Category Archives: SIN

Less IS More??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #386

18 Friday Aug 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Confidence, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Less IS More?, Let You Light So Shine, Salvation, SIN, The Word, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs  #386 Less IS More???

 

“Now then we are ambassadors

for Christ,

as though God did beseech you

by us:

we pray you

in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him

to be sin

for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be

made the righteousness

of God

in him.”    2 Corinthians 5:20-21

God grants salvation to those who come to Jesus in repentance and faith, and He does that on the basis of the substitutionary (in my place), atoning (paying a debt due) sacrifice (The offering made to satisfy the payment due.) of Jesus. His blood not only cleanses us from ‘sin’, but also gives us new life in HIM! The sinLESS Son of God paid the price for my sinFULLness!

“Therefore if any man be

in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.”    2 Corinthians 5:17

Jesus can make us new because He came, God in flesh, to deliver us from the penalty for SIN, through His sacrifice, making us a “new creature” with abundant life IN HIM!

“I am the door:

by me

if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come

that they might have life,

and that they might have it

more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd

giveth his life

for the sheep.” John 10:10-11

Jesus came that you and I might have abundant life—more—in HIM!!! He paid the price for me and for you; for in His sinLESS deity, He sacrificed His life for mine!

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted

like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”   Hebrews 4:14-16

He came as the sinLESS Son of God, and paid for our sinFULness with His own body on the cross, giving more than HE owed (which was nothing) that we would owe, not only “less”, but nothing; all because He loves us and wants us to know Him and real, abundant life—MORE than we could ever comprehend!

“For even hereunto were ye called:

because Christ also suffered for us,

leaving us an example,

that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin,

neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled,

reviled not again;

when he suffered,

he threatened not;

but committed himself to him

that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self

bare our sins

in his own body on the tree,

that we,

being dead to sins,

should live unto righteousness:

by whose stripes ye were healed.”    1 Peter 2:21-24

This sinLESS Son of God came and paid the price for me—for you. The choice is mine/yours—will we receive HIM and have ‘more’ through His blood, or will we settle for ‘less’ by refusing the only payment for our sin debt; for sin has a price—you can pay it yourself or open the door to the Son of God and receive His grace gift of salvation!

“For all have sinned,

and come short

of the glory of God;”   Romans 3:23

“But now being made free from sin,

and become servants to God,

ye have your fruit unto holiness,

and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”    Romans 6:22-23

Will you choose more in the sinLESS Son of God? The choice is yours, but choose wisely, there is a test at the end! And if we are following Jesus, then we ought to reflect HIS life “more abundantly” and:

“Let your light so shine

before men,

that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father

which is in heaven.”     Matthew 5:16

And we can only do this by HIS power and His Spirit’s presence and work within our hearts, as we die to ‘self’ and “live by the faith of the Son of God”! Less or More?

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live

in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself

for me.”   Galatians 2:20

 

Be Fruitful And Multiply??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No. 6

13 Sunday Aug 2017

Posted by in Be Fruitful And Multiply!, Confidence, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Salvation, Sharing Our Faith!, SIN, The Only Way, The Word, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.6 Be Fruitful And Multiply???

 

I’m sure the title turned a few heads, and yes we will be looking at what God says about ‘fruitfulness’, but not just in the way you may be thinking about. I find it interesting that our world is facing a great conflict of hatred and division. And while division is a statistical fact—it shouldn’t be the driving force of a nation, or of a “United” people. But what are we united in? There is only one place where we are truly united, and that is in Jesus and in our single-minded devotion to Him, to God’s Word, and to His ways. But we have allowed the world to separate us from God—the world and its sin! And sin will always separate us from God and also from one another. And we can’t multiply effectively, if we are divided, and separated.

“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened,

that it cannot save;

neither his ear heavy,

that it cannot hear:

2 But your iniquities have separated

between you

and your God,

and your sins have hid

his face

from you,

that he will not hear.

