“…the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not…who are taken captive by him at his will.”                                                                                                                               (2 Corinthians 4a,  2 Timothy 2)

I am utterly amazed, humanly speaking, by the person that can hear and has heard the Gospel presented to them clearly many, many, many, many, many times AND STILL THINK SALVATION IS EARNED BY GOOD WORKS OR A GOOD LIFE!!!!  This is called the pride of life. I have had conversations over the past months with two (2) individuals. One, to the praise of God said,  “I always thought that we went to heaven by being a good person but I guess not.”  I can attest to the fact that this man has heard the Gospel at least Fifty-two (52) times in my presence, and atleast five (5) times by me, personally.  Yet he believed salvation still was earned!!!  Amazing, humanly speaking. Howbeit to the praise of the God of all mercies…he said, “but I quess not.”  I had the honour of baptizing this man. Today he is in hospice care.  I write this with tears of great joy and with hope for many others to rethink their view on Salvation. How can this be? How can a person hear the Gospel and still believe it’s all earned?

When God saves an individual it is not only a gift to the individual but a gift to the individual’s loved ones. This salvation also revitalizes hope in the believers as well.  God is so good. I stand in awe of His infinite mercy and power to save. I stand in awe of the Glory of God that can shine unto those that are blinded by the enemy.

I sat with another person recently who has always been loathe (hated) to talk religion and politics. These topics have always been a sore spot and a wall and the cause of discord in the past.  HOWEVER, it was this person that brought both topics up!!!  Again good works and the pride of life is the source this person looks to for salvation.  All I said to this person was, “that is not what the Book says, though.”  The reply was a shrug of the shoulder.  We have every hope in the world that this person will be saved.

Often times it is the person you least expect that will be saved and out of nowhere. I think of my neighbor, this man grew up in the Mennonite church only to get tricked into the spiritualist cult.  This man became addicted to pain meds….been there done that… became an alcoholic…..been there done that….and addicted to gambling….Thank God, i didn’t fall into that or walk into that. This man had an affair.  We shared the Gospel with him twenty (20) years ago or so with him.  We weren’t friends due to the difference of views…we would wave and that is about all. Then one (1) frigid and snowy December eve, this man knocked on my door and asked if he could go to Church with us the next morning because God had just saved him.  Reader, just like that  (goosebumps)  “God just saved me.”  This man is still following Christ.

Another person is my eldest brother. Again out of nowhere.  He was reading a book on Genesis six (6) and in a moment of time, everything he has heard regarding the Gospel made sense!!! God is sovereign over Who will be saved, when they will be saved, and the manner in which one will be saved. My brother was not reading Genesis six (6) in the Bible but a book ABOUT Genesis six (6) from the Bible. My brother was saved right on time but humanly speaking, it was out of nowhere. My brother was never a friend to the church and he still doesn’t attend and sometimes I think that is better for a person who was saved outside of the church. The church tends to kidnap a born-again child of God away from fellowshipping with God and “puts them to work, serving.” The proper order is worship then serve…worship first (1st) then serve second (2nd). Once the newborn matures then s/he can do both.

It has been my experience that salvation takes time in our realm, if you will or, so to speak.  I have found or have been found by past co-workers on FB. These are persons we have witnessed to and have been a witness to.  Two (2) of these co-workers have attended Church with us but no others. I never saw any of these ever say the “sinners prayer” or walk an aisle.  However, to the praise of God’s Glory and Grace on their FB page they give evidence to salvation!!! So…..to the person who is a witness to others and who witnesses to others but have not necessarily seen fruit and maybe discouraged, be discouraged no longer, it takes times.

I remember hearing on “unshackled” a radio program from Pacific Garden Mission (if you are looking to financially support a ministry PGM is worthy) a believer asking Jack Hyles (these are actors playing roles) why he is failing in “soul-winning.”  Hyles went on to say, “The reason your are failing is…..”  MY GOODNESS did I see red.  “Failing?”  No witness ever fails. The person being witnessed to will either believe or will not believe. The Scriptures state, one will plant, one will water, but it is God that gives the increase. The planter or sower and the waterer in relation to God’s work is NOTHING.  Scripture also teaches that the person that believes not your witness is a savour of death unto death.  The Scriptures also state, we are always triumphant in Christ.   “Failing?”  this is all man centered tripe, the Scriptures know nothing of it and therefore neither does God!!!

Why and how can a person hear the Gospel preached ever so clearly and still believe salvation will be attained by good works or be the subject of the pride of life? The answer to both why and how is (s)atan.  It seems like that when the Gospel is preached the unbeliever hears this: BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH when eillthis be over? BLah Blah, yeah, I know all of that, Blah blah will he ever shut it? blah blahblah…………..

From our quoted texts above we see that (s)atan can take the unbeliever captive at his will and can blind the mind of the unbeliever as well. The unbeliever is completely at (s)atan’s beckoning call.  When Paul tells us in Ephesians, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities and darkness in high places…..” this is what he speaks to. (s)atan and his forces take captive the minds of unbelievers and blind the minds of unbelievers to the truth, the good, and the right.  This explains Washington D.C., state politics, public schools, Holloweird (Hollywood), the theologically unsound church, and the unseemly wickedness that goes unchecked in the world. This can explain the double standards we see in politics also.

“…[L]est the [L]ight of the glorious Gospel of Christ, [W]ho is the [I]mage of God, should shine unto them” they shall all perish from this life and will  suffer un imaginable torment in the world to come  (2 Corinthians 4:4b)

“The gates of Hell shall not prosper…”  (Matthew 16)

There are many “Churchians” in the local church today. The Churchian is a person that loves the church or “their” local church more than they love Christ or the invisible church or the Body of Christ.  This is never a good thing. What is the difference between the local church and the Body of Christ? The Body of Christ is made up of those that have been called out of the world and unto Christ.  The Body of Christ is made up of those that are in many different denominations, use different versions of the Bible, and hold various secondary views, but hold to the basic cardinal doctrines. The gates of hell can prosper against the local church but not the universal Church. Anothet definition of the Body of Christ or the Invisible Church is the Holy Catholic Church.  Not the Roman Catholic church, of course, but again, the Universal Church.

Are you a “churchian” before you are a Christ-ian?  Which do you think of more?  Which excites you more? I have seen many a “churchian” in action and they are pretty easy for me to pick out.  They are usual very active in the local church, the first to make themselves known to everyone, especially visits. These are usually life-long deacons, elders ect. The churchian can also be trouble-some to the pastor.

The Christ-ian puts Christ ahead of everything, and everyone.  Christ has the Preeminence and is loved more than the local church, Body of Christ, family, friends, work and all other things. In fact, the Christ-ian loves to the point of hating all else. Nothing even comes to a close second (2nd) in the life of the Christ-ian…nothing…no one. The Christ-ian spend much if not most of his time and energy walking with Christ.

