The Forgiven

Everything that has a soul is under judgment!
There is not one person who will not be judged by Almighty God!
He is our Creator and has given us commands to follow.
But in His mercy toward us, He gave us eternal life through Christ Jesus for all who will believe on Him alone for salvation.
An eternal gift, not based on our merit but on the power of Christ, being wholly God, wholly man.
Christ, being the only acceptable blood sacrifice substitute, paid our debt before God, accepting the whole wrath of God, sealing us by His blood!
Our mission here on Earth is to preach the saving gospel of Jesus!

Mark 4:12
so that "they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven." 

2 Cor.4:4-6
4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.
6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Who are you in Christ?

Mark 4:13-20
13 And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?
14 The sower sows the word.
15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.
16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy.
17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.
18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word,
19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold."

Christ and the gospel....

The Second Chance

Faith....
Acts 2:24 
But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.


Colossians 2:12
having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.


You might not think about it, but God has given you a second chance!
He has given you a new life in Christ if you are His sheep.
You were a man born in sin but when you believed by faith that Christ was raised from the dead, you were also raised to walk in a new way life, not held by the bondage of sin.
So you see, the Cross brought death but it also brought life, eternal life through the blood of the Lamb!
Baptism symbolizes burying the old man and raising the new man.

Roman 6:4

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

2 Corinthians 5:17 
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Colossians 3:10 
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator

We must die to sin and self! We must lean on Christ and listen to His word! We must obey!

Lord most gracious,
Forgive us our disobedience and show us mercy as You teach us the meaning of true life in You. Amen

Life of Flesh Is In the Blood

Lev.17:11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.

Heb.9:22
Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Matt.26:28
for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Romans 3:25
whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

Romans 5:9-12
9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned-

Eph.1:7-10
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

1 John 1:7-10
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Rev.1:5
and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

The Valley of the Shadow of Death

Ps.23
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 
3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. 

The dying are often surrounded by family and friends.
However, when you actually die, you seemingly go alone.
Although it appears you are alone at the moment you die, this psalm assures Christ followers that we are not alone.
Our great and wonderful comforter walks by our side.
He is there to lead us home!

Those who deny the sovereignty of Christ and are eternally separated from him and go to hell.

Luke 16:26
And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.'

God made heaven and hell eternal!
The soul is eternal!

Is.55:8-9
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. 
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

Ps.103:8-14
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 
9 He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. 
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 
13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. 
14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

It Is Finished

Today my sweet brother died.
Hebrews 9:27
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
He had cancer but what really killed him was sin.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God created man in His own image.
His intent was for man to live in the garden with everything provided for him by God.
Ecc.3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

Sin entered through one man and went to all men.
Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned-

People often ask "how could God do this" when someone dies, or a tragedy occurs.
The simple truth is, we sinned against God!
We alone, brought the wrath of God on ourselves!
Romans 8:6
For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 8:1-4
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

As I watched my brother die a little each day, I was very aware that sin has a cost!
What God meant for joy in His creation was marred by sin.

Satan is the author of lies, the tempter who entices man to rebel against holy God!
1 John 3:8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.
John 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

God's beautiful creation dies and decays and his soul returns to his Maker.
Ecc. 12:7
and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

You will die, you are accountable before God, He will judge you and your soul will live for eternity in heaven or hell!
Romans 3:10-12
10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; 
11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."

God, who is rich in mercy, made an acceptable sacrifice through the blood of Christ for all who believe. Christ was wholly man and wholly God and by the power of God, He alone saves man from hell!
This last Sunday my pastor preached on weaving threads.
He told of how each little word or verse about Christ is used to weave the gospel message in the unbeliever's heart.
It is our command to preach the gospel and God alone will bring in the harvest of souls.
I pray that each and every one of you will listen to the gospel and be convicted by your sinful rebellion.

There is not one lust of this world that can compare with the hope and joy Christ brings to you when the burden of sin has been washed away from your soul.
Romans 8:22-25
22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

God is holy....
Is.43:15
I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King." 

Man rebelled....
Romans 3:12
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." 

We are separated from God....
Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Just....
Prov.17:15
He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.

We are dead....
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gracious God....
Titus 2:11
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,

Life in Christ....
1 John 3:5
You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

Christ death....
1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Christ has risen....
Rev.1:18
and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Turn from sin....
Mark 1:15
and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

Trust....
Romans 10:9
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Eternity
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Hell, a dreadful reality who deny Christ....
2 Thess.1:8-9
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

Heaven, a glorious reality for those trusting Christ....
Phil.3:20
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Lord, without repentance, there will no forgiveness. Open hearts to the good news of the gospel. Amen

Under Divine Grace

Grace - God's unmerited favor

Romans 6:14
For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

Romans 6:22
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

Romans 7:6
But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

Romans 3:19
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.

Romans 2:12
For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

James 2:8-13
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.
9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.
11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.
13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Romans 6:1-4
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Titus 2:11-15

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 
12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 
13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 
14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. 
15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you. 

Ephesians 2:8-10

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Hebrews 13:6-9

6 So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" 

7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 

9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.

2 Peter 3:18

18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

It's A Hard Thing

Why do bad things happen to good people?
Why does God let people suffer?
Why do people die way too young?
The root cause of all these things is sin!
God did not sin, man did.
God wanted a relationship with His creation.
We are made in His image.
Adam and Eve were put in a garden that could only be described as a paradise. They were given everything they would need to lead a life of pleasure and live forever. They were told certain things not to do but Satan tempted them and sin entered paradise and forever changed the course of all human life.
As I watch my brother dying, I am very aware of the cost of sin! It is responsible for taking away the life of my brother, who also is a husband, a father, a grandfather, a friend and a person who knows he is saved by grace through faith and will be reconciled to God through Christ! So when you ask these questions and want to place blame, you can be assured that through our rebellion, you and I are responsible! For man did indeed sin!

Where is God when everything falls apart? He is waiting for you to turn from sin and follow Christ!

Job 42:1-6

1 Then Job answered the LORD and said:
2 "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 
3 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 
4 'Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.' 
5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; 
6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes."