Tag Archives: John 3:3-7

Really Free??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 21

01 Sunday Jul 2018

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choose You This Day!, Follow Jesus, Free Indeed?, Freedom To Or From?, Real Freedom

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 21 Really Free???

 

We talk a lot about freedom, but what does freedom really look like? When you’re young you think that freedom is the ability to “do what you want”, and you just can’t wait to be an adult and “do what you want”, not to “take orders” from anyone. BUT, when you reach adulthood you find that you still have people telling you “what to do”—people who have control over your future, your income, and your life-circumstances. So what is freedom? Freedom is not simply the absence of restraint, but the opportunity to be involved in your own life choices without constricting restraints—because Jesus has set people free—free to serve Him in love and devotion, “not by constraint, but willingly” out of a grateful heart. (See 1 Peter 5:2).

Liberty:  Freedom from arbitrary or despotic government or control….

Freedom from external or foreign rule; independence

Freedom from control, interference, obligation, restriction, hampering conditions, etc.; power or right of doing, thinking, speaking, etc., according to choice. 

Freedom: The state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement       or under physical restraint.

exemption from external control, interference, or regulation, etc.

the power to determine action without restraint.

Everyone wants to be free but freedom isn’t free, there is a price to pay for every freedom, and the ultimate freedom is only found in Jesus. For every person is bound by their own sin, selfish desires and greed (hard things to say, but we are all plagued by the truth of sin to one degree or another—‘for all have sinned’–but Jesus came to die that we could be freed from the penalty and power of sin! Free indeed!

“Jesus answered them,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

Whosoever committeth sin

is the servant of sin.

35 And the servant

abideth not in the house for ever:

but the Son

abideth ever.

36 If the Son therefore

shall make you free,

ye shall be free indeed.”   John 8:34-36

Many people in our world are searching for freedom in the wrong places, without realizing that instead of freedom they are sinking deeper and deeper into the bondage of sin. Enslaved in bondage to the lusts of the flesh—whatever that may look like: drugs, alcohol, sex, money, power, position, control—any thing that we think will bring pleasure, or anything that we use to try to fulfill our lives—to fill that ‘God shaped empty spot’ in every soul. But until we recognize our sin as sin, we’ll never find the freedom that every person desires.

“For all have sinned,

and come short

of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely

by his grace

through the redemption

that is in Christ Jesus:”   Romans 3:23-24

All are sinners for whom Jesus died, and until we recognize our sin and come to HIM for “the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”, we will never be truly free! Sin has a price—and God has made provision for our sin to be paid for through the blood of His “Only begotten Son”.

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”    Romans 6:23

What amazing Good News! Jesus has paid the ‘death penalty’ for your sin and mine, if we will but come to HIM in repentance and faith. It’s all about Jesus, and real freedom can only be found in HIM, where we can be “free indeed”! We can never overcome sin on our own but IN Jesus there is true freedom, victory and ultimate, perfect purpose for our lives.

“There is therefore now no condemnation

to them which are in Christ Jesus,

who walk not after the flesh,

but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus

hath made me free

from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do,

in that it was weak through the flesh,

God sending his own Son

in the likeness of sinful flesh,

and for sin,

condemned sin in the flesh:

4 That the righteousness of the law

might be fulfilled in us,

who walk not after the flesh,

but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1-4

Jesus delivers from the condemnation of sin by His own blood shed at Calvary, providing a freedom that goes beyond clutching and grabbing for things around us, replacing it with God’s power, purpose and provision for life, living and dying! His righteousness imparted to us, that the world might know the Father that we love and serve by the power of His Holy Spirit seen at work in us each day!

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,

they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received

the spirit of bondage again

to fear;

but ye have received

the Spirit of adoption,

whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness

with our spirit,

that we are the children of God:”    Romans 8:14-16

God’s children by being ‘born again’ of His Spirit—a work that only God can do, because “ye must be born again”!!!

“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.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him,

How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

5 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 3:3-7

Born of God—set free from sin—delivered from the penalty of sin, and it’s power over our flesh in this world, and some day soon we’ll be delivered from the very presence of sin when we are in the presence of God eternally.

“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.

