Salvation</title</head> <body bgcolor="339999"><center> <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript" src="//ad.broadcaststation.net/ads/show_ad.php?width=728&height=90"></script> </center>  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-4KX380T5BD"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-4KX380T5BD'); </script>  <geoads></geoads>   <center><font size ="7" color="red" face="comicsans"> Does God Exist?</font></center> <pre> Does God Exist? We believe in God because we exist. The world around us only proves the existence of an almighty Creator. "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). If our existence is not enough to convince the agnostics or atheists that God exists, then there are ten reasons why they should change their mind. These ten important truths are: Love. Has any scientist explained clearly the nature of love? Unless he loves truly, a scientist cannot tell what love is. If he knows how to love, he can only explain it by experience and not through the microscope or telescope. Does he deny the existence of love? If he believes in love, how can he fail to believe in God? "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in Him." (I John 4:16) "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." (I John 4:7-8) Conscience. There is a universal law in us that enables us to tell the right from the wrong. We call them conscience. We feel guilty when we commit a sin or offend someone. According to the Bible, even those who have not heard the Gospel have the requirements of the law written in their hearts. (Romans 2:15) Knowledge. We are God's superior creation, and a proof of this is our ability to assume, theorize and think on our own. We are free to analyze our own existence and think about eternity. Some of us are even questioning the existence of God. The Bible knows this and warns the people against falling into the same trap. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and their ways are vile. (Psalm 53:1) Many people had denied the existence of God in the past but all of them are now forgotten. "The wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish." (Isaiah 29:14) The Bible. The Word of God is contained in the Bible, which explains the wonderful truth about creation, existence, love, joy and holiness. "By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of His mouth." (Psalm 33:6) Despite the publication of many books about the big bang theory or the theory of evolution, God keeps His Word in the heart of the believers. "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord." (Proverbs 21:30) Written two thousand years ago, the Bible is still a bestseller today. "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8) Scientific Truths. While the Bible speaks of spiritual truths, it also conveys truths that can be observed by human senses and understanding. Foremost of these truths is the Bible's description of the universe. "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." (Psalm 19:1) Before Galileo was born, the Bible was already comparing the stars in heaven with the sand on the seashore. (Genesis 22:18) The Bible also revealed that the earth is circular and the universe is expanding. "He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in." (Isaiah 40:22) Israel. The Old Testament in the Bible had documented the history of Israel from Abraham to the 12 sons of Jacob (12 tribes of Israel). Beyond recording the events in Israel, the Bible had precisely foretold the future of Israel and the world. First, the Bible talked about the destruction of Jerusalem, and the spread of the Jews around the planet. We know how Israel was overtaken by other countries and how the Jews fled their homeland to seek refuge in other countries. We know how the Nazis tried to annihilate the Jews and we know how God miraculously saved them and brought them back to Israel. Before this happened, the book of Zechariah was already conveying this prophecy. This is what the Lord Almighty says, "I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God." (Zechariah 8:8) Population. If the claims of scientists that men have been living on earth for millions of years now were true, then the earth's resources should have been depleted a long time ago. It would take only a few thousand years for men and women to fill the earth with their children. For example, a very old man named Abraham who lived about four thousand years ago was the father of many nations. "And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore." (Hebrews 11:11) Of course, if it were not for wars, calamities and plagues, the earth would have run out of space for humans. The first year of Jewish calendar was 3760 B.C. Progress. It is hard to imagine how a chaotic disorder like the big bang would result in orderly concepts like democracy or how a loud explosion in the stars would eventually cause music. How is it that humans appreciate beauty and are able to create arts if existence really began as a disaster? Life on earth is a process, growth or progress. From an infant, a human becomes an adult capable of reasoning and doing things. "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 in part) The fact that men live in harmony with nature and that we desire progress in every thing - from resources and recognition - is a manifestation that Someone is in control. In the Book of Colossians, Paul referred to Jesus Christ as the Son of God who controls all things. "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:15-17) Time. Scientists do not believe in eternity, because they explain things according to their sensory experience of the world. Their observation is mainly confined to the physical world where time seems to dictate everything. They deny God because they think that time has a beginning and an end. The book of Genesis, the first book in the Bible, says: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." There is eternity because there is God. He is "from all eternity." (Psalm 93:2) "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8) Spiritual Truth. Apart from our sensory experience of the world, men also live in spiritual truths. The joy that poor people have when worshipping the Lord is brought about by their recognition of these truths that are revealed to them by the Holy Spirit. Scientists who analyze things according to their sensory experience of the physical world are not able to see the spiritual truth. "For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18) Only those who have accepted the grace of salvation offered by Jesus Christ can recognize and embrace these truths. "We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." (I Corinthian 2:12-14) Aside from the ten truths mentioned above, there are a million reasons why we should believe and glorify God, the One who created the universe and put man on top of all His creation. He was there before time began and will be there after the end of the universe. "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." (Revelation 4:8 in part) God oversees all things. "From heaven, the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place, He watches all who live on earth." (Psalm 33:13-14) "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:17) To those who continue to deny God's existence and doubt His Word, the Bible contains these verses: "The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know." (I Corinthians 8:1 in part). "The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the Word of the Lord, what kind of wisdom do they have?" (Jeremiah 8:9) To find wisdom, let us approach the One who is the source of our existence. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5) We must understand, however, that in order to understand the Word of God, we have to know and embrace the fundamental truth - that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came down from heaven to die for our sins and give us eternal life. Jesus said: "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the Good News." (Mark 1:15 in part) Bible verses were quoted from the New International Version (NIV). Is Jesus Christ God? Jesus Christ is "God over all" (Romans 9:5). Like Peter's response, when asked by Jesus who people say the Son of Man is, we say "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!" (Matthew 16:16) By calling Jesus Christ the Son of God, we proclaim that He is God. Before He was crucified, the Jews tried to kill Jesus Christ because "not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God" (John 5:18). As the Son of God, Jesus Christ is God. "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful Word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven" (Hebrews 1:3). "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority" (Colossians 2:9). Jesus Christ is "the Word of God". (Revelation 19:13 in part). The apostle John said that Jesus was with God the Father in the beginning. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made" (John 1:1-3). "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (Hebrews 1:14). God the Father has spoken to us by His Son, "whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe" (Hebrews 1:2). Jesus Christ is "the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End" (Revelation 21:12). "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8). Like His Father, Jesus is God. Jesus said "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30). Even before His birth on Earth, Jesus Christ already is. "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" (John 8:58). "No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made Him known" (John 1:18). "Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9 in part). "Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing His work" (John 14:10). In his prayer to God the Father, Jesus asked: "Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began" (John 17:5). God the Father, Himself called Jesus Christ God. "You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set You above Your companions, by anointing You with the oil of joy" (Hebrews 1:9). Paul, the first missionary, called Jesus as the image of God. "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:15-17). The mystery of God has been explained by Paul in his letter to the Colossians. "My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely: Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). Even before Jesus assumed a bodily form on earth; Jewish prophets had predicted His coming. In the Old Testament, the prophet Daniel in his vision saw Jesus Christ as "one like son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven". "He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed" (Daniel 7:14). The prophet Isaiah said: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6) As God, Jesus is "the Lord of lords, the King of kings" (Revelation 17:14). Jesus Christ lived and died as a man but resurrected to sit at the right hand of God the Father. After seeing that Jesus Christ was alive in bodily form after His death on the cross, Thomas, one of the 12 apostles, referred to Him as "my Lord and my God" (John 20:28). The apostle John, in explaining why he wrote his book, said: "these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:31). In his letter to Titus, Paul spoke about "the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all the wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good" (Titus 2:13). Why did Jesus Christ come down to earth as a man? Here is the truth. Man began to sin against God when Adam and Eve violated God's command not to eat a forbidden fruit. They were driven away from the paradise, which also speaks about man's fall from the righteousness of God. Such fall caused us our death, not only in bodily form but also in our spiritual standing. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came down to earth as a man without a sin, and offered himself as a sacrifice for our own sins. "For Christ died for sins once and for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God" (I Peter 3:13). "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). "He was pierced for our transgression, He was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5-6). Paul asked Christians to adopt the same attitude as that of Jesus Christ, "who in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!" "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:6-7). Jesus Christ will come again on Earth, this time to bring salvation to those who believe in Him. "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him" (Hebrews 9:27-28). The great news is that this salvation is not exclusive to Paul or the Jewish people, but can also be obtained by all people who believe in Him. "Remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision". Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:11-13). Jesus Christ, therefore is the only way to salvation. "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Jesus said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). "No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also" (I John 2:23). "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12). Salvation from sin is a pure grace from God, and no amount of human effort can bring us closer to God. "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy" (Titus 3:5 in part). Paul said: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). This life in Jesus Christ is eternal. Jesus said: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die" (John 11:25-26). The Bible warns that if we continue to live our old life in sin, we will get the punishment that we deserve. "See, the day of the Lord is coming - a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger - to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it" (Isaiah 13:9). Paul said that when Jesus Christ returns to Earth, "He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of His power" (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). Jesus wants to dwell in your heart. Jesus said: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne" (Revelation 3: 20-21). "I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:1). Bible verses were quoted from the New International Version (NIV). Which Religion is True? Many religious sects today are claiming their exclusive right to Heaven. For fear that they may be shut out from God's kingdom, some people join these groups to take their chance. Amidst the proliferation of sects telling different versions of the Gospel, how can we know which one is teaching the truth? First of all, it must be said that none of these sects will bring us to Heaven. Only through Jesus Christ can we avail of "our citizenship in heaven" (Philippians 3:20). The apostle John explained that Jesus became the atoning sacrifice not only for the sins of a few, "but also for the sins of the whole world" (I John 2:2). Jesus Christ offers this citizenship to anybody who is willing to allow Him in. "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne" (Revelation 3: 20-21). Not all people are willing to accept this Gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4). Many religious leaders distort the Gospel to agree to their own teachings for several reasons. "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit up their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths" (2 Timothy 4:3-4). There are those who teach false doctrines and those who devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies (1 Timothy 1:3). There are also those who distort the Word of God (2 Corinthians 4:2) and peddle the Word of God for profit (2 Corinthians 2:17). And there are those who rely on their own wisdom. The apostle Paul preached "not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power" (1 Corinthians 2:4). Paul warned against relying on our own strength for God's ministry. God's work is by faith (1 Timothy 1:4) and not through our abilities. How can we know if these religious leaders peddle lies? One way is to watch their motives and actions, for what the Gospel teaches is righteousness. "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." (James 3:17) As a general rule, we can avoid false doctrines by not going beyond what is written (1 Corinthians 4:6). Fourteen questions can be used as a guide to determine whether a doctrine diverts from the Word of God. (The Bible provides the complete guidelines.) 1. Does it manifest the glory of Jesus Christ as the Son of God? The apostle John, in explaining why he wrote his book, said: "these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:31). Paul: "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6). Paul: "My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely: Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). 2. Does it manifest the love of God? (John 13:34-35) Jesus Christ: "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35). John: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:7-8). John: "This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loves us and sent His son as atoning sacrifice for our sins" (I John 4:9-10). John: "If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have no love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have a faith that can move mountains but have no love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have no love, I gain nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). John: "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers" (I John 3:14). 3. Does it manifest the holiness of God? Paul: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Paul: "It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is our righteousness, holiness and redemption" (I Corinthian 1:30). Paul: "Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace" (2 Corinthians 1:12). 4. Does it manifest the power of God? Paul: "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power" (1 Corinthians 4:20). Paul: "Remember this: For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength" (I Corinthian 1:25). 5. Does it manifest the wisdom of God? Paul: "For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (I Corinthians 1:21-24). Paul: "We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned" (I Corinthian 2:12-14). 6. Does it manifest the grace of God? Paul: "In love, He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will - to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves" (Ephesians 1:5-6). Paul: "Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:4-5). Paul: "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy" (Titus 3:5 in part). 7. Does it manifest the fruits of the Holy Spirit? Paul: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Galatians 5:22). 8. Does it manifest the transforming power of God? "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17)! 9. Does it manifest faith as basis of salvation? John: "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12). Paul: "For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" (Galatians 5:6). Paul: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). 10. Does it warn against sin? Paul: "There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them" (2 Timothy 3:1-5). Paul: "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God. Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God" (I Corinthians 6:9-10). Paul: "He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of His power" (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). 11. Does it command obedience to God? Jesus Christ: "If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching" (John 14:23-24). John: "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands. This is love for God: to obey His commands" (1 John 5:1-3). John: "We know that we have come to know him if we obey His commands. The man who says, "I know Him," but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in Him. This is how we know we are in Him. Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did" (1 John 2:3). John: "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity in him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth" (I John 3:16-18). 12. Does it endorse spiritual maturity among believers? Paul: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). Paul: "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers" (1 Timothy 4:16). Paul: "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14). 13. Does it exhort believers to share the Gospel with others? Jesus Christ: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" Matthew 28:19-20. Paul: "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him" (2 Corinthians 2:14). 