ARE YOU GUILTY OR INNOCENT IN GOD'S EYES?

This is a short post but a very important one. When I saw this video, related to the death of pop star, Michael Jackson, I thought I should share it here. God gave us his law in order to show us something...please click on this video link and take the test "ARE YOU GUILTY OR INNOCENT IN THE EYES OF GOD?"

BEWARE: FALSE PROFESSIONS!

Perhaps one of the most tragic examples of a lost soul found in the bible is located in Matthew 7:21-23, which says, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Here we find souls who thought that they were alright with God, safe from judgment, and the reason why they supposed this to be true. They proffer their good works before the Lord as He sits in judgment and are puzzled that they stand wanting. The Lord Jesus Christ gives us a rare glimpse into one situation which will be found on that great day of Judgment (Rev 20:11-15). They profess good works in His name and He professes unto them, "I NEVER KNEW YOU! Depart from me, ye that work iniquity." But how could this have happened and could you be in danger of facing this same predicament?

The problem is that these people had made a false profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ--they might have prayed pretty words at an alter of prayer, but they were insincere about their desire to accept Him as Lord and Savior. This might sound strange, and many FALSELY believe that a true believer could actually lose their salvation because they don't allow for the possibility that someone made false profession in the first place. The bible never suggests that a true believer, having passed from death unto life (John 5:24) could ever become lost again...but does the bible give us examples of false professions? ABSOLUTELY!!

• In Matthew 13:5-6, the bible says, "5Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
  6And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away." -- This parable talks about seed sown on four different kinds of ground and pictures the word of God (gospel) being received by individuals in four different ways. In these particular verses, the seed, is received upon "stony places" without any depth. The plant springs up quickly but then withers away quickly because it has not really taken root. Jesus explains this parable, and these verses, in Matthew 13:20-21, which says, "But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
  21Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." -- The individual receiving the gospel message (seed) in this way, seems to be happy about hearing it, receives it eagerly and yet INSINCERELY. There is no real root in their heart and by and by they fall away from it. It wasn't a matter of really having something and losing it, but there was the appearance of having and losing.


• In Matthew 13:24-30, we find another parable with a similar, and more focused, message on false professions--the parable of Wheat and Tares. In this parable a farmer sows GOOD SEED (wheat) in his field. But while he sleeps, an enemy comes and sows tares among the wheat. When both spring up there are tares among the wheat. To understand the meaning of this parable is it very important to realize that a tare is a weed that has the appearance of wheat. However when both come to maturity, wheat has the fruit (wheat kernel) while the tare does not. Notice that the tare has the appearance of the true for a time, but then is revealed for what it truly is...a weed only good for burning in the fire.


• Again, we find an example of false professors of faith in Jesus Christ as they manifest themselves for what they are, this time in 1 John 2:18-19 which says, "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
  19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." -- John tells the reader, here, that these false disciples become known as such by there falling away from their profession. Now some might say that they simply got saved and then became lost again...but notice what John actually says. He explains very clearly that they "were not of us." He did NOT say they were of us, but now they are no longer of us (believers). But he makes the distinction that had they been believers they "would NO DOUBT have continued with us: but they went out that it might be made manifest (apparent) that they were not all of us. The apostle's language is very clear on the matter: they didn't lose salvation, only manifested the fact that they had made a false profession in the first place and in time went back to their old lives and dropped their profession of faith in Jesus Christ.


• In Mark 7:16, Jesus said of the religious Pharisees, who claimed to know and do the will of God, "He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." -- These religious men, despite their great PRETENSE of honoring God, actually hated the Lord...when the chips fell, they cried out, regarding God's Son and their Messiah, crucify Him!


• Lastly we see the example left to us of Judas Iscariot. This "son of perdition" answered the same calling as the other disciples. He heard the same teachings of Jesus as the others. He saw the same miracles as the other apostles. He walked with the Son of God. But he remained insincere in his profession of faith and it came out in his works. As they say, Judas Iscariot kissed the Door of Heaven (Jesus, in betrayal) and went straight to Hell.

What a tragedy to come so close to salvation and yet not receive. How foolish to pretend to have surrendered unto God and seemingly turn from sin only to perish in the judgment of God in the end of the matter. Why put up the charade? If you're going to go to the trouble of putting on a religious show, why not just sincerely repent of your sin and put your faith in Jesus? The difference in an insincere profession and a sincere saving faith is the difference between life and death--between HEAVEN & HELL!

CREATION SCIENCE EVANGELISM T.V.

