Bible Studies
You see the world is willing to recognize Christ and to esteem, regard, Him, in fact, hold in high regard, to His Birth and death as a good thing. And at the same time never understand that it is a personal thing: It is my sin that He suffered and bled and died for, which is the reason He came into the world. Just look around at this Christmas Season: It is His birth and not the reason for His birth that is so pressed on us. The message of the cross is the reason for His birth!
I want us to examine our Saviour's Word of Grace found here in Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
It is important to see how God framed this invitation in the verses of our text 1:14-20. After the charges leveled by God against false worship, pretense, and hypocrisy and the warning to correct; He said: "Come now...."
It is important to see how God framed this invitation in the verses of our text 1:14-20. After the charges leveled by God against false worship, pretense, and hypocrisy and the warning to correct; He said: "Come now...."
Scriptures: Romans 9:30-33, 1 Peter 2:1-7
Contrary to what is taught in the religious world all roads don't lead to heaven. And if you leave this world (die) without Christ, who said, "...I am the way..." You can't return from death and have another opportunity. The Central message of the Bible is the story of Redemption. Throughout the Bible, we are warned: Prepare for Eternity - "Prepare to meet thy God".
The way of salvation is clearly marked in God's Word: It is the Gospel of Christ, Romans 1:16. If a person misses Christ it is because of disobedience to Holy spirit in the Gospel message.
The way of salvation is clearly marked in God's Word: It is the Gospel of Christ, Romans 1:16. If a person misses Christ it is because of disobedience to Holy spirit in the Gospel message.
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, 1 Peter 1:23-2:3
Rahab bound the scarlet thread in the window because the desire to be saved is written in the DNA of all mankind. Jos 2:21 "And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window. " The scarlet thread represented her sin. She was saying, "I have sinned, I need to be saved" I am depending on you to save me. Therefore the world stands before the LORD with the need to be saved.
How could the LORD give such a sure and inclusive invitation? Remember the LORD said, "these sayings are true and faithful" How He could say to the thief on the cross, Luk 23:43 ".....Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." In just a short time, Christ would die for him. How can you be sure you are included in the word "Come". When Christ died for the thief, He died for you. Christ died for all. 1Pe_2:24 "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." 2Co_5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
It is faithful and true that God included you in all the work of Christ, 1Co_1:30 "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"
It is faithful and true that God included you in all the work of Christ, 1Co_1:30 "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"
If He had a mind to be our Saviour and endure the suffering to accomplish that work of Redemption, then we should have a mind to take up our cross and follow Him. Will there be any half hearted Christians in heaven? There will be people saved yet so as by fire. But let me say this: No one plans to be saved yet so as by fire! No one wants to be! They will say at the JSOC: I didn't intend to be! What happened? Got careless, put off discipleship, got caught with no time to make things right!
I am glad to go to the House of the LORD because of the Forgiveness He has provided, Psa 22:15 " My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death." Among other sufferings, He suffered intense thirst. He said, "I thirst". He who made the rivers cried, "I thirst". He gave me Living Water but for that Water, He had to die!
The unsaved will carry no significance into eternity. Isaiah 65:19. So what have you achieved if you have gained all but yet you were lost? Mat_16:26 " For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" What has a person profited if no home in heaven awaits him? Or to the saved what have you profited if empty handed you stand before Christ at the JSOC? Therefore greatness is determined by Christ. So who is greatest in the Kingdom of God?
The gap can only be bridged by His body, the Church.  By you as a member of that body saying to Him: I will stand in the gap; I will represent you. 2Co 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God
The key to filling the gap is in the Word of God, 2 Timothy2: 3-4 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
No greater work could one do for their Saviour than to understand you are saved to be a Soldier.
The key to filling the gap is in the Word of God, 2 Timothy2: 3-4 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
No greater work could one do for their Saviour than to understand you are saved to be a Soldier.
When the New Millennium was ushered in at mid-night,12/31/1999, in Sydney Australia, that celebration was designed to out- do all others. The dazzling display of fireworks over Sydney Harbor is amazing ( I viewed it on youtube). Something that made their celebration different is from the middle of those exploding fireworks, toward the end of the display, came forth the word "Eternity". That word penetrates our heart because we are eternal beings. "Eternity" is a sermon in that one word. You could take the word "Eternity and write it over Revelation 21 and 22.
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