Brothers and Sisters,
I read this portion of Scripture today in Luke and I wanted to share some thoughts with you.
Luke 12:1-9 NASB Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. "But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. "Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops. "I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! "Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. "And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
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1 - I read a recent statistic that 150,000 people die every day around the world. I don't know how accurate this figure is, but all Christians should know that many of them were lost. Those who were lost don't have any second chance, and their eternity will be in hell. It makes me very sad to even think about this, but it also encourages me to keep praying and keep doing whatever the LORD lays on my heart to do.
2 - I also thought about many people who call themselves Christians, but the LORD doesn't know them. They might even sit in Church pews once a week and be known as a good person in the community, but they haven't given their life over to JESUS CHRIST. We all know that JESUS CHRIST is the only way for Salvation, and no amount of good deeds is recognized unless that person belongs to JESUS and has the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD in their heart.
3 - I also wondered about religious experiences by many versus Salvation experiences. I know that some people have emotional experiences of many kinds, think that they are Christians, and still have a dead heart. In my heart and mind, I know that really accepting JESUS CHRIST as Lord and Saviour is the greatest life-changing experience that a human being can have.
Please don't confuse anything I say here as implying that good works are required for salvation, but I will say there should be some kind of evidence somewhere in that person's life that they belong to JESUS. In fact, some people calling themselves Christians have evidence that they aren't Christians. One has to wonder if someone is not capable of speaking the words, "JESUS CHRIST", and one also has to wonder if there is no fruit at all. Only GOD knows the heart, but I firmly believe that every individual self-proclaiming Christian should EXAMINE THEMSELVES. Right now is the time to determine if we had an emotional experience or a Salvation experience. Tomorrow might be too late. If we didn't have a massive change in our lives, hunger for the things of the LORD, and strong feelings of love and appreciation for JESUS CHRIST - we might not be Saved at all. There are many other things that we could and should do to EXAMINE OURSELVES to see if we have placed our faith in the only one who can Save us - JESUS CHRIST.If you aren't sure, it's long past time for you to stop, think, pray, and decide to make peace with GOD by accepting JESUS CHRIST as the LORD over your life.Love In Christ,
Tom
GOOD NEWS!
1: Romans 3:10 NASB as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."
2: Romans 3:23 NASB for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
3: Romans 5:12 NASB Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned--
4: Romans 6:23 NASB For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
5: Romans 1:18 NASB For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
6: Romans 3:20 NASB because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
7: Romans 3:27 NASB Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.
8: Romans 5:8-9 NASB But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
9: Romans 2:4 NASB Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
10: Romans 3:22 NASB even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
11: Romans 3:28 NASB For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
12: Romans 10:9 NASB that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
13: Romans 4:21 NASB and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.
14: Romans 4:24 NASB but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
15: Romans 5:1 NASB Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
16: Romans 10:10 NASB for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
17: Romans 10:13 NASB for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." Thanks be unto GOD for HIS unspeakable GIFT!, JESUS CHRIST, our Lord and Saviour forever!
