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THE CHRISTIAN VIEW OF DEATH

April 18, 2013 by Pastor James 0 Comments

In Philippians 1:21 Paul stated, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Thus, he  gave the Christian view of life and in the second half of the verse he gave the Christian view of death. He continued by stating that physical death, would be a beneficial occurrence. He stated, “and to die is gain.”

 The word ‘…gain…’ means “…to profit…” It carries the idea of benefiting from a transaction. It would be advantageous for Paul to die and departed (vs. 23) to be with Jesus Christ.  Paul would be the richer spiritually to die and enter into the presence of God. 

 Furthermore, the word ‘die’ refers to the act of dying or the exact moment of death. The verb tense is aorist, indicating point action. Physical death is a onetime occurrence. If you are a Christian when physical death occurs, your spirit separates from your physical body and you are immediately transported into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle affirmed this in 2 Corinthians 5:8b where he wrote “…to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” 

 Therefore, the most profitable thing for Paul, as well as for all true followers of Jesus Christ, is to depart from this life into the presence of the Lord. What could be more profitable than being in the presence of the Lord Jesus?

 Caution

 However, if you are not a genuine follower of Jesus Christ, then upon your death you will be immediately cast into Hell, where you will suffer unthinkable agony, torment, which will never cease or lessen in intensity.

 Revelation 20:15 “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

 Closing: 

 Every person’s greatest need in this life is Jesus Christ. Every individual must come to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. They must come to Jesus Christ for salvation. To come to Jesus for salvation you must first recognize who He is! He is the sovereign Lord of all creation.

 John 13:13 “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.

Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

 Then you must come to the Lord Jesus on His terms for receiving forgiveness and salvation. You must repent, that is, you must turn away from sin, you must reject a self-centered focus in life, and by faith focus solely on surrendering to and living for Jesus. You must believe in, trust in, and reply upon the Lord Jesus alone for forgiveness and salvation.

 Can you say along with the Apostle Paul “..to die is gain…”? Are you ready to enter into eternity?

American Christianity, Examine Yourself
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Where Did All the Sin Go?

February 6, 2013 by ChurchSalt 0 Comments

DetectiveI used to have sin in my life, but now…I’m not so sure.  How did I come to be in this confused state?  Well, recently I have been listening to a few sermons from some of today’s popular preachers and as I have, my thoughts & concerns regarding sin have slowly slipped away!  The preachers don’t seem to use the word, and in fact, they don’t really address the issue at all.  And so now after following my new teachers,  all awareness of sin has slowly dissolved away.  That’s okay, right?  I can still acknowledge that I “don’t always make the best choices” and that sometimes I “mess up”, but sin?  No.  That seems to be a thing of the past.  And good riddance!!

Obviously, I am trying to use a bit of sarcasm to make a point.  In Scripture we see many teachings regarding sin.  We learn that sin is actually a crime – a crime against God’s law.  Each sin is a crime for which we will be judged (by a just judge who in no way pardons the guilty).  We learn that every sin is an act of rebellion, and every rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.  We are taught that every act of sin is a refusal to accept the Lord as our Lord, and is considered to be idolatry.  Each sin makes self and desire our god instead of Him.  You see, every sin is not only a crime against God’s law, but also an insult and challenge to our God on a personal level.

In short, the act of sin, its’ consequences in the heavenly court, along with the immediate effects of sin here are all BIG deals in the eyes of God.  Such a big deal that God sent His Son (the Living Word, God incarnate) to die in our place so that the just judge can remain just and offer forgiveness to His people.  And not just forgiveness!  With forgiveness comes a new birth, the “beginning of the end” in regards to sin in the life of a believer.  For every believer is given a new heart that follows God and His laws willingly.   They have a life trademarked by repentance and an ever-widening gap between the believer and sin.

Wait a minute…that’s another word missing in modern preaching these days, isn’t it?  “Repentance.”  But I guess that’s logical, now that I think about it.  How can the word or concept of repentance (the changing of ones mind in regards to sin) be preached when the very concept of sin has been softened, avoided, re-worded (or re-defined) and all but removed?  “Repentance” was included in the messages delivered by John the Baptist, Paul, John and Jesus Christ Himself, but it is completely missing from the modern preacher’s vocabulary (dear reader, do your teachers regularly discuss sin and repentance?)

