How to be Sure of Heaven

Can we really be sure we are going to go to heaven?

Without a doubt, we can be absolutely sure.

• The trouble most of us have is attempting to get there the wrong way. One of the most common ways is through a religion. The truth is, you can belong to every religion in the world and still miss out going to heaven.
• Another way that many believe will get them to heaven is by doing all kinds things that look like holy works. This also will not get you to your objective (heaven). Works only come into play after salvation.
• One more common belief is we can get to heaven if we keep the ten commandment. Well, even if we keep them all (which no one can), will not get you to heaven.
• That's a pretty heavy concentration of seemingly goodly righteous things. Well, what if I did all these things together over the rest of my life -- would that possibly get me into heaven? Again, the answer is NO! So? What will get me there?

 There is only One Way. First off, we are all sinners as Romans 3:23 says, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." And guess what? Sin cannot enter into heaven. However, when we look at Romans 6:23, it says, "The wages of sin is death, but the Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ." So how do we go about getting this gift of eternal life from God that is available through Jesus Christ?

First, we must remember the main reason Jesus came to this earth was for the redemption of sin. Since sin cannot enter into heaven, it has to be paid for at some time, in some place, by somebody. Jesus paid the price for every sin ever committed by mankind. Yet, it is not automatic. We have a free-will to accept what Jesus did for us or reject it. If we choose to reject God's free Gift of eternal life -- the wages of sin is still death. We can choose to use the death that Jesus paid for our sin, or we can pay for our sins our self. In case we choose to pay for them ourselves, we get all the benefits that come with it such as eternal death, hell and the grave, and Satan as our master for all the eternal death.

Now let's look at the alternative -- accepting the free-gift from Jesus Christ. Here is how the Bible tells us to go about it. Looking at Romans again, this time from chapter 10:9&10, which tells us, "If you shall confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." "For with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." These two things will get you to heaven -- confessing Jesus as your Lord, and believing that God raised Jesus from the dead (His death, burial, and resurrection.)

So how do I know for sure if I was sincere when I do these two things? For one -- the not so good things you used to do before, you will despise. Another -- you will be able to understand the Bible when you read it, because the Holy Spirit is living within you and only He can interpret the Word of God. Also, sin will be utterly discussing to you from now on.

What to do next after your New Birth? Confess Jesus as Lord to others and be not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation. Find a good church home that is preaching and teaching the Bible message without compromise.

For those who take these steps, may God bless you in the coming days, study the Word and be strong in the faith. We would love to hear from you if you will and leave a comment. God loves you.

"Instant Gratification"

 In today's fast moving society, full of individuals seeking after instant information - is the Church fully equipped to handle the questions from those seeking for answers to Christianity?

Unlike the days of our grandfather, today’s world is a finger texting, quick talking, high speed lanes, fast foods, channel flipping, throw it in the microwave, get out of my way, want it now generation. In addition, we are living in an age where people are not just asking questions, but if you do not have an immediate, responsive, valid, realistic answer waiting, they quickly move on. Therefore, the Christian must always be ready to give an answer to every man that asks for a reason of the hope that is in him with meekness and fear.

When Jesus gave us the commandment to go out and teach all nations, He did not forget to give us a message to teach. Why then do we keep referring to the Trinity as a mystery; after all, it is Christianity’s most important doctrine. What about the Virgin Birth, the Born-again experience or the differences between the soul and spirit and how they work in the salvation message? Can we explain these and other paranormal questions the world is asking today in a logical way that makes sense by using only the Bible as our reference? Paul wrote in 2^nd Timothy 4:2,

•  “Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lust shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they shall turn their ears from the truth, and be turned unto fables.” - (2 Tim. 4:2)

Certainly, things are different now than in the apostle’s or even our grandfather’s day, but that does not diminish the urgency of the Great Commission. In fact, as we see a decline in Christian believers and an increase in atheism and Islam today, that responsibility becomes even more demanding. What Jerry Falwell visualized for his Moral Majority movement in the eighties has afforded the opposite effect today. The immoral minority has definitely overtaken today’s Moral Majority.

So what is the answer? I believe you will find it specifically spelled out in the 6^th chapter of Ephesians. Flesh and blood is not our problem, except where apathy in the Church is concerned. Where are the tent revivals, Billy Sundays and Billy Grahams? Television is fine for sowing a seeds, but cannot take the place of an on fire man of God preaching a Holy Ghost filled message in a tent setting built on prayer. If the Church is to press forward with the Great Commission of today, it needs sound doctrine and valid responsive realistic answers for those who believe the Church is void of genuine answers. If Jesus merely gave us a mystery (Trinity) for ammunition to spread the Word, we are of a people most miserable. The principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness in high places were deceiving the elect and the elect bought the whole fabrication. The Trinity was always in the Bible, it was never a mystery and by merely understanding Trinity’s concept, we can provide most any realistic answer to any tough question a skeptic may submit.

