Paradise

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Eternal Life Blog

paradise There is a PARADISE environment beyond the grave awaiting the righteous. The people who will be there come from every tribe, people, language and nation. Some used to be drunkards, sexually immoral, thieves, greedy, slanderers, etc., but found forgiveness in the Lord Jesus:

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. (1 Cor 6:9-11, NASB)

Even former criminals, who die in Christ, will be in paradise:

I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)

Jesus spoke those wonderful words to a repentant thief, who just had his heart purified from his sins. He was being executed on a cross for his crime, when he cried out to Jesus. From his heart, that criminal looked to Jesus and in essence asked him for mercy. Instantly, he received forgiveness and Jesus took him into the family. For him, because he had true faith in Jesus, to die was gain.

Paul was once caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. (2 Cor 12:4) One day, if you endure to the end (Mt 10:22; Heb 3:14), you may hear the same inexpressible things Paul heard. The promise of Paradise, with all the extras, is open for all who qualify:

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. (Rev 2:7)

If you are not walking as an overcomer now, make the proper spiritual adjustments. It will only be the faithful who will get the crown of life and not be hurt by the second death (Rev 2:10,11). Don’t be deceived by a social gospel, once saved always saved, near death experience testimonies, universalism or anything else. A paradise environment beyond the grave is only for the righteous. Narrow is the way to life (Mt 7:14).

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To Die Is Gain

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Eternal Life Blog

to die is gainThe Apostle Paul was a true servant of God, who fought the good fight. His single goal was to be faithful to God and do his will, especially as he stated in Acts 20:24:

I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. (Acts 20:23,24)

Testifying to the gospel of God’s grace is what Paul lived for. He knew the gospel message would bring eternal life instantly to all who would receive God’s truth, but they first needed to find out what it was. Paul looked beyond the persecution he constantly faced to help others with their greatest need — salvation. Even though many of Paul’s persecutions were potentially lethal, nothing could stop the man! Even when he was locked in prison, he wrote part of the Bible and prayed for others. How could he consistently have DISREGARD for his natural life in comparison to doing God’s will? The answer is clear:

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Phil 1:21)

Paul’s heart was set on doing God’s will to the end. He was caught up into paradise at least once (2 Cor. 12:2-4). He saw it first-hand. A small part of the wonders, beauty, peace, love, joy and excitement of that holy place surely cemented it in his mind that such was a definite win over his earthly life. But that is not all. The same is true for ALL who live for Christ. Reader, if that describes you, you have MUCH better days head. They are out of this world! The place or home of the righteous is Paradise, and he who overcomes will enter. Surely, all who do enter could say as Paul wrote, to die is gain. Hence, if you are a follower of Jesus, don’t fear death. To die is gain. Death is not the end, but the beginning of a wonderful eternity in God’s presence. Thank you Jesus.

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Hate Evil

Posted on November 6, 2011 by Eternal Life Blog

Hate EvilAll throughout the Bible we are encouraged to fear the LORD, but what does that mean? One verse especially tells us what it is. To some it will come as a surprise:

To fear the LORD is to hate evil. (Prov 8:13)

If you really fear the LORD you hate evil. Most know what hate is, but what could be included in evil, besides the obvious sin? The Bible says falsehood. That too may surprise some but it magnifies the supreme importance of truth, the opposite of falsehood:

The righteous hate what is false. (Prov 13:5)

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. (1 Cor 13:6)

Christians are to fear God and show it by hating sin and falsehood. Now that we have established that, let me again draw your attention to the word hate. If you hate evil, you are not neutral about it. Instead you will be repulsed, annoyed, troubled and bothered by it. Christians love God’s truth, but hate evil, including what is false. That should describe you. Do you hate false doctrine regarding salvation, especially once saved always saved? You should be hating eternal security, since it is so diabolical. Perhaps, you aren’t even sure what the truth is, yet think you are a solid Christian. If you don’t know what is true, you can’t hate what is false. If you can’t do that you aren’t fearing the LORD, as you might have thought!

