Bible Ballistics: BBs #179 Have You Counted The Cost???

We talked last time about the sufficiency of Jesus Christ to save and deliver from sin; I would like us to consider something more. While Jesus called us to follow Him, He also said his follower is to ‘take up his cross, and follow me”! There is a cost to following Jesus, and many haven’t considered what that cost is, and I believe that is one of the reasons we see so many who have at one time “claimed” to belong to Jesus walk away, or live in a manner that totally denies what they claim to believe. Let’s consider the context of “taking up my cross”.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?

27 For the Son of man shall come

in the glory of his Father

with his angels;

and then he shall reward

every man

according to his works.”

Matthew 16:24-27

The call is to choose wisely. We can choose to save our own lives—which is what we’re doing when we live without Jesus Christ—or we can deny self, in repentance and faith take up the cross of Christ, and follow HIM! We can try to ‘save’ ourselves and loose it all, or we can allow Jesus to save us from sin and death and give us life—eternal life—now and in eternity. There really is only one right choice!!! One ‘life’!!!

“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

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4

Jesus came to bring life to those who were dead in their sin, and that’s all of us! These days in our culture we have accepted a gospel of ‘easy-believism’, we have become so eager to gain numbers, popularity, money, fame or whatever motivates people to pervert the Word of God, that we just “tickle” people’s ears to keep them on board.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4

So what is the cost? What is the gospel? Well, we have an answer directly from scripture.

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel

 which I preached unto you,

which also ye have received,

and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved,

if ye keep in memory

what I preached unto you,

unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you

first of all that which I also received,

how that Christ died for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:”

1 Corinthians 15:1-5

The gospel is JESUS—He was crucified for “our sins”; He was buried (He didn’t swoon and revive—HE DIED); He rose on the third day; He was seen alive by many witnesses. And HE did all of this for us, and He did it all in fulfillment of what was prophesied in the scripture (The Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah) in regard to His first coming!!! And what is the cost for us? Repentance and faith in His atoning, substitutionary work of redemption—He paid my debt, and I must surrender (yield) me to Him, and take up HIS CROSS—I die to “me” and live to “Christ Jesus”.

“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

As the old song says, “Jesus Paid It All”, and I’m so glad He did, yet my part is to ‘die’ to self daily, and ‘live’ by the power of the cross. Not moaning and groaning in my fleshly trials, but walking in confident, devoted and grateful obedience to my Lord’s command. His direction to me—I am to follow Jesus in all I am and all I do. So what’s the cost? Dying to self and living IN/FOR JESUS!!! How? By the power of the cross and the Holy Spirit.

“What? know ye not that

your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost

which is in you,  

which ye have of God,

and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: 

therefore glorify God in your body,

and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

So??? Here’s our shot for today. Have you counted the cost? Are you truly born again, or just talking about it? Are you taking up your cross and following Jesus each day, or going your own way? Following each moment? Following through the trials? Following through the joys? What do your choices reveal? Is Jesus living in YOU? Please, consider the cost, and the consequences of missing Jesus! I’m praying for YOU!!! Remember:

“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:20-21

So??? Are you walking what you’re talking? Have you received the price that Jesus paid for YOU? It’s worth the cost!!! “All To Jesus, I Surrender”!!! It’s worth it!!!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #178 Is Jesus Enough???

If Jesus is the only way (and HE is), is He enough? I can only answer that question from scripture and personal experience! Only Jesus is always enough!! He is my strength and I am glad that I don’t have to live without HIM.

“The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.” Psalm 118:14

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”      Psalm 19:14

God is my God, and His Son Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of my soul.   He is my life and my strength and without Him I would be lost and undone. He never fails, though I often do. I run to Him for forgiveness, cleansing and restoration.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10

Who is the righteous one? Those who have trusted in Jesus and by repentance and faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus have been born again. That is the gospel. (See 1 Cor. 15:3-6) It’s not by works but by the grace of God through faith. Yet saving faith produces a confirming work—not saved by works but saved to do good works. A most familiar passage expresses this:

“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

I am saved by grace and faith NOT by my works. But works are the evidence of my redemption and new birth. I belong to Jesus! I have repented of my sin and trusted Him for salvation, forgiveness and cleansing.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…….Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” John 3:3, 5-7

“Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:13

We are born “of God” and receive the indwelling Holy Spirit to grow us and teach us in all of God’s ways. But as we’ve said, we often stumble and fall—often in a big way—but God has made provision for us in that very blood of Jesus that saves us—it also keeps us:

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

How? Why? Because the “blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin” so that we can continue on when we get back up from our fall. And we who are genuinely HIS will get up, because it’s not our righteousness that saves, keeps or restores us, it’s HIS! I have been ‘made the righteousness of God in him’—in Jesus.

