A falsehood is circulating, claiming that all paths lead to God, and it has led many to believe it is true. It sounds good right, after all Christians are about love and unity, but there is a danger believing this. According to John 14:6, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Let us dissect this scripture and uncover its true meaning.   Many say they believe in God but reject Jesus Christ as the only way to the Father. Let's face it-there are thousands of religions in this world. But when Jesus said, "I am the way." He made a clear affirmation: not that He is one of many paths, but the only way to eternal life in God's presence. As true followers of Christ, we must teach the same thing to everyone. John 3:36 tells us, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” Also, Acts 4:12 says “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” This is why Jesus said, “I Am the Way.” Many people may reject this teaching of Jesus, but their rejection does not change its truth. It is to our benefit to accept and embrace it, for Jesus is the Truth and not a man who lies. He declared Himself to be the only 'door' for God's people and our only Shepherd (John 10:7-11). We should believe in Him not only because of who He is, but also because His word affirms it.   He is “The Truth,” the Lord Jesus is the embodiment of God’s truth, the incarnation of the God of truth (Ps 31:5), the “Living Word” that makes us free (John 8:32). Therefore, there is no deception, dishonesty, or darkness in Him. Lying is against His nature; He will never say something and not fulfill it. He is not like us, we sometimes put our foot in our mouth by saying something just to get out of a situation. Not Him, if He said it, He will do it.    Lastly, Jesus said He is “The Life” (John 11:25.) He is not talking about physical life; He is talking about spiritual life. He alone has the power to give eternal life to all those who believe (John 3:16). John 5:26 says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.” How many of us heard His voice calling when we were lost in our sins? How many of us heeded and obeyed? If you are a believer, you have heard His voice and are now alive in Him. Hallelujah!    By receiving the Lord Jesus into our hearts through faith, we become co-heirs with Christ. However, if we reject Him, we will never find the path to God, know the truth, or experience eternal life. Let us share this Good News with the world today.   Source Biblegateway Online

Many of us struggle with negative thoughts that invade our minds daily. We lie awake in bed, our thoughts racing in circles, filled with worry, fear, and chaos—replacing the peaceful and joyful thoughts we once felt. Even if we’ve surrendered these burdens to God, it often seems that the enemy finds a way back into our minds, reigniting the battle. How many of you have felt like it’s a losing fight at times? Today, I want to share two types of gardens: one where the devil sows seeds of discouragement and the other where the Spirit of God plants seeds of peace and joy. We can all agree that God’s mercies are new every morning. Yet, we also have an enemy who seeks to attack us at every turn, planting seeds of discouragement in our minds. We might hear whispers telling us how “unworthy” we are or that “we are not loved.” These thoughts are like weeds in our gardens, choking the beauty in our hearts—lies that God did not plant. Recently, I spoke with a family member about the trees in our garden. They shared how spiders outside were spinning webs on the branches, causing the trees to suffer. What should we do when these thoughts invade our minds? Do we entertain them? Do we agree with the lie, saying, “Yes, I am not loved”? When we do this, we open the door of our hearts to these negative influences, risking the beautiful fruit God has planted. We must take action to remove these pests, just as we would clear cobwebs from trees to ensure they bear good fruit. But what if I told you we can cultivate a different kind of garden? Imagine a garden overflowing with beautiful fruit, lovingly sown by the Spirit of God. Picture your mind filled with thoughts that are noble, pure, and uplifting—a space where love nourishes our garden, allowing truths to flourish. The battle for our minds is very real; many struggle daily, and some have lost their way because they didn’t know how to cultivate their thoughts and protect themselves from those destructive pests. But we can overcome this challenge by watering our minds with God’s Word. The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8 , “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things.” These are the seeds we are called to sow in the fertile soil of our souls.   Let’s take a moment to examine our thoughts and identify any pests that may be trying to thrive and suffocate our fruit. Write down the thoughts that often come to mind. Now, hold them up to the light of Truth—God’s Word. Ask yourself: Do these thoughts reflect what is true in God? Are they praiseworthy? If they don’t meet these criteria, it’s time to remove them, just like we would with pests in our garden.   We need to actively eliminate these harmful thoughts. If they are true, praiseworthy, and pure, then we can trust God in prayer, believing that He is working all things out for our good. When we compare our thoughts to God’s Word, as instructed in Philippians 4:8, we embrace a new way of thinking that leads to true joy and a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). It’s time to be diligent gardeners, cultivating only those thoughts that are meant to thrive, bless us, and draw us closer to our Creator. By doing this, our minds will transform into a sanctuary of divine beauty and peace.

