Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Attend church faithfully for 30 years sounds more like it..right? Or perhaps this may be more of what you expected....be a "good" person, stay faithful to your spouse, fast twice a week, give to Feed the Children www.feedthechildren.org or perhaps Convoy of Hope http://www.convoyofhope.org/go/who, go to prayer meeting, pray the rosary, go to mass as often as possible, read the bible, observe Lent, go on a mission trip, adopt a child, vote pro life. You may even be a philanthropist running a marathon for under privileged kids, etc., etc.
Although these good works may make you feel good about yourself and cause you to be recognized in your community or even across the world, guess what? this is not earning your salvation. " NOT by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us" Titus 3:5 " For by grace are you saved through faith; and that NOT of yourselves ( or due to what we do): it is the gift of GOD: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 8,9
There are many people today that do what they do in the name of religion and quite frankly are doing much to relieve the suffering that is in the world today. Unfortunately, they mistakenly believe that this will help them be saved or guarantee their entrance into the "pearly gates" This is religion in a nut shell...mans attempt to redefine the way of salvation by doing as much good as he can and hopefully the good will out weigh the bad and God Almighty will certainly allow such a nice man into heaven. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" Isaiah 64:6
One of the prayers of the bible that stands out like a sore thumb the most is found in Luke 23:42 " Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." If this thief on the cross was going to heaven it wasn't because he was good enough or because of all that he did prior to the point of his crucifixion. He believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. He humbled himself and understood that Jesus was his only hope of salvation..you too can be saved " if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved" Romans 10:9....and verse 13 " For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
I believe the reason Jesus said: "many are called, but few are chosen." is because they refuse to go the way of the cross. Now be careful here, I am not saying that one should exemplify the way of the cross as a means of his own personal salvation; if you know me at all you know that's not what I am implying. What I am trying to say is that God by the Holy Spirit is drawing everyone and anyone to Himself through the merits of that painful transaction that took place over 2000 years ago...the death of Jesus his only begotten Son on the cross of Calvary. What if I were to say to you that Satan would have not been defeated and there would be no one going to heaven if Jesus Christ did not shed his blood on that cruel cross on Golgotha's hill? If you said that I was right you would have been wrong. What? Are you serious? Isn't the death of Jesus Christ the only hope of salvation? I would answer yes and no.A prayer of the bible that Jesus prayed is found in Matthew 27:46 " My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Satan must have been loving these words coming out of Jesus' mouth, and rightly so..if Jesus who knew no sin and became sin for us... and He went through that horrific, excruciating, painful death and that was it..Satan would be having a party until this day!
It is because of His resurrection that we can be saved and not just His shedding of blood at the cross . This is our only hope of salvation. " But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain." 1 Corinthians 15:13,14 So then, "the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God" 1 Corinthians 1:18
You will be numbered with the many that were called but not saved if you continue to "work your way" into heaven. Jesus said: " I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man ( you are not the exception) cometh unto the Father, but by me" John 14: 6 Luke 13: 23,24 .." Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait (narrow) gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able" Why? Does the Lord favor some and not others? "The Lord...is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance' 2 Peter 2:9. The reason many miss heaven is because even though they are introduced to the truth that leads to everlasting life they continue on practicing there religion trying to gain the approval of a sinless God there way, " There is a way which seems right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverbs 14:12
Someone reading this prayer of the bible "what must I do to be saved" has got to be saying to himself, well that may be OK for someone else but not me, I don't need this...surely heaven awaits me..I try to live up to the 10 commandments..I mind my own business..I support my wife and children.I...I....I.That is your problem. You have an I problem. " " For there is not a just man upon earth, that does good, and sins not" Ecclesiastes7:20 " Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may you also do good , that are accustomed to evil? Jeremiah 13:23 " For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.' Romans 3:23 Besides,..."whosoever shall keep the whole law , and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" James 2:10
OK? It is application time. What changes in your thinking do you have to make in order to make sure you too will be saved and thereby go to heaven? Will you increase your giving to your local church? Will you grit your teeth and try to be more cool, calm, and collective at home and at work? Cut back on your drinking and carousing around? Volunteer at your local charitable organization? Give blood to the Red Cross? http://www.redcross.org/ Remember to do all the good to all the people all the time everywhere you go! Please also remember that salvation is OF THE LORD Jonah 2:9
You and I could not enter heaven just because we do good no more than we could enter hell just because we do bad. Hell was/is prepared for the devil and his angels. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people...you will go to hell because you did not prepare for heaven by choosing to get there your way? AMEN!
Be Careful Fellow Christian
From Scripture we learn that" they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run,and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31. My guess is that Martha, unlike Mary, neglected to wait upon the Lord causing her strength to be depleted..."Martha,Martha thou art careful and troubled about many things" Jesus said. Notice the word "many" in this verse of Scripture. Everyone has cares that seem to weigh us down even when we by the grace of God do our best to give them over to the one who has promised to be our burden bearer. Martha, however, was troubled about many things which implies she was living life without quality time in the Word of God. "
Man (woman) shall NOT live by bread alone, but by every word of God." Luke 4:4 Are we in agreement here that the life giving power of the Word of God if digested and assimilated is truly food for the soul? It amazes me that Christians seemingly are unaware that what they feed on is in direct correlation to what their lives, in actuality, are.all about." Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfys not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." Isaiah 55:2 "Thy word was found and I did eat them
God said do this Jonah did that
"Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly"..." I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple"...When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord" Jonah 2: 1,4,7
When will we as disciples of Christ ever get it? The one who has predestined us to be conformed into his image, who formed us in our mothers womb, who is for us not against us....this God is the same God of Jonah. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness 2 Tim.3:16 Why did our Lord want us to have this book of the bible anyway? So we could hear it as kids in Sunday school? I agree there is a place for this in Sunday school, but my guess is that we may learn from it. You disobey God, you get into a pickle. God said do this Jonah did that. Place your name in that phrase : Johnny I want you to start a ministry for kids your age to help them avoid the pitfalls that Satan has mapped out for them. Sorry God..I have too much going on with band practice and church functions, why not ask Denny, besides , he is much more suitable for the job. Sounds a little like Moses' conversation with God doesn't it? Two years later Johnny is playing in a band that he has no business playing in and winds up addicted to alcohol..the very thing he was commissioned of God to warn teenagers against!
