Evangelism

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Eternal Life Blog

There are many factors to consider to improve your evangelism results. Of course, accurately presenting the Biblical gospel, giving God’s truth in a bold, clear and serious manner and being holy are foundational, but another point is revealed in Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians. That evangelism tip is, relate to your potential convert, if possible:

I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1 Cor 9:19-23)

If you are not trying to relate to the people you are trying to evangelize, they won’t listen as carefully. In the above passage Paul related to the Jews, non-Jews, weak, etc. so that he would save some. We need to do the same. Relating to others is also shown in Paul’s salvation sermon (Acts 13:16-41). Stephen did the same (Acts 7:2-53).

So how can you relate to a stranger? If you go to the same school, live in the same state, drive the same kind of car, were raised in the same religion, etc. mention it. That’s a starter. But the truth of the gospel must never be compromised. Show the person, if time allows, the actual Bible verse which backs up what you are saying about his sins dragging him to hell. 1 Cor. 6:9-11 is perfect for that and also reveals the remedy — JESUS. If time doesn’t allow, verbally make the Biblical points he/she needs to hear in their situation. By warning the wicked and righteous about sin, you will hopefully help them, but even if not, you will at least save yourself from their blood (Ezek 3:18-21 cf. Acts 18:6)! Christians have been entrusted with the gospel and will have to give an account one day for that (Mt. 25). Hence, among other things related to that responsibility, personal evangelism is important. As mentioned at a different time, tract evangelism with sound literature free from all forms of Calvinism and Catholicism is also powerful, effective and easy. Sometimes literature is the only way to get God’s word out to others. Just a few days ago I handed gospel literature out to people in a hospital and it was such a wonderful blessing to see them looking it over. This often happens when salvation literature is distributed and you should get involved too, for your sake and theirs! To testify about Jesus is very important. SOULS hang in the balance. God bless you.

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False Hope

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Eternal Life Blog

false hope Everyone needs hope. The Bible says, Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. (Prov 13:12). We need hope to continue on. Without hope we would give up, but what about the bearer of false hope? How disastrous is that? Could such a person be dangerous? The Bible answers these questions with stark clarity! Back in the days of wicked King Ahab, various false prophets were predicting success in battle for him in the name of the LORD:

Now Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had made iron horns, and he declared, “This is what the LORD says: With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.” All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. “Attack Ramoth Gilead and be victorious,” they said, “for the LORD will give it into the king’s hand.” (2 Chr 18:10,11)

Because Ahab was lured into battle with hope of defeating his enemies, he died! Ahab believed false prophets, who filled him with false hope, which led to his DEATH! That shows the bearer of false hope can be dangerous, especially when speaking in the name of the LORD. The Bible calls such people false prophets and they are likened unto ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing (Mat 7:15)!

Truth is what people need most. Often it is not the best news and sometimes it is very discouraging, but always vital. Remember also that the devil destroys with lies. As a false hope can be deadly, truth can lead to or preserve life, especially when it is based on Bible truth. So the ultimate issue is NOT to be encouraging or the instiller of hope for the discouraged, but to report the truth (the facts). If hope isn’t based on truth it is false hope, which is potentially dangerous.

Finally, the worst type of false hope is connected with religion. Examples of false hope in doctrinal form are Purgatory, once saved always saved, universalism and reincarnation. Those four religious and dangerous myths will take down multitudes in a very disturbing way. Hence, make sure you really do believe the Biblical message. Your eternal destiny depends upon it. God bless you.

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The LORD Looks At The Heart

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Eternal Life Blog

The Lord looks at the heart. God doesn’t perceive things the way man does. God’s all-knowing eye enables him to examine the heart of man:

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not The Lord Looks on the Heart Pure in Heartconsider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Sam 16:7).

Impure Or Pure In Heart

That truth about God is very significant to remember — the LORD looks at the heart. Other scriptures confirm that if one is accepted or rejected by the thrice holy God it will be on the basis of whether he is impure or pure in heart! That is where sin and the devil’s temptations come into focus, for sin can defile and deaden a holy righteous person with spiritual and eternal life. In contrast, much of the spiritually dead and blind world around us exalts physical beauty far too high, while they totally ignore or remain deceived about man’s heart (the real person). Besides the 1 Sam 16:7 truth, the Lord Jesus taught this about the pure in heart:

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Mat 5:8)

Being Pure In Heart

Again, the heart of the matter is the heart! The real blessed person is the one who is pure in heart. The Lord Looks on the Heart Pure in HeartHe is the only kind with an exciting thrilling future ahead of him in eternity! Again, one must be pure in heart to see God. That is why Lazarus, the beggar, who was surely dirty and probably stinky too, went to Abraham’s bosom after his death, instead of fiery torment like the rich man in Luke 16:19-31. He was qualified to enter God’s kingdom on the basis of his purified heart. The same is true with the dying thief, who got forgiven and entered Paradise (Lk 23:42,43). Paul was another example of pure in heart:

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. (1 Tim 1:5,6)

Far From Worst of Sinners, Paul Kept Himself Pure

Far from being the worst of sinners, as labeled by the eternal security teachers, the real Paul was pure in heart, had a good conscience and sincere faith. While Paul was spiritually guarded, resisted the devil and kept himself pure others wandered away from being pure in heart. To wander away from being pure in heart is to wander away from eternal life! That means eternal security (or perseverance of the saints) is a lie from the devil.

