salvation

Blog for Podcast #188 (Calling Jesus a Liar) Part 2: Conclusion

bible, Christian, Christian Life, General, Guide, Life, Relationship, , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV – Jesus said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Jesus in another gospel explained how we show our love toward God:

Luke 14:25-33 NKJV – Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

To love God with all our heart, soul and mind we must place everyone, including ourselves humbly below God. Thus, the reference to hating one another. It is not true hatred as many that do not study the Word of God throw out. It is simply that we are not to continue being focused upon this temporal reality and those within it directly. Does this mean to forget them and thus outright hate them all together: NO!

Christ also discusses the cost. Most skip this. Don’t understand it, or care what it says. This means those behaving in this manner do not place God at the center with all their heart, soul and mind. Why I say this is because they are dismissing the teachings of their Savior. This means they are placing their focus here upon the earth, and not in God through Jesus Christ.

This plays out time and again, especially in this time. Most have not counted the cost of their discipleship. They lay the foundation, they have accepted Jeus Christ as their Savior. Then they do nothing else. Making “Christianity” a farce, something to be mocked, which is exactly what is occurring.

This is why Christ had John write this letter and it does pertain to most that profess to being “Christian” at this time:

Revelation 3:15-21 NKJV – “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

I wish to change direction here, because I have been led to come at this from a different angle.

A couple of weeks back I did a podcast called “The Judas Effect” (Podcast #186). In the very beginning I show verses where we see that Judas was called clean and that he cast out demons and healed the sick. He was chosen by Christ to be called an apostle. However, millions if not billions say he was not saved nor was he a follower of Christ. Simply they called Jesus Christ Himself a liar. Which is the theme of these last two podcasts. The insistence that they are right and God Himself is wrong.

Judas was of the twelve, this means he was amongst the first to legitimately be classified as a “Christian.” This means that he abandoned his salvation for mere earthly money. He chose the world above God and thus was damned to fire, just as Christ tried to warn him about in John 15 about abiding in Him.

Abiding in Christ is accomplished through works in faith to Him as is verified in James:

James 2:17-20 NKJV – Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

To be called foolish should make people truly pounder their believe in the OSAS man-made doctrine. To hear that demons believe in God, and they tremble in fear. Yet those that strongly adhere to OSAS laugh in the face of the Truth. They laugh. They laugh!

They believe with all their hearts that Jesus Christ is a lair, and they laugh in the face of God Himself. Why? Because they are going to heaven, and it is the Bible that says so. They believe in certain verses. They nitpick the Word of God to fulfill their passionate belief that they have favoritism over all others. That they are select, special, exempt from judgement.

Those that called themselves “Christian” experienced this before. It was addressed in a letter that is now a book within the NT. Let’s hear what was said to these fellow “Christians” that believed they were special and exempt from damnation:

Romans 2:1-11 NLT – You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.

Those that call themselves followers of Christ have no excuse to continue to disobey the commandments given by Jesus Christ Himself. They have no excuse to defile the Holy Spirit that may be within them. It is made clear that God will punish all who continue in sin. It is made very clear God shows favoritism to none. Any who insists upon living in sin will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment.

These verses are aimed at those that follow the people pleasing message of OSAS. For that is exactly what it is: a people pleaser. For it allows them to live their lives as they desire. As they wish. Which is why those that teach it. Those that insist upon perverting the True Word of God for their glory and not God’s shows that they are focused not upon their eternal life yet to be, but upon their temporal pleasures and rewards they can gain now. This is why they are cursed by God to damnation. Yet they laugh at this Truth, because to question their lie they have lived all their earthly lives within would mean they must accept the earthly pain that is required to accept who is the author of all Truth: Jesus Christ the Son of God.

It is a lie that not only they now embrace, but their predecessors had embraced and gone to the grave believing. They must come to terms that not only they, but their parents, their grandparents and all those before them. Those that embraced and followed these lies are not in heaven, but in the grave awaiting their appearance before the Great White Throne. Waiting to see if they have enough works to reward them a favored place in heaven, or are they destine to the second death of eternal damnation.

Those that laughed and scoffed at the Truth. Those that look about and seek to live in the pleasantries of this temporal existence, make themselves an abomination in the sight of God.

Luke 16:14-17 NKJV – Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

Once Christ humbled Himself to appear in human form and He spoke His teachings. All became servants to the laws, and answerable to the laws. Only those that follow the laws in their hearts due to the presence of the Holy Spirit within are not answerable to the law. However, those that continue to live in sin and insist they are. Do so because the laws no longer exists again calls Jesus Christ Himself a liar.

Since our Savior is not a liar. This makes them the liars, and what is the fate of any who lie?

Revelation 21:6-8 NKJV – And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

To overcome is an action, an act of works through faith. The believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and we strive not to defile and tarnish the Holy Spirit within us. Yet there are times we do, but we seek forgiveness. We seek to end the sin within us. We strive not to repeat that which will defile what God has blessed us with.

Time is nearly up. The first rapture is due any moment. Don’t find yourselves left behind. For that will occur to more, and more every single day. For they are not learning the Truth of the Word of God but are being taught the people pleasing message which allows them to think they are one with God, but in reality, they are destine to a crueler fate in this earthly existence. For that is the choice they have chosen to follow. For it makes them happy and joyous,… now. Comfortable in their sins because the lie they have embraced will allow them into heaven. In their eyes, which is the furthest thing from the Truth. I truly pity those that can’t accept the Truth that is right before them in the Word of God.

God Bless

Blog for Podcast #187 (Calling Jesus a Liar)

bible, Christian, Christian Life, General, Guide, Life, , , , , , , Leave a comment

Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV – “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Those that reject the laws not removed by the cross. Those that say it is by faith alone. Those that say we are saved by grace, and we can never lose our salvation are those who are referenced in these verses.

