10/30/23 MAYBE SOME DAY
Sitting in The Net House tonight, meditating, reflecting, yearning, dreaming. The Lord willing, I would like to hold an in-person Holiness Seminar sometime soon for locals and visitors and online friends.
It will be free.
It will be for folks seeking truth and victorious living.
It will not be a time to debate or argue.
It will be part of a Spiritual Life Conference Series.
Attached is a photo of a basic outline of subjects I jotted down this evening.
10/28/23 GOD IS SEEN IN HIS WORD
"Let God be true but every man a liar." This is a basic Biblical principle. The God of the Bible is merciful, kind, loving, forgiving, compassionate and reconciling. He does not want anyone to perish, but He wants everyone to come to repentance. Read the Book. He Who is love, loves His enemies.
This does not mean God is unjust and it does not mean that God will not hold us responsible for our willful disobedience, but it does mean that where sin does abound, grace does much more abound.
God loved sinners so much that He gave His Only Begotten Son to die for the sins of the world. God seeks the sinner to save the sinner. God is love, God is longsuffering, God is not easily provoked, God does not rejoice in iniquity.
God prefers to draw us to repentance through His forbearance rather than drive us to repentance through force and judgment.
If we will not respond to His loving call and offer, and if we will not humble ourselves and turn from our wicked ways, God will not only judge us, He will pour out His wrath and vengeance on us.
Do not accuse God of creating sin or reprobating us or tempting us with sin or saving some because He favors (prefers) them above others and unilaterally chooses some to be saved and chooses not to save others.
He provides salvation for all men, on the basis of faith in Christ. Yes, we have a part in our salvation; it is to believe, to repent, to confess Christ, to confess our sins, to confess our faith in Christ, to follow fully by living by faith.
How convenient to say God created us to sin.
How convenient to say humans have no choice.
How convenient to blame God for making it impossible for people to get saved.
Some people explain their view of God in a way similar to the proverbial blind men of India explaining the nature of an elephant by simply touching a part of an elephant.
The elephant was described by the blind men, based on their limited knowledge.
The side of the elephant felt like a large strong wall.
The ear of the elephant felt like a large fan.
The leg of the elephant felt like a tree.
The trunk of the elephant felt like a large snake.
The tail of the elephant felt like a rope.
A proper understanding would have required more knowledge and understanding. I am constantly seeing and hearing people who describe God as either an angry, wrathful, vengeful, loveless, graceless ogre or as a, "name-it-claim-it" benefactor. God is neither.
Read the Bible, accept God's clear revelation of Himself, then believe in the God of the Bible, rather than the god of false religion.
10/25/23 DON'T BUY THE LIE
What God said in His revealed word is inerrant.
What men say about what God said can be errant.
God's word is Divine revelation.
Man's errant explanation of Divine revelation is demonic misdirection.
Beware those who explain God's word aside from (contrary to) God's clearly stated truths.
Beware those who use fancy theological footwork, earthly wisdom, human philosophy to correct God's preponderance of clear revelation.
Don't be fooled by false religion...
that says God does not love a sinful world...
that says Christ did not die for all men...
that the Blood of Christ, the Holy Spirit and the Word of God does not cleanse from all sin...
that God does not require us to live in obedience to God, and that God cannot or does not enable believers to live in obedience to God, through faith in the grace of God...
that sin will not separate people from God and that God will not separate believers from sin...
that Christians cannot be pure, righteous and holy by the atoning, cleansing and indwelling of God our Savior.
10/22/23 WORSE THAN BANKRUPT
Even the intellectually bankrupt Liberal can pay attention, therefore their deliberate and calculated eagerness to support the annihilation of...
An entire group of people (Jews),
An entire religion (Judaism)
and
An entire nation (Israel)
contradicts their supposed opposition to bullies and their pretended concern for endangered life forms.
They are blinded by hatred
10/22/23 JUST REFLECTING
A reminder (Divine judgment),
A promise (Divine mercy),
A hope (Divine protection)
A provision (Divine presence in the world).
10/20/23 NEITHER WILD FIRE NOR COLD EMBERS
While "Name It, Claim It" is a false doctrine, so also is the notion that God is not as active in daily Christian lives presently as He was in the Old and New Testament times. Some Christians embrace a sensuous, hysterical salvation without scriptural foundation, while some Christians embrace a stodgy, historical salvation without spiritual power and life.