Dying Pure In Heart

You must die having a pure heart to escape hell and enter God’s Paradise kingdom after death. Many have lost their blessed pure in heart status and you can too! So, if you are a Christian, hold on to what you have (Rev 3:11). Continue to be pure in heart because the Lord looks at the heart.

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Eating Food

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Eternal Life Blog

Some misinformed people deny it is possible to lose your salvation over any sin or negligence, while others (who are also misled) think it is possible to die spiritually but that it’s hard to do! When one reads 1 Cor. 8, both of those positions are quickly dispelled as non-Christian mythology! Paul’s doctrine was so strange and extreme to what most in our day think, that many just deny those truths. Paul addressed the subject of eating meat sacrificed to an idol in 1 Cor. 8. In summary, he wrote:

  • Someone eating certain food can adversely influence another with a weak conscience, who was accustomed to idols, to think the food was sacrificed to idols. If he eats it, he will become defiled.
  • All food, including food that is sacrificed to an idol, will not bring us near to God or hurt us with God by not eating it. (That refutes those who embrace the dietary laws set down by Moses, which some Messianic Jews sadly believe.)
  • Our freedom in Christ is shown to extend to the liberty of eating or not eating food sacrificed to an idol, but we must also be careful because our example of eating it could be a spiritual stumbling block to Christians with a weak conscience. If it is, they will become defiled and destroyed through that sin. Consequently, the Christian with the weak conscience is destroyed by another’s knowledge and freedom to do that. By wounding their weak conscience, one sins against Christ! To safeguard against that, Paul resolves for himself never to eat meat sacrificed to an idol again so he won’t jeopardize another’s salvation by doing so.

Regarding loss of salvation, Paul taught such would happen if a Christian ate food sacrificed to an idol with his weak conscience! Just over eating food, one can lose his salvation and quickly! We know he is writing about loss of salvation because 8:11 says:

So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.

The word translated destroyed in 1 Cor. 8:11 is translated perish in John 3:16 and contrasted to everlasting life (or eternal life)! That could only be possible if Paul is addressing loss of salvation over eating food with a weak conscience and sinning that way. There is NO eternal security.

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How To Change Your Identity

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Eternal Life Blog

change your identityThere is a very effective way to successfully change one’s identity which works 100% of the time, but remains hidden even from people who desperately need it, as well as from many who are actively seeking it. For those who find the way, such is good news and it has been called that for centuries. For the same who hear the good news and act upon it, their alteration from within enables them to start a brand new life with a changed identity! Many wicked people, such as thieves, drunkards, witches, Satanists, adulterers, slanderers, homosexuals, swindlers, and others have gotten a fresh start with a brand new spiritual identity before God, and you can too!

The good news just mentioned is commonly called the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul described it as repentance towards God and faith in Christ Jesus (Acts 20:21). When a sincere and humble person finds forgiveness, his vile ungodly and wicked spiritual identity is instantly changed before God. He passes from death to life and from a child of the devil to a child of God. Clear proof is shown in 1 Cor 6:9-11:

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. (NASB)

NOTE: Verse 11 says such were some of you (past tense). Their identity changed because they were forgiven. Though man could still recognize them physically, God sees them differently because of the identity change! This is easily seen with the dying thief, who got forgiven and was going to Paradise (Lk 23:42,43), where there will be no thieves (Lk 12:33; 1 Cor 6:9,10)! His identity changed, just as a former slave to sin takes on the spiritual identity as a son of God (Gal 4:7). There is no other way to change your identity before God and find peace with him!

The converse is also possible, that is, a holy and righteous child of God can fall away and reverse his spiritual identity to become an adulterer, drunk, liar, thief, etc. again. If a righteous person turns to idolatry, he will become an idolater (again) in God’s sight (1 Cor 10:7), just as the prodigal son turned to immorality, experienced spiritual death and became lost (Lk 15:24). Hence, one’s current spiritual identity depends upon his present unforgiven sins or his present-tense purified heart by faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 15:9 cf. 1 John 3:10). It is definitely possible to become an enemy of God again (James 4:4). There is NO once saved always saved!

