Tag: forgiveness

Posted in Living in Today's World, The Gospel, Time for Sharing, Truth

Streim’s Saturday Sharing (repost with edits) Wake Up and Realize “there is no afterlife”

Posted on by Streim

Wake Up and Realize “there is no afterlife”

OK… I know before you read any further that you may be thinking, has Streim lost her faith?  Or maybe that I’m a tad off my “spiritual” balance.  Well, neither is true.  I will tell you why I make the statement ” There is no afterlife” and the purpose for writing this post.

First, here are a few verses that describe how God Almighty views our life here on earth:

1 Peter 1:24 “… because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away”

Psalm 103:14-16 ”  For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more” 

Isaiah 40:6-8 ”  The voice said, “Cry out!” And he  said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.  The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, But the Word of our God stands forever.”

According to the United Nations data for 2010, the average life expectancy is 67.2 years.  This is an average based on all nations of the world.  I am fully aware here in the US some folks live well into their 90’s;  I have a dear friend who just celebrated her 92nd birthday.  However in third world countries, for example Zimbabwe the average is 31.8.

definition of eternity according to onlinefreedictionary.com  :

1. Time without beginning or end; infinite time… (time lasting forever)
2. The state or quality of being eternal.
3. a. The timeless state following death.

     b. The afterlife; immortality.

What does Almighty God say about eternity?

John 6:40 ” And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 6:27 “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

Romans 6:22 ” But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”

 We all know that at some time in our life here in earth we will die.  Old age, accidents, disease… whatever, for the most  part (*)    everyone; man, woman or child will die.  Whether we live to be 30 years or 100 years… it’s a mere “blip” in time compared to eternity.  So, technically the years we spend here on earth is “PRE-LIFE”  and when this body dies… there’s eternity.  Eternity is “LIFE”.  The real deal.  And… what we do in this pre-life determines where we spend LIFE!!!   There’s only two places, according to the Word of God, where we will spend LIFE eternal.  1)  WITH ALMIGHTY GOD AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST  or 2)  WITHOUT GOD— in a place of outer darkness filled with pain, suffering, sadness, being alone. (2 Thessalonians 1:5-9 NASB)  Forever and ever and ever and ever…..

  “…where will you spend eternity ?”

Romans 3:18-28 “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.” Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. ” NASB

The Almighty LORD God created mankind out of love; wanting a personal relationship with him.  Adam (the first man) and Eve chose to disobey a simple command by the LORD. (Genesis 2-3).  Their disobedience was passed on to all, part of our DNA.  But, the LORD God provided a way to restore that loving, personal relationship through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ; the only begotten of the Father.  Jesus death paid the required price for our sin-filled heart/life to be cleansed. With that cleansing, the Heavenly Father erases our sin.  Now, one thing to note:  This atoning and cleansing IS available for “…WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”  Romans 10:13   ♥  Streim

Posted in Listening To God, Living in Today's World, Trusting God

I interrupt this series…NO I AM Ending It!

Posted on by Streim

I interrupt  end this series “Sound Biblical Doctrine vs. Man-Made Doctrine” because in my time of studying the Word (both Old Testament and New Testament) for this series, I’ve realized through our Father’s glorious love, grace and patience the series was initiated as a response to a blogger and NOT as a response to God’s guidance.**

I’ve struggled with frustration, indignation and down-right anger at those who are distorting the Word of God for their own personal benefit or agenda.   My frustration led me away from the ‘HOPE and PEACE’ of the Truth.  The only  truth is God’s Divine plan for reconciling sinful men/women to Himself through the shed blood of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross at  Calvary.   So, I am simplifying my posts (keeping it simple Streim) from here on out.

I am not a prophet, nor a preacher, nor a leader… so I’ll leave the heavy “doctrinal” stuff to them; BUT I won’t shy away at all from the Truth of God’s Word.  I see the greatest failure in today’s Christianity is the average Sunday morning pew sitter is not making time to feed on the Word!  If you are not dependent upon God’s Word for your spiritual relationship and growth with the Lord Jesus and our Father, something or someone else is more than willing to fill that need.  Beware fellow adopted brethren, we have an enemy who lurks around just waiting to be that something or someone!  

“And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.”  Matthew 24: 4-5

“Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,  “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?” And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you.  For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.”  Mark 13:3-6

“ And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.”  Luke 21:8

I suggest that these passages be read in context, in a ‘reliable’ version/translation of the Holy Bible.  If you are a born-again (changed from within), bought with a great price (the blood of the Lamb of God) adopted child of the Father (through His grace), you are given the indwelling presence if His Holy Spirit.  It is the Spirit that discerns all things, including the Word of Truth, when you ask in the name of Jesus for the glory of God!  ( John 3: 3-7; 1 Corinthians 6:20 and 7:23; 1 Peter 1:19; Revelation 12:11; Romans 8:15 and 23; Acts 2:38 and 4:31; Ephesians 5:9; Matthew 7:7 and 11; Matthew 21:22 and 24; 1 John 5:14-16)

( here’s a piece of what I was going to post for ‘grace’ doctrine–maybe it will be insightful to some one)

In this time when all sound Bible/Christian beliefs are under attack in one way or another, it’s expected that “God’s grace toward man” would be challenged.  In my last post, I gave the definition of God’s grace toward man. I believe God’s grace toward mankind is 100% UNMERITED. Why?  Because there is nothing that we as sin-filled creatures could ever do that is deserving of the LORD God’s favor.  In the Old Testament, the LORD God gave Moses the ‘law’ for people to live by, however even the most favored men in the Old Testament (for example King David) couldn’t follow  every dotted ‘i’ and crossed ‘t’ of the law.  John 1:16-17 says ” And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”   Yes, Jesus Christ was full of grace and truth which is how we are able ONLY to receive it through Him.

