Making Room For God

In order for Jehovah Gods light to have room to enter into the unbeliever and or errant Christian, his or her soul must be convicted of their sin against God (Rom. 6:23). Where do we begin?


·  One must have an open ear and mind to seek, talk or listen on matters about God. (Rom. 10:14-17)

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

· One’s secrets of their heart must be laid bare. (1 Cor. 14:24-25)

But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

·  The guilt of how they have treated others must be exposed. (Psalm 69:5)

You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you.

·  God must call the individual through the words of the Gospel. (1 Cor. 7:20-24)

Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

·  One must recognize Gods mercy and judgment. (Rom. 2:2-3, 9:18)

Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?

Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

·  One must not rebel against the Gospel with unbelief. (Rom. 4:20-21, 11:20-21, Heb.3:18-19)

Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

·  One must in faith kneel before the cross of Christ and obey the Gospel. (Jn. 14:23, 2 Thess. 1:8)

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Once the unbeliever responds in obedient faith to the Gospel, he or she will then be gifted the Holy Spirit and a measure of faith (Rom. 12:3) from God as He wills. One is then sealed in the Spirit (Eph. 4:30) with the many blessings of Gods light to begin walking in a new life (2 Cor. 5:17), born again (Jn. 3:3).


How is one to properly obey the gospel? Not with a sinners prayer. Click image.

May all who seek Jehovah God be open to Him in every way to righteousness.

How we Know Jesus Resurrected from the Dead

Do you need proof? I mean, it is an honest question to ask, "How do you really know Jesus Christ died and lived again after 3 days in the grave?"

Lets be clear, nobody has ever seen a human resurrect back to life after being dead for three days or even one for that matter. The bible however tells us hundreds of people witnessed Jesus among them (1 Cor. 15:5-8) for forty days after his death and resurrection, but we weren't there. We have no physical proof but they did. Taking this a step further in our time, I haven't been to or seen Paris France except on a map or in photographs. But I believe Paris exists based upon all that is written and witnessed by people, therefore I have faith Paris is actually a place that at this moment exists. This is a simplistic comparison but has merit to its premise.

The scriptures do in fact point out that, the Jewish elders knew the body of Jesus was missing from the grave on the third day of its entombment. Pilates Roman soldiers that stood watch over the weekend admitted such. Nobody went in nor did anybody come out from the tomb. (Matt. 28:11-15)

Mark Roberts issues compelling proof about the resurrection facts of the bible and other historical writings in the first century A.D. If you are a skeptic or a believer weak of faith, challenge yourself to a new look into the most important event of mankind. The Resurrection of Jesus.

click to play

WHO MOVED THE STONE?

Gods Grace Misunderstood

In spite of denominational claims that the church of Christ doesn't believe in the grace of God, every preacher and faithful Christian I know believes all who are saved will be saved by God's grace, just as the Bible affirms in Acts 15:11, Ephesians 2:5, 8, and many other passages. But we deny men are saved by grace only.

If man is saved by anything "only," any and all other things are necessarily excluded. It cannot be two (or more) things only. Only means just one. The Bible says nothing of being saved by anything "only." The truth is the Bible speaks of numerous things involved in salvation:

• Matthew 10:22 we are saved by enduring to the end (i.e., being faithful unto death - Rev 2:10).
• Mark 16:15-16 - we are saved by believing the gospel and being baptized.
• John 3:16 and Acts 16:31 - we are saved by faith.
• Acts 2:21 and Romans 10:13 - we are saved by calling on the name of the Lord; (many do not understand what this means. The answer can be found by reading Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46; and Acts 22:16).
• Acts 2:37-39 - we are saved by re-examining and asking questions about our baptism.
• Acts 4:12 - we are saved by the name of Christ.
• Romans 1:16 and 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 - we are saved by the Gospel.
• Romans 5:9 - we are saved by Jesus' blood.
• Romans 5:10 - we are saved by Jesus' life.
• Romans 8:24 - we are saved by hope.
• Romans 10:9 - we are saved by confession and faith.
• 1 Corinthians 1:21 - we are saved by preaching.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:10 - we are saved by loving the truth.
• 1 Timothy 4:16 - we are saved by taking heed to the doctrine and continuing in it.
• Titus 3:5 - we are saved by the mercy of God.
• Hebrews 9:22 - we are saved by the shedding of blood
• James 1:21 - we are saved by the engrafted word.
• 1 Peter 3:21 - we are saved by baptism beneath the cross.

Thus, we see the folly of claiming to be saved by any one thing.

Consider; a man is drowning and someone takes a boat toward the man while a second boater throws to the man in distress a flotation device tied to a rope. The man is pulled into the boat and taken ashore. Shall he thank only the second boater for saving his life? Was he saved by the flotation device? The rope? The man who threw the device and pulled him to the boat? The man who drove the boat? Or did the man save himself by taking hold of the device and holding on until he was brought to safety? It is easy to see how he was saved not by one thing only, but by a multiplicity of factors. The bible says, "The entirety of Your word is truth" (Psalm 119:160).

We are saved by God's grace when we obey the Gospel. This includes believing in the deity of Jesus, repenting of sins, confession of Jesus Christ as Savior, being baptized (immersion) for remission of sins, and faithful living for God until death. This is the plan through which God has promised to save all men by His grace (Titus 2:11-14; 3:5-7).

Blessings

Acts 2:21 — Calling on the Lord’s Name

Calling on the Name of the Lord seems to be grossly misunderstood within many Protestant and Evangelical movements today. So much so it is preached that all one has to do to be saved is, verbally call on Jesus name, and invite Him into ones heart without doing anything. It is made to sound as if a few short words and a prayer constitutes all that is needed to become a new and cleansed Christian.

Frankly dear reader, Jesus doesn't work that way according to the whole word of God (Psalms 119:160).

Believe it or not, there are real spiritual consequences to not calling on His name the way Jesus directs us. It is a salvation issue we hope you endeavor to study further and more completely so that you are truly obeying what Jesus said yesterday, and today. This short lesson sets the record straight as God intended for alien sinners and fringe believers (those outside His church) to help you understand all of what God is instructing mankind to be His.

Many blessings to you in Christ Jesus the Lord...

By Larry Hafley, The Guardian of Truth, 1985