Sunday, April 27, 2025

TWO SPIRITUAL LAWS

There is no escape. You will either be judged according to the binding legal statutes set forth in the Old Testament ... or by obedience to that which the Lord offers in the New

The Mosaic Law revealed the standard by which we could live in fellowship with our Creator. But our inherited 'sin-nature' has made that covenant impossible to keep ... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ provided a new way ... The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. (Hebrews 7:18-19)

Paul contrasted the two ... For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)

The Holy Spirit brings His law into our hearts and minds. As we yield to His sanctifying work, obedience becomes the evidence of our relationship with God through Christ ... We who were dead in trespasses and sins have been made alive. (Ephesians 2:1)

The power associated with 'the law of sin and death' has been dealt a death blow by the Son of God ... 

It can no longer claim you.
It can no longer condemn you.
It can no longer control you.

The 'law of the Spirit of life' is all about Grace. 


 

Saturday, April 26, 2025

'RIGHTEOUSNESS' VS 'HOLINESS'

In a Biblical context, righteousness refers to being in 'right standing' with God, while holiness signifies being set apart for His service and living in a way that reflects His character. 

Think of it this way: 

A runner standing at the starting line of the Boston Marathon has been declared worthy to compete by successfully finishing another sanctioned 26.2-mile race in a qualifying time. 
 
'Righteousness' is like his rightful position in that elite group of athletes ... an established, unchanging, identifying marker.    

'Holiness', on the other hand, represents his dedication and devotion to what happens after the gun goes off. The runner's focus is on monitoring his pace, fighting fatigue, and finishing strong. It is not 'static' ... but 'active'. 

Righteousness is the condition of being 'morally excellent' ... 'justification'. 
Holiness is the process of working out that 'moral excellence' ... 'sanctification'.

In the mind of a Christian, these can seem like impossible 'ideals' demanded by the Lord. But thankfully ... we are not left to our own devices. 

When we trust in Jesus’ finished work on Calvary's cross, we are forever cloaked in His righteousness ... God made Him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21) 

But what about this verse? ... Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)

Like righteousness, 'holiness' is a gift from God. It is a 'progressive' change that comes from His indwelling Spirit ... transforming you into the likeness of His Son. 

The promise ... He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

Understanding 'righteousness' and 'holiness' reveals how faith works. They represent what and who you are in the eyes of God; hidden in Christ, justified, and sanctified. 




Friday, April 25, 2025

THE COST

Romans used the cross as a tool to publicly humiliate, torture, and kill those who would speak against Caesar. For Jesus to refer to it as the cost of discipleship must have stunned those who heard His words. He wanted them (and us) to understand that death to 'self' is necessary for 'life in Him' ...  

Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. (Mark 8:34-35)

We must relinquish the right to be our own boss. That is not a 'one-time' event, but an 'everyday' surrender ... 

If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross DAILY, and follow Me. (Luke 9:23)

For someone to say 'I am a Christian', yet clings to the self-centered moorings of this world; that man's religion is vain ...  

And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 10:38-39)

Jesus' conditions for saving faith:

1. 'Deny yourself' - This does not mean to piously abstain from 'things'. It is instead abdicating the throne and placing Christ there as Lord. He is to become the reason behind every thought, word, and deed. 

2. 'Take up your cross' - For a 'dead man walking', sin's power to corrupt has been removed. A devoted walk of faith will be 'despised and rejected of men' ... expect the ridicule and abuse associated with bearing the cross. 

3. 'Follow me' - You are no longer to dictate where, when, and how you will serve Jesus Christ. Self-willed plans fail to establish His kingdom; He leads you where He will and realizes Himself in you for His glory. 

Claim this verse as your own ... I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

An undeniable truth ... 'Salvation is the free gift that costs us everything'.



Thursday, April 24, 2025

THE END-TIME DECEPTION

There is an ominous warning for believers who live in the days leading up to Jesus' triumphant return ...

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (Matthew 24:24)

'Religion' has become Satan's weapon of choice in the fight for men's souls. We are witnessing a fraudulent 'Christianity' captivate those who would fall prey to seducing spirits. According to Scripture, false theology will appear 'trustworthy' because of accompanying 'signs and wonders'. 