3 For your hands are defiled with blood,

and your fingers with iniquity;

your lips have spoken lies,

your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

4 None calleth for justice,

nor any pleadeth for truth:

they trust in vanity,

and speak lies;

they conceive mischief,

and bring forth iniquity.” Isaiah 59:1-4

Isaiah assessed the problem of his people, and their problem was SIN, just as it is ours today! Their choice to sin instead of repent and turn to God had separated them from their God—and we see these same things abounding around us today. I hope that you will rehearse the list that Isaiah gave us—they were violent (taking innocent blood), they dabbled in sin, they abounded in lies, and things that are willfully contrary to truth and goodness, while justice was ignored. No one wanted to seek God, or desired to hear truth, much less take a stand for it; instead they trusted in vanity, lies and deception; they multiplied mischief and sin in all their ways. When we continually commit sin, and live in it, we are being fruitful in the wrong things! James paints an amazing picture of the ‘fruit’ that sin brings forth.

“From whence come wars and fightings

among you?

come they not hence,

even of your lusts

that war in your members?

2 Ye lust,

and have not:

ye kill,

and desire to have,

and cannot obtain:

ye fight and war,

yet ye have not,

because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask,

and receive not,

because ye ask amiss,

that ye may consume it

upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not that the friendship

of the world

is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore will be a friend

of the world

is the enemy of God.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,

The spirit that dwelleth in us

lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore

to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

ye double minded.

9 Be afflicted,

and mourn,

and weep:

let your laughter

be turned to mourning,

and your joy

to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves

in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.” James 4:1-10

James calls us to examine our lives and to be sure that we are living a life that seeks God and His ways, not the world and the lusts that drive people to do and say things that cause harm and shame God! What does this mean to us? I think it means we must not exalt ourselves, but instead we must simply “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up”! To multiply we must have life—the life of Jesus within us; we must be ‘born again’! Just as God gave life to Adam and Eve, He gives life to the lost sinner who comes to Him in repentance and faith in the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice of Jesus—the One who paid for our sin! Our only hope for ‘abundant life’!

What does all this have to do with the beginning? Let’s check it out to see.

“So God created man

in his own image,

in the image of God

created he him;

male and female

created he them.

28 And God blessed them,

and God said unto them,

Be fruitful,

and multiply,

and replenish the earth,

and subdue it:

and have dominion over

the fish of the sea,

and over the fowl of the air,

and over every living thing

that moveth upon the earth.”    Genesis 1:27-28

God created man and commissioned him to “Be fruitful, and multiply,” Man was created by God for communion with Himself, and to be the compliment and crowning glory of His wonderful creation. He gave us a command to “Be fruitful, and multiply,” that there would be abundant life on His new earth. But was God only referring to reproduction in the physical realm? Or can we glean more from this instruction than just physical reproduction? God spoke a great word of encouragement about Abraham, and his relation to his offspring that gives us some insight into this area.

“And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

18 Seeing that Abraham

shall surely become a great

and mighty nation,

and all the nations of the earth

shall be blessed in him?

19 For I know him,

that he will command his children

and his household after him,

and they shall keep the way

of the LORD,

to do justice

and judgment;

that the LORD may bring upon Abraham

that which he hath spoken of him.”    Genesis 18:17-19

God knew that Abraham would not only multiply physically, but that he would multiply the spiritual direction of his family by commanding them in the way of the Lord. Moses also spoke to this same idea of what I call “spiritual fruitfulness”! We ought to multiply spiritually by spreading the gospel beginning in our families, and going out into the world as we have opportunity. The need is great and we are the only plan of God to spread the “Good News”. Moses gave clear instructions to this end!

“Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:

2 That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes

and his commandments,

which I command thee,

thou,

and thy son,

and thy son’s son,

all the days of thy life;

and that thy days

may be prolonged.

3 Hear therefore, O Israel,

and observe to do it;

that it may be well with thee,

and that ye may increase mightily,

as the LORD God

of thy fathers

hath promised thee,

in the land that floweth

with milk and honey.

4 Hear, O Israel:

The LORD our God is one LORD:

5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God

with all thine heart,

and with all thy soul,

and with all thy might.

6 And these words, which I command thee

this day,

shall be in thine heart:

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently

unto thy children,

and shalt talk of them

when thou sittest in thine house,

and when thou walkest by the way,

and when thou liest down,

and when thou risest up.

8 And thou shalt bind them

for a sign upon thine hand,

and they shall be as frontlets

between thine eyes.

9 And thou shalt write them

upon the posts of thy house,

and on thy gates……

20 And when thy son asketh thee

in time to come, saying,

What mean the testimonies,

and the statutes,

and the judgments,

which the LORD our God

hath commanded you?