Why?

Because they have called their Savior a liar. They have compared Jesus Christ to the father of all lies. Yes, this is a harsh statement. It needs to be harsh. It needs to cause anger. It needs to cause discomfort. It needs to make people think and say to themselves: “Could I be wrong?”

By the way. The answer to that question is: yes, those that believe they cannot lose their salvation are wrong. Why this can be said is because Jesus Christ said it Himself. One of these times was heard at the beginning of this podcast. For none can cast out demons unless they were truly followers of Jesus. Here is another example from the Word of God, for those that say they have no sin within them.

1 John 1:8-10 NKJV – If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

This comes from the one disciple that died of natural causes. One of the ones that was most loved by Christ Himself.

One of the greatest times Jesus states salvation can be lost is found in the gospel written by John, however they are the Words spoken by our Savior:

John 15:1-6 NKJV – “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

When people truly study these verses, they find that the only way to be a part of the vine who is our Savior Jesus Christ is by accepting Him as their personal Savior. Otherwise known as saved, born again.

We also come to the conclusion that to abide in Christ is an action, otherwise known as works. You abide by seeking to be a reflection of Christ. You abide by following His commands:

John 14:15 NKJV – “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

Christ also said this:

Luke 14:26-27 NKJV – “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

And this:

Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

To abide in Christ is to downsize, to not place yourself first in any aspect and to follow those laws which were not removed by Christ going to the cross. We are also to spread the Word of God and bring others to Christ.

Now, note. I have just given direct quotes from Jesus Christ. This means we are to do this if we desire to abide in the Vine. These are works. These are commands by Christ. Which verifies we must have works through faith, which is abiding in our Savior.

Those that call Jesus a liar denies all that has just been stated. Why? Because it isn’t clearly stated in the Bible and they take the word of others over these direct Words spoken by Jesus Christ who gave these commands. Which means they do not abide in the Vine. What is made clear in John 15?

John 15:6 NKJV – If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

Those that were saved, were born again. Are removed from the Vine and cast out to wither. Then they are cast into the fire, which is hell.

So, is Jesus a liar? The Bible says He is not. Then those that believe in OSAS are what then? Believers in a lie. Who tells lies?

John 8:44 NKJV – You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

And they call him “Jesus.” They go to a building called a “church” once a week. The rest of the week they live their lives as they see fit. They seek after riches. They wear fancy clothes. They drive fancy vehicles. What does Jesus Christ say about these people:

Revelation 3:15-21 NKJV – “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Unless they are zealous and repent, they are vomited out of the Body of Christ. Again, verification that salvation can be lost. The lukewarm. Those that sing praises about their Savior, who isn’t your Savior. They say they can do anything here on earth, which is actually true. For Satan said this to Jesus Christ:

Luke 4:6 NKJV – And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.

This is why they prosper here in this world, because they have swallowed the lie fully and completely and never challenge it for they are “saved.” They are “one with their Savior.”

Their savior… Satan, the father of all lies. Who continues to blind them to the truth making this verse truth:

2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT – Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

For they do not believe that salvation can be lost. They refuse to be a disciple of Christ and return to their sins. However, here is the thing. They were saved originally:

John 3:16-17 NKJV – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

 Again, we turn to the Truth of these verses:

2 Peter 2:20-22 NKJV – For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A DOG RETURNS TO HIS OWN VOMIT,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

Multiple times the Truth of the Word of God has come out in this podcast. None match the OSAS teaching. When you think upon how and what is promoted in that man-made philosophy. It can be called a people pleasing message. What Truth does the Bible teach us about those that change the gospel into a people pleasing message?

Galatians 1:6-10 NKJV – I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

So those that teach a people pleasing message are cursed? Could it be because they do not follow Jesus Christ but Satan? I will leave that for those reading or listening to decide.

What is important is that it is time to face the Truth. Accept the Words spoken by our Savior Jesus Christ. Seek to truly follow the commandments which were never removed by the cross. No tattoos, debt management that cycles every seven years. Dressing modestly. Keeping most of your earthly wealth ready to help those in need and living a modest lifestyle. This is all manifested in the greatest commandments:

Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV – Jesus said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

If you truly sought to make God at the center of your life you would be sickened to sin. Yet we all sin, even after we receive salvation. However, we feel guilty, we become uncomfortable. We become repentant.

Those that call Jesus a liar don’t feel repentance. In fact, they seek to sin. They prove this in how they live and seek to live. Even to the point of believing they follow God, when their works reflect the world, which brings us to these verses:

1 John 2:15-16 NLT – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

James 4:4 NKJV – Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Now what is important is what follows this verse:

James 4:5-7 NKJV – Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Respecting the Holy Spirit within us causes us to be humble. While those that call Christ a liar are proud, which is why we are told to resist the devil.

Stop calling Jesus Christ a liar and seek after salvation. True salvation in the name of Jesus Christ. For Christ will remove you from the vine. It won’t happen immediately, but it will happen. It is done in degrees from where you stand in the Body. If you teach people pleasing messages it will happen quickly, but if you are just His servant it can take decades.

Time is quickly running out. The first Rapture draws rapidly near. Stop calling Jesus a lair and place that blame where it belongs, upon the father of all lies.

God Bless

Blog for Podcast #183 (Misconceptions of Salvation)

bible, Bible study, Christian, Christian Life, General, Guide, Life, Relationship, , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

The misconception of what has been defined as salvation has brought us to a point in this temporal existence to a nearly complete lack of people actually achieving true salvation.

Most believe they can just say they have chosen to follow Christ, yet they show very little change in how they behave and live their daily lives.