Things which are obvious sin should be hated. This should be clear, but do you really hate wickedness? Sins such as listed in 1 Cor. 6:9,10; Rev. 21:8; Gal. 5:19-21; etc are spiritual poison which ruin lives here and send souls to eternal torment after death. They must be hated and avoided, even more than dangerous things in the natural. In fact, sin is much more serious than any potentially deadly thing in the natural because it can send you to the lake of fire for eternity. Hate evil.

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Narrow Is The Way

Posted on November 4, 2011 by Eternal Life Blog

narrow is the way Have you ever heard someone call another a, narrow minded Christian? That could be a compliment, because the Biblical message regarding salvation is narrowed down to a lonely one way – a narrow way! Jesus is that one and only way to the Father (John 14:6), is the one and only mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5), and has the one and only name in which salvation is found (Acts 4:12). Again, this shows it is a narrow way to life.

Salvation is a Narrow Way

That should settle it, as far as proving the narrow way is reality, but another Scripture also helps show how restricted it is:

He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:12)

There is no essential difference between John 14:6 and 1 John 5:12. The point is clear again that Jesus alone is the all-important issue, regarding salvation or not. If we truly have Jesus now we have eternal life now and if we don’t have Jesus, we do not have eternal life, even though we might claim to or did have eternal life at some point in the past! It is very simple. It is not complicated, like some have made it.

JESUS is the Narrow Way

So how do we get Jesus, who is eternal life? The key here is your heart. From your heart you must reach out to God in sincerity, humility and in repentantly for mercy and forgiveness of sins. That includes making a drastic behavioral change to follow and obey Jesus here and now. Unless you believe on Jesus to that degree, that is, to the point of supreme commitment, you really don’t have Jesus as you need to for eternal life.

Eternal Life Is For The Faithful

To remain with the Lord Jesus is similar. To stay alive spiritually you need to remain faithful to him. He is your LIFE source. Just as a branch needs a solid connection to a vine to maintain life, you need a solid connection to the Vine, who is Jesus (John 15:1-6). Hence, continue to obey regardless the cost. The cost to obey is always much less than what you gain or keep by paying the price to sow to please the Spirit to reap eternal life (Gal. 6:8,9). This is saving faith in Jesus and the only saving faith. If one doesn’t continue in that type of faith, but instead disowns Jesus, the Lord will likewise disown that person (Mt. 10:33). If you remain lukewarm, you will be removed from the body of Christ (Rev. 3:16), and if you don’t bring forth good fruit, you’ll be cut off from the vine and thrown into the fire (Jn. 15:1-6). The way is narrow. YOU MUST BE RIGHTEOUSLY DIFFERENT to reap eternal life. A different translation says hard is the road which leads to life (Mt. 7:14). Do you know him? It is only humble and repentant people who get eternal life and they can be narrow minded because they know it is a narrow way!

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Will Be Saved

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Eternal Life Blog

will be savedThe phrase will be saved occurs about a dozen times in the New Testament and is used in different ways. Of all of them, there are three times it is used the same way (Mat 10:22; 24:13; Mk 13:13). All three are disturbing and perplexing to the uninformed church goer and are usually ignored, skipped over or twisted out of context by most preachers, even though they are related to salvation. Let’s examine the first one:

All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Mat 10:22)

The context of Mat 10 is unmistakable. The Lord Jesus is speaking to his twelve apostles, including Judas Iscariot, and gives them orders and mentions the various types of adversity and persecutions they will experience as they obey his commands. The Lord wanted his followers to know from the start that serious trouble and opposition would certainly come their way, as they do God’s will! Just after speaking about betrayal and death, he elaborated:

All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Mat 10:22)

They would be the object of hatred, as they walk in love towards God and man. Then the Lord stated that it was a salvation issue for those Christians to stand firm or endure to the end. They would have to pass the test of being persecuted for godly living for final salvation, that is, to actually enter God’s kingdom. (Some Christians don’t.) He wanted his disciples, who already possessed eternal life, to know it was that important and nothing less.