Demonic forces will have the ability to perform supernatural acts through these 'false prophets'. But they are works of deception ... not demonstrations of the true power of God. 

The enemy hopes to ensnare even those chosen by God (the very elect). But the parenthetical phrase 'if it were possible' strongly points to the fact that our salvation is not tenuous

Jesus ensured ... I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

This 'end-time deception' is strong, the miracles seem real, and the intent is to mislead everyone ... including the elect. 

But God's grace will prevail; the chosen ones will not be drawn away ... 

His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5)

All who are in Christ have been predestined, called, justified, and will one day ... be glorified. 



Wednesday, April 23, 2025

FERVENT PRAYER

The word 'fervent' means ... vehement or impassioned. The King James Version of the Bible uses it to describe heartfelt supplications that bring results.  

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16)

Who is this 'righteous man'? 

Every 'blood-bought' believer qualifies ... for we are considered 'positionally' righteous (justified) at the moment we receive the gift of salvation, and 'experientially' righteous (sanctified) as we continue to be transformed into the likeness of Christ.

But James 5:16 also reveals a spiritual prerequisite. A 'clean slate' must be secured first ... Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. 

Some Bible scholars interpret the word 'healed' as pertaining to physical illness. Others understand it to mean ... restored from feelings of discouragement and spiritual weakness. In either case, it requires two things: confession of sin and prayer for others. 

In today's culture, 'vulnerability' is something we avoid. The church would be much healthier if Christians would bare their souls and pray for one another. 

James asserts that neither the eloquence nor the forcefulness with which one prays determines 'effectiveness'. Rather, it is the prayer of a righteous person that is impactful. David learned ... If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear. (Psalm 66:18)

To 'regard iniquity' is to treat evil as something worth protecting. We are to root it out ... If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) 

The body of Christ is made up of believers who strengthen one another's faith by being candid concerning their failings ... and fervent when it comes to interceding for the brethren. 



Tuesday, April 22, 2025

IT'S NOT COMPLICATED

Organized religion corrupts the Gospel of Jesus Christ by adding denominational articles of faith that muddy the Message ... But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:9)

Paul warned the early church to steer clear of teachings that complicate salvation ... Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1)

God's redemptive plan is profound in scope, yet simple enough for a child to understand. 

The Bible reveals ...
1. Your hapless spiritual condition before a holy God.
2. That which took place on Calvary's cross.
3. How deliverance from sin's penalty is received.
 
Now ... Clear your mind of any preconceptions concerning what it means to be a Christian and allow Scripture to speak to you personally. 

First, know that you are not alone ... All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) Confessing that you are a sinner allows remorse to consume your thoughts. A desperate search for relief ensues, readying the soul to hear divine truth. 

It comes in the form of 'Bad News' and 'Good News' ... For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23) That which is 'earned' versus that which is 'given'; eternity hinges on it

You have absolutely nothing with which to negotiate ... For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Jesus Christ paid a debt He did not owe, releasing you from a debt you could not pay.  

Oh, how He loves you ... God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) Your blackened soul did not prevent Him from creating a way of escape. 

Here lies the unadulterated truth; don't reach beyond its simplicity ... For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16-17) This is a 'promise' that has no caveats and cannot be broken. 

You may find that reading those passages has stirred something within. Know that it is Jesus knocking at your heart's door. He is lovingly beckoning you ... Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

Don't hesitate, dear one ... Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Express your faith by praying to the One who welcomes you with open arms ... 

Lord, forgive me. I know that I am lost in sin and that I cannot save myself. I believe that you are the only begotten Son of God, that you bore my iniquity on Calvary's cross, and that the grave could not hold you. By faith, I receive the gift of salvation and surrender my life to your Lordship.

Assurance is yours ... If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

Christianity is an 'intimate relationship' with God, not a 'manmade religion' that keeps Him at arm's length. 

 
                         

Monday, April 21, 2025

FIGHT, FINISH, KEEP

Shortly before he was martyred, Paul penned this moving testimony as he reflected on his apostleship ...  

