‘Saved’ From Death [v219]

MAY 2017

Desmond Doss is credited with single-handedly SAVING 75 SOLDIERS during the bloodiest battle of World War II in the Pacific—and he did it without ever firing or carrying a weapon.

The battle at Hacksaw Ridge, on the island of Okinawa, was a close combat fight with heavy weaponry. Thousands of American and Japanese soldiers were killed, and the fact that Doss survived the battle and saved so many lives has confounded and awed those who know his story.

Under a barrage of gunfire and explosions, Doss crawled on the ground from wounded soldier to wounded soldier. He dragged severely injured men to the edge of the ridge, tied a rope around their bodies and lowered them down the 400 foot cliff to other medics below. In the documentary, “The Conscientious Objector”, it was noted that each time he saved a man’s life, Doss prayed out loud, “Lord, please help me get one more”.

Even though Doss’ commanding officer, Captain Jack Glover, tried to get him transferred out of his unit, Doss told him, “Don’t ever doubt my courage because I will be right by your side saving life while you take life”.

Officially, Doss saved 75 men—including his commanding officer—over a 12-hour period (though his fellow soldiers estimated it to be closer to 100). The same soldiers who had shamed him, now praised him. Commander Glover said in the documentary: “He was one of the bravest persons alive…and then to have him end up saving my life was the irony of the whole thing”.

After that day, he served for two more weeks before being wounded by shrapnel from a grenade. However, he continued to treat other soldiers, despite his injuries, until his arm was broken by Japanese snipers.

Doss viewed himself not as a conscientious objector, but a conscientious cooperator. Unlike objectors, he was eager to wear the uniform, salute the American flag, and serve his country. On Oct. 12, 1945, President Harry S. Truman presented Doss with the Medal of Honor, making him the first “conscientious objector” to receive the medal.

[ Now, Doss is the subject of a new film directed by Mel Gibson called “Hacksaw Ridge” ]:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2-1hz1juBI

 

Similar to Desmond Doss, there was another ‘Person’ who was also focused on ‘saving’ people from certain death—but what He did goes WAY BEYOND just physical death. What He did saves a person from eternal hell—and that Person was Jesus Christ.

You may say that only ‘really evil’ people like Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, Mao Zedong, Genghis Khan, Elizabeth Bathory, and Vlad Tepes (Dracula) go to hell—and that you are a ‘good’ person, and are no where near as ‘bad’ these people were.

Well, the problem is, in God’s ‘eyes’, ALL HUMANITY IS “EVIL”. We are all ‘infected’ with sin (Romans 3:23), having been born with it (Psalm 51:5), and we all personally choose to sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8). We have broken God’s laws, and He’s ‘angry’ about it. Sin is what separates us from Him, and is what has us on the ‘path’ to an eternal hell (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:15).

The Bible also says that, because of our sin, we all deserve death (Romans 6:23). While the physical consequence of sin is physical death, that is not the only kind of death that results from sin. All sin is ultimately committed against an eternal and infinite God (Psalm 51:4). Because of that, the just penalty for our sin is also eternal and infinite—and we can’t pay that penalty.

 

So, because of His love for us, the infinite and eternal God became a human being in the person of Jesus Christ, taking on human flesh, living among us, and willingly sacrificed Himself on the cross for us (John 10:15). He took the consequences we deserved. Because Jesus Christ was human, He could die; and because Jesus Christ was God, His death had an eternal and infinite value (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 2:2). Jesus’ death on the cross was the perfect and complete payment for all our sins (1 John 2:2).

In Old Testament times, every year a ‘perfect’ lamb was sacrificed for the sins of the people, and the blood made atonement for their sins. Then, in the New Testament, Jesus became that ‘perfect lamb’ that would atone for all of the sins of all believers, once and for all—for all time. No more sacrifices for sins are now required by God. Sin’s debt has been “paid in full”.

From the start of human history, God has made it plain that forgiveness of sins is only possible through the shed blood of an acceptable substitute—and Jesus was just that. “For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins” [ Hebrews 9:22b ].

So, we need to be ‘SAVED’ from the consequences of our sin. But, how can that happen?

 

Well, in the Bible, there is a very important encounter about “being saved” with Jesus and the preeminent Pharisee at the time, Nicodemus (John 3:1-21). Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again” [ the Greek word used here is “anothen,” which also means “born from above” ].

Nicodemus was ‘flabbergasted’, and had no idea what Jesus was saying, because in his understanding, this was not what the Torah and the Talmud taught. Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus responded by becoming a bit more ‘detailed’ by stating that God’s Kingdom is only for those people who have been ‘cleansed’ from above—a divine miracle. Nicodemus than asked Jesus, “How can these things be?”

Jesus then continued by saying that only God knows who will be born again (regenerated) by the Holy Spirit. He continued stating that spiritual ‘birth’ is completely out of the hands of the sinner—it is totally a sovereign ‘work’ of God. Just as the wind is invisible, uncontrollable, unpredictable, and cannot be summoned when one wants, so is God’s ‘election’ of whom He will save and when. “The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit” [ John 3:8 ]. Like the wind, God does something that we can’t see, but later causes results that we will eventually ‘see’.

All of this was so new to Nicodemus—so contrary to everything he’d ever learned. He is still ‘shaking his head’ in disbelief. He was told that he can’t do anything—and couldn’t understand that. He then leaves with a question he’s never had in his entire life. He wonders, “What do I do to be in God’s graces, and end up in Heaven?”

Being very well versed in the Old Testament, Nicodemus would have remembered that God ‘spoke’ this same concept to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion” [ Exodus 33:19b ]. Now this verse had new meaning for him.

 

Salvation is a divine miracle that comes down from Heaven, in which we do not participate. Just like we didn’t participate in our own physical birth, we don’t participate in our regeneration—you make no contribution to your spiritual ‘birth’. God ‘elected’ those that would be regenerated before the “foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4). “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” [ Romans 8:29-30 ]. It’s all a work of God.

 

BUT, now comes the ‘tension’, the MYSTERY—human responsibility. You can’t do anything about it on the one hand, but on the other hand, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for your belief or unbelief! What?

God’s message to a sinner is, “You can’t do anything to gain your salvation. You can’t make a contribution to it, but you are REQUIRED TO BELIEVE”—to believe what He has done in Christ to provide salvation as a gift of grace.

The most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16, says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life”. All the sinner can do is believe—in Jesus—it’s their only hope of Heaven. It is a ‘gift’ that God gives according to His will, and all you can do is receive it by believing—in Christ alone, and by faith alone.

Jesus made this very clear by stating, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me” [ John 14:6 ]. After Jesus left this earth, this was said to the then disciples like this: “Neither is there salvation in any other. There’s no other name under Heaven whereby men may be saved, only in the name of Christ” [ Acts 4:12 ].

 

There is a book in the Bible called “Hebrews,” and a chapter in it (11) that has been called the “Hall of Faith”. It starts out, “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see”, and then goes on to list a whole bunch of people that believed “by faith”. Although they ‘messed up’ many times in their lives, they all lived by faith—not by the Law of the Old Testament sacrificial system—but by ‘believing’ in God…and they will one day experience the reward of their faith—the fullness of the blessing of eternal life.

Now, go back to the first book of the Bible, Genesis, to the very ‘father’ of the Jews—a man named Abraham—and you read this, “And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith” [ Genesis 15:6 ]. All God wanted then to declare Abraham righteous was belief…faith in Him. Abraham believed God, and for that, God gave Abraham His own righteousness as a covering, forgiving him of all of his sins, making him His eternal child, and granting him everlasting life simply on the basis of his faith. The thing is, this has not changed since then…it’s exactly what God wants from us today…faith—a belief in Him.

The Apostle Paul also reiterated that Abraham was justified by faith and declared righteous by God because he believed: “Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God” [ Romans 4:20-25 ].

 

So, there are these TWO ‘PARALLEL’ TRUTHS: salvation is a divine miracle, a new birth from above, and salvation is ‘received’ by the sinner believing. They will never cross or ‘interact’ with each other—that’s the ‘divine mystery’. The fact that we can’t harmonize them only means we’re human, and are limited in our understanding of some of God’s great truths.

You may ask then, “What does it mean to ‘believe’ in Jesus?”

Well, here’s the major ‘components’ of belief:
– You believe that Jesus is God in human form (John 1:1, 14)
– You believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21), for which you deserve eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23)
– You believe that the sacrifice of Jesus, God incarnate, is the only adequate payment for your sins (1 John 2:2; John 14:6; Acts 4:12)

 

You may then ask, “How does all this happen?”

Well, this might help. Back in the 16th century, the “Reformers” came up with three terms that they said comprised “belief” or “saving faith”: “Notitia”, “Assensus”, and “Fiducia”. Those three Latin words simply mean notice, assent, and faith.