21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son,

We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt;

and the LORD brought us out

of Egypt

with a mighty hand:”    Deuteronomy 6:1-9 & 20-21

God wants us to clearly understand that our first responsibility is to have a relationship with Him, to “love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” And in order to truly love God we must know Jesus (In the Old Testament, to believe that HE was coming, now to know that He has accomplished the promised salvation at Calvary and His resurrection!). We must understand that God’s love is imparted to those who receive The Son.  And when we know and love Him, we have the opportunity to share with our loved ones and live out our faith.

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access

by faith

into this grace

wherein we stand,

and rejoice

in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation

worketh patience;

4 And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

5 And hope

maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God

is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength,

in due time

Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love

toward us,

in that,

while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:1-8

God multiplied His love, in Jesus, at the cross and by putting His love into those who come to Jesus! Not that we deserved it, or earned it, but because God chose to love us first, and we cant’ help but to share the love and grace He gives to us with all He places in our path.

“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:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.” John 1:12-13

And John expands this teaching again in 1 John.

“Whosoever shall confess

that Jesus is the Son of God,

God dwelleth in him,

and he in God.

16 And we have known and believed

the love that God hath to us.

God is love;

and he that dwelleth in love

dwelleth in God,

and God in him.

17 Herein is our love made perfect,

that we may have boldness

in the day of judgment:

because as he is,

so are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love;

but perfect love casteth out fear:

because fear hath torment.

He that feareth

is not made perfect in love.

19 We love him,

because he first loved us.

20 If a man say,

I love God,

and hateth his brother,

he is a liar:

for he that loveth not his brother

whom he hath seen,

how can he love God

whom he hath not seen?

21 And this commandment have we from him,

That he who loveth God

love his brother also.”   1 John 4:15-21

Once again, we have a picture of the love of God that is given to us to be shared with others. God’s love will reflect itself in our responses and our actions toward others.

But there is even more in scripture that helps us understand the import of ‘fruitfulness’ in our lives—both physical and spiritual. We are to love God, life, and children—all which originate with God and His grace!

“Lo, children

are an heritage of the LORD:

and the fruit of the womb

is his reward.

4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man;

so are children of the youth.

5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver

full of them:

             they shall not be ashamed,

but they shall speak

with the enemies in the gate.”    Psalm 127:3-5

It saddens my heart that our culture claims to ‘love’ children, yet we kill the unborn, we choose self over parenthood, and we weigh parenthood by its convenience and cost, not by The Word of God! God says that children are His blessing—but are we choosing to pursue God’s blessings or the so-called blessings of the world—self, material gain and avoidance of parentage. It seems that we want to be ‘happy’ in our own ways—not God’s ways. But even more importantly we are also avoiding spiritual parentage. When we do help someone come to Jesus, we often abandon them to the world, rather than nourishing them and bringing them to spiritual maturity, a principle that is true in both the physical realm and the spiritual.

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4

Did you get that, “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”? We are to be fruitful and multiply on all fronts, and as Paul so aptly put it—the fruit is the evidence—both physical fruitfulness and spiritual fruitfulness!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust

of the flesh………

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;

Adultery,

fornication,

uncleanness,

lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry,

witchcraft,

hatred,

variance,

emulations,

wrath,

strife,

seditions,

heresies,

21 Envyings,

murders,
drunkenness,

revellings,

and such like:

of the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit

the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

longsuffering,

gentleness,

goodness,

faith,

23 Meekness,

temperance:

against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections

and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”     Portions of Galatians 5:17-25

Our actions are our fruit; both physical and spiritual. And notice, it’s the “fruit” of the Spirit, not the ‘fruits’! God’s Spirit and His work within the redeemed is the evidence of His love within us that manifests itself in multiplied ways!!! So my question for today is, “Are we being fruitful, and multiplying in this world?” Do we truly have God’s vision toward physical life? Do we truly have God’s vision toward spiritual multiplication in this world? Am I doing my part? I pray that God will open our eyes to see as He sees. May we truly believe and sing together:

“Be Thou My Vision”!!! (By Dallon Forgaill)

May we see with God’s eyes in the physical and the spiritual!!  Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

The Problem With LSD??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No. 4

30 Sunday Jul 2017

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choose You This Day!, Death, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Let You Light So Shine, LSD?, Lust, Salvation, SIN, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.4 The Problem With LSD???