There are some acts of God which were peculiar to the times and people of the Old Testament and New Testament, including the giving of The Ten Commandments and other Biblical inspiration or verbal revelation through God's Old Testament Prophets, as well as the physical manifestations on the Day of Pentecost and the ministry of the New Testament Apostles. Those who embrace "wild fire" and those who extinguish "holy fire" are equally un-Christian.
There is a combination of heart and head reality in salvation. Heart without head is unbridled emotionalism and head without heart is misguided and false intellectualism. Biblical salvation is not facts without feelings or feelings without facts. Biblical salvation is faith in the God of the Bible, including His power and His revelation.
God's presence and power in our daily, outward, social lives is dependent on our daily, inward, spiritual relationship with God. Our relationship and our experience with God in our outward life springs from our private time with God. Don't expect the miraculous, delivering, leading, empowering presence of God if you are not living in faithful submission to God's will.
A right relationship with God is based on trusting the atonement of Christ's death and resurrection and on the regenerating, purifying, empowering and guiding work of the Holy Spirit. Without the intimate, personal, private, daily encounter with God, we are left with only a form of godliness.
A "salvation" that does not change your life is a "salvation" that will not change your destiny. If your relationship with God is not evident in your outward life, you do not have a right relationship with God in your inward life. God's salvation cleanses our actions and purifies our hearts.
10/19/23 VICTORIOUS OVER ALL TEMPTATION
In Philippians 4:13, Paul tells us that he knows how to live in any and every situation. His words were, "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me."
I am fully aware of the context, the circumstances, the conditions and the obvious restrictions. It is not a Divine guarantee that a believer can run a four minute mile, speak foreign languages without study, or a multitude of other actions.
However, we cannot limit the principle of God's adequacy in our lives to this particular context. If God calls us to, or leads us into circumstances which are difficult or even, "impossible," He is able to see us through those conditions.
Likewise, Christ is adequate and willing to see us through spiritual trials. Victory over temptation and sin is not based on this verse. In fact there are hundreds of passages, which call us to victory and promise us victory. There is not one verse in the Bible that says Christians must sin.
Therefore the same words of this verse can be applied to the daily Christian life: "I can do all things (that God calls me to do, and He enables me to do, through Christ").
THROUGH CHRIST...
I can be led away from temptation.
I can resist temptation.
I can walk in the light, even as He is in the light.
I can follow in His steps.
I can bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
I can love perfectly, even as my heavenly Father loves perfectly.
I can keep His commandments.
I can do that which is pleasing in His sight.
I can walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
I can be pure, even as He is pure.
God's word makes it possible to resist temptation.
God's makes it possible to love Him with my whole heart, mind, soul and strength.
Perfect love makes it possible for me to obey Him fully.
He loved us while we wallowed in our sins.
He loved us when we wandered away.
He loves us when we are unlovable.
But He only saves those who repent of their sins.
If you have sinned since becoming a believer, Christ will be your atoning sacrifice. God calls you back to Himself. He is the advocate (stand between) for those who call on Him, from a contrite and broken heart.
Sin separates us from God, or God separates us from our sin(s).
Faith in Christ is our victory over sin.
God enables us to build ourselves up in our holy faith and He enables us to keep ourselves in the love of God.
God says these things in His word.
It is not ourselves, but Christ in us.
10/19/23 GRACE IS AN ESCAPE, NOT AN EXCUSE
God's grace is not given to us so that we might continue in sin, but rather that we might be saved from our sins and cleansed from all unrighteousness.
God's grace is extended to us, to open our eyes, to turn us so that we might be delivered from the power of Satan unto God, that we might receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith, transformed into a new creation, to walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the desires of the flesh, created unto good works, filled with His Holy Spirit, filled with the knowledge of His will, walking worthy of the Lord and pleasing Him, to keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight, being fruitful in every good work, strengthened with all might according to His power, conformed to the image of His Son.
Acts 26:18
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Romans 12:2
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2 Corinthians 5:15-17
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 5:17-19
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Romans 8:29
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Colossians 1:9-11
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
1 John 3:22-24
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
10/19/23 DON'T CHOOSE TO LOSE
God provides salvation from sin (temptation, deception, corruption) through faith in Christ's death and resurrection; the Holy Spirit's indwelling, cleansing, leading empowering; obedient trust in the word of God.
