Edited 31 Oct 2011 (see edited section in bold below)
I am so happy that you are reading this article. I guess that means that you are either a believer who is curious about what I have to say about the subject or hopefully someone who is serious about getting right with God.
First of all, the reason Jesus came into the world was to rescue humanity from the destination of an eternity separated from its creator. You see, God made humanity perfect at the beginning and designed to live forever in eternal bliss on Earth. However, after the first humans disobeyed God, a separation from God began. Man can only live eternally if in close unity with God.
Because of disobedience (sin) spiritual death occurred and the impact of that was the sudden commencement of a decay in our bodies ie physical death became a reality (the commencement of cells dying within the body). From that time all mankind inherited a sinful (imperfect, self-centred) nature with the tendency to do wrong things because of the sinful nature deep within our souls. This is why everyone is SELF-centred (to a lesser or greater extent) at their very heart.
Adam and Eve were tempted to become like God, to know good from evil. What actually happened after their disobedience is that they only knew evil and NOT good. They became gods sure enough (gods of their own life - self-important and self-centred, ie self on the throne of their lives) becoming fully corrupt having fallen a long way from where they were.
God cannot look on sin, but He loves us so much that He wants to rescue us from the consequences of sin and spiritual death. The penalty or wages for sin is death - we HAVE to die. But God does not want us to die, so Jesus took our place. When Jesus died on the cross, He was punished by God for all our sins. He also took upon Himself all the consequences of our sinful nature and died as a sacrifice for ALL our sins once and for all time. This means that we can (again) have a close intimate relationship with God because the blood of Jesus has cleansed us from sins once and for all. Because we are clean, He can live within us through the Holy Spirit.
However, not everyone can benefit from this "grace" unmerited favour of God without doing anything. There is a condition (as follows)!!!
Jesus said "for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life". So you need to believe! However, this does not mean just an intellectual belief because Jesus said the demons believe and shudder. True belief means to take steps of faith. I mean if you believed that a chair would take your weight but you were too afraid to sit on it, you would not be practicing your belief.
To believe in Jesus, means:
1) that you believe in who He is with all your heart and mind (God incarnate - the Son of God)and that he died for your sins and rose from the dead and is alive forevermore with your mind and your heart
2) that you recognise you are a sinner (as stated above) who needs to be saved
3) that you recognise that Jesus's death on the cross was required and is sufficient to save you from your sins
4) that you entrust your life to Him
Note: Unless you recognise that you are lost and dead in your sins without the intervention of Jesus you cannot be saved.
Edited 31 Oct 2011 Section
So here is a list of steps which happens automatically when Jesus is drawing you:
1) the realisation that God exists and that you are cut off from Him because of your sinfulness
2) a deep feeling of sorrow about your sinful tendencies and your sinful nature. "all we like sheep have gone astray, each to his own way".
3) the realisation that you cannot become good enough to get into heaven but need the mercy of God
4) you sincerely and genuinely cry from your heart to God for mercy for your sins, confessing your sins to God direct (without use of a priest) asking for forgiveness
5) putting your trust in Jesus (because He has made the ultimate sacrifice for your sins)
Once 1 to 5 occurs, you then simply receive the free gift of salvation from God through believing in and putting your trust in Jesus
6) You invite Jesus to come into your heart and soul to save you. This is handing your life over to Christ. Then "it is no longer I that live but Christ who lives in me".
7) Jesus will fill you with His Holy Spirit so that you will become a new creation. You will be changed deep within with the Divine nature.
Remember salvation is a free gift. It CANNOT be earned by works. The Bible says that all our righteousness (goodness) is like filthy rags in God's sight. We can NEVER be good enough to earn Heaven. Ephesians chapter 2 says "we are saved by grace though faith, not by works"
My Testimony
I reached a point in my life where I realised my life was meaningless. I had a fear of where I would end up unless I was in a right relationship with God. At that point, I knew there was something wrong with my life but I did not understand that I was a sinner. I knew I was not perfect and did wrong things, but did not understand why Jesus dying on the cross saved us from our sins. A minister explained to me why Jesus cried out "my God, My God, why have you forsaken me". When he explained that my personal sins were nailed upon Jesus, so Jesus suffered God's wrath in my place, suddenly the realisation hit me of God's immense love. I then realised that I was a sinner who caused Jesus agony. I did not need to understand everything about repentance etc because the love of God melted my heart causing me to realise I was a sinner and that Jesus died in my place. It tore my heart to think Jesus was dying there because of me. I there and then gave my life to Jesus, asking him to save me from my sinfulness and take control of my life, with a determination to go God's way - not mine, from that moment onwards.