When it comes to salvation, repentance is required of the person receiving said salvation.

Repentance. What does that truly mean?

To repent involves turning from your sin. Basically, to do a one-eighty degree turn. It means you stop doing that sin. This is not what is being taught if taught at all though. Many go about living their lives doing as they wish. Usually contrary to the Bible, otherwise known as living in sin. Yet many go to church on Sunday and feel that their mere effort to show up at church is enough to redeem them in the eyes of God.

Well…….

Ummm…..

That ain’t how it works.

That is no repentance. To be blunt that is not even salvation.

To live a selfish life is totally opposite the teaching of the Bible. In true fact it is an abomination in the sight of God.

Luke 16:13-15 NKJV – “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

We are taught within the Bible to place God first and foremost and to do so every single day, not just Sunday.

Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV – Jesus said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

We are told to be humble and not to try and show ourselves as better than anyone else.

Philippians 2:3 NKJV – Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

Yet Billions live lives of self-ambition and or conceit and millions of them call themselves “Christian,” again this is not repentance.

True repentance is a shattering of your very personality you have lived with before you asked Jesus into your life, yet many do exactly the same thing they did before they asked Him in. Some do change, but then something happens and they return to their old way of life. I know this for a fact because this happened to me, so don’t say that isn’t true when having lived it I know that it is true. On top of which the Bible says this:

2 Peter 2:20-22 NKJV – For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled inte them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A DOG RETURNS TO HIS OWN VOMIT,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

True repentance is painful, hard and something you beg and plead for God to take it from you. Gee, where have I seen that take place in the Bible? Oh, yea in an orchard just before the Pharisee’s men came to arrest Christ. Christ has been where you are, but He did not take the out He was given for His love of humankind and His selfless act was the greatest gift of all. What He accepted can easily be taken from you but can still be emotionally painful and agonizing. In some cases you will be asked to leave that which you love, a person, money, and a lifestyle. It will hurt and it will take time for this pain to pass but it is something that must be done. But remember you cannot do it alone nor can you. For Christ Himself will help you through it. Studying the Bible will help you through it. Talking with those that have been though it can help you through it and praying can help you through it.

True love hurts and only through a true love of God and Christ will you ever get to truly understand that pain and why it is needed.

It is due to this misunderstanding of salvation that many that profess with full believe that they are followers of Christ. Yet, they live and promote sin. They live as the world does and believe they are not required to change. Yet that is not what the Word of God teaches.

The Bible makes it clear we are to downsize. This is not a misconception this is a command from Jesus Christ:

Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

1 Timothy 6:6-10 NKJV – Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 NKJV – Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Those that keep their earthly riches do not show repentance. They continue to live as in the world, which marks them as friends of the world.

James 4:4 NKJV – Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

If you truly seek salvation you MUST accept the discomfort that is required. This means downsizing and not seeking after earthly wealth and all that goes with that imagery.

1 John 2:15-17 NLT – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

Time is quickly running out to show that you have truly accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior. Stop being like the lukewarm. For their fate is sealed in damnation.

Revelation 3:15-17 NKJV – “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—

Repent if you thought you had salvation. Then truly seek it by striving to live a sanctified life.

God Bless

Blog for Podcast # 166 (The Arrogance of the Proud)

bible, Bible study, Christian, Christian Life, General, Guide, Life, Relationship, , , , , , , Leave a comment

Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

Isaiah 13:9-13 NKJV – Behold, the day of the LORD comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not give their light; The sun will be darkened in its going forth, And the moon will not cause its light to shine. “I will punish the world for its evil, And the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, And will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold, A man more than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, And the earth will move out of her place, In the wrath of the LORD of hosts And in the day of His fierce anger.

“I will punish the world for its evil, And the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, And will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.”

“I will halt the arrogance of the proud.”

Why are there those that are so proud they are arrogant?

This is exactly how the Pharisees behaved. Why they did this was because they would rather follow traditions and commandments made by men:

Matthew 15:1-9 NKJV – Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER’; and, ‘HE WHO CURSES FATHER OR MOTHER, LET HIM BE PUT TO DEATH.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘THESE PEOPLE DRAW NEAR TO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH, AND HONOR ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME. AND IN VAIN THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.’ “

“Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”

When people teach that salvation cannot be lost, they cause those that believe this to become proud leading to arrogant behavior. This was witnessed in the letter to the Romans. Those Christian Romans started to show their arrogance in how they judged those that lived in sin. Even though they themselves lived in sin because they said to themselves that God would never leave them. Their place in heaven was guaranteed. This is what they were told about this type of mentality:

 Romans 2:1-11 NLT – You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.

As I discussed in podcast #162 (Who are Justified in the Sight of God) I show through a study of the word “favoritism” that it establishes that if God showed an unfair advantage to one group over another, He could not be God.

However, this is exactly what most that embrace false teachings like “grace alone” and OSAS push and believe. Thus, turning them into proud and arrogant people.

It was due to this arrogance that allowed the Pharisees to deride, attack and persecute our Savior Jesus Christ. All out of pride and belief that they were the children of God and could never be kicked out of heaven.

What got them the angriest was hearing that God would not welcome them into heaven. That Jesus called them hypocrites. They knew with this title upon them that they could never enter into heaven, which is why they sought after the Messiah’s death.

They attacked Christ out of fear. Because all they taught. All they had commanded and dictated. All these man-made rules, laws and teachings. All of which went against the Word of God became transparently clear to their minds. They saw their own eternal deaths and separation from God reflected in the look they receive from the Christ, the true Messiah, Jesus the Son of God.