How   much   have   things   changed   in   our   society   in   the   past   5 years? It seems as if life gets harder and harder, and because of so many changes we are left feeling like no one understands us. Today I want to remind you of someone who knows exactly how we feel and promises to be there with us through life's crazy and terrifying changes. The other day, as I was praying I began to thank the Father for sending His Son, Jesus. He sent his son in the form of a man to walk this earth, suffer, and die on the cross for our sins. As I prayed, God began to show me what Jesus went through while He was on this earth. I was able to imagine Him feeling the same way I was feeling in that moment. Our loving Savior knows how it is to feel sad, lonely, hungry and even tired, because He also experienced these physical and emotional experiences as we do in our bodies. This is why we have such a loving and compassionate Savior.  Hebrews 4:15  (Amplified bible) tells us,  “For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize  and  understand our weaknesses  and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin.” Jesus, our High Priest understands that as humans we will feel overwhelmed and worried at times, yet He does not condemn us. He is sympathetic to our humanity. I’m sure we’ve all used the saying, “Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes” and until you do, you won’t understand why some people do what they do. Even if no one understands us, there is One who does, Jesus. Hebrews 2:17 tells us, “It was essential that He had to be made like His brothers (mankind) in every respect, so that He might [by experience] become a merciful and faithful High Priest in things related to God.” Him leaving His throne in Heaven and coming to this earth to become like you and me, subjected to the limits of this body, proves how much He was willing to go through for us. "Because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted, He is able to help and provide immediate assistance to those who are being tempted and exposed to suffering ( Hebrews 2:18 )." So, you see, we have someone who understands our fears, worries, and anxieties. He doesn't see us any differently, but He does want us to trust in His promises. He reminds us in Hebrews 4:16 , to “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” He already knows our weaknesses and understands them so why not just go before Him sincerely. If you are unsure about the future and are afraid, He understands. If you are feeling overwhelmed because of your current job, He understands. If you have a wayward child and you feel like they are slipping from your hands, He understands. Maybe you are in a financial bind and it’s hard to make ends meet, He understands. If you are sad and feel alone, He is there. He loves you. Our great High Priest left His throne to experience firsthand the life of humanity, so He could understand, and provide a way of escape ( 1 Corinthians 10:13 ). Always remember, even when it feels like no one understands you, Jesus does. He will lovingly guide you to trust His word and get you back on track. Today, I urge you to confidently approach the majestic throne room of God, envisioning it as a place of divine presence and power. As you enter, with a heart filled with unwavering confidence, take a moment to reflect on the awe-inspiring nature of this sacred space. Then, share with Him the deepest emotions and thoughts that weigh on your heart, knowing that you are heard and understood in this holy place. He is patiently waiting for you to enter.     Sources: Biblegateway.com Amplified Bible NKJV

We have all heard the saying, "honesty is the best policy." However, many of us fall into the trap of dishonesty, thinking it's no big deal. Some of us may engage in dishonest behavior without realizing the potential consequences. Today, I want to discuss the importance of honesty and consider the perspective of God on those who don't practice it.  First, I want to ask how you felt the first time you dealt with a dishonest person. I believe we have all had our fair share of deceitful people and were left feeling taken advantage of because we trusted them. Someone once told me, if it happened once, shame on them, but if it happened twice, shame on you. In other words, next time, we need to be wiser. It is incredible how many people make a living by dishonest gain; some even mock the poor person who believed their lie. Again, I ask, how do we feel after dealing with dishonest people? Do we trust that person again? Are they the kind of company we want to keep around? Many lives have been changed forever because of one person’s dishonesty, and although we don’t see the consequences in that moment, we serve a righteous God who is sure to deal with all those who act unrighteously. God takes our honesty very serious and gave us scripture to show us the benefits of our honesty, but first let’s see the two definitions given to us in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, honesty means “adherence to the facts :  sincerity ”   and   “fairness and straightforwardness of conduct.” Proverbs 13:11   tells us, “Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but he who gathers by labor will increase.” The benefit of our honesty is abundance. Proverbs 12:22  also tells us, “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully  are  His delight.” Who doesn’t want to be Gods delight.  