HEY FOLKS, I'VE GOT AN AWESOME LINK FOR YOU TODAY! Here is the link from dr.dino.com for Creation Science Evangelism T.V. This means you can watch continuous streaming debates between Dr. Kent Hovind and Evolutionists as well as other awesome stuff. I could get addicted to this channel easy...check it out and leave comments on what you find!

SPRING REVIVAL 2009 @ GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH

EVERYONE is invited to the Spring Revival at Grace Baptist Church coming April 27th - 29th. Our Guest Preacher will be Pastor Bobby Stewart of Redemption Baptist Church in Morgan County. We will have special singing Nightly at 7:00PM. Come Join us...there's never been a better time to get back into church!

WHATS SO BAD ABOUT A BELIEVER DYING?

APART FROM THOSE CHRISTIANS ALIVE WHEN THE RAPTURE OCCURS, WE WILL ALL FACE THE CHILLING HAND OF DEATH. (nice way to start off a post huh?)

Nevertheless this is the truth. Death is seen as an enemy, but what is so bad about a believer dying?

IS IT THE PAIN?

1. 
   
   Pain is felt by the mortal body, but death is separation from the mortal body.


2. 
   
   Those believers who die have left pain behind along with the problems of life.


3. 
   
   So, it can't be Pain...

IS IT THE LOSS OF HOPE?

1. 
   
   Actually, for a believer, death is HOPE realized!


2. 
   
   Jesus is our hope of Eternal life...in death we find that promise fulfilled.


3. 
   
   "For to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord"


4. 
   
   So, it can't be a loss of hope...

IS IT FEAR?

1. 
   
   Death is mentioned as something that stings, but we often fear things which cannot harm us.


2. 
   
   Death, for a believer, is like a garter snake...no fangs...it might look like something dangerous, but there's really nothing to fear.


3. 
   
   The "sting" of death was sin and the penalty of God's law for sin, which is eternal separation (second death)...but through faith in Jesus Christ the penalty of sin has been paid for us, so it can't be fear...

IS IT THE LOSS OF MORTAL LIFE?

1. 
   
   Mortal life is only temporary for any of us!


2. 
   
   In Christ the mortal shall put on immortality and the life to come and the glorified body promised are far better!


3. 
   
   Believers who die leave behind: pain, sorrow, troubles / trials...they would never trade what they have now to come back to the mortal body!


4. 
   
   In fact, they would rather see you leave the mortal body to come to where they are now with Christ for it is far better, so it can't be a loss of mortal life...

THE ANSWER IS THAT IT IS A LOSS OF FELLOWSHIP WITH THOSE WHO PASS!

1. 
   
   We who are left behind in the mortal life long for their company but can no longer have it...we miss them being with us here.


2. 
   
   We are left here wondering about mysteries they already fully understand!!


3. 
   
   But our hope is also in Jesus Christ and so we have the assurance that though they will not come back to us, our loss of fellowship is only temporary! We will one day join them!

WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN?

PHILOSOPHERS would argue that GOD cannot exist because evil exists in the world...the fundamental (fun & mental) question becoming: "How could a benevolent, all knowing, all powerful God allow BAD THINGS to happen?"

This is a completely valid question and one for which the Bible has the answer! Let's examine the facts, shall we?

Genesis tells us that when God had completed his creative work, he examined everything and said it was all GOOD! So what happened?

1. 
   
   Rather than worshipful robots, God created his creatures with a free will. The angels have free will and some chose to rebel, Lucifer being apparently chief instigator in that rebellion.


2. 
   
   Lucifer/Satan then tempted mankind in the garden of Eden with disobedience to God's clear commandment not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil...mankind disobeyed God and became sinners like Satan.


3. 
   
   Romans 5 informs us that this initial rebellion affected all of Adam & Eve's descendants coming into the world...so that all became sinners and sin's death penalty passed unto all mankind.


4. 
   
   Not only that, but the entire world is now under a curse because of our initial and continued rebellion to our Creator!


5. 
   
   Man still has a free will and a natural tendency toward sin...so of course BAD THINGS are going to happen! Man chooses to make bad things happen! There are consequences for our daily rebellion in which we inflict ourselves upon other's lives with consequences.

The whole creation is groaning (Rom 8) and travailing just waiting for God's plan to come all the way around where sin will be judged and put down forever, where Righteousness will prevail and the Redeemed will live forever in a NEW HEAVEN and NEW EARTH. Folks God's plan isn't to renovate what we all polluted with sin. His goal in creation is to do a short work upon the Earth and cut it short in Righteousness (Rom 9)! God made everything good knowing that his creatures would pollute it, that he would have to redeem it, that he would have to come down from heaven in the form of humanity and pay for our sins to do it, and that ultimately he would re-create the heavens and the Earth for the redeemed to inhabit a creation that is ALL GOOD! No wonder the bible proclaims (Rom 8) that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them called according to His purpose!"