14 And the Word was made flesh,

and dwelt among us,

(and we beheld his glory,

the glory as of the only begotten

of the Father,)

full of grace and truth.”    John 1:12-14

Born “of God” to be delivered from sin and know the salvation, deliverance and love of a personal Savior who walks with us by giving His Spirit to dwell within and empower us to live holy lives reflecting his “grace and truth”! God ever at work to make us more and more like our Lord Jesus Christ!

“Likewise the Spirit also

helpeth our infirmities:

for we know not

what we should pray for

as we ought:

but the Spirit itself

maketh intercession for us

with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts

knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,

because he maketh intercession

for the saints

according to the will of God.

28 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?

32 He that spared not his own Son,

but delivered him up for us all,

how shall he not

with him

also freely give us

all things?” Romans 8:26-32

Knowing Jesus is freedom—freedom from sin, death and hell.

“And you hath he quickened,

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;)”.   Ephesians 2:1-5

Until we see our sin, we are doomed to stay in it, deceived and believing that “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” will fulfill our lives and make us free—the American dream, they call it–but only Jesus can truly set you free. And when He sets us free it is for our good and God’s glory, as well as an eternity with Him in His heavenly glory!

So what is your definition of ‘freedom’? Do you know the joy and liberty that Jesus gives? If you don’t, you can, and He will make Himself real in your life and bring the true freedom of salvation, and make you stand righteous before God.

“Who shall lay any thing to the charge

of God’s elect?

It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth?

It is Christ that died,

yea rather,

that is risen again,

who is even at the right hand

of God,

who also maketh intercession

for us.

35 Who shall separate us

from the love of Christ?

shall tribulation,

or distress,

or persecution,

or famine,

or nakedness,

or peril,

or sword?

36 As it is written,

For thy sake we are killed all the day long;

we are accounted as sheep

for the slaughter.

37 Nay,

in all these things

we are more than conquerors

through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded,

that neither death,

nor life,

nor angels,

nor principalities,

nor powers,

nor things present,

nor things to come,

39 Nor height,

nor depth,

nor any other creature,

shall be able to separate us

from the love of God,

which is in Christ Jesus

our Lord.”   Romans 8:33-39 

Freedom to be HIS and do HIS work, touching others as we walk with HIM, and helping affect change for the glory of GOD, by the love of Jesus that we possess!!!

I invite you to join me in giving ourselves to live each day to God’s glory, by living out holy freedom, using grace as God intends, and not as a license to sin. Using our freedom in Christ Jesus that God’s hand may ever have free reign to work in, around and through us. We can make a difference, as we live out the love of Jesus Christ before a lost and dying world—revealing real freedom to a world bound by sin; real freedom that the world so desperately needs to see and know today through the blood of Jesus!

Amen and Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Gospel According To___? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 17

04 Monday Jun 2018

Posted by in Amazing Grace, Changed Lives, Choices And Consequences, Cross, Follow Me, Gospel, Holiness, Holy Spirit, Knowing God's Word, Repentance, Salvation, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?, What Voice are You Listening to?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 11 No. 17 The Gospel According To___?

 

We live in a culture that wants to make the “Gospel” something that “appeals” to the masses, and makes everyone “feel” good. There is no mention of sin, no call to the God’s holiness, nor any call for repentance in this worldly gospel—rather has a message that says God will take everyone to heaven, no matter how they live or what they believe about Him, His Son, His holiness or His Word! God says different!

I used to quote an old adage that said, “God said it, I believe it, and that settles it!” but I’ve changed it to more aptly fit the truth of God’s Word, “God said it, and that settles it—whether I believe it or not!” Whether we ‘believe it or not’, God says there is only “one way” to salvation, and that way is HIS way—His name is Jesus!

As we’ve learned from Daniel’s example, knowing God and His Word makes a difference in our lives that the world can see—in word and deed! What does the world see in me/in you?

“Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.”   Daniel 6:16

Who am I serving? Is my service to God reflecting a true picture of my Lord and His Gospel—the Gospel of God’s Word—much different from the one promoted by the world.

“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel,

that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

whom ye crucified,

whom God raised from the dead,

even by him

doth this man stand here

before you whole.

11 This is the stone which was set at nought

of you builders,

which is become

the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name

under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.”    Acts 4:10-12

Jesus is the only way of salvation—our salvation is why HE came—to save us from our sin, and only when we are willing to recognize our own sin, repent and believe in His substitutionary (He took my place), atoning (He paid my debt), sacrifice (the paying of a debt He didn’t owe, because I had a debt I couldn’t pay, apart from His death for me) believing and receiving the new birth in His saving work at Calvary, in other words, being born again! There is no other way to God.

