Biblical Christianity

Things that will Keep You Out of the Kingdom

By Alice | January 3, 2018 | Comments 28 comments

As the year 2018 begins, I can’t help but think about the past year that has just gone by. If God were to evaluate me, will I get a passing mark? Or is there a possibility for me or any other believer who has been faithfully serving God to be kept out of the kingdom of heaven?

If yes, how and why? What could be the things that will keep you out of the kingdom?

One Scripture that keeps ringing in my head in as far as making it to heaven is concerned is Matthew 7:21 which says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”

Doing the Will of the Father

I’ve heard this text preached many times over as a means to warn all believers that they could be faithfully serving God today but could be lost in the end. If we are to continue to Matthew 7:22-23, it’s pretty clear that Jesus was speaking to spirit-filled believers.

No one who does not have the Holy Spirit operating in his life will be able to prophesy and cast out demons in the name of Jesus. The only way anyone can do wonders and miracles in the name of Jesus is if they are genuine believers and are filled with the Holy Spirit.

The Kingdom of God on Earth vs. the Kingdom of God in Heaven

Before going any further, it’s important we differentiate between the kingdom of God on earth and the kingdom of God in heaven. But is there really a difference or are they actually one and the same?

When a person gets born again, that is, he repents of his sins and decides to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of his life, he immediately becomes a part of the kingdom of God on earth (John 3:3). This kingdom of God on earth consists of the believers in Christ who were given the right to become God’s children based on their confession of faith in Christ (John 1:12).

Going to Heaven Quote — Photo Credit: Quote Master

We have to understand that before we came into the saving knowledge of God by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9), we belonged to the kingdom of darkness, blinded by the ruler and God of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). Before we got saved, we belonged to our father, the devil (John 8:44).

The kingdom of God in heaven, on the other hand, is the dwelling place of God where we will be spending eternity. But believers will only gain entry into the kingdom of heaven when Jesus comes back at the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) to take His bride, the Church, to heaven as He has promised in John 14:2-3.

Things that Will keep Believers Out of the Kingdom of Heaven

So if a genuine believer can be denied entry into the kingdom of God, what are the reasons or the things that will keep them out?

1. Hypocrisy

This is the behavior of people who do exactly the things that they tell other people not to do; or when you preach to others to live a certain way, however, you choose to do the opposite. In other words, you do not practice what you preach, you do not “walk the talk.”

In Matthew 7:3-5, we read Jesus rebuking people who are keen to see and correct other people’s faults without recognizing their own. Jesus is saying that it’s okay to correct other people but before doing that, you first need to right your own wrongs. It’s very clear from the text I quoted that the only way we will see clearly the faults of others is if we recognize our own faults and make them right.

Hypocrisy at Its Best

It’s pretty easy to fall into the trap of hypocrisy but we can avoid this by “living by the book.” Let us be careful to not be like the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who were hypocrites. They were trying so hard to live by the law but often forget to practice the weightier matters of the law (Matthew 23:23).

No one who passes judgment to others or tells others what not to do while he himself practices them will escape God’s judgment. When you judge others for the very same things you practice, you are condemning yourself and will be judged by God on judgment day (Romans 2:1-3).

The Example Set by Paul

In 1 Corinthians 9:27, the apostle Paul said that he disciplines his body like an athlete to do what it should do because he fears that after preaching to others he himself might be disqualified. Paul is talking about self-discipline and how believers are supposed to conduct themselves. He likens our journey towards the kingdom of heaven to that of an athlete who needs to be disciplined enough in order to get to the finish line.

This is a challenge to all pastors and preachers who were given the huge responsibility and accountability to stand behind the pulpit to teach and exhort the Word of God. Admittedly, what you preach is often the thing that comes back to bite you if you are not careful. Always make sure that you practice what you preach to avoid falling into the trap of hypocrisy.

2. Unforgiveness

Forgiveness is a very prominent theme in the Bible, yet it’s not uncommon for Christians to have questions about forgiveness. The act of forgiveness does not come easy for most of us because our natural instinct is to recoil in self-protection when hurt.

Although we know very well that unforgiveness is a sin, we still struggle to forgive. Matthew 6:14-15 is very clear in saying that if we do not forgive others their sins, our Father in heaven will not forgive our sins. (See also Mark 11:25-26.) And if we are not forgiven of our sins then we are still separated from God because sin separates us from Him (Isaiah 59:2).

We cannot approach the holy throne of God if there is any hint of unforgiveness in our hearts. There is no way to explain this truth away. Let us be very careful then, with the sin of unforgiveness because unforgiveness when not properly dealt with can lead to bitterness. The Bible warns us against any form of bitterness, rage, and anger (Ephesians 4:31).

Forgive so God Will Forgive You

I had the privilege to meet sister Susan, a Christian woman whom God used mightily in the ministry as a worship leader, musician, music coordinator, and preacher. She came to the Lord when she was forced to leave her daughter behind to work overseas in order to support her because her husband abandoned them.

After a few years, she was diagnosed with a terminal illness which eventually caused her to leave her daughter for good. But before her last breath, it became apparent that she has not really forgiven her husband for what he did to them. Our senior pastor who was at that time in another country made an overseas call to convince her to release forgiveness, otherwise, all her labor in the Lord will be in vain.

I cannot imagine the pain she has been carrying in her heart all those years and it would be heartbreaking to know that all her effort and faithfulness were wasted just because she couldn’t forgive her husband. She was so dedicated and devoted to the Lord that she wholeheartedly supported God’s work. She was a faithful giver and tither, she even gave a double portion of her tithe and also gave her monthly pledge.

Sister Susan, in between her few last breaths, forgave her husband and as a testimony of God’s love and faithfulness to her, she was given a VIP treatment by the consulate when shipping her body back home to be buried in our homeland.

3. Not repenting

Placing your faith in the finished works of Christ and becoming a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) does not mean you will no longer commit sin. It just means you made a conscious choice to repent of your sins, accept God’s forgiveness, and strive to live a life that is pleasing to God by using the Word of God, the Bible, as your guide.

While we are still in the flesh, we are prone to commit sin and violate God’s laws. But when we do sin, the Bible gives us clear instructions to confess our sins to God and He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

There’s just one problem when it comes to this very familiar Bible verse and that is, many Christians seem to abuse it. Just because they know God is always ready to forgive as He has promised, they commit the same sin repeatedly, over and over again. When we get to this point, we are in danger of falling into the sin of unrepentance.

True Repentance Leads to Salvation

2 Corinthians 7:9-11 talks about being sorry for your sins and that sorrow which is godly will produce repentance leading to salvation. In other words, Paul is saying that someone could be sorry for the sins he has committed and yet his sorrow does not lead to repentance. It doesn’t matter how many times you ask God to forgive your sins if you still keep doing it after receiving His forgiveness.

Committing the same sin after confessing it and receiving God’s forgiveness is proof that you are not really sorry, to begin with. Revelation 2:5 gives us a warning about not repenting. This is clearly addressed to the Church, the believers, that if they do not repent, God will come to remove their lampstand from its place.

Conclusion

As followers of Christ, we are a part of the kingdom of God here on earth but our journey does not end here. Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we wait for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20). Let us continue to journey towards our final destination, the kingdom of God in heaven.

We may face many trials and difficulties while we are still in the kingdom of God on earth but God is faithful (1 Thessalonians 5:24), so be confident that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).

Beware of the things that can keep you out of the kingdom of heaven. Do not get sucked into the sins of hypocrisy, unforgiveness, and unrepentance. Instead, keep serving the Lord faithfully, keep fixing your eyes on Jesus, the author, and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

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Recommended Resource:

Heaven: A Comprehensive Guide to Everything the Bible Says About Our Eternal Home by Randy Alcorn

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Have you ever wonder what is Heaven really going to be like?

We all have questions about what Heaven will be like, and after twenty-five years of extensive research, Dr. Randy Alcorn has the answers.

In the most comprehensive and definitive book on Heaven to date, Randy invites you to picture Heaven the way Scripture describes it—a bright, vibrant, and physical New Earth, free from sin, suffering, and death, and brimming with Christ’s presence, wondrous natural beauty, and the richness of human culture as God intended it.

This is a book about real people with real bodies enjoying close relationships with God and each other, eating, drinking, working, playing, traveling, worshiping, and discovering on a New Earth. Earth as God created it. Earth as he intended it to be.

The next time you hear someone say, “We can’t begin to image what Heaven will be like,” you’ll be able to tell them, “I can.”

Jesus: The Reason for the Christmas Season

By Alice | December 24, 2017 | Comments 22 comments

It’s Christmas, one of the biggest holidays of the year; it is also one that is full of controversies. People often say that this season is not just a time of love and giving, but most of all it is the time to remember the birth of our Savior. Hence, their slogan is: “Jesus is the reason for the season.” But is this really true? Is Jesus the reason for the Christmas season?

I said that Christmas is very controversial not only because some folks are offended when Christmas displays are religious in nature and when they hear Christmas greetings but also because some Christians argue that it is not biblical to celebrate Christmas since Jesus was not actually born on Christmas Day.

I have a friend on Facebook who claims to be a follower of Jesus Christ. And although I greatly admire her boldness and enthusiasm in sharing biblical truths on her timeline, I sometimes wonder if she’s really sincere in her agenda. This is because she often goes to the extreme of attacking other Christians who differ from her in minor theologies. Isn’t this a classic example of majoring on the minor?

