you refer to Him as Lord if you don’t make an attempt to live your life according to His plan for you?

Luke 6:46-47 – 46“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice.

You don’t enter the Promised Land because you believe it exists, you enter by accepting the gift and taking the action.

Make Him Lord.  You won’t lose your life, you’ll find it.

 
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Posted in Inspiration, Motivation, Salvation

 

Came To Save What Was Lost

13 Sep

Who came?

Jesus came.

What’s lost?

The whole human race, starting from Adam on down to the present, except One.  Jesus avoided this sinful gene because of virgin birth. 

Luke 19:10 – 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

We’re lost.  The first thing every human being has to be able to do is look around them and realize something is drastically wrong with me and the creation around me.  If can’t see that, one is not going to seek truth or redemption.

Look at people.  They lie when they don’t even have to.  Why?  Look at ourselves.  We get upset and treat people, usually the ones we love most terribly at times.  Why?  Others are so evil that even if we want to fool ourselves, we can’t ignore the obvious.

Alright you say, but what’s this about creation being drastically wrong.  When Adam fell along with Eve they turned things over to Satan.  He hates…everything.  No love in him.  The curse has not only man, but also the creation. 

Tornados, Earthquakes, Hurricanes, Tsunamis, Hail Storms, etc.  All of these things that wreak havoc on this earth.

Gracefully, most animals still have instincts to fear humans.  Not so sure that will be the case in the Tribulation.

Revelation 6:8 –  I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

These beasts could clearly be that kind we may not see in the form of viruses, but if the animals did turn on humans it would be a nightmare and very deadly.  In any event we don’t want to be here to find out first hand.

Jesus came to earth to die for our transgressions.  We’re lost.  He came to seek what was lost.  We’re like a bunch of sheep roaming out in a dark pasture.

Many of the sheep are coming across things in the creation and saying, “Look at this.  I will make this my God.”  It can be in the form of almost anything.

The real Shepherd has come back and is calling out in His voice.

John 10:27 – 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

His sheep hear His voice.  They follow him.  Those that are not His sheep follow after other things and not Him.

Follow Jesus, not everything else that is preoccupying our busy lives.  You can’t invent another way back to God, no matter how sincere one wants to be towards that way.

 
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Posted in Encouragement, Salvation

 

Gates of Hell Will Not Prevail – Pre-Trib Rapture Support –Part 2

01 Sep

Yesterday we spoke of how Jesus said the gates of hell will not overcome His church.  Then we spoke of how during the Tribulation the antichrist was allowed to overcome the saints.  If the church is gone before the Tribulation, we have no contradiction here.  The thing I want to talk about today is that all people that are saved are saved by the blood of Jesus.

The Old Testament people of God were in a holding tank until Christ’s work on the cross was done.  Why?  Because the blood of animals was a temporary sin offering and was not sufficient until Christ shed His blood.

After Jesus resurrected it appears that these saved Old Testament saints rose with Him.

Matthew 27:52-53 – 52And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Christ’s blood is what is sufficient to have your sins forgiven.  What about those who died before Christ?  The people who truly sought after God had to go somewhere special until Christ died on the cross.

It appears in the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (click on it to see parable) that the two sides could see each other.  Lazarus was by Abraham and the Rich man was in Hell or Hades.  I believe both of these abodes are temporary as when Jesus died followers then went to paradise while those still in Hades are still in a holding tank until the White Throne Judgment.

The reason I said all that is because Old Testament believers are not the church, but Jesus’ blood still is what they needed for redemption.  The church is saved by the blood of Jesus Christ and accepting Him as Lord.  Once the church is gone and is in heaven, those that become saved during the Tribulation will still be doing so by the Blood of Jesus.  I believe that is why they are referred to as saints and not the church from Revelation 4 on to the end of the book.

The Gates of Hell will not prevail against Jesus’ church.  However, the beast and antichrist will be allowed to overcome the saints.  This is another reason why it appears Daniel’s 69th to 70th weeks is divided by the church age.  The church was formed after the completion of the 69th week which is when Jesus was crucified and I believe it will be gone before the start of the 70th week.  The 70th week is the treaty with the antichrist and Israel also known as the Tribulation.  This is just one more reason why I believe in the Pre-Trib position concerning the rapture.

 
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Posted in Bible Prophecy, Rapture, Salvation

 

There are a lot of Godless Countries Out There

23 Aug

How are they doing?

The reason I ask is because there sure is a lot of motivation to kick Him out of ours.

Why?

I mean it, why?

Are the 10 commandments so corrupt that people just can’t take it anymore?  How about the Bible itself?  Is it really something that is so detrimental to people that they are so better off without it?

No.  So why? 

There is only one logical answer.  Given the option and opportunity to abandon God, man as a majority will eventually do it every time.