Victorious Christian living is rejected and attacked by the Prince of Darkness and his messengers.
Living a life of righteousness, which is victory over sin, only comes to those who refuse to be slaves of sin, but rather choose to be dead to sin and alive to God, serving Him in righteousness and true holiness.
Victory, righteousness, holiness, purity of heart and life is God's will, God's calling, God's provision but He gives you the choice.
Don't blame God for your sin. He provides everything we need for life and godliness.
2 Peter 1:2-4
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Romans 6:12-23
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
10/18/23 THE, "ALL CLEAR," ALARM
If the world were to have peace, if prosperity and health were to suddenly break out, it would sound the arrival of victory and hopes fulfilled for most people, including most "Christians." Celebrations would sweep around the globe.
There would be even greater jubilation if it was due to the efforts of some political or scientific or religious endeavor.
However, it would be the most disastrous event in human history since Adam ate the forbidden fruit.
Remember, when people declare PEACE, sudden destruction will come.
Whatever arises from today's chaos will only lead to greater chaos.
Don't believe those who offer hope and help separately from Christ.
I don't expect things to get better for this world and only the few who turn from sin and turn to Jesus have any real hope.
It is becoming more evident that we will not see people movements to God and His salvation, but rather a greater falling away from truth and righteousness.
If the final curtain is about to fall on this present evil world, the lost will be so deluded that they will not take hold of eternal life.
Act now, before it is everlastingly too late.
10/18/23 BE PROACTIVE
Waaaaay too little....
Waaaaay too late.
The fundamental problem is not that people listen to, or believe, the Media (private or State run), or that they believe the Government (Liberal or Conservative) but rather that they do not receive or believe the Biblical message.
Be sure to find and become part of a local church that preaches, teaches and lives the New Testament truth of a life and heart transforming salvation, which is available to all people.
Jesus came as the Lamb, Who takes away the sin of the world, but He is coming back as The Lion of the tribe of Judah, to conquer, judge, rule and reign for a 1,000 years,then comes the final judgment (Great White Throne) and eternity with God for the saved and in torment for those who reject His salvation and rule.
Remember, if He is not your Lord, He is not your Savior.
Romans 10:6-17
6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
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.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
10/17/23 CONVINCED IN CHAOS
The national anthem of the Kingdom of darkness.
"I have made up my mind. Don't confuse me with the facts."
10/16/23 IT SHOULD BE
A great truth, that...
Should be,
Could be,
Would be.
Family is the greatest blessing.
10/15/23 GOD TOLD US AHEAD OF TIME
The pagan king, Cyrus did not create the people or religion or nation of Israel. He was simply a tool of God in fulfilling God's plan and promises concerning Israel.
Likewise, Britain, Russia, France, nor any other modern political actions of nations or organizations (League of Nations) create Israel.
Israel is God's planting and has a continuing part and place in God's plan for this world.
I copied the following list from a post on Facebook. It is correct in stating the legitimacy of the State of Israel.
Do not be concerned about minuscule date discrepancies (such as birth of Christ). They are present because of slight terminology nuances and event overlaps. Israel is not the intruder, from God's perspective. The Biblical record of the creation of the universe, the world, Adam and Eve, the people and nation of Israel as well as salvation and The Church are Divine acts and revelation.
COPIED...
The land of Israel has been populated by the Jewish people since 2000 BC. Here's the timeline, in case you didn't realize that it is their homeland, as designated by Yahweh.
1900 BC: Abraham chosen by God as the Father of the Jewish Nation.
1900 BC: Isaac, Abraham's son, rules over Israel.
1850 BC: Jacob, son of Issac, rules over Israel.
1400 BC: Moses leads the people out of Egypt and back to Israel.
1010 BC: King David unites the 12 tribes into one nation.
970 BC: King Solomon, son of David, builds the first temple structure in Jerusalem
930 BC: Israel is divided into two kingdoms, the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah.
800s BC: The rise of the prophets, God's messengers.