Anyway, this “friend” recently criticized and attacked other Christians who celebrate Christmas because if we were to look at the origin of the holiday, we would find that Christmas comes from a conglomeration of pagan practices.

When was Jesus Christ born?

Most historians and scholars agree that there is no solid, documented evidence that Christ was born on December 25th. Although the Bible does not provide a specific date for the birth of Christ, it does give us some important indicators describing the events that lead to His birth in the town of Bethlehem.

So when was Christ born? Some propose that Jesus was born in late summer or early fall (i.e. in September) and they use Luke 2:8 to make their case. Accordingly, shepherds were not normally on the fields during the month of December which is mid-winter, due to the cold weather. This is rather an important point because winters could be severe in Israel so flocks were never kept in open fields during this time.

Another important point to consider in determining the birth date or birth month of Christ is the timing of John the Baptist’s birth. We read in Luke 1:8-13 how a priest named Zechariah (John’s father) was serving as priest before God in the order of his division when the angel Gabriel appeared to him and announce that his wife Elizabeth would conceive a son.

Upon returning home, his wife conceived as the angel had said (Luke 1:23-24). An important detail: Zechariah belonged to the priestly division of Abijah (Luke 1:5) and the priests under this division served from June 13-19.

Assuming that Elizabeth conceived shortly after Gabriel’s announcement to Zechariah, her sixth month – the month the angel Gabriel visited Mary would be December or January (Luke 1:26-27 NIV). Since John who was born probably in late March, is six months older than Christ, some scholars place the birth of Christ in the early autumn, probably September, not on December 25.

Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?

Aside from the strong evidence that Jesus was not born on December 25, another argument against the celebration of Christmas is the claim that many of the traditions incorporated with Christmas celebration such as the tree, mistletoe, special feasts and the Yule log were brought over into Christianity from pagan practices.

Some Old Testament passages they use to condemn the use of Christmas tress include Isaiah 40:19-20; Isaiah 44:14-17 and Jeremiah 10:2-5. In context, Jeremiah 10 is not telling us to avoid the customs of the nations but is a denunciation of the making and worship of idols. It’s the same thing with Isaiah which had to do with idolatry.

I am not very particular with putting up a Christmas tree at home but I do not mind others who want to decorate their homes with evergreen trees. Christians do not put up and decorate Christmas trees in their homes to worship, do they? Or do you?

What about Christmas having its origins in the Feast of Saturnalia celebrated in early Rome from the 17th to the 24th of December? Doesn’t this prove that Christmas is pagan? No, it does not! Instead, it is proof that Christmas was established as a rival celebration to the pagan festival.

Rather than celebrating the birth of Mithra, a false god who was never born and cannot save you, why not celebrate in joyful righteousness the birth of the Messiah who was born to give His life as a ransom for many?

Is it biblical to celebrate Christmas? The Bible is silent from the standpoint of our Christmas traditions. But because of our freedom in Christ under grace, we are at liberty to celebrate or not celebrate Christmas. The important thing to note is that the Bible does not condemn the celebration of Christmas. It does, however, set down principles to warn and protect us from worldly distortions in the celebration of the Christmas season.

Jesus is the Reason for Every Season

We all celebrate Christmas in different ways but making Jesus the reason to celebrate Christmas makes this season more joyous and enjoyable to me. Jesus may not have been actually born on Christmas day but it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that a Savior has been born to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).

We rejoice and celebrate that unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, who is called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus, who is God, came in the flesh to dwell among us. He died to pay for the penalty for our sins and rose again to conquer death and hell.

But Jesus is not only the reason for the Christmas season. Jesus is the reason and hope in every season. Keeping in mind that Jesus is as much a reason for hope in the summer as He is in the winter helps us to walk with Him daily in every season.

The word of God tells us to share the good news of salvation to everyone (Matthew 28:18-19) so they too will come to believe in Jesus, have a real relationship with God and will not perish but will have everlasting life (John 3:16).

It is with “goodwill toward men” also that Christians live each day of their lives and not only being particularly generous on a seasonal basis. We ought by faith to be more generous every day. As we have the opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who belong to the family of believers (Galatians 6:10).

We should not to be reminded of these things only once a year because the joy and peace that comes from God alone is not only seasonal but we experience them everyday all throughout the year.

Conclusion

Today, Christmas has become more of a commercial enterprise than a religious observance. Even Christians get overwhelmed in all the shopping, baking, gift wrapping and all that.

But it’s very important for us to take some time to stop and reflect just why we really celebrate Christmas. No matter how busy and occupied we become, let us always take a step back to remember that this season is meant for celebrating Christ.

Let us prioritize and get focused on the things we need to do during Christmas and try not to get wrapped up in the superficial things about Christmas.

The birth of Jesus the Messiah is the only reason I celebrate the Christmas season, no one and nothing else. Remembering the true reason for the season helps me keep the joy of Christmas last a lifetime and it encourages me all the more to live a life that is pleasing to God and edifying to fellow believers.

What about you, do you celebrate Christmas? If you do, is Jesus your reason for celebrating the season?

Recommended Resource: Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ – eBook by Timothy Keller

Product Description

For centuries, December has marked a time of expectation, excitement, hope, joy, activity and family. It marks the season of Christmas, or, as some say, the season of Advent, of the Nativity story. In our secular society, everyone gets swept up in the Christmas spirit and even people who are not professing Christians claim familiarity with the story of the Nativity.

Christmas displays of Jesus resting in a manger populate lawns and churchyards, and songs about shepherds and angels fill the air. Yet despite the abundance of these Christian references in popular culture, how many of us have examined the hard edges of this biblical story? Is there a deeper meaning to that first Christmas besides just being an incredible story?

In his new book, Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ, pastor and New York Times bestselling author, Tim Keller guides readers through an illuminating journey into the surprising background of the Nativity story, a story that is a celebration of the advent of Jesus Christ, who came to save mankind and restore our humanity to how it was meant to be.

This profoundly moving and intellectually provocative book unpacks the message of hope, redemption, and salvation hidden in the biblical account of Jesus’ birth so that readers may experience the redeeming power of God’s grace in a meaningful and deeper way.

How to Set Your Mind on Things Above

By Alice | December 16, 2017 | Comments 22 comments

In Colossians 3:1-4 the apostle Paul instructs the believers “to seek the things that are above where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God; to set their minds on things above, not on earthly things.” But what exactly does it mean to set your mind on things above and why?

In almost every discipline of life, people are discovering the power of the mind. It has been shown that a person’s mindset plays a very significant role in his success or failure. In the world of sports, the best athletes are those who are focused and determined. In medicine, it has been discovered that a patient’s mental attitude makes a difference in the speed and likelihood of their recovery.

In law, a person’s mental disposition is a factor in the seriousness of their offense. When a person sets out to hurt somebody else, he is said to have committed a “premeditated” crime. It means that right from the start, he had the intent to hurt or kill another person.

The Power of the Mind

What is a mindset? The Free Dictionary defines mindset as “A fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person’s responses to and interpretation of situations.” In other words, it is our way of thinking that dictates how we look at things and how we react or respond to every situation.

It’s no wonder then that when the apostle Paul takes turns from the theological to the practical, he focuses first on the mind. If we continue reading chapter 3 of Colossians, Paul instructs the believers to live “Christ-like lives,” and stay away from carnality.

A Mind that is Set towards Heaven

The word “seek” in Colossians 3:1 marks aspiration, desire and passion, it has something to do with what the heart wants. If we read the verse in the NIV it says, “… set your hearts on things above …” (Colossians 3:1 NIV). In the Bible “heart” stands for our affections and “mind” stands for our understanding.

The apostle Paul is appealing to us to build our life and draw our emotions from a heavenly perspective; he is saying that the believer’s mind should be consumed with heavenly things. To have a heavenly mindset is to think heavenly thoughts.

As new creatures in Christ, we are to stop thinking about earthly things and focus our thoughts on heavenly things. Please don’t get me wrong! We should concentrate on what we’re doing here and now. We must concentrate on our jobs, our ministry, etc. But we must do all these from a heavenly perspective because “the best Christian living comes from minds that are fixed on heaven.”

It is expected of every born again believer to have his/her focus changed from “earthly things” into “heavenly things.” But what things are considered heavenly and how exactly do we think about them?

Going back to the verse, heavenly things are those that are above. When Paul says that we must seek the things that are above and set our mind on things above, he’s referring to God and His Kingdom! To set our minds on things above is to seek the will of God, to seek His passion and to live in accordance with His will. Earthly things, on the other hand, include everything that is in the world.

Earthly Things

A. Earthly things include treasures, money, wealth and possessions. Most people seem to think that having all the riches in the world will make them happy as it solves all their problems.

This is not to say that it’s a bad thing to become prosperous. God wants to bless us in every aspect of our lives and He wants us to live a comfortable life. After all, God is the source of everything, including wealth and riches.

But as believers in Christ, we must resist the notion that true happiness can be found in anything this world has to offer. It’s not in the new house, brand new car, new gadgets or fat bank account. True happiness and real treasures are only found in heaven (Matthew 6:19-20).

If our greatest desire is for the things of this earth, that’s where our heart is. If our greatest desire is for the things of heaven, that’s where our heart will be, because our heart follows what we treasure (Matthew 6:21).