I see it clearly now. For I have seen and experienced this same attack coming from those that have embraced the man-made teachings and doctrines of OSAS and “grace alone” aka “faith-alone” believes. They get angry, they attack out of fear that they have been wrong all this time. That their loved ones that believed and embraced these man-made commandments went to the grave. Not to heaven, but maybe, possibly to damnation.

They do not wish to accept that these verses most likely will apply to their future when they finally stand before Jesus Christ:

Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV – “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Why they fear this is because of what I discussed in the previous podcast I mentioned earlier.

Romans 2:12-16 NKJV – For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

“For not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified.”

Most that embrace “grace alone” and OSAS ignore the laws found within the Bible. Thus, making them hearers of the law. This makes them not justified in the sight of God. This is why these verses exist within the Bible:

2 Peter 2:20-22 NKJV – For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A DOG RETURNS TO HIS OWN VOMIT,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

When people deny these words written within the Bible. When they say that they cannot lose their salvation. They are calling Jesus Christ Himself a liar. Is this not the epitome of arrogance? To see oneself greater than the Word of God and thus greater than their Creator. The same mentality of the Pharisees. A mentality that drove those men to crucify Jesus Christ.

This brings the truth to these words found in Hebrews:

Hebrews 6:4-6 NKJV – For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

They are so blinded by their arrogance and self-importance that they refuse to accept that they have turned their backs upon God. They have rejected their Savior, and for what?

A refusal to accept these verses:

Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Luke 14:26-27 NKJV – “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Luke 14:33 NKJV – So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Mark 10:21 NKJV – Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

1 John 2:15-16 NLT – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

James 4:4-7 NKJV – Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

They refuse to seek their treasures in heaven for they seek after large houses or multiple houses. They still seek after luxury cars which rust away. Their treasures are here in this temporal plain of existence, not with God nor His Son.

They have not placed God at the center of their lives. They place all about them before God, they even place themselves before God. They refuse to spread the Word of God for it is not their place or their duty to do so. They refuse to downsize.

They are told three times in three different Gospels to sell off all their unneeded possessions. To give their wealth away to those in need, especially the poor. For they are all that concerns them. They are all that is important to the world. No others matter.

They only look at the things they see about them. Only care for the things they see. They only seek to please themselves and their desires.

They don’t see they have become adulterers. They don’t realize they are now enemies of God, which means only one thing. They are not welcome in the kingdom of heaven, and this scares them beyond all belief. Hiding this fear behind a facade of arrogance that they are special, elect, select. Not realizing they are not. For they are destined not for heaven, but for damnation.

Repent NOW! Downsize NOW! Turn to God through Jesus Christ NOW! Follow the commandments and teachings found in both the old and new testaments. Spread the Word of God. Don’t do it tomorrow. Repent now. Sell all your possessions you do not need to live to the next day NOW! If you don’t. Do not be surprised that when that second trumpet is blown you find yourself still here. It is your own fault. For you refused to follow the true teachings found within the Bible.

God Bless

Blog for Podcast #156 (Free-will)

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Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

This is one of those things that people just don’t truly understand.

When God created Adam, He placed within this human the ability to use “free-will.” This has been passed down to all humanity. It is the ability to use our minds to decide on our own what we wish to do.

When Eve partook of the tree of knowledge of what is right and what is wrong. It was a test of the very gift given by God to His most important creation of all through His Son. God knew that both Eve and then Adam would fail. God knew that great trials and tribulations that would follow for the billions of lives that were to exist from that moment that he decided to make humanity until the time of the Great White Throne Judgment.

Yet God was still pleased that He created us. God still loved and currently still does love us. It is His desire that each person come to have a personal relationship with Him and His Son. Here is the thing that people wish to ignore due to having “free-will.” Many have convinced themselves that once they are saved and have entered into this personal relation with God and His Son that “free-will” is suddenly gone. It no longer has any affect upon their lives.

Here is the one thing that Catholicism did get right, but their manner of dealing with it actually compounded the problem instead of truly trying to address it through the need of going to confession. By going to confession actually makes people feel they can continue to live in their sin and have no need to be truly repentant.

To be truly repentant means the person must leave the sin behind completely. Is this easy? In most cases no it is not. Why? Because of free-will. Humanity due to the gift of free-will must deal with this gift which at times can be a curse on a daily basis.

Since the gift of free-will never leaves us we daily make choices that affect how we do things. It is though reading the Bible and learning the way that God truly wishes us to live that we teach ourselves a type of discipline in how to control our free-will. This is called self-control. That is why there is reference within the Bible of many that are one with God that then turn their backs upon God due to free-will. Look at David for example. Someone that as a child was beloved by God for his love and his faith in the Creator of all. He becomes the first king of Israel to totally unite the twelve tribes. However, he turned his back upon God and through his free-will lusted after his neighbor’s wife. For the terrace to where Bathsheba bathed could be seen from the palace which was right next door. David then committed murder to hide his sin of adultery. Yet was he not at one time in harmony with God? Did not God bless him and give him the insight as a mere child into how to slay the Nephilim Goliath.

This is the acts of free-will and they can happen after someone is in a true relationship with God and His Son Jesus Christ. As is witnessed in John 15 a person can be of the vine of Jesus Christ. Saved, born-again, yet they can turn their back upon God and bear no fruit in their salvation. God Himself will break off that person’s branch from Jesus and give it back to humanity which will then cast them into the fire which is a simple of the pit of fire where all go that do not truly follow Jesus Christ.

David realized his sins and repented of them as best he could. Bathsheba also repented and from them came Solomon who built the first great temple to God. And from David’s line ultimately came the ultimate salvation which is Jesus Christ.