How do you compare to the two (2) above persons?  Are you a churchian or are you a Christ-ian?  Is there any doubt or is it clear? I tend the be embarrassed by the churchian and for the churchian.  We will leave this to your conscience as we move on.

The difference between the local church and the Body of Christ are many.  We read in Matthew 16 that the gates of hell shall not prosper against the Body of Christ or the Invisible Church. However, the gates of hell CAN prosper against the local church.  How many times in the recent years have we seen local churches come tumbling down? How many “faith-leaders” have we seen fall to sexual sins or through out the years fall to greed and other financial sins?  It seems these sins are the most prevalent in the fall of the local church.

It appears that power, control, and authority tend to be the besetting sins as well.  It has been said, “If you want to see the true character of a person, give them power and authority.”  Power, control and authority are the great revealers of a man.  While it is true that the gates of hell shall not prosper against the invisible church, the gates of hell shall prosper against many a local church and will destroy the powerful and carnal. It is safe to assume that the carnal churchian is also subject to these as well.

The man that puts Christ before the local church, power and control. and all else…everything else, everyone else will not soon fall. I ask you again, are you a churchian or a Christ-ian?

Are you a member of the holy catholic church?  The answer may surprise you and even shock you.  If you are a believer, if you are a Christ-ian, if you are blood bought and a child of the Living God, you ARE a member of the holy catholic church.  I do not say Holy Roman Catholic Church or even the Catholic Church. I say, the holy catholic Church. Do you note the difference? The Catholic Church or the Roman Catholic Church is the denomination or the abomination.  The holy catholic church…made up of lower case letters is the universal church or in other words, the invisible church or the Body of Christ.  The holy catholic church is made up of all those who have been called out of the world and unto Christ. Therefore, the gates of hell shall not prosper against the holy catholic church.

The members of the holy catholic church can be found in any and all of the theologically sound denominations through out the world. Non-denominational fellowships, Baptists, Methodists, some pentacostals, Presbyterians, Reformed and the many strips in these denominations.  Of course, the Catholic church, the j. Witnesses, Mormons, Apostolics, and many of the Charismatics can not be considered as part of the universal church. That is not to say that there are not born again persons in the Catholic church or sthe fringe Charismatics. We cannot bring ourselves the say the same of the J. Witnesses or Mormons or even the Apostolics.

The Apostolics believe one must be, must be baptized and speak in tongues in order to be saved.  This disqualifies them from the universal church. The same is held by SOME of the Charismatics but not all.  The Catholic abomination can not be counted among the univeral church is either as they hold to the worship of Mary and consider her as necessary to salvation.  This abomination also holds to the veneration or exaltation of saints as well as praying to these persons. Their view on transubstatiation or the wine and the wafer being transformed into the LITERAL BODY and BLOOD of Christ is Apostacy.

The above are only a few of those false teachings that disqualify this abomination. Let it be stated, we have met some that do not hold to any of the false teachngs.  These same will give or seem to give sound testimony to their faith.  How this is I know not but it appears to be the case. I have met a few of these and it is hard to pin point any error.  I suppose it can be compared to a person in a legalistic baptist church and hold not to the legalism…I’ve been there.

So inclosing:  1. Are you a churchian? If so I beseech thee, repent. Let me be clear at this point….a churchian can be and most likely IS A REAL BELIEVER, who has gone astray. 2. The Body of Christ cannot be defeated by (s)atan but local churches may and have. 3. The Body of Christ, the Invisible church, the universal church is the holy catholic church. Members of this universal body of believers should love one another and Christ more than everyone else and everthing else period.

Godspeed.

“…provoke unto love and to good works…”  (Hebrews 10)

“A man of wrath stirs up strife…(Proverbs 29)

“Fathers do not provoke your children unto wrath.”  (Ephesians 6)

Should a loving Christ-ian provoke another?  As the Macho Man Randy Savage would say,   “OOHHHH! Yeah!!!”

God wants us to enjoy our Christ-ianity.  Most catechisms ask the question, What is the chief end of man?” and the answer is Glorify God and Enjoy Him.  We are to enjoy the fruits of Christ’s blessed merits, we are to enjoy all things richly.  Provoking others is part of the fun.  Yeah! i said fun…one can have fun provoking others, I do it all the time.

Of course this has to be controlled and cannot become a source of pride and a reason of existence. We do not provoke children, we do not provoke unto evil, we do not provoke God, we do not provoke the devil, but we can provoke others unto good works and we can stir up the spirits of others by provoking them thereunto.  And we can provoke the enemies of God unto speechlessness, folly, humility and sometimes to consideration and maybe even belief.

One (1) thing is for sure the saints of old, by their very existence and Christ-likeness provokes others. Noah by his righteous life, condemned others around him.  Noah dud this simply by living a godly life.  Moses did nothing if not provoke Pharaoh. David provoked Saul just by his presence. Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah and all prophets provoked unbelievers and those disobedient and un submissive unto the LORD God of Israel.  John the Baptist certainly provoked the religious and political sinners of that day.  It is said by Christ Himself, He came to draw a sword and cause division.  Christ was the Provoker of provokers. Just by walking into a city, a synagogue, a home, the world He provoked every aspect of existence.

Christ provoked the religious crowd, they wanted to stone Him and throw Him off a precipice. Christ provoked the political crowd so much that they even became friends with the religious crowd.  Christ, by His Presence stirred up demonic energies.  Christ even provoked nature, the winds, the waves, and the storms were provoked by His peacefulness, (s)atan was provoked by His Presence.

I confess, I enjoy the task.  I look to provoke others unto holiness and right thinking. I look to provoke unbelievers into corners they cannot fight out of.  I enjoy provoking persons to come to a point where they realize their position is not one (1) of that can be supported and is really a position others put them up to.  We do this not from pride, but from a desire to provoke others to think independently, critically, logically, and clearly.

The most dangerous and provocative person is an independent thinker. The weaker person is one that, “joins hand in hand,” and they will not go, “unpunished.” The independent thinker standing with God or rather God standing with him is the majority. The independent thinker cause the group-thinkers to go crazy.  Some might think the Christ-ians are all group-think and brainwashed.

Christ-ians are mind and spirit cleansed, but nor mindless. Christ-ians do have a like-mindedness, “Let this mind be in you that was in Christ,” but each Christ-ian has a world of their own and in this world they stand independent from the world-group-think crowd.” The Christ-ian is like minded and the Chris-ians heart of believers are knitted together into one (1) love and one (1) focus to God’s glory when they are together, but as they are in the world but not of the world, they stand fast and steadfast in the liberty where with Christ hath made them free, but they stand as independent-from the world-group-thinkers.

