One of the obstacles in the church today, is that people profess to be Christians with their mouths but not with the lives. Many would argue that all you have to do is "believe" in Jesus and you will be saved. They often even use scripture to back up that claim. John 6:47 says "he who believes has everlasting life. However, when people use verses like that (meaning like that is the end of the story) they tend leave VITAL parts of the story.
Example. A transcript of announcers at Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers game in overtime.
....field goal try to win the game. There's the snap, it up and it's GOOD!!! BEARS WIN!!! BEARS WIN!!
If someone (especially a bear fan) was browsing through that transcript and read BEARS WIN they would often conclude that the Bears won. However, if they kept reading, and in fact read the whole transcript, they would realize that the Bears right tackle jumped offsides, they were backed up 5 yards, and missed the next field goal attempt. Green Bay took over, drove it down the field, and won the game.
Some may be saying, "Come on Mike we have heard for years, all you have to do is believe in Jesus. We go to church, we have been baptized, etc. etc. How can you say that is not enough?"
Well, as always, we have to go to God's word. Read Acts 8: 9-24 the story of Simon the Sorcerer. We see that Simon was man that was highly regarded because of his magic arts. in Samaria, he attracted big crowds from all different segments of society from the smallest to the greatest. They even claimed that he was the power of God. Then Phillip came to Samaria preaching the word, healing the sick, and casting out demons. And the people heard Phillip and were being baptized, men and women alike.
Then we see that even Simon the Sorcerer BELIEVED and was BAPTIZED. He started following Phillip and was amazed at what Phillip was doing.
We then see that the apostles came to pray for and were laying hands on the people and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw this, he wanted this power that the apostles had. He offered to pay for this power. We see Peter's response to him in verse 20 "May your silver PERISH WITH YOU, because you thought that you could obtain the gift of God with money. Peter goes on to say that your heart is not right before God.
Peter tells him to repent, and says that Simon is still stuck in bondage to sin. Instead of doing what Peter instructs him, Simon tells Peter to pray for him. Simon was unwilling to to do what is necessary to be approved by God.
So we see that Simon BELIEVED was BAPTIZED and even followed Phillip for a while. However, he did not want give up his previous life and truly follow Christ as Christ said in 10:39 "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Even though Simon believed, he did not want to give up his previous sinful life and because of this he will perish as Peter said.
Do not be deceived into thinking that you are saved only because you believe in Jesus. We not only have to accept Christ as our Savior but also accept Christ as Lord of our lives. He is what we live for. Until next time.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Welcome Facebook Friends
Welcome facebook friends. I hope that this works. I started this blog a few months ago, feel free to take a look at it from the beginning.
Well, for the most part, I started this blog as a way to share what the Lord is doing in my life with family and close friends. I have been reluctant to get involved in the facebook frenzy due to some of the downside possibilities that are associated with being exposed to the world.
However, there are some upsides also. After some deep thought, I realized that trusting God is not just something that we say. If we are truly committed to being obedient to God's word, then the challenges that come with that are to be welcomed. For as Jesus said in Matthew 16:24 If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
It is my desire to do God's will, and when I start to worry about this earthly tent, then I am not trusting in God as I should. As I step out in faith, my prayer is that God would be glorified in this new experience.
However, there are some upsides also. After some deep thought, I realized that trusting God is not just something that we say. If we are truly committed to being obedient to God's word, then the challenges that come with that are to be welcomed. For as Jesus said in Matthew 16:24 If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
It is my desire to do God's will, and when I start to worry about this earthly tent, then I am not trusting in God as I should. As I step out in faith, my prayer is that God would be glorified in this new experience.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Challenge continued
As we continue our search of what a true believer in Christ looks like, we are reminded that we are to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. 2 Corinthians 13:5.
However, when we examine ourselves, we need to measure ourselves with what God says in the Bible and not what the world says. That goes back to the false assumption that "good people go to Heaven"
After that examination, what did you find? Im sure for most of us, what we found was not very appealing. When we went to Kansas a couple of weeks ago, there was a quote from Brennan Manning in the back of the church. It stated "The single greatest cause of atheism in the world is today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, and then walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyles. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."