Free-will is our ally and at the same time it is our enemy due to all knowing what is right and wrong from that fruit that Eve and Adam ate so long ago. Without the knowledge and the teachings of the Bible we are to be tested by our own free-will. How we overcome these tests that our free-will puts us through daily is our ultimate test of our faith and belief in our Creator and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. This is reinforced with the following verses.

Galatians 5:16-18 NKJV – I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Just because we have asked Jesus into our hearts does not mean we can do as we wish and however we wish to live our lives. If we do this we will quickly fall back into the world and our selfish and self-centered desires and wishes. This is why David and his sins as king affected all of Israel. How does our ignoring free-will and the consequences it is causing any better? What ripples are we causing by not following the teachings within the Bible? That is obvious if you listen to the news and look about you at things that are effecting our lives.

This is all the results of free-will and not learning to following the teachings of Jesus Christ that is the Bible.

Matthew 7:21-27 NKJV – “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

I have had a burden on my heart since writing these precious words our Savior spoke nearly two thousand years ago, when I first wrote this as a blog in 2016. What I was drawn too was verse 22:

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?”

Now in particular it is the question of “and in thy name have cast out devils?”

I am reminded of when Christ Himself was accused of being the devil. His answer was this:

Matthew 12:24-28 NKJV – Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.

So here is the key to my point. These people in all honesty will stand before Christ and ask this question of Him and He will respond:

“And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

When we are one with God through the saving grace of Jesus Christ, He Himself made it clear, that we will be able to do anything in His name even to the point of moving a mountain. Consequently, if these people in all honestly in their hearts say that they prophesied in His name, if they cast out devils in His name and did wondrous works in His name per Matthew 12 they did. Why? For they were against Satan when they did it. They were one with God through Christ’s salvation.

Now once again I draw your attention to John 15 and in particular these verses.

John 15:1-6 NKJV – “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

It is made clear in these verses these key points:

First, Jesus Christ in the “true vine”

Second, God His father, is the “husbandman.” Which means he is the one who controls the growth of the vine, His Son, and the Body of Christ which are those that profess He is their Savior and they are born again.

Third is the warning that “every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away.” It does not go to the glory but the warning. Why? To place the emphasis upon the fact that we can be removed. Remember this is Jesus Christ Himself speaking to his disciples. They are His personally chosen and yet He makes it clear that there is a cost for not staying one with Him. Did not Judas learn this?

Fourth is the counsel for those that are faithful and do bear fruit, but with the understanding that by doing so there will be times of trials and tribulation. Why? Not only to strength those that are bearing fruit for God, but also to see if you can handle the pressures that come with this great responsibility. When we show we can overcome and stay faithful unto Christ, God rewards us by causing us to bear even more fruit for His glory than before.

Fifth is the statement of purification and that is reached through knowing the words of Jesus Christ, which is the Bible. This also implies that if you do not maintain insight into Christ through the Bible you can become unclean.

Sixth the statement of commitment. “Abide in me, and I in you.”

Abide – meno – I remain, abide, stay, wait.

Stay in Christ, this implies that we can leave Him, which is a statement of free-will. Christ has made it clear that He would never leave us (Matthew 28:18-20), He never states we cannot choose to leave Him, but as this statement from Him shows it is possible. But He also makes clear in Matthew 28 that we must do this by “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”

Seventh is why we must stay with Christ. “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” It makes it clear that we can ONLY bear fruit if we keep Christ constantly and continually within us every day. Not just on Sunday but 24/7/365. Yet this is not what most do that state they are “Christian.” In verse five Jesus re-emphasizes just how important that we continually keep Him within us constantly and shows that without Him there is no fruit. In fact, he states clearly that without Him in our lives we can do nothing that is precious unto Him.

Finally, Jesus once again returns to the warning. He starts with a warning, and He ends with a warning. This makes it plainly clear that we can loss our connection with Him as is unmistakably spelled out in verse six.

“If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”

This returns full circle to Matthew 7:22-23:

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Therefore, there are those that were saved. They were born again. They let Jesus Christ abide in them. Then through their free-will they decided that the world was a better place for them. They left the word of God behind. They chose to follow creation over the Creator. They chose to follow and be happier with the temporal than the eternal.

Hence even though Jesus loves us and wishes us to stay with Him. People in their free-will can and do reject God and they do not realize it for they will be expecting to get into heaven and will confess the fruits that they once bore for Jesus, but He will turn to them and say:

“I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”

God Bless

You made the baby now what are you going to do? (By the way this is not about giving birth, but about salvation)

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Too many say we need to bring people to God. Why do I say too many? Because they don’t follow through.
So you lead someone to Jesus. They accept Him as their Savior and wish to learn how to be a good and honorable “Christian.”
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
I left the line blank for a reason. For those within the “Church” that just lead people to God and then nothing else is actually walking a dangerous path.
When someone come to accept God they are truly born again. They become a newborn babe to a faith they have no true understand of how it works. Most of the time they are left at this point alone and wondering. How do I know this? This is what happened to me in 1986. I was left to fend for myself. No one was there to lead me down the right path. No one was there to teach me the correct things I needed to do to grow in my faith.
First and foremost no one told me to read the Bible nor taught me how to read it and learn from it correctly. God does not instill this knowledge automatically to you it is the job of someone within the Body to tell you this. Yet most of the time what happens is people are left to try and learn all they need to know on their own.
This is something that needs to change immediately. When people are asked if they wish to have Jesus as their savior the pastor, preacher, priest needs to then say this.
“For those that just asked Jesus into your heart if you could please stay behind so that we can help you in your next steps toward servanthood as a child of God.”
Then a group within the church go one on one with those that did. They offer them a Bible and suggest they get a concordance and other tools that will help them grow. They should at this time also offer a Bible study class for the newly saved so they can learn as a group about their faith.
I have NEVER heard of this ever being done and all I can say is: Why not???