The disciples/Apostles were like-minded and of one (1) spirit when fellowshiping together, where Christ is in the midst, when in the world, but not of the world, they stand alone, independently, steadfastly, “though the Lord stood with me.” That is a paradox of the Christ-ian faith; We all stand alone in the world, yet never alone.  We stand independently from the world, while being in the world, but ever dependent upon the strength that is of God.

Something we enjoy doing is provoking Bible believers in coffee stores and other places and Christ-ians wearing witness shirts.  We approach them, ask them if they really believe in “that stuff.” We begin to insult their intelligence and foolishness. At the right time we reveal our-self to be like-minded with them.  We do this for a number of reasons:
*So these believers, that i am bullying can give God glory in their stand for Him.
*Others in the area see and hear what is going on and hear a Christ-ian witness and testimony from those involved in my “subterfuge.”
*The provoking also encourages those that we invoked because they had the opportunity to give a public testimony to God.
*The question is answered which asks, “Would I be able to stand up for the faith if persecuted and provoked (somewhat).”
*It’s fun and edifying and a positive and memorable event for all involved.
*It’s good to provoke someone into a corner which they must fight out of, if they can.

Some may question my place in doing this but, God has given me a filling, that is precious and sacred and that is between He and i alone, and it is with the filling that a bold provoking is made even possible as I have always been a reserved, quiet man.

In summary, The Christ-ian by living an openly Christ-ian life provokes (And condemns) unbelievers. If read thoughtfully and prayerfully, the Scriptures present all of God’s people and persons to be provocative simply by being. As the Christ-ian spirit within each of us witness to us and each other, so does our spirit condemn, provoke, and oppress to madness the unbeliever and the militant atheist.

In today’s political environment, which was always present but latent, the leftist and demonically oppressed liberal is provoking right and fair-minded persons.  Their mouths must be stopped.  While we cannot return evil for evil, we certainly can speak up and out, rebuking the unbeliever in his pride on the spot and for his wicked free-will expression. I find opportunity at flea markets, in stores, and on the street.  If the emotionally possessed and (s)atanically-oppressed political left is going to be provocative, my goodness, shall not the people of God not provoke each other unto good works and the enemies of Christ unto madness. Again, I say, Oh! Yeah!!!

Godspeed.

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I again, If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than ye have received, let him be accursed.”  (Galatians 1:8)

You have heard the saying, Killing two (2) birds with one (1) stone.  In this article we hope to kill two (2) cults with one (1) passage and that passage has been quoted above. We know we will not end the cults altogether but you understand what I am saying. Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit specifically states, if an angel preach any other Gospel, let that angel be accursed.

Reader, one thing that the Mormons and the Muslums have in common is that an angels brought another gospel to two (2) men that founded two (2) religions or rather cults. In the case of the Mormons, it was an “angel” called Moroni that brought the lies to Jospeh Smith Jr.,  In the case of Islam, it was an angel claiming to be the angel Gabriel.  Both cults are familiar with the passage we quote above, therefore it is proven, (s)atan blinds the minds of those that believe not in Christ.

Both founders of these cults have very negative aspects to themselves to distinguish themselves as bad persons. Both were polygomists. Mohammed had eleven to thirteen wives (11-13). One was well under-age (according to our culture), thus making him a pedophile. Both were toxix and siolent in nature. The mormons however find it easy to separate the mdepravity of Smith Jr. from his office of Prophet. This is very convenient.

In classic Christ-ianity there is no separating a man’s character and make-up from his theology and office. In Christ-ianity the man is the oofice and the office is the man. In 1 Timothy 3, the qualifications of the man that would be pastor is laid out and he must be a man of character and of Divine calling.  Mormons and (m)uslums, however, seem to be able ton say “yeah, our founder was a pedophile and a man of ill repute, but we separate the man from the office.”  WHAT!!!???

I understand that truth is truth and truth is of God. I understand that (s)atan could preach a message of sound theology and it would be sound theology, even though it was (s)atan that preached it, but there be far more to the office of minister/pastor/preacher/prophet than preaching from the pulpit.  Yes maybe Mohammed could preach well.  Maybe Smith jr. could preach well, but would you want them to have time alone with your daughter or in Mormon leader Warren Jeffs’ concerns daughter or son? Pedophilia is rank in the world of Islam and the world of Mormonism, apparently.  One cannot separate a man from the office or the office from the man.

I understand that the man of God is chosen from the weak, base, and foolish of the world to confound the mighty, the exalted, and the wise of the world, but con-men and pedophiles, I don’t think so.When our Lord Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me” it was a bless-ed and holy invitation. When Mohommad and Smith Jr. said bring me the children it was an unholy victimization, they had in mind as they were feeding the appetite of their filthy lust.  Christ would bless the little children and they loved Him.  The two (2) cult leaders would take innocense from the children and the children feared them.

The Mormon and the Islamists also add to the Word of God.  For the (m)uslim it is the un holy and vile (q)uran and for the Mormon it is the “Book of Mormon.”  In Christ-ianity there is no, “And.”  There is no Christ and….”  There is no Holy Bible and…”  In Classic Christ-ianity By Christ Alone.  Scripture testifies if an angel bringeth… let him be accursed.  Scripture also testifies, “if any one adds to these [W]ords, let the plagues be added unto him.”  Mormon Reader, Muslum Reader, You know what I speak is true, cast away the “angelic” false gospel and Come unto Him that saves to the uttermost.

Jehovah witnesses as well have a sore spot from Scripture as well. Many sore spots but we’ll name one.  Christ said many would come in His Name and many would proclaim to be the Christ.  He said in one passage very specifically, If they say come Christ is in the secret chamber, we should not believe them as Christ will come with great glory.  However, The J.Witnesses actually say….get this …their leaders met with Christ in a secret chamber years ago!!!  Truly the god of this world has blinded those that believe not the Son of God.  It is no joke, however.  If we have any reader that is part of any of these three (3) cults,  please for your own sake, investigate your cult’s founder.

We concede there are very civil citizens in these cults, but it is not civility that saves, it is Christ that saves and Christ Alone.  One can be made wise unto salvation from the Scriptures alone and not the unholy Quran or the Book of Mormon.  It is not Christ and… nor is it the Scriptures and…

We are not wanting to hurt feelings or wanting to unecessarily offend, but if it takes hurt feelings and offensiveness to bring one to Christ we will gladly offend and Rejoice while we hurt feelings. Hurt feelings and that which offends will pale in comparison to the hurting senses and offesiveness of Hell and the Lake of fire.  We understand it is hard to break away from tradition and a religion.  We, too, at one time had to break from legalism, but we are far better off and so shall ye be better off, it is not about a cult or a religion, it is about Christ and the singularity of Christ Alone and the Scriptures Alone that will save.

