What must I do to be saved?

Acts 16:30 - 31 “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (31) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

This is the single most important question a human soul will ever ask, “what must I do to be saved?” The problem is, depending on who you ask if you get a correct answer. Salvation of the human soul is the most misunderstood question in humanity, because so few know the true answer. Here Paul and Silas answered the question asked by the Philippian jailer, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”. The salvation of the human soul is not difficult because Jesus did all the work to save us. And God told us right here through this account how a person is saved. So how do so many get salvation so wrong? People get salvation wrong because they do not believe God’s word, they do not believe that Jesus Christ can save a lost sinner, they believe that they somehow have enough power within themselves to complete their own salvation. No matter what God said some people just cannot comprehend the truth of the scriptures. God calls them “spiritually discerned” meaning they are lost and have no human ability to piece together the scriptures to reach the truth. Therefore, they belittle the birth, life, suffering, crucifixion, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and create their own salvation thru their own works and power. God said many times in the bible that works are not a part of our salvation, but for some reason many believe it is. “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:9 So here in this passage we see God cause a great earthquake, open the bands of all the prisoners, and not one prisoner escaped. All of this to bring this one jailer to the point of conviction to ask this all-important question, what must I do to be saved? The question is, did Paul and Silas lie to him, did they not completely answer the convicted mans question, why do so many people tell it differently? Some will tell you that Paul and Silas only partially answered the question here and there was so much we must do to be saved. But why, why must we be required to labor in our works to be saved? And how is it that we can labor for our salvation when Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 Why didn’t Paul and Silas explain this impossible labor to this jailer? And where in the bible does God even tell us by our works we will be saved? And how can God tell us that we cannot be saved by works and them demand that we must have works to be saved? How can we have rest in Jesus if we must labor an impossible labor to complete our salvation? The truth is that God went thru a great detailed event just to save this one single lost soul. Those that believe man instead of God must understand they will never be saved believing a lie. God said, “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” Matthew 15:14 People who believe that works are part of our salvation are spiritually blind they cannot spiritually decern what the bible says therefore they make-up lies to lead people into the ditch that is so deep it ends in the fires of hell.     

God’s diversities of spiritual gifts.

 1 Corinthians 12:4 - 6 "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. (5) And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. (6) And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all." 

Let me ask you a question, does God owe equality to all humanity, is God obligated to offer the same gifts to all mankind? I hope to answer this question in this article, however I cannot make anyone believe anything, because only God can change the heart of a person and give increase. The word “diversities” means - a distinction or (concretely) variety: - difference, (per Strongs) and W. E. Vines defines it this way - divers kinds. – or varying types. People can believe anything they want, but the scriptures are non-negotiable. God said, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” 2 Peter 1:20 Meaning the bible is not “of human interpretation”, It is God’s voice to us and must be believed as written. Jesus said, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 1:3 So let us look at the words “diversities of gifts”, the gifts God is speaking of are given by God thru the Holy Spirit. We see an example of some of these in Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” However, anything given a human by God is given thru the Holy Spirit meaning all gifts of God are spiritual gifts. Salvation is a gift, it is not taken, earned, and no one is entitled to receive salvation. God said of salvation, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Ephesians 2:8 Since it is a “gift of God” it is therefore given as a spiritual gift from God thru the Holy Spirit. God also said that grace is a part of our salvation which is defined as a gracious gift by God acting out of His own grace. People want to believe that God must be equal to all mankind or God is bias toward one people over another, but that is not true, God owes no person anything. Therefore, God has the Sovereign right to make one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor as He chooses. “Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?” Romans 9:21 God chose Israel as His chosen Nation; God was not bias because He has the right to choose as He will’s. Just as God has the right to choose to whom He wants to receive His spiritual gifts. Therefore, God is diverse in His distribution of spiritual gifts because He has that right. Even I as a man have the right to give gifts as I choose, I can give none or as many as I choose and to whom I choose. People also say that “God gives all people the same grace and what we do with it is up to us” but this is also wrong. God gives grace as a gift, and He gives to each person as He chooses. The Apostle Paul wrote, "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." Rom. 12:3 Paul also wrote these words, “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” Eph. 4:7 Both grace and faith is given as God has chosen to give it and it is given thru the power of the Holy Spirit as God has chosen. Paul also wrote these words in our text scripture, “…it is the same God which worketh all in all." While the godhead works “as there are diversities of operations” It is the Triune God that works all the works together. It does not matter what people believe, all that matter is what God has taught you because our true belief in the bible is also a gift from God just as our salvation, church membership, our spiritual growth, our work for the Lord, if it is God involved it is a spiritual gift from God given as He has chosen thru the Holy Spirit’s has distribution. No human soul has any right to receive anything of God because God owes no person anything. This is why the Apostle Paul wrote these words about His life in the ministry “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10 Paul recognized that all He was as a Christian was a gift of God’s grace, and “but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God” even though he labored more than all others it was still God’s grace and power. Life as a Christian is all about the gift of grace by God, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the love and work of Jesus Christ. We all need the humility of the Apostle Paul, but that to is a gift from God.   

“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…”

