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Men
The hidden half of domestic violence
Eternal Life! Eternal Or Temporary?
Perhaps in
this discussion about how long our gift of eternal life lasts we need to discuss
how we get it in the first place. You see, first of all, eternal life is not a
reward which would be earned, but a gift. A gift is freely given without
conditions...at least if it is to truly be a gift.
The way to have eternal life:
In order to have salvation that is to have eternal life there are a few basic
steps we need to follow. This is so important I want to go over them,
1: We need to realize we have sinned. Romans 3:23 For
all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God This means we have failed to
met the goal of being perfect in order to enter heaven. Few of us would question
this.
2: The penalty for the sin that we are guilty of is death. Romans
6:23 tells us The wages of sin is death. (Death is separation. When our body
dies, our soul is separated from our body. Eternal death is when we die without
doing what is being explained here and then our spirit is separated from God for
eternity.
Since the only price we can pay for our own sin is to be separated from God
forever, it stands to reason that there is no way we can pay for our sin
ourselves. We thus come to the 2nd part of Romans 6:23: but the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord.
3: 2nd Corinthians 5:21 informs us: For he hath made him, who knew
no sin, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Jesus Christ, God's only Son became sin for us so that we can be freed from the
penalty of sin. What then do we need to do?
4: For GOD so loved the world that HE gave His only begotten Son
that whosoever (read YOUR name here) believeth in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life. Please note the ONLY condition given is that we believe in
Jesus Christ for full payment for our sin.
Now if we only learn these facts, even though we may understand that they are
true and believe them. that is only knowing ABOUT GOD. How do we KNOW HIM then?
It is APPLYING that payment to our account. This would be like having a check to
pay a bill and putting the check on a desk. The bill does not get paid because
the check was never APPLIED to your account. Once we know and believe the facts
pointed out above, the next step is to TALK to God much as you and I would and
admit that we have fallen short of what He wants. We recognize that we deserve
to be separated from a Holy God. We then tell Him that we know that He has
provided a payment for all our sin and this payment was Jesus Christ when He
died on a cross. It is at this time we ask God to APPLY THIS PAYMENT TO OUR
ACCOUNT. We ask God to credit as PAYMENT IN FULL for all our sin the price Jesus
paid for us. It is this step that gives us eternal life. If we do all but this
step, we know about God. When we do this step, we will KNOW God and we will have
eternal life.
John 3
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.
Please note that the ONLY condition placed on us for salvation is to believe.
John 10: 28
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall
any man pluck them out of my hand.
God is holding on to US...we do not hold on to HIM. Consider a father and a
child crossing a busy street. Would a loving father allow that child to hold on
to his hand? or would he hold the child's hand?
If the child was doing the holding, he could let go and wander into danger if he
say something that lured him. perhaps a shiny object in the road? But if Dad was
doing the holding on, that child may try to pull away...but he would not
succeed! Remember, God is holding on to us...
Psalm 94:14 For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake
his inheritance.
John 6
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I
will in no wise cast out.
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him
that sent me.
39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath
given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
Notice that this does not say He will lose none "except"?
Hebrews 10
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus
Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same
sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down
on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Santicified means to set apart. WHEN we trust Christ, we are set apart. Jesus
was our sacrifice ONCE for all time. IF we could lose our salvation, Christ
would have to die again to resave us. I believe Christ came ONCE to do
this...the NEXT time there will not be a Calvary, the Next time...He will be
coming FOR Me!
1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready
to be revealed in the last time.
Is God not powerful enough to keep all those that trust in HIM?
1 John 5:13 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.
Question....If we could lose salvation...HOW would we KNOW we have it? How would
we know we would not slip and fall a moment before death and lose it?
Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son
whom he receiveth.
Proverbs 3
11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his
correction:
12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he
delighteth.
Ahhhh the promise of correction. We do not "correct" other peoples
children. We correct our own but a loving parent does not throw them out. (yes
we do know there are some that do abandon their children and/or throw them out)
When our children do wrong we correct them. When they willfully disobey us, they
lose rewards. Have we not told our children that if they do or do not do what
they are suppose to they will not get that surprise? How many surprises have WE
missed out on from God because WE did not obey? Still, this promise of
Chastisement is so precious because it means we are still part of the family.