Christ Alone, Scripture Alone, Grace Alone, Faith Alone, God’s Glory Alone.  Can you Reader, say this is your creed?  If it is Christ And… If it is Scripture and…. Grace and…. Faith and…. God’s Glory. and…… You have a problem.

What then is one to believe?
One is required to believe Christ lived, Christ died, and Christ rose from the dead in one’s stead, in oder to be saved.  One must realize Christ took one’s place upon the cross, one must believe that Christ exchanges His righteousness for ones unrighteousness. One must deny one’s self, take up one’s croos and follow Christ.  One must take Christ’s yoke upon one’s self. One must believe in Him Who saves to the uttermost. One must lose life to gain life eternal. One must submit unto Christ’s Lordship and one will be saved by Christ’s merits. One must love Christ. One must see Christ as Preeminent and Head of one’s life.

Godspeed.

“Standfast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be ye not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5)

Christ-ian liberty allows the Christ-ian freedom in the areas of:
*Obedience To God.
*Freedom to enjoy one’s salvation.
*Freedom to enjoy the Godhead.

Obedience to God:

We learn from Scripture that “…the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  (Romans 8)  The carnal mind can be defined as the mind belonging to the unredeemed. The carnal mind is the unrenewed mind of the sinner.  The carnal mind is the mind that cannot receive anything spiritual of from the Spirit.  The carnal mind is the mind that is in complete and total bondage to sin.  The carnal mind is free, only in terms, of the natural life. This mind cannot exercise itself in, any way in terms of, the spiritual life.

When the preacher invites the sinner to put his faith in Christ, the preacher is asking the sinner to do the impossible, “And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” (Luke 18)  It is absolutely and utterly impossible for a man to be saved without the Spirit of God initiating this salvation by regenerating the dead spirit within man and then converting it to Christ.

What happened, Reader, after Adam fell?  Did not Adam and Eve hide from God when He came calling in the cool of the evening, did they not ignore Him? Did they not, in fact, disobey God’s calling?  Adam avoided God, Adam hid from God, Adam disobeyed and ignored God.  This is the nature of the unsaved.  Adam was hoping that God did not come looking for him that evening.  Adam hid behind the creation from his Creator, Adam depended upon the creation and not the Creator.

Freedon to enjoy one’s Salvation:

One of the saddest things to behold is a Christ-ian not enjoying their salvation.  It sadden’s the heart of God, the Gifter.  How would you feel Reader, if you gave a gift to a loved one and the gift cost you a great deal, only to have the receiver not enjoy it or be thankful for it?  There are a great many that do not enjoy the freedom of their salvation.  These believers are coined legalists.  These focus on the “Shalt nots.”  Not the “shalt nots” of God but the “shalt nots” of man.  These legalsts focus upon the traditions of man and the commandments of man.

A legalistic minister will make a statement or give an opinion.  Those that hear the legalist will then turn the statement or opinion into a Biblical doctrine. The man made doctrine will become equal to Scripture. This type will look upon a young girl in pants as a sinner because she wears pants and if she is seen in short pants it is a greater sin.  there is no “wear” in Scripture that speaks to this man made law other than cross dressing. The legalist will no doubt point to the passage where it is written that women should dress modestly.

Let’s test this. What is modestly?  What is modest to an independent Baptist is whore’s wear to an amish woman. Which standard of modesty should we go with?  One should go with one’s own definition of modesty.  To one woman a pair of jeans is modest, she should wear jeans, to an independent Baptist, a dress or shirt is modest, she should wear the dress or shirt and neither should judge the other. Both will agree that a mini shirt or short pants that bears the buttocks of a person is not modest.  Unfortunately, however, the legalist will judge the one in pants (1). I very much doubt the legalist is enjoying their salvation or the freedom that comes with it.

The Christ-ian that enjoys the freedom of God’s Gift enjoys life to it’s fullest. This Christ-ian enjoys what legalists will not and these Christ-ian’s are the subject of legalistic judgment.  The Christ-ian that enjoys the freedom of Salvation enjoys all things that God has so richly offered.  Augustine summs up Christ-ian liberty in this fashion, “Love God and do what you want.”

Freedom to Enjoy the Godhead:

In most protestant catacysms the very first question asked is, Q 1.”What is the chief end of man?”  A 1. “…Enjoy God.”  Reader, the Christ-ian is to enjoy God and Christ-ian liberty offers him that freedom. The Christ-ian should be enjoying his God above all other things.  “…[S]eek ye first the Kingdom of God, and [H]is righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”  (Matthew 6).   “He that hath the Son of God hath life…”  (1 John 5).  “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”  (John 10).  “At [T]hy [R]ight [H]and there are joys for evermore,” (Psalm 16)  Reader, Psalm 16:11 does not have to begin in Heaven.  Joys in Christ can and SHOULD have already begun.  Our abundant life should have already begun.  The believer’s life eternal has already begun.  “…All these things should have already been added.

Imagine a blind man gaining sight.  Imagine a deaf man gaining sound, Imagine a lame man gaining strength in his legs, Imagine a leper gaining feeling and the freedom to enjoy his family again.  Imagine a man who cannot taste, tasting again, Imagine a man gaining the ability to smell again….would this not be joy and freedom?  What if all of these senses were given by One Man, Namely Christ?  Who would not enjoy Christ?  Reader, these spiritual senses have been given you.

In the Name of God,  Enjoy Him.  In the Name of God enjoy your salvation and In the Name of God, enjoy your freedoms to obey God.

Godspeed.

“…thou shalt surely die…”  (Genesis 2)

Tonight, God allowing, the television show, “The Walking Dead” will premiere it’s ninth (9th) season.  It is thought by some that the title refers to the flesh eating zombies are the walking dead. However, those very familiar with the show know the term walking dead refers to the humans and not the zombie.  The Christ-ian hears this and thinks, how theologically sound the title is. The Christ-ian knows the all of mankind, that has not been redeemed by Christ at Calvary and by His Resurrection is in fact, the walking dead.

We have written on this subject some time ago. Due to the response we received when we asked you Readers, how often you actually read these articles you stated, “off and on.” Therefore, we might right on the same topic now and again.  We do not post old posts, we do not simply copy old posts, we do right on the same topic and it is newly written  Old manna is stale, we do not feed Christ’s sheep with stale manna, ever.

Our text  from Genesis 2 states clearly; if our first (1st) parent, Adam were to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of God and Evil, he would surely, certainly, without doubt would die. God states this very directly, infatically, without hyperbole, without exaggeration and in no jesting manner. We posit Adam knew exacyly what God was saying, Adam did not expect to die a physical death that day.  Who would eat with such a warning hanging over it?

