GOD THE SON’S ROLE IN OUR SALVATION

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During Jesus’ earthly ministry, the disciples were always concerned with where they’d be ruling in the coming Kingdom, but Jesus told them that they had it all wrong. Here is the Living God, Jesus Christ; the omnipotent God, telling them that: 

“even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

They thought like most of the world thinks; the greatest person is the one with the most servants, but Jesus flips that on its head, saying that:

“whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.” Mark 10:44

The Apostle Peter could not be clearer about how Jesus Christ brings salvation to the sinner. Peter says, 

“that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold.” 1 Peter 1:18

All the wealth in the universe would not be sufficient to redeem even one sinner. It took the shed blood of Jesus to redeem us. There was absolutely no other way.

“the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” 1 Peter 1:19

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:6-7

“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:27-28.

Salvation was achieved by Jesus shedding His blood at His first coming to earth but at His second coming Jesus completes the task by resurrecting the dead Saints and the rapture of those that are alive with glorious new bodies.

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it, we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” Philippians 3:20-21

JESUS CHANGES EVERYTHING

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Cold-Case Detective Jay Warner Wallace declared the Gospel changed everything for him, particularly how he addressed every person he came across, including criminals. Great story.

How Wallace saw the world and his role in it changed dramatically when he came to faith in Jesus.

By watching this video you will also learn a lot about other religions and how those religions that existed before Jesus have been modified to include Jesus in some way at least as a wise teacher. The religions like Islam that have arisen after Jesus also include Jesus in some way. No one has had an impact on the world like Jesus whether it be on art, music, education, even on religions.

Everyone wants Jesus on their side. Satan is the master deceiver so by including Jesus in these religions he gives them some credibility.

“NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT BY ME” JOHN 14:6

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Jesus said to him (Thomas), “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. John 14:6

“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” Colossians 1:16

Only the one “by whom” and “for whom” all things were created could “take away the sin” that destroyed the first creation  and bring in a “New Creation“.

There is only one KEY to open the Kingdom of Heaven for lost humanity. It is found in only four words “JESUS IS THE CHRIST“. He who was “in the beginning with God” and “was God” became a man to take away “the sin” that entered into the world through the first man Adam.

“You know that He appeared in order to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning.” 1 John 3:5-6

There are many Scriptures which show that because of the holiness of God there is only one way our Heavenly Father could restore humanity. Moreover, it would reveal the extent of His love for us. He was prepared to ask His only son to become a man, Jesus, to live a sinless life, so He could die in our place and thereby offer us redemption from our sins (our rebellion against God and His ways). Such a sacrifice on our behalf, and all our Heavenly Father requires of us, is to acknowledge and repent of our sins and embrace His son, Jesus, as our Saviour and Lord.

Jesus is the KEY to restore us, and once we repent and accept Him as our Lord and Saviour, our Heavenly Father sends the third person of the Trinity, The Holy Spirit to indwell our Spirit. We cannot be holy without the Holy Spirit, our body becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit. Notice that all three persons of the Trinity are involved in our Salvation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PREPARE FOR PERSECUTION AS YOU STAND ON THE AUTHORITY OF GOD’S WORD

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Paul provides the model of how to behave in the dark days ahead and how to finish strongly. Jesus told us that in the “last days” the love of many will grow cold. There will be a great falling away in the church (Apostasy), even the elect deceived.

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Note many friends will leave you as they did Paul, “Demas in love with this present world has deserted me.” If you are doing God’s will, many will harm you as they did Paul “Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm”. In fact, Paul says, “no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me.” BUT Paul also says, “the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the (GOSPEL) message might be fully proclaimed and all the gentiles might hear it. 

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up 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 loved his appearing.
Do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. At my first defence no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:6-18

FOR CHRISTIANS & JEWS, VICTORY IS NOT TOO DISTANT

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In a few days, we will be celebrating the Feast of Trumpets, and Jews—along with a growing number of Christians—will gather together to observe this biblical holy day.

On Rosh HaShanah, a prayer called Avinu Malkeinu (Our Father Our King) is recited. Yet His Kingship is relegated only to the His ability to forgive His people. He is much more than a forgiver; He is a redeemer and deliverer. He is strong in mighty and strong in battle. This shofar blast is not simply to call us to repentance. It is to remind us of why we are called to repentance. It is a reminder of what comes after repentance: victory.

Defeat is swallowed up by victory. This, in essence, is what the sound of the shofar should do for those hearing it.

For Israel, the King is coming with His army (Saints) to bring total victory against their enemy. Every year when the shofar blasts on Rosh HaShanah, their hearts are reminded that with every year that passes, the King riding upon His white horse is getting closer and closer and one day soon they will hear the Great Shofar sound and the enemy will be vanquished.

For Christians, we are reminded that our King will appear with His angels in the clouds to gather the elect at the Rapture. We also get to ride with our King, to deliver Israel, and defeat the enemy. For both Israel and Christians, Rosh HaShanah is not intended to remind us of our defeats; it is intended to keep us watching for His deliverance as we are set free.