 

Well, for sure that title got some of you to open this page, but it’s not quite what you might expect, we’re going to talk about the danger of “lust”, “sin”, and “death” not the hallucinogenic drug—although they both have a danger that people need to be aware of—death! We’re going to see what James says about this very thing, and hopefully help us all be more aware of the dangers around us.

God sent Jesus to pay the price for sin, for all who will come to Him in repentance and faith. But no one ever comes to Jesus for forgiveness of sin and salvation until they see the reality of sin in their own lives. Why would anyone need a Savior who had no sin? Yet scripture is replete with the truth that we are all in the same boat when it comes to “sin”; we are all drowning in a sea of sin, and Jesus is the Only life-preserver. And while Jesus is the Only way to ‘life’, I think it will be helpful for us to remind ourselves and those around us of the real dangers of sin.

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

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

Jesus Christ is the “the gift of God”, coming to be the payment for our sin. But what does sin look like? Is it just a list of ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’, or is it even more basic than that? We all face temptations in this world, because of Adam and Eve’s sin and the curse of death that it brought—that is called original sin. But we also sin because our flesh likes and chooses sin over God’s way? We are all dead in our sin because we are born in sin, and because we choose to sin. We don’t need to teach our children to lie, but they certainly seem to pick it up without instructions. Why? How? Because every person is born with the inclination to sin, and our weak and selfish flesh wants what it wants, when it wants it, and usually right NOW! (See Ephesians 2:1-10)

But God has a better way, He sent Jesus to give us the power to overcome sin by the blood of the Lamb of God.

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29

“These things I have spoken unto you,

that in me ye might have peace.

In the world

ye shall have tribulation:

but be of good cheer;

I have overcome the world.”   John 16:33

We all have tribulation and temptation in this world, but when we come to Jesus we have the power to overcome the pull and defeat of sin, all because He has overcome sin, death and hell with His own blood which made the sacrifice for our sin; He is the One who came, the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” He paid the price for my sin and yours, and will He give us abundant life and peace with God, all because He loves us and we need a Savior!

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”    Romans 5:1

James also gives us more information that we might know the cure for sin, and how to live out our faith in Him! Knowing Jesus makes a difference, even though many today seem to have forgotten that we are called to holiness !

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober,

and hope to the end

for the grace that is to be brought

unto you

at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts

in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.”   1Peter 1:13-15

With that in mind, how are you measuring your living? Are you so enamored with the world that you don’t even see sin as sin? Have you listened to that ugly talk so much, that it seems ok now? Are you an example of holiness or ‘un’-holiness? Are you so compromised by the worldly speech, actions and motives that there is not much difference between you and the world? Do people know that you love Jesus by your manners, speech and activities, or is your life a picture of ‘anything’ goes? Have you bought into the lie that Satan has sold the world, that God doesn’t care about sin, and hell isn’t real? Let’s dig into James’ challenge to know and live in the truth of the Gospel—Jesus saves and changes lives still today, and our actions do reveal what we truly love! James 1:12-26

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation:

for when he is tried,

he shall receive the crown of life,

which the Lord hath promised

to them that love him.

13 Let no man say when he is tempted,

I am tempted of God:

for God cannot be tempted with evil,

neither tempteth he any man:

14 But every man is tempted,

when he is drawn away of his own lust,

and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived,

it bringeth forth sin:

and sin,

when it is finished,

bringeth forth death.”

James makes it clear that sin is not only our ‘birthright’ from Adam, but also our own choice for our own life. Sin comes form the desires of our flesh being illegitimate in respect to the heart, laws and pleasure of God. If God says in His Word that a thing is sin, then it is sin; no matter how much we dress it up, change the terminology, or get used to the darkness around us—sin is still sin, regardless of what the world may say. If my desire is to please God, why would I want to be intimate with sin? I need to be as distant from it as possible, not trying to walk as close to the edge as I can without falling! But James doesn’t stop there; he also encourages us to godly living. Not just a list of ‘don’ts’ but a call to higher ground—holy living!

“16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17 Every good gift

and every perfect gift

is from above,

and cometh down from the Father of lights,

with whom is no variableness,

neither shadow of turning.

18 Of his own will begat he us

with the word of truth,

that we should be a kind of firstfruits

of his creatures.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren,

let every man be swift to hear,

slow to speak,

slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man

worketh not the righteousness

of God.