2 Corinthians 5:11 “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”

Preachers, pastors, churches, and Christians alike have mostly stopped witnessing about “the terror of the Lord”. The word “terror” means - to be put in fear of the Lord. It means to put the fear of God into people’s heart; however, this is impossible when impostors who are imitating real God called preachers and assemblies who are imitating real God assembled churches are preaching lies about God and the bible. Hell is a real place; people really die every day and open their eyes to see the terror of sin. God really does punish sin and bad things happen because people fail to serve God. Being a servant of God is telling people the truth about God, sin, death, and hell flames. It is not about lying to people about God, sin, death, and hells flames for money. It is not about lying to people to build mega church buildings that know no truth of God’s word. The qualification of both Pastors and deacons is to not be about “filthy lucre” but to be about the truth of God. The truth of God is putting “the terror of the Lord” in their hearts, both saved and lost people. People, whether saved or lost need to know that we are to fear God because without fearing God, we will never respect Him enough to walk a righteous path in life. Lost people will not think about dying and going to hell if they do not believe they could go there. Christians will stop worshipping God, both in their life and in the churches if they stop fearing God. Job wrote these words, “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” Job 28:28 If Christians lose that fear of God, then they will refuse to depart from sin and will never understand the truth about God’s chastisements. Why would a lost soul ever concern themselves with God’s punishments in hell’s flames if they believe everyone is going to heaven. God warned us in Prov. 1:7 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” It is our fear of God’s terror that causes us to thing about what God said and puts the fear in our hearts to obey the Lord. How many people talk about the Tribulation period, when Jesus Christ begins to open the seven sealed book and the wrath of God starts to fall on this earth. The word “wrath” means the anger of God. The anger He said He had before He flooded the earth and killed every living soul on the earth except the eight souls He had grace on in the Ark. God said, “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.” Genesis 6:11, 12, 17 However, this time God will slowly destroy mankind, He will punish them for their sins, He will make them wish they were dead, He will make them beg to die before He destroys them. People need to be reminded about the terror of God, they need to hear the truth because without it, we will not fear God. It is true that God is a God of love, but He is also a Father of chastisement, He is also a God of judgment and the punisher of sinfulness. It matters not if they listen to us, or if they call us liars, or if they leave the churches, or even persecute us, we must warn them, both saved and lost, about the consequences of sin. We must let them hear about the terror of God, and if we do not then we have failed in our calling.     

Nothing can separate us from God’s love.

Romans 8:38 - 39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, is the love that will never leave us, we cannot even lose it at will. How anyone could read this passage of scripture and believe that we could ever be lost after God saves us is beyond me. It is not that God come to love us after we are saved, but that Jesus Christ is God showing us His love. God said His love is an “everlasting love” and it is because of that very love that He draws us to Christ. “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3 God said it is because of this everlasting love that He elected to send His own Son Jesus Christ in the likeness of sinful flesh, to suffer greatly and die a horrible death at the hands of wicked and evil men. No one know if God will ever “draw them” to Jesus Christ for salvation but once He does, He show us His everlasting love in that drawing, as He saves our souls. Now, we must understand that God loves those He calls and draws because those are the people, He has such a great love for, and if God does not call a lost soul they will never come to Christ. Jesus said in John 6:44 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” But once God calls you, then you will be shown the eternal love God has for you from eternity past. Once God calls, you will come to Jesus Christ and find your blessed Saviour and see in Him God’s love. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14

Now let us understand that God’s love is not temporary, oh no, it never ends and neither does the gift of salvation to all that God called and saves in His Son Jesus Christ. People who believe in a weak salvation and believe that somehow a child of God can be kicked out of God’s family does not understand God and His love. They do not understand the salvation that we are blessed with by the grace of God and the blessings that are in Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 6:39 “And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” If Jesus said that He will not lose any souls the Father gave Him, then how can man say that He can? Why would anyone who has been saved by God’s grace and shown God’s eternal love in Jesus Christ ever want to believe that somehow, we could be separated God’s love from us?  Therefore, Paul under the power of the Holy Spirit wrote these words, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Anything one could imagine is included in this passage of scripture. God included “angels” both God’s angels and Satan’s angels, He also included all powers that be, and He included “nor things present, nor things to come”, and last, He included us, “nor any other creature”. I don’t know about some people, but it most certainly sounds like our salvation stands on very solid ground and safe in Jesus Christ. Thank You Lord!  

The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous.

1 Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

God is not only watching us as a Protective Father, but His ears are always open to our prayers. We know that He loves us with an eternal love, not a love that came to be, but an eternal love that has always been with Him. Ah, if people only understood the truth about God and His election, and His gifting us to Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world, and in time saving our unworthy souls, they would stand in Ah! We who understand this still need reminding just how much God loves us and cares for us. God cares for us, He watches us, He sees and knows all that we go through in life. He knows about the persecution of His people, and He never fails to hear their cries. Because the eyes of the Lord never sleep, He never leaves us not even for a second, and He will make sure that nothing happens to us outside of His ordained will. Peter went on to write in verse 13 “And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?” We need not ever to worry about our safety because God is our protector, and He controls the harm to us. God is Sovereign, He controls all powers, and nothing happens out of His control. As God’s children we must remember who we are and who we belong too. We must remember that it is God who ordained our life for us and that we truly do move, live, and have our being as God has chosen. Our Father never gives us all the same of everything but is diverse in His blessings. 1 Corinthians 12:4 - 6 "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all." God did not make His children all the same, He did not give us all the same blessings, He does not make us all identical, but we all have the same Father, the same Saviour and the same Holy Spirit working in our life. We all have equal protection from our Father and His eyes are forever on us. Wuest said in his commentary “The word "over" is literally "upon." The eyes of the Lord are directed in a favorable sense for the good of those that are righteous.” We must remember the word of God and keep it in context, no matter what happens in life there is an ordained purpose behind it. God never loses sight of us; we never lose the eyes of our Father no matter where we are in this world. Our focus in life must be on pleasing our Heavenly Father not on prosperity, not on advancing, not on anything else but walking and living to please God. We must be the righteous among the lost, not only in words but also in action and deed. Paul wrote in, Eph 5:1 - 2 "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; (2) And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour." As dear children Albert Barnes said, “The meaning is, “as those children which are beloved follow the example of a father, so we, who are beloved of God, should follow his example.” What a simple rule this is!” Simple because it is the one thing in life, we must make our life battle. The eternal purpose of God is our life, the eyes of God never leave us, and our Heavenly Father will never leave or forsake us, what else could we ever ask for? What a blessing from Our Heavenly Father!  

Why do some Christians hide their light?

“Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.” John 12:35

The light is Jesus Christ in you, and if you do not walk in the light then people cannot see Jesus in you. Some might ask, why must people see our light shining? The answer is threefold, (1.) your light is a gift from God, and it is not given to everyone, but God chose to give it to you. (2.) The light is Jesus Christ in you, He was born, lived, died, and rose again on the third day to give you this light. He suffered mightily for you that He could secure your ability to walk with God. (3.) walking in the light is the only possible way to walk in fellowship with God. “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”  1 John 1:6 – 7 Christians that are not walking in the light that Jesus gave, they are not in fellowship with God. And God said, “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie…” We lie to ourselves, we lie to those around us, but more horrible, we lie to God. Let us look at John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” If a Christian is not walking in the light of God’s word, then they are not walking in Jesus Christ and if they are not walking in Jesus Christ then they are walking in darkness, and if they are walking in darkness then they are not walking with God. A Christian that walks in darkness or according to the course of this world brings no glory to God. Jesus said of our light, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” Matthew 5:14 There is nothing more beautiful than driving down the highway and seeing a hill with a beautiful light shining. Not just a light but a God given light, like a star or maybe the moon shining bright and lighting up everything around it. Back when God created the world God saw that all was void and dark, and then all at once God gave it light, "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness." Genesis 1:2 - 4 This light was the Shekinah Glory of God that lite-up the entire earth because the sun, moon, and stars had not been yet created. The Shekinah Glory of God is a visible manifestation of God on earth, He caused to dwell, referring to the divine presence of God. This is the glory every believer has inside of them, the eternal light of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 Why do Christians hide their light and “put it under a bushel” where it is hidden and useless to the glory of God? Jesus Christ saved us from the darkness of this world, why would any believer desire to go back into the darkness of Satan is beyond any imaginable thought. "No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light. The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness." Luke 11:33 - 35

Be careful who you allow to influence you.

1 Thessalonians 4:1 “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.” Acts 5:29 “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” Galatians 1:10 “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

Sometimes Christian can become followers of man more than God. We must always remember that no man, no not one is not without biblical error. We must allow these men to preach to us, love them, respect them, and learn from them, but always to remember no man is without biblical error. I have had one Pastor in my life, he was a great man, teacher, and man of truth in the Lord, but I found we disagreed on a few things. We are children of God and God ordered us to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 Because it is God who we follow and not man. This is why as a Pastor and a Minister I sometimes say “I do not care what man thinks of me” because I do not. God did not save me to please men, churches, or anyone else, God saved me to follow and to seek to please only Him. Just because a person has a difference of thought or opinion as to what the scripture concludes is not something I can allow to affect me. If God wanted us all to be perfectly aligned with the scriptures, we would all be just that. We all differ because God has made us all different according to His will. This is why God told us to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God” so that you as a Christian can “rightly dividing the word of truth.” Never allow any person, me included to influence you to disagree with what you see in the bible. We must all follow the word of God as the Holy Spirit shows us. If we did not disagree then we would be perfectly aligned with the bible and we are not. Show me a man that is in perfect alignment with the bible, and I will show you a person in error. Pastors study hard, sometimes many hours to preach one single sermon just so we can get all the scriptural proof for truth. However, if God has not shown us the absolute truth, we do not know the truth. Now, biblical disagreement does not mean there is not good fellowship. If we understand that no man, it perfect in biblical truth then we understand that we differ. And in understanding this we grow a tolerance level. We began to understand that we differ because the Holy Spirit doesn’t teach us the same and therefore it could be one is right and the other wrong, but which is which? We will all stand before Jesus Christ is judgment and we are all responsible to Jesus for what we believe. But Jesus will also judge us on how we treated other Christians that differ. We are to love one another just as God loves us all. If we mistreat another believer because we differ on the scriptures, then we become the sinner. And the same is true if we refuse to see the truth because someone close to us disagrees. If we disagree then we talk about it, we study it together, and we reach the conclusion that God causes us to reach. But we understand that God has diversities in the way He distributes His spiritual gifts. Let us understand, we will all be perfectly aligned in heaven and while we may differ on this earth, we are still God’s children, and we all believe in the same salvation in Jesus Christ. 1 John 4:7 - 8 “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (8) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” And remember, no matter who is teaching you, it is your responsibility to study and seek the truth. We will all stand before Jesus Christ and be judged.

I am what God hath made me.

1 Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

I use this verse a lot because it shows humility by the most popular Apostle that God called to that work. I do not know if the Apostle Paul had realized in his life just how much that God used him. But we in this time understand just how great he was by God’s grace. I do not know if some of the great preachers in history ever thought that in the 21^st century churches and Pastors would be quoting them as much as they do. Great people, whether men or women are used of God as God choses to use them and if there is any greatness of our works, it is because of God’s work of grace in us. However humbly Paul thought of himself, it would have been mere unfaithfulness to downplay his own work in the Lord. If we truly believe that we are what we are by God’s grace, then we must believe that we have no personal effects on what God is doing. Paul, as great as he was, and as humbled as he was, was exactly what God ordained him to be, no greater and lesser because the ministry was God’s hand of work. God reminds us in Philippians 2:13-14 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings:” Brother John Trapp wrote in the early 1600’s these words, “When God hath turned, and doth touch us, we must move; and while the Spirit imbreathes us, we must turn about like the mill.” This is because God’s Holy Spirit is giving us the “will and to do of his good pleasure.” We do not choose our Christian path in life, and we do not edify nor advance what God has chosen for us to do and accomplish for Him. Jesus said in, Matthew 10:20 “For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” Whatever we are in our Christian life it is by the hand of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that is our power and influence over our ministry and Christian walk. Remember that God reminds us in Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” God not only chose us to salvation in Jesus Christ, called us by the power of the Holy Spirit thru the Gospel of Jesus Christ, quickened our dead spirits, caused us to hear the gospel, and led us to believe, He also works every day in our Christian life giving us “both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” The Apostle Paul was truly what he was by God’s grace, and while it does not lessen his greatness it also gives all glory to God. Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 5:32 - 33 “Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.” Not that you possible could or that it you work hard enough, or if you are good enough, “Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you…” Whatever you do for the Lord, never forget to be reminded that we do not fight for greatness, but rather accomplishments in doing whatever God commands. If any of us think of ourselves as anything outside of God’s grace we have failed miserably.

We need to be humble servants.

