Those that believe on Jesus Christ have the power of God to be His child.

John 1:11 - 13 “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (12.) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (13.) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

So many read this passage of scripture and simply pass it by as just more scriptures about salvation, however it is much deeper than that. John chapter one itself gives a very detailed account of Jesus Christ and salvation. First of all verse one details Who Jesus Christ is, He is God, He was God from eternity past and God when He was born of a virgin woman. Secondly, He was light, He was the light in creation before the sun was created, He will be the light after the world and universe are destroyed, and He is the light of man in salvation because without Him man lives in total darkness and in this state cannot comprehend the light. Third, it tells us that all things were made by Him and nothing was made without Him creating it. And fourth, He that created the world and all things in it came to His own creation and they rejected Him, in fact He came to His own people the Israelites as one of them and they also rejected Him. However not just the Israelites but all of mankind rejected Him. Mankind does not seek Jesus Christ, they seek themselves instead. They want to be in control of everything and even in control of their own salvation, but God never said one has a right to accept or reject salvation, ever.

In our text scripture God makes four wonderful points about salvation which makes the world’s plan of salvation wrong. (1.) “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God…” The receiving Him here is not the choice or decision of man but rather of God. This actually reads “to them that accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour did so because God gave them the power to do so”. Remember man lives in darkness and cannot (on their own) comprehend the light. The word “comprehend” means – they cannot take it eagerly, or they cannot possess or attain it on their own. It is not something they will ever desire to have without God putting the want in their heart. (2.) “…to them that believe on his name.” not by their own power to believe but believing only comes by the power of God. Since man loves darkness rather than light (John 3:19) then that is bold proof that man will not simply choose Christ Jesus as their Saviour. Why would man ever choose against his own will and his love to live in darkness, and choose light? This is the reason that salvation must be by Gods power and not our own. (3.) “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man…” If salvation is the gift of Gods eternal love and grace then it cannot be of the will or choice of man. Here God explains that salvation included no part of man. “not of blood” means it does not come through the bloodline, “nor of the will of the flesh” means it did not come because someone else wanted you to be saved, and “nor of the will of man…” means you did not yourself desire to be saved. This one single scripture excludes the entire human race from acting in any part in bringing about salvation for the lost sinner. (4.) “…but of God.” God is the total source of salvation. The one who created all things, the one who brought life and light to the world, the one who came to His own creation and was rejected, mocked, and crucified, is the very one that redeems mankind. Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…” Therefore when Jonah shouted from the belly of the whale that salvation is of the Lord, he could not have been more right. Because God does indeed save sinners and we play no part in it. To God be the glory! Amen!

How does God save sinners?

“Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: (28.) For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. (29.) Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. (30.) And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. (31.) And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” Luke 16:27 – 31

God has one form of saving the lost sinner, and it is through the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” The preaching of the gospel for salvation is foolishness to them that believe it takes more than the simple preaching to save the lost because they know not the way of salvation. The word “power” in 1 Corinthians 1:18 means – force or miraculous power – which is what it takes to save the lost, it takes the power of God. Now this does not mean that we as pastors or ministers have the power to save the lost but that God CHOSE to use this preaching to save the lost sinner. It is the message of the gospel that pricks the heart and causes one to accept the gospel; however this is only possible because the Holy Spirit of God causes the heart to be pricked.

In our text scripture we see the rich man speaking to Abraham, the rich man being in hell and Abraham being in his bosom. The rich man was so tormented that he wanted Abraham to send Lazarus from the dead to cause his father and brothers to believe. However Abraham said “…If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” In other words nothing outside of the gospel has the power to cause a sinner to repent and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. God has a system, and that system is the only one that will work because it is the way that God has chosen to save the lost sinner. Man can invent millions of different ways to cause a sinner to repent, but the only sure way that works is by hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore all these invented ways of causing one to be saved are in vain. All the hell movies, scare houses, hell fire sermons and etc. are useless and in vain, and yes this includes the decision and choice myth also. You will never find any preacher that can out do one rising from the dead and if that will not work than nothing else man can invent will work.

Salvation only comes from the simple message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, therefore some preachers need to stop attempting to show how powerful they are and simply preach the Gospel. Every time in the scriptures you find someone witnessing to a lost sinner they are simply telling them about Jesus Christ and nothing else. This is because this is the path that God has chosen to save the lost sinner. How simple, and how wonderful, God saves sinners and uses His word to do it. Abraham said “…They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.” Because nothing, even the dead rising from the grave will cause them to repent. So if you are going to be saved you will hear the message of the pastor or minister because they are Gods sent men with the message from God. So in conclusion, to them that invent other ways to prick the heart of the lost sinner, God has a message for you, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20 AMEN!

Like root like branches; or maybe not.