“Notice” means simply observing the facts and the truth claims in question. In the case of Christianity, the facts are:

– That there is a personal, loving, holy God
– That all humans are created in the image of God
– That we’ve sinned and stand condemned before that God
– That God Himself came to this earth in a human body to pay the penalty for our sins, so we can be pardoned and spend eternity with Him in Heaven

But, just noticing the facts isn’t enough. That brings us to the second word, “assent”. It means coming to the point where you think those facts are true.

Assent means sorting through the evidence until it makes sense in your own mind. Both notice and assent require the use of our intellect, our brains. Biblical faith is not a leap into the dark—but a step into the ‘light’.

That brings us to the third word, “faith”. This is not necessarily having some sort of an emotional ‘experience’. This is, in its simplest sense, an act of the will. It is a ‘decision’ to place your trust in Jesus Christ, to ‘follow’ Him, to be obedient to Him, and to invest your entire life in those biblical beliefs you ‘ascended’ to.

So, if one has ‘noticed’ the facts of Christianity, and has come to the ‘conclusion’ in their own mind that they are actually true, then isn’t faith basically automatic? Well, no, it’s not quite the same thing.

There are plenty of people who believe the basic ‘facts’ of Christianity, but have never made a ‘decision’ to trust in Jesus Christ for the total forgiveness of their sins. That is the final and essential part of what “real faith” is all about. Making a decision to TRANSFER THE TRUST rather than trusting in oneself and one’s performance.

It’s a matter of placing your trust in Jesus for His ‘payment’ of your sins, and that God the Father then raised Him from the dead, giving every Christian the sure hope of being resurrected when Jesus comes back the earth again (“Second Coming”). The Apostle Paul made it very clear about how important Jesus’ resurrection is to us: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins” [ 1 Corinthians 15:17 ]. The resurrection of Jesus is the ‘foundation’ of Christianity.

 

Now, some of you might be thinking, “I believe in Jesus, but I’m not really sure that I’ve been ‘elected’”.

Well, we’re back to that ‘mystery’! Even though God is the One that ‘elects’ a person to be regenerated, that person may not ‘know’ that they have been elected—God ‘prompts’ them and they then have to respond. An illustration from the Bible might help here.

There’s a guy named Saul of Tarsus, who was a persecutor of the early ‘Christian’ church. He was a Pharisee—the Jewish sect distinguished by strict observance of the traditional and written law, and commonly held to have pretensions to superior sanctity.

Saul was the “best and the brightest”: a child of the best upbringing; a student of the highly-acclaimed teacher, Gamaliel; a Roman citizen; trained in the best Jewish schools; a self-righteous religious zealot; and perhaps being groomed to become the next chief priest.

Well, after Saul approved of the barbarous stoning of Stephen, he became totally fanatical about destroying this new “Jesus sect”. He launched a holy war against them, scattering the believers and making havoc—dragging people out of their homes, sending many to prison, and even putting some to death. He was beginning to attain the notoriety that he had always craved. If he was going to rise to the level of prestige and power that he believed was his destiny, he would have to prove himself worthy.

So, when word came that these followers of Jesus had spread into Syria, Saul requested permission to go to Damascus. With great delight the High Priest granted him letters giving him authority to arrest any who belonged to “the Way” (meaning those who followed Jesus). So intent was he on “opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth” that in “raging fury”, he breathed “threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1). Here was a man who truly hated Christ and all who were associated with Him.

But, Saul never carried out his mission in Damascus: “Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And he said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do’” [ Acts 9:3-4 ].

 

If there is any evidence in Scripture that regeneration is a sovereign act, this is it! Saul had done nothing to deserve this marvelous intervention in his life. There was no merit in his work or life that should have induced God to provide this gracious visitation. Indeed, there was a great deal of transgression against Jesus. Yet, Saul was sovereignly converted on the spot! Saul had NO IDEA that he was ‘elected’ by God—and you may not either, at this point.

Most Christians have never seen a “bright light” like Saul did on his way to Damascus, or even heard an ‘voice’ from Heaven. In Saul’s case, those were simply outward manifestations of the inward, mysterious work of rebirth. But, the same sovereign power and authority manifested on the road to Damascus that day may be at work in your soul right now!

[ By the way, years later, in obedience to this heavenly vision and living out his own teaching, Saul so embraced his ‘calling’ to minister the Gospel to the Gentiles that he forsook his Jewish name, Saul, and forever adopted the Greek name for which he is remembered…Paul ].

 

Regeneration of a person’s soul is a work of the omnipotent power of God, a power that no one can overcome or resist. As God did with Saul, if He ‘resurrects’ a person back from the dead, there is no disputing it when this power is exercised. God sovereignly confronted Saul, and sovereignly changed and redeemed him.

The response of both Saul and all those who are redeemed by Christ is the same: “What do you want me to do?” Like Saul, we do not bargain, negotiate, question, or come halfway. The response of the redeemed is total obedience. When God truly touches our hearts, our only response should be, “Lord, may your will be done, and use me in any way to do it”. Such was the experience of Saul on the Damascus Road—and can be for you, too!

 

Saul’s dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus was the beginning of an incredible journey. While most conversions are not as startling as Saul’s, each Christian is ‘commissioned’ by Jesus to live in obedience to Him (John 14:15), love one another in His name (1 John 2:23), “know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like Him in his death” (Philippians 3:10), and tell the world of His wonderful promises.

The “Gospel” is broad enough to include the worst sinner who believes, and narrow enough to exclude the most morally religious unbeliever.

 

You may, at the point, really want to know, “What do I need to do to BE ‘SAVED’?” Well, all you can do is ASK! Plead to God for His mercy and grace to SAVE you—to REGENERATE your soul, and make you a NEW ‘CREATION’.

Jesus said, “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened” [ Luke 11:9-10 ]. So, one must be zealous and perseverant when asking for this AMAZING GIFT of being ‘saved’ from eternal hell!

There happens to be a parable that Jesus told about just how one should ‘ask’:

“Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” [ Luke 18:9-14 ].

The ‘moral’ of the parable is you need to be TOTALLY CONVINCED in your heart that your sins are going to send you to an eternal hell, and that only the grace and mercy of God can help you avoid that inevitability. So then, cry out, “Lord, BE MERCIFUL TO ME, a sinner, and SAVE ME!” Keep pounding on the ‘door’! (Luke 11:5-10; Luke 18:1-8). This so happens to be the ‘method’ God has expected us to use even before Jesus came:

“Seek the Lord while you can find him.
Call on him now while he is near.
Let the wicked change their ways
and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.
Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.”
[ Isaiah 55:6-7 ]

 

So then, how can you know, without a doubt, whether or not you are TRULY ‘SAVED’ and are headed for Heaven and eternal life? Well, the Bible says to EXAMINE YOURSELF! “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” [ 2 Corinthians 13:5-6 ].

Similar to changing any other ‘behavior’ to be sure that is has been corrected, you TEST IT! The same is true for one’s faith.

Primarily, you will see ‘transformation’ in all aspects of your life. The Bible says, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” [ 2 Corinthians 5:17 ].

Do you see some ‘impulses’ of the new nature in your life? If so, that’s indicative of salvation. If God’s will has become your highest joy, and submission to His lordship your greatest delight, then you are indeed a child of God—no matter how strong the pull of sin.

The Bible says that when we’re saved, God puts a desire within us to live a life that’s different than the life we used to live. (Note: If you haven’t had this kind of experience as a Christian, you’d better go back and check whether or not you are really saved!).

When you become “saved”, God equips you with what you might call an “automatic sin alarm system” (the Holy Spirit). It starts ‘going off’ now when it didn’t go off before. God gives you His grace to teach you how to live differently, and you learn how to resist and renounce sin.

One of the marks of born-again believers is that they have an overwhelming desire and sudden thirst for the Word of God (the Bible), an incessant hunger to learn more, to know the truth of God, and to obey it—even though sin will always be ‘tugging’ at you (Romans 7:15-25).

Jesus likened His followers to branches that bear ‘fruit’, but needed pruning now and then. The ‘fruit’ of salvation is good works. In James 2:17, he explains that “So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless”. If saving faith is present, you can’t help but produce fruit. Good works don’t ‘save’ a person, but they do show that their faith is genuine. There is no such thing as a fruitless Christian. Everyone bears some fruit.

Yet, another way God bears witness to you being saved is the ‘spiritual fruit’ He produces in you: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” [ Galatians 5:22-23 ]. Our ‘natural man’ certainly doesn’t produce those things. It knows lust, but not true love. It knows momentary happiness, but not settled joy. It knows a moment of calm, but not a deep inner peace. So, the “fruit of the Spirit” is evidence that you belong to God.