Folks, the absence of sin and repentance from today’s preaching does much more than simply contextualize the gospel message for the modern man.  It changes the call of the gospel (by eliminating repentance), softens the hard truths about sin, and it robs God of His glory.  Does that last statement surprise you?  It shouldn’t!  Think of this:

Read more…

American Christianity, Examine Yourself, Truth
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Are You Being a Christian Man at Home?

January 7, 2013 by ChurchSalt 0 Comments

American Christianity, Examine Yourself, Teachings for the Believer
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Should we ask Jesus into our Heart?

December 16, 2012 by ChurchSalt 1 Comment

Questioning the unquestionable…

Is “Asking Jesus into our Hearts” Biblical?

heart1We have all heard it taught.  It is taught to children in Sunday schools, private Christian schools, and in Christian homes across the land.  It is taught as being the Gospel message, the plan of salvation, and in modern times it is even presented to adults as such.  What I am talking about is the message “You need to ask Jesus into your heart”.  With so many preaching this message as the gospel, would it not be wise to verify that it’s truly biblical?  I have found that very, very few in our modern Christian culture have ever dug into the Scriptures to verify this message.  That is what this article will attempt to do, but many who read this will take offense that an article like this has even been written.  “Why is someone questioning the gospel message?” they will ask, “My Church has taught this message for years.  Surely this author is trying to spread doubt and false doctrine!!  It isn’t even worth reading such negative and questionable articles!”   But please read what Paul warned us Galatians:

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed   (Galatians 1:8)

This is a HUGE warning not only to beware of false Gospels, but also to be very diligent in biblically verifying the message we present to others.  So won’t you please stay and read this article?  This is not a topic to be dismissed casually or taken lightly!

There are two groups of people that hold to the “Ask Jesus into your heart” message (which from here forward I will refer to as the “Heart” message for the sake of brevity) as being the Gospel message.  The first group of people consists of those that believe it truly is the Biblical message.  The second group of people are those that acknowledge that the message isn’t taught anywhere in the Bible, but feel it is a good, modern way of delivering the more wordy and theological message that is found in Scripture.  By now, many of you will have concluded Read more…

American Christianity, Examine Yourself, Teachings for the Believer, Truth
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True and False Conversion to Christianity

October 13, 2012 by ChurchSalt 0 Comments

Examine Yourself
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Shocking Sermon that has Angered Many…

October 3, 2012 by ChurchSalt 1 Comment

American Christianity, Examine Yourself
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The False Convert – New Sermon

September 27, 2012 by ChurchSalt 0 Comments

Matthew 7:21-23 isn’t usually framed and put on a wall above the sofa, and for obvious reason… it’s a bit disturbing! Jesus made it extremely clear that many, many people who believe themselves to be saved are deceived and headed for eternal damnation. Each and every one of us believes this passage must be referring to someone else, but given the serious nature of this issue, don’t you think it might be a good idea to dig into this warning and see what it’s all about? Listen now… The False Convert.

Examine Yourself

HOW TO BE SURE YOU ARE GENUINELY SAVED Part 4

May 7, 2012 by Pastor James 0 Comments

To determine the genuineness of one’s faith in Jesus Christ, you must turn to the Bible and examine the objective biblical evidence that identifies authentic salvation. In the Book of 1 John, the Apostle John gave a list of spiritual character traits of biblical salvation. The third characteristic of the genuinely saved is a lifestyle of obedience to the Word of God (1 John 2:3-6). In fact, the lifestyle of the believer should reflect the obedient life of Jesus (2:6). In His incarnation among men, Jesus was the model of perfect obedience to God the Father (Heb 4:15). He never once violated the Word of God. Without a doubt, Christians are not perfect like Jesus, for we commit acts of sin. However the believer’s life will be characterized by an ongoing pattern of obedience to the Word of God. There will be an ongoing desire to please the Lord (Col 1:10).

Here is the difference between a Christian and non-Christian, a person genuinely saved will repent of their sin (1 John 1:5-10), and again seek to live in obedience to the Word of God. The true believer will never perfectly obey the Word of God, but his life will be characterized by an ongoing pattern of obedience (1John 2:3,5). In contrast, the non-Christian’s lifestyle will be characterized by ongoing disobedience to God’s Word. The unregenerate individual does not genuinely concern himself with living in obedience to the Word of God.

The truth is many people believe themselves to be a Christian, but in reality they do not routinely obey the Lord to keep His word or to do His will, thus betraying their unregenerate condition (Matt 7:21-22; Luke 6:46). A note of clarification, people are not saved because they seek to obey the Lord by keeping a list of do’s and don’ts, but genuinely saved people will seek to live in obedience to the Lord.

The Apostle John’s point is those who profess faith in Jesus Christ and yet do not live in ongoing obedience to the commands of the Lord (1 John 2:4) are lost. He stated that they are liars and do not possess saving faith. American churches and society are full of individuals who adamantly profess faith in Jesus Christ yet their lives are not characterized by an ongoing pattern of obedience to God. Once more, those who know the Lord will seek to live in obedience to His Word (2:5). The Lord Jesus stated “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine…” (John 8:31b).

For your own sake, honestly evaluate yourself to see if there is an ongoing pattern of obedience to the Word of God in your life. Ask yourself the question, ‘Is there a pattern of ongoing obedience to the Word of God in my life?’ Many who profess to be a Christian and yet their life is not characterized by an ongoing obedience to the Word of God are self-deceived and lost. Consider the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The Lord said: Because these people approach Me with their mouths to honor Me with lip-service– yet their hearts are far from Me, and their worship consists of man-made rules learned by rote—“ (Isaiah 29:13 CSB).

“To believe in Christ is to obey Him.  Not to believe in Him is to disobey Him”.  (by Steven J. Lawson). 

 

Read Part 1 of this series HERE

Read Part 2 of this series HERE

Read Part 3 of this series HERE

 

American Christianity, Examine Yourself, Teachings for the Believer, Truth
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Many Are Decieved

April 4, 2012 by Pastor James 1 Comment

A friend sent me this quote from John Owen’s book, ‘Spiritual-Mindedness’. John Owen lived and ministered in the 17th century and yet this quote is spot on concerning many in the church of the 21st century. American churches are full of individuals fitting Owen’s discerning description.

 ”Many greatly deceive themselves when hearing the Word preached. They agree with the holy truths in their understanding and assent to them as good ‘ideas’. But these truths are not allowed to impress themselves on their consciences nor to judge their present state and condition before God. They think they believe, but in reality they do not. They hear, understand, assent to, and often approve of the things preached, but still they do not believe them so that the truth rules in their hearts. If they really believed the truth as they say they do, then they would judge themselves in the light of it. They are like a man who looks at himself in a mirror, and then goes away and immediately forgets what he has just seen (James 1:23-24). They hear the Word and agree with it, but their minds are so filled with other interests that they soon forget what they have heard.” —, John Owen

 John 8:31 “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine…”

 Does this describe you? Is your life ruled by the Word of God?

American Christianity, Examine Yourself, Teachings for the Believer, Truth
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HOW TO BE SURE YOU ARE GENUINELY SAVED Pt 3

November 15, 2011 by Pastor James 0 Comments

THE FRUIT OF ADDRESSING PERSONAL SIN

As we think about how to determine if one is truly born again, we must continue to examine the biblical fruit which always accompanies authentic salvation. The Apostle John lists another fruit or evidence of biblical salvation as the acknowledgement of personal sin (1 John 1:5-2:2).

What do I mean by a personal acknowledgement of sin in one’s life? John indicates in (1 John 1:5-2:2) that a person who is saved will not continuously live in darkness (sin), but they will consistently seek to walk in the Light where God dwells (holiness, purity). But when a true believer does sin, they acknowledge their sin to God. Also, they do not deny that they have sinned, but confess their sin to the Lord, who forgives and cleanse the believer of all unrighteousness (1:9). The word confess in (1:9) means to fully agree with God concerning the nature and vileness of your sin, as well as, to take full responsibility for your sin. The man Job in the Old Testament is a good example of how a New Testament follower of Jesus Christ will seek to walk before the Lord (see Job 1:8).

The Apostle Paul exhorted people to examine themselves to see if they were truly in the faith. Paul stated, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you– unless indeed you fail the test?” 2 Corinthians 13:5

Other posts in this series:

Read Part 1 of this series HERE

Read Part 2 of this series HERE

Read Part 3 of this series HERE

Read Part 4 of this series HERE

American Christianity, Examine Yourself
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