“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 5:21

You see, it’s the righteousness of Jesus that I live in, NOT my own. Any righteousness that I accomplish is through Him, because:

“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

So??? Here’s our shot for today. Is Jesus enough? Only and always– because HE gave Himself for me—and He gives Himself to me so that:

“I can do all things

 through Christ

which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

He did the work of redemption—I do the work of devotion!!!

 

Bible Ballistics: The Son Is Life!!! Vol. 6#10

Jesus was, is and ever will be the ‘Word’, not just the spoken Word in flesh, but the very essence of all that God has to say to man. He was God in the beginning and He is God now as He sits at the right hand of the Father awaiting the signal to come for His own, as well as make His physical return to planet earth.

 “In the beginning was the Word,

              and the Word was with God,

              and the Word was God.

              2 The same was in the beginning with God.

       3 All things were made by him;

              and without him was not any thing made that was made.

       4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.     

              5 And the light shineth in darkness;

              and the darkness comprehended it not.”

John 1:1-5

The Son who came to die for our redemption and deliverance from the penalty of sin-Hell–is now at the right hand of the Father, ready to come for His own.

“This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

       33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted,

              and having received of the Father

              the promise of the Holy Ghost,

              he hath shed forth this,

              which ye now see and hear.” Acts 2:32-33

“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: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the    firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in      earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or  dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”                                                           Colossians 1:13-17

Jesus is the Creator of all; He was there with the Father and the Spirit in Genesis 1. And praise His wonderful name He is now holding all things together for, “by him all things consist” and as Hebrews 1:1-3 reveals:

 “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,        whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of  his   person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:”

Jesus, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men”—He came that we might have life—eternal life. His life is the light of men, but sadly we live in a dark world that rejects the light, “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” Why would men reject this one who brings life and light?

       “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.”

                             John 3:19-20

Men, women, boys and girls reject the light because they love the darkness. They love their evil deeds and don’t want to bring their evil deeds into the light to be exposed as the sin that it is. Not just the actions themselves but also the rebellion toward God, His Word, His Son and His ways that they prefer to cling to. Not realizing that the consequences are of eternal import. Not realizing that ONLY JESUS can give eternal life. Only Jesus can give a life worth living in this world of darkness. Jesus came to give us life—He is life—and He is the ONLY WAY to have life:

“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

 “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.”   John 10:10

Jesus is the only way to God—I repeat, the only way. But not just in eternity and heaven, but abundant life with God right here and now. Life for those who seek His Life, who recognize and flee the darkness and run to the arms of the One who is Light and Life. Have you turned to Him? Have you recognized the darkness around you as darkness, and come to the Light and Life that is IN JESUS? There is no ‘plan B’!!!

The Apostle John gives us the only assurance worth having:

“He that believeth on the Son of God

              hath the witness in himself:

       he that believeth not God hath made him a liar;                            

because he believeth not the record

                      that God gave of his Son.

       11 And this is the record,

                      that God hath given to us eternal life,

                      and this life is in his Son.      

12 He that hath the Son hath life;

              and he that hath not the Son of God

                      hath not life.

       13 These things have I written unto you

                      that believe on the name of the Son of God;              

that ye may know that ye have eternal life,

              and that ye may believe on the name

                      of the Son of God.” 1 John 5:10-13

And Romans 8:9-10 reminds us that Jesus is within us or we aren’t with HIM:

 “So then they that are in the flesh

              cannot please God.

       9 But ye are not in the flesh,

              but in the Spirit,

       if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.

       Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

              he is none of his.”

So the question is, are you His? If you are His then you have HIS Spirit dwelling within you to guide you into all truth and to know the way to go.

NO Spirit within=No Jesus!!!