Salvation is not guaranteed – the rebuttal

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re-post
This is a reply I received to yesterday’s post.
“While I agree that the ‘once saved always saved’ theology does not take into account freewill, I also see John saying that he was writing so that believers could know that they are saved. That said, I get annoyed when I see Leviticus 19 quoted as a command to not have tattoos. Why is it we get to pick and choose which commands in that chapter apply to contemporary society? Do you wear clothing that is mixed? Do you know of anyone in Industrial nations who pay their workers daily instead of paying the wages earned out that day? How about the inference that concubines are okay? Or just scales for that matter? Where do we go to determine fair value of goods in relation to the dollar when the dollar itself no longer has backing other than what public opinion sees its value as? The tattoo reference was so that Israel did not mark their bodies as the pagans around them did to worship their pagan Gods. It is the only place in scripture where it is written. Outside of that Jesus will have tattoos on His thighs at His return, right?
“And lastly, yes, there are tons of laws, rules, precepts and commands. Jesus addressed this with the Pharisees multiple times. Obey, but obey because you are in love with God in such a way that you desire to honor Him through doing His commamds. Paul encouraged believers not to be a stumbling block to one another as we work out pur own salvation with fear and trembling. Paul at meat that was sacrificed to idols, or at the least he thought it was okay. It was a direct violation of the laws you desire to be followed. But he goes on to say that he refrains from doing so when it would cause a weaker believer to stumble in their faith.
“Love is the answer, not legalistic obedience. If you are convicted about driving the speed limit then drive the sleed limit. But give Grace to others as they work out their own salvation. Tell them about Paul’s rationale in obeying government authority but don’t try to be the Holy Spirit for them. Peter was faithful in preaching the message but he also fell back on the laws and Paul called Him out for it. But still, preach and give grace as we all are depraved and worthy of death, whether we obey the speed limit or not.”

I feel it is important to make this rebuttal in a more visible manner due to its import upon the topic at hand. I will go through the response this brother in Christ gave to yesterday’s post one point at a time.
I will start with your being upset due to the Leviticus view of tattoos.
You actually answer your own argument. It is a way of separation from the world (2 Corinthians 6:14-17). As I stated, there are those that feel through their tattoos they are venerating their faith and belief in God. However, most that tattoo their bodies do not follow this and furthermost of these get it done as a sign of rebellion. But what is it they are rebelling against? Could it be this?

Romans 12:1 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

My own personal view upon tattoos comes from a different source. I know that I am a teacher as is governed by Ephesians 4. However I know that I also fall within the purview of Acts 2:17:
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.”

I am a dreamer. Thus my name dreamwalker1960.
Now why I mention this:
In a dream I had in the late 1980’s it showed those that were of the lukewarm before the Rapture, but it is a dream set within a post-Rapture timeframe. These lukewarm were all dressed in grey jumpsuits. Chained together like a chain gang. They were being moved in a single file line toward the back of a now ransacked and empty store. You could tell this by the empty and battered shelves and the tattered advertising hanging from the ceiling.
Those forcing the chained people to the rear of the store all had one thing in common. They were all tattooed. This included a twelve your old boy who came running into the area carrying the severed head of a woman by her messed up blonde hair. All those that were covered in the artwork upon their bodies cheered and celebrated.
So to me personally, especially now some thirty years after this dream took place. Seeing tattoos on a massive increase within the population. Mainly due to not knowing God or the teachings within the Bible. I find this increase a sign of the coming Tribulation.

Back to the point that was made of separation between Israel and the pagan nations about them. As I pointed out in Romans we are told to separate ourselves from the world as well.

Matthew 5:14 – Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Is not good works following the teachings of the Bible? The answer is yes.
Part of this separation is by honoring and following, when not superseded by the teachings within the New Testament, those commandments within the Old Testament, as we are instructed to by Jesus Christ.
I have found that if something is not addressed by Jesus or the apostles in their letters it should be adhered too if it is within reason. Tattoos are not directly mentioned in the New Testament, but does fall within what is required of us within Romans 12 and so should be maintained as a sign of separation.
This works into the question that was asked of what applies to contemporary society. This is why reading and coming to understanding the Bible is vital. Especially in this day and age with the onslaught to destroy Christianity and the teachings of the Bible. A sign of which is shown by the increasing popularity of tattooing.
Now does it mention the requirement for clothing in the New Testament? In a way it does:

Matthew 6: 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
We are to live our lives in moderation. For God will provide our needs. Does this mean we are not to work? No it does not. We are not to waste money upon that which we simply need to cover our nakedness. Seeking after luxuries be they clothing, transportation or even our housing is against Biblical teachings both in the Old and New Testaments.
As to wages. We are required to work within Ephesians 6:5-9. The master being our employer, we the slaves. It is due to government regulations which we are to follow under Titus 3:1 and Romans 13:1-5. These regulations state that we are to be paid weekly, bi-weekly and even monthly.
Concubines is covered in the New Testament that a man take only one wife.
As to the fair value of goods. At this time most nations have regulations on how goods are priced. More and more items are being regulated by the government and so a true fair value cannot be seen due to government’s intrusion into the free market. So simply to say a true fair market society for the most part is non-existent.
Obeying the commandments I agree is an act of love toward God. Thus an act of free-will and a coming to understand those that help to separate us from the world. Thus heading us towards a true reflection of Jesus Christ is a major factor of this love. As I stated, God’s love is eternal. However, as exemplified by Hosea, humanities love is fickle and requires renewing and refreshing in various areas and at various times. This is why we are instructed this in 2 Timothy:

4:1 – I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Now it is implied that I am a “stumbling block.” If this is not the case, sorry for misreading. However, here is how I perceive what a stumbling block is.
It is not those that point out the sin and then show you why it is a sin. Then suggest you change your ways. Thus making you become a better reflection of Christ, which is as I see my ministry to be following, and verified by the verses directly above, which you are implying is me acting as “the Holy Spirit.” This is the furthest thing from the truth as is shown above, and is required for all Christians to help their brethren grow.
A stumbling block is when people say “sure go get a tattoo,” which is a conformity to the world. It is when you do not acknowledge that God established a nation’s government and they would prefer to speed about, breaking the speed limit, and if you are not speeding as they do. They come behind you, tailgating you and flashing their lights at you as if you are doing something wrong. Trying to force you to conform to their behavior.