14. Does it express joy in waiting for the Lord? Paul: "Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God" (1 Corinthians 4:5). "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him" (Hebrews 9:27-28). Paul: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Invitation Jesus Christ says: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne" (Revelation 3: 20-21). If you have not yet accepted the love of God in Jesus Christ His Son, we invite you to open your heart, confess that you are a sinner and receive His gift of salvation. Below is a suggested prayer: God, the most high, I praise You with all my heart. Forgive me, Lord, for the sins I have committed against You and the people around me. I confess that I am a sinner and could not do anything by myself to reach your righteousness. I am humbled by Your love. Though I deserve death, You love me so much that You sent Your Son Jesus Christ to die for my sins instead. From now on, I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and claim the salvation that He offers to me. I allow Him to dwell in me, so that I will always keep Your decrees in my heart. Let me live as a new creation, with love in my heart. Let me love with actions and in truth, as Jesus Christ loves us, to the glory of God in the highest. Amen! Friends, if you want to know more about the life offered by Jesus Christ and the wonderful things that He has done for us, we invite you to join us in our worship service every Sunday at Emmaus Bible Fellowship Center in Mandaluyong City. We would also be glad to conduct Bible studies at places near you. 1 John 3:1 "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God". Bible verses were quoted from the New International Version. We Belong to One Body Encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ to hold firm in their faith is a grand mission and I would like, in all my sincerity, to become a part of such an undertaking. I intend to do it not because I was told to, but because I know in my heart that as a member of Christ's flock, it is my responsibility to be involved in the church. It is quite ironic that I, who used to avoid all kinds of attachments, would this day exhort others to firm up their attachment towards one another in the name of our Lord, God and Savior. It must be noted however that this change of attitude in me was brought by the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and by the continuous exhortation by other members of the church. I hope that this article would be perceived as something more than my own contrivance. I do not pretend that I am an expert on the subject of encouragement nor do I pronounce my own opinion on the proper attitude of the church. In fact, I would only recount the previous messages of our pastors on the topic about the church, with the hope of refreshing our memory and reviving our commitment first towards our Lord Jesus Christ and second to one another. On the night of March 28, 2002, I was baptized in water as a member of the Emmaus Bible Fellowship Center. This I gladly did as my public proclamation that Jesus Christ is my Lord, God and Savior and to pronounce my allegiance to the local church. As a member of the church, I now consider myself as a unit of the body of Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 12:12) and standing firm in one spirit (Philippians 1:27). As a member of the church, I belong to one body, which is Jesus Christ's and to all the other members. In the church, God gave each member a gift to prophesize, serve, teach, encourage, contribute, give, lead or show mercy (Romans 12:4-8). As much as I can, I try to serve in the church by little things I am capable of. The members of the church meet together in worshipping God and in encouraging one another to hold on to their faith until the coming of the Lord, which gives hope and joy to our hearts. "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24-25) We know that early Christians "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer" which they did everyday with glad and sincere hearts. (Acts 2:40-47) Today, we have the chance to meet at least every Sunday, and what a joy to see each other belonging to one body! One purpose of meeting together is to remind each one not to follow the pattern of this world. "See to it brothers that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the Living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first." (Hebrews 3:12-14) The following verses encourage the members of the church to manifest the fruit of our salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:1-2 in part) Being a new creation, we demonstrate the virtues of Jesus Christ. The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23) "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death." (I John 3:14) "Therefore as God�s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And overall these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." (Colossians 3:12-15) "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:2). In closing, I join our pastor in asking each member of the church, including myself, to encourage one another and find joy in meeting together for the glory and praise of our Almighty God! Below is a suggested prayer: God, the most high, I praise You for Your Holiness and Great Love. I thank you for giving me a chance to become a part of Jesus Christ's body, despite my sins and shortcomings. Forgive me, Lord, for having other opportunities aside from joining our brothers and sisters in worshipping you every Sunday. Help me Lord to become an active member of the church, encouraging our brothers and sisters toward love and good deeds. Let me put on the virtues of love, humility, peace, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, kindness, faithfulness, self-control and cheerfulness so that I can be an effective witness to my brothers and sisters in Christ and to those who have yet to obtain the full knowledge of Your salvation. This I pray in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen! Bible verses were quoted from the New International Version (NIV) of the International Bible Society Forms of the Word of God (I) Go to Part II The discussion at hand should be framed as such: Are there two forms of the Word of God? One form of the Word of God, is the scriptures and would be manifest in a variety of ways. These means would of course be written by hands and read by eyes of the flesh, as well as audible wavelengths that are enunciated by mouth and heard with ears of the flesh. These all happen in this first creation. Let us call this the Physical Word. The other form is a spiritual speaking of God and a spiritual hearing by his elect. This happens unknown in this earthly realm. Let us call this the Spiritual Word. Both forms are from God and are true. The scriptures support both forms. Before going any further, let me immediately remove one topic from discussion on this matter. We must advocate that the only revelation and authority that