Tuesday, September 25, 2018

On Eternal Security - Wise Words from Jack Kinsella

Humans know right from wrong because right and wrong are relative to actions. One can do right, or one can do wrong. Saving a person from being hit by a streetcar is a right thing. Pushing him in front of one is wrong -- one might even say, 'evil'.

But good and evil are outcomes -- and the outcome of our actions is known only to God.

Allow me to illustrate…

You are in Vienna, Austria, and the year is 1905. A man is painting a landscape portrait of downtown Vienna and doesn't realize he has stepped back into the path of a street car. You see him, and push him to safety.

You did the right thing, right? It was a 'good' thing that you did, and not 'evil', right?

If you knew what the outcome of your good deed in 1905 would be -- that is, if you knew at the time that you had just saved the life of Adolph Hitler and knew what he would become -- did doing 'the right thing' result in a 'good', or 'evil' outcome?

The first lie of the Garden of Evil was that man should trust in himself and on his own understanding. The Scriptures teach the precise opposite.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)

The doctrine of eternal security flies in the face of that first lie by removing man from the equation altogether. Eternal security says that human righteousness is as 'filthy rags' before the Lord, therefore, Jesus paid the FULL penalty for sin.

It teaches that man plays no greater role in his salvation than that of accepting the gift of Pardon offered him by repenting (which means to change one's mind) about his sin and trusting in the shed Blood of Christ as a completed work.

The Scriptures teach us we can be; “confident of this very thing, that He which hath BEGUN a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phillipians 1:6)

One doctrine, that of salvation plus works, teaches that once He hath begun a good work in me, it is up to ME to perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

The other, that of eternal security, teaches that, once He hath begun a good work in me, HE will continue to perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Which doctrine lines up best with the main theme of the revealed Word of God?

We return to the message of salvation, but presented WITHOUT the implicit promise of eternal security for the believer…

“You are lost and deserve to go to hell. But Jesus has made a way for you to be saved.
All you have to do is believe in Him and not sin again. Go to church, learn the Bible, quit smoking, drinking, swearing, having lustful thoughts, avoid all your old sinful friends, do good and don't sin, and you shall be saved. But if you continue in sin after trusting Jesus, you will go to hell anyway.”

If one discounts the doctrine of eternal security as some kind of Satanic lie, then giving the Gospel in any manner differently that the one above is deceptive advertising.

But the Scriptures teach; “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.” (Galatians 6:15)

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2nd Corinthians 5:17)

If one is turned into a 'new creature' through God's extension of Sovereign grace accepted through faith, how then does one turn ONESELF back to the old creature by an act of human will (sin)?

Finally, there is the logic argument, as further advanced the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians.
“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (Galatians 2:21)

“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Romans 3:28)

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Jack Kinsella, 1952-2013 — Founder of The Omega Letter
The above article was taken in part from the website, Rapture Notes. For the full article click the aforementioned link.

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Do you know Him?

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:21-23)

Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (John 6:29)

The first paragraph are harsh words from Jesus Himself. This knowing goes beyond head-knowledge knowing. It refers to an intimate communion with God, with Jesus Christ. Many know a lot about Him, but few truly know Him.

In the second paragraph Jesus tells us the one thing we must do, that is of utmost importance, believing in Him. Not just facts about Him. James 2:19 says that “even the demons believe and tremble.” God's will, His desire, is that no one should perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16), but there is that thing called “free will” that He gave us.

We choose where to live, what to buy, what to think. God didn't create a bunch of robots, but a human race with the ability to freely think and freely choose... to freely choose or freely reject Him and His most amazing grace.

Knowing Him begins with, “I believe, Lord – help me with my unbelief!” That prayer has the power to transform a life from meaningless to purposeful... from guilt and shame to forgiveness and joy... from knowing about Him to truly knowing Him.

Know God, know peace. No God, no peace.
Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head, for love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live!

Come To Jesus, Chris Rice
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Thursday, May 31, 2018

When you fear God you fear nothing else!


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❤️“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” —Proverbs 9:10When we come to know God, through Jesus Christ His Son, we discover how deep His love truly is for us. Fearing God, with this understanding of His love, brings joy, peace and contentment—such that this world can never give. In this we discover our purpose, His purpose for us, and what life is truly all about.

Life without Him, without Jesus, is one consumed with fear, worry, discontent and a sense of purposelessness. I know. I've been in both places. And I am so glad that I know Him now, my True Peace, my Almighty Father, Lord, Savior, Brother, Wonderful Counselor and Friend.


How I desperately wish that all those I know, who don't know Him,
would come to know Him. 
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“There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love.” 

—1 John 4:18

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
—Proverbs 9:10

“The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else. ‘Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord.’”
—Oswald Chambers,
“The Highest Good – The Pilgrim’s Song Book”
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❤️

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

For the believer in Jesus Christ...


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For the believer in Jesus Christ this world is not our home.
We are but sojourners passing through, carrying the banner of our Savior, sharing His life and love with each other; and to all who have an ear to hear, testifying of His Good News and giving warning of the consequences for rejecting so great a salvation.
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Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Who Would Believe

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Who would believe
That this Jesus is real
That this God-Man really came
And gave His life
Shed His blood
Willingly
For you and for me

Who would believe
That this Jesus is alive
That He really
Rose from the dead
Just as He promised
Just as the prophets prophesied
For you and for me

Who would believe
That this Jesus is alive
In all who believe on Him
In all who trust in His Name
And know Him as
 

Lord
Savior
Friend
Almighty God
Emmanuel
King of Kings
Prince of Peace
Redeemer
Deliverer
Comforter
Love
Life

Who would believe
That this Jesus is wanting
To know you
To forgive you
To live in you
And give you new life
And life abundantly

And that He's calling you now

Who would believe
That He's coming again
To gather His Church
To take them home
To a place He's prepared
To dwell with Him forever
And He's coming soon

Who would believe
That such a thing
As simple
Child-like faith
In this Jesus
Turning to Him for forgiveness
Could save the worst of sinners

Who would believe?

I believe

Please believe
 

. . .