Adam knew his relationship with God would suffer and the relationship he shared with God would die and he knew it. This shows the depth of Adam’s sin goes. The break in the relationship between Adam and God was fully known by Adam.  Adam was not surprised by the death in the living relationship and the death of his spirit.

Both Adam’s and Eve’s living spirits, within their eternal souls died the day thay ate from that tree and submitted to (s)atan. God drove man and woman from the Eden forever and set an angel with a fiery sword before the Tree of Life. This would insure Adam from forever remaining in this state of death and ending the human race before it began.

Due to this spiritual death, any and every child born hereafter, will be born with a dead spirit. Every child born after the fall will be born with a body, a soul, and within this body and with in this sould is a dead spirit that is “being filled with all unrighteousness”  (Romans 1).  Thus the body and the soul, which is eternal, if not redeemed will spend eternity in that soul a resurrected body in hell.  This eternity in hell will be eternally separated from God’s mercy. Air, breathe, water, joy, etc.  And Possibly some of His mercies will become curses such as eyesight, hearing, touch, taste, etc.

Those that die and go to hell will suffer greatly. Those that go to hell will not spend an eternity in hell, however….don’t get excited, however.  Those that die and go to hell will be resurrected unto the resurrection of the dead, they will stand before God, Who sit’s upon His Great White Throne and they will face a Wrathful God’s judgment.  Those being judged will face a furious God, a Raging God.  These will here, “Depart from me ye workers of Iniquity.”  The “workers of iniquity,” will then be cast into the Lake of Fire.  The enemies of God, all unredeemed sinners, all spiritually dead, those outside of Christ, those that do not love Christ, those that obey not the Gospel will all live forever, eternally, everlastingly in the Lake of Fire.

Dead in Trespasses and sins  (Ephesians 2)

Dead in trespasses and sins simply means there is no ability in man to exercise any spiritual activity whatsoever.  Those that are dead in trespasses and sins cannot:
*Exercise faith, there exists no faith to exercise.
*Pray.  For an unsaved person to pray can be likened unto a child asking a complete stranger for money and calling the stranger Dad.  The father of the spiritually dead id (s)atan.
*Desire or even realize the necessity for salvation. Salvation doesn’t even cross his mind.
*Receive the things of the Spirit; Cannot understand in a real and spiritual sense anything that is of a spiritual nature, niether can he believe any spiritual truth.

Spiritual impotency described by physical infirmity:

*Lame- Cannot follow after spiritual truths; Cannot follow Christ.
*Blind- Cannot see spiritual things or understand when something spiritual occurs   before them.
*Deaf- Cannot hear and understand spiritual truths
*Dumb- Cannot speak spiritual truths.
*Leprosy- No sense of spiritual touch.
*Taste- Cannot taste and see that God is GOoD

“Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?  What if God, willing to shew [H]is wrath, and to make [H]is power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that [H]e might make known the riches of [H]is glory on the vessels of mercy, which he hath afore prepared unto glory.  (Romans 9)

“The LORD hath made all things for [H]imself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.”                                                                                                                                           (Provernbs 4)

“…[the] disobedient…stumble at the Word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peciliar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of [H]im [W]ho hath called you out of darkness into [H]is marvellous light…”  (1 Peter 2)

“For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation…”  (Jude 4)

“Then entered Satan into Judas…”  (Luke 22)

“For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle. that he might detsroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that [H]e might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.  (Joshua 11)

Reader, We have quoted more passages from Scripture than we normally do in order to show you the Scriptural evidence and proof for the Scriptural doctrine of reprobation.  Reader, I will define for you this doctrine in very plain words:   The Scriptural doctrine of reprobation plainly teaches that God, in order to demonstrate His justice, Holiness, and the Sovereign Power behind His wrath, condemns men to unbelief and condemnation, before they were born,
“For the children being notyet born, neither having done good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of [H]im that calleth;) it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have i loved, but Esau have I hated.”

Reader, I am going to make a very direct statement, this statement may offend you, but know this, it is God that will be offending you, it will be the Word of God that you are troubled by. You will be like Saul, you will be kicking against the pricks.   If you can read the quoted passages, from the Word of God, which I have already quoted, which are in context; and you still run from this Truth, you are a denier of God’s truth, by denying this doctrine you are speaking evil of God and He knows it.

If you are denying this doctrine, if you are hiding this doctrine and hiding from this doctrine, you are deceiving yourself, you are willingly and pretentiously ignoring the true Character of God you have made an idol unto yourself and you believe in a little  god created in your image.

If you be a pastor and you are ignoring and denying this Scriptural doctrine you are withholding the true greatness and glory of God from the persons you think you are feeding. If you are a minister in any way and you deny this truth, keep it secret from those you minister unto, you are telling God that He is wrong, unfair, and that He is a hateful Monster and you do not really believ in the God of Holy Writ.

This doctrine is sound and evident.  We can settle the matter with some simple and direct questions:
Q. Who controls the actions and works of (s)atan?
A. God

Q. Did (s)atan enter into Judas?
A. Yes.

Q. If God controls (s)atan, did God not then will (s)atan to enter Judas?
A. Yes.

Q. Does not Psalm 55:12-14 pre-ordain Judas to perdition?
A. Yes.

Q. From the quoted passage from Joshua 11, is it not plain to see God hated the   Cannanites and reprobated them to destruction?
A. Yes.

Reader, i do understand that this doctrine may be completely new to you, I understand , you may have never been taught this doctrine concerning the Nature of God’s Intrinsic Holiness and Righteousness. I know that preacher run from this doctrine. They hide this from those they are called to shepherd and it is a betrayal by any pastors that will not face up to the plain Truth concerning God’s Character.

I understand this doctrine and this revelation of God’s Nature might be staggering and might even sting for a minute, but, beloved Reader, With this knowledge and understanding, you will much more understand God and God’s great love for you personally.  You will understand that Christ died for you specifically and and in particular and did not sacrifice Himself wholesale for every single person that ever lived upon this earth.

Reader, if you read this article or more importantly the very Word(s) of God within this article and still ignore this Holy attribute of God, you do not truly know the God of Scripture and you, without words, will be speaking against Christ, Who gave Himself for you, if you be a saint.  Reader, there is no escape, the Word of God Itself/Himself teaches this God glorifying truth. You may have a form of godliness, but you deny the power thereof.  If you are a pastor and refuse to bring this before your people, know this, they are your people and you have hijacked them from God.

If you are a preacher that teaches election, but does not specifically mention this doctrine know this, you are teaching the people the doctrine of reprobation, they do understand reprobation by logical default and that is why they struggle, they do not have a problem with election, they hate the self evident truth that stares them in the face; the obvious reprobation of those not elected to salvation.