[ To learn more about the “fruit of the Spirit”, visit the “Fruits Of The Beatitudes” website: http://fruitsofthebeatitudes.org/ ]

True salvation always produces an abiding change of nature in a true convert:
– Enjoy fellowship with Jesus and God the Father
– Sensitive to sin
– Obey God’s Word
– Reject this evil world
– Eagerly await Christ’s return
– A decreasing pattern of sin in your life
– Love for other Christians
– Experience answered prayer
– Experience the ministry of the Holy Spirit
– Discern between spiritual truth and error
– Suffered rejection because of your faith

If you ‘pass’ these tests, you can have confidence before God that “you may know you have eternal life” [ 1 John 5:13b ].

 

Like the penitent tax collector, the only way into God’s Kingdom is by becoming broken in spirit, mournful, and eager for forgiveness that you can’t attain by yourself, and don’t deserve.

In the beginning of the fifth chapter of the Book of Matthew, Jesus begins what is called the “Sermon on the Mount”. In one of His most famous teachings—called “The Beatitudes”—He presents kind of ‘summary’ of who a person needs to be like to enter the Kingdom of God.

Jesus starts off with: “Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven”. This says that only those who admit their spiritual bankruptcy and sinfulness can enter the Kingdom. The next verse (4) shows the result of this inner poverty: “Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted”. Only those who are broken and mournful over their will sin ever receive salvation. Meekness, produced by the crushing weight of one’s sin, also characterizes a person entering the Kingdom (verse 5). So, when a person is poor in spirit, mournful about their sin, and is meek, then they will hunger and thirst after righteousness (verse 6), and then will be ‘filled’.

 

Does this describe you? Has God ‘CONFRONTED’ you about your sin? Have you been ‘CONVICTED’ of your sins? If so, have you ‘REPENTED’ of your sins? Do you really ‘BELIEVE’ what Jesus did for you?

Just like Desmond Doss, Jesus didn’t carry a ‘weapon’, and similar to Doss wanting to “save one more”, God the Father gave His Son those He wanted saved, and they can never be lost: “However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. For I have come down from Heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those He has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in Him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day” [ John 6:37-40 ].

Similar to how Doss crawled on the ground from wounded soldier to wounded soldier, dragging severely injured men to safety, Jesus does a similar thing with sinners—’dragging’ them off the ‘wide path’ to a certain eternal hell to the safety of the ‘narrow path’ to Heaven!

 

If you have not yet ASKED God to ‘SAVE’ YOU, you still have a chance! The Bible says: “The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” [ 2 Peter 3:9 ].

However, since none of us knows what will happen tomorrow—or even the next minute—the Bible encourages us to, “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose” [ Philippians 2:12-13 ].

Let me to strongly encourage you to CRY OUT TO GOD, RIGHT NOW, TO ‘SAVE’ YOU!

 

[ Excerpts from: Elizabeth Blair; Mike Miller; Eliza Berman; Bill Kraftson; John MacArthur; Got Questions; David Jeremiah ]

 

“PRAYER OF REPENTANCE”
In the Bible, there is a parable that Jesus told about a Pharisee and a tax collector praying in the Temple. He notes that the tax collector didn’t even dare to lift his eyes toward Heaven as he prayed. Instead he “beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner’”—and Jesus said that the tax collector “went home justified,” he had been “born again” and ‘reconciled’ by God. (Luke 18:9-14).

If you are ‘sensing’ something like that right now, let me strongly encourage you to HUMBLE YOURSELF, CRY OUT to God, and PLEAD for Him to mercifully ‘SAVE’ YOU! None of us have a ‘claim’ on our salvation, nor do we have any ‘works’ that would cause us to deserve it or earn it—it is purely a gift of Divine grace—and all any of us can do is ask. So, CONFESS YOUR SINS and acknowledge to God that you have no hope for Heaven apart from what He provides through Jesus.

There is no ‘formula’ or certain words for this. So just talk to God, in your own words—He knows your ‘heart’. If you are genuinely sincere, and God does respond to your plea, one will usually have a sense of joy and peace.

Jesus said, “He that comes to Me, I will not cast out” [ John 6:37 ].

You mat want to say: “Thank you Father for hearing me, and for the glorious, overwhelming truth of ‘regeneration’, the gift You have given us so that we can repent, believe, follow You, manifest righteousness, holiness, flee from sin, and love and worship You forever—and be blessed beyond comprehension.”

[ NOTE: If you have ‘tasted the kindness of the Lord’, please e-mail me—I would love to CELEBRATE with you, and help you get started on your ‘journey’ with Jesus! ].

*****************************
*****************************

RESOURCES:

“Saved without a Doubt: Being Sure of Your Salvation”
By: John MacArthur

Can you lose your salvation?

All believers have wrestled with this question at some point in their spiritual walks. So what answers does God provide to challenging questions like: Am I really saved? Am I going to heaven? How can I know for sure?

Renowned pastor and author John MacArthur believes every Christian should enjoy the reality and security of being saved without a doubt. Drawing from a background rich in Bible study and teaching, John examines key scriptures, tackles tough questions, and sheds light on the true nature of salvation. Throughout, you’ll be encouraged to embrace the perfect grace found in Jesus Christ.

Saved without a Doubt includes a guide for both personal and group study, which features discovery questions, suggestions for prayer, and activities, all designed to connect life-changing truths with everyday living.

https://www.amazon.com/Saved-without-Doubt-Salvation-MacArthur/dp/1434702952

—————-
“Can I Be Sure I’m Saved?”
By R.C. Sproul

Many people in the church today are plagued by doubts about their salvation. Satan whispers that it is impossible that sinners such as they could be in a state of grace, and some churches compound the problem by teaching that it is possible for believers to lose their salvation.

But assurance of salvation is possible in this life. Indeed, as Dr. R.C. Sproul argues in this Crucial Questions booklet, it is the duty of Christians to make their calling sure (2 Peter 1:10). To help believers reach this goal, Dr. Sproul defines assurance, shows how we can get it, reveals the blessings it confers, and warns of the dangers of false assurance. Here is assistance for those who struggle to know where they stand with Jesus Christ.

Chapters

– The Struggle for Assurance
– Four Kinds of People
– False Assusrance
– Gaining True Assurance
– The Source of Full Assurance
– Resources

Part of the Crucial Questions booklet series

https://www.amazon.com/Saved-Crucial-Questions-Reformation-Trust/dp/1567692087/

—————-
“Eternal Security”
By: Charles F. Stanley

Do you ever find yourself wondering…is it actually possible to know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that I am going to heaven? If you say that my salvation is “eternally secure” and that I can never lose it, does that mean that I can commit any sin and still go to heaven? How can an understanding of “eternal security” make a difference in my Christian life? With the wisdom and skill of a man who has personally wrestled with these questions, internationally-known pastor and best-selling author Charles Stanley addresses the age-old issue of grace vs. works in this compassionate, straight-forward book. With questions at the end of each chapter, this book is an excellent choice for individual or group study.

https://www.amazon.com/Eternal-Security-Can-You-Sure/dp/0840790953/

—————-
“Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart: How to Know for Sure You Are Saved”
By: J.D. Greear

“If there were a Guinness Book of World Records entry for ‘amount of times having prayed the sinner’s prayer,’ I’m pretty sure I’d be a top contender,” says pastor and author J. D. Greear. He struggled for many years to gain an assurance of salvation and eventually learned he was not alone. “Lack of assurance” is epidemic among evangelical Christians.

In Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart, J. D. shows that faulty ways of present- ing the gospel are a leading source of the confusion. Our presentations may not be heretical, but they are sometimes misleading. The idea of “asking Jesus into your heart” or “giving your life to Jesus” often gives false assurance to those who are not saved—and keeps those who genuinely are saved from fully embracing that reality.

Greear unpacks the doctrine of assurance, showing that salvation is a posture we take to the promise of God in Christ, a posture that begins at a certain point and is maintained for the rest of our lives. He also answers the tough questions about assurance: What exactly is faith? What is repentance? Why are there so many warnings that seem to imply we can lose our salvation?

Such issues are handled with respect to the theological rigors they require, but Greear never loses his pastoral sensitivity or a communication technique that makes this message teachable to a wide audience from teens to adults.

https://www.amazon.com/Stop-Asking-Jesus-Into-Heart/dp/1433679213/

—————-
“Saved from What?”
By: R. C. Sproul

Imagine that you approach someone who has never stepped inside a church or paused long enough on a religious channel to understand what the preacher was shouting about. This is the case for many Americans regarding the question, “Are you saved?” The initial response might be, “Saved from what?” It’s a logical reply. Yet too many of us as Christians don’t really know how to answer that question–for the ones we are trying to witness to, or for ourselves.

R.C. Sproul shows that what we are saved from is really a who–God Himself. That the glory of the gospel is that the One from whom we need to be saved is the very One who saves us. It is when we truly grasp who God is and who we are that we begin to understand the serious demands and joys of repentance.