B. Another thing that seems to take the place of God in our lives is our relationships (family and friends). Our marriage most especially has been taking first priority over our relationship with God. We need to understand that marriage is an earthly institution and that’s why Paul says, “A woman is bound by law to her husband for as long as he is alive” (1 Corinthians 7:39).

Also in Jesus’ conversation with the Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection, He told them that “At the resurrection people neither marry nor are given in marriage for they will be like angels in heaven” (Matthew 22:23-30).

A more in-depth explanation of what it means to prioritize God and the things of God is found in Luke 14:25-33 and Matthew 10:37-39 where Jesus speaks of what it really means to follow Him and the sacrifices each believer has to make for the sake of the Kingdom.

Why Should We Set Our hearts and Minds on Heavenly Things?

1. Because we have died in Christ and our lives are now hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:1, 3).

These statements of Paul stem from Colossians 2:12 where it says, “We are buried with Christ through baptism and raised with Him through faith.” Paul is speaking to the baptized believers who made a public declaration of their faith and relationship with Christ.

Paul is challenging every believer who claims to have died to his “old self” and has been made new through his faith in Christ, to live for Christ and not for himself any longer. (Galatians 2:20)

2. Because we are not of this world.

As Christians, we are not citizens of planet earth; our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). We may be in this world but we are not of this world. Heaven is our final destination, we’re just pilgrims passing through a foreign country (1 Peter 2:11). We can’t help but get distracted by what this world can offer but for us not to get lost along the way; we need to remember where we are going.

3. So when Christ appears, we will also appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:4).

The promise of the return of Jesus is not only that we will see His glory, but so that we also will appear with Him in glory. This is the revealing of the sons of God mentioned in Romans 8:19. On that day when Christ appears visibly, every eye will not only see His glory but they will also see the sons of God, the believers in Christ, for what they really are, not merely as they appear to this world. Believers will share in the glory of Jesus Christ which the whole world will see.

How to Set Your Mind on Things Above

1. By rejecting everything that is not from God.

Setting our minds on heavenly things sounds like a challenge, so in order to do that, we must first turn away from earthly things. In order to think heavenly thoughts, we must get rid of or keep away from things that would draw us away from God.

Worldly things look enticing but we are warned not to love the world because everything that is in it is not from God and will all pass away (1 John 2:15-17). We should not love the world and get attached to it because friendship with the world is enmity with God (James 4:4).

If what we watch, read or listen to are drawing us away from God then we might as well stay away from them. If we are hanging out with certain people who are pulling us away from God we must be cautious and start keeping our distance. This does not mean we should not care for the unsaved but we should exercise caution not to get sucked into the system of this world.

2. By developing a life of continual discipline.

Paul’s exhortation in Romans 12:2 (NIV) gives the interpretation that members of the Roman church were already being conformed. Paul was saying, “You must stop conforming, stop being molded into the world.”

The world’s influence is undeniable, especially in the entertainment industry. The world will control how you think, how you dress and how you act. The world dictates what the “norm” is so it takes a lot of discipline not to go with the flow which can be done only when our mind is focused on heavenly things.

3. By fostering healthy fellowship.

Our thinking is often affected and influenced by our friends and the people we are in company with, that is why it is important that we develop friendships with godly people who will help us seek spiritual things.

When you are in the company of people who love to cuss and swear, soon you’ll find yourself doing exactly the same thing. The saying, “Tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who you are,” is true. The kind of people you are with have a great influence on you because bad company corrupts good character (1 Corinthians 15:33).

4. By developing a consistent prayer life (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Prayer is the backbone of every believer and a healthy quiet time is an indicator of a Christian’s spiritual life. What is a quiet time? It is simply being intentional about having a conversation with God.

Conclusion

Never underestimate the power of the mind. It is very important to have the right mindset; the kind of thinking that is set on heavenly things because it’s what dictates how we live our lives and how we deal with certain situations. The mind is very powerful and the enemy knows that very well.

It is for this reason that Satan is always attacking the believer’s mind with doubts, fears, and worldly thoughts. He wants to keep them from focusing on what really matters, and that is, God and His kingdom. Satan cannot make us do things and he cannot read our thoughts but he can play with our minds.

Setting our mind on heavenly things will enable us to see all and do all with the perspective of eternity. Believers ought to “fix their eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Recommended Resource: A Place Called Heaven: 10 Surprising Truths About Your Eternal Home
By Dr. Robert Jeffress

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If any of us learned we were going to move to a foreign country, we’d do everything we could to learn about that place so that we’d be prepared when moving day arrived. As Christians, we know someday we will leave our familiar country and be united with God in heaven. And yet many of us know very little about this place called heaven.

In this enlightening book, bestselling author Dr. Robert Jeffress opens the Scriptures to unpack ten surprising truths about heaven and explain who we will see there and how we can prepare to go there someday.

Perfect for believers or skeptics who are curious about heaven.

When God Seems Far Away

By Alice | November 24, 2017 | Comments 12 comments

As a Christian, it is inevitable that you will most likely have seasons of your life when you feel far from God. There are times when you simply feel like Jesus is far away for no reason at all. You find it difficult to pray. Or you pray and cry out to God but it seems that God is deaf because He doesn’t answer. You’ve lost motivation to get into His Word or you read your Bible but it does not speak to you. You seek God but it seems as if He has hidden His face from you.

If you have experienced either of these situations, let me assure you that it is completely normal. I don’t know a single Christian who hasn’t felt this way in one way or another. There will be times in the life of every Christian, when even though you are walking by faith and there is no known sin in your life, God seems far away.

You’re Not Alone

David, the man whom God called “a man after My own heart,” had that experience which he expressed in Psalm 13:1-2. There is no indication in these verses that David sinned and yet out of the depths of his heart he repeats four times the haunting cry, “How long?” While David’s enemy was about to get him, God seemed unavailable (Psalm 13:3-4). It seemed as if God had forgotten David.

Jesus understood more than David did how it meant to be forsaken by God. Jesus’ last three hours on the cross as He was bearing upon Himself the sins of the world, was characterized by silence and darkness and God’s seeming deafness to the pleas and cries of His Son (Matthew 27:45-46).

Jesus quoted Psalm 22:1 as an expression of the worst horror of human misery; namely, the feeling of being forsaken by God.

Often times we overlook the fact of Jesus’ humanity. On the cross, Jesus expressed the ultimate cry of desolation and despair which is enough for us to know that He understands how painful and heartbreaking this experience can be.

The cry of desperation is our response to how our circumstances look to us – God seems so far away and has forsaken us.

Has this ever happened to you? You desperately called out to God for help, but He seemed to be on an extended vacation. What are you supposed to do?

Call to the Lord and Trust in His Unfailing Love

Psalm 13:5-6 tells you what to do when God seems far away. David stopped crying out in anguish. Instead, he praises the Lord and finally rests in the joy of knowing that God will answer him. When God seemed far away, David learned to call to Him and trust in His unfailing love.

Did the Father forsake His Son and remained distant? No! Perhaps God looked away from the sin Jesus carried when He was dying on the cross but did not actually abandon Him. Jesus was innocent and had done nothing to forfeit the favor of God.

In times when it seems God has turned His back, we must learn to trust the fact that He loves us with unfailing love. Let us have confidence in God’s promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), even though it may seem that way for a while.

There will be times when we have to wait for God’s answer to our petition and we are uncertain how long it would take. But the problem is that we are often in a hurry when God isn’t but His timing is always perfect.

Seek God especially when He Seems Far Away

It’s very unfortunate that many Christians do not grow to maturity because when God seems far away from them, they do not call out to Him. Instead, they just shrug their shoulders and go right back into the world. Let us learn from David who called to God despite feeling being forsaken by Him. We must seek God especially when He seems far away.

Did you know that the real test of your faith is not when God’s presence is real and when you see God at work in your life?

The real test of your faith is when God seems far away and you are left wondering why. Do you seek God when you come to the point where you can no longer feel His presence near you? Or do you look somewhere else for a quick fix?

Seek the Lord and You will Find Him

God gives us a divine promise that when we seek God with all our heart, we will find Him (Jer. 29:13; Deuteronomy 4:29). Jesus also promised not to cast out anyone who comes to Him (John 6:37). So even though God seems distant, just keep seeking Him. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).

Oh and by the way, while you’re seeking God, you might feel as if you’re doing all the seeking but the truth is, God Himself has seeded within you the hunger for Him. Your longings for God are proof that He is actively working in your life. It might seem like this is due to the influence of friends and circumstances, but in reality, God is just using them as means.

Keep an Awareness of God and the Enemy at All Times

When I gave my life to Christ, I gained the most wonderful and most powerful Friend in the whole wide world. However, I also gained a fearsome foe – Satan and his demons.

Yes, Satan is nothing compared to God as he’s not as smart and not as powerful; he is nevertheless, a superhumanly powerful, evil genius. He uses the power of deception to fool new believers into doubting God’s power and reality in their lives by trying to manipulate their feelings.

As a new Christian, I felt nothing at first. Although I enjoyed the music during praise and worship and loved the messages/sermons delivered by the speakers, I did not really feel like I was in contact with God. I looked around me and saw people crying, singing, worshiping in tongues and enjoying God’s presence. And I thought, “Why am I not feeling it? What is wrong with me?”