STREETS OF GOLD IN HEAVEN?

Does Heaven really have streets of gold? Just asking that question might insight the rancor of my fellow Christians, but I think we often miss fundamental things about God's Word by not paying close enough attention. The bible tells us of three distinct "Heavens" which exist in Creation.

1. 
   
   The Firmament or "Atmosphere" of Earth mentioned in Genesis, which is where the birds fly and planes, when they're doing alright.


2. 
   
   The Celestial Heaven or space containing all of the various planetary bodies, stars and so forth. These declare the glory of God.


3. 
   
   The Third Heaven mentioned by Paul particularly, which is the dwelling place of God in the spiritual realm.

Now, none of these is ever said to have streets of Gold as we generally describe Heaven. The fact of the matter is that when we use these descriptions of "Streets of Gold and Gates of Pearl, etc," we are actually referring to the God-made city of New Jerusalem. But this is not Heaven in any of the three forms mentioned in scripture. The bible (Rev 21) says that New Jerusalem descends from God out of Heaven. Now we may postulate that this city actually comes into existence from the spiritual realm where God dwells and enters the physical realm to at the very least remain in orbit with the New Earth. Since the city's dimensions are approximately 1500 miles in height, width and length and is never said to actually touch down on the earth, it is safe to say that it might only remain in orbit, though at that size, highly visible.

One of the things Christians generalize away when considering eternity, is the fact that we aren't ever said to be hanging around on a cloud playing a harp, twinking halos. The future for a Christian is highly active...Praise the Lord for that cause I get bored easy! Think about all that the bible foretells:

1. 
   
   finishing our natural lives pursuing the Great Commission and a close, faithful walk with God...all with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit.


2. 
   
   The gathering of all believers at the rapture, receiving glorified bodies at that time.


3. 
   
   The Judgment Seat of Christ, where every believer will give an account of their faithfulness to the work we have now (#1).


4. 
   
   The Marriage Supper of the Lamb, a great celebration which appears to follow the Judgment Seat and precede the Second Coming of Christ.


5. 
   
   The Second Coming of Christ where he will come with the armies of heaven...that's us as well folks...see Jude 14...and the battle of Armageddon!


6. 
   
   The establishment of Christs kingdom upon a renewed earth following the battle and imprisonment of Satan himself in the pit.


7. 
   
   The co-governing of Christ's kingdom with our Lord for 1,000 years leading to the final rebellion of Satan and mankind.


8. 
   
   The Great White Throne judgment where we will almost certainly stand present..."and so shall we ever be with the Lord." Likewise we will stand in judgment at some point of the angels that rebelled, perhaps at the same time Satan is judged finally...though we aren't told.


9. 
   
   A new Heaven and Earth will be created and the New Jerusalem will come down from God out of Heaven. We believers shall inhabit that city for eternity as well as having access to the new Earth and very likely access to the entire creation...no death, no pain, glorified bodies...oh, I'd say that's likely.

The point is that we have a lot going on for the believer in Jesus Christ...if we study the Word of God, we'll find not only greater accuracy in our understanding but a glorious future that shall never end!

UNPROVABLE EVOLUTION

If I told you this LEGO sculpture of a man had assembled itself, would you believe me? What if I told you that it had occurred over millions of years...how about billions? You'd call me crazy, and you'd be right. Clearly someone with alot of ability put all these pieces together to form what we see in the sculpture...but do you realize that is exactly the fairy tale Evolutionists are selling to millions of people in this world?!

"EVOLUTION IS UNPROVED AND UNPROVABLE. WE BELIEVE IT ONLY BECAUSE THE ALTERNATIVE IS SPECIAL CREATION, AND THAT IS UNTHINKABLE."

This is a quote from an Evolutionist, actually Sir Authur Keith, who wrote the forward to Darwin's Origin of the Species. Does it surprise you that not even famous scientists and evolutionists believe this theory is valid or provable? The fact is, most people who believe in the theory of Evolution have no way to explain why they believe it - CLIK TO SEE A VIDEO TO THAT EFFECT.

No Evolutionist can explain the very core problem with this belief system...how did every living thing come from nothing? How did non-living matter become alive?

In the end of this debate we find faith. For the Believer: In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth. For the Evolutionist: In the beginning, Nothing became Something by pure chance.

Which belief system are you willing to trust with your immortal soul?

LONG LOST EVANGELISM!