Written for all Christians, Sproul’s book uses word studies and biblical insight to challenge readers to fully give their hearts to their Savior.

https://www.amazon.com/Saved-What-R-C-Sproul/dp/1581344171/

—————-
“How Can I Be Sure I’m a Christian?: What the Bible Says About Assurance of Salvation”
By: Donald S Whitney

Nearly everyone hopes to end up in Heaven one day. In fact, a whopping 99% of Americans believe they’ll eventually reside there. Yet, the Bible claims that only a few will find the “road that leads to life”. So, how can anyone be sure of spending eternity with Jesus Christ?

In “How Can I Be Sure I’m a Christian?”, Donald S. Whitney explores the issue of assurance, and outlines how Christians can experience a satisfying certainty of eternal life.

If occasional doubts prevent you from fully experiencing the security and peace that Christ offers, you;ll enjoy the clear assurances offered here. Bt countering a broad range of doubts with a clear, scriptural basis for confidence, Whitney provides encouragement for believers, and gentle warnings to those who base their confidence in themselves rather than in God.

https://www.amazon.com/How-Can-Sure-Christian-LifeChange/dp/0891097724/

—————-
“The New Birth”
By: Dr. Steven Lawson

Christians often describe themselves as “born again”. While this phrase is familiar to many, people rarely explain what they mean when they use it. Unfortunately, talk of being “born again” often accompanies a man-centered understanding of salvation.

In this teaching series, Dr. Steven J. Lawson will examine what Jesus said about the new birth in John 3 in order to recover a biblical understanding of what happens when a person is born again.

http://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/the-new-birth/

http://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/the-new-birth/

—————-
“You Must Be Born Again”

26-part DVD Series
– “Born Again”
– “The New Birth”
– “The Marks of the New Birth”
– “The Marks of the New Birth – Final Notes”
– “How God Converts the Human Soul”

[ Mark Kielar ]

http://www.crosstv.com/BornAgain.htm#wp24

http://www.crosstv.com/BornAgain.htm#wp24
*****************************
*****************************

“FRUITS OF THE BEATITUDES” WEB SITE
(The ATTITUDES of Jesus that produce the CHARACTER of Jesus)

CLICK ON THE LINK to view:
http://fruitsofthebeatitudes.org/

FACEBOOK PAGE:
https://www.facebook.com/FruitsOfTheBeatitudes/

[ Mark Besh ]

*****************************
*****************************

[ P.S.: If you would like to investigate further about what does it really mean to “believe,” visit the following link:
http://4vis.com/sfm/sfm_pres/sp_q10_d1_1of10.html

*****************************
*****************************

 

ARTICLES:

*****************************
“7 People Who (Literally) Saved The World”

Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov Prevented A Nuclear War Between the US and the USSR:
Imagine serving as a colonel of the Soviet Air Defense Forces when one day your command center’s early nuclear warning system goes off, informing you that the US has launched a missile that is headed straight for you. Most of us would probably call our supervisors to warn them and run into the closest shelter we could find before curling up into a little ball while crying.

Fortunately, Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov had a cool head when that exact situation presented itself in 1983. After examining the situation, he determined the report was a false alarm and reported it as such to his superiors, likely preventing nuclear retaliation and a massive war that could have created a nuclear wasteland across the globe.

Petrov may not have received the credit he deserved from his Soviet superiors, but he may soon become a household name after a recent and widely praised indie flick based on his story, The Man Who Saved the World, was released in October.

Vasili Alexandrovich Arkhipov Stopped the Cuban Missile Crisis From Starting A War:
There is generally a lot of confusion during war, and that was particularly true during the Cold War, when both sides were just waiting for the other to strike. Just like Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov, Soviet naval officer Vasili Alexandrovich Arkhipov kept a cool head and prevented a full-on war between the USA and the USSR.

In 1962, during the already stressful Cuban Missile Crisis, Arkhipov’s nuclear-armed submarine was discovered by US forces and surrounded by eleven Navy destroyers and an aircraft carrier. When American forces started dropping practice depth charges on the sub in hopes of forcing it to the surface so it could be identified, those in the sub weren’t sure if they were under attack or not. Because the sub was too deep under water to monitor radio broadcasts, the soldiers inside had way of knowing whether a war had started or that the charges being dropped were only practice rounds.

The sub’s captain, Valentin Grigorievitch Savitsky, believed they were under attack and wanted to launch a nuclear torpedo at American forces. Fortunately, protocol required three officers on board to agree to the launch and while Captain Savitsky and political officer Ivan Semonovich Maslennikov were in favor of the launch, Arkhipov was against it. Eventually, Arkhipov persuaded the others to surface and await orders from Moscow, averting a nuclear war. In 2002, the director of the National Security Archive thanked Arkhipov publicly by saying “a guy called Vasili Arkhipov saved the world”.

James Blunt Prevented A War Between Russia and NATO:
Today, James Blunt is a successful musician, but in 1999, he was a British soldier serving in Kosovo. After being ordered to seize an airfield, he ran into a snag – the Russians had already taken over the space. His supervisors ordered him to overpower the opposing soldiers, but Blunt refused, knowing full well that he could easily be court-martialed for his insubordination. Blunt believed that agitating the Russian forces on behalf of NATO would have been a sure-fire road to war.

Fortunately, General Mike Jackson backed his move, even stating at the time, “I’m not going to have my soldiers be responsible for starting World War III”.

His decision turned out to be the right one as only a few days later, the Russian soldiers agreed to share the airfield in exchange for food and water, which they did not have access to otherwise.

Edward Jenner Invented the First Vaccine & Defeated Smallpox”
Regardless of what anti-vaccination advocates may claim, vaccines have helped save billions of lives, including deaths from smallpox, which has been wiped out completely thanks to the original vaccine that was developed by Edward Jenner.

Smallpox had been plaguing the world since 100,000 BC before it was finally eradicated completely in 1977.

In the late 1700s, Edward Jenner made a ground-breaking observation. He noticed that those who caught cowpox had become immune to smallpox. While a few other scientists had observed this correlation before, many of their attempts to inoculate people from smallpox ended up giving them the disease instead.

Jenner developed the first successful vaccination for smallpox in 1796 by injecting patients with a sample of cowpox. Soon his treatment spread across the globe, with some countries even making the vaccine mandatory. As science advanced along with transportation, smallpox became a less and less frequent problem, eventually dying out all together in 1977.

While inoculations existed before Jenner’s development, they usually involved an injection of a less deadly strain of a disease. In fact, the word “vaccine” was created by Jenner who used the Latin phrase “Variolae vaccinae,” meaning smallpox of the cow. In 1881, Louis Pasteur proposed the term “vaccination” be extended to cover all forms of protective inoculations, rather than just those dealing with cowpox.

It’s easy to underestimate how deadly the disease was these days, but in the late 1800s, 400,000 Europeans died from it each year (a century after the vaccine was developed) and as many as 500 million people died from it in the 1900s.

Jonas Salk Stopped Polio:
Depending on your definition of “saving the world,” Jonas Salk may or may not qualify. After all, the world did survive with the polio virus, but the disease was incredibly dangerous, becoming more virulent every year and affecting a large percentage of the population. Salk stopped a plague that eventually could have become more deadly than the Black Death of the Middle Ages.

In 1952, the US alone lost 3,145 people to polio while another 21,269 were paralyzed from the disease, with most of the victims being children.

Jonas Salk started studying the disease in 1948 when the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis hired him to determine the total number of varieties of polio virus. Luckily for us, the scientist didn’t just stop with identifying the types of polio, but recognized that this information could help lead to a vaccine for the disease. His field trial was so massive that it required the help of 20,000 physicians and 1.8 million children who were vaccinated with his creation.

When the news of the vaccine’s success was made public in 1955, countries around the world rushed to replicate his vaccine and to start inoculating their students. These days, polio is on its way to be eradicated completely, just like smallpox.

Perhaps even more amazing than Salk’s contribution to science was his refusal to make personal profit from the vaccine, even neglecting to patent his formula. Forbes estimates that Salk easily could have made $7 billion on his creation!

Norman Ernest Borlaug Fed The World:
By the mid-1950s, scientists discovered a new plague that could wipe out millions: starvation. Sure, small numbers of people across the world have always gone hungry, but as the population continued to explode, the world’s food supply couldn’t keep up. Thanks to Norman Ernest Borlaug’s agricultural breakthroughs though, food supplies have grown right along with the population.

It all started when Borlaug accepted a position as the director of the International Wheat Improvement Program in Mexico where he was tasked with increasing wheat production to help the struggling nation. When the project began, Mexico was importing most of its wheat supply, but after Borlaug perfected a wheat strain that produced high yields and resisted most diseases, the country soon started exporting wheat instead.

Not content to help only one country, the scientist then moved his research to India, which was in the midst of a ravaging famine, despite receiving massive shipments of grain from the US. After a number of delays, Borlaug’s wheat finally made it to the country and was soon providing record-breaking yields in South Asia. Pakistan, India and Turkey were all quick to import the seeds after seeing its success.