It can be disastrous for counterfeit spiritual leaders to dismiss or distort such an important salvation teaching as Mat 10:22. Dave Hunt has done this as he tries to preserve and spread his cherished belief in once saved always saved. Hunt teaches he who stands firm to the end will be saved refers to the Jews during the tribulation period! Folks, it is hard to believe that anyone could read Matthew 10 and agree with Dave Hunt. Other similar passages teach the same. See Heb. 3:14 and Rev. 2:10,11. Don’t be deceived by a license to sin teacher. He who stands firm to the end will be saved! This is a salvation issue.

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Stand Alone

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Eternal Life Blog

stand alone for JesusA Christian is a person who is following Jesus in our truth-rejecting, sin-loving society, even when the circumstances are dangerously adverse. Because a Christian is often alone throughout the course of his weekly routine, he will be tested at times when there are no other Christians around. Sometimes those tests can be very severe and come suddenly. Hence, we must have our hearts dedicated to do God’s will and remain faithful regardless the circumstances and the ramifications, as we await our own physical death. To have the attitude that you are willing to die at any time for Jesus (even when alone) is the victory, and for some who have been exposed to those circumstances, the only victory! Christians are called to be witnesses (Acts 1:8) or martyrs, as that Greek word can also be translated.

Godly examples from the past, who faithfully stood alone in the face of severe adversity and testings, are numerous:

  • Joseph before Potiphar’s adulterous wife (Gen. 39:6-20);
  • Elijah before the 450 false prophets of Baal, 400 false prophets of Asherah and King Ahab (1 Kings 18:16-40);
  • The prophet Micaiah before King Ahab, who hated him (1 Kings 22:8-28);
  • Daniel, who would only pray to God, which landed him in the lion’s den (Dan. 6:7-24);
  • John the Baptist, who publicly rebuked King Herod and Queen Herodias for their adulterous marriage (Mk. 6:18), which later cost him his life;
  • Stephen before ungodly religious leaders, who adamantly embraced Judaism (Acts 6:8-7:60) and killed him;
  • Philip as he traveled alone witnessing and casting out demons (Acts 8:5-40);
  • Peter, when in prison and awaiting his trial before Herod, who just had James executed (Acts 12:1-9);
  • Paul in idolatrous Athens, while he waited for his co-laborers and witnessed in the marketplace and on Mar’s hill (Acts 17:14-34);
  • and millions of unnamed overcomers from the past.

Dear saint, you must learn to stand alone, for one day you will surely be tested when there are no other Christians around. If you disown Jesus, he will disown you as he said (Mt. 10:33; 2 Tim. 2:12).

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Spiritual Blindness

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Eternal Life Blog

spiritual blindnessEvery person has two sets of eyes and ears, with one set being spiritual! As horrendous as physical blindness is, the worst type of blindness is spiritual. Spiritual blindness is prevalent but not easily recognized by some, including those who are spiritually blind! All non-Christians are spiritually blind and were blinded by the devil:

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Cor 4:4)

If the unbelievers weren’t spiritually blinded, they would readily turn to God and faithfully follow Jesus, but they don’t. Their desperate need is hidden from them. Eternal life could be theirs, but instead they remain unconcerned, on the road to eternal punishment (Mt. 25:46) in their sins because they are spiritually blind. As with other checkpoints to “know” who is and isn’t saved, we can also identify one who is spiritually blind and in darkness:

But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him. (1 John 2:11)

Sadly, a saved person can spiritually regress and become spiritually blind again after being born again:

But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. (2 Pet 1:9)

Another important point to remember is, even the established religious leaders can be spiritually blind! Jesus said the Pharisees were blind guides, blind fools and blind men (Mt. 23:16-19)! To follow such a person will end in disaster. Jesus taught, If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit. (Mat 15:14)

Guard your heart and humbly follow the Lord Jesus in this sin filled world. That is the only victory held out for anyone which leads to a paradise eternity beyond the grave, which excludes the spiritually blind.