1 Cor. 2:4 “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:”

Humility, this word means - a modest or low view of one's own importance - Humility is a quality of being modest and respectful of oneself and others. God said of our humility, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:6, 10 The Apostle Paul was writing to a church with many issues, but apparently one of their problems was that they were low in understanding of God’s word. Paul had a very humbled heart because God gave him a very humbled heart. Paul understood this church’s issues and preached to them accordingly to their understanding. Paul understood what grace is, and he also understood what mercy is. God said in Pro. 22:4 “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.” We need to remember as Christians, church members, church workers, teachers, and mostly as Pastors, that our fear of God is our guide in our ministry and if we lose this fear or our reverence of God then we will fail in our service to the Lord. Serving God is an honor, and we ought not take it lightly or just as a work, but as an honor and privilege, both to God and the Lord’s church. We never need to be critical of God’s people not of God’s churches, and we always need to remember that whatever we are, whatever our service is, it is by God’s grace. Paul was very loving to this church; he was not critical of them but preached a sermon that the weakest believer could understand. As teachers we must recognize the power of God’s word and understand that it is the Holy Spirit is teaching it and not us. Paul did not want to be recognized as a brilliant man of God, but he wanted God’s word and powered to teach. Paul understood what all Christians need to understand, and all Ministers and Pastors need to never forget, we are nothing, we have no power, and that we are just humbled servants of God and by the power of God’s Holy Spirit. I know a lot of great Ministers, teachers, and Pastors but the greatest of them all are those with the greatest humbled hearts. Let us all let Paul’s example be our teacher, it was not his experience or ability that gave his ministry its power; it was the work of the Spirit of God. We must teach that other believers may learn, not for self-performance. We are all teachers, instruments of God’s power, understanding all accomplishments of that are of God and not of us. We must remember that we are servants of Love and every sermon, every conversation, every action, must be in love and in much mercy and grace, and by God’s authority. Paul told this church in verse 3 “And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.” Paul was sharing in their weakness understanding that their weakness was his own weakness, “But by the grace of God I am what I am:” 1Co 15:10 Everything we are, as believers is by God’s grace, and if we ever leave that state of mind, we are no longer humbled. Paul reminds us “I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” No matter how hard we work, how hard we prepare, how hard we preach, or how high we rise, we are never better that the Apostle Paul as a servant of God. Our fear and reverence of God keeps us humble, but also our dependence on the power of God keeps us humbler like Paul, never taking credit that belongs to God and always giving God the glory. As fleshly people we will never be anything on our own, everything we become, every advancement we make, every good work we perform, is God’s grace working in us. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 Thank you Lord God for the grace you have given us to be your humbled servants.

This is who I am

As a Christian and a Pastor, I must admit that I am only a sinner saved by God’s grace. The Apostle Paul wrote it best when he said, “I am what I am by the grace of God” 1 Cor. 15:10. However, while God had grace on me, saved my soul, caused me to be a minister, called me to pastor a church, I am still just a man living by God’s grace. I will live and die a man, a sinner saved by God’s grace thru His love and mercy on me. As a man, I am not perfect, I am not complete, I am not above sin. If you look at me for sin you will find it, if you want to charge me with sin then go ahead. If you believe you are better than I am, you may be right. But remember this I live, I move, and I have my being by God’s grace. I know that if it were not for God’s grace I would fall flat on my sinful face. I admit what I am, I do not try to deceive anyone or hide my true identity as a sinner saved by grace. I work as hard as God allows me too. I hope I can truly repeat the Apostle Paus when he said, “…his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all…” because “yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” So, unless you are Jesus Christ you are no better than I am, and you are looking thru the same mirror of grace and seeing the same sinner saved by grace. Humility is our greatest human attribute, God said, “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.” Prob. 22:4. So please pray with me that our Lord will not allow us to get puffed-up in our prideful human nature because the Lord also said, “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.”  Proverbs 15:33 Please pray for me and I will pray for you, because none of us are perfect or better than the other, and we are all one in Jesus Christ. “For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:30 – 31 Thank you Father, and thank you Jesus, for what you have done for this sinner!

Godliness and Contentment.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:6-10

One area of life a lot of Christians fail in is “contentment”. The word means - satisfaction with what one has – and may I add, being satisfied with what God has graciously given us. However, in this world people believe “money” brings happiness, but in reality, it only brings misery. The Lord said, “godliness with contentment is great gain”, which means - “to be devout," denotes that piety which, characterized by a Godward attitude” – therefore it is godliness and not money that should deliver happiness to every Christian. God reminds us in reference to money that, “we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out”. So why do so many Christians seek more money instead of more godliness? You can have both money and godliness, yes, but only if God graciously supplies both as an act of grace. We must remember that “the love of money is the root of all evil”. We must first and last seek godliness if we are going to be happy because God warns us seeking more than God gives us could cause us to “fall into temptation and a snare”. What is a “snare”, it is defined this way, -it is a trap, the allurements to evil by which the Devil – a place that no Christian wants or needs to be. It is this love for money that has caused many Christians and churches to fall into the snare of the devil and leave the truth of the word and godliness. God said of this “love for money” that it will only “drown men in destruction and perdition”. The word “perdition” means - ruin or loss or waste – another place no true Christian or church wants to be. God said “while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith” or in seeking more than God gives by grace it caused them to err from the faith and godliness. The greatest godliness in a human heart is faith in God, faith in Jesus Christ, and faith in His sovereignty to supply our every need. Paul wrote these words to the church at Philippi, “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Philippians 4:17-20 Beloved, please understand, seeking money instead of godliness can cost you in eternal rewards, something no true Christian should want. Patience is needed for us to be godly and content. James wrote, “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” James 5:8. A Believer with a patient heart will always be godly because we trust the Lord in contentment. Paul wrote to Timothy these words, “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” 1 Tim. 6:11 Listen beloved, we all know, and God certainly knows we need money to live in this world. But when our love for money takes away from our godliness then we have allowed “foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” And for this there is no excuse, God never bless those that lose faith in Him to supply our needs. Nothing is more important than God and our serving God in the Truth of His word.    

The Lord’s Elected Fold.