It was only later that I learnt what true repentance was. You don't need to understand it all now. All God is looking for (at the moment) is an earnestness within you for Jesus to save you from your sins by turning your life over to Him. Beforehand (in a very child-like way) I repented in the way I knew how (at that time) simultaneously as I received Jesus into my heart as my Saviour and Lord
If you are serious about being saved, please let me know. I will help guide you in giving your life to Christ and am very happy to help you in commencing your new life following Jesus.
For the meanwhile please click on these shortcut links which will be helpful to you:
Why Jesus Is The ONLY Way To Heaven and How To Be Saved
What Is Repentance?
I am so happy that you are reading this article. I guess that means that you are either a believer who is curious about what I have to say about the subject or hopefully someone who is serious about getting right with God.
First of all, the reason Jesus came into the world was to rescue humanity from the destination of an eternity separated from its creator. You see, God made humanity perfect at the beginning and designed to live forever in eternal bliss on Earth. However, after the first humans disobeyed God, a separation from God began. Man can only live eternally if in close unity with God.
Because of disobedience (sin) spiritual death occurred and the impact of that was the sudden commencement of a decay in our bodies ie physical death became a reality (the commencement of cells dying within the body). From that time all mankind inherited a sinful (imperfect, self-centred) nature with the tendency to do wrong things because of the sinful nature deep within our souls. This is why everyone is SELF-centred (to a lesser or greater extent) at their very heart.
Adam and Eve were tempted to become like God, to know good from evil. What actually happened after their disobedience is that they only knew evil and NOT good. They became gods sure enough (gods of their own life - self-important and self-centred, ie self on the throne of their lives) becoming fully corrupt having fallen a long way from where they were.
God cannot look on sin, but He loves us so much that He wants to rescue us from the consequences of sin and spiritual death. The penalty or wages for sin is death - we HAVE to die. But God does not want us to die, so Jesus took our place. When Jesus died on the cross, He was punished by God for all our sins. He also took upon Himself all the consequences of our sinful nature and died as a sacrifice for ALL our sins once and for all time. This means that we can (again) have a close intimate relationship with God because the blood of Jesus has cleansed us from sins once and for all. Because we are clean, He can live within us through the Holy Spirit.
However, not everyone can benefit from this "grace" unmerited favour of God without doing anything. There is a condition (as follows)!!!
Jesus said "for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life". So you need to believe! However, this does not mean just an intellectual belief because Jesus said the demons believe and shudder. True belief means to take steps of faith. I mean if you believed that a chair would take your weight but you were too afraid to sit on it, you would not be practicing your belief.
To believe in Jesus, means:
1) that you believe in who He is with all your heart and mind (God incarnate - the Son of God)and that he died for your sins and rose from the dead and is alive forevermore with your mind and your heart
2) that you recognise you are a sinner (as stated above) who needs to be saved
3) that you recognise that Jesus's death on the cross was required and is sufficient to save you from your sins
4) that you entrust your life to Him
Note: Unless you recognise that you are lost and dead in your sins without the intervention of Jesus you cannot be saved.
Edited 31 Oct 2011 Section
So here is a list of steps which happens automatically when Jesus is drawing you:
1) the realisation that God exists and that you are cut off from Him because of your sinfulness
2) a deep feeling of sorrow about your sinful tendencies and your sinful nature. "all we like sheep have gone astray, each to his own way".
3) the realisation that you cannot become good enough to get into heaven but need the mercy of God
4) you sincerely and genuinely cry from your heart to God for mercy for your sins, confessing your sins to God direct (without use of a priest) asking for forgiveness
5) putting your trust in Jesus (because He has made the ultimate sacrifice for your sins)
Once 1 to 5 occurs, you then simply receive the free gift of salvation from God through believing in and putting your trust in Jesus
6) You invite Jesus to come into your heart and soul to save you. This is handing your life over to Christ. Then "it is no longer I that live but Christ who lives in me".
7) Jesus will fill you with His Holy Spirit so that you will become a new creation. You will be changed deep within with the Divine nature.
Remember salvation is a free gift. It CANNOT be earned by works. The Bible says that all our righteousness (goodness) is like filthy rags in God's sight. We can NEVER be good enough to earn Heaven. Ephesians chapter 2 says "we are saved by grace though faith, not by works"
My Testimony
I reached a point in my life where I realised my life was meaningless. I had a fear of where I would end up unless I was in a right relationship with God. At that point, I knew there was something wrong with my life but I did not understand that I was a sinner. I knew I was not perfect and did wrong things, but did not understand why Jesus dying on the cross saved us from our sins. A minister explained to me why Jesus cried out "my God, My God, why have you forsaken me". When he explained that my personal sins were nailed upon Jesus, so Jesus suffered God's wrath in my place, suddenly the realisation hit me of God's immense love. I then realised that I was a sinner who caused Jesus agony. I did not need to understand everything about repentance etc because the love of God melted my heart causing me to realise I was a sinner and that Jesus died in my place. It tore my heart to think Jesus was dying there because of me. I there and then gave my life to Jesus, asking him to save me from my sinfulness and take control of my life, with a determination to go God's way - not mine, from that moment onwards.