Jesus said this in Matthew 10:33 "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven."
In the first part of Matthew 7:21 Jesus says "Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven.
What is IMPORTANT to understand from that verse, (and in fact from the whole Bible) is that God does not guarantee heaven to everyone who "says" they have faith in Christ.
So, after the examination of ourselves, did we find that we are only confessing our faith in Christ with our lips?........If so, be assured just as Jesus said, you will NOT be going to heaven.
When we look at the second part of Matthew 7:21, we see what is required of us to get into heaven........"but he who DOES the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter."
Do not be fooled, you cannot be a true believer by just professing your faith in Christ; your lifestyle has to show it. Does EVERYONE: family, current friends, older friends, co-workers, etc. KNOW that you are a follower of Christ? If not, be moving toward making Him known. Until next time.
However, when we examine ourselves, we need to measure ourselves with what God says in the Bible and not what the world says. That goes back to the false assumption that "good people go to Heaven"
After that examination, what did you find? Im sure for most of us, what we found was not very appealing. When we went to Kansas a couple of weeks ago, there was a quote from Brennan Manning in the back of the church. It stated "The single greatest cause of atheism in the world is today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, and then walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyles. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."
Jesus said this in Matthew 10:33 "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven."
In the first part of Matthew 7:21 Jesus says "Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven.
What is IMPORTANT to understand from that verse, (and in fact from the whole Bible) is that God does not guarantee heaven to everyone who "says" they have faith in Christ.
So, after the examination of ourselves, did we find that we are only confessing our faith in Christ with our lips?........If so, be assured just as Jesus said, you will NOT be going to heaven.
When we look at the second part of Matthew 7:21, we see what is required of us to get into heaven........"but he who DOES the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter."
Do not be fooled, you cannot be a true believer by just professing your faith in Christ; your lifestyle has to show it. Does EVERYONE: family, current friends, older friends, co-workers, etc. KNOW that you are a follower of Christ? If not, be moving toward making Him known. Until next time.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
what is #1 in your life?
As most of you know that Kathy's grandma passed away on April 12th, and we went back to Kansas for the services. Tami and Kim's grandma passed away on April 10th, and they went back to Pennsylvania for her services. With the death of someone that is related to you, it is often a time to truly reflect on what is important in life.
Many of us are focused on our jobs and trying to acquire wealth. But the Bible is clear in Matthew 6:19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth.......v 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven.
Many of us are focused on school, gaining knowledge and wisdom from the world. But the Bible is clear in 1 Corinthians 1:20 (NIV) Where is the wise man? where is the scholar? where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world.
Many of us are focused on our status among people, what car we drive, how big our house is, clothes we wear, etc in an effort to "show off what we have". But the Bible is clear in 1 John 2:15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world , the love of the Father is not in him.
Many of us are focused on our families. But the Bible is clear in Matthew 12:48-50 Jesus replied to them, Who is my mother and who are my brothers? Pointing to his disciples, He said, here are my mother and brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.
Now don't misinterpret this, there is nothing wrong with any of these. But when they become the focal point of our lives instead of Christ, that is where the problem enters. We need to focus our lives on Jesus, once this is realized, then all the other things will fall into place.
I read a book in high school called I am Third. It basically relayed the message of the Lord is first, my friends(family) is second, and I am Third.
With the death of loved ones close to us and even the death of ourselves coming at anytime the question that should be asked of ourselves, Is the Lord first in your lives?
Until next time.
Many of us are focused on our jobs and trying to acquire wealth. But the Bible is clear in Matthew 6:19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth.......v 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven.
Many of us are focused on school, gaining knowledge and wisdom from the world. But the Bible is clear in 1 Corinthians 1:20 (NIV) Where is the wise man? where is the scholar? where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world.
Many of us are focused on our status among people, what car we drive, how big our house is, clothes we wear, etc in an effort to "show off what we have". But the Bible is clear in 1 John 2:15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world , the love of the Father is not in him.
