Hope all of you who read this and are moms had a great Mother's Day. All of you who have your mom alive - talk to her, enjoy her, share memories and make some too. I miss my mom. She has been gone 7 Mother's Days as of this year. I miss her hugs, laughing with her, and just talking with her. I miss being able to pick up a phone when I am cooking something she taught me to make and making sure of the recipe. I miss having someone to call on Mother's Day and wish happy Mother's Day and to give a gift to. If you are blessed to still have your mom - Enjoy her and be a blessing to her.

I am so thankful to the Lord for my mom. She read me the Bible as a child and taught me it was different from all the other story books we read - it is the Word of God and completely true. My mom taught me that God punishes sin but she also taught me God loves me. She helped me memorize my first two scriptures - John 3:16 and Psalms 100. In two passages she equipt me for life - I knew where I came from - God made me; I knew how to be saved - through Jesus Christ; and I knew to be thankful to God!

What are YOU teaching YOUR children? Are you teaching them anything or are you letting the world do it for you?

Between church this morning and my Bible reading this afternoon I have seen two extremely different moms and what they did for their children. In my Bible reading this afternoon in Matthew 14 we find the story of Herodias. Herodias was a mother, but she was not a good mom at all. Her lifestyle was immoral - she was an adultress. She hated the truth John the Baptist preached and she would have killed him herself if she could (Mark 6). She raised her daughter to walk in her sensual, sinful footsteps. We know from the Scriptures that her daughter was a dancer and I doubt we are talking ballet. She danced in such a way it moved the king (her stepfather/uncle) to promise her almost anything even half the kingdom, but her mother had her well in hand and had already instructed her to ask for the head of John the Baptist so she did. Herodias ended up making her daughter a murderess and most in likely unless something happened we are never told about, led her to an eternity in Hell.

There are plenty of those kinds of moms around today. They want their little children to be so popular. They don't care about the child's morals, in fact with their little girls many of the moms think it is cute to dress them in clothes that are suppose to be "sexy" but are indeed the attire of a harlot! From an early age the child learns to lie, cheat, and hate with some moms. Some it is not so open, instead they learn it in the form of gossip and catty talk, but it amounts to the same thing.

Then in church today we heard about the Syrophenician woman who came to Jesus on behalf of her daughter. (The story is in Matthew 15 and Mark 7)  Her daughter was vexed by a devil. She was in need. This mother somehow heard about Jesus and what He was doing and decided He could help her daughter. So she traveled to find Jesus and came to Him. At first it seemed He would not hear her, but actually she trying to come the wrong way - she approached as the Jews might, but He was not come to the Gentiles as Messiah. He brought her along with His words till she found she could come in faith to her Master and He answered her faith. He delivered her daughter. I am quite sure that mom raised that little girl to love the Lord and to live in a manner pleasing to Him.

What about YOU? Are you leading your child to Jesus or away from Him? What you do and teach today can have eternal influence in your child's life. Will they bless you when they stand before God or curse you?

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,

and a light unto my path. Ps 119:105

So how about you?

Are you walking in the light or in the dark?

This world lies in darkness of sin.  People go about their everyday lives familiar with the dark and do not notice the sin in their lives.  In the dark one doesn't see ahead very well and they have no idea the future terror that awaits them.

Jesus is the Light of men. He has shined into this world to bring men out of darkness into His light, but unfortunately men often reject that Light.

Have you ever been in a dark room and someone suddenly turned on the light? It hurts your eyes. When God shines the light of HIS WORD into our lives and it shows us our sin, it hurts.

Many people rather than deal with the sin, reject the Light. People reject God's Word, and they reject the Lord Jesus Christ. John 3:19 says, "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Don't reject the Light. Walking in the light is a whole lot less dangerous than walking in the dark.  We are all in sin. We have all been in that darkness in our life. If we stay in that darkness we will end up in the lake of fire. The Lord talks about those who will be "cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." In Jude it talks about those, "to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever." 