Reader, May God drive this truth into your mind/spirit and give you a completely new view and understanding of God. The Truth will set you free; set you free to worship the God of Scripture in accordance with a new knowledge and a new understanding of God’s greatness and His precious love wherewith He loves you. This doctrine does not make God a monster; this doctrine shows how great a Saviour God truly is.

Godspeed.

“…If ye continue in my word, then ye are my disciples indeed…” ( John 8)

“If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached tp every creature which is under heaven; wherod I Paul am made a minister…”  (Colossians 1)

“… if we walk in the light, as [H]e is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the [B]lood of Jesus Christ [H]is Son cleaneth us from all sin.  (1 John 1)

Reader, I have heard pastors and preachers say, there is no such thing as Salvation police and the pastor should not run around inspecting everyone’s salvation. We disagree not a little bit. The shepherd has a rod and a staff, these instrument were to defend the sheep, oversee the sheep, discipline the sheep, and to inspect the sheep. When a pastor says pastors are not salvation police he does not understand his calling.

Let me be clear, I am a salvation inspector.  That is part of my calling, it is part and parcel of every single God-called shepherd of Christ’s flock. If a pastor is not a salvation inspector, he is not overseeing the flock Christ has committed unto him and that is a travesty and a breech of covenant between the Shepherd and the under-shepherd.

If a pastor is not critical of someone’s salvation, he is opening the gate to a possible ravenous wolf in sheep’s clothing. The pastor is doing a disservice to the flock, to the wolf, and is not doing the work Christ has entrusted to him period. The pastor is siding with a possible scatterer of the flock against God.

Reader, we will use our rod and staff in this article to inspect your salvation. We will not use opinion or man made standards or ridiculous traditions of man to point a finger ay anyone. We have not one (1) single person in mind when writing this article, understand and know that.  We will simply use the Word of God to verify your profession.

There are three (3) outcomes and conclusions you will come to at the end of this inspection These are:
*You have been deceived by a false system of evangelism that should be considered   damnable heresy and you are in fact, unsaved, but should have hope.
*You are a mere professor and pretender, you know it and others do to butare to   unloving to point it out.
*You are saved and can verify your salvation with God’s Word.

The Word of God gives the Church of Christ litmus tests to verify whether or not a person has been truly converted by the Sovereign and regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.  These are:
*A person who has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit will demonstrate a notable change in lifestyle, thought, principle, and passions.  However, if the person in question ha always been a moral and ethical person, changes may not be noticeable, be careful. But If the person is a known rebel, this person will definitely demonstrate and manifest changes.
This is not something to be debated, when the God of all Creation sovereignly and graciously enters a person, there will be notable changes immediately. If you do not understand this dynamic, your God is too small and you do not understand the radicalness of conversion and one should be made to wonder if you have experienced new life from God since you cannot recognize the real deal.

The first (1st) notable change is love. Love is the first (1st) fruit of the Holy Spirit.  One must have new love within if one has been saved.  What or who will one love if s/he has been changed:
*Love for Christ, probably a great and obvious new love for Christ, where, there was no love before. This is a distinguising and absolutely necessary manifestation of true salvation.

*Love for the Word of God, a need, a hunger, a thirst for more and more knowledge of the One Who love the new believer and gave Himself for the new believer.  This mark does not leave the believer, either.  If days, weeks, months, and even years later one loses all consideration for Christ, one was not truly converted by God….one may have been converted by emotions, affections, and the preacher, but not by God, This soul is lost, the spirit within the soul is still dead and was never regenerated by the power of God.

*Love for the brethren or the church.  A professing believer that loves not the body of Christ and does not seek to fellowship with members of that body, to fellowship around the Word of God, there has been no regeneration of the Spirit by the Holy Spirit.

*The crucifying of the flesh and a departure from the world. This crucifixtion of the flesh is described by the Word of God as:
*Fruits, “by their fruits, ye shall know them.
*The denial of self, the taking up of the Cross, and a following of Christ.
*The keeping of Christ’s Words and Commandments.
*The fruit of the Spirit.
*Christ-likeness
*Sanctification or a growing in holiness,  “…because I am Holy”
*A prayer-life, If you do not pray, that is a definite sign that you are not saved.

Reader, the above are the marks of a Christ-ian; if you do not demonstrate the above, you are not a converted beliver or follower of Christ, it really is that simple; that black and white. If these truths or marks have caused you to doubt in your conversion and this greatly troubles you, Look to God in whatever way you can or feel led.  Reader, Tears cannot save,  walking an aisle cannot save,  the sinner’s prayer cannot save you, the guilt caused by a preacher’s words or the emotions that are heightened by music, Knowing about God cannot save you. None of the above things can save you  Only a true and life changing work of the Holy Spirit will save a sinner.

The Holy Spirit will use the Gospel of Christ to compel you to repent and believe or to submit and obey (same things) The Spirit will convict you and compel you to give in when you finally and transformingly believe, understand what the death and Resurrection of Christ mean,  specifically and singularly to you. A love and thankfulness, and an overwhelming love and interest in Christ will blossom out of nowhere as The Spirit of God has regenerated your spirit, as Christ has given life to whom He will, and as the Father adopts you and grants you spiritual life and authority.

Reader the above is the means and the manner in which God saves a person. If your experience doth not match-up, I encourage you to examine yourself to see if you are saved, I would also strongly encourage you to seek God right now in prayer, not roboticallly, but with a godly fear and the compelling fervency that can spring from the Holy Spirit, Alone.

Godspeed.

“Ye shall not respect persons in judgment…”  (Deuteronomy 1)

“But he that is spiritual judgeth all things…”  (1 Corinthians 2)

Reader,
Many Christ-ians have been told by the Biblically ignorant and pride-filled sinner “Judge not lest ye be judged” in a high pitched voice, while they cock his or her head sideways, and raises an eyebrow and furrows and crinckles the forehead that fronts a spiritual mindlessness sinner   Is this what Christ meant when He teaches us not to judge lest we be judged?  No, Not at all.

Judge not lest ye be judged is the warning that God will use the same standard of judgment upon you that you that you use upon others.  If you judge a certain a certain action to be bad or wrong then God will consider you to have done something wrong or something bad. For example, if a liberal and leftist senator sits in judgment upon a Supreme Court Justice nominee for doing something wrong or bad and is guilty of the same wrong or worse wrong, then that senator should know that God will use the senator’s own hypocritical judgment upon that hypocritical senator.