We are also reminded in John 8:32 , “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Since we are discussing honesty, I believe we need to be honest with God and ourselves and meditate on our life and what our goals in the Lord are.   Finally, my friends, if we allow Him to mold us, these little foxes that want to destroy our vines will be removed so our precious fruit can come forth. If you have felt betrayed by someone else's dishonesty, just imagine how our Heavenly Father feels when we are dishonest. We want to be trustworthy, so God can use us for His glory. Until we remove this from our lives, we cannot be effective in the kingdom of God.  Sources  Biblegateway Online  Merriam-Webster Online

You might know someone who recently discovered that the family they had believed to be their own for their entire life is not actually their biological family. This person might have been adopted or have different biological parents, or maybe they want to purchase a DNA test to confirm biological relationships or they’re just curious about their heredity. Whether it's you or someone you know, I am here to tell you that our spiritual identity is far greater than our biological identity. God knew this would happen and He also knew many would want to know who they are and where they come from. We are blessed to have such a caring loving God who comforts us through His word. He never intended us to walk this earth feeling lost or rejected because of certain family situations.     Let’s look at what He said to the Prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart.” There are two things God wanted Jeremiah to understand, one was “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,” God’s thoughts towards Jeremiah were before anyone else on this earth thought of him. Because God is not limited to time like we are, He was in the present and thought that for His plans to come to fruition, He needed a Jeremiah. See, Jeremiah was not a coincidence, an accident, and much less a plan of his parents, but God’s will and perfect plan. Just like we are, God planned us since the creation of the world to bring forth His plans here on earth. Now, let’s look at part two of this verse, He tells Jeremiah, “Before you were born, I set you apart.” Jeremiah was raised by Godly parents, and the word was deep in his heart. Some of us were not raised this way, but that still doesn’t mean that we haven’t been set apart. We have been called to serve Him and spread the Gospel to a world that is hurting and desperate for change. This proves the intimate relationship God desires to have with Humanity. Thinking of us He had our date of birth chosen, our time of birth chosen and even our names. Yes, even our names. However, God did not tell Jeremiah this for his entertainment, but so he could understand and align his life with God’s will. God is calling us to do the same. He doesn’t care where you came from, where you were born or anything else because we all come from Him.     Our DNA is resilient and can last for weeks, but its decline over time due to external factors is inevitable. Nevertheless, our divine influence, genetic makeup, and identity come from God. We come from Him with a purpose in this life, all for His glory as mentioned in Galatians 1:15-16 . Our heritage and legacy in Christ will undoubtedly make a significant difference.     Sources Biblegateway.com

If you are a part of the 60-80’s generation, then the word discipline was used very often by your parents.  We were taught that in order to succeed in life we had to discipline ourselves in school, by developing studying habits and self-denying ourselves from giving into our egocentric desires. Some of us succeeded at developing discipline while others learned the hard way. Today I’d like to talk about how important spiritual discipline is in our daily walk.   During last night's sermon, our Pastor spoke on John 11:21-26, when Martha thought that Jesus had arrived too late because Lazarus had already been dead for 4 days; however, if we look at the big picture we will see that Jesus had a greater plan for Martha. Pastor stated, “Divine delay tests the courage and patience of men.” For example: Let’s look at a person who works out and likes to maintain a good physique. What is their daily routine? Do they eat whatever they  want, lounge on the couch, without doing anything, and make statements such as: “I believe and have faith my muscles are going to come in?” Sounds ridiculous right? What must we do to achieve a great physique? We must fight, break out from o u r comfort zone, try hard, and sacrifice ourselves to enter a discipline to achieve the physique we desire. That’s how it is in the spirit. We say we are followers of Christ, that we believe