NO Jesus=No Life!!!

NO Life=Death, Eternal Death in Hell (the lake of fire)

“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 experienced and received the new birth? If you have then I call you to join me and recommit to life faithfully for Jesus before a lost and dying world. To be HIS light in the darkness. If you don’t know Him, then I beg you to call on Him today. He is waiting for you! He is calling you. But the door is yours to open or not!

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:

              if any man hear my voice,

              and open the door,

       I will come in to him,

       and will sup with him,

       and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

When the Father and Son call won’t you heed the call?

“No man can come to me,

              except the Father which hath sent me draw him:             

and I will raise him up at the last day.”   John 6:44

Only God can call!! Are you listening?

Only Jesus can knock on your door!!! Will you answer?

Only God initiates salvation!!! Will you miss His call?

JESUS IS COMING SOON!!! Don’t miss it. It’s your choice.

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #177 Today—Again???

We shared last time that ‘This is the day that the Lord has made’, but I’d like us to tweak our thoughts a bit, because ‘today’ keeps happening and sometimes we are so distracted by the “todays” that we forget that it is truly all we have.

We must not waste life waiting for tomorrows that may never come. By the same token we must not waste life on the yesterdays that were not what we wanted them to be. The older I get the more I am learning that God IS faithful and my job is simply to:

“….love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Matthew 22:37

And to: “…..Love thy neighbour as thyself.” Matthew 22:39

In other words, I am to love God and then let HIS love spill over onto all those around me (and in Luke 10 Jesus tells us who our neighbor is). Sometimes we just need a reminder to hear and obey:

“16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh……25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:16, 25

How do we ‘Walk in the Spirit”? Only by having the Spirit, by being born again of God at which time we are given His Spirit to teach us, to lead us and bring us into all truth. And only God-redeemed, transformed, born again persons have His indwelling Holy Spirit. (See John 14:26)

Romans 8:9b, “….Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” NO Jesus—NO Spirit!

But when we are His, we do have His Spirit and we can be a reflection of Jesus to the world, by ordering our steps according to His Word and His Spirit within us. And remember Jesus is the WORD!

“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

So??? Take that truth and love to the world TODAY!!!

Again TODAY!!!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #176 This Is The Day–Today!!!

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

A simple and familiar verse from the Psalms, which I would like us to ponder today. We live in such a ‘high-speed’ culture; its rush here, rush there, and plan for the future do everything in ‘fast-forward’. Yet God calls us to a different focus. To live for ‘Today’!!!

“This is the day” we are to live in—yesterday is gone forever, and tomorrow may never come. If we fail to live in today, today, when will we live it? Our call is to live for our Lord Jesus today—“This is the day which the Lord hath made”! I am to rejoice in ‘Today’—not tomorrow. I am to rejoice in ‘Today’—not yesterday—although we are to take comfort and understanding from the things we learned yesterday!

What else does God have to say about today?

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

We choose each ‘today’ whom we will serve—it’s a choice we make each day—‘today’, and ‘today’ and ‘today’!! The choice is ours even when we think we’re not choosing we choose to serve our fleshly passions, our anger our resentment? Will we serve money, power or fame? Or will we serve God and then in serving God, serve others, or do we use God and others to serve ourselves?

Jesus gave us some clear instructions about living in ‘today’—not the past or the future—and trusting our God for His faithful provision in the ‘here and now’, as well as the then and there!

“Give us this day our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11

We are to trust in God’s provision for ‘TODAY’. Now don’t misunderstand, scripture also teaches us that we are to work diligently and exercise good stewardship with our finances by wise planning, and we are not to be negligent in financial responsibility, or meeting our obligations, but our focus is to be on God—living for Him today and trusting yesterday and tomorrow to HIM!

“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.” 1 Thessalonians 3:10-12

“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” 1 Timothy 5:8

Therefore, we should to be diligent to carry out our personal responsibility, and provide for those under our care, but by the same token we are to be focused on our Lord and trust to His direction and provision for our lives ‘today’.

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

So??? Here’s our shot for today. Live today to the fullest in the power of our Lord. Trust to His care and provision and don’t fret over tomorrow, or drown in regrets over yesterday!!!

“Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 27:1

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Matthew 6:33-34