John 10:16 “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”

God said in Ephesians 1:4 “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” The question must be asked, who are the “us” in this verse? The word “us” are those who are the elect of God chosen before the foundation of the world was ever created by God Himself. People who want to deny the election of God must deny the whole of the scriptures. Some people say that the doctrine of election means that God was selective of some and refused others, and this would be true. When God said in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God cannot mean the entire population of the world because God does not lover every soul who has lived in the world. The greatest example is Esau, God said in Romans 9:13 “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” God did not come to hate Esau because God never loved Esau. We must remember that God is eternal, and He never changes, “the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Jas. 1:17 Therefore, God never loved Esau, not ever, therefore it must be concluded that God never loved everyone in the world. God said in Rev. 17:8 “…whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world…” If names were not written, then they are not the elect of God. But it also tells us that names were written, and written before the foundation of the world.

Now, let us understand that while some claim that the elect of God are the Jews only, but this cannot be true. God has an elected nation in Israel and an elected people in those elected from the entire world’s population. When John wrote “For God so loved the world…” He could have not included the entire population because not only did God hate Esau, but the Psalmist also wrote “…thou hatest all workers of iniquity.” Psm. 5:5

With this all being said, we have established that the elect of God is not only to the Jews but to the Gentiles also let us look farther into John 10:16. Jesus said, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold…” also making known that while the elected fold included some Jews, it was not limited to Jews but also some Gentiles. Jesus went on to say “them also I must bring” that is into this fold which would include the world or the Jews and Gentiles being in the fold together. But Jesus went farther when He said, “…they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” These elect Gentiles would hear His voice and they would come to Him for salvation, and they, and the Jews would be ONE-FOLD WITH ONE SHEPHERD. There is no more Jews and Gentiles but one-fold, one Saviour, and one nation. You cannot be one if you are not one and united in Christ. Jesus said in His prayer, "I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them." John 17:9 – 10 Here is the true answer to John 3:16 that He did not include the entire population but rather the elect from the world, elected before the foundation of the world. Then in verse 20 we see Jesus add us to His prayer, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;” John 17:20 But He never included the entire world.

Before the foundation of the world God had an Elected fold of souls, He gave this fold to His Son Jesus, and Jesus was born in time and redeemed them with His blood. This entire fold, both Jews and Gentiles are one-fold with one Saviour. Jesus said in conclusion, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37 Thank you Lord for saving my soul and for making me your child, inserting me in your fold before the foundation of the world, Amen!   

Walking with God.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

Have you ever dreamed of walking with God? Have you ever thought what it would be like to take your Heavenly Father’s hand and walk with Him? As Christians we have that opportunity every day of our earthly life to walk with God. However, realistically speaking God does not have a body, so holding His hand is impossible. “God is a Spirit” John 4:25 but walking with our Heavenly Father is a real thing for every believer in Jesus Christ. However, the question is how much do you truly want to walk with God? Walking with God requires walking “in the light, as he is in the light” because that is where God is. God does not walk in darkness, because you only find Him in the light, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5. If you are walking in darkness then you are not walking with God. John wrote in verse 6 “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:” God’s element is only in light and never in darkness, therefore we will never find God in darkness. God told us “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:” Ephesians 5:8 The word “were” is past tense not a present word. As believers saved by grace thru the glorious blood of our Saviour, we are no longer in darkness, but in light because in Christ there is no darkness. The Lord warned us “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness…” Eph. 5:11 This is not a request but rather a command from God. God promised that He would never leave nor forsake us, He never promised that we would not leave nor forsake Him. Christians sometimes do fall back and walk in darkness. And when they do, their fellowship with God is separated. Remember when Adam and Eve sinned, they hid from God? Christians try also to hide from God when living and walking in darkness. God said, “For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.” Eph. 5:12 However, it is much more shameful to commit them. Our work as Christians is to rebuke darkness, not to join it. God went on to say in Eph. 5:13 “But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.” Do we want to have real fellowship with God and allow the things we do in this world to be manifested for the world to see, or hide from God in darkness? Look at it this way, God said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matt. 6:24 If a believer is walking in darkness they are hiding from God, they have little or no fellowship with God. Serving darkness or mammon will cause a believer to despise God and the light He is in. If you are not in the light of God, you are not serving the Lord, you are not happy as a Christian because you are hiding in the worlds darkness. Jesus said, “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John 3:20 – 21. Darkness is the place of the lost, not the place of Christians, do not find yourself in a place where you separate yourself from God. Allow your works in this world to be in the light, in fellowship with God, Jesus, and the Word of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”  Matt. 5:16 Is your light shinning before men or are you ashamed of the light, do you despise the light? Today is a good day to repent, ask the Lord to forgive you and to start a new walk in the light and in fellowship with God. And that all starts by getting into church, getting everything right between you and the Lord, and living as a witness against darkness and walking in fellowship with our Father.   

Be careful in dealing with other believers.

1 Corinthians 2:15 “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.”

If to study

This chapter teaches us so much about our knowledge, understanding, and wisdom of God and His word. We understand that everything from God is a gift and God gives His gifts in diverse ways to His children. 1 Cor. 12:1 – 11 will teach us more about this. But to us who are blessed with God’s gifts of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom of God and His word. We are responsible for those teachings, to grow in them, to decern them, and to walk in them. Everyone, from the Pastor down are to spiritually know, understand and in wisdom how to properly decern biblical truths. And one of those teachings is to “spiritual judgeth all things”. Not somethings, not things we think of, not things with human understanding, but things taught by God in His word. Once we step outside of those guidelines, we have failed God. Everything we judge must be judged in LOVE, with the love God gives us and not human love. Since our understanding of God’s giving of gifts to each believer, our judgment must be with much caution. Because another believer may not understand spiritually or be as spiritually smart as you are. We must remember that only God can truly teach another believer and cause them to decern the scriptures. God went on to say “…yet he himself is judged of no man.” Because we do not know the workings of God in every believer’s spiritual life, or even what God is doing in our life. We only know and understand what God is showing us, we do not know the mind of God. Our judging others must be with much love and understanding of what God is doing, and this takes much prayer. Please understand, God is judging us on our action as we are judging His other children. Especially as Pastors and church members. Let us never stop studying, praying, learning, and walking in that spiritual education, because we do not want to fail God.      

Can salvation be temporary, or lost?