The GOSPEL is as much Jesus Second Coming as it is His First Coming. There are more prophecies about Jesus Second Coming and The Day of the Lord than there were about His First Coming. The Pharisees and Sadducees did not get His First Coming and sadly the church is asleep about His Second Coming. In the Olivet Discourse Jesus tells us to WATCH and gives six signs to watch out for prior to His coming on the clouds with His angels to gather His church. We are in the “last days” when these signs are beginning to manifest.

Rapture: Case Closed?: Enhanced Edition by [Walters, Nelson]

Let me give a plug for Dr Nelson Walters book Rapture case Closed? It does a great job of revealing when the Rapture will take place.

A special edition of this book has just been sent free to a thousand Christian leaders in the USA in an effort to alert the church to coming prophesied tribulation.

Christians will not be on earth when the wrath of God is poured out, but the big question is, when is the wrath of God poured out on the earth. Nelson shows clearly that the wrath of God is poured out in the trumpet and bowl judgements.

Yes! Christians will be on earth during the tribulation and will see the Antichrist. Get the book, you will be glad you did.

SIN DESTROYS BODY, SOUL & SPIRIT

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When we are silent about our sin and shortcomings, our bodies and souls suffer. What begins as intentional minimising of sin turns into blindness to both the sin and its effects. Our view of ourselves is skewed. We begin to say, “This is just who I am.”

Sin not only damages our connection to God, but our connection to others.

When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. Psalm 32:3

David learned this firsthand when he tried to cover up his sin with Bathsheba. When the prophet Nathan confronted David, the cure for sin’s poison was revealed. As we confess and repent, God welcomes us back. Although the consequences of our choices remain, God’s forgiveness and the penetrating light of His truth bring life and restoration to our souls and relationships.

God’s arrows of affliction are sharp and painful so He can get our attention. He won’t let His beloved children get away with sin because He knows it robs us of blessings, opportunities, and even character refinement.
Charles Stanley

Sadly, the world increasingly, by denying the existence of God, has no concept of the eternal consequences of SIN – separation from their Creator forever, i.e. HELL. Likewise, they don’t recognise that God has provided the solution to the SIN problem (rebellion against God and His Commandments) i.e. JESUS, God’s own Son. Nor will they repent of their SIN, acknowledge His sacrifice on their behalf and let Him be Lord of their life.

The Bible provides the only history of this universe that makes sense of what we see in the world today. The initial SIN of Adam and Eve brought death, pain and suffering into what once was a perfect world. God has provided one way back into a renewed relationship with our heavenly Father – JESUS.

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

“Therefore, I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” John 8:24

Will you reconsider? Your eternal destiny hangs in the balance.

AMUSING OURSELVES TO DEATH

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Whether it is video gaming, television, Netflix, internet or sports—we  love mindless escape, as we hang out in various worlds of non-reality, as often as possible.

Ratings, views, tweets and sales are the barometer of success in our media crazed-culture. Advertising dollars and high-value sponsorship’s flow toward enterprises that attract the largest audience and demonstrate an upward trend in ratings. Sadly, these influences can also affect how we conduct “business” in the spiritual arena. I am certainly not against the appropriate use of high-tech tools to advance the work of the gospel and the church. God can use various means of delivery via television, radio and internet when these are properly managed and biblically motivated. But we also must be honest in admitting that in many ways the culture has influenced the message more than our message has changed the culture. Yet, the only life-changing and lasting good news in our world today is the true gospel of Jesus Christ. We must take care to broadcast the unchanging New Testament hope of the gospel and guard ourselves from communicating popular notions that feel good but ultimately fail to clarify the truth that sets us free.

The world needs to see the love of God without humanistic filters.

The real news that delivers us into true good news is that we are all under God’s divine judgement because of our sin, rebellion and depravity. God’s solution through the finished work of Jesus on our behalf is ultimate good news. Jesus stated, “I came into this world for judgement, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind” (John 9:39). His bold and consistent message of repentance was rooted in the truth of man’s lost condition and condemnation of sin (Matt. 4:17, Luke 13:5, Luke 24:46-47). The message of the early church was repent and believe, an essential message for those under judgement of sin and in need of the mercy of a holy, loving and forgiving God (Mark 6:12, Act 2:38, 8:22, 20:21, 11:18, 17:30).

The truth of our sin and separation from a holy God is what makes the work of Christ essential, powerful and sufficient. That sinful man can be cleansed, forgiven and transformed is true, Christ-honouring and God-glorifying GOOD news. To declare that we are all “basically good” undermines the wonder of the true gospel.

So, in a world of confusing media and watered-down messaging, may the Holy Spirit give us discernment to test all things (1 Thess. 5:21) and cling to the sound doctrine of the gospel. In this, God is rightly glorified and we are truly edified. In knowing, believing, obeying and defending the gospel, we find true hope and lasting encouragement. Anything less will be superficial and short-lived. Surely, our broken world and our difficult lives require nothing less, nothing else and nothing more than the living and clear gospel of Jesus Christ

GET BACK TO THE GOSPEL – RICKY DOES A GREAT JOB

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Join Ricky in his prayer for you at the end of this powerful sermon, based solely on the Word of God. It is a sound exposition of 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 & 2 entitled “When your actions speak louder than your words”.

You need 45 minutes for this sermon, but it will be worth your time. It is a sermon that needs to be heard in our time.

Sadly, we are in the time that Paul wrote about in 2 Timothy 4:3-4. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.