SOME chastisement can be so server however that it does cause physical and
premature death of the BODY
1
Corinthians 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many
sleep. (die) Verse 31, for if we would judge ourselves we should not be judged
32: But when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord that we should NOT BE
CONDEMNED WITH THE WORLD.
YES we ARE judged. but as Christians, As HIS Children, we are NOT judged for
salvation.. our works are judged for rewards. Remember, as a Christian we are
not at the WHITE THRONE Judgment but the Judgment seat of Christ. Our SALVATION
is NOT in question
1 Corinthians 3
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, stubble;
13: Every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of
what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a
reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall
be saved; yet so as by fire.
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God
dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of
God is holy, which temple ye are.
18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this
world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He
taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's;
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or
things present, or things to come; all are your's;
23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
1 Corinthians 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you,
and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one
should have his father's wife.
2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this
deed might be taken away from among you.
3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already,
as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my
spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the
spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
WOW. Paul said this "Christian's" sin was so bad the unsaved would not
even mention it...but still look at verse 5...that the FLESH can be destroyed so
the SPIRIT will be SAVED. (go back to 1 Corinthians 11:30-32)
1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest
that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway
This indicates that Paul did not want to be set aside...and not USED by God...it
does not indicate lost of salvation
1 Corinthians 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he
shall receive a reward.
NOTE: Salvation is NOT a reward...it is a GIFT
If someone gives us a GIFT...do they take it back? For example, If someone told
me they would give me a new car...but I had to mow their lawn each week for a
year, would it be a gift? Oh I may well mow their lawn out of appreciation but
not because I had to.
It is a
PRESENT possession
Luke 7:50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Willful or known unconfessed SIN will block our prayers from being heard and/or
answered.
Isaiah 59:2
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have
hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
We do not get away with SIN. We lose fellowship. Much as if someone borrowed
$100 from us promising to pay it back on Monday. Monday comes and goes and he
does not have the money. So the next time he sees us, he avoids us. We may value
the friendship far more then the money but we have lost that too...not because
of us but because the person we loaned the money to has changed. If at some
point he comes to us to say he can not pay us, we may well say it is forgiven,
our relationship and fellowship is so much more important. My friend...that is
the way it is with our wonderful Lord. Our friendship and fellowship is more
important but WE have moved.
If this happens use 1 John 1:9 to restore fellowship and Joy...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
David said in Psalm 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold
me with thy free spirit.
He did not say restore salvation. This was even after he was guilty of adultery
and murder. If we could lose salvation...would not these sins do it?
Romans chapters 1-8 are also good to show we can not lose salvation. GRACE
covers is but Romans 6:1 asks should we sin MORE so that we can have more Grace?
God forbid that we treat grace like that... A child knows his parents still love
him even after he does wrong. should he do more wrong to get more love? God
forbid.
Romans 8
1 There is therefore now NO condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,
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:
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?
33 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. Now let's look at one
section that SEEMS to say we need works...James...faith without works is dead!
Our WORKS
are judged in James, but again NOT for salvation.
James 2
1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory,
with respect of persons.
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly
apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him,
Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit
here under my footstool:
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich
in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you
before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself, ye do well: (if we lose salvation by willful sin, why
would he only say we do well to obey?)
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law
as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is
guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou
commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and
mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have
not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled;
notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body;
what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith
without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also
believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his
son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made
perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was
imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had
received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead
also.
Now stay with me...here we see faith but it is not the same saving faith Paul
speaks about. Look carefully at the red sections. ONE Sin caused is to NEED
salvation so how many sins would it take to LOSE salvation once we had it ....IF
we could lose it? Would it not be ONE SIN? Would it need to be willful sin? Not
according to the Word of God. For ALL have sinned...Romans 3:23. but lets go on.
What then is James talking about?
Have we not seen some that profess to be Christians that even WE have said
if that is a Christian, I would not want it? As a Christian for us to live like
that, none of those around us would be able to tell. our life, our faith would
not profit anyone. WE are the ONLY Bible many will ever see. If we do not have
good works...How will it profit the unsaved to see us? THIS is what James is
talking about....without WORKS we will not profit others. Abraham was justified
by his faith BEFORE he offers his son...so we know verse 21 does not refer to
that. (see below) For others to know...he had to offer Isaac. For us for others
to know who we are...we need to SHOW them by our works or we will be no
different then anyone else. We need to put our money where our mouth is.