Hebrews 10:1 “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. (14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

The question before us today is “Can salvation be temporary” because some religionist who call themselves “Christians” believe it is possible. Their thinking is (while distorted) that a person who does not have enough good work can indeed lose their salvation. However, these same people with their distorted thoughts do not have the ability to spiritually discern the truth of the bible. While their thoughts are full of error, they ignore the scriptures in the context that God has written. They eliminate the whole meaning of “grace” and every verse that speaks of God’s grace involving our salvation. Paul wrote in Romans 11:5 – 6 “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” This verse solves the debate over grace verses works in the salvation of souls. God has by His elective will, ordained a remnant of souls to be His children by grace. NOT because of the merit of any person, but because of grace. In Ephesians chapter 2 in verse 8 God said, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Therefore, people that believe only in the merits of their own free will, will never chose to be saved, because they cannot. People are born sinners and at enmity with God, they do not want to retain God in the knowledge, they are totally depraved, and they have no human desire to come to Christ. This is why God the Father MUST DRAW THEM, John 6:44a “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him…”

Second, in Jesus Christ we have an eternal hope that God promised before the world began, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” Titus 1:2 also see Titus 3:7. The very fact that salvation was promised before the world began, was an elective choice of God, a promise made to Jesus Christ, and is a gift of God and not works on our part. It is made unattainable by us, and impossible to lose by us. God said, “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” In Jesus Christ, God had offered a sacrifice that could redeem His elected remnant “once and for all” Heb 10:10. The very fact that Jesus Christ was crucified because of our sins means He took our sins, all our sins to the cross and died for them, all at once time. In order for us to have sins unforgiven means that Jesus’s death was non-sufficient to redeem us, once and for all. Hebrews 6:6 “If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” Also see Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus was not crucified in hopes that we would decide to ask for forgiveness, Jesus took our sins to the cross and gave His earthly life on that cross for them, all of them. If He did not, He would have to be re-crucified before your sins are forgiven by God.

Salvation is eternal and our salvation is called “eternal life” not a temporary life. God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to redeem His elected remnant, chosen before the foundation of the world. Not as some believe, to give by grace, as a hope of eternal life, if we do our part. But rather God gave us an eternal life that gives us hope.  

Is Time closing for salvation.

“(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” 2 Corinthians 6:2 

People today are getting worse and worse, time is closing in on us, and people are distancing themselves from God more and more. Just before God flooded the earth and killed every living soul, God gave this warning, “And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” Genesis 6:3 The warning today is “…now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” I am fearful that the people of this world are ignoring God’s warning as they did before the flood, God is angry and wrath is coming, why, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5 If God looked upon the earth and saw the greatness of human wickedness thousands of years ago, just imagen what is seen of God on this earth today. As Christians and churches, we are supposed to be working in a partnership with God, “We then, as workers together with him…” 6:1 This does not mean that God has a need of human help, because God is eternally self-contained and needs nothing from no one. But one of God’s blessings to us is that He chose to give us the grace to work with Him, in salvation, teaching His word, and working with other believers in many ways. God said in 1 Corinthians 3:9 “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.” This is God’s grace to us, and if we fail to do our part then God will do it a separate way and use someone else. However, we need to understand that God using us is also a gift of grace. The blessing of planting and watering is God’s grace to us, but also God’s commandment to us. The Great Commission to the churches is clear, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19 – 20. The first message the world needs to hear from us is simple, “…now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” Salvation of the lost is getting lost and most of it is our fault. We are, as both churches and Believers losing our fire to preach the gospel to the world, and this is the time it is most urgent. I understand that we live in a time of few salvations, we are simply not seeing many saved. However, this should strengthen our urgency, not make it dwindle. God said, “…I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation…”. I believe, as most believers and churches do also believe, that we are living in the last days. It does not matter what God is doing, God has a right to do as He choses because He is God. However, God gave us a work to do and for us to do that work is a gift of His grace, but are we failing to be receptive of God’s kindness to us and failing in our commission from Jesus Christ? Jesus told us to “go”, and He never told us to stop or even slowdown. The measuring stick of our goal, is not only getting the gospel to the world, but to every lost soul. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15 Are we wasting God’s grace and our opportunity for souls to be saved? Can we all, as individual believers and even as churches say what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” Are we truly laboring more abundantly than they all?

The Good Black Doctor

 

The Good Black Doctor
Author Unknown

Some years ago, Dr. C. J. Davis, a native of West Indies, familiarly called the "Good Black Doctor," was traveling by train in England. As the train moved along, the black doctor became conscious that an elderly lady sitting opposite was regarding him with marked attention.” What an interesting looking person that is, she at length remarked to her companion.” "What a fine race of people he must belong to! I wonder who he is?" "I think he is an Indian," said the young

"I wish we could speak to him," continued the elder lady; "I long to tell him the way to Heaven. How sad it is that such a fine, intelligent-looking people should bow down to images and stones! What a pity we can't speak to him, for he doesn't seem to understand a word we say." "Perhaps he may be able to read English, if he cannot speak it," suggested the young lady. "You might offer him a tract," said one of the gentlemen. The elder lady opened her bag and from a number selected one, which she presented to him with a smile and a motion to read it. He received the tract, bowed his thanks, and read it in silence.

Having finished reading, he thanked the lady for her interest in his welfare, telling her it was an all important subject to him, adding:

"I heard you say, Madam, you long to tell me the way to Heaven; will you kindly tell me how I may be sure of going there? This tract does not tell me how I may be sure I shall be saved. It tells me to repent of my sins, and to pray, and to confess; but how can I know when I have prayed and repented and confessed enough? Can you tell me plainly how I may be sure of getting to Heaven?

"If you read the Bible and pray," replied the lady, "you will be sure to go to Heaven."

 "Have you a Bible, Madam? And can you tell me where it says that if I read the Bible and pray I shall go to Heaven? I am very anxious to be sure of so important a matter."

She had no Bible in her bag. The other passengers were appealed to for one, but no one carried a Bible with them. At length the black doctor drew the precious Volume from his pocket and holding it out, said, "Is this the Book you mean, Madam? Will you not show me where it tells me just how I may be saved and sure of going to Heaven?"

The lady took the Bible and turning over the leaves confusedly, said, "I do not know exactly where to find what I want to show you, but it says if you repent of your sins and pray earnestly you will be saved." 