I only realized later on that it will take some time for a new Christian to receive more and more evidence and awareness of God’s presence. Like the growth of a tree, much of God’s work is not immediately obvious. It takes time to realize that God is right here with us and is actually working in us and through us. Well, the enemy will do anything in his power to deceive us but other than the power of deception, he can do nothing else.

As I continued to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus, I began to feel His nearness and constant presence in my life. I learned that communication is key to keeping God close at hand. Spending more time with God will keep us conscious of His love and His presence with us all the time.

Feelings Vs. Reality

We may feel different when we go from a valley to a mountaintop experience, but little or nothing in us has actually changed. All that happens when we’re on a peak is that we can see further with our own eyes. Being highly conscious of God’s love will keep us aware of His constant presence in our lives. One important thing we need to realize is that feelings and spiritual reality often do not coincide.

In times when we can’t see God’s love and goodness and we feel nothing, we need to learn that although the weather changes, people change or feelings change, God remains solid rock, totally true and dependable forever. God wants us to learn to trust Him rather than trusting our emotions.

God has promised to love us, be with us, forgive us and hear our prayers, but not once has He promised we will “feel” anything. So stand on the promises of God and not on what He has not promised.

Despite what we feel during periods of spiritual loneliness, God’s faithful presence with us is an unchanging and eternal reality. We are never alone because Jesus promised that He will be with us always even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20). This doesn’t mean we will never feel like God is far away because throughout Scriptures we see experiences of spiritual loneliness.

Conclusion

In times of difficulty, men reason, “If there is a loving Father God, why does He seem far away? Why does He allow bad things to happen?”

The story of the disciples on the boat at sea gives us a picture of the natural reaction of humans when we feel like God isn’t there (Matthew 8:23-27). The disciples are on a boat, and a storm suddenly appears. What did they do? They immediately panicked because Jesus was asleep. They woke Him up and Jesus rebuked them as if He was saying, “Guys, did you think I wasn’t present just because I was asleep? I was still there with you and I was fully aware of the storm.”

God will never leave your side, even when you feel like He’s so far away. He wants to assure you that He is with you, He has always been and He always will be. He will never leave your side – whether you feel that way or not. What a comfort that no matter how we are feeling, good or bad, God is above it all.

Recommended Resource: When Heaven Seems Silent: How to Wait on God’s Promises by Mark and Tammy Endres

We know God’s plans and timing are perfect—but what do we do in the meantime? Why does God make us wait, knowing it can be so difficult? Why doesn’t He act when time seems to be running out? Why does He answer some prayers in a moment and yet fulfill other promises after having us wait days, years, or even decades before the promise comes to pass?

Mark and Tammy Endres have asked these questions and more. Though Mark was born with only one functioning hand, God has told them—again and again—that His plan is for complete healing.

In When Heaven Seems Silent they share the lessons they have learned as they wait—lessons that have forever changed their perspective of God and how He works in the lives of His children.

Through their inspiring story you will discover how to:

·          Hear God’s voice
·          Overcome disappointment
·          Wait without anger or offense
·          Face your emotions
·   Hold on to God’s promises, and much more!

God’s Natural and Moral Attributes

By Alice | November 16, 2017 | Comments 22 comments

One day, my friend asked me if it’s possible for someone who willfully rejects God to be forgiven of his sins and be welcomed into heaven when he repents and receives Christ as Lord and Savior on his deathbed. If a person keeps putting off surrendering his life to God because he thinks he has all the time to do that a few seconds before his death, will God forgive him when he asks?

I said, “Yes, as long as he is sincere, God will forgive him and will welcome him into heaven.” This is because of the very nature of God, His character that is constant. God is a loving, forgiving, and merciful God and He will never change regardless of who or what we are. The only problem I see in this scenario is that, what if that person won’t get the chance to repent and dies instantly?

Attribute

An attribute refers to the quality, property, or unique characteristic of something. When we speak of God’s attributes, we are talking about those characteristics that help us to understand who He truly is. God’s natural and moral attributes are the inherent characteristics that are closely associated with or belonging to Him.

A. God’s Natural Attributes

These are those permanent qualities that belong to His nature; those qualities without which He would not be God.

1) Eternity – God is eternal.

To be the true God He must have neither beginning nor end. Even before this world came into existence, God has existed from time everlasting (Psalm 90:2); He is above the conditions of time and space. As an absolute self-existent being, He sustains no such relations to time and space as those sustained by every finite being.

To God, there is no time, past, present, or future while we all exist under relations of time and our existence passes through successive moments. What to us is eternity, past and present, is the same to God. The eternal attribute of God is explained in His self-existence; He never began to be, and He never can cease to be.

2) Immutability – God is unchangeable.

God is so constituted that He cannot change; He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Psalm 102:25-27; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). While all creatures change, God is perpetually the same. God has never been changed in His essence, not even in His incarnation. God remains everlastingly, eternally, the one unchanging God.

God’s immutability is so vitally important because it is this attribute that enables us to depend on God to be God. It is because of God’s unchanging nature that we can be certain of all His promises. We are assured as we lie down at night and wake up in the morning that God loves us and His mercy endures forever.

3) Omnipotence – God is all-powerful.

Power is certainly an attribute of God; to lack this attribute, He could not be God. God is omnipotent in creation (Genesis 1:1-3; Isaiah 44:24), omnipotent in salvation (Jude 24-25), and omnipotent in the resurrection (John 10:17-18).

But it is important to note that although God has the power to do anything, He cannot do anything that is contrary to His nature. For instance, God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19). God can do anything according to His infinite ability but will do only those things that are consistent with Himself and that is why He cannot lie and tolerate sin.

4) Omnipresence – God is present everywhere at once.

The Bible teaches that in every place in the universe God is present; He is not limited by space (Psalm 139:7-9). There is no place in the universe that is away from God’s presence.

How can God be in more than one place at a time? God is a spirit (John 4:24) and is not limited by time and space. While it is true that God is in all space, His existence does not occupy or fill space in the sense of excluding anything from it, nor in such a sense that its existence is a condition of His existence.

The fact that God is present everywhere is a source of comfort for all believers because wherever the believer goes, he finds himself in the protection of God’s presence. We may experience God’s presence at any time and at any place because He has promised to be with us always (Isaiah 43:2; Hebrews 13:5).

5) Omniscience – God is all-knowing.

Omniscience means the actual and necessary knowledge of all objects, actual or possible. Omniscience is intended for infinite knowledge. When we say that omniscience is a natural attribute of God, it means that God does not obtain knowledge by study, reflection or experience, or that He obtains knowledge at all; but that all knowledge is absolutely necessary to Him.

The Bible is pretty clear that God knows everything, He searches all hearts and understands every intent of our thoughts (1 Chronicles 28:9; Psalm 94:11). What a comfort that God knows everything about us and had a plan for our lives even before we were born. God does not only know our past but He knows all about our future.

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission when you use any links on this page to make a purchase, but at no additional cost to you.

Recommended Resource:

God, Himself: A Journey Through His Attributes by Tony Evans

How often do we stop to consider who the God is that we worship?

When we draw near and learn more about this God, we become amazed at who He truly is. Join Tony Evans as he dives into the character of our awesome God—one attribute at a time.

In God, Himself, we are invited, with unveiled faces, to behold the glory of the Lord—just as the Apostle Paul instructed the Corinthians to do.

Dr. Evans offers insights about the character of God that will challenge you to pursue greater intimacy with Him and help you understand more fully what it means to be made in His image.

For after all, as image-bearers knowing who He is defines who we are.

You’ll learn about attributes like God’s wisdom and word, His sufficiency, and sovereignty, and His goodness, grace, and glory that make Him the great God that He is.

Dr. Evans also includes activities and challenges to help you know how to both process and respond to learning about God. Find your heart encouraged and your worship enriched as you learn about the beautiful nature of our God, the source of all goodness and life.

B. God’s Moral Attributes

These are sometimes described as the communicable attributes of God. It means something corresponding to them is to be found in men and women.

1) Holiness – God’s holiness primarily means that He is separated from sin.

God, Himself is the Most Holy One (Isaiah 6:3; Psalm 99:3, 5, 9; 22:3). To be holy means to be free from all defilement and to be pure. The Bible teaches that God is holy, and a part of the manifestation of this holiness is His hatred of sin and His separation from sin, from the sinner, and from all that is evil.

God’s holiness provides the pattern for His people to follow. He commands us to be holy because He is holy (1 Peter 1:16). As new covenant believers, we are to strive for holiness because without it we cannot see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). We are also exhorted to be separate from the dominating influence that comes from close association with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) and to grow in holiness.

2) Love – God is not full of love but He Himself is love.

This attribute of God shows that it is part of His nature to give Himself in order to bring about blessing or good for others. The love of God is manifested toward the Son and all believers in particular. God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

We imitate this communicable attribute of God by first loving Him in return and secondly by loving others the way God loves them (Matthew 22:37-38). We love God by obeying His commandments and doing what pleases Him (1 John 5:3), and we will do this because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).

3) Faithfulness (Truthfulness)

To be faithful means to be safely trusted, reliable and dependable. God is faithful for He is honest and never changes, He will always do what He has said and fulfill what He has promised (Numbers 23:19; 2 Samuel 7:28).