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Abraham was justified before God BEFORE he offered Issac but he was justified
before man when he showed his faith by doing so.
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ;
that every one may receive the things his bodydone in , according to that he
hath done, whether it be good or bad.
John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every
branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Now remember, and apple tree that does not bear apples is still an apple tree,
but it will be pruned to produce apples if it is in an orchard. I was pruned and
it hurts...it hurts because I know I did not please my Lord. It is now my goal
to produce fruit not because I am afraid for my salvation, but because I want to
please HIM.
Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm
constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain
good works. These things are good and profitable unto men
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the
ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no
more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is
no more works
One of the most common terms for salvation is SAVED! If you could not swim and
you somehow were in the middle of a lake. a mile off shore and I came along with
a boat and pulled you in the boat and took you to within a half mile of shore
and then threw you back in the water.......would I have SAVED you? How about 1/4
mile? 500 feet? 50 No my friend...the ONLY way I will have SAVED you is to TAKE
YOU ALL THE WAY TO SHORE.
THIS is what Jesus IS doing for us...1 John 3
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should
be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew
him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall
be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall
see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is
pure.
Willful or
known unconfessed SIN will block our prayers from being heard and/or answered.
Isaiah 59:2
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have
hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
We do not get away with SIN. We lose fellowship. Much as if someone borrowed
$100 from us promising to pay it back on Monday. Monday comes and goes and he
does not have the money. So the next time he sees us, he avoids us. We may value
the friendship far more then the money but we have lost that too...not because
of us but because the person we loaned the money to has changed. If at some
point he comes to us to say he can not pay us, we may well say it is forgiven,
our relationship and fellowship is so much more important. My friend...that is
the way it is with our wonderful Lord. Our friendship and fellowship is more
important but WE have moved.
If this happens use 1 John 1:9 to restore fellowship and Joy...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
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth
on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath
everlasting life.
Reward a
future attainment
2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which
the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only,
but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give
every man according as his work shall be.
Ephesians 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted
in Christ.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of
your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that
holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased
possession, unto the praise of his glory.
2 Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny
himself.
Even if we deny Christ after salvation, He will Not deny us
Numbers 21:
5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought
us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is
there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people;
and much people of Israel died.
7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have
spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away
the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a
pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh
upon it, shall live.
9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to
pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass,
he lived.
John 3:
14 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.
NOTICE once again the ONLY condition to live when a snake bit you...was to LOOK
and live...WE now Trust and live. The power was and IS God's for healing of our
soul.
2
Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that
every one may receive the things his done in body , according to that he hath
done, whether it be good or bad.
John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every
branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
James 2:14...see verse 13
Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm
constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain
good works. These things are good and profitable unto men
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the
ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no
more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is
no more works
One of the most common terms for salvation is SAVED! If you could not swim and
you somehow were in the middle of a lake. a mile off shore and I came along with
a boat and pulled you in the boat and took you to within a half mile of shore
and then threw you back in the water.......would I have SAVED you? How about 1/4
mile? 500 feet? 50 No my friend...the ONLY way I will have SAVED you is to TAKE
YOU ALL THE WAY TO SHORE.
THIS is what Jesus IS doing for us...1 John 3
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should
be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew
him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall
be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall
see him as he is.
CONCLUSION: Since there was nothing I could do to get eternal life, there is
also nothing I can do to keep it. I work BECAUSE I am saved, Not to GET saved.
Eph 2:8 and 9 goes one to say in verse 10 "For we are His workmanship
created in Christ unto good works which God hath made before ordained that we
should walk in them. If we as His child do not and will not do what He ask, we
will be chastened, This promise of chastisement is reassuring because it means
we will not be thrown out of the family.
Our WORKS are what we return to HIM...and I for one do not want to go to Him
empty handed. I want to do so much more for HIM... and be able to really say the
longer I SERVE Him the sweeter He grows...
For the LAMB
ken
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JUNE is Domestic Violence Against Men Awareness Month