Faith alone, which is love alone is dead. It is an equal balance of both faith and works (James 2:14-26). Works not being legalism, but following the teachings of Jesus Christ which also includes following the commandments. Mistaking following the commandments as legalism is one of the major flaws in today’s society. Works alone without the love for God, which is legalism is dead as well.
As to obeying or choosing not to obey the speed limit, shows your desire through your love toward God as to how you see His Son and the teachings of the Bible. So disobeying the speed limits is clearly stated as disobeying God and thus bears no fruit for God and in time may lead to being removed from the vine that is Jesus Christ, and thus cast into the fire. Obeying the speed limit is one of the easiest way to show your love for God, and serves as a training tool to help you grow in other works through love for Jesus Christ.

So it is up to you how you wish to live your life. Seeking after your own reward and satisfaction within this temporal plain of existence we live within. Seeking after wealth, and luxuries and only seeking to please your own desires. Or do you seek to follow the Bible. Placing God at the center of your life thus following the speed limit and not getting tattoos.
It is up to you how you wish to live out your eternal life that is yet to come. For this life we now live is how our placement in that eternal life is to be determined. By doing works, which are the commandments and teachings within the Bible and doing so out of love for our Savior and His Father we honor and give praise to God in all His glory. This will head us toward an eternal life of joy in the service of God. The other route of seeking only to please yourself, of only thinking God loves you no matter how you live, or outright rejecting God will lead to eternal damnation.
Our goal as Christians is to reflect Jesus Christ not ourselves and is only accomplished through equal portions of faith and works.

Salvation is not guaranteed continued

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This is a topic that is extremely hard for most to even try to accept and attempt to understand. This is due to the fact that most have never been taught this and have only heard of the edification of God’s love for them and that is it.
I will say this. On God’s part, He will never abandon us, see the book of Hosea. However, it is a two sided relationship, just like any marriage. Both must be willing participants. It is we humans that are the problem due to free-will. It is our actions that cause this issue. It is us that causes Salvation to be lost.
So how is it we can correct this? To get into this. I will once again start with the words of Jesus Himself, for we must come to an understanding of Christ role in this marriage.
Matthew 5:17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.”
The main thing that ended upon the cross was the requirement to sacrifice animals, and have burnt offerings upon the altar. Let’s see what else Jesus said:
John 14:15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.”
But what is it we are to follow that is from Him?
Matthew 19:17 “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.”
Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
All of the commandments were not just the Ten Commandments, or as they should have been taught from this moment Jesus spoke these two, thus making them Twelve Commandments. They were the entire book of Deuteronomy.
As I stated above, Jesus removed the need for sacrificing upon an altar to God. However Jesus is making it clear that the lifestyle taught within the latter part of Exodus, within Leviticus and the book of Deuteronomy are still to be practiced. However most at this time refuse to accept and live this way. Thinking that Jesus actually came to abolish the law and the teaching of the prophets. Yet as I pointed out that is the complete opposite, yet millions live their lives as if that were the case.
A prime and very visible example of this is tattoos, the painting of the skin. It is seen as defiling the gift of God, your body.
Leviticus 19: 28 “Do not cut your bodies for the dead, and do not mark your skin with tattoos. I am the Lord”
However within recent decades as the teachings within the Old Testament are ignored and forgotten. The very things that Christ said He came to fulfill and told us in His own words to follow. Mainly due to those in political power creating laws that force God out of the school, which has caused this “art form” to be on a dramatic climb. More and more paint their bodies in direct contradiction to the teachings of the Bible. Some even think this “art form” reflects their faith and belief in God. This is due to the denial of the truth within the Bible.
Not only do people deny the law and the commandments they also deny the teachings within the New Testament as well. Again another prime and very visible example:
Titus 3:1 Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good.
Now this states we are to obey the laws of the nation, and state we live within. As long as they do not go counter to laws within the Bible. The prime and very visible example to which I was referring. Driving on the highways and byways that get us from one place to another every single day of our lives. When a speed limit states we are to go 55 mile per hour. As Christians we are to go 55. Yet you see extremely few that do this, and some of those that do not obey the laws ride up the rears of those attempt to follow the law tailgating them and flashing their lights at them as they attempt to go 55. All of which is against the laws of the land and thus against the teachings within the Bible.
This is why when people live their lives in this manner their salvation is not guaranteed, yet they think they are saved. However their very behavior and actions moves them further and further away from God. They bear no fruit for God, and so stand the chance of being removed from the Vine which is Jesus Christ and cast into the fire of damnation. (John 15)
The only way to correct this is to live our lives as they are taught within the New Testament and the Old Testament, and accept that it is by both faith and works that will help us be Christ like. The works being that we live our lives the way the Bible tells us to live them.

