Tag Archives: Salvation

Tough but True!

“It is a remarkable fact that all the heresies which have arisen in the Christian Church have had a decided tendency to ‘dishonor God and to flatter man’. “  Charles H. Spurgeon

We live in a time like none other in the history of the Church~Body of Christ.  There is not a single day that goes by that we don’t read a story in mainstream media and/or Christian media,  or hear on the news or a from a radio station of another Christian organization that is “falling away” from the blessed truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)   I know I’m not alone in watching with great sadness churches (some denominational– others interdenominational– some non-denomination) changing their views, policies, doctrine and ministries to suit the “times”.  We are warned often in the New Testament of those who will creep unawares into our churches… and those who will walk away from the One True Gospel because of  the self centered, lust-filled and power-driven old “person” within us.  Charles Spurgeon witnessed it.  We are witnessing it!  Like a “whirlpool sucking everything into the darkness”.

I wrote several postings last year about wolves in sheep’s clothing ( Matthew 7:15), however they weren’t read by many.  A year later, apostacy has escalated at an alarming rate as I watch Christian (?) ministers/ministries/organizations move away from the true Gospel… to a

‘people-pleasing gospel’

or a ‘cotton candy Christianity’

or a ‘cultural gospel’

or a ‘New Age gospel’

or a ‘question the Bible gospel’

a ‘jump on the band wagon gospel’

or a ‘mix Christianity with other religions’

All of these are deceiving many in our churches,  and the members follow along, like the “blind leading the blind” not questioning. (1 Timothy 4:1)  Why???  I’ll tell you why… because the average Christian has no idea what they really believe or why they believe it because they spend no time in the Word of God, “testing the spirits” (1 John 4:1)  I know that sounds tough and hard, but, it is the truth.  As I’ve written many times before… you don’t need a theological degree to read and study the Word;  you don’t need an education in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek.  All you need is a personal relationship with God!  That relationship comes through repentance and personally receiving the “gift of salvation–the blood of Christ” that reconciles us to the Father; making Jesus Christ the Lord of your life and then the Holy Spirit takes up residence within your heart and at that moment you are a brand new person, with a new life.  With the abilities to read and study the Bible.  Earnest prayer for understanding, asking the Holy Spirit for discernment and a willingness to surrender your own will to the will of God—-the Word will become something you crave and can’t do without!!

Much Praise to The One Who is The Giver of Eternal Life

The unconditional love of the Almighty LORD God given to sinful, God rejecting, and self pleasing mankind is the most amazing representation of WHO He is.  He sent His ‘only’ Son to die and pay the penalty of our sins, then offers to us as an amazing free gift … we don’t need to work or try to be perfect (we couldn’t anyway), because Our Savior Jesus Christ who was without sin chose to take all the sins of world as the price required for salvation and freedom from the bondage of ‘self’!   The Word of God is the most amazing book ever written!   Here, thousands of years after the initial writings, the original manuscripts are still with us.  The Bible is God-breathed words penned by the holy men He chose.  

Let us never cease to be in awe of  the one and only True LORD God and His  endless grace;

 The salvation freely given to us by the precious blood of the Lamb of God;

The Holy Word of God!  ©Streim

If anything I’ve written here disturbs you… pick up your Bible.  Find out for yourself!  Read and ask God for wisdom, as it is His Will that you read His words of love and caution.  Your heart must first be in the right place with the Father and Lord Jesus to receive instruction.  Here’s a few verses you get you going… reading them in context gives the depth.  All four of these references are from our Lord Jesus:  Matthew 7:15; 10:16, Luke 10:3 and Acts 20:29.  Be blessed…

 

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Wolves and Artificial Sweeteners~ Part 1 http://wp.me/p1Ypb1-7V  

Warnings Given With Love  http://wp.me/p1Ypb1-tB

 

Follow The Leader or Follow The Lord?

The past 2 weeks my study in the Gospel of John has focused on chapters 12-21, obviously because of the significance of the Crucifixion and blessed Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  These nine chapters are so beautiful… there are no words to express what the Holy Spirit inspired within me, with the exception of JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Abundant, fiery, overflowing, empowering JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I learned some very important truths ( 2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”) and I profited much spiritually, for which I thank my Father.  There is so much I could share, but when I am impressed to explore a certain issue, I must!

The hatred of the Jewish people towards Jesus, even though all things pertaining to His life on earth and His horrible death on the cross were firmly set in Old Testament Biblical prophecy, and yet many hated Him!   I asked myself over and over as I read, how could they?  Did they not know?  Weren’t they instructed in the Temple by the Pharisees, Scribes and Chief priests?