India and Pakistan both doubled their wheat production, and are now self-sufficient when it comes to producing grains for the populace to eat. The success of these programs has been dubbed the “Green Revolution” and Borlaug is commonly referred to as “the man who saved a billion lives”.

Despite facing criticisms from environmentalists and nutritionalists, Borlaug eventually brought his crops to Africa to help prevent starvation in the region. Borlaug is one of only seven people to win the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. In addition, he also received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest honor available to civilians.

Henrietta Lacks Provided Cells That Changed the World:
Most people on this list actively tried to make an impact on society, but Henrietta Lacks had no intention of helping the world and no idea she would make such a difference. It all started when Lacks visited John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore after she continued to bleed long after giving birth. After being screened for STDs, her doctor performed a biopsy that revealed Lacks had cervix cancer.

Lacks returned to the hospital regularly for treatments and at some point, doctors removed two samples of her cervical tissue, one healthy and one cancerous. The cancer cells, taken without the patient’s permission, ended up being remarkable in that they could be kept alive and grown in a laboratory setting, whereas most people’s cells die within a few days.

Henrietta Lacks died in October of 1951, but her cells, dubbed “HeLa” cells, live on in laboratories around the world, where a total of over 20 tons of her cells have been grown.

“Sure, that’s neat, but how did Lacks save the world though?” you may be asking.

As it turns out, the HeLa cells are critical in a number of modern medical advancements, including Salk’s Polio vaccine, cloning research, gene mapping, radiation exposure and more. Cancer and AIDs treatments have been tested on the cells as have products like cosmetics, glue, tape and more. While over 11,000 patents have involved the use of her cells, sadly, her family has still never received compensation or an apology for the cells that were taken from Henrietta without her permission.

[ Jill Harness ]

http://www.oddee.com/item_99173.aspx

*****************************
“Man who saved 669 kids from Death Gets a Tearful Surprise on TV”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQzqfsgftBo

*****************************
“Real Life Heroes – Good Samaritans Saving People From Death”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwF18RGZxqg

*****************************
“Where Police Meets Humanity & Heroism #1 -Real Life Heroes 2017”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLiAPRy-qEY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6jifqbf0ao

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP3OqK_4yN4

*****************************
“Lucky People Compilation”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm0ywsD9V88

*****************************
“Saving Lives – CPR Training”

American Heart Association:
We are the leader in resuscitation science, education, and training, and publisher of the official AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC. Millions of healthcare providers and others trust the AHA for their lifesaving training.

Our network of authorized AHA Training Centers and Instructors offer in-person classroom training and skills sessions. Schedule training, find contact information, or see course options for your local Training Center with our online tools.

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/CPRAndECC/CPR_UCM_001118_SubHomePage.jsp

American Red Cross:
Expert training. OSHA compliant. Affordable. If you need training in CPR for an OSHA-mandated job requirement or you just want to know how to keep your loved ones safe, the American Red Cross has world-class instructors and award-winning online courses to ensure you get training that sticks. With over 550 locations across the United States and the option to take some of the courses online through our best-in-class Simulation Learning, we offer you the flexibility and convenience get the training you need – when and where you need it. Red Cross CPR Certification classes include a free digital certificate, valid for 2 years, plus free access to digital learning materials and online refresher courses.

http://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr

*****************************
“Lifeguards Save Lives”

American Lifeguard Association:
http://americanlifeguard.com/

American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/lifeguarding

*****************************
“What Kind of a Christian Are You?”

Here are some questions meant to get you to think and examine yourself to help you see what kind of a Christian you are, maybe to see if you really are one. The Holy Spirit can prompt you. He can let you know about sin and righteousness (John 16:8). Lovingly and humbly submit yourself to Him.

Examine yourself:

– Do you believe the essentials of the Christian faith: Trinity, Jesus is God in flesh, salvation by grace through faith, Jesus rose from the dead physically?
– Do you confess that you are a sinner before a holy God? (Rom. 3:23)
– Do you confess that you cannot please God through your own efforts? (Isa. 64:6)
– Do you acknowledge that Jesus is the only way to salvation? (John 14:6; Acts 4:7-12)
– Do you acknowledge that there is only one God in all the universe? (Isaiah 43:10; 44:6,8)
– Do you seek to do the will of the Lord? (Matt. 7:21)
– Do you know that God loves you and desires your relationship with Jesus? (1 Cor. 1:9).
– Do you acknowledge that sin causes a separation between you and God? (Isaiah 59:2)
– Do you approve of social agendas in the church? (Rom. 12:12)
– Do you believe that morals are relative? (Exodus 20:1-17)
– Do you suspect that reincarnation might be true? (Heb. 9:26).
– Do you casually look at the Bible as a guide book, not the rule of truth and faith? (2 Tim. 3:16)
– Do you believe that feelings are as valid as scripture to find truth? (Jer. 17:9)
– Do you believe that those who reject Christ will go to hell forever? (Matt. 25:46)
– Do you pray only when something is wrong in your life? (Phil. 4:6)
– Do you go to church only on special occasions? (Heb. 10:25)
– Do you use the Lord’s name in vain? (Exodus 20:7)
– Do you regularly watch things on TV and in the movies that you shouldn’t? (Phil. 4:8)
– Are we basically good in nature or bad? (Eph. 2:3; Psalm 51)
– Is the devil a real being? (Rev. 20:1)
– Is dust collecting on your Bible?

If you have the Son in you, the Holy Spirit will bear witness of the truth of your life in Him. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand”. (John 10:27-28).

[ Matt Slick ]

*****************************
“Beware Of The False Conversion”

[ Todd Friel ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoiLxZtBIVY

*****************************
“How Do You Know You’re Saved?”

The Bible is the foundation by which we know that we are truly saved through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

“Not everyone who says to me, ’Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ’Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ’I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (NIV, Matthew 7:21-23)

“And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God”. (NRSV, John 3:19-21)

[ Paul Washer ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IggqQmWfY9A

*****************************
“Assurance In Salvation Question”

The “golden chain” in Romans 8…those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

The real question to ask yourself: “Do I TRULY have a REAL AFFECTION for Jesus?” If “yes”, then if tells you a that you are ‘numbered among the elect’ and are destined for glory!

[ R. C. Sproul ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAKCXdlb_rA

*****************************
“What Must I Do to Be Saved?”

The Greatest Concern in the World

[ Cotton Mather ]

http://www.sowersseedreprints.com/uploads/What_Must_I_Do_to_Be_Saved_-_Cotton_Mather.pdf

*****************************
“Examine Yourself”

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?–unless indeed you fail to meet the test! – 2 Corinthians 13:5

[ Paul Washer ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky8dTyPpiAo

*****************************
“Are You Really a Christian? Take the Test!”

Todd Friel goes through a 15 question test by John Piper (from “Desiring God” website).

– The Necessity of Doing Good
– The Necessity of Obedience
– The Necessity of Holiness
– The Necessity of Forgive Others
– The Necessity of Not to Live According to the Flesh
– The Necessity of Being Free of the Love of Money
– The Necessity of Love to Christ and God
– The Necessity of Love Others
– The Necessity of Love the Truth
– The Necessity of Being Childlike
– The Necessity of Bridle the Tongue
– The Necessity of Perseverance
– The Necessity of Walking in the Light
– The Necessity of Repentance
– The Necessity of Warfare Vigilance

[ Todd Friel ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tq4Y2Nq2DrI

*****************************
“What Does it Mean That Jesus Saves?”

What does it mean that Jesus saves? How does Jesus save? Why does Jesus save? Who does Jesus save?

[ Got Questions ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JgAYHWc7PE

*****************************
“Do You Bear Fruit?”
(John 15)

[ Paul Washer ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBeT5Aef0_I

*****************************
“How God Converts the Human Soul”

There is only one thing that you absolutely and unquestionably need in life. That is an assured interest in Jesus Christ. A union with Him. Something the Bible calls, “in Christ”. When this life is over, above all else you will need to be found in Him. Which means, in this life, you will need to have a vital, connecting, living union with Him. A spiritually alive, very fervent, very real, very genuine love relationship with Him.

Once you have this true, genuine, God-given union with Jesus Christ that the Bible refers to, you’ll have something that very few people have in life. You will have attained access to the fountainhead from which virtually every other blessing and benefit that your soul could ever need, and ultimately could ever desire, flows from.

What that means in this life is, you’ll be able to say to life itself, with unwavering courage, come what may, troubles, losses, disasters, famine sicknesses, prison, or even death, I am prepared for you. You’ll be able to say, life you can bring your worst against me, but you can do me no harm. Let the winds roar and the lightning flash, and let the rain and hail fall ever so furiously, I have my house built upon a rock that cannot be move, because by being found in Christ, your worst temporal circumstances will be provided for in the short term, and worked for your good in the long term. Your final eternal destiny will be assured of the most glorious outcome possible. It is a valuable, valuable thing to be found in Christ—a thing beyond words.

How does this vital union actually take place?