It started with the Old Testament and rings true to this day.  Man gets help from God, prospers, and over time the next generations falls away.  You see it’s a spirit thing.  We’re all spiritual beings and your spirit and soul will live on somewhere long after this body dies. 

Where?  A very important question to seek out indeed. 

I have made two pages on the right upper corner of this blog.  One is How to accept Jesus as Savior and the other is why we need a Savior.

 
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The Book of Myself

04 Aug

I’m convinced many people believe this book exists in the Bible.

A lot of people have never cracked the Bible open and believe that God believes exactly the way they do.

If I had to take a stab of how the scripture starts in this book I would guess it looks like this:

Myself 1:1 – Whatever I believe is just fine with God since He gave me freewill to choose my own path.  I have been made a certain way and however I feel about things is correct (even though I don’t think the same way in different times of my life).

Let’s continue to verse 2.

Myself 1:2 –God made me, but He could care less what I do with my life, how I act, and how I treat others.  He gave me a brain to make the decision of rather I treated people well or done things correctly.

Myself 1:3- As long as I’m sincere about my belief, no matter what it is, I’m doing well in God’s eyes, because God is too busy to care about much of anything.

I was talking to someone the other day that believed that if you are sincere that you’re good to go.  I asked that person, “So if someone blows themselves up and kills themselves along with 50 others in a terrorist act, they are good to go because they were dedicated and sincere?”

I’ll be doing another post called sincerely wrong in the future, so I won’t beat that one to death today.

(Actually that was already posted.)

Myself 1:4 – I told God once a long time ago that I loved Him and if it changed I’ll let Him know. 

That’s not even working anymore in regular marriage.  The divorce rate is around 50 percent.

Myself 1:5 – God would never send me to hell.  Look at others around me.  I’m doing pretty good based on the curve I’m using.  Deep down I’m a pretty nice person.  Sure I might have a few flaws, but who doesn’t?

We’re all majorly flawed.  No one is good.

Romans 3:23 – 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 – 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Grace is a free gift and the only way to get back with God is by making His Son Jesus Lord and asking for forgiveness.  There is a penalty to pay.  Now either you choose Jesus’ death to cover yours, or you pay the price after you die.

I invite you to go over to the right upper column of the blog page and click on “How To Accept Jesus As Savior”, if you have not done so in your life already.

You don’t have to be a great athlete to accomplish this feat.  You don’t have to be rich.  This is something every living human being can do. 

Don’t get hung up on what happens to those who haven’t heard and have died.  The Judge of the whole universe will make the right decision in those cases.  That same Judge says if you do know, you need to accept the pardon.

God doesn’t believe the way fallen man does.  I don’t think that’s really that hard to grasp.  So He does think a certain way.  He wants you to think that way.  That way is in His Word and love letter to you.

It’s called the Bible and the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, is a great place to start.

 
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Narrow Is The Gate To Life

21 Jun

Matthew 7:13-14 – 13“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

 One needs to realize that God didn’t want it to be this way.  He wasn’t looking for an elitist group.  The test for passing was not made too difficult and not one person should fail.   Unfortunately the majority of the human race has chosen to reject the free gift of salvation.  

 Why?

 Man seems to like to lean on his own understanding.  We have an uncanny ability to think we are pretty smart.  Nobody knows what’s better for me, than me.

Proverbs 14:12 – 12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

Proverbs 16:25 – 25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

 So nice, King Solomon had to say it twice.

God does have a way He wants us to live our lives and it’s written throughout his word that He provided.

Proverbs 3:5-6 –  5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

 Trust in the Lord.  Study His Word.  Know what He wants from your life.  He gave you life.  Once you start knowing what He wants from you and how you’re supposed to live, you’ll be on the narrow path.

One more thing, “If the path you’re on is wide, you’re on the wrong path!”

 
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Feed My Sheep

12 Jun

John 21:15-17 – 15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”
      “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
      Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

 16Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”
      He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
      Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
      Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

    Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

When God and Jesus repeat themselves you need to take extra note to the importance.  Each and everyone one of us has a duty to try and reach others for the Kingdom of God.  With the Power of God all you have to do is seek him and he will work through you.

Matthew 9:37 – 37Then he (Jesus) said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

You don’t have to look too far to realize that this scripture comes to life.  There are plenty of people who need to be saved from destruction and need to reunite with the Lord.  Will you be one of those?  As I will always say, each one of us has a gift or gifts.  Use them for the Kingdom of God, not temporary gain that you can’t take with you.

Is it important when someone gets saved from death and hell?

Luke 15:3-7 –   3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. 

Now that last scripture hits on someone new coming to the Lord.  However, your obedience of encouraging others is also feeding His sheep.  Just one little thing you say can revive or rejuvenate someone to get back on the path of serving the Lord.

Jesus makes it pretty clear that if you love Him, feed His sheep.

Put your name here if you love Me, Feed My Sheep.

 
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Posted in Motivation, Salvation

 
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