The problem with the average, everyday Jew in Jesus time  (as I see it and Isaiah prophesied) is they listened to the leaders and NOT to the Savior Himself!

“But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:  That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled , which he spake , Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed ?  Therefore they could not believe , because that Esaias said again,  He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted , and I should heal them.  These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.  Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:  For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”  John 12:37-41

Where are you in your relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ who obediently died for our sins–yet He was without sin?  What do you believe about our Heavenly Father who raised Jesus from the dead to conquer sin and death for us?  Are you following church leaders, book authors, tele-evangelists, speakers, and on and on OR are you following the Word (John 1:1-5)?  If you’re hanging your salvation on a pastor or a church for fullness… you’re going down a very dangerous path!

  • GET INTO THE WORD DAILY and I am not talking about a “quickie” 5 minute devotional!
  • PRAY WITH JOY AND THANKSGIVING ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL all day long!
  • DESIRE TO BE MORE LIKE OUR LORD… get hungry for His Word and needful of personal fellowship!
  • GET OUT INTO YOUR WORLD  and let you light shine… speak the Gospel… and walk the walk!
There may be some of you who may “blast” me on this post and you know what, I do not care!  If anything I’ve written is Biblically unsound then post a comment.  I am writing this because I see the same thing happening in the church today as I studied about with the Jewish people in John’s Gospel.  I care where you spend eternity.  
 Extra references… words from the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself — John 5:19-34; 6:44-51; chapter 17, Jesus prayer for His disciples and for us; and John’s final comments in chapter 21:25 “And there are also many other things which Jesus did , the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written . Amen.”   ♥Streim

Our Journey Through John’s Gospel 2

John 1:6-14

6) There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7) The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through Him might believe. 

8) He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 

9) That was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world. 

10) 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.

  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.

In verse 6 the Apostle John introduces John the Baptist, the one whom the prophet Isaiah spoke about in Isaiah 40:1-8 ; specifically referring to the  man who would be the witness to prepare the people for the Light; the Messiah.   In verse 3 the LORD spoke through Isaiah saying “The voice of him that cries in the wilderness, ‘Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

Verses 7 and 8 John expands and expounds to the people that John the Baptist was NOT the Light, but was sent for the purpose of “bearing witness of the Light…” and that through this Light “all men might believe”.  Interestingly, John did not say that only the chosen of God, the Jewish people, might believe but says “all men”

Then John states the Messiah Jesus is the ... the one and only Light.  Sometimes these small words, like true used here,  get lost when we read the Word of God, however they are obviously important to the LORD God, or He would not have inspired them to be written.  As we study further in John, we will see that Jesus Christ Himself said … ” I am the light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. “  John 8:12

In verse ten, we read John telling us in a similar way what he said in verses 4-5.  Jesus came into the world to bring the light of salvation, He created the world and the world received Him not!  Why?  Because He was the Light, and the people of the world are in darkness and prefer the darkness of their the sin-filled nature.

Then comes the stinger— verse 11 “He came unto His own, and His own received him not.”  Who were His own?   The Jewish people… His own people!  This is quite sad and an extraordinary detail considering the Jews knew the words of the Old Testament prophets very well.  As we study further, it’s made very evident why they didn’t receive Him.

Then comes the “but” in verse 12.  It thrills me every time I see that word in Scripture.  In the English language the word but means:  in contrast to the previous statement.  Wonderfully and joyfully John said ” 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:”.    In the Hebrew, the word here for power means ‘ privilege or the right’. In the margin of my Bible I wrote “WOW!!!”.  We, all people, are given the right or the privilege to become God’s children.  As we progress, this message in announced, confirmed and repeated numerous times in various ways throughout John’s Gospel.

John 1 :13 “ Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ”  The “which” here refers back to those who received the Light; believed on His name.  For me, it appears to reference being “born again”.  I say that because as humans we are born willfully when two people engage in the act of intercourse.  John says those who are given the right to become a sons of God, are born of God’s will!  ( see John 3:3; 1 Peter 1:23)

“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.” 

This final verse in our study today reiterates John’s first few words of his Gospel… then refers to the Messiah coming and living among the people as prophesied in the Old Testament.   The parenthetical words “and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only begotten of the Father “ are awe-inspiring!  John was proclaiming that Jesus was the only Son of God!  Exactly as our Lord Jesus said to the questioning Nicodemus in John 3:16!

My prayer is that ‘daily’ you will study the Word.  After all… it is God speaking.  Praise Him for the never-ending mercy, love and grace!  ♥ Streim