“For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.” Romans 11:16

As we continue through the book of Romans, we just keep finding greater and greater blessings to the Gentile believers. Chapter 11 has truly turned into a diamond for Gentile believers. There is no doubt that in Old Testament times Gods love for Israel was truly wonderful, however it seems that every time God blessed Israel they would turn around and do more against God. Paul said that the root of Israel was Abraham because he was a holy man and because Abraham was the root that the branches should also be holy, however this was not the case. So God started breaking off the branches in order to rid the tree of its unholy branches. It is assumed that a lot of branches were broken off. Then the Lord grafted in other branches and those new branches were Gentiles. As one can see the imaginary picture of this in there mind we see the tree began to take shape as one that looks more like the root which was Abraham, a holy man. However, we as grafted in branches should not get the big head or mock those branches that were broken off to make room for us, but rather we should praise God for grafting us into this tree. Gods love is deep for some but others will never share the experience of Gods love. The grafting in of the Gentile believers was simply an act of grace and mercy of God, and not because we are any better than the branches that were broken off. “Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.” verse 18. But rather than boast of being grafted in we ought to bless the Lord for being grafted in. We ought to use this opportunity and actually do what God commands of us in His word. We ought to look to the branches that were broken off and not make the same mistakes. I see professed Christian’s everyday going about life as though nothing has changed in their lives and for some or most maybe there was no change. However for those of us who were changed, for those of us who God has grafted in were the broken branches were need to beware of what could happen to us. The branches that were broken off were broken off because they failed to believe God and failed to obey His word. They attempted to change the word of God into a lie and to make their own salvation. They thought that their efforts justified them and crucified the One that told them they were wrong. Therefore God broke off their branches and set them aside. The Priest had turned their heads and allowed sin to be justified, but what they failed to realize is God saw what they did and was not happy with it. Paul said in verse 21 “For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.” If God did not spare the branches of His beloved Israelites what make the Gentiles think He will act differently with us. What happened to these Israelites is they lost their fear of God and assumed that God would accept their many sinful sacrifices and their many sinful acts, but He did not and neither will He of the branches that were grafted in. Paul said in verse 20 “Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:” We better fear that God will break us off and set us aside, because He most certainly will just as He did with these Israelites. There are a lot of Christians that have lost their fear of God, so they fail to attend church, pray, read their bible, and to support their local church. They would rather worship in a large church or a more lenient church were the Pastors (like these Priest) will turn their heads rather than preach and expect obedience to Gods word. Beloved just because the Pastor turns their heads to sinful acts or refuses to preach things that rebukes you does not make them good Pastors, but instead makes them more like the Priest of the Israelites. Be warned beloved, God will not accept sinful worship. “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” verse 22.

To God Be The Glory, For Ever And Ever, AMEN!

“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” Romans 11:36

What a most wonderful scripture, especially to all Sovereign Grace Baptist and Christians that truly give God glory for all things every day. It is a wonderful pleasure to be able to worship God and give Him the glory for all things, whether good or bad it does not matter; God is over all and nothing happens without His approval or effectual cause. To the Christian all things are from God and for His glory and He will get glory from it all. Man may think that have overridden God, or out smarted Him, but one day they will see that they have played right into His gracious hands. God is over all and He absolutely controls all things, even the lost and even the most hateful God hatters among us in this world. They can take Christ out of Christmas if they want too because He never was in it, they can take the resurrection of Christ out of Easter because it has nothing to do with Christ, they can do all they want in the world because God is the final authority. This verse of scripture keeps us reminded of Who God is and also keeps us reminded that He is sovereign and His sovereign will, will always be accomplished no matter what. The world can kill the body but they cannot harm the soul and spirit because they belong to God, these old bodies are useless to God because they will be made anew soon. Beloved lift your head toward heaven and pray to our Father that sits on the throne because our redemption indeed does draw nigh. (Luke 21:28 “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”)

“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things…” because it is His, even the evil things of this world God owns. Without the creation of Satan there is no evil but as it is He did create Satan and with him evil. “For of him…” means He is creator and author of all things, nothing exist or happens outside of His beloved and sovereign will, “…and through him…” this explains that not only does God “will” all things but all things are brought to pass by Him. Every person that is born is born by His will and power, every event that happens, happens by His authority and power, every person that is saved is saved by His power, and every person that dies, dies by His choosing. Nothing overrides the blessed will of God. “…and to him, are all things…” that is to His glory. Nothing happens without bringing glory to God in some way. If a child dies God gets glory some way, if a solider dies in battle God get glory some how from it. It does not matter what it is, from the praise and glory we give Him in every church service, to the most horrible death and sacrifices of the early Christians, all brought glory to God. The world thought they got victory in the death of Christ Jesus, they thought they got glory at the death of His saints, and yes today they think they will get glory by canceling the Christmas holiday, but again they will fail. God, no matter the outcome will succeed to get glory because it is His creation and that is one thing neither they, nor Satan himself can take from God.

“…to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” Yes indeed AMEN! Glory belongs to Him and not to man. This is one thing that even some Christians fail to understand, that what ever happens, the glory belongs to God and He will get the glory no matter what. Sometimes man wants to rob Gods glory from Him but it will not happen. Mankind combine together can attempt to save a hundred million souls but the only ones that will ever be saved are those whom God saves. When the final count is done in the end, the only saved will be the remnant that God elected to save, PERIOD! You can try, but God will get the glory because whatever it is, it belongs to Him and functions only by His blessed will.