"How can I know when I have prayed enough to satisfy God? Can you not find where it tells me that?"

Turning to her companion, she said, "Can you find it?" "No," she answered.

The poor lady asked the others in turn and the Bible was offered to each, with the entreaty that they would point out some portion that told plainly how a sinner was to get to Heaven; but all confessed their inability to recollect where such passages were.

The lady returned the Bible and said, "Well, I cannot find the place, but if you will call upon Mr. _________ when you reach Folkestone, he will tell you. He is a very good man, and he will be happy to direct you."

"But, Madam, we may never reach Folkestone. The train may run off the line, and we may all be killed. I may not live to see Folkestone. Can none of you “Christians” tell a poor foreigner how he may be saved? You are moved with pity for his darkness and ignorance; can you not help him to the light?" "I told you, you must pray," said the lady. "The Bible says so."

He took the Bible, and opening it, read John 3:16. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." And John 5:24: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life; and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life." Also Acts 13:38,39: "Through this MAN is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by him all that believe are justified from all things."

 

"Are these the portions you mean, Madam?" he asked.

 

"Yes, that is what I could not remember." "But you told me that I must pray and repent. This precious Book tells me to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and I shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Praise His Name! The poor foreigner can trust that blessed Word, and know he is safe for Heaven—saved through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, finished on the cross. He is happy in knowing he is justified from all things by the blood of Christ shed for sinners, and not by his own good works, prayers, repentance or confession."

Our black friend then proceeded to set forth to his astonished fellow - travelers the love of God in giving His Son to die for sinners, and the love that led the Son to do the will of His Father. He told them how He who knew no sin was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

"Stop, sir," said one of the gentlemen angrily. "This is no place for such holding forth. It is neither the time nor the place, sir." "When is the time and where is the place in this Christian(?) land, for a Christian to speak of Christ?" calmly but earnestly asked the doctor.

"Sunday is the time, sir, and the church is the place, but not a railway carriage: This is a very improper place."

"Allow me just one word more," earnestly pleaded the doctor. "We are nearing our journey's end and may never meet again on earth. Let me tell you, on authority of this Book, there is only one way to Heaven. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12.

"It is a good thing to read your Bible, but if you do not receive the Lord Jesus Christ and trust Him and Him only for salvation, all the praying, repenting, and confessing this side of Heaven will not save you. God has provided a salvation in His beloved Son and He offers it to you as a free gift, not to be asked for, not prayed for, not to be worked for, not for anything that you can do, but just to be received.

"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." God has offered you a gift, even His own beloved Son. The only right thing you can do is to accept the gift and thank Him for it. The moment you offer the smallest thing, a prayer, a tear, a good resolution, an act of charity, you are refusing the gift and seeking to buy your way into Heaven with things God says are filthy rags. In parting, let me give just one more portion from this blessed Book: "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph. 2:8, 9

The Good Black Doctor went on his way rejoicing, leaving his would-be teachers to consider the sad consequences of neglecting to learn what GOD HAS SPOKEN.

Reader, have you learned? Do you know you are saved?

Grace is given to us; God has a measure for every believer.

Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

There is no question that God’s grace is a gift, therefore everything God gives us is by grace, and as a gift. Knowing that grace is a gift from God should keep us humble. The Lord tells us “to think soberly” that means to think clear headed and wisely. To think with a humbled heart, not to allow pride and arrogance to destroy us. As Christians we must remember who we are in this life and in our churches. We are sinner whom God graciously redeemed by the blood of His Lamb, and we will die sinners saved by grace. Life is a fight between living godly and sinning. We sometimes forget what sin is, what is classified as sin, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4. We must never forget who we were as lost souls, and who we are as redeemed believers in Jesus Christ. We are still sinners, but our sins are hidden in Christ and forgiven before God in Christ. Our goal as Christians is to never sin, and to be as close to being Christ-like as we can. However, we can rest assured that in-Christ we are as pure as pure can be defined. “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.” 1 John 3:5. God has forgiven every sin we will ever commit, none will not be forgiven. The difference between sinner and non-sinners is grace given to us by God and through Jesus Christ. Everything we are as Christians we are by God’s grace and through Jesus’s blood. What we are as Christians depends on the measure of grace God gives us and the measure of faith God gives us. No Christian can be a good and godly believer until we recognize in our hearts the measure of grace God has given us to accomplish that godliness. However, it expands beyond grace and includes our faith. The Apostle Paul speaks of both grace and faith in 1 Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” Paul wrote that everything he was as a believer he was by God’s grace, the faith here is “but I laboured more abundantly than they all” this is his faith, his Christian life was full of trials and tribulations, but His faith kept him strong. Now notice Paul’s last words here, “yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” Paul never was filled with pride, but he had a very humbled heart, He gave God all credit by understanding that is was not Him, even though he labored more abundantly than the rest, it was still not him but rather that measure of grace God gave him in faith and strength to accomplish. 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 “And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” Paul wrote “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves” why, because we are all just an instrument in the hands of God. Whether it’s our living godly, being a church member, or pastor of a church, we live, we move, and have our being by grace, and all accomplishments are by the measure of our God given faith. Let us always remember these words “to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think;”

Grace is given to us; God has a measure for every believer.