and have faith in Him, but our attitude and walk do not align with what we profess. What is it we desire in the Lord? Do we pray and ask God to use us for His glory? I’m sure many of us are praying and asking God for this. Maybe we’ve spent years asking and nothing seems to be happening. The real question is: What are we doing while we wait for God to answer? Like Martha, the 4 days that her brother was dead felt like an eternity to her. She told Jesus, “If You had been here, my brother would not have died.” This was far from the truth though. Jesus knew and He wanted to show Martha that His way is always perfect. He tells her in John 11:23, “Your brother will rise again.” God knows our hearts and true intentions. Martha tells Him in John 11:24, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” He tells her in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Jesus has the Life of God in Him, the same way that we as believers have the Life of Christ in us. He has the power and authority to raise anyone at any time He chooses to, including the power to raise Himself from the dead. Jesus wants us to trust in His time, not ours. Meanwhile, we must discipline ourselves to believe and live out in faith what we know to be truth in Christ. Now you may ask yourself, how can I discipline my spiritual life? Here are a few tips I’ve learned in my walk that guarantee spiritual growth and maturity. These tips have helped me to blossom into a vessel of honor to the glory of God our Father.    1.    READING THE BIBLE Reading the Bible is more than reading it like any other book. We must separate ourselves from distractions and dive into it with an open heart. We must ask the Holy Spirit to give us understanding. I like to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to write the Word on the tablet of my heart for when I need to use it, it is available in my spiritual “Dropbox” for later use. I don’t know but this method has worked for me.   2.   PRAYER Prayer is more than a command; it is communication with our Lord. It’s having a conversation and sharing our heart with Him. For this we must be transparent. He already knows our true intentions, so pretending is just a waste of time. Start off with telling Him how much you love and appreciate Him, Hallelujah! Watch what He does!   3.    ALONE TIME Find time in the day to spend it alone with Him. Some people prefer spending alone time with God first thing in the morning, and for others like me, it’s in the late hours of the night when everyone is asleep. Whatever time you choose, just make sure you aren’t interrupted.   4.  FASTING Isaiah 58 is the best description of what true fasting is. Read it in your alone time and ask God to reveal to you what He specifically wants you to fast about. That will be personal between you and God. He will confirm exactly what He is calling you to do.   As we end today, let us remember that God's timing is not the same as ours. We must take certain actions to align ourselves with receiving what God has in store for us. Successful individuals embrace responsibility for their choices and consider discipline an integral part of their lives, whether it be physical or spiritual. Once we keep practicing discipline, it will become a habit and part of our character. Amen.      Sources Evangelical Service Are You Alive? (Estas Vivo?)  - YouTube Monday 9/01/2024 BibleGateway Online

This question varies based on the duration of our service to the Lord and the depth of our relationship with Him. Yet, it's a question I think we should ask ourselves every day.  “Who do we say Jesus is?” In Matthew 16:15-17, Jesus tells His disciples that many were saying, “He was John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets,” but what did Simon respond when Jesus asked him who he thought He was? I don’t think Jesus asked Peter this question because he didn’t know the answer, so Peter could understand who Jesus was in His life. Today, Jesus is asking us the same question: "Who do you say I am?" As we begin our walk with Christ, Romans 10:9  tells us, “that if we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our heart that God has raised Him from the dead, we will be saved.” It was important for Peter to confess Christ because believing in Him was not enough. Romans reminds us; "We have to confess with our mouths." To confess  is: to declare faith in or adherence to: profess (“Confess,” [Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary]). The Bible gives us many examples of why it isn’t enough to believe, James 2:19  says, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” Creation also knows who Jesus is, and He was not looking for Peter to say who he believed Jesus was, but He wanted Peter to confess who Jesus was in his life. Jesus knew that Peter’s revelation of Him was from God, as He tells Peter in Matthew 16:17 , “ “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood, has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” The word Revelation in this scripture means the Sonship of Jesus had been revealed to Simon Peter. And if it has been