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7) 

The Good Fight -

Paul was relentless. He knew who his enemy was and refused to succumb to the forces of evil ... For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)

As followers of Christ, we're considered soldiers in the same ongoing battle. It is the reason we are admonished to ... put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)

The Race -

Paul had accomplished what he set forth to do ... I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - testifying to the good news of God’s grace. (Acts 20:24)

We are to see our spiritual pilgimage as a test of endurance ... Lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us. (Hebrews 12:1)

The Faith -

Paul was unwavering in his commitment to the Gospel and told Timothy to protect it ... Guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge. (1 Timothy 6:20)

Our relationship with the Lord depends on it ... Without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Even though Paul knew that his death was near, he had no regrets. As believers in Christ, we should do as he did: 'Fight the good fight', 'Finish the race', and 'Keep the faith'. 

Serve the Lord with all your heart.



Sunday, April 20, 2025

IT'S SUNDAY

S. M. Lockridge was the African-American pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego, California, from 1953 to 1993. This particular sermon started softly, then increased in volume and intensity until the entire congregation was involved

It’s Friday. Jesus is arrested in the garden where He was praying ... 
But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. The disciples are hiding and Peter is denying that he knows the Lord ...
But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is standing before the high priest of Israel, silent as a lamb before the slaughter ...
But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is beaten, mocked, and spit upon ...
But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Those Roman soldiers are flogging our Lord with a leather scourge that has bits of bones and glass and metal, tearing at His flesh ... 
But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. The Son of Man stands firm as they press the crown of thorns down into his brow ... 
But Sunday's Coming.

It’s Friday. See Him walking to Calvary, the blood dripping from His body. See the cross crashing down on His back as He stumbles beneath the load. It’s Friday ...
But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. See those Roman soldiers driving the nails into the feet and hands of my Lord. Hear my Jesus cry, “Father, forgive them.” It’s Friday ... 
But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, bloody and dying ... 
But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. The sky grows dark, the earth begins to tremble, and He who knew no sin became sin for us. Holy God, who will not abide with sin, pours out His wrath on that perfect sacrificial lamb who cries out, “My God, My God. Why hast thou forsaken me?” What a horrible cry ... 
But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. And at the moment of Jesus’ death, the veil of the Temple that separates sinful man from a Holy God was torn from the top to the bottom because ... Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, Heaven is weeping, and hell is partying. But that’s because it’s Friday, and they don’t know it ... 
But Sunday’s coming.

And on that horrible day 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, the only begotten Son of God, the only perfect man, died on the cross of Calvary. Satan thought that he had won the victory. Surely he had destroyed the Son of God. Finally, he had disproved the prophecy God had uttered in the Garden, and the One who was to crush his head had been destroyed ... 

But that was Friday.

Now it’s Sunday ... and just about dawn on that first day of the week, there was a great earthquake. 

It's Sunday ... and the angel of the Lord is coming down out of heaven and rolling the stone away from the door of the tomb.

Yes, it’s Sunday ... and the guards posted at the tomb to keep the body from disappearing were shaking in their boots.

It's Sunday ... and the lamb that was silent before the slaughter is now the resurrected lion from the tribe of Judah, for He is not here, the angel says. He is risen indeed.

It’s Sunday ... and the crucified and resurrected Christ has defeated death, hell, sin, and the grave. 

It’s Sunday ... and now everything has changed. It’s the age of grace, God’s grace poured out on all who would look to that crucified lamb of Calvary. Grace is freely given to all who would believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary, was buried, and rose again. 

All because ... it’s Sunday.

At the end of the message, the pastor shouted: It’s Friday!
And the whole congregation responded: But Sunday’s Coming!

'Friday' represented Betrayal, Denial, Cowardice, Hate, Suffering, Despair, Defeat, and Death. But 'Sunday' symbolizes Victory, Help, Hope, Healing, Love, Joy, and Eternal Life.

Hold on to Sunday, pilgrim.



Saturday, April 19, 2025

COURAGE

Throughout Scripture, we are told to fear not, be of good cheer, and have courage; three admonitions that have the same meaning ... 'be bold and confident'. 

It is not natural for man to be brave and courageous when circumstances appear dire. But the Lord doesn’t say 'fear not' for no reason; there is always a divine purpose. Our relationship with Him is defined by it ... 