This is a 12-part series.

[ Mark Kielar ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLIxAzHap9c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xye0zDvHr94

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CtLV_iyAow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BXufofZ3AQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU58XhTHfds

*****************************
“Receive Jesus”

To say“I received Jesus” means nothing until you have answered the question – as what? There are all kinds of ways to receive Jesus that have zero effect on your eternity…

[ John Piper ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1GceJxvOt4

*****************************
“How Do I Know If I’m One of God’s Elect?”

Once someone learns of the doctrine of election, this is usually the next question to be asked. Mark Kielar puts this question in perspective and shows that if you’re an unbeliever, this isn’t really what you should be concerned with yet.

[ Mark Kielar ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RClNArrlt7A

*****************************
“Of Saving Faith”

1. The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word; by which also, and by the administration of baptism and the Lord’s supper, prayer, and other means appointed of God, it is increased and strengthened. ( 2 Corinthians 4:13; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 10:14, 17; Luke 17:5; 1 Peter 2:2; Acts 20:32 )

2. By this faith a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word for the authority of God himself, and also apprehendeth an excellency therein above all other writings and all things in the world, as it bears forth the glory of God in his attributes, the excellency of Christ in his nature and offices, and the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit in his workings and operations: and so is enabled to cast his soul upon the truth thus believed; and also acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come; but the principal acts of saving faith have immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, and resting upon him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace. ( Acts 24:14; Psalms 27:7-10; Psalms 119:72; 2 Timothy 1:12; John 14:14; Isaiah 66:2; Hebrews 11:13; John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Galatians 2:20; Acts 15:11 )

3. This faith, although it be different in degrees, and may be weak or strong, yet it is in the least degree of it different in the kind or nature of it, as is all other saving grace, from the faith and common grace of temporary believers; and therefore, though it may be many times assailed and weakened, yet it gets the victory, growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ, who is both the author and finisher of our faith. ( Hebrews 5:13, 14; Matthew 6:30; Romans 4:19, 20; 2 Peter 1:1; Ephesians 6:16; 1 John 5:4, 5; Hebrews 6:11, 12; Colossians 2:2; Hebrews 12:2 ).

[ Chapter 14 of the “1689 London Baptist Confessional” ]

Entire confessional:
http://www.rblist.org/1689.pdf

*****************************
“What are Some of the Signs of Genuine Saving Faith?”

The Bible encourages us to examine ourselves to see if we are truly “in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). Thankfully, God has given us ample instruction for how we can know for sure that we have eternal life. The first epistle of John was actually written for that purpose, as it states in 1 John 5:13, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life”.

There is a series of tests in 1 John that we can use to examine ourselves and our faith. As we look at them, remember that no one will perfectly fulfill all of them all the time, but they should reveal a consistent trend that characterizes our lives as we grow in grace.

1. Do you enjoy having fellowship with Christ and His redeemed people? (1 John 1:3)
2. Would people say you walk in the light, or walk in the darkness? (1 John 1:6-7)
3. Do you admit and confess your sin? (1 John 1:8)
4. Are you obedient to God’s Word? (1 John 2:3-5)
5. Does your life indicate you love God rather than the world? (1 John 2:15)
6. Is your life characterized by “doing what is right”? (1 John 2:29)
7. Do you seek to maintain a pure life? (1 John 3:3)
8. Do you see a decreasing pattern of sin in your life? (1 John 3:5-6) [Note: this refers to not continuing in sin as a way of life, not a total absence of sin.]
9. Do you demonstrate love for other Christians? (1 John 3:14)
10. Do you “walk the walk,” versus just “talking the talk”? (1 John 3:18-19)
11. Do you maintain a clear conscience? (1 John 3:21)
12. Do you experience victory in your Christian walk? (1 John 5:4)

If you are able to truthfully answer “Yes” to these questions (or a majority of them, and are working on the others), then your life is bearing the fruit of true salvation. Jesus said that it is by our fruits that we are known as His disciples (Matthew 7:20).

Remember, we are saved by grace through faith, not by our works (Ephesians 2:8-9), but our works should display the reality of our salvation (James 2:17-18). Genuine saving faith will always produce works; a faith that is perpetually without works is no faith at all and saves no one.

[ Got Questions ]

*****************************
“True, Spiritual Conversion vs. a False, Hypocritical, Manmade One”

True conversion and regeneration is vital to being a Christian. Unfortunately, all too many in the professing church today believe that because they once said a prayer or walked an aisle that they completed “God’s checklist of salvific criteria” and are now on their way to heaven. Mark Kielar of CrossTV gives a good summary of what a true, spiritual conversion is as opposed to the false, hypocritical, manmade “conversion” that is causing so much division in the professing church these days.

This is the final part of the 12-part “How God Converts the Human Soul” series.

[ Mark Kielar ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOOcPftjA9c

*****************************
“Genuine Repentance”

– Recognition of sin
– Sorrow for sin
– Shame for sin
– Confession for sin
– Foresaking of sin
– Hatred of sin

“If all six of these elements are not present, there is no genuine repentance. If a man or women does not respond to the Good News in repentance and faith, they will not inherit eternal life”.
[ Thomas Watson ]

[ Appeared on “Wretched” show by Todd Friel ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2xfAQ8ZLOg

*****************************
“How Can One Know If They Have Been Regenerated?”

Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason discusses how we can be sure of our salvation.

– Having a ‘awareness’ that Jesus has rescued you
– You are on a different ‘trajectory’ than the ‘world’
– There is ‘evidence’ in your life that you believe (works)

[ Greg Koukl ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H6REZnHm9A

*****************************
“Are You Saved?”

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you–unless, of course, you fail the test?” – 2 Corinthians 13:5

Are you saved? In this comprehensive discussion of eternal salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we will look into the beliefs of David Platt, Penn Jillette, Tim Keller, and Charles Spurgeon regarding eternity, Heaven, Hell, and Judgement. We’ll answer many common questions regarding salvation including: “How can I be saved?”, “What is belief?”, “How can a ‘Loving God’ send people to Hell?”, and “Can I lose my salvation?”. We’ll dive into Biblical examples of salvation including The Thief on The Cross, Zacchaeus, Cornelius the Centurion, and the Church in the Book of Acts. Together we’ll discuss the importance of obedience, biblical church planting, forgiveness, as well as Jesus’ teaching’s on Treasure in Heaven and God & Money. Finally, we will read together The Parable of The Good Samaritan, The Parable of The Unmerciful Servant, and The Separation of The Sheep and The Goats.

[ Rich Tidwell ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFoH0xPf0xg

*****************************
“To Save A Life”

An indie movie about the real-life challenges of teens and the choices they face.

Ever since Jake Taylor was a kid, he was the type of guy you couldn’t help but like. For Jake, life is good. He has a ton of friends, a basketball scholarship, a hot girlfriend and a really bright future. Not much to get down about, right?

Enter Roger Dawson. He was Jakes childhood best friend before Jakes growing popularity pushed him out. Tired of not fitting in and having a place to belong, Roger walks onto campus and, with a gun in his pocket and pain in his heart, makes a tragic move.

Jake is devastated by what Roger has done, and something in him changes. In seeking answers in his own life, one question plagues him the most: Could I have saved him? He finds himself deeply compelled to reach out to kids on the fringe kids who aren’t viewed as cool enough. But this decision among other things, threatens Jakes world. He may lose his friends, his scholarship and even his reputation by asking What do I want my life to be about?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvXktDeAEmU

*****************************
“Search and You’ll Get Saved”
(Parody of “Surfin’ USA” by The Beach Boys)

If everybody had a notion – how close that you might be
Then everbody’d be searchin’ – right down upon their knees
You’d see ’em carryin’ their Bibles – and not just Sundays, too
There’d be a push to form prayer groups – searchin’ to get saved
They’d pack the churches and close bars
(Seek and find now’s the time to get saved)
And stand around in line
(Seek and find now’s the time to get saved)
Cram the pews like dance halls
(Seek and find now’s the time to get saved)
You’d wonder where they’d been
(Seek and find now’s the time to get saved)
Although it ain’t happened
(Seek and find now’s the time to get saved)
Get on your knees and pray
(Seek and find now’s the time to get saved)
Everybody’s goin’ searchin’ – search and you’ll get saved
You know this planet’s a balloon
It’s gonna break real soon
The time is now to search for
Your next place to move
We’ll all be goin’ to somewhere
There’s just two places to stay
Tell the preacher you’re searchin’ – searchin’ to get saved
Get on your knees ’cause God made
(Seek and find now’s the time to get saved)
Specific promises
(Seek and find now’s the time to get saved)
Said that those who really want Me
(Seek and find now’s the time to get saved)
Are gonna seek My face
(Seek and find now’s the time to get saved)
With all of their hearts now
(Seek and find now’s the time to get saved)
They’ll find-a Me that day
(Seek and find now’s the time to get saved)
Everybody’s goin’ searchin’ – search and you’ll get saved

LEAD
Everybody’s goin’ searchin’ – search and you’ll get saved
Everybody’s goin’ searchin’ – search and you’ll get saved
Everybody’s goin’ searchin’ – search and you’ll get saved
Everybody’s goin’ searchin’ – search and you’ll get saved

[ ApologetiX – “Chosen Ones” album ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_ajykFFI0w

*****************************
“Dude Would Like to Save Me”
(Christian parody of “Dude Looks Like a Lady” by Aerosmith)

That, that — dude would like to save me
That, that — dude would like to save me
That, that — dude would like to save me
That, that — dude would like to save me

Boozin’ in a bar, I was floored
A Christian met me out by the door
He said, “God wants to come in your life
Baby, say do you know where you’d go if you died — tonight?”