722 BC: Kingdom of Israel is conquered by Assyrians.
605 BC: Kingdom Judah is conquered by the Babylonians.
586 BC: Solomon's Temple is destroyed by the Babylonians.
539 BC: Persians conquer the Babylonians and take control of Israel.
538 BC: The Jews return to Israel from exile.
520 BC: The Temple is rebuilt.
450 BC: Reforms made by Ezra and Nehemiah.
433 BC: Malachi is the end of the prophetic age.
432 BC: The last group of Jews return from exile.
333 BC: The Greeks conquer the Persian empire.
323 BC: The Egyptian and Syrian empire take over Israel.
167 BC: Hasmonean's recapture Israel, and the Jews are ruled independently.
70 BC: Romans conquer Israel.
20 BC: King Herod builds the "third" temple.
6 BC: Jesus Christ is born in Bethlehem
70 AD: Romans destroy the temple
After that, the people were captives to the Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, and Crusaders. Through all of these events, the Jewish people continued to live in Israel. There were more or less of them, depending on the centuries, but there was never a time when the Jews didn't live in the land. They stayed, they built their communities, they raised their families, practiced their faith and they suffered at the hands of many outside rulers, but they always kept their faith. It is what sustains them, even now.
In 1948, the UN established the State of Israel, the nation of Jews. Don't buy the Palestinian lies that they are entitled to the land. It simply is not true. Yahweh will also provide a way for his chosen people to live in Israel, as He has for thousands of years. Pray for the people of Israel.
10/14/23 JUST ANOTHER DAY
Went to Pizer Clinic. While Martha was inside, I witnessed to a couple of guys (from Marshallberg and Morehead).
We then came to Beaufort (aka Fishtown), to fill a prescription. While waiting, I fished at "Martha's Dock," near the Boat House on Taylor's Creek.
Right after ReeLo called with prescription filled, I caught this 18 or 19 inch flounder.
Getting ready to head home now.
10/13/23 BY ANY OTHER NAME...
Welcome to the
WORLDWIDE GENOCIDE GENERATION,
another name for
END TIME ANTISEMITISM.
Read the Book.
10/10/23 WESLEY WAS RIGHT
I saw this quote from John Wesley. I do the same thing by offering a preponderance of passages, which not only agree on the surface, but fully substantiate the position independently. I have formatted it by putting each point on a separate line (hopefully making each point stand out). Take note, I am not quoting Wesley as much as I am focusing on the redundancy of Scripture concerning the responsibilities of man.
J. Wesley said...
“Calvinists, who deny that salvation can ever be lost, reason on the subject in a marvelous way.
They tell us,
that no virgin’s lamp can go out;
no promising harvest can be choked with thorns;
no branch in Christ can ever be cut off from unfruitfulness;
no pardon can ever be forfeited,
and no name blotted out of God’s book!
They insist that
no salt can ever lose its savor;
nobody can ever ‘receive the grace of God in vain’;
‘bury his talents’;
‘neglect such great salvation’
trifle away ‘a day of grace’;
‘look back’ after putting his hand to the gospel plow.
Nobody can
‘grieve the Spirit’ till He is ‘quenched,’ and strives no more,
nor ‘deny the Lord that bought them’;
nor ‘bring upon themselves swift destruction.’
Nobody, or body of believers, can ever
get so lukewarm that Jesus will spew them out of His mouth.
They use reams of paper to argue that
if one ever got lost he was never found (John 17:12);
that if one falls, he never stood (Rom. 11:16-22 and Heb. 6:4-6);
if one was ever ‘cast forth,’ he was never in,
and ‘if one ever withered,’ he was never green (John 15:1-6);
and that ‘if any man draws back,’ it proves that he never had anything to draw back from (Heb. 10:38,39);
that if one ever ‘falls away into spiritual darkness,’ he was never enlightened (Heb 6:4-6);
that if you ‘again get entangled in the pollutions of the world,’ it shows that you never escaped (2 Pet 2:20);
that if you ‘put salvation away’ you never had it to put away,
and if you make shipwreck of faith, there was no ship of faith there!!
In short they say:
If you get it, you can’t lose it; and if you lose it you never had it.
May God save us from accepting a doctrine, that must be defended by such fallacious reasoning!” ~ John Wesley
10/09/23 OUR HOPE IS ONLY JESUS
Make no mistake about it, in earthly measurements, the USA is the greatest country that has ever existed.
However, I do not see evidence in the Bible that it will be a player in end times events. As of this moment it is completely conceivable that America could become an overnight byword.
Those who have loved their country, or their wealth, or their power, or their success or their homes, or their families more than they have loved God are about to come face to face with their own futility and vanity.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness...
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and strength...