 

Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

There is no question that God’s grace is a gift, therefore everything God gives us is by grace, and as a gift. Knowing that grace is a gift from God should keep us humble. The Lord tells us “to think soberly” that means to think clear headed and wisely. To think with a humbled heart, not to allow pride and arrogance to destroy us. As Christians we must remember who we are in this life and in our churches. We are sinner whom God graciously redeemed by the blood of His Lamb, and we will die sinners saved by grace. Life is a fight between living godly and sinning. We sometimes forget what sin is, what is classified as sin, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4. We must never forget who we were as lost souls, and who we are as redeemed believers in Jesus Christ. We are still sinners, but our sins are hidden in Christ and forgiven before God in Christ. Our goal as Christians is to never sin, and to be as close to being Christ-like as we can. However, we can rest assured that in-Christ we are as pure as pure can be defined. “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.” 1 John 3:5. God has forgiven every sin we will ever commit, none will not be forgiven. The difference between sinner and non-sinners is grace given to us by God and through Jesus Christ. Everything we are as Christians we are by God’s grace and through Jesus’s blood. What we are as Christians depends on the measure of grace God gives us and the measure of faith God gives us. No Christian can be a good and godly believer until we recognize in our hearts the measure of grace God has given us to accomplish that godliness. However, it expands beyond grace and includes our faith. The Apostle Paul speaks of both grace and faith in 1 Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” Paul wrote that everything he was as a believer he was by God’s grace, the faith here is “but I laboured more abundantly than they all” this is his faith, his Christian life was full of trials and tribulations, but His faith kept him strong. Now notice Paul’s last words here, “yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” Paul never was filled with pride, but he had a very humbled heart, He gave God all credit by understanding that is was not Him, even though he labored more abundantly than the rest, it was still not him but rather that measure of grace God gave him in faith and strength to accomplish. 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 “And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” Paul wrote “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves” why, because we are all just an instrument in the hands of God. Whether it’s our living godly, being a church member, or pastor of a church, we live, we move, and have our being by grace, and all accomplishments are by the measure of our God given faith. Let us always remember these words “to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think;”

Do not seek personal inventions.

Ecclesiastes 7:29 “Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.”

God created both Adam and Eve upright or "right in His eyes". This is the state that God wants His people, He wants us to hear His voice in the scriptures and obey His command. God did not create Adam and Eve to sin, but He also did not create them immutable. God made them with the ability to sin because it was His ordained will that they fall. Before the foundation of the world God had already elected a remnant of souls to save, God had already ordained a Saviour for this remnant, and God had already given this remnant to His Son, all before He even created the world. John 17:6 It was Adam and Eve that “have sought out many inventions.” Vines defines this, this way (translated "engines," i.e. devices, ways of going astray and deviating from original righteousness.” Apparently, Adam and Eve were not satisfied with what God had given them, because they elected to disobey God by looking beyond what God had blessed them with. Since this event mankind has never obeyed God, even Christians saved by God’s grace disobey God and the reason is we are always looking beyond God “seeking out our own inventions”. We, as mankind and as God’s blessed children have a hard time understanding that obeying God’s commandments delivers blessings. For example, if Adam and Eve had never listened to Satan and sought out their own inventions, they would still be alive, living in the garden and the world would be heaven on earth. But they sinned and God did as He promised, they died spiritually, and started dying physically. Our problem as an offspring of them is we are just like them, always looking beyond the gifts of God. God promised that if we followed His commandments His blessing would follow. Listen to His conversation to Moses about the bitter water, Exodus 15:26 “And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.” God’s promise, not just to Moses and Israel, but to us also, just stop seeking inventions and follow God’s word to the letter and His blessing are ours. But look at History, God blessed the children of Seth and then this happened, “That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.”    Genesis 6:2 The “sons of God” were the descendants of Seth, the daughters of men were the descendants of Cain. Once they mixed, we see nothing but sin, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” Genesis 6:5,6 Sin delivers punishment, even with Christians we are “chastened, and chastised” by God Himself because of our own inventions. God said, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” James 1:14 and in Galatians 5:16 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Never look beyond the scripture, never lust, never want more than God gives, and always obey God’s every commandment and God’s blessings are yours. But our flesh sometimes is uncontainable. We always want more and that is what gets us into trouble with the Lord. Adam and Eve wanted more, the sons of God wanted more, the Israelites wanted more, and we as Christian want more. The Apostle Paul wrote these words, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Philippians 4:11 Paul said he had to learn, “in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” He is saying, whatever God has given me, in life I am now content. He learned not to push for more, not to seek his own inventions. Always remember these words, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” 2 Corinthians 9:8 

The most important things to remember in a marriage.

“And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, (5) And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? (6) Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Matthew 19:4 - 6

One of the most important steps that a man and woman will do in life is to enter the bonds of wedlock. This is a bond with vows to one another promised before God, and therefore the importance of it is astronomical. First, marriage is a lifetime commitment promised before God to love and keep each other “until death do you apart”. God said when a man and woman enters these bonds “they are no more twain, but one flesh”. In marriage there is a moral and physical union, so that two people become virtually one being. The only real object that should keep two people from becoming husband and wife is their Christian status, a believer should never marry a non-believer, it’s not going to work because God said it would not. A true believer will never be able to become one with a non-believer because God said they would not. God calls it being unequally yoked together, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14 However, the more you can agree on before marriage the less concern of learning to agree on after marriage. True love between two people can fill a lot of holes in a relationship, but marriage truly takes two believers willing to boldly satisfy each other in Lord together. Just a caution and a warning here, also marring outside of your biblical faith is also dangerous, a husband and wife belong in church together. God and His word must be put front and center in a marriage, with both partners agreeing that the scripture will dictate the relationship. God said, “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church…” Eph. 5:23 But notice here without reservation God said “…as Christ is the head of the church…” Everything Christ is to His church husbands are to the wife. God also said, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church…” V. 25 Husbands need to understand this “tall order”, that we are to be to our wives as Christ is to the church, never treat your wife anyway that Christ would not treat His church. The love that a man is to have for His wife is the willingness to give his life for her. The roll of a husband is one of authority as the “head of the wife and family” but one of pure love as Christ loves His church. Here is the roll of the wife, “Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.” The word “subject” means - to subordinate; reflexively to obey – or to live under submission to her husband. This is a relationship built under our relationship in God with Him being the Supreme authority by His word. Therefore, the subjection is not to be violated by disobeying God’s word. We always obey God over man! “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Act’s 5:29 Any man who abuses his wife is not worth the dirt on the ground, you cannot mistreat your wife and expect her to be obedient to you because you have violated the bonds of matrimony and the bond that God ordered. The only thing that will make a marriage work is to obey God and His word. God to church, learn what God desires of you as a couple and family. Grow in the teachings together, loving one another unconditionally as the Lord loves us. If we do this in our relationship, we will always be happy and satisfied, until death do us part. Cleave to one another, become one flesh, and do not allow anyone to interfere with what God has joined together. “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”