Many of us are focused on our families. But the Bible is clear in Matthew 12:48-50 Jesus replied to them, Who is my mother and who are my brothers? Pointing to his disciples, He said, here are my mother and brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.
Now don't misinterpret this, there is nothing wrong with any of these. But when they become the focal point of our lives instead of Christ, that is where the problem enters. We need to focus our lives on Jesus, once this is realized, then all the other things will fall into place.
I read a book in high school called I am Third. It basically relayed the message of the Lord is first, my friends(family) is second, and I am Third.
With the death of loved ones close to us and even the death of ourselves coming at anytime the question that should be asked of ourselves, Is the Lord first in your lives?
Until next time.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
A New Challenge
The posts up until now have been sort of basic in the beliefs of Christianity. Now I am going to go into an area that is going to challenge us. It is going to challenge in a way that we often are not comfortable with. It is going to challenge the status quo in our lives. It is my desire and hope that as we explore this area that we are able to do so with an open heart so we can grow in knowledge and mature in our walk with the Lord.
The area we are going explore, I am going to put in the form of a question. What does believing in Jesus look like?
I think that generally people today have a false sense of assurance that they are going to Heaven. Some may say how can you make such a sweeping, broad brush statement like that. I am not making this statement based on my own opinion, it is God making this statement in the Bible.
To the unbelievers who say God loves us and good people will go to heaven. Jesus tells us otherwise in Matthew 7:14 But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a FEW will find it.
To the people who think they are Christian because they prayed a certain prayer, or go to church, or read the Bible, etc. Jesus says to them in Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven.
John also responds to these type of people in 1 John 2:4 The man who says I know him, but does not do what He commands is a liar and the truth is not in him.
The Bible gives many examples of people who "SAY" they are a Christian; however, God says that they are deceived.
When judgement day comes, we don't want to be the ones that we think we are going to Heaven and God says to us (Matthew 7:23) I NEVER KNEW YOU; DEPART FROM ME. We want to be the ones on judgement day where God says to us (Matthew 25:21) WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!!
How can we be assured that we are true and genuine believers in Christ?
First...2 Corinthians 13:5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith: examine yourselves. Also we see in 2 Peter 1:10 Be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you. And again in 1 Corinthians 11:28 But a man must examine himself.
So the first thing that we need to do is examine ourselves. We need to ask the Lord to help cause a true, authentic, and honest look at ourselves and give us a strong desire to correct the changes in our lives that are needed.
Until next time
The area we are going explore, I am going to put in the form of a question. What does believing in Jesus look like?
I think that generally people today have a false sense of assurance that they are going to Heaven. Some may say how can you make such a sweeping, broad brush statement like that. I am not making this statement based on my own opinion, it is God making this statement in the Bible.
To the unbelievers who say God loves us and good people will go to heaven. Jesus tells us otherwise in Matthew 7:14 But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a FEW will find it.
To the people who think they are Christian because they prayed a certain prayer, or go to church, or read the Bible, etc. Jesus says to them in Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven.
John also responds to these type of people in 1 John 2:4 The man who says I know him, but does not do what He commands is a liar and the truth is not in him.
The Bible gives many examples of people who "SAY" they are a Christian; however, God says that they are deceived.
When judgement day comes, we don't want to be the ones that we think we are going to Heaven and God says to us (Matthew 7:23) I NEVER KNEW YOU; DEPART FROM ME. We want to be the ones on judgement day where God says to us (Matthew 25:21) WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!!
How can we be assured that we are true and genuine believers in Christ?
First...2 Corinthians 13:5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith: examine yourselves. Also we see in 2 Peter 1:10 Be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you. And again in 1 Corinthians 11:28 But a man must examine himself.
So the first thing that we need to do is examine ourselves. We need to ask the Lord to help cause a true, authentic, and honest look at ourselves and give us a strong desire to correct the changes in our lives that are needed.
Until next time
Friday, April 2, 2010
Christ Died Today
It is interesting how we often make big deals about birthdays, wedding anniverseries, etc; however, we don't really pay too much attention to the day that Jesus died for us. Today a little less than 2000 years ago, as followers of Christ, we are reminded and humbled, that Jesus our King died for us.
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