If you say a person that steals should have his hand cut off, you are setting a standard of judgment that God should use against you, if you are ever caught stealing.  Another example:  Ted Kennedy sat in hypocritical judgment of others when he was guilty of letting a woman drowned in an accident due to his own drunk driving. Basically, if you set a standard of judgment for others, you are setting a standard of judgment that will be used to judge you.  It’s that simple, that is what Christ meant by, “…lest ye be judged.” Judge not lest ye be judged is a means to keep you from hypocritically indicting yourself with that same standard of judgment.

However, if you are using an already set standard of judgment to judge a situation, you are not guilty of going against the Words of Christ.  If you say that it is wrong to bear false witness against an innocent person, you are using an already decided standard of judgment and you are using an objective source for that judgment and not creating a new standard that you will be judged by. Everybody judges all the time in everyday life..

If you choose to purchase one (1) product over another, you have made a judgment. If you vote for a candidate for governmental office, you have made a judgment. Whenever one makes a choice over another option, one is judging. Enery person makes countless judgments every day.  If you believe Dr. Ford and disbelieve Judge Kavanaugh, you have made a judgment. If you believe Kavanaugh and do not believe Dr. Ford, you have made a judgment.  Iff you watch Fox News and not Cnnn, you have judged a matter.  My point is this: Every person judges everyday.  If you woke up this morning and got up out of your bed, you have judged that as the right thing to do.

Paul, in his first (1st) epsistle to the Corinthians, tells them, “he that is spiritual judgeth all things.”  Christ-ian reader, you have been called by God to “judge all things.”  It is your Christ-ian duty and duty to “judge all things,”  not somethings or a few things, but “all things.”  Paul says, in 1 Thessalonians 5, “Prove all things.”  John, in his first (1st) epistle, says. Try the spirits.”  Both apostles are teaching you and me to judge “all things” and to judge to spirits. In Revealation 2, Christ is pleased with the Ephesus church for judging the teachings of false teachers as false teachings.

Reader, every Christ-ian is called to be a judging saint, but is not subject to the judgments of others (1 Corinthians 2).  The Christ-ian is not to make judgments upons intents or motives if these are not apparent. The Christ-ian should not set a standard of punishment upon a person.  The Christ-ian should not have a judgmental spirit or a contentious spirit…the Christ-ian should not be “judgey” in their judging.  The Christ-ian should not judge a matter from a high and exalted throne, while looking over his glasses and down his nose. The Christ-ian is to “judge all things,”  “Prove all things,”  and to  “Try the spirits” (Or to put the spirits on trial).

What is the Christ-ian to judge?  The Christ-ian should judge what is right and what is wrong, what is true and what is false, and what is bad andwhat is good.  Upon what authority should the Christ-ian judge?  The Christ-ian does not use his opinion on matters; the Christ-ian uses the Word of God, the laws and ordinances of man to judge “all things”

How does the Christ-ian or the spiritual “judge all things,” prove all things,” and “test the spirits?”
*Judge without respect of persons.  “Lady Justice”  is blind. Why? Justice does not make objective and righteous judgments based on a repsect for any person.  Neither does the Christ-ian respect persons in judgment.  The person is merely a unit in the matter of judgment.

If you are called upon to judge between a friend and an enemy, neither person matters in the judgment, you are to judge the act, thought, or opinion, itself.  Your judgment is upon the act, the thought, the opinion and whether it is right/wrong, true/false, good/bad.  The person is to be considered as right’wrong, true/false, good/bad. Though the right/wrong, good/bad, true/false of a person does give an insight to the person.

When Christ called Peter, (s)atan, Christ was making a judgment upon Peter’s words and thoughts.  When Paul confronted Peter for his dissimulation Paul was judging Peter’s inconsistancies as being fale, bad, and wrong.  I know it seems like Christ and Paul are judging their respective persons in judgment.  However, neither are judging their subjects, in terms, of passing a sentence upon them.

When a Christ-ian judges a matter, he is given the opportunity to first (1st) judge himself, his own person, to remove the 2×4 from his eye so he might see right and clearly before removing the tiny speck from another’s eye. The call to judge all matters is a means of grace, given us from God whereby we might examine ourselves and keep our hearts pure and our Holy Spirit inhabited conscience clean before a Holy, Just, and Righteous God that “judgeth all things righteously.”, therefore…………

Therefore:
*The Christ-ian is called to “judge all things,” to “prove all things, ” and to “Try the  spirits’*
*The Christ-ian is to judge the right/wrong, the true/false, the right/wrong of all things; if   not the Christ-ian, then who?
*The Christ-ian must not be “judgey” or judgmental or superior and condescending in   their judgment upon matters.
*The Christ-ian is to use the already set standard of judgment, which is the Word of God.
*One should judge one’s self and confess all sin and sins before God before judging “all [other] things.”
*Being called by God to judge “all things,” is a means of grace whereby we might examine ourselves and to bring you and me into a spirit of repentance and confession before Him.

Depending upon the way a person represents of presents himself or herself, s/he should expect to be judged by that presentation. The fair-minded is not being judgey by making a judgment in accordance with the person’s representation of his or her person. If you see a person with dyed black hair, black make-up and is wearing black clothing and is rapped in a long black trenchcoat and is wearing black boots, what are you seeing?

If a person makes certain deductive observations when reading another person he is making a judgment but is not making any kind of judgment upon the person themselves.

If you go the a fast food restaurant at lunch time and you notice a person with dirt and grass stains upon his pants around the knees, if this person has dirt on the sould of his shoes, if he has a st of pruners in a sheath and has dirt under his finger nails, what kind of trade do you think this mans makes a living in?

If you see another person wearing jeans, his knees are a bit dusty and worn out, he has work boots on and dusty and wood shavings in the treads of his boots, had a  tape-ruler clipped to his belt, has rough looking hands, short nails and rough skin in the webbing between his thumb and forefinger, what does he do for a living?

If you see a studious looking lady and hear her use the words, “turn in” instead of return or give back, If this ladt seems to have a personality of dererence, what do you think she does for a trade or living?

If you encounter a man that has good posture, has a respectful and yet  authoritative carriage of his person, If his hair is very high and tight, say a crew cut, Is very measuref in his movement, if this man seems to be vigilant and pays attention to his surrounding, if he has children that are respective and deferring in personality, what would you conclude about his back ground?

Did you make any conclusions on the examples given above? If so you made a judgment. The first (1st) example is a “goth.,” the second (2nd) example is a landscaper, the third (3rd), a carpenter, the fourth (4th) is a teacher, the last is a military man.  If you deduce the careers of the above you judge but you did not judge the person themselves.  You could not conclude that the goth is a bad person, you did not conclude the landscaper is a good man, you know not if the carpenter is a good carpenter ornot. The teacher is not being judhed of her skills, and the military man is not being judged in term of his political leanings.