I don't know about you, but this instant obedience to God doesn't come easy especially to us United States Christians who don't even give it a thought when we flick the light switch on or place a phone call or place an order at your nearest Mickee Dees for a sweet tea. To say it bluntly, we are spoiled comfort zone Christians that haven't a clue what we truly got compared to others in 3rd world countries even if we went on a missions trip!As the prodigal son of old, Jonah actually did come to himself..repented and went on with God. Now the intelligent thing to do as a 21st century Christian kid is to learn from his wrong choice. Amen. The smartest most sane thing any Christian could do is obey the voice of God when lined up with Scripture..the quicker the better. Remember our God loves us and all of heaven is cheering us onward so let us : "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" Philippians 3:14 Let us purpose in our hearts that we will learn from this prayer of the bible and turn a deaf ear to Satan's lies that we will be missing out if we go God's way
Perhaps you have a story that you would like to share that if you only obeyed instead of the other.....
One of Peter's Prayers of the Bible
Peter, out of all your prayers of the bible, this one has got to be the most incredibly bold one that possibly could be prayed: "Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." Mark 9:5.
Really Peter? Are you serious? Who do you think you are to even suggest such an idea? But wait. Have you and I basically done the same thing telling our Lord Jesus how things should be? We may not have our own prayers of the bible, but certainly we have been guilty of this type of mentality. Instead of not my will but thine be done it is more like " Lord? You have to come through this time... little Ricky hasn't the money to replace that set of tires and to repair that leaking oil in the engine..I need you to send me the money to get this fixed now!" Two weeks later..Lord" where are you? don't you care? I need that money now!"
Do you have a testimony of this nature where all you had to do is trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding but instead tried to do things your way?
David's prayer for guidance and more
Pity the man or woman who desperately needs direction in his life and has know one to turn to that knows the end from the beginning. Such a person is like a mouse spinning in it's cage going to and fro, burning himself out, gaining no ground whatsoever. Are you such a person? Maybe you have the best guide imaginable or you have a good head on your shoulders and are able to make intelligent decisions based on sound reasoning and logic? That may actually work..the only problem is "if you lean on man or your own resources you get man's or your own results, if you lean on God and Him alone, you get His results". Now I ask you who's results would in your opinion be better? " Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3: 5,6
From a Christian perspective to do otherwise is to be guilty of the sin of placing your will before His. The child of God that is wise knows that God's permissive will does not bring the joy that the needy soul so longs for. Amen! Wow! the Holy Spirit instantly just gave me this: Do you remember how that the Lord delivered the Israelite's from Egyptian bondage? Psalm 106:13 " They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel"...basically, they didn't seek His direction and leading..they chose to be in charge and do their own thing." and he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul." Psalm 106;15. Granted I am not exactly sure what that meant for them, but I can assure you it wasn't God's best for them...resulting in joylessness.It really doesn't take a "rocket scientist' to figure out why such a person would foolishly choose to not "check in" with the all sufficient ,all knowing, all loving Sovereign of the universe for guidance and direction for major ( or even minor decisions) that potentially could drastically change a persons circumstances for the better...the reason in a word? UNBELIEF. This type of individual is so down on himself or should I say: " into himself" that whether consciously or unconsciously he is saying ; "why bother God isn't interested in poor pitiful me"? " According to your faith be it unto you" Jesus said.
Has there ever been a time that you had to have direction and guidance no matter what? You lost your job? Too old and unable to take care of the house any more but refuse to live just any where? The doctor just gave you some dreaded news that you have cancer.. your Church split and is no more..what church do I go to now? http://www.calvaryslove.org/ The list goes on and on...where or who do I turn to? Do I look within frantically trying to come up with an answer or do I look up to the one who loves me unconditionally?There are prayers from the bible that others prayed that did not make a whole lot of sense. After his mountaintop experience slaying all the prophets with his sword, Elijah's, recorded prayer of the bible, found in 1Kings 19:4, was that "he requested for himself that he might die". Apparently Jezebel was more intimidating and more of a formidable adversary than those he just got finished wiping out! Enough to instill fear to his very soul.
Next time you are at a cross roads in life or even if you need His guidance today, "commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass" Psalm 37:5
I would just love a testimony or two bragging on Jesus and how, by placing your need for guidance into his hand, it more than exceeded your expectations. Feel free to comment..Thank You
A prayer from Hell? Really?
Of all of the prayers of the Bible who would think a prayer would be uttered from hell? "...it came to pass...the rich man also died, and was buried; and in HELL he lift up his eyes,...and he cried and said, ' Father Abraham, have mercy on me' If you think this passage in the Bible is just another parable, think again. Carefully take note that these are real people with real names unlike the parables of Jesus . No. No. No. This is a real recorded conversation by Jesus himself intentionally added in His word to warn us of that awful place called Hell. For any one that just happened to come across this site I urge you to take inventory and make sure you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior in order to escape the torments of Hell!
Now is the time to tell those you love about the realities of hell. From this same prayer of the bible the rich man goes unto say: 'I pray thee therefore, father, that thou would send him ( Lazarus) to my father's house: for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment' Luke 16:27,28
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)
Posts