God can be relied upon and He will never prove unfaithful to those who trust what He has said. Every word of God proves true (Proverbs 30:5; John 17:17). God’s word is truth in the sense that they are the final standard by which truthfulness is to be judged. Whatever conforms to God’s word is true and what fails to conform to His word is not true.

We can imitate God’s faithfulness by striving to have true knowledge about God and by allowing the Scriptures to guide us in our observation and interpretation of the natural world. As God’s children, we are to imitate God’s truthfulness in our reaction to truth and falsehood. Like God, we should love the truth and hate falsehood.

4) Goodness – this can be understood to mean “worthy of approval.”

Luke 18:19 says, “No one is good but God alone” which makes God the final standard of good. God is the source of all good in the world (James 1:17). The Bible says that God only does good things for His children (Psalm 84:11) and His goodness is closely related to several other characteristics of His nature such as love, mercy, patience, and grace.

By doing only good things, that is, those that God approves, we are imitating God’s moral attribute of goodness. As we have the opportunity, let us do good to all men, especially to those who belong to the family of believers (Galatians 6:10).

Moreover, when we realize that God is the definition and source of all good, we will come to realize that God Himself is the ultimate good that we seek (Psalm 73:25-26).

5) Peace – God’s peace is His actions characterized by order and not confusion.

Since God Himself is the God of peace, those who walk with the Lord have peace (Romans 15:33; 1 Thessalonians 5:23), but those who walk in wickedness do not have peace (Isaiah 48:22; Isaiah 57:21). Paul also lists peace as the third element of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

“God’s peace means that in God’s being and in His actions He is separate from all confusion and disorder and yet He is continually active in innumerable, well-ordered, fully controlled, simultaneous actions.” – Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology

When we truly understand God’s peace, we can imitate this attribute of God not only as part of the fruit of the Spirit but also as it relates to self-control. The more we draw closer to God the more of His peace we can enjoy.

6) Righteousness and Justice

These are the qualities of God in which He always does what is right because He is incapable of doing anything which is wrong. Righteousness and justice are the carrying out of God’s holiness and the expression of it in the government of the world.

Christ’s death to pay the penalty for our sins showed that God was truly righteous. God’s righteousness and justice are manifested not only in His wrath when He punishes the wicked and demands justice for sin but also when He keeps His words and fulfills all His promises.

Again, whatever conforms to God’s moral character is right because God is the final standard of righteousness. There can be no standard outside of God by which justice and righteousness are measured. We imitate the righteousness of God by not seeking to find revenge against those who sin against us (Romans 12:17-21).

Instead, let us suffer the injustice of men so that God might bring our enemies to repentance and salvation.

Conclusion

God is a balanced being. God is loving, holy, merciful, yet just and righteous. God’s love allows Him to forgive sin and show mercy to a repentant sinner. But the holiness and justice of God demand that sin must be punished to the full extent of the law.

So how can God be loving and just at the same time? How can He at the same time both be merciful and just to a guilty sinner? The answer can only be found in Calvary. Calvary was the expression of both the wrath of God against sin and the mercy of God toward the guilty sinner.

The Biblical Roots of Christian Praise and Worship

By Alice | November 10, 2017 | Comments 14 comments

Do you know how praise and worship in Christian churches started? Why do we sing an opening or welcome song and then proceed to sing up-tempo songs before finally transitioning into high intimacy worship songs? Is there some kind of pattern that we’re supposed to strictly follow? Or can we modify it to suit our liking and styles?

To best understand the biblical roots of Christian praise and worship, it is necessary to look at the history of Jewish worship, for it was this past manner of worship that the worship of the early church was patterned from.

After the nation of Israel left Egypt under the leadership of Moses, God gave them the law and commanded the construction of a tabernacle where He would meet with them and His people would offer their burnt offerings and sacrifices. The Bible tells us that Moses had a glimpse of what is in heaven and made a complete replica of it (Exodus 25:8-9). In other words, the Israelites built on earth what was built in heaven.

The Tabernacle of Moses

The Tabernacle of Moses is the key to understanding Christian praise and worship today. But what is the tabernacle? The word tabernacle is a translation of the Hebrew mishkan, which means “tent,” “place of dwelling” or “sanctuary.” It was a portable tent and a sacred place where God chose to meet with His people, the Israelites, during the forty years that they wandered in the wilderness.

Specific instructions about the manner of worship and sacrifice such as what was to be sacrificed and the reason for the offerings were provided for the Israelites in Exodus and Leviticus and the tribe of Levi was set aside to minister as priests.

*The Tabernacle of Moses may be equated today to a place of worship or church building where the believers of Yeshua come together to worship and offer their sacrifices to God. While the Israelites brought animals without blemish to offer to God, we the believers in Jesus bring our sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving, the fruit of our lips.

*The Tabernacle may also be the room or place in the privacy of our own homes where we meet and commune with God, read and meditate on His words and offer songs of praise and adoration to Him. The Bible says that God’s tabernacle or dwelling place is His people (Ezekiel 37:27; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Revelation 21:3).

Parts of the Tabernacle

The Tabernacle of Moses had three distinct sections: the outer court, the inner court or holy place and the most holy place also called the holy of holies. So let us take a look at them to see what each one corresponds to in terms of how praise and worship are done in Christian churches today.

A. The Outer Court

At the outer court are the gate, the brazen altar, and the bronze laver.

1) The Gate or Entrance

The tabernacle had only one gate or one entrance. A person could not simply come from any direction into the tabernacle as he pleased – he had to enter through the one gate which was always located to the east. Why? This was to inform the Israelites that there was no other way they could come to God except in the way He prescribed.

*Jesus Christ is the representation of the one gate as the only way through which one could worship God and fellowship with Him. God is using the Tabernacle of Moses to tell us today that we too, must come to God only through the way He has provided for us – Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that Jesus is the way by which we can come to the Father (John 14:6) and He is the gate through which we are saved (John 10:9).

*Note: This is the part of praise and worship where we sing entrance or gate songs to enter into His courts.

2) The Brazen Altar or Altar of Sacrifice

The brazen altar serves as a reminder of man’s sinfulness and his need for a blood sacrifice in order to fellowship with a holy God.

*Jesus Christ became the ultimate sacrifice through His death so there’s no need for the believers today to offer animals (Mark 14:24; John 1:29; Hebrews 10:11-12, 18). Instead, praise songs are presented as offerings before the Lord; we bring to the Lord sacrifices of praise which goes up to His throne as a sweet aroma.

*As we continue to sing praises to the Lord our God, His presence starts to come down, dwell and manifest in the midst of His people. The Bible tells us that God inhabits the praises of His people, He is enthroned in our praises (Psalm 22:3).

*The altar which was raised on a mound of earth that is higher than its surrounding furniture is a projection of Christ, our sacrifice, lifted up on the cross, His altar, which stood on mount Golgotha (John 8:28; John 12:32).

3) The Bronze Laver

The bronze laver was a circular bowl filled with water which was made from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. This is a reminder that the people need cleansing before approaching God, so the priests wash their hands and feet before ministering to the Lord.

While it is at the brazen altar where priests atoned for their sins through a sacrifice, they cleansed themselves at the laver so they would be pure and not die before a holy God.

*The application for Christians today is that we are forgiven through the work of Christ on the cross, but we are washed through His Word. We must allow ourselves to be washed daily in the Word of God and be cleansed so that we can serve and minister before Him (Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 10:22).

*The Tabernacle of Moses is a pattern for the praise and worship of the believers in Yeshua (Jesus) today. We enter His gates and come into His “courts” with praise (Psalm 100), singing up-tempo songs, clapping, dancing, rejoicing, giving wave offerings and shouting for joy. In this way, we are offering ourselves as “living sacrifices on the altar of God” (Romans 12:1). We are also being “washed by the water of the Word” as we sing these songs based on the Scriptures represented by the laver.

B. The Inner Court or Holy Place

After the priests have washed their hands and feet at the laver, they can now enter the holy place, the first room in the tent of the tabernacle. In the holy place were three pieces of furniture: the menorah, the table of showbread, and the golden altar of incense.

1) The Menorah also called the Golden Lampstand or Candlestick

The menorah which is the only source of light in the holy place had a central branch from which three branches extend from each side to form a total of seven branches. Without the menorah to provide light in the holy place, the priests would be moping around in the dark.

*Jesus today is our Light (John 1:9; John 8:12; John 12:46). The main branch in the lampstand represents Jesus Christ and we the believers are represented by the six branches that extend from the main branch. The branches serve as a picture of Jesus’ description of our relationship with Him. He is the vine, we are the branches and without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5).

*And since we are now living as children of light (Ephesians 5:8), drawing our source from Jesus the true light, we are commanded to “let our light shine before men so that they may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

*Jesus is our Light who will lead us into the presence of God during praise and worship. While the priests prepare themselves to enter into the presence of God to offer on behalf of the nation of Israel, we the believers continue to sing songs of praise and adoration to the Lord as we gradually enter into the dwelling place of God where we can finally behold His glory and majesty.

2) The Table of Showbread also called Bread of Presence

The table of showbread has 12 loaves of bread representing the 12 tribes of Israel; it is a picture of God’s willingness to communion and fellowship with man.

The Bible says, “Jesus is the bread of life” (John 6:35, 49-50). Jesus’ coming down to earth from heaven to give eternal life to those who would partake in it was a demonstration of God’s desire to fellowship with man.