revealed to us, it’s because the Father has granted us access to Him ( Matthew 11:27 ). We see Peter always acting out his thoughts, and later denying Christ three times, but his revelation of Jesus would help him to repent and later be used to win more than three thousand (3,000) souls. Do we have a solid revelation of who Jesus is in our lives? Can we boldly confess Jesus and draw others to Him, because He is real in us, or do we only believe because of what others say? As we see this world going from bad to worse our revelation of Christ must be so imprinted in our spirit, that nothing it throws at us can make us turn away from Him, ever ( Romans 8:35 ). If you desire to experience the true revelation of Christ in your life or if you simply want to grow closer to the Lord, I encourage you to read the Bible, pray, and fast. This will allow the life of Jesus to manifest in your life and reveal His perfect plan for you. In our journey, amidst the challenges we may encounter, we must remember that reaching the end destination requires us to achieve a genuine understanding and revelation of the Sonship of Christ residing within us. This realization will guide and strengthen us as we navigate through life's trials and tribulations. Now ask yourself again, “Who do you say Jesus is?”   Sources Merriam-Webster online dictionary LOGOS app   New Nave’s Topical Bible BibleGateway

In all of life's challenges, it's good to have someone around who can give us the support we need. Sometimes, they don't have to say anything but having them there is enough. A true gift to experience is a bond like this with someone you can be yourself without judgment. I encourage you to take time with the one friend who will never leave your side, no matter what. We've talked about the Holy Spirit being our best personal trainer, but today, I'd like us to talk about the Holy Spirit, our Helper, and why Jesus sent Him to us after His ascension.   In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, Comforter is defined as “One that gives comfort.” For example, a Paramedic may take a Psychological Trauma course to help their patients deal with intense fear, stress, and pain during certain medical situations. Paramedics are trained to show compassion and comfort to the person in need, just like the Holy Spirit comforts us in the hardest of trials and gives us peace that surpasses all understanding.  Scripture tells we have an Advocate, which means one who pleads the cause of another. 1 John 2:1 says, “ My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”    So, when Satan comes to accuse us of how awful we are, the Holy Spirit will whisper words of love and encouragement, reminding us of God's forgiveness. The Holy Spirit acts as our Intercessor and prays, petitions, and entreats in our favor. Romans 8:26 tells us; “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Romans 5:5 also reminds us, “Hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  There is something so wonderful about someone who prays, petitions, and entreats in our favor. You will no longer see the trials Goliath-sized in comparison to your great God because now you have someone praying and asking the Father to give you victory.   Next, the Holy Spirit is our Counselor, the one who gives advice in law and manages cases for clients in court. (“Counselor,” [Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary]). How many times have we gone through something, and the Holy Spirit speaks to us through His word? Providing guidance, support, and assistance through our trials, because Satan will always try to degrade us and make us feel like God hasn’t done anything in our lives. The Holy Spirit is God, He is our Wonderful Counselor who has never lost a case. The Holy Spirit gives us strength (support) just like a pre-workout, energy drink, or coffee. When we are going through trials, we may feel like the battle is never-ending, so we get tired and weary, but if it were not for the strength of the Holy Spirit we would throw in the towel. He tells us in Ephesians 6:10a; "Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.”  We are strong when we trust in His power by putting on the full armor of God. We cannot be overpowered by Satan’s lies and deceits when we depend on the Holy Spirit to give us supernatural strength (the power of His might).   Finally, He is our Standby, our reliable source, especially in emergencies. He is the first person we should go to in times of need; who will take us by our hand and lead us to the finish line. Our walk with the Lord is hard at times, but we are not alone! If we believe in the Father, we must love His Son Jesus and depend on His Holy Spirit to guide, teach, and show us the way to go. So, when we feel alone and think we don’t have anyone to turn to, we must always remember that we have the Holy Spirit who provides everything we need to overcome life’s challenges.       Sources Merriam-Websters Dictionary online Biblegateway online Bible versions used- NKJV, KJV, AMP John 14:16 AMP - "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever."