Maybe you are saying, "But I thought you said lost sinners would end up in a lake of fire, fire is bright." Even on the U.S.  Fire Administration page they have these statements "Fire isn't bright, it's pitch black. Fire starts bright, but quickly produces black smoke and complete darkness" Every person who rejects the Light of Jesus Christ and chooses to remain the dark of sin, will end up in the darkness of the lake of fire for eternity. Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The good news is no one has to stay in the dark. John 8:12,  "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." That is why Jesus came to this earth. John 12:46 "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness."

God loves us and does not want us to be separated from Him for eternity in the lake of fire. Jesus, who is God in the flesh, laid aside the glory He had in Heaven and took on the form of a man, by being born into this world through a virgin. He never sinned. The Bible tells us the wages of sin is death -meaning the eternal spiritual death in the lake of fire (Rev 20:14) Since Jesus never sinned He did not have to die. He died on the cross for our sin. He took our punishment for us. Everything we would suffer in Hell, Jesus suffered on the cross. He was in agony, He thirsted, He was in darkness, He knew separation from God the Father. Jesus suffered all of that for us. He shed His blood so that our sin that separates us from God (Is 59:2) could be removed. Only blood can bring remission of sin (Heb 9:22) so Jesus shed His blood to wash away our sin. 1 John 1:7 says, "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

Jesus died for us, but then He also arose physically from the grave 3 days later in victory - Victory over sin, death, the grave, over darkness and over Hell. He wants to save you right now. He did all the work necessary for salvation. He wants you to believe Him, He wants you to believe the light of His word that He is shining into your life right now. He wants you to repent and turn from your sin and darkness and come to Him as your Lord and Saviour.

There is a battle going on for you. Satan wants to keep you in the dark. He will make you want to run from the Light. The Bible warns, "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2 Cor 4:4) Sometimes satan will use love of sin to blind you to the light, sometimes, he will use religion or moral good works to blind you to the fact your can not save yourself.

Don't let satan win. Don't turn a blind eye to the light of God's Word. Listen and believe Him. Repent of your sins and your way, trust Jesus as your Lord and Saviour - let Him be the Light in your life.

First an Easter wish for you

(No that isn't what Jesus looked like, but you get the idea of the wish)

What I want to talk about is the Mightiness of Jesus Christ.

He is so mighty that with the Godhead he created everything and the Bible tells us that by Him all things consist - that means He holds it all together - Col 1:16-17 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."

Jesus is so mighty that the forces of nature are subject to Him. Mark 4:41 "And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

Jesus is so mighty that even death can not defy Him. Read the whole story of His raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11 but for our study we will use verses John 11:43-44a "And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth"

Jesus is so mighty that man could not have crucified Him if He had not allowed them too. John 18:4-6 "Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?  They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.  As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground." Notice they could not even stand before Him - there is NO WAY they could have taken Jesus by force. He allowed them to take Him. We will look at why in a minute.

Jesus is so mighty that death could not hold HIM. Act 2:24 "Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it."

So why if Jesus didn't have to die and He didn't stay dead, why did He die? Why did He suffer the humiliation of the cross? Because of His mighty love for you and me!

We are sinners and because of our sin we are condemned already to death. (the wages of sin is death Romans 6:23a) That death is not just physical death but an eternal suffering separation from God in the torments of the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:14-15 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.")

God did not want us to be separated from Him for eternity, so He made one way for us to be saved and delivered from that end. Jesus came and took our punishment for us. He willingly laid down His life, suffering all our punishment on the cross. Everything we would suffer in Hell - Jesus suffered on the cross including separation from God the Father. John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."

As we saw no one took Jesus's life, He freely gave it for us. John 10:17-18 "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."

Jesus is so mighty He died in victory NOT defeat - When Jesus died He said "IT IS FINISHED (John 19:30) at that moment the vail of the Jewish temple that separated the people from the presense of God was ripped from the top to the bottom (something man could not have done) Matthew 27:51 "And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;"

When Jesus said it was finished, He didn't mean He was finished, He meant the work for salvation was complete. There was a new way for man to come to God - through HIM. For Jesus as we saw is so might He could not be holden of death but on the third day HE AROSE and He ever liveth. Heb 7:25 "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

You can know this Holy, Mighty Jesus as your loving Lord and Saviour today. Ro 10:9 That 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.
 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

OR

You will face Him as the Holy, Righteous, Mighty Judge that you rejected - Revelation 20:11  "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them."