10/09/23 MEN CLING TO DARKNESS
I don't care what faults you blame on Trump, if he was in office (leading as he was leading), America would not be in the debacle we are in today (economic, crime, oppression, racial divide, on the verge of a Communist regime overthrow of our government, threatened by Islamic radicals and China and Russia). Instead, this present regime has probably taken us to the edge of destruction.
Trump was not our Savior, but Jesus seemed to use him to serve God's purposes, as God also used Cyrus.
If America continues to resist God’s call to repentance and faith, we will cross the Rubicon.
There needs to be an end to the present insanity. But without a turning to Christ, any leader we get can be a Pied Piper to ruin.
10/09/23 SAME BULLIES, SAME BULLSEYES
Open your eyes and ears.
Liberals are always against strong and evil bullies, unless the one being
oppressed and bullied is either the State of Israel or followers of Christ or conservatives in America.
10/08/23 THE STATE AND CHURCH ARE NOT THE SAME
God gave The State (which the Bible differentiates from The Church) the responsibility to protect the righteous and punish the wicked. Most people acknowledge that the primary responsibility of the State is to protect its citizens.
The State includes local regional, national and international systems.
A State, which fails to protect its people is not a legitimate Government. A system that requires disobedience to the revealed word of God is opposed to God.
God gave the State the power of the sword of steel to protect and punish.
When a given system fails to protect, or when it oppresses its people, God often sends judgment on that rogue regime. Sadly, everyone suffers for the wickedness of evil State leaders (including and especially Christians.
The Bible makes it clear that the State is not the Church and the Church is not the State, but both are answerable to God for their own responsibilities. It is not the States right to rule the Church, and it is not the Church's responsibility to wield the sword of steel. Both should work together. But when the State opposes God rule (as found in the New Testament) then Christians must follow and obey God. This is why Christians can support law enforcement and military, though while being Biblical peacemakers.
Jesus' kingdom is not of this world. Christians are to obey the State unless the State's rule is in opposition to God's revealed word. It is better to obey God rather than men.
10/08/23 SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES
MISINFORMATION WE'VE BEEN TOLD...
That believers cannot overcome temptation;
That believers cannot obey God and keep His commands;
That believers cannot walk in the light, as Christ is in the light;
That believers cannot be cleansed from all sin;
That believers cannot be cleansed from all unrighteousness;
That believers cannot walk in the Spirit and overcome the lusts of the flesh;
That believers cannot live victoriously over sin and temptation;
That believers cannot be holy or pure or righteous, even as God is holy, pure and righteous;
That believers cannot be perfect in love, even as our heavenly Father is perfect in love;
That believers cannot be delivered from sin's power and pollution, in this present evil world;
That believers cannot be delivered from Satan and temptation, in this present evil world;
That believers cannot have victory over the World, the Flesh, the Devil, Sin and Temptation in this present evil age.
That the Word of God cannot or will not protect us from sinning;
That believers cannot do that which is pleasing in God's sight;
That believers must sin every day, in word, thought and deed.
INFORMATION WE'VE BEEN DENIED...
That the Blood of Christ, the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God saves the believer from sinning.
That God, Who dwells in believers, is greater than he (the devil) that is in this world;
That believers can walk in victory;
That God enables believers to always triumph in Christ;
That God makes believers more than conquerors through Christ;
That believers can be dead to sin;
That believers can build themselves up in God's holy faith;
That believers can keep themselves in the love of God;
That God is able to keep believers from falling;
That believers can be steadfast, immovable and always abounding in the work of the Lord;
That believers can be cleansed of all filthiness of the flesh and spirit and be perfected in holiness;
That the fullness of the Holy Spirit purifies the heart of the believer;
That God requires and provides cleansing of the life and purifying of the heart.
And the list goes on and on and on.
WHY THEY SAY IT
They either do not know what the Bible says or they choose to not believe what the Bible says;
In Either Case, They Don't Believe...
They don't believe in Biblical salvation;
They don't believe in Biblical grace of God;
They don't believe that Christians are new creations, old things are past away and all things become new.
They don't believe in the indwelling and leading and empowering of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians.
Instead, They Believe...
That God is unable to save faithful believers from sin and sinning,
or
That God is unwilling to save faithful believers from sin and sinning,
or
That God wills for faithful believers to remain in sin and sinning,
or
That God does not care that faithful believers continue in sin and sinning.
Salvation Truth...
Salvation is not man doing his best.