WHY DON'T WE SEE BIBLE BELIEVERS EVANGELIZING THE LOST?! When's the last time you heard someone complain about those pesky baptists (or any other bible believers) always coming around, knocking on their doors trying to invite them to come to church or be born again into the family of God through faith in Jesus Christ?

It is a sad testimony to our laziness as believers that about the only times we visit people in the communities around our churches is for vacation bible school kickoffs, or as Pastors, to visit a "prospect," - someone who happened to wander through the doors of our church one Sunday.

The fact of the matter is that in today's culture, it's perfectly alright to be someone who never goes to church, someone who doesn't even believe in God...so there's not much incentive for lost people to simply wander into church. WE HAVE TO GO OUT TO THEM!! But we don't...

1. 
   
   In the bible, the disciples of the Lord went from house to house with the gospel message...but we don't


2. 
   
   The cults are going with a false gospel of works...yet we have the truth and never say a word.


3. 
   
   Cult members are evangelizing the unsaved because they believe this will earn them a way into heaven...WE believers should be evangelizing the unsaved because we are going to heaven and want others to go their as well!

Okay Preacher, I'm guilty...now what do I do? First of all be willing to put a little rubber to the road and go into the highways and bi-ways to reach out to the lost...remember they have no natural desire to go into a church now-a-days. Used to, people were expected to be God-fearing and go to church just as a way of being upright...not anymore. Lost people are not going to bust down the doors of your bible believing / preaching church...we're going to have to bust out of the church house in order to go after them!

1. 
   
   Do I need to be a preacher to go? ABSOLUTELY NOT! In fact the Great Commission was given to the entire body of believers! Pastors, evangelists, preacher and teachers were actually given unto the church (Eph 4:11).


2. 
   
   Do I need to have a lot of scripture memorized to go? NO, but knowing the bible is ALWAYS a great idea! You never know when someone might ask you a question or put a scripture to you trying to stump you on the meaning...that never looks good. The fact is, you are delivering a message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, period. If you've experienced that then you are qualified to tell others, right?


3. 
   
   Should I put my foot in the door when they open it and preach at them? NOT unless you're wearing steel-toed boots, cause they're about to slam your foot with that door! The truth is that in our modern culture, people are AFRAID of other people coming to their houses! Either they'll assume you are part of a cult (don't dress in the white shirt and tie) or they'll think you're up to NO GOOD! When I go door to door, carrying materials from the church, people usually brighten up when they realize, I'm just the Pastor from the Baptist church down the road coming to invite them...actually they look perplexed, because people aren't used to seeing bible believers out inviting them at all...sad, sad, sad but true.


4. 
   
   You don't need to really do anything but show them that you cared enough about their soul to make the effort of walking down the road to their house in order to invite them out to your church services. A friendly caring impression is worth much more than bible thumping on their porch. Leave that to the preacher when they come visit your church...they'll expect preaching then and most likely be more open to listening. At the door they want to be rid of you before you turn out to be a maniac trying to kill them...and the newspapers tell us that happens, so don't feel bad about their response. People are cautious for their lives and with good reason. Just show yourself, HARMLESS, CARING AND COURTEOUS. People's minds are filled images of RELIGIOUS FANATICS doing crazy things while they shout scripture at their victims...don't feed those thoughts...surprise them by a compassionate invitation, placing well prepared materials (cd message, tract, church info) into their hands and telling them to have a nice day. If they want to talk more then talk, but don't impose upon them, they sure won't come visit your church for more of that!


5. 
   
   IF THEY AREN'T AT HOME (or happen to be hiding in the closet until you leave :-) then leave your materials at the door and go. Always try to knock on the door if possible (barring rottweilers or trespassing signs). A FRIENDLY FACE and INVITE BEATS a discarded paper track left on their door any day!!

Christ gave us the commission to go forth and preach the gospel unto every creature...we've got a job to do, if we'll just bust out of our comfort zones and do it! Hey the cults are doing it, so we could do it...and we've actually got the true way of salvation to share! Isn't that worth doing. Wouldn't you like to stand at the judgment seat of Christ one day and hear, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant?" I know I would, and that is up to us.

NEED A JOB? A GREAT COMMISSION!

How many people have you heard say, "Boy I sure wish I could find the will of God for my life," or "I'd be glad to serve the Lord, if I only knew what he wanted me to do."

Well, Believers, I've got wonderful news for you! Jesus left the church (believers) a GREAT COMMISSION! In other words, he left us a JOB to do until he comes again. Isn't it wonderful to know that in an economic downspiral and rising rate of unemployment, that God has left each and every believer a job to do?