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What Happens After Death, II

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Eternal Life Blog

What happens after death?

The general consensus among the unbelievers is, when you die you know nothing and that death is the end of all conscious existence. The grave is where it all ends forever, according to them. That has produced the immoral, eat and drink for tomorrow we die, darkened attitude (1 Cor. 15:32). The Biblical message about the resurrection is completely antithetical to their devilish idea about what happens after death. Physical death is just the beginning of a brand new conscious existence in eternity! The Lord Jesus, who is the authority and God in the flesh, ONLY taught that there is resurrection and conscious existence beyond the grave (John 5:29; Mt. 25:41,46; etc.), but where one goes is the critical issue.
What happens after death?
To just blend in with the everyday people around you will end in total disaster! That even includes the good neighbor, hard working family member, honest church goer and even many who pray regularly! The Bible doesn’t say any of those things will bring eternal life. In fact, to be unforgiving, lukewarm or fruitless is enough to cause one to be thrown into the fiery furnace (Mt. 6:14,15; 18:23-35; Rev. 3:16; John 15:1-6)! If you are going to be of the minority group to enter Paradise in God’s holy presence (Mt. 7:13,14; Rev. 21:27), you will have to do it God’s way, and that way is only recorded in the Bible. It is a very narrow way (Acts 4:12; Lk. 13:3; 1 John 5:12; etc.), which is also difficult (Mt. 7:14). No other religious book, experience, dream, vision, or feeling can take precedence over the eternally settled word of God. That even includes the influential near death experiences shared by multitudes, who claim to go to a paradise environment in their sins and are with the Lord Jesus. Scripture was written to accurately inform mankind about salvation and eternal life and that message is final authority (2 Tim. 3:15-17) as it also warns about spiritual deceptions.

The details about entering a peaceful Paradise are as simple as following Jesus, to the more detailed repenting of all sins to serve God through an unashamed trusting and submitting faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the only way to the Father (Acts 20:21; 1 Thess. 1:9; Lk. 9:23; John 14:6). Regardless, it will take a pure heart to see God (Mt. 5:8), which is impossible to have if one is embracing the kinds of sins listed in 1 Cor. 6:9,10; Rev. 21:8; Eph. 5:5-7; Gal. 5:19-21; etc. NOTE: Your spiritual identity changes at the point of getting forgiven through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus. So people who were never saved as well as the backslider, who needs to be saved again, can come directly to Jesus (without a priest, the mother of Jesus, etc.) and find rest for their soul (Mt. 11:29). The grave is not the end, just the beginning of a thrilling, exciting peaceful existence OR fiery torment producing weeping and gnashing of teeth (Mt. 8:12; 13:42, 50; 24:51; etc.). It all depends on what you do with King Jesus. Will he be the ruling and controlling king of your life or not?

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As Aliens and Strangers

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Eternal Life Blog

alienImagine what it would be like to land on a planet that was inhabited with busy intelligent life! You would be a complete misfit (alien and stranger) to their ways, interests and goals. Such is really a very similar situation for Christians (possessors of eternal life) here on our own planet at the point of initial salvation! In a flash our bodies became inhabited by the Holy Spirit and our spirits were changed by the grace of God. We became aliens and strangers in this same place that was previously our home! Our new HOLY interests and goals are now totally different than they used to be, but we are in a war. Peter wrote:

Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. (1 Pet 2:11)

Though radically changed, sinful desires still war against us! We are told in 1 Peter 2:11 and elsewhere that we can successfully resist all temptations (1 Cor. 10:13) and put into practice the word of God (Lk. 8:21).

Furthermore, our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20) — another reason why we are aliens and strangers here. We are just passing through this uncertain life, which can end at any time and very abruptly. We will leave everything behind when we depart, but we can send treasures ahead! Jesus told his followers (aliens and strangers):

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Mat 6:20,21)

Aliens and strangers (Christians) also long for a better place in a different country:

Instead, they were longing for a better country–a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. (Heb 11:16)

Christians are just passing through, as holy misfits, in this sinful, strange and hostile world, but we are to think ahead while we live in fear of God (1 Pet. 1:17). [BTW, I do believe in aliens. I am one!] Do you know Jesus? You can’t get eternal life any other way!