Jesus is so mighty that you WILL worship HIM. You can do it now of your free will and be saved or you will do it later after it is too late right before you are cast into the lake of fire.

Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The choice is yours. I have chosen to repent of my sin and trust Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour right now. He loves me and I love Him and I have never regretted that decision. What choice will you make?

When I have thought about the Easter post I want to make this year, my main desire is to lift up Jesus. Jesus said in John 12:32, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."  He was talking about the death He would die, but I also know it is true, if we as believers will lift up Jesus to the world - He will draw them to Himself.

So I thought of what all I could say to lift up Jesus to anyone who comes by and reads this post. The more I thought, the less capable I felt. Words fail me to tell you just how great the Lord Jesus Christ is.  All I can do is weep when I think on just how great, mighty, awesome He is.

Who is Jesus?

Jesus is God - He has always been and will always be - because He is fully 100% God. He knows everything - past, present and future. He is the Creator. John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2 The same was in the beginning with God.  3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Jesus is God in the flesh -Jesus laid aside the glory He had in Heaven and took on the flesh a man. John 1:14 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.

Jesus is God in the flesh born to die -Jesus knew when He came He was coming to die. Philippians 2:7-8 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.

Jesus is God in the flesh born to die for us - Us, is each individual sinner, it is You and ME! It is we, who were under the sentence of death, because the wages of sin is death (Rom.6:23a)Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus is the one who died, was buried and physically arose again from the dead - Jesus did this for us. He took our punishment on the cross, shed His blood to cleanse our sin, died, was buried and arose again in victory.

Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Jesus is the ONLY one who can save you and me. -Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

This is who Jesus is according to the Word of God.

Who is Jesus to you?

To me:

He is my Lord -Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

He is my Saviour -Ro 10:9 That 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.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

He is my Best Friend -John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Jesus wants to be your Lord, Saviour and Best Friend. Will you let Him?

I read a news article that caught my attention (click to read) about a man who was going to propose to his girlfriend and really wanted to "pop" the question, so he placed a $12,000 ring in a helium balloon so she could pop the balloon as he asked her the question. Unfortunately the wind took the balloon away and he has lost the balloon, the ring and quite possibly the girl.  In my opinion he was foolish to spend that much on a ring in the first place, but it is good he found out the priorities of his girlfriend. What really got my attention though is how accurate an object lesson the story provides.

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 23:5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.  Isn't it the truth?

Many people spend their whole lives concentrated on making money. I'm not talking about earning money to make a living for one's family or for necessities - that is only right, but many times people will get their priorities all messed up and it goes much farther than just making a living for their families. Too many in fact sacrifice their families to their jobs. They will become so focused on earning that next promotion, that bonus, that dream job, they neglect their families and even worse they neglect their spiritual lives.

How many people miss church, not because they absolutely had to work, but they wanted to work that overtime for that extra dollar? When you put money, a job or anything before the Lord it is wrong. There are some jobs that have to be worked no matter what. We want the police, firemen, medical personel at hospitals to stay on their jobs! Power company workers must keep the lights on. But even these people need to take time regularly to spend with God.

There are many people who look at the wealthy and envy their wealth. They think how much better their life would be with all that money. They just don't realize money isn't the answer, but Jesus knew. He said, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:19-21  You see Jesus knew, "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Matthew 6:24.  The Lord Jesus warned in Mark 8:36, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"

The answer is nothing. Money can buy things, but it can't buy love, happiness, health and it sure can't buy salvation and eternal life. 1 Peter 1:18-19 tells us, "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" In Matthew 6 Jesus talked about the things people need such as clothes and food, but He went on to say in verses 31-33, "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:  ) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Jesus isn't saying not to work and provide for your family, but He is saying it is even more important that you put GOD FIRST! Our lives here are very temporary. You never know what day it will end. Then you will be faced with eternity - either in Heaven or Hell. Make  your preparations today before it is too late. Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross, was buried, and arose the 3rd day to provide what we need most - salvation. We can't earn salvation, we must receive it as a free gift by faith in Jesus Christ. Won't you trust Him today? He will provide all you need - Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