*Today, we celebrate the Lord’s Supper as one of the only two ordinances for the church, to remember the suffering and death of Jesus Christ for the redemption of mankind and to declare that He is coming again.

3) The Golden Altar of Incense

The golden altar of incense should not be confused with the brazen altar. The golden altar of incense was located in front of the curtain that separated the holy place from the holy of holies.

The priests are commanded to burn incense on the golden altar every morning and evening, the same time that the daily burnt offerings were made and the incense is to be left burning continually throughout the day and night as a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

*The golden altar is a representation of Jesus Christ, our intercessor before God the Father, while the incense was a symbol of the prayers of the intercession of the people going up to God as a sweet fragrance. Since we have been forgiven of our sins through the blood of Christ, we can now come boldly to Him in prayer in Jesus’ name (John 14:13-14).

*As we enter the Holy Place from the outer court, a transition takes place. The music slows down and we feed further upon the word of God, the Bread of Life Himself. Our minds are illuminated by the fire of the Holy Spirit, represented by the lampstand. We place “fresh incense” on the altar as we “sing in spirit” with “tongues of angels.” The fragrance of pure worship “permeates the veil” and pleases God.

C. The Holy of Holies or the Most Holy Place

The holy of holies is where the Ark of the Covenant is, covered by a lid called the “mercy seat.” It is where the glory of God is – His very presence.

The holy of holies was the most sacred room which no ordinary man could enter. It was God’s special dwelling place in the midst of His people. Between the holy place and the holy of holies was a veil or thick curtain to separate them.

The veil was essentially there to shield a holy God from sinful man. It was a picture of the barrier between man and God, showing that the holiness of God could not be trifled with. The veil was placed there to make sure that no man could irreverently enter into God’s awesome presence.

The very presence of God remained shielded from man behind the veil throughout the history of Israel. But when Jesus died, it was torn in half from top to bottom exposing the Holy of Holies (Matthew 27:50-51). No matter how shocking this was to the priests ministering in the temple that day, it was indeed good news to us as believers.

The torn veil illustrated Jesus’ body that was broken for us, opening the way for us to come to God. We can now boldly enter into God’s presence, “the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf “ (Hebrews 6:19-20).

*As we enter into the holy of holies during worship, we are consumed by a cloud of glory, fall down before the Throne of the Almighty, and worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24) as a royal priesthood, purchased by the blood of Jesus. It is at this point during praise and worship that each worshiper can now express his adoration to God, to enjoy and experience God’s awesome presence, comfort, and loving embrace.

*It is the goal of every worshiper to come into the very presence of God. On our way to the most holy place, no one can do it for us. We need to press through all the distractions to get to the place where we are face to face with God. We need to keep pressing in and pressing in.

*I personally believe that anyone who truly experiences God during worship will never be the same again because only a personal encounter with God can cause a transformation that is almost always impossible to take place under any ordinary circumstances.

Conclusion

Although there have been significant developments in the way the Christian Church throughout the centuries has conducted praise and worship, it appears that the manner of worship seen today remains to be patterned from the way God instructed His people to come into His presence to present their sacrifices and burnt offerings.

The Christian praise and worship that we know and still practice today is biblical; it has its roots in the Tabernacle of Moses, which God asked His people to construct to be His dwelling place as well as a place for His people to commune and fellowship with Him.

Recommended Resource: Principles of Worship: The Study of the Tabernacle of Moses

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This manuscript was previously published in 1990 by Alive Ministries as a Bible conference guide. This version includes significant revisions. You will find the principles here dynamic. This is not your typical tabernacle book.

“The tabernacle,” Small says “is a template for prayer and worship, a kind of roadmap into God’s presence, a call for balance in prayer and worship.” There is an old saying that testifies to the relationship between the Testaments: “The New is in the Old concealed, and the Old is in the New revealed.”

When the New Testament writers penned their histories and letters, they referenced the Law, the Prophets, and the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament. The New Testament is rooted in the Old Testament.

It is hardly understood without it. Paul says to the Romans that the things “written before were written for our learning” (Romans 15:4, NKJV). In the first letter to Corinth, he calls the events of the Old Testament “examples… written for our admonition” (10:6, 11).

The Law and the Tabernacle, both given at the same time and on the same mountain, are a ‘schoolmaster” to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). Jesus reminds us, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill it” (Matthew 5:17).

The Old was a shadow of the things to come. It is in the New revealed.

Do You Need to be Baptized in Order to be Saved?

By Alice | November 4, 2017 | Comments 8 comments

Water baptism is an important topic that often arouses much controversy and confusion. Many Christians around the world are asking whether or not water baptism is necessary for salvation. Do you need to be baptized in order to be saved? Some say that baptism is a requirement for salvation while others say it is not. But what does the Bible teach?

What is Water Baptism?

Baptism comes from the Greek word “baptizo,” which comes from bapto, meaning “to dip,” “to immerse,” “to plunge under” or “to change the identification of.” Among the Greeks, when a piece of white cloth was to be dyed, it was plunged under the colored liquid until changed into the color of the dye.

The idea of identification is central to the meaning of baptism because when an object is dipped or immersed, it becomes totally identified with the substance in which it was placed. When John the Baptist baptized Jesus, he publicly identified Him who was sinless with sinners in anticipation of His death and resurrection as their sin-bearer. Jesus referred to His own impending death as a “baptism” which He had to undergo (Mark 10:38-39; Luke 12:50).

Did you know that the rite of baptism was a ritual in the Jewish culture from the beginning? Ceremonial washing of priests and the dipping of temple utensils into water was part of the law. For instance, before a priest takes his office as priest, he is first baptized in order to dedicate and identify him in his position. The baptism of the priest set him apart to take part in the temple and worship sacrifices while the baptism of the utensils set them apart for a specific use in worship.

In the same way, the baptism of John the Baptist was an Old Testament economy baptism which only signified the participant’s willingness to confess his sin. John’s baptism was not for salvation because when the Jews came to him, the Lord Jesus had not yet paid the price for sin. John the Baptist’s baptism was for repentance (Acts 19:4).

Does Water Baptism Save?

Although there are some verses that seem to indicate the necessity of water baptism in salvation, the Bible clearly tells us that salvation is a gift that is received by grace through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ; no external act is necessary for salvation because it is only by divine grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:22-30; Galatians 2:16; Philippians 3:9).

If we are saved by faith, then we are saved by faith when we believe and not when we get baptized. Otherwise, we are not saved by faith. To require anything else in addition to faith in Jesus Christ for salvation is a works-based salvation. It’s like saying that Jesus’ death on the cross was not sufficient to purchase our salvation.

If baptism is necessary for salvation then anyone who receives Christ on his deathbed and who confesses Jesus as Lord and Savior of his life would go to hell if he doesn’t get baptized before he died. And also all babies who die go to hell since they weren’t baptized. Because when we say that baptism is necessary, there can be no exceptions – otherwise it isn’t necessary.

To say that one needs to be baptized in order to be saved is to say we must add our own good works and obedience to Christ’s death in order to make it sufficient for salvation. So how do we deal with some verses that seem to indicate that baptism is necessary for salvation?

The Necessity of Water Baptism in Salvation

There is a belief that’s been going around for quite some time now which teaches that baptism is necessary for salvation; it’s called “baptismal regeneration.” Those who hold to this view are quick to quote 1 Peter 3:21 (NIV) as proof text because it says, “baptism that now saves you.” But is this really what Peter was saying? If this were so then Peter would be contradicting many scripture passages that show people being saved prior to being baptized or without being baptized at all.

A closer look at 1 Peter 3:21 shows that Peter is not actually saying that water baptism saves. He says, “Not the removal of dirt from the body, but an appeal to God for a clear conscience.” Water can only remove dirt from the flesh but it is the blood of Christ which removes the filth from our hearts because, without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22).

The apostle Paul in Titus 3:5 seem to be saying that God saves us through the washing of regeneration, but in the immediately preceding words he says that “God saved us not by the works of righteousness we have done.” How can Paul say something contrary to what he just said earlier in the same verse?

The New Testament On Water Baptism

If everyone who comes to Christ must be baptized in order to be saved, we would expect to find it stressed whenever the Gospel is presented in Scripture. But that is not the case. The apostle Paul never made water baptism any part of his Gospel presentation. Paul gives a concise summary of the Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 and there is no mention of baptism.

Paul even said in 1 Corinthians 1:17 that “Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the Gospel.” (It is important to note that Paul only baptized a few.) If baptism is part of the Gospel and is necessary for salvation, Paul would have made it a central theme of his ministry. If one needs to be baptized in order to be saved, why didn’t Paul baptize every one of those who received the Gospel message?

What good would it have done for Paul to preach the Gospel but not baptized? No one would have been saved! Clearly, Paul understood that water baptism is separate from the Gospel, and hence in no way efficacious for salvation.

What about Peter? Yes, Peter mentioned baptism in his sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38). But when he spoke from Solomon’s portico in the Temple, he made no reference to baptism (Acts 3:12-16). Instead, he linked the forgiveness of sin to repentance (Acts 3:19).

Mark 16:16 is another verse that is often quoted to prove the necessity of baptism in salvation. Aside from the fact that many textual scholars think that Mark 16:9-20 are not an authentic part of Mark’s Gospel, verse 16 is actually a proof of the opposite.