21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness

and superfluity of naughtiness,

and receive with meekness

the engrafted word,

which is able to save your souls.”

James reminds believers that we are to march to a different drum than the world; we are to be followers of Jesus, marching to His drum (so to speak) and reflecting the “righteousness of God” NOT the “wrath of man”! It saddens my heart when I see those who claim the name of Jesus as their own, speaking, posting and sharing things for which they need to apologize. May I simply say; if it needs an apology before you speak/post/share it, then it is probably better left unsaid. Paul asked the Corinthians a question, which I think most aptly, applies to many in our day, some good advice, which we ought to heed.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together

with unbelievers:

for what fellowship hath righteousness

with unrighteousness?

and what communion hath light

with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ

with Belial?

or what part hath he that believeth

with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God

with idols?

for ye are the temple of the living God;

as God hath said,

I will dwell in them,

and walk in them;

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them,

and be ye separate,

saith the Lord,

and touch not the unclean thing;

and I will receive you,

18 And will be a Father unto you,

and ye shall be my sons and daughters,

saith the Lord Almighty.”    2 Corinthians 6:14-18

I don’t see a lot of coming “out from among them, and be ye separate”; instead what I see is that often times the church has invited the world in, and changed their convictions to accommodate the world; rather than preaching the Good News that Jesus saves, and allowing God, through the power of His Holy Spirit to save, change and transform lives. May God have mercy on us! James gives us good instruction for our task, and how we ought to behave/look before a lost and unregenerate (unchanged, unsaved) world!

“22 But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word,

and not a doer,

he is like unto a man

beholding his natural face

in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way,

and straightway forgetteth

what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law

of liberty,

and continueth therein,

he being not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer of the work,

this man shall be blessed

in his deed.

26 If any man among you seem to be religious,

and bridleth not his tongue,

but deceiveth his own heart,

this man’s religion is vain.”    James 1:12-26

God said it (via James) not me—but I do heartily agree. God’s Word is truth and we can believe it, and receive it; or we can defy God and His Word and allow the lust in our hearts to become sin, but that sin will lead to death. Jesus gave this same warning to Nicodemus. The Word hasn’t changed; it will never change nor will its author.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.”   Hebrews 13:8

The choice is yours, will you choose ‘lust>sin>death’? Or will you come to Jesus and receive His life instead?

“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.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name

of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.”     John 3:16-19

How about you? Will it be lust, sin and death or Jesus? And for those who already belong to Jesus, will we reflect HIS light or be dimmed by the darkness of the world? I implore you dear friends, let’s commit to “walk in the light”!

“But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.”     1 John 1:7

“Love not the world,

neither the things that are in the world.

If any man love the world,

the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world,

the lust of the flesh,

and the lust of the eyes,

and the pride of life,

is not of the Father,

but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 1:15-17

The choice is yours, but remember there is a test at the end!

Where Is Your Cross? Bible Ballistics: BBs #379

26 Wednesday Jul 2017

Posted by in Every Knee Shall Bow, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Salvation, SIN, The Word, Walking With Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: BBs  #379 Where Is Your Cross?

 

As we look around at our world it grieves me to see so many who claim the name of Jesus, but just that; they claim His name for their own reasons, without any regard for the One who gave His life on the cross for our salvation. They have no desire for a personal relationship with Jesus, but seem to only desire the benefit that can be gained from the use of HIS Holy name, or from His people. What are we to do? Jesus told us long ago about that question, and it’s one that we won’t be able to answer, except as we trust our lives to Him and follow where He leads. While we are called to stand for truth, and against blatant sin and disregard of the Holy Scriptures, we cannot always tell the real from the fake. But God can!

“Nevertheless the foundation of God

standeth sure,

having this seal,

The Lord knoweth them that are his.

And, Let every one that nameth the name

of Christ

depart from iniquity.”    2 Timothy 2:19

I have been fooled by some, I’ve been disappointed by some, and I’ve been greatly encouraged by the genuine and living faith of others. Our job is to follow the shepherd and feed the sheep, even the ‘pretenders’. We can’t force-feed those who aren’t hungry because they’ve gorged on the swill of the world, or those who are repulsed by the Word of God that we offer; but our job is the same as Jesus called Peter to before He ascended.

“Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

15 So when they had dined,

Jesus saith to Simon Peter,

Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me

more than these?

He saith unto him, Yea, Lord;

thou knowest that I love thee.

He saith unto him,

Feed my lambs.

16 He saith to him again the second time,

Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?

He saith unto him, Yea, Lord;

thou knowest that I love thee.

He saith unto him,

Feed my sheep.

17 He saith unto him the third time,

Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved

because he said unto him

the third time,

Lovest thou me?

And he said unto him,

Lord, thou knowest all things;

thou knowest that I love thee.

Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”  John 21:12-17

Without going into the depths of this marvelous encounter that Peter had with our Lord, I want us to focus on the simple way that the Master restored ‘Peter the sheep’! And as He led Peter through this exercise of soul-searching, He gave Him only one command, “Feed my sheep”!! The lambs—the young, inexperienced, head-strong lambs; the older sheep—the head-butting ones, the grumpy ones, the hungry ones, the cast-down ones—Jesus called Peter to “Feed my sheep”! And we are to feed the sheep, but we can only share what we have received, leaving the “herd” selection to the Master. Jesus told us about this, in the parable of the wheat and the tares—He knows it all!!!

“Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

29 But he said, Nay;

lest while ye gather up the tares,

ye root up also the wheat with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers,

Gather ye together first the tares,

and bind them in bundles to burn them:

but gather the wheat into my barn.”   Matthew 13:24-30

Jesus knows the wheat (His own sheep) and the tares (The wolves in ‘sheep’s clothing’), and He will render a just verdict of reward. The verdict is based on what you/I do with Jesus, the One who died to save us and give eternal life to all who will come! Only you can decide what you will do with the cross: will yours be only a piece of jewelry, with no love or commitment to the One who died on it; or have you come to Jesus, taking up your cross and following HIM? “Jesus Christ, and him crucified”—He’s MY choice?

Kewpie Doll Christianity??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No. 3

23 Sunday Jul 2017

Posted by in Choose You This Day!, Every Knee Shall Bow, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Kewpie Dolls?, Salvation, SIN, The Word, The Word Or The World?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.3  Kewpie Doll Christianity???

 

This might seem like a strange title, but I think it very descriptive of much of ‘American’ Christianity. We have gone way beyond the ‘easy believism’ that many warned about for years, to a blatant attempt to change the Gospel into something palatable for the masses—whether or not they are willing to hear and receive the way of the Cross! Jesus proclaimed openly on more than one occasion that HE IS the only way to God. The “Kewpie Doll” came from a cartoon character in the early 1900’s and I fear this is what many are wanting to make of the Gospel, just another venue of ‘entertainment’ and ‘distraction’—not the life and death issue that it is. The problem is SIN, and there is only One Way to solve the problem—His name is Jesus!

“Thomas saith unto him, Lord,

we know not whither thou goest;

and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.” John 14:5-6

Jesus is ‘the way’ to God—the only way! The way of repentance and faith in Jesus, for without Him there is no hope to escape the penalty of sin, which is death (See Romans 3:23 and 6:23).

“I said therefore unto you,

that ye shall die in your sins:

for if ye believe not that I am he,

ye shall die in your sins.” John 8:44

John chapter 8 is an amazing chapter, in that Jesus was confronting the ‘religious’ leaders of His day—those who had perverted God’s way even then. Jesus knew that He was the Son of God, yet those leaders denied Him, hated Him, and rejected His message. They refused to believer that He was the Son of God, yet Jesus very clearly told them, as He is telling people today, HE is the ONE and only way. Jesus and His substitutionary, atoning death for sin IS the only remedy for sin, the only provider of salvation, the only way to God! And when Jesus saves us, He changes us! A God change—not a man made change–a transformation that only God works in the hearts and lives of the saved, for Jesus came to redeem us from our sins, not IN them.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Sometimes the simple things are the most profound—“he shall save his people from their sins”! He came to save us from our sins that we might have real victorious, overcoming LIFE, LIFE that cost Jesus His own life’s blood on the cross! How can we neglect the import and value of His sacrifice for our salvation? Why do we so often miss this part of the Gospel, watching our culture (even our churches) dilute its impact by denying its exclusive truth and power? Yes, it is exclusive in the sense that it truly is the only way—but God opens the door to all who will come to Jesus, believing that He IS God and that His death, burial and resurrection brings salvation to all who will believe and trust in His redeeming work on the cross!