He never abandons His own ... Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

Patience is rewarded ... Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)

God not only acknowledges your faith, but reinforces it ... Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. (Psalm 31:24) 

You are precious in His sight ... Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31)

Christ's promise to His followers ... Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)

Courage comes from abiding in His love ... There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear. (1 John 4:18)

Though perilous at times, your walk of faith is secure ... These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Learn to be confident, courageous, and of good cheer because of God's promised care for you (that which is absent in the lives of those who reject the Gospel).  

F B Meyer - Any stone flung by a chance passer-by may break the crystal clearness of the Lake of Peace and send disturbing ripples across it ... unless we have learned to trust in the perpetual presence of Him who can make and keep a “great calm” within the soul.

Trust that the Lord has foreknowledge of every situation and complete sovereignty over it. God is omniscient and omnipotent, therefore ... His perfect will cannot be thwarted. 



Friday, April 18, 2025

EMOTION

God created us as emotional beings. 

Love, joy, happiness, guilt, anger, disappointment, sadness, fear, and disgust are all cognitive reactions to something (or someone). They represent strong feelings, typically accompanied by physiological and behavioral changes in one's body.  

Spiritually mature Christians learn to manage their emotions (rather than allowing their emotions to manage them). 

For instance, displaying 'out-of-control' anger over a situation reveals that one's flesh is on the throne. We are instructed to live differently than those who don't know the Lord ... So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God. (James 1:19-20)

When you 'walk by faith and not by sight', your emotional reactions to any stimuli should cause you to pause, determine the 'why' of it, and align your thoughts with the Savior ... Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5) 

We should thank the Lord for our ability to feel emotions. They help define what it means to be a living soul made in the image of God. 

We are to steward them as a precious gift ... Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)

Emotions can be a great source of encouragement, a way to grow in love toward others, and a reflection of what you value in life. The Book of Psalms is full of emotional cries from David's heart ... and God heard every one.  




Thursday, April 17, 2025

THE SENT ONE

The Gospel of Jesus Christ begins with His deployment by the Father. The mission: rescue mankind ...

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. (John 3:16-17)

These oft-quoted verses confirm the pre-existence of Christ. Before He became a man and walked upon the earth, Jesus was the Second Person of the Trinity and the Creator of the universe ...

In the beginning was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (John 1:1-3)

At an appointed hour, Jesus became 'The Sent One' ...  

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons and daughters. (Galatians 4:4-5)

Scripture details four of Christ's duties ... 

1. He was sent to reveal God's character: 
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

2. He was sent to crush Satan's agenda: 
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)

3. He was sent to do away with Sin: 
He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness. (1 Peter 2:24)

4. He was sent to show us how to live: 
He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. (1 John 2:6)

God sent His Son into the world, and the saved are eternally grateful. At the end of His ministry, Jesus was able to tell His Father, 'I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do'. (John 17:4) 

Mission accomplished.



Wednesday, April 16, 2025

UNREQUITED LOVE

Most Christians think that the greatest thing to have is 'faith'. Scripture appears to agree ... for without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

But if faith is not inspired by a love for God, it invariably becomes an unsteady commitment. That is why we are admonished to ... love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (Matthew 22:37)

To obey that 'first and greatest' commandment, you must recognize God's love for mankind and apply it personally ... We love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ reveals how deep, steadfast, and unconditional it is ...

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)

It is an 'even if' ... not an 'only if' kind of love. 

Let it never be said of your spiritual journey that God's love was 'unrequited'. It should be considered 'ground zero' when it comes to your faith ... take it in, soak it up, and allow it to flow out to others. 



Tuesday, April 15, 2025

GOD BECAME A MAN

According to Scripture, Jesus came in the 'likeness of men'. Our salvation depends on the fact that His incarnation was complete in every way. The Son of God was 'fully human' and thus qualified to bear the sins of a lost and dying world ... 

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Christ's 'humanity' did not countermand His 'divinity'. Our finite minds struggle to understand how He could be wholly man and wholly God at the same time. Yet, it was His dual nature that made redemption possible ... 

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

In order to be mankind's Savior, Jesus had to be born under the Law and perfectly obey it on our behalf ...  

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17)

The only way that Christ's obedience could be credited to your account was for Him to pay a debt He did not owe. On Calvary's cross, He willingly exchanged His righteousness for your iniquity ...