It was only later that I learnt what true repentance was. You don't need to understand it all now. All God is looking for (at the moment) is an earnestness within you for Jesus to save you from your sins by turning your life over to Him. Beforehand (in a very child-like way) I repented in the way I knew how (at that time) simultaneously as I received Jesus into my heart as my Saviour and Lord
If you are serious about being saved, please let me know. I will help guide you in giving your life to Christ and am very happy to help you in commencing your new life following Jesus.
For the meanwhile please click on these shortcut links which will be helpful to you:
Why Jesus Is The ONLY Way To Heaven and How To Be Saved
What Is Repentance?
Posts
10 comments:
Someone wrote:
"Hi John,
I finally had a chance to check your site and it is awesome.
Wanted to ask your advice on something - In my daily thoughts I am always concentrated on becoming closer with the Lord, and as I do not attend a church at this time (not a good thing - just presenting the facts) and only look in on one other blog, as well as not being associated with anyone who discusses anything of this nature (so there is definitely not a danger of being brainwashed)
I feel that it must be God communicating with me - but I am confused - I also have constant thoughts of - Why would he pick someone like me to help others?
When I reflect on my day each night there is always something I may have said or done that day that are not Godly. I feel so unworthy of his love and always feel that I have let him down - yet at the same time I am consumed with thoughts of helping others become closer with God.
Does this make sense? How can I help others when I am many times in violation myself? I am really confused and feel very unworthy. Am I crazy or what?"
My answer:
First of all, do you want your name mentioned here? I have simply copied and pasted your comment - just-in-case you want some privacy.
How long have you been born-again?
What you are saying is common amongst all Christians. However, the more mature you are in Christ, ie the closer you get to Him and the more you know His mind (as revealed through His Word, the Bible) the more you realise your dependence on God.
Even Paul had to say "oh wretched man that I am, who will save me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Romans ch 7. Read the whole chapter.
Paul learnt that he was totally dependent on God's grace and mercy. He learnt humility and brokenness before God. He said "it is no longer I that live but Christ who lives in me". Paul also wrote that
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross!" Phil ch 2.
All we can do is accept that we are sinners saved by grace (unmerited favour). I like how Paul commenced Romans ch 8. "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" Carry on reading ch8.
Although we have the divine nature within us (after receiving Jesus into our hearts) and become a new creation - all things old passed away, behold all things become new, in reality (as has been the experience of all the apostles and saints throughout history) there is a battle within us between the God nature and the flesh - as Paul also described. So the flesh (sinful nature) sometimes fails us as believers.
If that happens we have an advocate with the Father, Christ Jesus who intercedes for us. We are told that if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and CLEANSE us from all unrighteousness.
So if you feel you are letting the Lord down, join the club. We all do it, but praise God that when He sees us He does not see our sin but sees the blood of Jesus which declares FORGIVEN.
Have I understood you correctly? We are living in very difficult times and true fellowship is becoming increasingly difficult to find. I also rarely attend now as local churches are so so infiltrated by false stuff and those who attend so ready to condemn you when you highlight the errors that it seems better to just simply seek the Lord on your own.
However, we really should try to do something to have real fellowship because the scriptures warn us not to forsake fellowship because we need each other to edify, encourage and strengthen in these difficult days.
I will soon be posting an article I wrote some time ago about what real fellowship is. Problem is I cannot find such fellowship in my location.
Hopefully that article will encourage many to find a way of fulfilling it.
Remember that God always uses sanctified failures because that is all He can find. I say sanctified because God cannot use the unregenerate (ie those who are not born-again).
God bless you.
One last comment: the difference between the one who is not born-again and the one who is, is how they see themselves. Only the true believer will have a battle within of their conscience - a battle between the spirit and the flesh.
The unregenerate man cares very little about what is going on in his heart. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts us of sin. The unbeliever does not have the Holy Spirit within, so does not understand the battle.
Remember we are being changed by God from one degree of Glory to another. These things come through hardship.
If you have a deep desire to please God, then maturity will happen naturally. You don't need to worry that you are not as you should be, but as some Christians put it, thank God I am no longer what I was.
Somebody posted this
"John,
Thank you for your response - you understood exactly what I was saying. I am very grateful as you have given me encouragement.
I also have the same issue with attending churches as many seem to have been infiltrated with false doctrine - yet I do not know anyone concerned with the same. I want to fellowship but am wondering how to connect.
Thanks again".
Your very welcome.
I think you will find that there are many Christians in the same boat as us who follow Bob Mitchell. If you look at my links and also Bob's links, you will find many such people. Somehow we need to not just write but meet up with such people within our locations.