Salvation is not guaranteed, no matter what you may have been told

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Now once you get done laughing and are still here reading. Allow me to explain the title of this article, and since the best place to start this is with the words of Jesus Christ Himself:
Revelation 3:5 – All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.
Now some of you will be saying. What does this have to do with not being assured of one’s salvation? EVERYTHING! Let’s look at the King James:
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”
“and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life,”
First off note the phrasing of the sentence. It implies that Jesus has the power to add and remove the names that are listed within the Book of Life. “I will not blot out.”
Now let’s break this down further.
Blot out – exaleipho – to rub (smear) out, i.e. completely remove (wipe away); obliterate; remove totally from a previous state with the outcome of being blotted out (erased).
To be erased they must have their name placed within it to begin with. Now let’s again turn to the words of Jesus.
John 15:1 – “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5 Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.”
“Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.”
“Anyone who does not remain in me.” This identifies one of the focal points of God’s gift given to all of humanities. That being free-will. It states that we have a choice in our relationship with Christ and through Him, God. It is a true inter-relationship in which each person has a say. However, Jesus will remain loyal, on His part, yet humans do show what is most important to themselves. This goes to teachings within the Bible that states is it not all works, as well as not all faith, but an equal measure of both. This is what allows us to bear fruit upon our branch. However if we go outside of this balance then we no longer bear fruit. Also if we turn away from what the Bible teaches, especially those given by Jesus Christ Himself, then we no longer bear fruit.
This guidance made by Jesus Christ Himself in one of His private teachings to the apostles makes it clear. If you no longer have an interactive relationship with Him, then you wither and die. At this point God Himself removes you from His Son, and you are cast into the fire. The implication of the word “fire” is as one would expect, the fires of hades.
So if you are of the vine of Christ, you are saved. Your name is written in the Book of Life. Then your branch is broken off from the vine, from Christ. You are no longer a part of the body. Your name is removed from the Book of Life. So as you can see, Salvation is not guaranteed.
What is needed by all that wish to be within the vine or to remain within the vine is to learn the Bible and to not just say “I am Christian,” but to live a Christian life and lifestyle. Not just through their words, but their actions. From obeying the speed limit to living not within wealth and luxury, but in moderation. Saving the majority of your wealth and then to give to those in need before yourself. This world, this temporal plain of existence we now live within is not where our minds should be focused, but on God and the eternal life that is to come.

Sometimes we must be harsh

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There are times that we must be harsh, if done with the good intentions of God behind the harshness.
This is why in 2 Timothy 4 we are instructed to reprove, rebuke and exhort.
This is reinforced by Proverbs 13:24 in which it says clearly we are to punish our child for if we do not we in reality hate them.
There are elements within the community that call themselves “Christian” that find being harsh to be wrong. These elements wish to placate and cater to the common mass. To make “Christianity” appealing like it is some social group that is alienating the masses.
Here is the thing. Those that truly understand “Christianity” are not trying to appeal or welcome more in just to get them in the door. That is the act of a social club. We are here to serve God, but by doing so we do it with love and kindness, but from true love there are times when being harsh is needed to make someone realize they are not doing things for God, but for themselves and the world. The two things that any true Christian will avoid doing. For when they welcome the self and the world they usually stumble and fall into sin. True Christians seek to bring people out of the world and out of sin and into the light of salvation that can only occur when people awaken to the fact that only through Christ is this possible.
We must remember that it clearly states that the wide and easy road leads to damnation, and the rough and narrow road leads to true eternal life. If it were easy ALL would make it into heaven, but that is not reality. Being a Christian is not easy, it is a daily struggle to not only address getting rid of major sins but addressing little things that people take for granted yet is still a sin. An example of this is speeding. Most speed, because everyone else is, but this is not what we are told in Titus 3:1 to do. We are to follow these “inconvenient” laws.
Now why did I place the word “inconvenient” in quotation marks? Here is why. It is only inconvenient to you if you think only of your own life. Speeding because you wish to sleep longer or stay up and watch this show or that show or that sports event. These are acts of selfishness, which is counter to the teaching of the Bible. We are to humble ourselves and work within the system, but if the system is counter to the Bible we must work within the system to return it to the Bible. For if the system makes it impossible to be a Christian then it is against God and needs to return to its origin.
Now here is where someone will say that no government is from God, but I will counter with this. All laws are based upon the laws of and the values from the Bible. In recent events these laws have been twisted away from the Starting point. Many here will state this is due to humanity changing and evolving and advancing. I will state then why are they returning to actions and behavior that is documented within the Bible from before the Ark of Noah and was the cause of God’s wrath that the floods came and destroyed that civilization. It was seen in Rome and was called decadent as it should be called now. We are not advancing we are declining in to depravity all of which were originally against the laws based upon the Bible.
These laws were placed to be harsh and to teach people that to sin leads to actions that could result in punishments. These sins are sins that if you were now in the Middle East would result in your death or dismemberments. Yet many in this country praise and cherish those that would kill them. Why? Because it is a way to discredit and dismantle the laws of this land based in the Christian faith.
What many refuse to accept is that Christianity is kinder than those practicing apocalyptic Islam. All we ask is that you give up living in your sin, but they do not give you the option. They just kill you.
Will it be hard to leave major sins? Yes. But when you truly ask Jesus to be our Savior then it will happen. We will leave the major sins in our lives behind. Will we completely eliminate them? Most of the time yes, but time to time will we stumble and fall, because we are merely human. But here is the kicker. When we do this sin we will feel regret and sorrow. It will bring us anguish and pain, but from it we will become stronger in our faith and belief in God and strive harder not to stumble again. Then we will see the lesser sins and change that in our life. Each time we will step closer and closer to God. Each time a more pure image of Jesus Christ. For that is the ultimate goal, even though it may hurt and may have been harsh.
2 Corinthians 7:8 I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. 9 Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. 10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

P.S. btw that is 2nd Corinthians not Two Corinthians.