Salvation is not man doing his best with God's assistance.
Salvation is God doing His miraculous work through loving, obedient, submissive children.
Remember...
Jesus came to save His people from their sins.
10/06/23 MEN FAIL GRACE
When a follower of Christ falls into sin, the grace of God did not fail that person, that person failed of the grace of God (fell short of the grace of God; failed to live by the grace of God).
Hebrews 12:14-17
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
10/04/23 ONLY ONE GOD
There is only one God (God by nature), as the word is used in English. There are so-called "gods," by either self appointment or other appointment, but they are not the One True and Living God.
In the truest sense of the word there is only one God. There is only one Supreme, Eternal, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Immutable God.
God said concerning Himself that there was no god before Him and neither shall there be another god after Him.
He is the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Acts 17:29
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
Romans 1:22-23
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Galatians 4:8
8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
1 Corinthians 8:4-6
4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
1 Timothy 1:17
17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 4:10
10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
Titus 2:13-14
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
10/04/23 SPIRITUAL DUE DILIGENCE
The Roman religion interpreted the Bible for their followers, but then came the Reformation, when the Reformers became the interpreters of the Bible.
Translators, printers and publishers have made it possible for individuals and the masses to read the Bible independently. While scholarship and accuracy are essential to proper interpretation, the Holy Spirit is the primary and best interpreter of the Bible, and the Bible is the best commentary on the Bible.
In the past it has been "experts" who have misinformed people concerning the Scriptures. I am constantly finding modern misconceptions about the Bible and about Christian living, based on misinterpretations from the past, which were rooted in previous errors of men.
Today the misinformation flows freely on the internet. Again, the experts are following the misinformation of previous men who had a misunderstanding of Scripture.
It is not always easy to know and understand the truth. However, a faithful and consistent commitment to what the Bible says, and restates and explains is a step in the right direction.
We can and we should appreciate scholarship, but we need to be personal students of the Bible, allowing it to interpret itself, rather than allowing people to explain why it does not mean what it says.
10/03/23 DON'T BE CONFUSED BY THE CONFUSERS
Occasionally I watch or read something said by J. MacArthur, J. White, R.C. Sproul, J. Piper, Arthur Pink, W. Grudem, N. Geisler, and a slew of other popular Reformed and Calvinistic teachers. Listening to them explain Wesleyan doctrine is like watching Liberal media explain the Southern Border situation. They ain't got nary a clue.
Some of the things they say are so wrong, so confused, so misleading that I actually question their honesty, since they are too intelligent to be that much in error. I have heard some of them not only say things that are inaccurate concerning Wesleyan doctrines, I have also heard them on other occasions espouse those same Biblical truths, then contradict themselves by saying that the Bible does not mean what it actually says. Sometimes it seems like something is wrong with them.
For instance, I often hear people attack the Biblical doctrine of Perfect Love, by saying that those who believe in being made perfect (as Jesus said), actually believe that we are made Absolutely Perfect in every way, and they falsely accuse us of saying we can never sin again or we will never sin again. I have heard them say we excuse sin by calling sin, "mistakes." I have had some tell me personally that Jesus does not save us from our sins in this life, but only saves us from the penalty of sin.
I have heard and read people who actually admit that Jesus calls us to a Perfection and then they say that it is not possible to experience the Perfection offered and required by God.
They build a straw man, and call him "Wesleyan," then attack the false accusations they have ascribed to their make-believe "Wesleyan," and then as they attack the false narrative they invented, they mockingly rejoice in supposedly exposing and debunking Wesleyan heresies. Then the followers of the false teachers go out and falsely rail against Wesleyans.
If you are going to disbelieve a doctrine, it is a good idea to understand the doctrine.
Having heard them misinterpret so many Wesleyan doctrines explains to me how they also misunderstand and misrepresent other basic Biblical doctrines.
10/03/23 KNOW YOUR WARFARE
The New Testament makes it clear that Christians killing people (for any reason) is not commanded or commended or condoned, in fact, it is condemned by God in the New Testament.
The erroneous idea that God allows Christians to kill people (for any reason) did not come from the New Testament, but came from the faulty teaching of the Roman religion and was followed by her errant descendants in the Protestant Reformation.
I realize that many well meaning Christians (mostly modern and western) believe that it is expected for Christians to kill other people (in military battle, in self defense, in defense of property). I love those errant believers, but their beliefs are contrary to the New Testament.