I said, “I haven’t got time”.
And I lied and told him, “I’m not afraid”.
Forgiveness was the thing on his mind
And he whipped out a Bible, tried to show me the way
CHORUS

“Never judge the Book by its cover,”
The dude, he said, “It’s not like those others”.
Said, “God put these lines
Here like Romans 10:9
So everybody callin’ Jesus Lord could have eternal life”.
CHORUS

(Baby if you call on Him now)
Let me take a deep breath
(Baby if you call on Him now)
Dude, could you review it all again?
(Baby if you call on Him now)
Turn to Romans 3:10
(Baby if you call on Him now)
Do it, do it, do it, ooh whee!
LEAD

Ooh, how could He save me
When I’d been, I’d been, I’d been quite bad?
Ooh Jesus forgave me
Yeah!
CHORUS

[ ApologetiX – “Wise Up and Rock” album ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dCR_hE32l8

*****************************
“The Real Sin Savior”
(Parody of “The Real Slim Shady” originally performed by Eminem)

May I have your repentance please?
May I have your repentance please?
Will you tell Him “Save me” and please stand up?
I repeat … will you tell Him “Save me” and please stand up?
We’re gonna have to prophet here
Y’all act like you never seen a nice person before
You oughta hope in the Lord
Your panting tongue is just thirstin’ for more
You started lookin’ around searchin’ cause you’re
Uncertain you’re sure you know where you’re goin’ eternally
If you return to God … ah, wait, no, wait, we’re sinning
We couldn’t get saved with the things we did, can we?
And Dr. J. says — nothing you did is such a grave sin
It costs you salvation
Ha Ha — Heavenly livin’s above every man
“Chick-a-chick-a-chick-a he’s crazy!
I’m sick of them ’born agains’
Walkin’ around askin’ if you know God — speakin’ of You Know Who
Yeah, but there’s no proof though”
Yeah, probably got a couple of you who think I lack proof
But no worse than what’s goin’ on in America’s classrooms
Sometimes I wanna get on TV and just spread the truth
But can’t — but the school can tell me we come from evolution
“My mama was a fish — my mama was a fish”
“And if we’re monkeys you might as well forget original sin!”
And that’s the message that we deliver to little kids
And expect them not to question on their own if God exists
Of course they’re gonna wonder if the Lord’s fake
By the time they hit fourth grade
They got the Easter Bunny and Santa don’t they?
We ain’t shinin’ examples
Well some of the scandals are caused by people posin’ as evangelists
But if Jesus loved His enemies and Pharisees
Then there’s no reason that you can’t get another chance and believe
But if you feel a slight chill — I got the anti-freeze
This is not a fantasy — it’s important and it’s free
I’ve sinned greatly, but Christ’s for real, baby
It’s a wonder He saved me and just didn’t hate me
So won’t you tell Him “Save me”
Please stand up, please stand up, please stand up
Yes, I’ve been crazy, yes, I’ve been real shady
Always wanted Him to save me, but just didn’t say it
So won’t you tell Him “Save me”
Please stand up, please stand up, please stand up
Will Smith don’t gotta discuss the Christian path to salvation
Well, I do — it affects him and affects you too
You think I give a care if he likes my parodies
Half of you kiddies won’t even look at me, let alone stare at me
But J., what if we pray? Wouldn’t we be weird?
Why? Would you guys reject Christ just to fit with your peers
So you can live in fear for the next 60 years
This ain’t imaginary better get prepared
The price of sin yes it costs us dearly with death first
And when that part is over if you ain’t saved it gets even worse
Little chance they’ll put me now on MTV
Yeah, it’s true, but I think he’d scare all the kids — ree ree!
I said now’s when they oughta know and John 3:3
It shows the whole world how they need born again to be free
I’m singin’ you little girls and boys spoofs
All you do is ignore me
Though I have been sent here to inform you
And there’s a million of us just like me you judge like me
Were just like triple fudge ice cream; we’re just quite sweet
You watch Saul in Acts 9:3
You just might see you’re just like him — You’re not fightin’ me
I’ve sinned greatly, but Christ He still saved me
From a hundred temptations and death, sin and Hades
So won’t you tell Him “Save me”
Please stand up, please stand up, please stand up
Yes, my sinned shamed me, yet I’ve been healed lately
God the Father forgave me from messin’ with Satan
So won’t you tell Him “Save me”
Please stand up, please stand up, please stand up
I’m like a breath mint you listen to but I’m only givin’ you
Things you thought about in your head with my religious group
The only difference is I got the call to say it in front of y’all
And I don’t gotta be Paul — the Book I quote has it all
I just get out a Bible and read it and whether you like it you need it
As sure as I can see that better than 90 percent of you happen to doubt me
Then you wonder how can kids give up their values I tell you it’s funny
Cause at the place I’m goin’ when I’m buried
I’ll see the only person in the world I know who’s worthy
He’s the first and last and I’m J. Jackson I’m the worst
And I’m a jerk and Jesus knows that but my braggin’ wasn’t workin’
And every single person needs a sin savior urgently
You could be working on a burglary or sittin’ in a nunnery
Or keepin’ part of the law perfectly screamin’ “I don’t sin that much”
Puttin’ Christians down sayin’ “It’s just a crutch”
So if you’re still waiting please stand up
Cause this wonderful singer’s time is eaten up
And it’s time to get off your behind and out of the row
Come on down — now is your chance — how do I know?
CHORUS
I guess there’s a sin Savior for all of us — Let’s all stand up

[ ApologetiX – “Keep The Change” album ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCWUHZxdpcw

*****************************
“Regeneration”
(Parody of “My Generation” by The Who)

People try to put us down (Talkin’ ’bout regeneration)
Just because we’re heaven-bound (Talkin’ ’bout …)
They may stew and scoff and scold (Talkin’ ’bout …)
I know I’ll die with a born-again soul (Talkin’ ’bout …)
This is regeneration — this is regeneration, baby
Who don’t you all find the Way (Talkin’ ’bout regeneration)
And go to Titus 3:5 and see what it says (Talkin’ ’bout …)
I’m not talkin’ ’bout artificial resuscitation (Talkin’ ’bout …)
Just talkin’ ’bout re-generation
This is regeneration — this regeneration, baby
Who don’t you all find the Way (Talkin’ ’bout regeneration)
What John chapter 3 verse 3 does say (Talkin’ ’bout …)
And First Peter 1:23 says the same thing (Talkin’ ’bout …)
It’s just talkin’ ’bout regeneration (Talkin’ ’bout …)
This is regeneration — this regeneration, baby
Re-re-re-re-re-generation
If you’re tired of puttin’ us down (Talkin’ ’bout regeneration)
And you wanna be heaven-bound (Talkin’ ’bout …)
Here’s what to do to save your soul (Talkin’ ’bout …)
Put hope in Christ before you get old (Talkin’ ’bout …)
This is regeneration — this regeneration, baby
Re-re-re-re-re-generation
This is not imagination — this is not exaggeration
This is not meditation — this is not vegetation
Hope you got reservations — please do not change the station

[ ApologetiX – “Grace Period” album ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2FMeni7pHc

*****************************
“Born Above”
(Parody of “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen)

In the day he went about on the streets
Doing run of the mill Pharisee things
At night he met with his master, the Lord, he said
Show us what You mean
I’m a sage but You’re highly divine
Your wisdom’s respected and second-to-none, top of the line
Oh — Jesus said, Now, if you’re born from above
You can get that — you can go where I’m at
You gotta get it while you’re young
’Cause you can’t find much, baby till you’re born above
That’s what He told Him
Yeah, He said to Him, you gotta be born again
If you want God to increase your vision
Just like the wind blows just where it wills
The same thing happens to Christians
You never see it make its path — yet somehow you know
Baby, whenever it blows past
Oh — will you walk with Me out on the water?
Cause baby I can prepare you to know the Father
If you wanna know, here’s the deal:
You must become a little child
If you wanna know that God is real
Oh, let Me show you
Beyond this planet, Heaven’s got a home
Seems like it’s really far
The world’s not aware but it’s really near
And they don’t have to look so hard
The amusing part is the door’s in your heart
It’s just somehow out of reach in your midst
You gotta die with Me daily or you wait to die
And get everlasting death
The highway’s jammed with folks whose steering’s
Gonna get them burned alive
Well, everybody wants on the road to God
But there’s no way there but Mine
Together, Nicky, we can live at this address
I’ll scrub you of all the badness in your soul
Someday when you’re born again
You’re gonna get to that place you really wanna go
And you’ll walk with the Son
But till then — can’t find much baby till you’re born above
Uh, buddy — can’t find much baby till you’re born above
C’mon with Me — can’t find much baby till you’re born above