comes to a believer while he lives in this first creation in the flesh, is the Bible. To believe that the word is spirit does not mean one has any tendencies found in the charismatic world. We also are commanded by God to proclaim the things of scripture to all in the world. This position being examined by Zin Yi on his recent Bible studies is one that both he and I heard someone speak about 2 years ago. Like many who are hearing it recently, we too felt uncomfortable about it. However we heard a mixture of some statements that were untrue as well as some that were true. The true statements that we heard have caused us to discuss and ponder many scripture since that time. Many of the verses that I went to disprove this teaching would be the ones that many hearing it now will also bring to the forefront. However by considering them without trying to defend a position that we have held for a long time, they might not be the ones that can be used after all. When I post a letter on the LR, I always endeavor to make my points in as brief a manner as I can. I like to �keep it simple� But as many realize, this subject may take more than one posting. The subject reminds me of the issue of baptism. For those that believe that water baptism has substance, there appears to be many verses to support their position. However, after prayerful consideration and critical examination, we can show that the real substance is spiritual and independent of the physical. The physical is a shadow of the spiritual. This letter is how I see things and may or may not be an accurate representation of what Zin Yi is teaching. I am more than willing to be corrected. If you want to know exactly Zin Yi�s teaching, go to zinyi.com. Now I would like to show that the scriptures reveal a spiritual form of the Word that speaks directly to our spirit. This is not a dream or voice in our head like a charismatic person would want. Rather there is a direct Spirit-to-spirit communication going on unbeknownst to us in the flesh. Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: This verse shows a direct Spirit-to-spirit link between God and his elect. This is not even something that we realize is going on. The only way that we know that it is happening is because we read it in the scripture. The reason that we believe the things of the Bible is because we are saved. Further in this chapter of Romans we again see that there is a communication of the Spirit that is not perceivable in this earthly existence. Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Another example would be during the rising of Lazarus. Jn:11 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. In this dramatic resurrection of the physically dead, Jesus is demonstrating the resurrection of the spiritual soul. He very plainly shows us that the �physical words� being enunciated from His mouth were not needed, but were for the benefit of those in the flesh. He thanks the Father for hearing Him spiritually! This Spiritual Word is seen in this verse: �hearing by the word of God�. (Ro 10:17b) This Spiritual Word is what gives the elect their hearing, and it works completely independent of the Physical Word. Christ tells us Himself that this Word that saves is spiritual in John 6. Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. To me this verse unequivocally shows that the saving word is spiritual, and is not dependent on the physical. This verse is not showing that the words being enunciated from his fleshly body are spirit. We know this because he is saying the flesh profits nothing. If the source of His words (His flesh) profits nothing, then the physical words don�t profit anything either. He is making us aware of the unseen Spiritual Word. Another way to show that the Spiritual Word is the true substance and separate from the shadow, the Physical Word, would be to demonstrate with the following. 2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. In other words, the things of this first creation are not going to last. That would include written words on a page as well as the audible wavelengths that come from the enunciations of our mouth. They will all be done away with at the arrival of the new heavens and new earth. That is why the Physical Word cannot be spiritual, it then would be temporal. The word has to be eternal in order to have the following verse to be true. 1Pe 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. The written word is the shadow of the eternal Spiritual Word that saves. This really should not be a strange statement. The Physical Word is not Christ; it is what tells of Christ. Christ illustrated that truth himself. Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. Lk 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. They testify of Him, they are not He. Think about all the verses that show the importance of the Blood of Christ. 1 Peter 1:9 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: We all know that we are not redeemed by the physical blood of Christ, but recognize that the verse is pointing to the spiritual death of Christ. Likewise when Christ was saying His words were spirit, he was not speaking of the physical, but the unseen eternal spiritual. We all know that there can be two men who hear a perfect and accurate preaching from the Bible, but yet one can become saved and one will remain in unbelief. What was the difference in the man who was saved? Most of us would say that the Spirit of God was active. We then understand that the difference was a spiritual one not of this earthly creation. I also used to think that somehow God would �apply� the Physical Word to that man�s heart. How would this happen? Why would the Holy Spirit go from being spirit and somehow attach and intertwine itself to these audible wavelengths? Then what? Convert Himself back into spirit so that the elects �spiritual ears� could hear the Spiritual voice of God? How are physical words applied to a mans heart (his soul)? What about the following verse. Joh 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. When did Christ call my name? Does anyone remember hearing Christ call his name? Are the scriptures exaggerating? No they are true, there is a Spiritual Word heard only by quickened spirit, unbeknownst to us in our flesh! Ro 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: Go to Part II HOME Bible Internet Radio, w/ Live Q&A Has God Saved You? Forms of the Word of God (II) Go to Part (I) Go to Part (III) In the discussion that the Spiritual Word not Physical Word saves us, there is more that needs to be addressed. When I first rejected the concept that we are saved by the Spiritual Word independent from the Physical Word, I immediately thought of many verses that I thought would show that we need to be in the environment of the Physical Word. I would like to look at two of those and explain what I think they truly mean. However there is one Biblical principal that has