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Bought With A Price

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Eternal Life Blog

True Christians are not like other people in various ways. One of the chief ways is, we were bought with a price — the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross. We no longer belong to the world (John 15:19), but now we belong to the Lord Jesus (Rom. 14:8; 1 Cor. 7:39; Gal. 3:29; etc.). That makes us his property! We are his bride and his body. He paid for us and now we belong to him. That makes me happy! Thank you Jesus! Please know, the price that the Lord Jesus paid for us to be his property was very high, but not as we tend to understand payment:

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (1 Pet 1:18,19)

Christians are blood bought and redeemed by Jesus’ precious blood shed on the cross, once and for all (Heb. 10:10). It was the same holy blood which cleansed us of our sins (Heb. 1:3; 2 Peter. 1:9) at the point of salvation and sets us free from our numerous sin addictions (Rev. 1:5 cf. Rom. 6:22).

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1 Cor 6:19,20)

Because we were bought with a price, we are to honor God with our physical bodies and even offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Rom 12:1). We are to be holy in all we do (1 Pet 1:15). Why? Among other reasons, we were bought with a price and are God’s property—his possession!

For all who were bought with a price, overcome and actually inherit eternal life in the end, there will be a beautiful paradise awaiting us in an environment free from all wicked people. Since there is no once saved always saved, you must hold on to what you have (Rev. 3:11).

Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. (Mat 25:46)

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As An Angel Of Light

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Eternal Life Blog

The devil can come as an angel of lightHave you ever heard of an angel of light? An extremely important fact about our adversary, the devil, is cited only once and is very easy to miss or misunderstand. In that passage it mentions that the devil can disguise himself as an angel of light:

Satan’s Disguise – An Angel Of Light

And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. (2 Cor 11:14)

For the devil to disguise himself as an angel of light means he can come as an angel of God. [When an angel of the Lord appeared to Peter, a light shone in his prison cell (Acts 12:7), which the devil can duplicate.] His malicious intent would be to mislead in order to destroy! Since God’s holy angels appear in visions, then 2 Cor. 11:14 is saying the devil can produce visions, which seem to be from God, in order to deceive people! Such Satanic apparitions, clothed with religious terms, will contain untrue Christian doctrine and/or practices, according to Scripture. Since the devil is the father of lies (Jn. 8:44) and arch deceiver of mankind (Rev. 12:9), such would fit his evil goals to devour (1 Pet. 5:8).

Religious deception is a primary way the devil misleads religious people to eternal fire! He has many false teachers and false prophets to spread his poisonous doctrines, and according to 2 Cor. 11:14 sometimes he too will directly get involved in religious deception by coming as an angel of light! Christians must be on guard and stick to the Biblical message like glue or we’ll be jeopardizing our SOUL by our own negligence and ignorance!

Angel of Light at Fatima

The Mary of Catholicism is not the Mary of the BibleAt various times the devil came as an angel of light to deceive people through visions. The foremost example I know of is the Marian apparitions which occurred in the Catholic country of Portugal in the town of Fatima in 1917. In that Marian apparition (vision) the devil through the appearance of Mary, the mother of Jesus, stated that Mary is “the way” to God and our “refuge”! That is in direct and abhorrent violation to the message of Scripture which states Jesus is the way to God (Jn. 14:6) and God is our refuge (Psa. 46:1; etc.)! Some need to know that the devil is NOT in hell now. One day he will be in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10), but now he is trying to religiously deceive with the intent to devour. Sometimes the evil one comes as an angel of light to do that!

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Living Water

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Eternal Life Blog

living waterThere is one true source of living water and that is God (Jer 2:13; 17:13; Rev 22:1). There have been many substitutes for it and false ways to find living water, but the one and only true giver is the Lord Jesus:

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:10)

Two Facts About Living Water

Jesus taught that people need to know two basic things to get living water: (1) The gift of God and (2) Who Jesus is. A true understanding of who Jesus is enables them to ask Jesus for living water. It is understood from other Scriptures that one needs to ask humbly, sincerely and repentantly to get that living water (Lk 23:42,43; Acts 20:21; Rom 10:13; etc.). The aforementioned facts about how to get living water imply the deity of Christ. Jesus is teaching we are to ask Jesus (as in prayer) for salvation! That causes a major problem for all who reject the deity of Christ, including Jehovah’s Witnesses and others, who would never pray to Jesus for living water. They want living water, but John 4:10 shows their understanding of the Lord Jesus is fatally flawed. They lack basic knowledge and that is keeping them in spiritual darkness and death. Jesus also taught this about living water:

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. (John 7:38)

To have the streams of living water flow from within, one must believe on Jesus. He is the object of our faith, not any other person or membership with a church or group. To believe on Jesus means to have a faith in him that is trusting and submitting; a faith which obeys and follows. Beyond the grave there is also mention of living water being given to the thirsty (Rev 7:16,17; 21:6), but the crowning passage is the last one:

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. (Rev 22:17)

Come and experience the living water which Jesus gives. It is an open invitation to all and not like the Calvinists believe. Do you know Jesus?

Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. (John 4:14)

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