Reading the verse more carefully, one should notice that the basis for condemnation is not the failure to be baptized, but only the failure to believe. Baptism is mentioned in the first part of the verse because it was the outward symbol that always accompanied the inward belief. Water baptism is certainly important and required of every believer. However, the New Testament does not teach that baptism is necessary for salvation.

Conclusion

Sixteen years ago today I was water baptized, four months after I got saved. Did I have to be baptized in order to be saved? No! And you don’t either. Saying that we need to be baptized in order to be saved is dangerous because it is saying there is something we must do to complete our salvation. We cannot rest our hope of salvation on something that we can do for ourselves. We must recognize our need of a Savior and accept the Lord Jesus’ finished work for our redemption.

If water baptism were not necessary for salvation, why then would one be baptized? Baptism is the symbol of what has already occurred in the heart and life of one who has trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is an important step of obedience that every Christian should take as an act of testimony to others and a public declaration of the reality of our personal identification with Christ.

Scripture is also clear that genuine saving faith results in obedience. Thus, every true believer who has opportunity will be baptized in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. Baptism is the result of salvation, not the means to it.

If you have a different understanding, I encourage you to study the Bible for yourself to see what it really teaches about water baptism and salvation. We must rely on Scripture alone as our authoritative standard, not Church tradition.

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Why Should Christians Not Celebrate Halloween

Why I Believe Christians Should Not Celebrate Halloween

By Alice | October 31, 2017 | Comments 7 comments

There’s a lot of debate as to whether or not Christians should celebrate and participate in Halloween. Is it alright to dress up our kids in costumes and allow them to go trick-or treating in our neighborhood? Is it okay for us to attend Halloween parties dressed in some evil-looking and demonic costumes?

And what about having profile pictures on our social media accounts that look demonic? If we do any of this, are we celebrating an evil holiday?

I was browsing my Facebook News Feed yesterday when a profile picture and cover photo of a Christian friend caught my attention. With an app she made herself look like a zombie. You know, bloody mouth and clothes, thick eyeliners and all that. Obviously, she changed her profile picture in celebration of Halloween.

So what’s with Halloween and what is its origin?

Origin of Halloween

Halloween is a word which is derived from the term “All Hallows Eve;” it is an annual festival that is celebrated on the evening of October 31st which is said to have its origins in the Celtic Festival of Samhain in ancient Britain and Ireland. It is believed that during this time the dead could walk among the living and would visit their family and relatives.

Did you know that second to Christmas, the yearly observance of Halloween in North America amounts to a billion-dollar industry – selling party costumes and supplies, candies and other food items, tours of so-called haunted houses and several other forms of entertainment? Business owners are making lots and lots of money annually because people love to celebrate Halloween.

Many in our society believe Halloween is nothing more than a harmless festival that allows kids to dress up as their favorite superhero and go door to door asking for candies and playing tricks on people. But is it?

I know for a fact that there are Christians and pastors who celebrate Halloween. Some churches even have a Zombie Run. Really? In the house of God? But I also believe that some maybe involved in the celebration without knowing its origin.

I want to think that my friend had no idea what Halloween really is all about and that’s why she thought it would be fun to have a zombie-looking profile picture and cover photo. In a spirit of full disclosure, when I was a new believer I often went with my boss’ kids trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. That’s because other than not seeing the harm in it, I wanted to make the kids happy.

Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

Wanting to know the answer to this is what motivated me to do some research on the origin and implications of Halloween on man. And what I found out convinced and convicted me that contrary to what many people think, Halloween is not just some harmless and fun festival.

5 Reasons Christians Should Not Celebrate Halloween.

1) Halloween which falls on the 31st of October has long been known as “The Festival of the Dead.”

This day is celebrated as the marker for the change from life to death. While God is a God of life, Halloween focuses on death. How can Christians who have passed on from death to life celebrate the opposite?

Scriptures tell us that anyone who believes in the Father who sent Jesus His Son has everlasting life and shall not be judged but has passed from death into life (John 5:24). We were dead in our transgressions but were made alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:1); we were separated from God because of sin but God in His grace and mercy gave us the gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).

So how can Christians who were rescued from death celebrate the festival of the dead? We want the Gospel to reach every lost soul so they too will come into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and be rescued from death to life. In the same way that the angels of God rejoice over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10), Christians should celebrate and rejoice over every dead soul that is born again.

2) Halloween is a celebration of witchcraft, a high holiday for Wiccans which is the official religion of witchcraft.

Halloween is also a time when witches attempt to communicate with the dead through various forms of divination The Bible never mentions Halloween but it does speak concerning witches, paganism and occultism. The Word of God makes it clear that these practices are detestable to the Lord and considered an abomination to God (Deuteronomy 18:10-13).

Christians should do well not to get involved with the occult, witchcraft, lucky charms, demonism, communicating with the dead and all other forms of divination.

A Christian who participates with any of these detestable practices is in clear violation of God’s command and is due to face judgment. When Christians participate in Halloween, they approve the celebration of a holiday that promotes divination, witchcraft and other occultic practices.

If a Halloween celebration is centered on demons, devils, evil spirits, etc., why would Christians want anything to do with it? Why would Christians want to celebrate alongside Wiccans and get involved in something that is detestable to God?

3) Halloween is a dark holiday implicating darkness and fear.

Romans 13:12 exhorts us to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Why would we want to celebrate darkness after God has rescued us from its dominion and conveyed us into the kingdom of His Son and into His marvelous light (Colossians 1:13; 1 Peter 2:9)?

Before I came to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, I was always afraid of the dark. I became even more afraid after my father died. A few days after his burial, I couldn’t go out at night without a torch because I feared that I might see or bump into a ghost or spirit of some kind. After I got saved, I knew I had nothing to fear because God is always with me, right by my side.

God has not given us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7); fear comes from the enemy. I have been delivered from fear so why would I want to participate in a holiday that has fear as its foundation? Why would Christians celebrate darkness and fear when the Bible says that light has nothing in common with darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14)? Is celebrating a dark holiday something a child of the light should be doing?

4) Do you know why kids dress up in costumes today during Halloween and go door-to-door seeking treats?

Occultists taught that spirits and ghosts left their graves on Halloween night to seek out warmth in their previous homes. The villagers who fear that they will be visited by the ghosts of past occupants would dress up in costumes to scare them away. They would also leave food and other treats at their door to appease the spirits so they would not destroy their homes or crops.

Is it pleasing to God when we dress our kids like the devil, witches or any other scary characters? Isn’t this demonic?

5) What’s with the Pumpkin on Halloween?

Pumpkins with a scary face carved into them are used by occultists to scare away the spirits hoping that they would move on to another home or village and spare their homes from destruction. At times, the villagers would also light a candle and place it within the lantern. This is how the carvings into pumpkins at Halloween started.

Conclusion

When Christians set aside a day to celebrate death, evil, witchcraft, darkness and fear, it brings disdain to God. God is not pleased when His children choose to take part in the ungodly celebrations of this world. We should not celebrate what the world celebrates, especially when it does not glorify God.

Those who are in Christ are not to conform any longer to the patterns of this world (Romans 12:2). We maybe in this world but we are not of this world because our eternal home is in heaven (Philippians 3:20).

To the Christian parents who allow their kids to celebrate Halloween, do you know that Anton Lavey, American author, musician, occultist and founder of the Church of Satan was quoted saying, “I’m glad that Christian parents let their children worship the devil at least one night out of the year.”

So what do you do when neighbors come to your door on Halloween expecting to receive something? Open your door and give them JESUS! Invite them in and share the Gospel message of salvation. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world … let your light shine before men so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

Do not celebrate Halloween. Instead, celebrate life, celebrate God, celebrate Jesus!

Yes, I can do all things through God who gives me strength

Yes, I Know I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Gives Me Strength

By Alice | October 26, 2017 | Comments 6 comments

Coming to work tonight, (I work night shifts) I was expecting another change in my work schedule for the coming weeks and I couldn’t help but think, “How am I supposed to survive a 12-hour shift every day, 7 days a week?” As two of our own are going from here this week, back to their country for good, next week which starts tomorrow, will mark what I call the toughest and the most hectic schedule for me to date since coming to the Middle East 7 years ago.

As I am writing this blog, I am trying to recount the several occasions where I almost couldn’t feel my legs as a result of excessive walking as part of my job. How did it come to this? Honestly, I couldn’t even remember when was the last time I was on an 8-hour shift for a whole month, and this is mainly due to the shortage of staff not just in our department but in the entire hospital workforce.

Majority of our hospital staffs are working 12-hours shifts, some even 14-16 hours. But who is to blame? The management? The department heads? Or the government for coming up with several rules aimed at sending many foreign workers back to their land so they can give jobs to their own people? This is not the time to start pointing fingers because doing this won’t make the situation better but could even make matters worse.

I couldn’t even wrap my head around what the situation will be like if this goes on even for the next 2 months or so. Thankfully, I’ve been spared from additional paper works in preparation for the renewal of the hospital’s accreditation license to continue its operations. However, that does not mean I have more time for myself.

Prayer Life and Ministry

I must admit there have been times when I thought, “Okay, this is it. I couldn’t do this anymore.” I once thought of quitting just because I got home from work one day fully exhausted. But then God made me realize that making a major decision when you’re tired, upset, disappointed, or even when you’re over-joyed, is not a wise move.