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

The Lord gave His life to redeem all who would ever believe in Him. Without the 'incarnation', this would have been impossible. Christianity is defined by it ... 

Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. (1 John 4:2-3)

Jesus came in 'human' flesh, experienced 'human' frailties, and shed 'human' blood for your sin ... this is the foundation upon which the Gospel rests.



 

Monday, April 14, 2025

A MATTER OF URGENCY

Repentance is the first step toward a saving relationship with God; a 'change of mind' that brings a 'change of direction'.

The single, most important message to every lost human being is ... Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. (Acts 3:19)

This divine directive is meant to be taken with a sense of urgency. The Bible reveals several reasons why putting off the decision to repent is more than just 'ill-advised' ... 

1. When the Holy Spirit convicts you of your sinful condition; the soul is most receptive at that moment. If 'Someday, I'll repent' is the response, eventually your conscience becomes seared ... Today if only you would hear His voice, do not harden your hearts. (Psalm 95:7-8) 

2. Though you assume you'll live to a ripe old age, death can happen at any time and the opportunity to repent will be gone forever ... Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1)

3. There exists a point of 'no return'. The Lord will eventually concede your dismissive attitude and stop trying to bring you to repentance ... And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God or consider Him worth knowing, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do things which are not fitting. (Romans 1:28)

4. Remember, there was a time when the Lord shut the door of the ark and judgment fell upon the souls of the 'unrepentant'. End-time prophesies are unfolding before our eyes and according to Scripture ... As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. (Matthew 24:37) 

Given the fact that hell exists for those who reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ, why would anyone delay repentance? ... Behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2) 

As long as your lungs continue to take in their next breath, the invitation remains. But please ... do not live presumptuously. 

Repentance is an 'urgent matter'



Sunday, April 13, 2025

THOSE WHO FALL AWAY

The following passage from God's Word seems to argue against the 'once saved, always saved' doctrine that born-again Christians hold dear ...

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. (Hebrews 6:4-6)

There are two distinct interpretations concerning the spiritual status of the people being addressed here, the latter of which agrees with the overall Gospel message: 

True believers who commit apostasy and forever lose their salvation ... negating the precept that Christ saves 'to the uttermost' (1 Thessalonians 2:16)

Counterfeit believers who have a 'form' of godliness and eventually return to the 'mire' ... always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:7)  

Adrian Rogers - These aren't saved people who've lost their salvation, but people who came up to the 'brink of salvation'. After they've known the truth and nibbled at it, with eyes wide open they say no to God, refuse Christ, trample beneath their feet His precious blood, and as it were, crucify Jesus again. In so doing, they commit a greater sin than those who nailed Jesus to the cross of Calvary. 

The perseverance to not fall away isn't a 'condition for salvation'; but the 'evidence of it' ... For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm to the end. (Hebrews 3:14)

Eternity with the Lord begins the moment you receive Christ as Savior, not when you leave this world ... I give (present tense) them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. (John 10:28-29)

Once you've trusted Jesus ... He will never let you go. 



Saturday, April 12, 2025

PAUL'S STUNNING DECLARATION

Though he was called by God to be the apostle to the Gentiles, Paul was heartbroken over his compatriots ... the Jews. The rejection of Jesus as their promised Messiah weighed on his conscience, for he too had been an enemy of the cross at one time.

It caused him to write ... For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh. (Romans 9:3)

The idea that he would trade his own salvation for Israel's acceptance of the Gospel, brings to mind the willingness of Jesus to die in our stead ... Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [paying the price to set them free from the penalty of sin]. (Matthew 20:28 Amp)

Spurgeon - I have sometimes felt willing to go to the gates of hell to save a soul, but the Redeemer went further, for He suffered the wrath of God for souls. After that manner He loved. 

Paul's burden for Israel so pained him that he felt relief could only come through sacrifice. He never thought about his unbelieving brethren, without unimaginable sorrow. 

The apostle was living out the edict issued by Christ ... Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

This mindset is much different from that of today's 'believer'. The plight of the lost doesn't bring tears to his eyes. Their fate is often seen as deserved and unalterable. 

When we truly abide in Christ, our hearts can't help but weep for those who don't know Him.  




Friday, April 11, 2025

DECISIONS ... DECISIONS

Christians have been equipped to honor the Lord in all we do. He did not leave us to flounder ...