How many of us truly grasp the depth of God’s love, which we often sing about in church? Some of us may not fully understand the width, length, and depth of His love for us because we all grew up receiving love differently. Many of our parents gave us what they themselves received from their parents. Not that they loved us less, it’s just how they learned to love. When we were in the world we had the wrong concept of love. For some, it was hard to believe that anyone could love them because they genuinely cared for them. For others, someone may have told them they loved them, but then abused their love, causing them to distrust anyone. Today, we are going to talk about the dimensions of God’s love for us, a love that truly surpasses all understanding.   We are grateful for God’s unconditional love. He paid such a high price for us that it is sometimes impossible to understand. If we look at Ephesians 3:18-19 it says, “That you, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width, length, depth, and height and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fulness of God. So how can we know God’s love which surpasses knowledge? How can we grasp the infinite love of our Savior? God’s Spirit can give us an inner knowledge and experience of it. When we take a look at the width of a river, we know its width by how much it covers the land. God’s river of love is so wide that it covers over our many sins, and it covers over every circumstance in our life, even our failures, so much so His word tells us that all things work together for our good. When we doubt God’s forgiveness or His sustaining power in our lives, we are narrowing the river of God’s mighty love. His love is as wide as the world: For God so loved the world ( John 3:16 ). Now, let us look at the ocean, we will never understand the ocean just by looking at it, we have to sail on it and sometimes jump into its waters to study the depth of it. It’s a scary thing to look at because of the extent and largeness of it. Yet, God Himself is infinite and eternal, beyond man’s full understanding. This is how deep God’s love is for us. It’s deeper than the deepest part of the ocean. This is where He threw our sins, and rebellions to never be remembered again ( Micah 7:19 ). God’s love for us is proved by His actions, not just His words. John 15:13  tells us that “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. Can you imagine the Creator of all of Heaven and Earth calling us friends, but not only that, He willingly gave His life for us. He knew there was no other way for us to be redeemed but only through His sacrifice.   Two of the greatest commandments in the bible are “ And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength, and the second like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’   The Greek  word agape (ἀγάπη) is the standard word for love in the New Testament, and maybe you’ve heard that it points to a specific kind of love: a selfless, giving, non-emotional love—opposite the friendship kind of love philia (φιλία). God’s love for us is not measured by what we do or do not do. He just simply loves us. This is the kind of love the world needs, because in reality, we already know we are sinners and need forgiveness. I encourage you to seek God’s agape love  with all your heart and allow Him to reassure you that everything will be okay. It’s a beautiful thing to enter His presence knowing He is waiting with arms wide open, ready to fill us with His Amazing Love.   Sources Biblegatway Logos Bible Study Platform

Have you heard anyone say, “Once saved, always saved?” Today we are going to talk about this comment and the danger we are in if we believe this lie. Do you remember the Not of This World bumper stickers? Years ago, when I was growing up, Christianity was held in high esteem. We knew when someone called themselves a Christian it was because their lives reflected what they said. There was no doubt in our hearts they were who they said they were because everything they spoke of and did was Christ centered. Growing up that became my model to distinguish between the true and false Christian. I was not looking for perfection, but I knew there was a standard that had to be met. If what they said matched their walk, then I knew they were truly Born-Again and were going to heaven. What do we see now? A world filled with darkness, confused about what Christianity is. Satan has come to deceive many in thinking they could never lose their salvation. Indeed, Jesus has paid the price for our sins. Yet, in scripture, He encourages those whom He has saved to strive to live without sin. Today, many people are disillusioned because they were told the same lie. They sinned, repented, but instead of stopping, they continued to sin, believing that’s all they had to do. Hebrews 10:26 tells us – “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, and verse 27 says: “but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.” You may be thinking, I am not God’s enemy. But we forget what James 4:4 tells us – “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” This is why prayers haven’t been answered, and prophecies fulfilled. Isaiah 59:1-2, tells us: “See, the LORD’s hand is not so short that it cannot save, and his ear is not so dull that it cannot hear, but your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” God is neither helpless or deaf. If He does not hear His people and work on their behalf the fault is not His but theirs. Sin separates us from God’s fellowship and is the reason for much unanswered prayer. Sin has no place in the life of a believer, and if we are sinning its time to repent. The Bible tells us in 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God is a God of reason, and He has made us with a mind and ability to reason. He wants us to stop and think about Him, about ourselves, about our course in life. He wants the dispute that is brought on by sin to be settled. He wants to forgive, restore, and bless a repenting people. If this spoke to your heart today, and maybe you have lived thinking the same thing, there is still hope. If you have never accepted Christ into your heart, today is the day to do it, because tomorrow is not promised. Isaiah 1:18 says – “Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will be like wool.” Receive His forgiveness today. Sources Cited Bible Gateway online #Forgiven #BloodoftheLamb #Sin #Free #Forgiveness #Repentance #Salvation #Jesus