Maybe if you state where you live (on these sites), you will probably get quite a lot of people advising you where to find a good fellowship or there may be some who actually live near you (you never know).
By the way I have now posted that article on biblical fellowship which I mentioned to you about.
Please refresh, then you will see it as the last item posted.
Hello, I came across your website, because I was trying to look up information on the "book of Enoch" because I just threw it out about two days ago (I prayed for God to let me know about any cursed objects in my room, and home, and it seems to be one of the last ones "I hope") Well I had not read it for many months, and after I picked it up, I started getting really tempted. Finally I realized it had to be that book. I got saved about a week to a week and a half ago. I'm still very immature, and seem to have trouble being able to effectively preach the Gospel. I tried today when I went up to the bank, and tried to speak to one of the secretaries, and asked them if they knew what the true gospel was. They said yeah, and I tried explaining a little more. And they agreed with me, after that I left, as I was not sure what to do. I went out to my truck and about cried, because I felt I failed, which I know we do, and will, because were all sinners, and I can relate to what Paul said in I Timothy 1:15. At this point in time, I don't know if I can even do the work of taking the Gospel, still young in Christ and the scriptures, and the times were living in make it all the more shortening. I know Jesus talked about a time when darkness will come, when no man can work. Praise the Lord Jesus Christ though were saved by grace through faith, rather than works! Still I desire to take the gospel to who I can. Though so far I have only spoken to two people, one within my town, and another just a few miles up the road at another small town. I live in a very small town, population under 500. And most towns around us are small, and all the churches around us are either not doing services, dead, or apostate. I would say maybe 1-2 chruches even gather, and I'm not sure about one of them. If anyone lives in western Missouri, about 50 miles or so south of it, let me know. If your a born again believer who wants to have fellowship, because I simply can't find any. Also I would strongly say that you should use the King James Authorized Version. It is the TRUE and divinely inspired word of God. Why do I believe this? read Psalm 12:6 in the King James, it was the seventh English bible to be made. The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen.
Anonymous-Hebrews 10:31/12:28-29
Hi Anonymous-Hebrews
I saw you comment, but decided to post it to 2 more appropriate articles. The second link below is where I would like the chat to continue, ie fellowship issues. Let us try to deal with your situation there.
So I have copied your comment to:
http://watchmanforjesus.blogspot.com/2011/01/why-book-of-enoch-is-fake-alert.html
and more importantly to:
http://watchmanforjesus.blogspot.com/2010/04/connecting-true-biblical-christians.html
See you over there. God bless
want to share this thought..
The Savior said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you.”* (John 14:2) In the trying hours of life, when all seems to have forsaken us and the world appears unfriendly; life’s burdens seem to be heavy, and a despondent feeling steals over our spirit, what a comfort to our trusting soul is the remembrance that there is a home prepared for us, “There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.”* (Job 3:17) There is room enough in heaven for all who will walk in the way that leads to that desired destination. One night, while beholding the stars and thinking of that future home with our Father, we were given these lines:
Little stars in vault of heaven,
Windows you appear to be
Of my home, my home in glory.
Draw the curtain back for me,
Let me see the happy angels
As they flit before the throne:
If there’s room for me in heaven
Let me see my golden crown.
I can see my Savior smiling,
In His hand a crown I see:
You may low’r the curtain softly
Since I know there’s room for me.
All my soul is filled with glory,
Waves of peace sweep o’er my breast
When I think of going to heaven,
Where the weary are at rest.
While the thoughts of heaven are beautiful, there may be other thoughts that come like a blight over the spirit of many. Man is prone to draw a veil over the scenes that awaken thoughts of torment and woe; he invites thoughts of heaven, but banishes thoughts of hell. There is no pleasantness in the thoughts of eternal punishment. To think of spending an eternity in hell brings a terror to the soul. Whatever may be our feelings or thoughts, either heaven or hell shall be the eternal destination of all mankind. These two places are set before all who inhabit the earth. There is a way that leads from earth to heaven, and there is a way that leads from earth to hell. The way to heaven is called the way of life; the way to hell is called the way of death. These ways are set before every man, subject to his choice. He can take the way of life and gain heaven, or, he can take the way of death and make his bed in hell: “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing…. therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.”* (Deuteronomy 30:15,19)
I'm very, very thankful for finding this today. It could not have come at a better time for me. I am sincere in my desire to be saved. I, as a child, said once before that I wanted to be saved, but I did not understand what it was to be saved at the time. I know that I have sinned and sin daily, but my desire is to follow God on his righteous path to glory and with each day I plan on getting closer and closer to my lord, Jesus Christ. I need him in my heart and soul forever more. He is the king of kings and the lord of lords. Thank you for your beautiful message that I have been blessed to find.
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