The Great Commission never stopped with the advent of television. Jesus said, “Go out” and teach all nations, making disciples…” The Church of today shoulders the same responsibility as those of previous generations. As times change so must methods. The Church must keep abreast of God’s Word and what He is doing in these last days in order to satisfy an instant gratification generation seeking immediate answers. The book of Daniel declares, “They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” This is the Church’s greatest hour; let it not neglect this opportunity. "The Unveiling of the Trinity" is an excellent book that provides the whole picture of the Trinity, without the mystery. The updated version to simply be titled "The Mystery of the Trinity Revealed" and provide even more realistic answers than the previous version should be available by the end of this year. Don't be caught without your helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the "Word of God."

"Born-again" Through Wisdom

Proverbs 1:7 declares, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," and thereby from wisdom we also get understanding and knowledge. In a broader sense, Wisdom is the application of how the "Born-again" experience is realized.

1.) When we realize who God is and the power of His might, the fear of the Lord is ignited and initiated within our heart.

2.) By seeking out the attributes of God through His Word or the witness of His people, the beginning of Wisdom (the fear of the Lord) turns into a desire for more Wisdom. In the search for more of who God is provides us with the confrontation that God is not only just, but also a loving God who desires our love and fellowship in return.

3.) When we yield our love and fellowship over to God by making Jesus the Lord of our lives, it opens up a new and greater understanding of who God is. That understanding of God in return, stimulates us to continue to seek for an even greater understanding of who God is and His love for us. As Proverb 9:10 points out, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of  wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding." Thus, understanding is gained through wisdom.

4.) Understanding of God then provides knowledge. When we have understanding of how something operates, we store that information into our database called the heart, and when a situation comes up concerning a specific situation, we recall our knowledge from the database that applies to that particular circumstance. So it is with understanding of God's Word. The more you study it, the more the Holy Spirit reveals to you and the more He reveals to you, the more you understand and therein knowledge is attained and retained.

Here we see how Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding from the Book of Proverbs is activated in the "Born-again" experience as mentioned by Jesus in John 3:3, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." Notice, you do not see the Kingdom of God by growing up into a church or by becoming a member of a church or merely stating that you are a Christian--you first must become "Born-again." We have other articles about becoming "Born-again" in this blog site.

In the above illustration, it must be mentioned that the secular mind cannot teach you the things of God, because they are foolishness to him as 1 Corinthians 2:14 clearly points out. When you seek out knowledge from a secular viewpoint, you are seeking knowledge from someone who has never received the wisdom, understanding and knowledge of who God is. In other words, the love of God has never permeated his heart because the world and the flesh remains embedded therein and not the Word and the Spirit. Without the fear of the Lord activating a desire to know who God is and knowledge of His Word, understanding cannot motivate the individual to become a "Born-again" believer in God's Kingdom. John 3:3, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." You cannot see the wind, but you can fell it. Likewise, you cannot see the Spirit, but you can feel Him -- and it all begins by making Jesus Lord and believing in your heart that God raise that same Jesus from the dead. Yes, God has made it that simple for us

What Does This 3-Letter Word Have To Do With 4-Letter Words?

Four-letter words have become an accepted part of our everyday society, but when was the last time you heard the three-letter word called sin mentioned anywhere? Apart from a church setting, probably never. Yet, sin is the biggest obstacle to prosperity in any nation.

So, who is to say what is sin and what is not sin? Do we as a society, or individuals simply make up our own rules to fit our own behavior? Maybe if we act like it doesn't exist, it will go away! But there is a better way - the Word of God. It is the only absolute we can depend upon in this day of seemingly endless communications on the information highway.

The Bible definition of sin is the transgression of the law. The following Bible verse indicates there are no differences in sins. "For He that said, do not commit adultery, said also do not kill. Now if you commit no adultery, yet if you kill, you are become a transgressor of the law." - (James 2:11) Thus, transgression of the law is simply put, sin. Notice that (James 2:11) mentions both adultery and kill as its examples in the same verse. Does this ring a bell?

 (You might want to read my blog about Satan a couple of blogs back to get a better handle how this concept actually works.)

Once this supposedly highly intelligent and so-called civilized society realizes the quagmire sin produces and the apathy of our ways, maybe it will return once again to seek after repentance and after the God who is able to heal our once prosperous land. Till then, we can continue our quibbles about politics, money, animals, healthcare and the promoting of the very issues that hinder whatever prosperity the people hoped for in the first place.