This does not mean that Christians are cowardly, or passive or pacifistic, or anti-law enforcement or anti-military. (But that is a different subject, to be addressed at a different time.)
The point is that the New Testament does not allow or promote Christians taking violent, life threatening action against our enemies.
It is time for those who claim to be Bible followers to follow in the steps of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, Whose kingdom is not of this world, Whose weapons are not fleshly, and we are to cease taking personal, violent action against other people, since our enemies are not human but they are spiritual, principalities and powers. We are to do good to our enemies and we are to love them. This may include losing everything we have, including our very lives.
Loving your enemy does not mean loading your enemies gun or sacrificing others to their violence. Loving God means that we obey God rather than men, when the directives, the practices of our enemies are in conflict with the rule of God.
We are witnesses for Christ, and the Biblical word, "witness" comes from the Greek word, which means "martyr." Christ has sent us out to be witnesses, not executioners. In fact, we are referred to as "witnesses," and "ambassadors" rather than judges, prosecutors, jurors, jailers, or policemen. Witnesses and ambassadors are messengers of peace, reconciliation, restoration. We bear the Sword of the Spirit, not the sword of steel.
In the New Testament passages, which use militaristic imagery concerning Christians, the subject refers to our commitment, loyalty, submission to God as our Authority and to His mission. God's mission for believers is to rescue the lost, not execute the lost; we are to fight the good fight of faith, not the fight of the flesh; we are to engage spiritual powers and defeat them, we are not to physically attack enemies of the cross; the only blood letting associated with the Christian mission is proclaiming the death of Christ on the cross and His physical resurrection, and our own willingness to die in His service.
There is not a hint of disagreement in the New Testament to the fact that we are to pursue peace with all men; that we are called to be peace makers; that we are to be willing to die; that we love our enemies; that we do not physically fight for an earthly kingdom.
We can serve our country in various ways, but our service to any country must never be in conflict with the mission of God, which was exemplified in the death, resurrection and teachings of Christ and the writings of the New Testament Prophets and Apostles.
Don't be led astray by the teachings of men who came along after the New Testament and the practices of the earliest church. So-called "violent" Christianity is not New Testament. As with other great truths of the Bible, this Biblical position is not popular with the world. But remember, we are not answerable to men, we are answerable to God and His word.
10/03/23 DON'T WAIT TOO LATE TO PACK
Most of the time folks do not have a clear notification about an impending and sudden death (whether their own or someone else's death).
Even with a warning, few people are able to restore broken relationships or lives.
Sometimes one party is not interested enough to heal a broken relationship (with loved one, former friend or even with God).
Sometimes the unwilling party has not only contributed greatly to the broken relationship, they are also a contributing factor to the broken heart and broken health of the one who wants to restore the relationship.
I have said for years, "sin makes you stupid." When people stand before God and see how they neglected and rejected the treasures of God, while clinging to the pleasures of self satisfaction, it will be too late. Not only will they not be able to make things right, they won't have (and never will have) a desire to do the right thing. This is why the Lake of Fire is forever.
After living a life of self satisfaction comes an eternity of self imposed condemnation.
IT AIN'T WORTH IT.
Hebrews 9:27
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Revelation 20:11-15
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.
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.
Revelation 21:7-8
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
10/01/23 GOD'S TRAINING CAMP
Burger King has a great slogan, for a fast food place. HAVE IT YOUR WAY.
But it is a terrible slogan for most other areas of life, especially the spiritual life.
I like a good buffet (breakfast buffet, salad bar, seafood buffet to name a few).
At a buffet you take what you want and leave the rest.
But again, the idea of a buffet is not applicable to a spiritual life.
God's spiritual diet is not optional; it is obligatory for strength, health, life.
God sets the standards, the limits, the requirements for spiritual life. The Christian life is not a "pick and choose" for yourself.
This is the reason that unsurrendered people are not Christians. You cannot be a Christian if you are not surrendered to the rule of God.
God sets the standards for all of life.
God sets the standards for receiving new life.
God sets the standards for living the spiritual life.
God sets the standards for righteousness, truth, sanctity, honesty, loyalty, unity, civility.
God sets the standards for right human relationships, with Himself and with our family, the church, society and government.
Violating God's standards is failure, it leads to more failure, it ends in ruin and eternal separation from God.