If you want to read more about riches that will last click here ( How to Get Rich - and keep it)

(art by Penny Parker)

First let me make it very clear before I begin this post - I respect and love God's creation, but I do NOT worship it. I believe we need to be good stewards of the resources that God has given us; however, I believe many go overboard and get way too carried away. I am especially disturbed when the current enviromental fad issue of global warming starts becoming a concentration for churches. The  "great commision" that the Lord gave us as Christians is to go out and lead souls to salvation in Him, NOT to save the earth.  God has the daily functions of this earth well in hand and doesn't need our help.

I have serious doubts there is really such a thing as "global warming". I feel it is much more  likely just a natural weather cycle.  Now, many reading this are saying, oh yeah, she is a nut.... but would it surprise you to know there are scientists and weathermen who agree? In fact the founder of the weather channel seems to believe global warming is a fraud from this article - Global Warming (click to read). 

I encourage you to use wisdom when taking on causes. Take care of your corner of the earth, but do so with discretion, and not to a level of obessesion. Keep the earth clean so we can all enjoy it, but don't devote hours worrying and fretting over nonsense. That time is better devoted to the Lord and His service.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

The Gospel - 1 Corinthians 15:1  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Note in these verses - world is the people NOT the earth. - John 3:16 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.
 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
 18 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.

Last night many were able to view the lunar eclipse. I was looking forward to it but unfortunately I only got to see a very small glimpse of it before the sky was completely covered with clouds. The things the Lord has created are amazing.

In our post today I want to use the eclipse as an object lesson.  We learn in school that the sun is in essense the center of our solar system and that all the planets etc revolve around the sun. If you take that and use it as a comparison. God is to be the center of our life. The moon does NOT have any light of its own. It only reflects the light of the sun. Before we are saved and in Jesus we have no light, we are in darkness of sin. Jesus is the light of our life. After we are saved we are to shine with God's light and reflect our Saviour in our life. The earth represents as it is called "the world". In spiritual sense "the world" is the sin systems of this life. A sin system in our life may be sinful pleasures, addictions, religious, self righteous, monetary - whatever it is - it comes between us and God just as the earth blocks the light of the sun from the moon during the eclipse causing the moon to darken. After we are saved, if we fall into sin, it darkens the light of Jesus shining in our life. In an eclipse the earth cannot block the sun completely so you get the red glow. When we are saved we are sealed and belong to God forever, but if we let sin in our life we can shine awful dull for Him, nevertheless the Holy Spirit will still be dealing with us about our sin calling us to get right with God and shine bright again. Now our comparison has to end, for the eclipse will end, the moon will shine bright again and go on, but if a person refuses to repent and get right with God, He will chastise them - even to letting satan destroy their body and taking their soul on home early. Sin is NOT something to play around with. God hates sin. Are you shining bright for the Lord or have  you let something eclipse God's light in your life? The Lord will help you move that sin out of the way if you will let Him and you will shine bright for Him again.

JESUS - John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
                       9a That was the true Light,

US IN SIN - John 1:5  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
                     Ephesians 2:1b who were dead in trespasses and sins;
                                    2a Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world

Once we see the LIGHT and believe we are SAVED -

US SAVED -  1John 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.                    

                   Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:  (notice that we are light IN THE LORD - we have no light of our own)

                   1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

When we fall into sin our light does not go out but it is darken so we are not the witness that we should be. There is a remedy.

REMEDY for SIN in OUR LIFE - Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
                                                 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
                                                             8 ¶ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
                                                             9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

So if you have never been saved and are still in darkness I urge you to come to the LIGHT and trust Jesus alone as your Saviour. You will never be able to light your own life - it is impossible for us to save ourselves. If you are saved - walk in HIS LIGHT and Let your light shine for HIM. Reflect HIM to OTHERS - Let them see HIM in YOU. Don't live in an eclipsed state.

Our command : Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Well once again the Superbowl is played and over. Congrats to the NY Giants.  I am sure the Patriots are very disappointed especially since they were hoping for a perfect season. They found out as most do that everyone fails sooner or later.