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Not Ashamed Of The Gospel

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Eternal Life Blog

Paul was not ashamed of the gospel, though it brought him much persecution and suffering. The word gospel means good news and comes from the Greek word from which we get the word “evangelize” and which is also related to the word evangelical. In other words, Christians evangelize with the gospel message and receptive people get saved through accepting and acting upon it (1 Cor. 4:15; etc.), but what is the real gospel, which alone can yield such wonderful results? 1 Cor. 15:1-4 give details, along with Acts 20:21:

Remember Acts 20:21

I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. (Acts 20:21)

The New Testament shows that when a servant of God preaches the all-important gospel (plan of salvation), the preacher often suffers some kind of persecution or trouble because of it (2 Tim. 1:8; etc.). Paul’s life centered around preaching and defending the gospel for the sake of SOULS, but his ministry was filled with physical beatings (2 Cor. 11:24,25; etc.), prison time, etc. because of it! Hence, the temptation would be to back away from the very thing which would bring such suffering and pain, but Paul remained faithful to God and wrote:

NOT Ashamed Of The Gospel

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. (Rom 1:16)

Paul suffered the various severe persecutions for the sake of others coming to salvation! He was faithful to the Lord Jesus and the gospel message, as is necessary:

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. (Mark 8:35)

Paul was not ashamed of the gospel, just as he was not ashamed of Jesus Christ. Such is a salvation issue:

“I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields–and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.” (Mark 10:29,30)

Don’t Be Ashamed of the Gospel

Dear reader, the questions for you are: Are you ashamed of the gospel (with its conditional security, 1 Cor. 15:2) or ashamed of the Lord Jesus? If so, you desperately need to repent and make a bold open stand for God’s truth. It will bless and help others spiritually, including yourself! People must hear the plan of salvation so they can get eternal life.

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Epaphras, An Example Of Faith

Posted on October 30, 2011 by Eternal Life Blog

EpaphrasEpaphras was a mighty man of God and a soul winner, about whom too few in our day know anything. Among other things, Epaphras was apparently responsible for winning the souls which formed the church at Colosse. They learned about the gospel of Jesus Christ from Epaphras:

All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf (Col 1:6, 7)

Epaphras was not an Apostle, but just a fellow servant of God. That is important for those who fallaciously think only the Lord’s Apostles were to go out soul winning. Epaphras also continued to fervently pray for his converts, the saints at Colosse:

Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. (Col 4:12)

So how did Epaphras pray for the new Christians? He prayed that they may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. There will always be a price that one must pay to serve God. Among other things, Epaphras spent time in prison with Paul:

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. (Phile 1:23)

If you are a faithful servant of God, whether you are well-known or not, you are wise! Epaphras was wise, yet few know about him or his powerful impact on precious SOULS finding eternal life in the Lord Jesus Christ. Spread the word of life to others and some will fall on good soil.

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True Evangelism

Posted on October 29, 2011 by Eternal Life Blog

true evangelismPaul often went inside a synagogue, when he entered a new town, to evangelize and teach about eternal life. In Acts 13:16-41, we have one of his sermons on salvation taught from such a location. One of the outstanding parts of it is the following:

Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38,39)

Paul told them what justified and what did not justify in the clearest possible way. Since the law of Moses was what they were stumbling over, he wanted them to clearly know that would not justify them. Telling people what doesn’t get sins forgiven, greatly helps them to better understand how to get their sins forgiven. In our day, that would be like telling people that water baptism, Mary, the ten commandments, Saturday Sabbath keeping, giving to the poor, going to church, praying and other such things will not justify. What justifies is a faith in Jesus which submits to his Lordship and obeys. That is also the same as believing in Jesus.

Furthermore, Paul’s gospel preaching to Jews about believing in Jesus to get forgiven is the same essential teaching that Peter gave Cornelius, a non-Jew:

All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. (Acts 10:43)

Both Paul and Peter preached that way about JESUS and got souls saved. When they evangelized, neither taught the law to convict the unsaved of their sins so they would then repent and get forgiven. If that is how they evangelized and got good results, we should follow their example and expect the same. For someone to say we should teach the law first when evangelizing, unlike they did, is definite error! Don’t be deceived. [They also never told unsaved people that Jesus loves you.]

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