Posts Tagged ‘John’

SALVATION“I [Jesus} am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away and every branch that bears fruit He prunes that it may bear more fruit. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:1,2 & 6)

COMMENT: As I see it, there are three categories of people who approach Jesus. Firstly, we have those who diligently seek the Lord to follow Him and the evidence of their conversion is a changed life; they bear much fruit. The second group are those who are sincere about their salvation, but they are “half-stepping” with one foot in the world and the other appendage in God’s Kingdom. The Bible calls them carnal Christians. (1 Cor. 3:3) They will be saved, but as if through fire (1 Cor 3:15) and they also will not avail themselves of the abundant life right here on earth that is available to those who follow closely after the Lord. (John 10:10) Finally, we have people who confess the Lordship of Jesus with their mouths but their hearts are not in it. They’re only interested in some “fire insurance” just in case this “Hell thing” is real. You may see them at church every Sunday looking pious and spiritual but in their everyday lifestyle, NOTHING HAS CHANGED. I believe that this latter group will be the ones who will be taken away and thrown into the fire. Periodically, we all might want to reexamine ourselves to make sure of our standing.

SCRIPTURE STUDY: Matthew 7:21,22,23 and 25:31-41

I was one of the fortunate ones, though my parents did not regularly attend church…they sent me regularly!   It was there that I found Jesus.  I am so thankful because it changed my life.

If you sincerely want to know more about Jesus…He is awaiting your visit with him.  Go to claybe.com for starters.

 

Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man [Jesus] came to seek and to save what was lost.

John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 3:16, KJV 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 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.

John 6:40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 10:9 I [Jesus] am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.

John 10:27-28 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

Acts 2:21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Acts 4:10,12 …It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth… [12] 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 15:11 …We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved…

Acts 16:30-31 …“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…”

Romans 6:23, KJV For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 10:9 …if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:13, KJV For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

1 Corinthians 1:18, KJV For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 15:2-4 By this gospel you are saved … [specifically] that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day…

2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation…

Luke 13:3 …unless you repent, you too will all perish.

 

Acts 3:19, KJV Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

Ephesians 1:7 In [Jesus] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins…

Salvation is important to me.  It changed my life.  It’s first and foremost on God‘s agenda…which is why Jesus came.  No other religion or belief system can tell you this.  None!

A GOD PRMISES

But I am not even going to go there because our focus is on salvation; snatching souls back from entering the pits of hell.  Many people do not know they are headed in that direction.

But for 2013, I am asking you if you read this to commit to God to minister salvation to a minimum of five people up to as many as you can…to pray for people to be put in your path.  You see, the devil wants you to believe that you cannot tell people about Jesus.  However, God speaks to people’s hearts all of the time and the bible says the following:

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

1 John 5:11-13 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Ephesians 2:8-9 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.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

John 3:16 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 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new

Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us

John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

 

What’s your version of Thanksgiving believer?  If it’s the very same as the world’s…something is not quite right.  Our vision is God’s vision…

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We celebrate Thankgiving different than God does.  He must be waiting patiently for us to get on the same page.  Now, don’t get me wrong…there is nothing wrong with spending $150.00 or more for a one day meal that will last only  a few days and staying up all night cooking.    There’s nothing wrong with getting together with family or friends as a sign of love and respect to enjoy one anther’s company.  There is nothing wrong with volunteering to cook for, serve or feed the people that are less fortunate..no it’s good.  There also, is nothing wrong with doing good deeds or helping people.

And certainly, it is good to give Thanks!  No…better than good!  But, stop for a moment and think about this:   God was so serious about saving our souls from eternal damnation that He gave His only Son to come here, suffer and die as a man…to save us.  None of us could have or would have done that.  And while I am at ; let me say that the “real turkey…jive turkey…is Satan. 

The Real Thanksgiving goes on in heaven!    THAT IS WHEN GOD IS PLEASED THAT WE ARE REALLY DOING HIS WORK…CARRYING OUT HIS MISSION…WITH JOY…HEELS CLICKING…HEARTS BEATING RAPIDLY…Our souls longing to save souls!   WHEW THAT’S GOOD STUFF!   (as my Pastor always says…) Yet, we can celebrate it here on earth…(Thanksgiving)  every time that a soul is snatched back from the pit of hell!   Think about it….

John 3:16 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 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new

Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us

John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Matthew 19:24-26 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved ? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.