What about living a Christian life? Have you failed at that? I have. Do you think maybe there is no hope for you - that you have gone too far, sinned too great to ever be saved or be used by God? If you have failed in living for God, you are not alone. Some of the greatest men we read about in the Bible failed at one time or another in their spiritual lives.

Abraham, who the Bible says was the Friend of God, faltered in his faith and lied (Gen 13 & 20)

David, who had faith in God to beat Goliath,  committed adultry and murder. (2 Samuel 11)

I could go on and site example after example - Elijah, Noah, Moses, Peter etc. but though each of these failed, they found forgiveness in the Lord and were used greatly by God. You too can find forgiveness in God and be used by HIM.

Jesus is the ONLY one who ever lived a perfect sinless life. He never sinned and never failed. Jesus died on the cross NOT for His sin but for yours and mine. He took our punishment. Because He was God in the flesh and perfect it was impossible that He would say dead. Instead He triumphed over the grave also and got up ALIVE with victory and justification for each of us who will turn from our sin and failings and trust HIM for our salvation.

If you try to earn salvation on your own or even to keep it through your works - YOU WILL FAIL! Jesus offers to clothe us in His perfect righteousness - THAT is the ONLY way we will ever get to Heaven. 

Romans 3:20 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.
 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
 22 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:
 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

That is what those verses tell us - there is no one perfect, we have all sinned. Only in believing that Jesus died for us personally and paid our sin debt and arose again can we have His righeousness and be saved.

There is a battle more fierce going on for your soul than for any superbowl victory. The devil wants you to believe lies that you can't be saved, you have gone too far or believe lies that you have to work and work for salvation. Jesus offers you the TRUTH - Salvation is a gift in HIM. I have won the victory through Jesus Christ. He IS my Saviour. I am eternally secure and guaranteed a place in Heaven with HIM. You can have that too. 1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
 13 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. Win or Lose - the choice is yours.

I have talked to several different ones who do not believe that salvation is a one time event. They believe a person can be saved, lose it, be saved, lose it - over and over. I think the misunderstanding comes from not understand salvation in the first place. Too many think it is something we work for and achieve rather than realize it is a gift that we believe and receive. Lets look and see what the Bible says and see what examples the Lord used to illustrate salvation.

In John 3:3 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. Now Jesus himself has chosen this phrase - born again. He is using birth as an illustration. How many times have you been born physically? I know for absolute sure the answer is ONCE. If you die will you be born again to your parents? I know the answer again and it is a resounding NO. You were born one time to your earthly parents and no matter what you have done over your lifetime you are still physically their son or daughter. 

So how are we born again spiritually? 1 Peter 1:23 says "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." 1 Jo 5:1 says "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" and John 1:12-13 says "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." James 1:18 tells us "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his" creatures.

We see from these verses and others, the Holy Spirit takes the Word of God and convicts our heart of the truth. He shows us we are sinners that cannot save ourselves. He shows us that Jesus died for us on the cross and shed His blood to wash away our sin. He shows us that Jesus was buried 3 days and after that He arose from the dead - 100% alive - a physical body resurrection. We have a living Saviour. The Holy Spirit convicts us that Jesus is the ONLY way we can be saved, that Jesus died and arose again for us. He does this all through using the Word of God.  When we finally stop arguing with Him and surrender and believe the Word of God we are birthed into the family of God. We become God's child. Before that happened we were spiritually dead in trespasses and sin (see Eph 2:1) but when we are born again we are made spiritually alive.  Do you EVER in the Bible see where it talks about dying over and over again spiritually? or being born again and again and again? The answer is NO!  Just as a person is born once physically they are born again ONCE spiritually. These are not my words and illustrations, but the words and illustration that God chose. If it was something that happened over and over doesn't it seem He would have chosen a different illustration?

Another word or phrase the Lord chose is that the saved are the Bride of Christ. How many times are we to get married? Marriage according to the Bible is one man and one woman till death do us part. Since Christ is our Bridegroom that will be forever for He is eternal and gives us eternal life. Once again these are the phrases and illustrations the Lord chose. 