Because not one person born could or would completely follow the law,  there was a void between God and man.   This void is beyond our comprehension, because the LORD God said ” my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways…”   (Isaiah 55:8-9)  But in all His love for man, despite their sinful, desperately wicked hearts and hatred of Him;  He gave us forgiveness through the shed blood of Jesus Christ–His only begotten Son on the cross!  It’s a ‘gift of grace’ available to anyone and everyone who chooses to “accept” it for themselves. You see as with any gift, it the person chooses not to accept, then it’s NOT theirs!  Is that too simple for some of my more theological readers.  If so, remember what Jesus said about children… ” unless we become like little children we can not see the kingdom of heaven…”.   Jesus Christ was grace personified!

A well-known Christian martyr of 19th century theology,  Dietrich Bonhoeffer spoke these words in one of his famous writings  “The Cost Of Discipleship”    “Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession…. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.” and  “Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our church. We are fighting today for costly grace.”  

He wrote this in the 1920’s. Here, nearly 100 years later, blood bought adopted children of the LORD God are still contending for ‘costly grace’ and standing up for what they know to be true.  Let each of us examine ourselves.  Are we “responding to God’s guidance” and living completely in Him or being deceived because we are “responding to men”. **  May you be blessed each morning anew when you start your day with the Word and prayer.  Now that’s the breakfast of spiritual champions.   ♥Streim

Posted in Everyday News, Living in Today's World

the TRUTH be known: introduction

Posted on by Streim
A reader of my most recent blog post “What Do Cheerios and 21st Century Christianity Have In Common?”  left this comment:
Phillip Brande wrote “This post had a great start, could you unpack some of the things you mentioned in the first paragraph? What are the different flavors of the gospel? In your words… based on the scriptures you have given.”
 

First I want to thank Phillip for this comment/question.  I must answer his question for the clarity of my readers.  But more importantly, I know millions of Christians in today’s world are following leaders/pastors/teachers/authors who believe post-modern Christianity needs new flavors/varieties of the Gospel to bring the world (people) to God!  Nothing could be farther from the Truth.  The Christian who follows the ‘newly flavored gospel’ may think, feel and even believe they’re walking towards the straight and narrow gate with the Lord Jesus Christ.  According to Scripture–the Word of God to man, they are trudging along the broad path which leads to destruction. ( Matthew 7:13-14)

I rarely study the words of men, but I have done some (minimal) reading of early church reformers ( Spurgeon, etc). I with all boldness proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ because of the new life He’s so mercifully given to me.  The joy of growing in the truth and sharing His love is vital to me.  If you read my “about” pages, you’ll see I was a horribly, sinful, self-willed and arrogant woman.  What a wondrous day it was when I, like the prodigal son, sorrowfully repented of my sins and ran into my Father’s loving arms.  It was only by repentance of my disgrace and  acceptance of His GRACE that I am ‘alwayzHIS’

God’s Word precisely directs man to Himself through sound doctrines.  These doctrines are being compromised in many ministries today throughout the world.  One small compromise= complete deadly doctrine.  That’s why Jude wrote

Jude 1:3-4 “Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”

For clarification, each of the doctrinal points listed will be a post in itself.  First, the sound doctrine according to God’s Word.  Then, I will prove (and you can see for yourself) false doctrines today that come from negating or minimizing the pure truth. 
We must always remember our LORD God, Creator of all, is perfectly holy.  His Word (the Holy Bible) is infallible in its original writings.  BEING PERFECT AS HE IS…if a person/group/authority figure should change one word to manipulate the Gospel message into anything other than what it is… they are deceivers and liars.

My heart aches; weeps for people in this world who are unwittingly deceived by false teachers. 

As the LORD God’s adopted, blood bought reborn children we need to stand up for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and speak the Truth in love.

Outline of Doctrines in This Study

1.  Sinfulness of man  (total depravity of man)

2.  What does sin to our relationship with God?  (separation)

3.  What are the results of sin?  (wages of sin–eternal death)

4. What and why did God Himself do to make a way for us to commune with Him?  We are never good enough!  Grace-Gift of His Only Son

4a. Gift of God– Jesus Christ– Deity (God incarnate)

4b.  Perfect blood sacrifice needed for atonement  ( pay the debt for sin)

4c.  Jesus death, burial and resurrection: He was the atoning sacrifice and defeated death!

5.  The Need for Repentance!!!

6.  A New Creation— a new heart after being filled with the Holy Spirit  (born-again)

7.  Living according to the Word; following the commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ and bearing fruit.

8.  Watching and waiting for the Lord Jesus to return

If we need to look at other doctrines we will.  Please be patient with me as I prayerfully seek the will of God in preparing these posts and also the physical ability to do so.  Thank you!

It’s not about me~it’s about HIM and making the Truth known. ♥Streim