“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

Being “born…. of God”, having real life, eternal life in HIM!

“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.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him,

How can a man be born when he is old?

can he enter the second time

into his mother’s womb,

and be born?

5 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 3:3-7

“Ye must be born again”! Apart from being born again, no one can even “see the kingdom of God”; in fact Jesus goes on to say that unless we are born “of the Spirit” we cannot “enter into the kingdom of God”. And that my friend is important—because not every one who claims to know Jesus knows Him. Not everyone who attends church, or does good deeds, or is right in their own eyes, will “enter into the kingdom of God”, but those who are “born again”—they are the only ones who will “see God”! And the verses we looked at in John 1 remind us that it is the Spirit of God—The Holy Spirit—that works the new birth in those who respond to God’s call to repentance and faith.

I know I have belabored this point, but it has been on my heart of late, and after attending a service recently, I was grief stricken to hear the things that I heard, and I must call us all to consider the “Gospel” according to The Word of God—not according to men!

As I was in attendance at this service there was a bit of scripture read, and even a reference or two to Jesus, but never once was there any reference to salvation being in Jesus. There was lots of talk about the works of men, and the goodness of men, but no mention of salvation by grace. In fact there was no music about God, Jesus, grace or salvation, just worldly music that broke my heart—not because it was bad, but because it was so “not” the gospel. In fact, afterwards I thought how sad, that we just went through a service that presented the “Gospel According to Nashville” not the Gospel of Jesus. Why would anyone want to go to heaven and spend eternity with God, when they have no use for Him in this life? Jesus said that we must repent—stop going our way, and turn to HIM? What happened to that Gospel?

“I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all

likewise perish.” Luke 13:3 & 5

We must repent of our way, and go God’s way. And Jesus knows the difference, and will reveal it! In HIS time!

“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.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.

24 Therefore whosoever heareth

these sayings of mine,

and doeth them,

I will liken him unto a wise man,

which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell not:

for it was founded

upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth

these sayings of mine,

and doeth them not,

shall be likened unto a foolish man,

which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell:

and great was the fall of it.”   Matthew 7:21-28 (Because it was NOT founded/built upon a rock!)

The question is, “Are you building on the ‘rock’ or the ‘sand’?” Have you believed in the true Gospel of Jesus, or the lies of the world, the watered-down Gospel of ‘Nashville’, or ‘Hollywood’, or ‘Detroit’ or ‘New York’? If it is any Gospel other than the biblical one, you need to reconsider what you are trusting in. And if your life isn’t reflecting the truth and Spirit of Jesus in what you ‘do’ (not just what you ‘say’!) you might want to examine what you are counting on to save you!

“Examine yourselves,

whether ye be in the faith;

prove your own selves.

Know ye not your own selves,

how that Jesus Christ is in you,

except ye be reprobates?”   2 Corinthians 13:5

It is the presence of the Holy Spirit in us that is the evidence that we belong to Jesus, that we have truly believed the Gospel of the Cross of Jesus and been born again. Paul gives us the “Gospel in a nutshell”!

“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

Jesus paid it all—the only price that God will accept for sin:

“Christ died for our sins…

that he was buried…

that he rose again the third day…

that he was seen…”

All of this “according to the scriptures”—just as God had promised from Eden to the Cross!

“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”   Genesis 3:15

The “seed” would be the victor—the eternal victor over sin, death and hell. And Jesus is that seed, and died for all who will come to HIM in repentance and faith! Only Jesus!

“For this corruptible

must put on incorruption,

and this mortal

must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible

shall have put on incorruption,

and this mortal

shall have put on immortality,

then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written,

Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death, where is thy sting?

O grave, where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death

is sin;

and the strength of sin

is the law.

57 But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding in the work

of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know

that your labour is not in vain

in the Lord.”   1 Corinthians 15:53-58

Jesus is our victory, regardless of what the world says. God isn’t impressed by men’s works and deeds, but by the blood of the Lamb that cleanses from sin. And only Jesus’ blood will do! Anything else will fail at the end!