 Paul said in 2 Cor 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. Revelation 19 talks of when the time has come for the marriage supper of the Lamb - Rev 19:7-8 "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." What righteousness is it that we are clothed with. Is it a righteousness of our own making? NO. Our righteousnesses are described in Isaiah 64:6, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." That doesn't sound like what we are arrayed in for our marriage supper. No, the righteousness that we are dressed in is NOT a righteousness of our own making by our good works - it is the righteousness of Christ that is given to us. 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us, "For he (God the Father)hath made him (Jesus)to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (Jesus) . It is the righteousness of Christ that we are arrayed in, not any righteousness of our own.  Way too many people are trying to get to Heaven dressed in their own righteousness and are not going to make it.  Romans 10:3-4 says, "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."   We do not do works or keep the law (10 commandments) for our righteousness or salvation. It won't work. The only righteousness that will get us into Heaven is Christ's. We do good works because we want to please God, just a child wants to please their parent or a bride wants to please her husband - it is done out of love NOT to earn love.  We receive God's love, our salvation as a FREE gift that can NOT be worked for.

These are just two of the ways that God has illustrated that salvation is not something we achieve but is a free gift that we receive ONCE and for all! When we believe God and receive the Gift of eternal life that He offers us in Jesus Christ - it is ours forever.  Some other verses to illustrate these facts :

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.  - Notice it is present tense. If a person hears the words of God and believes they HAVE everlasting life. They are passed from death unto life. It is an accomplished fact - not to be undone. You don't read of ones dying and being born again, dying and being born again. It does't happen.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

If a person could be saved then lost verse 28 of this passage would be a lie. The gift is given and received ONCE.

Once we repent of our sin and trust Jesus Christ as our only way of salvation we are born into God's family. That is permenant. Now as any good Father though, He will chastise us if we disobey. NEVER ever think a Christian can sin and get away with it. It doesn't happen. Either they will get it right with God or He will whip the daylights out of them. Some have even been taken home early because of their sin.

Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour? Have you received the gift He bought with His blood for you? If not you have no hope of Heaven. He is the ONLY way. I urge you to not delay, but come to Him today! If you do know Jesus as your Saviour - rejoice and rest secure in Him!

A Clean Slate in 2008

A whole fresh year stretches before us. What will you write in your year? What will God write about you in this year? What has already been written down? Does that surprise you that God has kept up with everything you have thought and done over the years of your life? The Bible tells us in Hebrews 9:27b, "it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" We are told more about that judgment in Revelation 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. The end for the ones at the white throne judgment is not good. The chapter goes on to say - Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

There is an alternative to this though. You have a choice and do not have to end up at the white throne judgment. God has provided one way for you to escape being condemned for all eternity and that is through the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah 1:18 says Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. God can make your whole life history just as clean and white as a brand new slate. It happens through the blood of Jesus Christ.

You see all of us are in trouble. We have all sinned (Romans 3:23) and the Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23a) and we see from the verses we read in Revelation that is talking about spiritual death, separation from God in torment for eternity not just physical death. Jesus is God in the flesh, who because of his love for us, chose to lay aside the glory He had in Heaven and take on the form of man. The creator of the universe became a baby born of a virgin, grew up, lived a sinless life, then allowed man to beat and crucify Him to pay for your sins and mine. He took our punishment. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." The blood Jesus shed on the cross will wash away all our sin and make our life a clean new slate. 1John 1:7 says, "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

Jesus did not stay dead, He arose the 3rd day in victory and because of that He is ever alive to be our Saviour and justifier. Romans 4:25b tells us that Jesus was "delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." Hebrews 7:25 tells us, "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

The choice is yours, if you have never been saved/born again, won't you come to God in faith, repenting of your way and your sins and trust what Jesus has done for you to wash away your sin and receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord, letting Him give you are new clean beginning? 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

If you are already saved, what will you write in 2008 in service for the Lord? Will you be faithful this year? Though saved we are human and we fail. Thankfully the Lord has told us in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  If we fall He will help us up and help us to go on for HIM. You have a new day, a new year to live for God. Use it wisely with HIS help!