Are You Forgiven - Think Again

It is sin that separates man from God; and contrary to popular belief, Jesus Himself tells us His sacrifice does not cover all our sins.

But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

(Matthew 6:15)

We are told we will be forgiven only if and as we forgive others. The “Lord’s Prayer” even includes us asking God to do exactly that:

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

(Matthew 6:12)

And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

(Luke 11:4)

This means more than loving and forgiving slights from friends and loved ones. Jesus says:

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have you? do not even the publicans the same?

(Matthew 5:44-46)

 

For if you love them which love you, what thank have you? for sinners also love those that love them. And if you do good to them which do good to you, what thank have you? for sinners also do even the same. And if you lend of whom you hope to receive, what thank have you? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love you your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and the evil. Be you therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

(Luke 6:32-36)

          We know that as children of God we are hated by this world; and, that we are to return that hate with love and forgiveness. Even though this love is not a “touchy feely” love it is still not easy! How would you react to a bumper sticker that said, “Have you hugged a terrorist today?” We must have the help of the Spirit to exercise love for our enemies. This is one reason why:

For many are called, but few chosen.

(Matthew 22:14)

Things that matter

Jesus told us what the most important thing to do was - to love God!

Jesus said unto him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.

(Matthew 22:37)

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment.

(Mark 12:30)

And he answering said, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.

(Luke 10:27)

            We are also told that to love God means that we keep His commandments:

But whoso keeps his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.

(1 John 2:5)

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments.

(1 John 5:2)

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.

(1 John 5:3)

Jesus expects us to obey Him too - keep His commandments - if we love Him:

If you love me, keep my commandments.

(John 14:15)

            Love and obedience are not optional additions to faith, they are the fundamental foundation; and, they are not just an internal feeling of faith or belief, they are the active expression of faith.

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

(1 John 3:18)

Unanswered Prayers

A lot of folks wonder why God doesn’t answer their prayers. Well, what would you say to a child who was always asking for something, but never willing to do what it is told to do? These verses give us some insight into what Jesus might say:

He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

(Proverbs 28:9)

And why call you me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

(Luke 6:46)

He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

(John 14:21)

And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the open streets so that they may be seen of men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.

(Matthew 6:5)

But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

(Matthew 6:33/34)

            If you aren’t doing what God asks of you then you have forfeited the ability for asking Him for anything! If you are doing what God asks of you then the most important prayer you can make is for God’s help in fulfilling His will for you.

Do you follow Jesus or Paul?

If you will be a child of God, how many times must you be told before you will listen?

And he said unto him, Why do you call me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if you will enter into life, keep the commandments.

(Matthew 19:17)

And why call you me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

(Luke 6:46)

If you love me, keep my commandments.

                        (John 14:15)

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

(John 14:23) 

If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

(John 15:10)

            Jesus couldn’t have been clearer! The law is not done away with. Paul was liar. The law may have been a grievous burden is his eyes but John knew better:

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

(1 John 5:3)

Everyone transgressing and not abiding in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. The one abiding in the doctrine of Christ, this one has the Father and the Son.

(2 John 1:9)

            It is not about being legalistic! Go back and read the verses above - it’s about loving God and Jesus enough to listen to Them- not Paul! Is Paul your Creator! Is Paul your Savior! Is Paul your Lord!

The Trinity Doctrine is a Lie

Jesus knew the He was not God.

Jesus said unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and my God, and your God.

(John 20:17)

From H. G. Wells’ The Outline of History: "We shall see presently how later on all Christendom was torn by disputes about the Trinity. There is no evidence that the apostles of Jesus ever heard of the Trinity, at any rate from him”.

The doctrine of the trinity is a concept that stems from a council over 300 years after Jesus (the Council of Nicaea - 325). Afterwards the Catholic Church threatened death to anyone who did not accept the doctrine - as late as the 16^th century - Michael Servetus was burned at the stake. At one time so many Protestants rejected the doctrine of the trinity that Britain passed a law to protect them in 1813.

Do you follow Jesus or the doctrines of men?

Predestination?

Please read the following verse carefully:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

(John 3:16)

            This is perhaps the most well-known verse in the Bible; yet, many “Christians” deny it. How, by saying that “whosoever believes’ is not true -- they say only the predestined are saved. Of course, the folks that say that are so arrogant that they always place themselves among the predestined!

            The conditions for salvation are predestined - not who will love God enough to meet those conditions. God is loving and merciful but He is also just. He will destroy a third of the angels along with Satan because they will not submit their will to their Creator. You and I are required to make that same choice - His will or our own. You can follow your will to death or follow His will to eternal life. That my friend is predestined. What did Jesus say?

It is not who is predestined - it is whose love for God endures:

And you shall be hated of all for my name's sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved.

(Matthew 10:22)

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

(Matthew 24:13)

And you shall be hated of all for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

(Mark 13:13)

Christian Soldiers?

Are you a soldier in God’s Army? Have you ever heard of an army where the soldiers did not have to follow the orders of the supreme commander? At the Battle of Armageddon there will be two opposing forces - those that follow God’s orders and those that do not. Whose side are you on?

Jesus paid for us to have a commission in God’s Army. If you accept you must follow orders. If you don’t follow orders then whose side are you really on?