to be set forth. That is, there are two parts of our salvation. The first being our soul is saved in this first creation at the moment the Holy Spirit indwells us. The second part of our salvation happens when we receive our glorified spiritual bodies on the resurrection of the last day. I think that most reading this are already familiar with this, but let us establish this with scripture. The best place I think shows these two salvations is in John chapter five. Jn 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. Jn 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. Jn 5:25 says the hour is coming and now is. Because it �now is� that means it is already happening now. This could only be referring to when we become saved. The dead are those who are spiritually dead and now are spiritually alive, His elect. This matches Eph 2:5-6, talking about our salvation. The voice they hear is from the Spirit of God. Eph2:5-65 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Jn 5:28-29 would be on the last day when our mortal bodies are transformed and caught up to be with our soul that is present with the Lord. The unsaved mortal bodies are likewise appointed to stand for Judgment. This matches the following: 1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. Joh 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. This truth of two parts of our salvation is also seen in the following verses. Ro 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The verse shows a future salvation for someone who is already a believer. To be a believer means that we are already saved in our souls. The future salvation is when we receive our glorified spiritual bodies on the last day. 1 Peter 1: 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Again the context has in view the return of Christ, and those in view are saved individuals. But it shows a future salvation, the one that is due on the last day in the new heavens and new earth. Now that we have that principal established we need to keep it in mind as we look at some verses. Remember that I said when I first heard this idea of salvation apart from the Physical Word (the shadow) by the Spiritual Word (the substance), I immediately thought of some verses that show we need to be in the hearing of the Physical Word. Here they are. Rom 1:16 � For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Doesn�t this dispute what I am saying? The gospel preached (Physical Word) by Paul a man, saves. But look at whom it saves, �one that believeth�! Are we to admit that the free will doctrine is correct? The tense of this word �believeth� shows that it is something that is accomplished already. So we can�t say that the believing and Salvation happen simultaneously. Well what this truly means is that this verse is explaining what the scriptures do for someone who has already been saved - Someone who has been quickened by the word that is spirit, independent from the Physical Word. Now that this believer is saved, God is exposing him to the scripture to guide him unto (future) the salvation that comes on the last day. How about this verse: 1 Cor 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. Notice in this verse the preaching of the Physical Word is not power to save someone, but it is power to someone who has already been quickened by the word that is spirit. So what we learn is that the scriptures are for us to use while we exist with the outer man (Rom 8:22-23). It is what guides us in the doctrines we are to believe and encourages us to mortify the deeds of the flesh. This is why a true believer knows that election is true, he reads about it and it confirms something that feels correct because the Spirit lives in him. The scripture is not to save a soul, but to complete �the man of God� who is already saved. 2 Tim 3:66 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Tim 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. This is what Christ is showing in the parable of the sower and the seed. He identifies the seed as the word of God and the ground as people receiving that word. Lu 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. This shows that there is a �physical word� of God. I can say that because it did not have an effect on the man receiving it. If we were to say that Christ the Spiritual Word was in view here then we would be saying that the devil is able to �take away� Christ. Now we know that this couldn�t be true, so we know that this seed represents the Physical Word, the scriptures. Lk 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. Now the person that it did have a positive effect on was described as �good ground� This is extremely important to note. It was not the seed that made the ground good, it was the good already! Lk 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. This person was already saved when he heard this word. The word is the same word that the devil had taken away, so it was not the Word that Is Spirit, Life and truth. It was not the Word that saves! This word was the scriptures that can never be anything more than a shadow of the substance, the Spiritual Word that had already saved him. Then when he was exposed to the scriptures as a believer still living in this world, it had a positive effect on his life here. They testify of Christ, they are not Christ. If we say they are Christ then we say Christ can be taken away by the devil. Ps 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Go to Part (I) Go to Part (III) HOME Bible Internet Radio, w/ Live Q&A Has God Saved You? Forms of the Word of God (III) Go to Part (II) If we think that Christ is equating the scriptures (Physical Word) to now be transformed into a spirit form, (based on Jn 6:63) then we have to consider something. Jn 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. What do we have to consider? Based on the logic that this verse means that words enunciated from ones mouth can become spirit, we would have to agree with the Catholics that the bread and wine they dispense are actually the same as the body and blood of Christ. Please look at the following scripture that they use. Lk 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. Here Christ Himself is holding the bread and wine and says about the bread �this is my Body� He holds the cup and equates it with his blood. If you are going to use Jn 6:63 as proof text that scripture is equal to the Word that is Spirit, then you have to agree with the Catholics view of the communion service. They have as much scriptural basis using this logic to make this claim that the wine and bread they serve is indeed Christ Himself! Did you know they call the bread the Eucharist? They believe that it is the very sacrificed body of Christ that they hold in their hand and eat with their mouth! If it is dropped on the floor they will actually pull up the floor because Christ has touched the floor and made it holy! But you know better based the teaching of the Bible in whole. You understand that the bread and wine are a shadow of the substance, Christ himself. Even the penalty itself that Christ paid was a spiritual one. It was not the death of His flesh and blood; it was something far more real and substantive. His very soul! Mr 14:34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. We do not have life in the scriptures, we have life in Christ! Of course the Word became flesh, Christ had to become man. It was mankind�s sin and a man had to pay the price. But God is spirit. In eternity Christ and his elect will have none of the things of this world. We will not have the testimony of Christ, we will have Christ Himself! Re 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. Re 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. The scriptures are true and of God, they testify of Christ but they are not Christ. Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. What must the believer do? (See Q8-10) HAS GOD SAVED YOU? Q1. I sometimes wonder if God has saved me. If He truly has saved me, how would I know? A. If you are a child of God, you will come to realize this blessed fact as you read God�s word the Bible: The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. (Romans 8:16) Both in doctrine (what you believe) and practice (what you think and do), you will fit more and more the Bible�s description of a true child of God: And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. (1 John 2:3) If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15) �as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence�. (2 Cor. 8:7) You will also find that you are happiest living according to the whole Bible: I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:8) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above�Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:1a, 2) If God has saved you, you will find definite, fundamental changes in yourself. Further, these changes, or �fruits,� will not be temporary, but permanent, and always growing. You will humbly recognize that even though you rightfully deserved hell, Jesus Christ, in His great mercy and love, has done all the work required for your salvation. Consequently, you will live a life that praises and thanks Him for your salvation. You will grow to love God�s word more and more, and also find that you have a strong desire to share this wonderful message of salvation with any and all. This is the opposite of how you would be, if you were not saved. �Saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. (Isaiah 66:2b) Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (1 Peter 2:1-3) �How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Romans 6:2) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: (2 Corinthians 5:17) Before salvation, we all love our sins because we are slaves to sin: Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant [slave] of sin. (John 8:34) Thus, if you are saved, you will find that you hate your sins. After all, the Bible says that every sin is against our most holy God � �Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight�� (Ps. 51:4a). If you truly are saved, this means that God, in His love for you, elected you and decided to have Jesus Christ suffer eternal damnation on your behalf - for every sin you would ever commit. He then gave you a new soul and eternal life at some point in your lifetime. This salvation that God works can never be undone and man has no say in the matter. God saves those whom He wishes to save: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Ephesians 1:4) I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. (Romans 9:15) If you are not saved, these are some of the statements that apply to you: The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. (Psalms 11:5) The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD .... (Proverbs 15:9a) It is good to remember that if you are not saved at this very moment, God may still be pleased to save you before the time of your death or His return. Talking to one of the thieves crucified with Him, Jesus said, �Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise� (Lk. 23:43). Q2. But I am not wicked. How can these verses apply to me? A. Only absolute perfection can be pleasing to God: Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:48) When God saves a person He never again will see that person�s sins. The saved are �perfect� in His sight. However, an unsaved person (we ALL begin unsaved) is very much guilty before God. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; (Isaiah 64:6a) The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9) For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (James 2:10) Q3. If I am such a wicked person in God�s sight, what will God do to me? A. The Bible teaches that at the end of the world all the unsaved will come under eternal punishment in a place called Hell. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:15) � the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (2 Thess. 1:7-9) �the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night�. (Rev. 14:11a) Q4. That is terrible! Why would God create Hell? A. Hell is terrible, and it exists because God�s perfect justice demands payment for sin. Further, God originally created man to be accountable to Him for his actions. For the wages of sin is death�. (Romans 6:23a) But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (Matthew 12:36) Q5. If I am saved, will I escape hell? A. You will never face God�s judgment, if God, in the person of Jesus Christ, became your substitute and bore the punishment of eternal damnation for your sins. Amazing as it may seem, God Himself came to earth as Jesus Christ to bear the wrath of God, the Father, for all His people. But he was wounded for our transgressions�bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him� with his stripes we are healed. (Is. 53:5) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Q6. If I believe in Jesus Christ, am I saved? A. Yes � if indeed God has caused you to believe (that is, have faith) in Him. Faith is the result of salvation, not something anyone can do for salvation. Thus, true faith, along with other good works, is seen as a real fruit in the lives of those whom God has already saved: And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. (Acts 13:48) �the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith�. (Gal. 5:22) For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ�to believe on him�. (Philippians 1:29) Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee�. (Psalm 65:4a) And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (Ezekiel 36:27) Q7. Why does God appear to command us to do good works (like �ask,� �seek,� �knock�), if there is truly no work that we can do for our salvation? A. Today, through the Bible, God still demands from man perfect obedience as He