“For 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) 

“For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.” (Ro 4:2-8)

However! If we keep on reading we find far too many other scriptures balancing what has become an “easy believism” religion of fire insurance after death with no evidence of spiritual regeneration changing one’s daily routine fulfilling the desires of the flesh. The concept that membership in the Kingdom of God is simply a “get out of jail free” card is absolutely antithetical to what scripture teaches. 

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Continue reading “161) Stillborn Faith”

There is a casual attitude about sin among people who trust that the New Testament letters teaching that “by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8) has exempted us from being held responsible for our actions.

This is a gross misunderstanding of what it means to be “saved from sin”. Keep reading the passage in scripture.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

“the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:11-14)

Continue reading “162) Saved From Damnation Is Saved From Domination”

From Decision For Christ – Broadcasting Hope across the US and 120 nations around the world:

Whether you have never been the church going type or you dropped out of church, or gave up on church all together, you are welcome here. Our desire is to help you find peace with God by making your personal commitment to Jesus Christ.Coming to Jesus and keeping your commitment is challenging but will bring you peace and purpose to your life. Turn from your life of sin and give your life to Christ today. The Bible says, “Today is the day of salvation.”To receive Christ as your Lord and Savior, we invite you to pray:

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner. I choose to turn away from my sinful ways. I realize your son Jesus died on a cross in my place for my sins. I believe Jesus died for me to pay for the judgment I deserve for my sins. I believe Jesus rose from the dead to insure eternal life for me. I trust Jesus as my Lord and Savior today. Thank you for saving me and making me born again through the presence of Your Holy Spirit Who gives me the power to live a life that pleases you. In Your holy name I pray, Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, please go to our Contact Us page and email us about your salvation. We would like to send you free literature to help you learn how to pray and to understand and know God better. God bless you as you begin your new life with Him.

Uh, no. That’s not how it works.

Do we not hear the Luciferian arrogance “I will!” in this approach?

Continue reading “163) Making A Decision For The Christ”

“John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God / the Christ, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom…I come baptizing with water...he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost…the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus…We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.” (John 1:20-41)

Legalistic Jews and pagans alike understood the meaning and necessity of baptism preached by John the Baptist, Jesus and his Apostles. This makes sense given that all alternative methods of obtaining eternal life must have some basic concepts in common. It is just our dispirited society that has lost the meaning.

The Greek word “baptizo” as used in Mark 1:4 ( “And so John came, baptizing in the desert region . . .” ) was very common among Greek-speaking people; it is used in every period of Greek literature and was applied to a great variety of matters, including the most familiar acts of everyday life. Greek speakers and hearers understood the word at the time John was preaching; it had no doubtful meaning. It meant what we express by the Latin word ‘immerse’…

Continue reading “164) Baptized Into The Jewish Messiah”

“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” (Matthew 10:34-36)

Think about that. The household of the scripturally legitimate King of Israel was his cadre of ministers.

Jesus is declaring war on the establishment.

By Jesus’ day both the Aaronic lineage of priests and the Davidic royal dynasty had been supplanted by first the Hasmoneans then the Herodians. If scripture was going to be fulfilled, they had to be replaced.

Continue reading “165) Melchisedec Is Still A Man Of War”

In defiance of all the evidence, Nicodemus’ legal colleagues decided to secure their short term in office in a petty political position by eliminating Yeshua altogether.

From John 18:

Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons…

• Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,
• And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
• Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people…
• The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
• Then led they Jesus…unto the [Roman] hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.

Oh yes, early. Hustle Yeshua in and out privately before the adoring public gets wind of this.

• Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?

You can imagine him with a napkin in his hand, brushing toast crumbs from his mouth just like he intends to brush off this annoying interruption on a day that would develop into major turmoil with the Jewish sectarian crowds for the Passover alone, not to mention those zealots against Rome.

Continue reading “166) My Kingdom Is Not Of This World”

“And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem…then sent Jesus two disciples…ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me…All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet:

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass…and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be…to the ends of the earth.” (Zechariah 9:7-10)

“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers...And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. 

And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them…a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And…cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest…This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.”  (Matthew 21)

So far, so good, but Jesus is waiting for the rulers to cry “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

Which they didn’t do.

Continue reading “167) Proof Of Life”

The whole plan of salvation is that humans take dominion. The New Covenant only has meaning in the context of winning The War Of The Worlds, begun at the beginning of time between the Creator and the Destroyer.

1. LORD of hosts / armies – “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.“ (Genesis 2:1)
2. Father / Absolute Authority and Source of Power – “God said, Let us make man / ha Adam in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion.” (Genesis 1:26)
3. Singularity – And the LORD God…took one of his ribs…and made he a woman…they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2:21-23)
   1. “we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones…I speak concerning Christ and the church.” (Ephesian 5:30-33)
4. Redeemer / kinsman -“The LORD God said unto the serpent…her seed…shall bruise / crush thy head.” (Genesis 3:14-15,
   1. Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel [from battle]: and the LORD thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt be ruler [Commander in Chief] over my people Israel.” ( I Chronicles 11:1-2)
   2. Foreasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them.” (Hebrews 2:14-16)
5. Holy / consecrated, set apart one of Isra / He who struggles with – not against – El / God / The Power – “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord…Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him…And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.” (Genesis 4) The perennially popular movie The Karate Kid details the struggle as persistence in submitting to the sensei’s / master’s instructions and methods, through crippling difficulties, which results in character transformation and reflexive modeling of the master’s behavior, which is what turns oppression to victory. Hitler’s Mein Kampf / My Struggle, details the adversary’s objective -destroy the Jews
   1. Jacob…took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power WITH God.” (Hosea 12:2-5). We can legitimately understand Hosea’s phrase as “He who struggles WITH God”, i.e. according the attribute of Isra-El / Prince of Power to Jacob before God officially bestowed it on him as an adult. Infants are known to be able to be responsive to God’s Spirit,   and Jacob is apparently one of them.
   2. “Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed.” Again, do you catch the figure of two matched wrestlers? Like David’s choice of Joab and his mighty men, God chooses dogged fighter who are willing to give their lives for the cause. So much for a passive Calvinism.
   3. “He [Jacob] found him in Bethel…Even the LORD God hosts / armies: where Jacob turned every time he needed supernatural power:
      1. when fleeing from Esau
      2. when oppressed by Laban
      3. when returning to claim his inheritance in the face of Esau’s unforgiveness
      4. when fleeing from the Canaanites revenging the massacre at Shechem.

“Therefore turn THOU to thy God, keep mercy and judgment and wait on thy God continually. (Hosea 12)

Isra-El / Warrior Prince of God is not a name. It is an award, a Medal of Honor, granted in recognition of a developed character trait, perfected through years of faithfulness despite adversity, proven through exemplary behavior, designating anyone who God chooses to set apart as a ruling member of his administration.

Continue reading “SECTION XXVII: Many Called To Rule, But Few Qualify”

^“And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him…

Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons…She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said…Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.” (Matthew 20:17-23)

Saul / Paul exemplifies for all who claim to witness of the Christ by bearing his name / identity that this entails suffering, and a self-sacrificing love for people whatever ethnicity they may be, however much they may have harmed us.

Continue reading “168) Only Wounded Warriors Reign With Christ”