[ ApologetiX – “Grace Period” album ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVgkHq3oJRk

*****************************
“Two-Time Baby/Lord’s House Blues”
(Parody of “Love Me Two Times/Roadhouse Blues” by The Doors)

I’m a two-time baby, born twice today
I’m a two-time man, ’cause I’m born again
I’m a two-time man, once born in Adam, once with Christ within
I’m a two-time, I’m born again
Born one time, it was bleak
Born one time, baby, yeah, my flesh was weak
Born a two-time man, trust Him my soul to keep
I’m a two-time, I’m born again — Oh yeah!
You gotta rule, rule, rule
You gotta heal my soul, all right
Rule, rule, rule, rule and fill my soul
You gotta teach me how to reach Ya
Walk and talk, I wanna preach it to the nations, Bible revelation
I believe Ya, Jesus, come in my life
I sure need Ya! I sure need Ya! It’s up to You now! It’s up to You now!
Save this sinner! Save us sinners! My Lord!
Well, but once you been born again ya got nothin’ to fear
Well, but once you been born again, ya got nothin’ to fear
Your future is certain when the end is drawing near
Let Him rule, baby, rule! Let Him rule, baby, rule!
Let Him rule, baby, rule! Let Him rule – Oh, my Lord!

[ ApologetiX – “Apol-acoustiX” album ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9x9Rvo9xJ4

*****************************
“Born-Again Child”
(Parody of “Born to be Wild” by Steppenwolf)

Yes, the Lord is comin’ — straight out of the skyway
Lookin’ for repentance — whosoever calls His name
Yeah, God’s a-gonna make it happen
Take the world at a sudden pace
Find all of the ones He wants and export ’em to space
Like a stroke of lightnin’ — every man that’s on earth
Will see Him again — are you ready now, I wonder
Yeah, God’s a-gonna make it happen
Shake the world and its stubborn ways
Find all of His sons at once and head home to His place
And if you use faith just now — you’ll be born, born again, child
You can fly so high — you’re never gonna die
Born-again child, born-again child
Yes, the Lord is comin’ — get out of your wild ways
Look in Romans 10 first — do whatever stuff it says
Yeah, God’s a-gonna make it happen
Save the world with His lovin’ grace
Find out what He wants from us, and just grow in your faith
And with a new nature now, yeah, you’re born, born again, child
You can fly so high — you’re never gonna die
Born-again child, born-again child

[ ApologetiX – “Chosen Ones” album ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbiqM4efEZk

*****************************
*****************************

DEEP THOUGHTS:

“Assurance is never to be enjoyed on the basis of a past experience. there is need of the present and continuing work of the Holy Spirit…in giving assurance.”
[ Jonathan Edwards ]

“God aims first to renew man’s darkened spirit by imparting life to it, because it is this spirit which God originally designed to receive His life and to commune with Him. God’s intent after that is to work out from the spirit to permeate man’s soul and body.”
[ Watchman Nee ]

“Receive every day as a resurrection from death, as a new enjoyment of life; meet every rising sun with such sentiments of God’s goodness, as if you had seen it, and all things, new-created upon your account: and under the sense of so great a blessing, let your joyful heart praise and magnify so good and glorious a Creator.”
[ William Law ]

“Through salvation our past has been forgiven, our present is given meaning, and our future is secured.”
[ Rick Warren ]

“The creation of a new heart, the renewing of a right spirit is an omnipotent work of God. Leave it to the Creator. He which hath begun a good work in you will perfect it unto that day.”
[ Henry Drummond ]

“If you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ you are free.”
[ Dwight L. Moody ]

“As is true of man who is born naturally and receives a human nature from his parents, so man born anew receives a new nature, a new capacity for service and devotion to God.”
[ John F. Walvoord ]

“Faith is the evidence of new birth, not the cause of it.”
[ John Piper ]

“The same Jesus Who turned water into wine can transform your home, your life, your family, and your future. He is still in the miracle-working business, and His business is the business of transformation.”
[ Adrian Rogers ]

“The Jews looked upon a serpent to be freed from serpents; and we look upon the death of Christ to be delivered from death.”
[ St. Augustine ]

“This new birth in Christ, thus firmly believed and continually desired, will do everything that thou wantest to have done in thee, it will dry up all the springs of vice, stop all the workings of evil in thy nature, it will bring all that is good into thee, it will open all the gospel within thee, and thou wilt know what it is to be taught of God.”
[ William Law ]

“When we are born again, a new life – the life of God – is put into us by the Holy Spirit.”
[ F.B. Meyer ]

“The Spiritual Life is the gift of the Living Spirit. The spiritual man is no mere development of the Natural man. He is a New Creation born from Above.”
[ Henry Drummond ]

“It is our privilege to know that we are saved.”
[ Dwight L. Moody ]

“Do you concede that saving faith consists in a true and proper receiving of the Lord Jesus Christ, as scripture so plainly declares? Then let me persuade you to EXAMINE YOURSELVES in this great point of faith. Reflect solemnly upon the transactions that have been between Christ and your own soul think closely on this subject of meditation.

If all you are worth in the world lay in one precious stone, and that stone were to be tested by the skilled I and hand of a jeweler…(to determine whether it was genuine or counterfeit)…surely your thoughts could not be unconcerned about the issue. But all that you’re worth in both this life and the next does, in fact depend upon the genuineness of your faith…which is now about to be tried.

So I beseech you: Listen not to these words with a wandering, careless mind. But, rather, seriously and attentively ponder the matter before you!

You would not be willing to put out to sea (even if we’re only to cross a narrow channel) and a rotten, leaky vessel. And dare you venture into the infinite ocean of eternity and a false, rotten faith?! God forbid.

You know the Lord is coming. And when he does, He will try every man’s faith with fire. And then we will stand or fall with the genuineness or hypocrisy of our faith…forever!

Surely, therefore, you can never be too exact and careful about that on which your whole estate depends…and on which it depends forever.”
[ John Flavel – From the “The Method of Grace” (1681) ]

“A quick summary of the Christian “Gospel”:
JESUS’ PROPITIATION made our SINS FORGIVEN and IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS to us so that we have GOD’S ACCEPTANCE into His Heaven and ETERNAL LIFE.”
[ Mark Besh ]

 

*****************************
*****************************

Hope you enjoyed some of these insights—share them with your friends and colleagues—so we can have a larger ’pool’ to receive from, and more to share with! Also, remember to include your name as the “source,” if some of this wisdom is of your doing—I would like to give credit where credit is due!

 

*** FOCUS VERSES ***

“Saved From Death”

“I love the Lord because he hears my voice
and my prayer for mercy.
Because he bends down to listen,
I will pray as long as I have breath!
Death wrapped its ropes around me;
the terrors of the grave[a] overtook me.
I saw only trouble and sorrow.
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“Please, Lord, save me!”
How kind the Lord is! How good he is!
So merciful, this God of ours!
The Lord protects those of childlike faith;
I was facing death, and he saved me.
Let my soul be at rest again,
for the Lord has been good to me.
He has saved me from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling.
And so I walk in the Lord’s presence
as I live here on earth!
I believed in you, so I said,
“I am deeply troubled, Lord”.
In my anxiety I cried out to you,
“These people are all liars!”
What can I offer the Lord
for all he has done for me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and praise the Lord’s name for saving me.
I will keep my promises to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.
The Lord cares deeply
when his loved ones die.
O Lord, I am your servant;
yes, I am your servant, born into your household;
you have freed me from my chains.
I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the Lord.
I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people—
in the house of the Lord
in the heart of Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord!”

[ Psalm 116 ]

“Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.”
[ 1 Peter 1:21-23 ].

Mark

*****************************
*****************************
If you have a ‘neat’ story or some thoughts about an issue or current event that you would like me to try to respond to, I would be glad to give it a try…so, send them to me at: mbesh@comcast.net

Disclaimer: All the above jokes & inspirations are obtained from various sources and copyright are used when known. Other than our name and headers, we do not own the copyright to any of the materials sent to this list. We just want to spread the ministry of God’s love and cheerfulness throughout the world.

·.¸¸.·´¯`·.. ><((((‘>
><((((‘> ·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·..><((((‘> ·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.. ><((((‘>
·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·..><((((‘>
><((((‘> ·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.><((((‘>