“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them,

Whosoever will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

35 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it;

but whosoever shall lose his life

for my sake

and the gospel’s,

the same shall save it.

              36 For what shall it profit a man,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

37 Or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:34-37

Jesus is the only “exchange” option for the souls of men. He gave His life for ours, and without His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice applied to our personal ‘sin’ account we must pay for our own sin. And my friends—that’s not the cutesy message that is often being presented today, it is imperative that we share the truth of the Gospel—the same message that Jesus proclaimed, not a new version!

“Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you,

I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me

are thieves and robbers:

but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come that they might have life,

and that they might have it

more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life

for the sheep.” John 10:7-11

What good, good news, news that we can boldly speak as God’s Word proclaims it, not as the ‘believe anything’ crowd would have us do. We can stand confidently in what God The Father, Jesus The Son, and the writers of scripture (Through the direction of The Holy Spirit!), have revealed about the saving, atoning, transforming power— the saving work of the blood of Jesus! It is His blood alone that brings “new life” to those who are dead in sin.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us

to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given to us the ministry

of reconciliation;

19 To wit,

that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world

unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses

unto them;

and hath committed unto us

the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors

for Christ,

as though God did beseech you

by us:

we pray you in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him

to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made

the righteousness of God

in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

The only good thing that I can claim is the “righteousness’ of Jesus!, the righteousness of The One who took my place and yours on the cross of Calvary, reconciling us to God. Jesus had “no sin” to pay for, but I had a sin-debt that I couldn’t pay without going to hell! Jesus stepped down from heaven to pay my debt—which HE didn’t owe, so you and I could have new life that we could never deserve—which cost Jesus His pure and sinless life poured out on that cross—my cross—because HE loves us. By His grace He provides salvation for all who will believe–a salvation which will be evident in our lives to one degree or another. Not every person will have the same gifts, or the same calling in their Christian walk, but all believers have a call and a walk.

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk

in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10

So whose work are you? Are you the work of the world or the work of God? Let’s look at those earlier verses in Ephesians 2. Take special note of the contrast between who we “were” and who we become “in Christ Jesus”.

“And you hath he quickened, (made alive)

who were dead in trespasses

and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked

according to the course of this world, according to the prince

of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh

in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all

had our conversation

in times past

in the lusts of our flesh,

fulfilling the desires of the flesh

and of the mind;

and were by nature

the children of wrath,

even as others.

4 But God,

who is rich in mercy,

for his great love

wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead

in sins,

hath quickened us together

with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together,

and made us sit together

in heavenly places

in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come

he might shew the exceeding riches

of his grace

in his kindness toward us

through Christ Jesus.”     Ephesians 2:1-7

As Paul proclaims, we need a Savior, because when we are lost, we are already “dead” in sin. Jesus made this same proclamation as He talked to Nicodemus. We can be bold in proclaiming the truth of the Gospel, for it is the only cure for the deadly plague of SIN. And YES my friends, Sin IS the issue—and issue the world wants to deny.

“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.

17 For God sent not his Son

into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name

of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil

hateth the light,

neither cometh to the light,

lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth

cometh to the light,

that his deeds may be made manifest,

that they are wrought in God.”    John 3:16-21

Everyone wants to quote John 3:16, but not nearly as many want to talk about the verses that follow. If we never deal with sin, why would anyone need a Savior? We must, I repeat—we must, preach the same Gospel that our Lord and Savior did, not a watered-down, half-truth version! Not the ‘Kewpie Doll’ Gospel that gives people a false hope and tells them that they can use Jesus’ name and hold on to their sin, with the ‘do it yourself’ Gospel. Only Jesus saves, and sin IS the issue! Until people recognize their sin, that they are ‘lost’ in it, they will never need a Savior to save them “from” it!

“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened,

that it cannot save;

neither his ear heavy,

that it cannot hear:

2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

3 For your hands are defiled with blood,

and your fingers with iniquity;

your lips have spoken lies,

your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

4 None calleth for justice,

nor any pleadeth for truth:

they trust in vanity,

and speak lies;

they conceive mischief,

and bring forth iniquity.” Isaiah 59:1-4

Sound familiar? Like America? Sin IS the issue, and God has the only solution, which And Isaiah reveals as he describes the solution, which God had promised—a Lamb!