If we don't like an item on the fast-food menu, we can choose something else on the menu, and it is okay.
If we don't like the cuisine at the restaurant, we can choose a different restaurant, and it is okay.
If we don't like the service at one store, we can choose a different store, and it is okay.
If folks do not like the restrictions of monogamy, God does not allow seeking intimacy with another person.
If parents do not like the responsibilities of parenthood, God does not allow them to abandon their children.
If citizens do not like legitimate laws, God does not allow them to commit crimes.
If people do not like Biblical standards, instructions, responsibilities held by one church, God does not allow them to look for a church with a more "seeker friendly" atmosphere.
Marriage is a Divine institution, which must be honored according to God's view.
Parenting is a Divine responsibility, which must be followed according to God's directives.
Obedience to legitimate authority is a Divine obligation, which must be observed.
Salvation and right relationships in a local church are Divinely established, which must be followed and maintained.
Wrong is wrong, regardless of where it is, and even when it is not called wrong, wrong is still wrong.
And never forget, Christian obedience to God and pleasing God is love in action. We do His will because we love Him. Christian living is not motivated by legalism, but is the result of Divine transformation.
09/30/23 FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH
God's word reveals God's nature.
God's works are consistent with His word.
God is just, righteous, true.
God is loving (He is love), merciful, compassionate, forgiving.
God's sovereign rule is aligned with His love, justice, mercy, compassion, truth, righteousness.
The Biblical narrative is this:
We either willfully trust His grace and accept His Lordship or He judges us for our deliberate rebellion and disobedience.
09/29/23 FIND AND FOLLOW GOD'S PLAN
God designed Adam to be in community with God and God provided for Adam's fallen children to turn from sin
God knew Adam would not only corrupt his relationship with God, but he would also corrupt all of his offspring.
God had a plan from the beginning to restore Adam and all of corrupted humanity, based on a willingness to trust and submit to God.
God created mankind, even in our fallen condition, with the ability to trust and obey God or reject and disobey God.
God was not finished with fallen mankind because of the sin of Adam. In fact, when a person sins against God, God continues to extend mercy, grace, love, salvation, time and again.
God did not create us for the express purpose to punish or torment us.
God created us to experience and enjoy a loving relationship with Him through Christ.
God covers the inherited corruption of pre-born and new born and infant children. God designed children to be receptive and submissive to Him.
God does judge and punish the lost, but it is because the lost persist in choosing sin and have refused to accept God's light into their lives.
God's call is offered through our evangelizing.
God's enabling is provided to whosoever will hear and believe Him.
And yes. This is all based on Biblical truth, which is based on God's nature and His acts of salvation.
Those who have heard, but refuse to submit to God's loving and righteous rule will suffer eternal separation and judgment.
The power of God is greater than the power of darkness, but God allows us to decide to either come under His Lordship or continue in our own carnal way.
09/28/23 A MORE TELLING SIGN
We are seeing natural disasters (fires, floods, storms, disease), as well as wars and rumors of wars spread globally along with various forms of man's inhumanity to man. These are two categories of, "end times" conditions. These problems have always been present, but the they are intensifying in occurrence, extent, rapidity, severity.
Maybe more telling evidence, concerning the status of the world, is the corruption of man and the corrupting of the message of the Bible. We are watching the horrors of sin on the world-wide stage and in the lives of individuals as they are developing day by day.
The blatant rejection of God and His word and His grace and His salvation and His people is running rampant, even among those who loudly profess faith in Him. Paul said this would happen. (I have formatted and marked (with an asterisk *) the passage in order to highlight the specific points).
2 Timothy 3:1-5
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2
* For men shall be
* lovers of their own selves,
*covetous,
* boasters,
* proud,
* blasphemers,
* disobedient to parents,
* unthankful,
* unholy,
3
* Without natural affection,
* trucebreakers,
* false accusers,
* incontinent,
* fierce,
* despisers of those that are good,
4
*Traitors,
* heady,
* highminded,
* lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5
* Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:
*from such turn away.
DLG note
As walking in light leads to light, so walking in grace leads to grace.
Grace produces graciousness.
Likewise, walking in rebellion leads to walking in rebellion.
To ignore, reject, redefine or repackage saving grace will morph into a life lacking social graces (self control, kindness, humility, civility, compassion, cordiality, courteousness, fairness, decency, honesty).
Be gracious, do not be graceless.