did with our first parents, Adam and Eve. However, one purpose of His word, or Law, is to expose unsaved man�s corruption and inability to obey the perfect Lawgiver from the heart. Thus, those whom God saves, as they face His Law�s demands, come to look to God with thanksgiving. This is because God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, called the second Adam, came to stand between His eternally chosen people and God the Lawgiver and Judge. Jesus did this to satisfy all the demands of God (ask, seek, knock, believe, etc.) perfectly, on His people�s behalf. In fact, Christ is the ONLY ONE Whose works are acceptable to God as payment for the sins of the people He saves. Man�s works, as �filthy rags� (Is. 64:6), are merely offensive to God and have no place in the miracle of salvation: �Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet�For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. (Romans 7:7, 9) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ�for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name [except Jesus�] under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) Q8. Can we know how near we are to the end of the world? A. Yes. God�s judgment has already begun on the churches, and is leading to the Last Day judgment, which will take place upon the Lord Jesus� return. We are in the time of the Great Tribulation right now. The Bible focuses entirely on the churches of the world as the arena of the great tribulation. It is a time of a famine of the true Gospel of the Bible alone (Amos 8:11, 12), a great increase in �signs and wonders,� and the overall �falling away� of the churches (2 Thess. 2:3). Indeed, the �Lord is at hand� (Phil. 4:5b): For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God�. (I Peter 4:17a) For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name. (Jeremiah 25:29a) For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be�For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders�. (Matthew 24:21, 24) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2 Timothy 3:1) 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; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Timothy 4:3, 4) Q9. How does God judge the churches and why? A. The churches are judged for their long-standing and repeated rebellion against God�s word. In His judgment, God completely gives the churches over to their lusts, using Satan (the Abomination of Desolation) and his false prophets (the �armies,� Lk. 21:20), who come with false doctrines and lying signs and wonders (dreams, visions, tongues, falling backwards � 2 Cor. 11:3, 4, 13-15; 2 Thess. 2:9-12; Rev. 20:7-9). Indeed, Satan, the �son of perdition,� is allowed of God entrance into and rule over the churches: And it was given unto him [Satan] to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: (Revelation 13:7a) �the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (2 Thess. 2:3c, 4) Yet another traumatic aspect of the great tribulation is the complete withdrawal of God the Holy Spirit from the churches, just as He departed from the apostate Old Testament assembly: Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them�so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us? (Deuteronomy 31:17) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he [the Holy Spirit] who now letteth [restrains] will let [restrain], until he [the Holy Spirit] be taken out of the way [midst]. (2 Thessalonians 2:7) It is important to understand that the beginning of the great tribulation marks the end of the church-era testimony of the �two witnesses,� who represent the sending forth of the Gospel: And when they [the two witnesses] shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. (Revelation 11:7) However, following a time of silence, the two witnesses stand once again �upon their feet� (v. 11). This indicates that God�s great work of saving His elect continues right up to the Last Day, but that this work is altogether outside the churches, through individual believers and ministries. Q10. If the churches are under judgment, what then should I do? A. As these notable prophecies come to pass, the Bible commands all believers to flee the churches: O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem�for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction. (Jeremiah 6:1) When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place�Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: (Matthew 24:15, 16) And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. (Lk. 21:20, 22) �Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. (Rev. 18:4) In these verses, �Jerusalem,� �Judea� and the �holy place� refer to the �great house� (2 Tim. 2:20), the earthly churches of the world. The �her� also points directly to the church as God now exposes her spiritually adulterous nature (Rev. 17:5, 6, 18:22-24). The invisible, eternal church - �Jerusalem which is above� (Gal. 4:26), that is, the �heavenly Jerusalem� (Heb. 12:22) - is the Church that Christ came to build (Mt. 16:18), the Bride �not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing� (Eph. 5:27), and consists only of those whom God has eternally saved, those who will live with Him forever in heaven (Rev. 21). We should, if possible, fellowship with other believers (Heb. 10:25), but no longer in or as the New Testament church having structure biblically ordained for the church era � elders, deacons, the ceremonial ordinances (water baptism and the Lord�s Supper) and membership. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. </pre> </body>  <div id="footeraddiv" name="footeraddiv">Hosted by www.Geocities.ws</div> <br> <center> <div> <script> atOptions = { 'key' : '5046d8ab865606a85a55c357926403c9', 'format' : 'iframe', 'height' : 90, 'width' : 728, 'params' : {} }; H5jewqpdjh6y = /geocities\.ws$|geocities\.ws\/$|geocities\.ws\/index\.php|geocities\.ws\/archive|geocities\.ws\/search|geocities\.ws\/terms-of-use\.php|geocities\.ws\/terms-of-service\.php|geocities\.ws\/about\.php/i; t38193jfrdsswdsq = document.URL; H5jewqpdjh6yfound = t38193jfrdsswdsq.search(H5jewqpdjh6y); if (H5jewqpdjh6yfound == -1) { document.write('<scr' + 'ipt type="text/javascript" src="//violentenclose.com/5046d8ab865606a85a55c357926403c9/invoke.js"></scr' + 'ipt>'); } </script> </center> </html> </object></layer></div></span></style></noscript></table></script></applet><script language="JavaScript" src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mc/mc.js"></script><script language="JavaScript" src="http://us.js2.yimg.com/us.js.yimg.com/lib/smb/js/hosting/cp/js_source/geov2_001.js"></script><script language="javascript">geovisit();</script><noscript><img src="http://visit.geocities.yahoo.com/visit.gif?us1256623476" alt="setstats" border="0" width="1" height="1"></noscript> <IMG SRC="http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=76001548&t=1256623476&f=us-w3" ALT=1 WIDTH=1 HEIGHT=1>