The imaginary persons above are not being judged by you, in terms of their intents, motives, thoughts, or their personality or intelligence.  You, as a discerning person, are making deductions based on small details and inferenences as the means to make sound and logical conclusions.

Do you see the wisdom of God in this matter?  By calling us to judge all things, God is granting us a means whereby we might purify our hearts and keep a clear conscience before Him and before man. I am humbled by the wisdom of God and the mercy of God in His calling us to judge all things.

The Christ-ian trades in judgment which is mixed with mercy and these objective judgments are based upon God’s truth, God’s commandments, God’s precepts, God’s statutes, and God’s law; these are without a respect of persons. The judgment of the Christ-ian is a righteous and objective judgment which is based upon and from God’s authourity and standards of judgment.

Godspeed.

“And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee…”  (Matthew 8)

Reader, Was the centurion, from above, saved?  The centurion came to Christ and sought His mercy by asking Him to heal his servant from the palsy. Christ was willing to go to the servant, but the centurion asked Him not to come to his home, but simply speak the healing and the healing would be done.  Our Lord “marveled” at the centurion’s faith in His healing power. Christ said He had not found such faith in all of Israel.

But, but, but….Did you automatically think the centurion was now saved?  Read the passage again. The centurion believed in Christ’s ability to heal with a word, but there is nothing in that passage that should suggest the centurion was saved.  His servant was healed but there is nothing that shows that the centurion trusted Christ with his soul…the subject of His passion had not been brought up yet by Christ. So how could the centurion believe in Christ’s salvation?  He couldn’t.  Reader, Reader, Reader,  Do you see my point?

The centurian had faith in Christ’s ability to heal,  there are supposedly millions that have faith in Benny Hinn’s healing power, does that mean that these self-focused and self-centered, Biblically ignoranr persons entrust their souls to Benny Hinn?  OF COURSE NOT!!!  and please know I am not comparing The Lord Jesus and His healings with Hinn’s circus.  God Forbid, I wd die before I wd put Hinn anywhere close to the Lord Jesus.

My point in this article is to show that not every person that crossed paths with Christ was automatically saved because the Lord had mercy upon a physical malady. Remember the ten (10) lepers that were healed by Christ?  How many thanked Him for His healing mercy? …….tick ..tock…Reader…tick…tock….How many returned to thank Christ for His mercy?……..tick …..tock……..ONE (1), the answer is one (1).  One (1) out of the ten (10) thought to thank his Healer.  But again, we have no ground to assume that even the one (1) was saved eternally.

In John chapter six (6) we read that many of Christ’s “disciples” turned away from Him and returned no more. Christ started teaching deeper truths, such as the eating of His Flesh and the drinking of His Blood. Many of His disciples that “believed in Him” left to return no more.  So I doubt many of those “disciples” were saved eternally.

So, what is belief?  what is it to believe?  How does one (1) believe in another?  With the demonically-oppressed politicians in D.C. many in this country are being forced to either believe a woman that charges a man with a rape or a not-exactly-a rape in a place she doesn’t remember and at a time she is not sure of.  [SideNote: If you are familiar with body language or have a trained eye to read other persons, you would see a whole lot of deceptive preening on the part of the woman.  O’ and I read that the woman’s parents work for the CIA. And you thought professional wrestling was fake?]

Or we can believe the man that is having his entire life up-ended. This man has calendars that documents his every day life.  So who do you believe?  Is this kind of believing the same as believing in/on Christ? I’m starting (not really starting; I’ve had this position forever) to think there is more to believing in/on Christ than just believing in Christ as a conception or an idea or an escape route.

The first truth one needs to understand is Christ is not to be “believed” in as an escape from Hell. Another truth is:  God loved you before you loved Him.  If He did not choose to love you, you would not be loved by God.  In fact, if He chose not to love a person, that person is hated…yes. hated.

Christ shows us that He is absolutely free and just to heal a certain man who is among a great multitude of [other] impotent folk. (John chapter five). Christ heals the lame man and leaves every other suffering person in their state of infirmity.  Reader, Understand this…Christ could have healed all that were present that day but He chose not to. He chose to heal a certain man, but again, we have no ground to assume this man was saved through Christ’s Passion.

Belief and faith or the ability to repent and believe is all a work of God on our behalf.  Know this, understand this. “With man it is impossible to be saved but with God all things are possible,”  So said our Lord Jesus. Paul says in his letter to the Philippians that it was given them to believe.  Paul also says that the ability to repent is granted to a person by God.  Paul is clear in Ephesians 2 that the faith we exercise is a faith that was gifted to us from God. Know this reader, you never had any faith of your own to “place in Christ.”  Paul says all are dead in trespasses and sins, therefore, no one can exercise any kind of spiritual life or faith in Christ.  Isn’t that simple?

It is all of God that you were granted repentence and then it was given to you to believe with the very faith God has gifted you with, when you were regenerated to life, to spiritual life that the Spirit bestows upon you and maintains as God wills. AND!!! according to Galatians 4:6, the reason the Spirit of God bestowed spiritual life within our souls or regenerated us is because we were ALREADY God’s children….yes, Christ-ian, you were a child of God BEFORE the Spirit granted you repentance and poured the faith of Christ into your soul, giving new life to your spirit.

Reader, God put the faith of Christ into you, just as the Spirit put God’s Seed into Mary. God planted the faith of Christ into your resurrected spirit, so that you could then believe, love, and obey Christ. To believe in/on Christ is to trust Him, Love Him, and Obey Him because you love Him and trust Him. Paul says we should work out our own Salvation with fear and trembling.  That is trusting, loving and obeying.

We are exhorted to obey the Gospel. How does one (1) obey the Gospel?  It is to live the Gospel because you love Christ and want to be like Him. Paul said if a person does not love Christ, let him be damned.  Reader, this is how one believes in Christ, one loves Him…really loves Him…He is a living Person in Heaven and is worthy of our love and if we love Him, we will do as He says.

To believe in Christ is to believe in Him every day and to die unto self every day. To believe in Christ is to belong to Him. To believe in Christ is to walk with the Spirit of Christ. The Spirit of Christ Who inhabits our mind, our feelings, and our instincts. As the twelve (12) walked with Christ, so should we walk with His Spirit. Christ is a very real Presence through the Holy Spirit’s Sovereign and abiding Presence with in us. We must fellowship with the Holy Spirit of Christ if we are believing in Christ. Fellowshiping with the Spirit of Christ is believing in Christ. If you are walking in the Spirit, you are believing in Christ.

Try this……Beliving in Christ. Do you see? the e was dropped and the word believe became Beliving….so there it is…to believe in Christ is to beliving in Christ.

Godspeed.