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Decisions you make in this life will either be based on human reasoning or the divine directives set forth by God. 

Every 'fork in the road' should be surrendered to the Lord's will: 

1. Pray for wisdom ... If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5)  

2. Use Scripture ... Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105)

3. Exercise faith ... Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You can be led on a wonderfully secure and fulfilling pilgrimage. Discernment comes through sanctification ... Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
 
The journey that we're on each day
Has many roads to choose;
But if we trust the Lord to guide,
Our way we cannot lose.

Take advantage of the Light, sojourner. 




Thursday, April 10, 2025

UNCONFESSED SIN

When a Christian refuses to 'come clean' after he commits a sin, his fellowship with the Lord is broken ... Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. (Habakkuk 1:13) 

The guilt that causes some to run to God for forgiveness ... makes others hide from Him. The 'accuser of the brethren' paints sin as an unbridgeable chasm you've dug between you and the Lord. The truth is ... sin is a dark curtain pulled over the window of your soul. The 'sun' is still there, but its warmth and light have been blocked by 'unconfessed sin'. 

Repentance pulls the drape back ... If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

If you are a true child of God, you cannot lose your salvation. But if sin continues to go unconfessed, your heart can become calloused. The love, joy, and peace that come from an intimate relationship with Christ are replaced by the cares of this world and the pride of life.

Choose instead to regularly come into His presence ... Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

Spurgeon - We might well have trembled if we had been bidden to come to a throne of justice; we might have been afraid to come to a throne of power alone, but we need not hesitate to come to the throne of grace. 

Don't trample underfoot that which took place on Calvary's cross by harboring 'unconfessed sin'. 




Wednesday, April 9, 2025

THE BATTLE WITHIN

The oft-quoted phrase 'We have met the enemy, and he is us' was published by Walt Kelly in his Pogo comic strip dated, April 22, 1971. (having to do with man's negative impact on the environment)

It unwittingly describes the 'battle within' every Christian believer. The 'sin nature' we inherited from Adam stubbornly camps in our mortal bodies until we're home. 

We know Paul as a devoted servant of God. His profound impact was 'second to none' in Biblical history, yet he penned this heartrending confession to the early church: For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is ... in my flesh. For the willingness to do good is present in me, but the doing of good is not. For the good that I want to do, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want to do, I am no longer the one doing it, but the sin nature which lives in me. (Romans 7:18-20)

This great Apostle described that inner conflict as an ongoing war he is losing day by day ... I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (Romans 7:21-23)

No matter how long you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you'll never be completely free from the pull of sin. Guilt and shame come with every faltering step and we, like Paul, cry out in despair ... O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (Romans 7:24)

The Answer: 

Jesus ... who is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)

Jesus ... I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)

Jesus ... the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

While we wait for that blessed day, the Bible gives us this admonition ... 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. (Galatians 5:16-17)

We have met the enemy, and he is us. But ... one day very soon, the 'battle within' will be over forever. 

Hang in there, pilgrim.




Tuesday, April 8, 2025

VOCATIONAL MINISTRY

Every believer has a role in the Body of Christ, but how do you know if you're called to 'vocational' ministry? (i.e. pastor, missionary, evangelist ... supported by the church) 

Take time to carefully examine your motive: 

  • Do you truly feel this call is from God or is it simply a personal aspiration? 
  • Is it an attempt to live up to someone else’s expectations of you?  
  • Are you trying to make up for something? 

Public ministry should never be entered into lightly. God holds spiritual 'leaders' to a higher standard ... Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (James 3:1)

We can learn a great deal from Isaiah. Standing in the Lord’s presence, he was made aware of his sin and unworthiness to serve God ... Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips. (Isaiah 6:5)

He subsequently underwent a cleansing that prepared him for the Lord's divine commission. When God asked 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' ... a grateful and enthusiastic Isaiah did not hesitate, 'Here am I, send me'. (Isaiah 6:8)

For the rest of his life, he faithfully served the One who had forgiven and saved him.

If God has truly called you to vocational ministry, He will equip you and fill you ... so that your life may be poured out for others. The following benediction reminds us from Whom all blessings flow ... 

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21)

Be courageous as you step out by faith, 'called one'.