About 3 years ago, I was given the huge responsibility to handle the Education Ministry in my local church, and although it’s an honor and a blessing to be able to serve God this way, I realized that this also comes with a huge accountability. I am fully aware that in order to teach, preach and disciple, one has to be able to handle the truth of God’s word correctly and to present himself approved to God (2 Timothy 2:15).

There were also times when I wasn’t ready to conduct our regular pre-worship Bible Studies because I got too busy with my work but thank God for the lives of some brothers who are always willing to step in to teach. It’s always a blessing to have brethren ever ready to help out no matter how busy they are with their works too. It’s my joy to hear them say, “Anything for the Lord sis, I am willing to do.”

What about my quiet time with God? I feel really guilty for not spending enough time with God, not having ample time to get in the word, to pray, listen to Him and worship Him. As a Christian, I know that it is crucial to spend time with God because communication and fellowship are the backbones of a relationship.

My Strength comes from the Lord

You know what’s keeping me together through all this time? It is knowing that the Lord my God will never leave me nor forsake me. I have the assurance that as a child of the Most High God, I am privileged; that I am blessed and I know that my Lord is always here to hold my hand and to help me get through every hurdle I may have to overcome.

Despite my unfaithfulness and failures, God is always faithful and He has shown me this many times over. In situations where I did not think I can get through it, I was able to conquer because my strength comes from God alone. Despite many of difficulties, I’ve learned to rest in God’s promises and rely on His strength.

One thing I am sure of, it is in my weakness that I can see the fullness of God’s strength. I maybe weak but God is strong. Yes, I know I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13). There maybe tougher challenges waiting ahead but I know I can overcome anything because my confidence is in the Lord; I know that God has given me the victory through Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Are you facing tough challenges which you think you are unable to overcome? Cheer up, trust in the Lord and praise Him for He is our strength, helper and shield (Psalm 28:7).

Death Penalty for Sin, Eternal Life In Christ

By Alice | October 21, 2017 | Comments 10 comments

One Bible verse that is always quoted every time the Gospel is shared is Romans 6:23. This verse says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Looking at this verse more closely made me realize one thing, and that is, we get exactly what we deserve! We receive death as a penalty for our sins. “Wages” refers to a payment. When a person works, he receives a payment for his work. In the verse quoted above, it means that those whose work is “sin” receive the payment of death.

In today’s article, I would like us to look into the three important ingredients of the above-mentioned text namely: SIN, DEATH and ETERNAL LIFE.

Sin: What is it? When, Where and How did it Start?

The Bible defines sin as the “transgression or breaking of the law” (1 John 3:4 KJV); it is rebellion against God’s will (Deuteronomy 6:23; Joshua 1:18), an act of revolution and anarchy against God’s righteous government.

Sin started in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve deliberately disobeyed God. We read in Genesis 2:15-17 that God put the man (Adam) He created in the Garden of Eden and instructs him that he is free to eat from any tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, because in that day that he will eat of it he will surely die.

Not long after that in Genesis 3:1-6, we read the account of the fall of man as Adam gave in to Eve’s suggestion to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that God specifically forbade and committed the sin of disobedience. And because Adam stood as the representative of the human race, his sin was imputed, reckoned and imparted to all future generations (Romans 5:12). The result is that we have all sinned and are under the judgment of God (Romans 3:23).

We were all born into this world spiritually dead and that’s why we need to be born again as Jesus explicitly said in John 3:3-5 in his conversation with Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin.

Death: The Punishment for sin

What is death? It is very important we understand that death is never associated with the concept of non-existence. Instead, death always carries the idea of separation – whether in a physical or a spiritual sense.

2 Kinds of Death:

1) Spiritual death – the state of being separated from fellowship with God as a result of sin.

2) Physical death – a separation between the soul and body.

Did Adam and Eve die spiritually or physically? Or both?

Genesis 3:23-24 tells us that the Lord banished Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden and so their fellowship with God was cut off. Clearly, Adam and Eve died a spiritual death. Take note that before the fall, God had a close, intimate relationship with Adam. God would come down to the Garden of Eden to fellowship with him.

But that relationship was not only tainted; it was also broken as a result of sin.

Some Bible scholars claim that Adam and Eve did not only experience spiritual death but they also died physically that day. Yes, Adam went on to live for another 930 years after being banished from the Garden of Eden, but “with the Lord, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Peter 3:8).

Assuming that Adam was 70 years old at the time of the fall, add to that 930 years for a total of a thousand years which is like one day to the Lord.

Do you ever wonder why such a severe penalty for merely having an appetite for a fruit that looked so enticing? Why did God impose the death penalty for the sin of having an appetite for forbidden fruit? It should be noted that the motive for Adam and Eve’s disobedience was more than just appetite, but the ambition to be “like God” (Genesis 3:4-6).

Sounds familiar? It’s the same sin Lucifer committed that resulted in his fall from heaven (Isaiah 14:12-14 & Ezekiel 28:12-18).

Eternal Life in Christ: God’s Gift

Going back to Romans 6:23, do you notice how the bad news comes first while the good news comes last? Often times in our conversation, we always deliver the bad news first so that we can end on a good note. Like when we go to the doctor and he says he’s got bad news and good news.

Without even asking which one we want to hear first, he will go on to tell us the bad news first and then follow it up with the good news. Now, why is that? Because although we need to be aware of the reality of the bad news, he wants us to focus on the good news.

That’s exactly what the apostle Paul was doing here when he wrote to the Roman Church. Paul mentions a problem (bad news) and then introduces a solution (good news). If the bad news is death as the consequence of sin, the good news is the gift of God which is eternal life in Christ Jesus.

But what is eternal life? Is it “living forever?” Does having eternal mean we get to “live forever?” No, because no one ceases to exist when they die! Everyone gets to live forever. The only difference is the location; everyone gets to live forever in either heaven or hell.

What then is eternal life? John 3:36 NIV says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” Also in John 3:16, the very heart of the Bible, it says that the reason Jesus came to live and die was for us to have eternal life.

Do you see in these verses that eternal life is a present-tense possession?

Eternal life is not something that begins only when we get to heaven. Sadly, many Christians mistakenly assume that the goal of salvation is the forgiveness of sin to avoid hell. Sure, not perishing in hell is an important part of what Jesus came to do. But there’s a lot more to our salvation than getting our sins forgiven so we can be with God in heaven instead of hell.

As mentioned earlier, spiritual death is separation from God that came about as a result of sin. Sin, which was a barrier that stood between man and God had to be removed and that’s exactly what Jesus came to accomplish. So now, sin is no longer standing between us and God because we have become a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Jesus defined eternal life in John 17:3 as “knowing God.” But what does the Bible mean exactly by the word “know?” Let’s look at one particular Bible verse where the word “know” is used in the same way as in John 17:3. Genesis 4:1 says “Adam knew his wife …”

Adam didn’t just know Eve intellectually. He had an intimate, personal experience with her. This was speaking of a relationship between a man and a woman in the most intimate way possible.

So when Jesus said eternal life was knowing God, He was speaking of having an intimate, close personal relationship with Him and His Father which we can have right now. We do not have to wait for heaven to be able to enjoy eternal life. Jesus did not come to die so you won’t go to hell.

Jesus died for our sins in order to have our broken relationship with God restored as to how it was before sin entered the world.

“True eternal life begins with a relationship with the Lord.”

Conclusion

Romans 6:23 addresses both the consequences of sin and the deliverance from it. The wages (just payment) for sin is death. However, God has given us a gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. This gift is not something earned or deserved but is given freely. The Bible is clear that Jesus is the only way to be free from the bondage of sin and death, and to the Father (John 14:6).

Sure, Adam’s disobedience has put everyone under God’s curse and due to receive the death penalty for that sin, but Jesus’ obedience made us righteous (Romans 5:18-20) in the sight of God and can now receive His gift of eternal life.

Do you want to receive God’s gift of eternal through Jesus Christ our Lord? Do you acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of a Savior? Would you like to have a personal, intimate relationship with God, declared righteous by God and not suffer the death penalty for your sin? God has set before you today life and death and He wants you to choose life (Deuteronomy 30:15 & Deuteronomy 30:19).

The choice is yours!

Recommended Resource: In Light of Eternity: Perspectives on Heaven by Randy Alcorn

In bestseller after bestseller, Randy Alcorn has held readers spellbound with fast-paced, gripping fiction infused with eternal themes. Now, he responds to the widespread hunger for more insight on this subject with a straightforward, real-life look at heaven, rewards, and how to live in light of eternity.

The deepest longing of your heart is for one person and one place. Jesus is that person. Heaven is that place.

A thousand counterfeits vie for your attention, trying to convince you that they are what you’re looking for. But you’ll never find true satisfaction with what this world has to offer. What you really crave can only be found in the land of substance: Heaven.

In Light of Eternity will grip your soul and open your eyes to the realities of Heaven. Far from boring, Heaven promises to be an exhilarating adventure in which every chapter is better than the one before.

With clear biblical teaching and illustrative stories and reflections, Alcorn shows how your life today will impact the eternal reality that awaits you. Let this book guide you into discovering how wonderful your eternal future will be – and what you can do now to prepare for it.