“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found

written in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”    Revelation 20:14-15

There is a time of accounting coming, and just as Jesus spoke in Matthew 7, saying so won’t make it so! Only being born again by the Spirit of God will make you a child of God! And that is only found at the cross of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and soon coming KING!!!

“And they sung a new song, saying,

Thou art worthy to take the book,

and to open the seals thereof:

for thou wast slain,

and hast redeemed us

to God

by thy blood

out of every kindred,

and tongue,

and people,

and nation;

10 And hast made us unto our God

kings and priests:

and we shall reign

on the earth.”    Revelation 5:9-10

Regardless of what our culture says about Jesus, only salvation by repentance from sin, and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice will save. And when we are born again, we can follow Him by the power of The Holy Spirit, The Spirit others ought to see at work in us! All because His Spirit dwells in His own, and writes our names in “the Lamb’s book of life”! The Spirit of God working in us—saving us—changing us—all to point others to the cross!

“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.” Romans 8:8-9

Jesus’ righteousness imparted to us, to be displayed before a lost and dying world in need of a Savior! What about you? What Spirit is working in YOU? In me? Are we ready to see Him? Do others see Jesus in us!

“And there shall in no wise enter into it

any thing that defileth,

neither whatsoever worketh abomination,

or maketh a lie:

but they which are written

in the Lamb’s book of life.”    Revelation 21:27

I pray that you are relying on Jesus and not the message being preached by popular culture, music, movies, and TV! Only Jesus saves, and when He does, He makes new creatures out of sinners, and writes our name in “the Lamb’s book of life”. Where is your name written? Are you a “new creature”? Not perfect yet, but redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ alone! The Gospel according to Jesus—not Nashville!

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

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

Have you called on Jesus to make you a new creature? Are you relying on something other than Jesus? Please consider what you are trusting in!!! It’s your choice, but choose wisely there is a test at the end?

No matter how many times we read or quote the 23rd Psalm (which is the most popular passage of scripture mentioned at Funeral services), no on can truly say “The Lord is ‘my’ shepherd” (emphasis mine) unless we are born again by the blood of the Lamb—just as we read above—the Gospel is Jesus work of salvation, not man’s empty efforts to look good to a world with skewed vision. And if Jesus is not your “shepherd”, then you will come up wanting. Please look to Jesus while there is still time!

“But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

5 Not by works of righteousness

which we have done,

but according to his mercy

he saved us,

by the washing of regeneration,

and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6 Which he shed on us abundantly

through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

7 That being justified by his grace,

we should be made heirs

according to the hope of eternal life.”   Titus 3:4-7

Don’t put it off too long, or you may hear the same message that Daniel had to deliver to Belshazzar:

“…Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.” Daniel 5:27b

I pray that you will hear the voice of Jesus today and judge with ‘righteous judgment’ and respond in repentance and faith. And if you are already HIS, renew your devotion to His person and His Word—to follow with courage and wisdom!

“As we said before, so say I now again,

If any man preach any other gospel

unto you

than that ye have received,

let him be accursed.”    Galatians 1:9

Amen and Amen.

 

 

 

Check Your Knees??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No. 9

10 Sunday Sep 2017

Posted by in Check Your Knees???, Choose You This Day!, Every Knee Shall Bow, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Salvation, Sharing Our Faith!, The Only Way, The Word, Today and Forever

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.9 Check Your Knees???

 

One of my favorite passages about Jesus is found in Philippians chapter 2, where Paul calls us to have the mind of Christ; and the only way that anyone can have the mind of Christ Jesus, is to be ‘born again” by the Spirit and power of God.

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe

on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.” John 1:10-13

Jesus came to impart the “new birth”, just as He told Nicodemus in John 3:

“Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.”    John 3:3b

“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 3:5b-7

Jesus wants us to understand that salvation isn’t something that we can accomplish for ourselves—no matter how hard we may try. Salvation only come to those who will see their own sin, and come to the Savior for this ‘new birth’ of salvation. Just as we see above, it is being “born… …of God.” It’s not what family you are born in; it’s not by working up the will to change; and it’s not brought by the will of others; it is the supernatural work of God that changes sinners into saints!

“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

Some of you are asking, “What does this have to do with my knees?” Well, that’s a good question and the answer is found in the first passage that we mentioned at the beginning of our post today. Let’s dig in and see what we can learn about out knees, and why they are important to our spiritual welfare.

“Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who,

being in the form of God,

thought it not robbery

to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation,

and took upon him the form of a servant,

and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also

hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name

which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of things in heaven,

and things in earth,

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue

should confess

that Jesus Christ

is Lord,

to the glory

of God the Father.”     Philippians 2:5-11

So what is Paul telling us? Well, let’s start at the end of the passage if you would, for as we’ve already said, without being born again it’s a moot issue, but what must we do to come to Jesus for this new birth. It’s really simple, but it’s never easy, because it’s never easy to give up our own will and bow to Jesus. Jesus came and laid down His life for our sin when He “humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Just as it says in 2 Corinthians 5:21 God sent Him to die as the sinless Lamb of God, to pay for our sin, so that we could receive the “righteousness of God” and be found IN Him!

And because of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, God has given “him a name which is above every name”; and that name requires a response—a response that involves YOUR knees and mine.

“That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of things in heaven,

and things in earth,

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue

should confess

that Jesus Christ

is Lord,

to the glory

of God the Father”!!!

I need to make something clear in all of this, God has declared, “every knee should bow” and believe me (well really you need to believe GOD!) “every knee” will bow, and “every tongue” will confess. But wait, not everyone is confessing Jesus, and certainly not every knee has bowed before Him! Well, what we need to realize is that the time is coming when it will happen! So, if it is going to happen, what is the question? The question isn’t “Will you bow?” But the question is ‘When will you bow?’ What am I talking about? I am talking about the fact that

God has declared His way to the world:

“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

Jesus came because He loves us—He loves the world—and He IS The Way for us to be forgiven of our sin and have eternal life. And while God’s love is unconditional—He loves everyone—His forgiveness is totally conditional on what we do with Jesus, The Son of God, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” It is what Jesus came to do, and unless we bow before Him as Lord and Savior while we have the opportunity, we will bow before Him as the judge of all men, with no opportunity of salvation!

So the question is simply, will we choose to bow before the Lord who died for our sin, and receive His salvation and the ‘new birth’ and be ‘born again’? Or will we refuse Him and His saving sacrifice and grace and bow before the “Great White Throne” to pay for our own sin? What have you done with Jesus? Have you bowed your knee before Him? Jesus won’t ask what church you belong to; He won’t ask how many times or where you were baptized; He won’t ask how much ‘good’ you have done; He won’t even ask what ‘bad’ you have done, for He already knows the answer to all those questions. The only question that will be asked is “What have you done with Jesus, and His sacrifice for your sin?” And regardless of what others may think of you, the only thing that will matter is whether you have bowed before the Lamb of God, for no matter how impressed others are with you, it’s what Jesus knows that will count in the end. His name calls for all to bow the knee and proclaim HIM LORD, and the standard is The Word of God—the written Word, the Bible, and the Living Word, Jesus!

“For the word of God is

quick, (alive)

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul

and spirit,

and of the joints

and marrow,

and is a discerner

of the thoughts and intents

of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest in his sight:

but all things are naked and opened

unto the eyes of him

with whom we have to do.”    Hebrews 4:12-13

The measuring stick will be The Word of God! How will you stand? What will be your defense—your works, your money, your prominence, your history, your family, your open mind, your position, or something else? It won’t matter, for the only defense in that day will be the “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son” that “cleanseth us from all sin” (See 1 John 1:7)! Will you bow your knees now or then? Your eternity depends on your choice.

“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.

22 Many will say to me

in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a

wise man,

which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell not:

for it was founded

upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a

foolish man,

which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell:

and great was the fall

of it.”    Matthew 7:21-27

You can choose to be ‘wise’ and have your house built on the rock of salvation; the One before whom you have bowed your heart and mind in repentance (of your sin), and faith (in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for YOU!), or you can choose to be like the ‘foolish man’! It’s your choice. But choose wisely, there is a test at the end.

“And I saw a great white throne,

and him that sat on it,

from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away;

and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead,

small and great,

stand before God;

and the books were opened:

and another book was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged

out of those things which were written

in the books,

according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead

which were in it;

and death and hell delivered up the dead

which were in them:

and they were judged

every man

according to their works.

14 And death and hell

were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written

in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”   Revelation 20:11-15

Praying that you will seek God and His way—Jesus, He’s waiting for YOU!!! And if you know Him—let it shine!!!

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9