What is our job? SEED SOWERS...what? Yes, that's right, Jesus said to preach the gospel unto every creature and the bible clearly tells us (matt 13) that the Word of God is like seed that we are sent forth to sow everywhere we go. In the parable of Matt 13 we find Jesus explaining our job to us...we take the seed (word of God) and spread it in every direction. But preacher I don't know where to sow it. That's why you sow it everywhere! Some will fall in the weeds, some in the rocks and some on the old hard road, but some will fall into the good ground...into the the lives of those who will ultimately turn from their sin to put their genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and be born again into the family of God.

That's our job and so often we aren't doing it...oh we sit in church week after week, waiting for sinners to wander into our churches, but folks that just isn't reality. We now live in a society where it is perfectly alright to never go to church. This ain't Andy Griffith days we're living in. Now-a-days the church going, God fearing folk are on the minority side...on the fringe of society not in the well respected place we once held. The world is changing, society has changed and we can't expect sinners to run to our pews! WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SHOW ENOUGH COMPASSION TO GET UP AND GO INVITE THEM TO COME...What is it the Spirit and the Bride (believers) say unto the lost world in Revelation 22? "COME!"

If Bible believing, preaching churches want to see souls saved and people coming into the sanctuarys to hear the word of God, then we're going to have to show our communities that we care enough to invite them! Most people don't crash parties...it's so much better when you're invited to come!

NEW FEATURES UP FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE!

Hello all, don't forget to check out the new features going up here at BIBLE-SMART! On the DOCTRINE FOR DUMMIES page we've got lots of new posts on HEAVEN, HELL, SATAN, DEMONS, THE TRINITY, THE RAPTURE, NEW JERUSALEM, NEW HEAVENS AND EARTH, and many more!

Also we've gone to a separate page for everyones favorite simian scientist, PROFESSOR DARWIN! Check back often on these sidebar links to see the updates to these pages as well as our REVELATION STUDY page which updates with a new chapter every Friday!

WHY BOTHER GOING TO CHURCH?

*PROFESSOR DARWIN GETS HIS OWN FEATURE PAGE! SEE SIDEBAR*

WHY BOTHER GOING TO CHURCH? This might sound like an insane question to ask, but how many times have you heard someone say, "I can worship God on the lake, out in the woods or down at my house, just as well as I can down at the church house?" An insane question to ask, you say? Well then why do we see the size of a congregation dwindle close to half from Sunday Morning service to Sunday Evening and even worse than that on Wednesday services?

I suppose the quick answer to the question is, "Because God commands us to go to Church!" Actually in (Hebrews 10:25) we find that God commands us, "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is; but exorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching."

One might point out that God didn't necessarily command you to go down to the church building on Sundays and Wednesdays, but that tends to be where Believers do assemble themselves and those generally are the days when they assemble themselves. So, I'd like us to not debate whether or not God wants you to go to church...clearly he does. But let's look at why He wants you to assemble with Believers then you might see the value never question it again!

1. 
   
   If you haven't been saved then you can hear God's Word preached here and you can have your questions concerning your sin, God's judgment and Salvation answered by those equipped to do so. There's really no better place to come to Jesus in faith than in a good Bible believing / preaching church...although you can be saved anywhere you find yourself willing to be.


2. 
   
   For Believers, God has placed you into His family and he wants you to assemble together so that you can encourage one another to walk by faith and serve God with your lives.


3. 
   
   When we assemble with other Believers we surround ourselves with a support group of other saved sinners who have been or are currently going through the same heartaches and trials you may be going through. Who better to have praying for you than those who know how you're feeling?


4. 
   
   When we assemble with other Believers we find role models of faith who influence and encourage us to serve God faithfully. We also can be taught by those who have a wealth of experience and knowledge of God's Word. Who better to answer your questions and help you grow in the Lord than God's people?


5. 
   
   When we assemble with other Believers we place ourselves among brothers and sisters who will hold us accountable for our behavior...consider that if God were standing over your shoulder, you'd behave the right way ALL of the time...well, of course God is there, but we don't act like it. In the company of Believers we walk uprightly as we should because we see them watching. This helps us to walk uprightly when we aren't in their company as well.


6. 
   
   In the assembly of Believers there are positions of responsibility to be held that give us a tangible opportunity to serve God and others. If you can't even be faithful enough to obey God and assemble with other Believers then how will He ever find you faithful enough to do greater things?

Folks, these are just a few simple thoughts about going to Church (assembling with other believers) and the benefits we receive from obeying this particular commandment of God. However, consider this closing thought: Not only can others become a blessing to you in the Church, but your life can become a blessing unto others as you grow, serve, pray, endure trials, walk by faith, teach and maybe even preach God's word. Isn't it better to live a valuable life than one wasted?