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:

and we hid as it were our faces from him;

he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows:

yet we did esteem him stricken,

smitten of God,

and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions,

he was bruised for our iniquities:

the chastisement of our peace was upon him;

and with his stripes we are healed.

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.

7 He was oppressed,

and he was afflicted,

yet he opened not his mouth:

he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb,

so he openeth not his mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment:

and who shall declare his generation?

for he was cut off out of the land of the living:

for the transgression of my people

was he stricken.

9 And he made his grave with the wicked,

and with the rich in his death;

because he had done no violence,

neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him;

he hath put him to grief:

when thou shalt make his soul an offering

for sin,

he shall see his seed,

he shall prolong his days,

and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper

in his hand.

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul,

and shall be satisfied:

by his knowledge shall my righteous servant

justify many;

for he shall bear their iniquities.”    Isaiah 53:3-11

A Lamb was promised who would come and “bear their iniquities”—yours and mine. I encourage you to spend some time thinking on, praying over and absorbing the truths of what Isaiah tells us that Jesus did for us on that cross. All this planned by God, set in motion before the world began, and all because He loves us and wants a relationship with us—His creation! How about you? Are you buying (or selling) the ‘cartoon’ Gospel that makes Jesus just one option among many, or have you chosen to cling to “The Old Rugged Cross”? It was, is and ever shall be God’s only plan. There is no plan “B”! Never was—never will be! John The Baptizer recognized and revealed who this Lamb was, as He came on the scene to take care of man’s sin problem.

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith,

Behold the Lamb of God,

which taketh away the sin

of the world.” John 1:29

“And it shall come to pass,

that whosoever shall call on the name

of the Lord

shall be saved.

22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words;

Jesus of Nazareth,

a man approved of God

among you by miracles

and wonders

and signs,

which God did

by him

in the midst of you,

as ye yourselves also know:

23 Him, being delivered

by the determinate counsel

and foreknowledge

of God,

ye have taken,

and by wicked hands

have crucified and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up,

having loosed the pains of death:

because it was not possible

that he should be holden of it.”    Acts 2:21-24

It was all from God, “by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God”! God sent Jesus to die willingly, not by the clumsy, or chance design of men, but by the wonder of His plan of saving grace.

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access

by faith

into this grace

wherein we stand,

and rejoice in hope

of the glory of God…….

6 For when we were yet without strength,

in due time

Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God

commendeth his love

toward us,

in that,

while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

9 Much more then,

being now justified

by his blood,

we shall be saved

from wrath

through him.

10 For if,

when we were enemies,

we were reconciled

to God

by the death of his Son,

much more,

being reconciled,

we shall be saved

by his life.

11 And not only so,

but we also joy in God

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom we have now received

the atonement.”    Romans 5:1-2 & 6-11

That’s not cutesy or cheap—it is the redeeming, saving plan that transforms the hearts and lives of all who will believe in Him.

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption

of children

by Jesus Christ

to himself,

according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace,

wherein he hath made us accepted

in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

the forgiveness of sins,

according to the riches

of his grace;” Ephesians 1:5-7

“Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:”    Colossians 1:13-14

So my friends, it’s all up to you! Will you come to God through the saving power of the blood of the Lamb, or will you fall for the lies of the enemy—the one who doesn’t give life but is the thief of souls who:

“cometh not,

      but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy”!

The choice is every person’s to make, and if you have chosen to truly receive the salvation that Jesus bought for you and me at Calvary, then you can have the power to live that abundant life which He gives. Salvation wasn’t cheap to God—it cost Him His Son; may we ever recognize the import and value of God’s amazing gift of salvation. And when we come to Him, and become His child, He is ever working to conform us into the “image of His Son”!

“And we know that all things work together

for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed

to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate,

them he also called:

and whom he called,

them he also justified:

and whom he justified,

them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things?

If God be for us,

who can be against us?” Romans 8:28-31

“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”   Romans 11:29

You can count on God to accomplish His purpose in His own! It’s His free gift, but it’s not cheap or do-it-yourself!

“I said therefore unto you,

that ye shall die in your sins:

for if ye believe not that I am he,

ye shall die in your sins.” John 8:44

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”   Revelation 20:15

Only Jesus can write your name in HIS book, with His blood!