Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 17 One, Two, One???
This may be a short post, or it may grow as we go along, but I feel it’s a message that we need to consider. We have choices in this life—and God has made it clear that while He has given us the freedom to choose, He also tells us that each choice has consequences.
“Be not deceived;
God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh
shall of the flesh reap corruption;
but he that soweth to the Spirit
shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary
in well doing:
for in due season we shall reap,
if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity,
let us do good
unto all men,
especially unto them
who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:7-10
God’s standard/salvation is the only ‘way’ that provides eternal life, and, unlike man’s ways—HE hasn’t changed—nor will HE ever. What HE says is true; just like HIS Son, who is truth! The “One” way—the “Only” way (from before the foundation of the world)!
“Jesus Christ
the same yesterday,
and to day,
and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8
“Jesus saith unto him,
I am the way,
the truth,
and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father,
but by me.” John 14:6
Just as Paul told the Galatians, we have the freedom to choose, but not to set the consequences; yet even when we make wrong choices, God’s grace reaches down, through the sacrifice of Jesus at Calvary—the “blood of the Lamb” that “cleanseth us from all sin”! Jesus is our only hope! The world has gone crazy and many (even believers) are fearful, and alarmed, but God gives us the assurance that HE is accomplishing HIS purposes in HIS time! Godly people will pay a price for following Jesus, yet even when evil men prosper in their ways, God provides for HIS own!
“Yea, and all that will live godly
in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers
shall wax worse and worse,
deceiving,
and being deceived.
14 But continue thou in the things
which thou hast learned
and hast been assured of,
knowing of whom
thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child
thou hast known the holy scriptures,
which are able to make thee wise
unto salvation
through faith
which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable
for doctrine,
for reproof,
for correction,
for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God
may be perfect,
throughly furnished
unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:13-17
Even when evil abounds around us (and surely it is rampant today) we can be confident in God’s faithful work, ever learning HIS Word so that we can truly obey and have comfort in our Lord, our God, our KING!
“And I heard as it were
the voice of a great multitude,
and as the voice of many waters,
and as the voice of mighty thunderings,
saying, Alleluia:
for the Lord God omnipotent
reigneth.” Revelation 19:6
Amen and Amen! The Psalmist gloriously declares that even when the heathens rage, and the crowds revel in vanity, God laughs—for HE IS in control!!!
“Why do the heathen rage,
and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth
set themselves,
and the rulers
take counsel together,
against the LORD,
and against his anointed,
saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder,
and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the heavens
shall laugh:
the Lord shall have them
in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them
in his wrath,
and vex them
in his sore displeasure.
6 Yet have I set my king
upon my holy hill of Zion.” Psalm 2:1-6
Our Lord reigns, and His day of vengeance will come! Will you be one of those who “rage” at God and HIS Son? Or will you be one who calls upon the name of the Lord, and receives HIS salvation IN Jesus?
“But what saith it?
The word is nigh thee,
even in thy mouth,
and in thy heart:
that is,
the word of faith,
which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess
with thy mouth
the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe
in thine heart
that God hath raised him
from the dead,
thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth
unto righteousness;
and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith,
Whosoever believeth on him
shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference
between the Jew and the Greek:
for the same Lord over all
is rich unto all
that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call
upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved.” Romans 10:8-13
Jesus Himself declared clearly what the issue is—and to make clear the title of this post—the ONE issue is SIN, there are only TWO choices—believe/receiveJesus for salvation, or reject Him and pay for your own sin; yet there will be only ONE result– the consequences of your choice! It’s your choice but choose wisely—there is a test!
“And whosoever was not found written
in the book of life
was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15
There is only “One” issue—SIN! There is only “One” choice-although there are two options, believe or reject– but remember the consequence will be an eternal one! To use Jesus’ own words:
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent
in the wilderness,
even so must the Son of man
be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him
should not perish,
but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world,
that he gave
his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
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
Every “ONE” is free to choose; but of the “TWO” choices only “ONE” leads to God; the other “ONE” leads to hell! The choice is yours and mine. God said that evil men shall “wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived”, and we are surely seeing that happen before our very eyes. Sad, but true! Will we be brave enough to shine the light everywhere we go? Will we be diligent to learn God’s Word so that we can share it with confidence and integrity? Will we be swayed by the rhetoric of the day—the media (social and national), the politics, the false prophets and leaders, the desire for popularity and to go “viral”? Or will we “stand fast in the evil day”—and, my friends, it is upon us! It won’t be “one, two, three, go”; it will be a “yes” or a “no” to Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin! It’s why HE came—to “BE” the way, and save us: “…he shall save his people from their sins…”!
The bottom line is that there are only two kinds of people—the lost without Jesus, and the saved who have been “born again” by the blood of Jesus. It’s God’s work not ours—but when we receive Jesus, we are compelled to share it with all we encounter.
“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
Have you come to Jesus? Have you been “born again” into the kingdom of God? I’d like to close with one of my favorite passages of Paul’s which so concisely reveals what we receive when we receive the “WHO” of salvation—JESUS!
I ask that you spend some time pondering these truths—it will bless and encourage your heart if you will receive it!
“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.
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 5:1-11
May God bless you and open your eyes to see His truth, that we may “stand fast in the evil day”! It is upon us!
Amen and Amen!!!
