Читать книгу Abba's Own - David R. Lumsden - Страница 17

God says of Himself, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” (2 Pet 3: 9). Many people in the world are confused about God. Some, referred to as atheists, do not believe that He exists. Agnostics and pantheists think that there is a ‘force’ in the universe with no personal interest in a personal relationship with humankind. Some think of God and believe there are many gods, and perhaps they keep adding more gods, as in Roman, Egyptian, Hindu, i.e. Polytheistic religions. Some think of God as someone who wants to punish humankind, and that is why there is so much suffering in the world. There are some that find the true God (Elohim), who does not wish that any should perish, rather loves and wants humankind to come to repentance, so as, to dwell with Him in Heaven. He knows that humankind sinned (disobeyed God, namely Adam and Eve disobeyed God and the rest of humankind inherited their sin). Although humankind deserves eternal punishment, God loves humankind but hates their sin, but is willing to forgive all those who repent. Therefore, because God loves humankind His plan and business for humankind is salvation from sin and death so those who believe Him can have salvation in Jesus. Jesus is His only begotten Son, whom He sent into this world to die on the Cross of Calvary for the sins of the whole world, so humankind would not need to pay the price for sin and death but, have everlasting Life, through faith in Christ alone, by grace. All who believe God, who forsake their sins, and turn to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to give them new life, are saved and have received God the Holy Spirit of Jesus, as a gift, to comfort, guide, defend and lead them in the born-again life. They know that when they pass from this earth into Eternity, there will be no Second death. They have received such a remarkable change in their lives with such an amazing promise through what is called the new birth by the Holy Spirit, and they have received meaning and purpose with joy and peace, then they want to share the remarkable good news with others. In hard times, they realize God is their loving Savior, Lord, Master, Defender, Deliverer, and their Coming King, the Majesty for all believers, through Jesus Christ their Lord, their source of love and delight. They know God knows them and they know Him by His demonstration of love and care as He intersects with them throughout their new life made complete in Jesus Christ by His Spirit given them at the same time as their salvation, as God promises in His Word. They believe God and abide in His Word. They converse with God through prayer. God is their loving Father, and they are His children, who will never lose their salvation but are kept by grace complete in Jesus Christ. They believe God’s Word. Jesus is the Word, and He is God. They know the truth. Grace, mercy, and peace are and will be in them, (2 Jn 1: 1-2; Jn 11: 26), even in hard times, and they will dwell with Him, forever, in Heaven. They will not face the punishment of the second death.

Self-existent, loving Everlasting Almighty Lord God, Majestic Glory, has introduced Himself in His Word (The Holy Bible) to humankind, revealed His wonderful plan of salvation, to rescue all humanity, that means you and me, from Satan, the Fall, sinfulness, like immoral disobedience, unrighteousness, ungodly living, and lovelessness toward God and fellow man. God says that He was in His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, whom He sent to come in the flesh (Emmanuel i. e. God with us). He lived a perfect life, shed His blood, was crucified, the just for the unjust. On the third day, He was raised bodily from the dead, by the power of the Holy Spirit, for our justification. His work was a substitutionary atonement totally (i.e.He died in our place) for a gift of salvation for all humanity, especially for all those who believe God, forsake their sin and believe in Jesus as the Christ, as their Savior, and Lord by faith, (Eph 2: 8-9), so humanity does not have to work for their salvation. He gives His Holy Spirit to dwell in believers’ hearts immediately upon rescue, (Rom 8: 14-16; Gal 4: 6; 1 Jn 5: 1), to comfort, guide and, teach them to observe what He has commanded them through Christ Jesus, to live changed lives, the real Christian life out of love and obedience to Him, (Gal 4: 6-7), just as God has planned in His business of salvation. God has promised that His Son, Jesus, will return to take those who believe Him, and believe in His Son, having received His Son, thus have been born-again, back to an eternal home, called Heaven. You can know you are at peace with God today and will have eternal life in His presence, in the afterlife. That is His will for you. Will you accept and do His will?

For those, who reject the true God, in Judgment Day their future will be dismal. He will say to them, I never knew you; depart from Me (into everlasting living punishment, in a real place called Hell): “I never knew you, ye that work iniquity, (People of wicked deeds, people that think and practice that their good works will earn them a right to heaven),” (Matt 7: 23). You say “Yes, but so what?” You sound unreal if you are saying that a loving God would send unchristian friends, body, and soul, to an eternity in hell. God will if they have not believed in and received His Son, Jesus Christ. Some false teachers say a man will not face eternal punishment but will be annihilated.

A new Christian needs sound biblical, follow-up teaching. He needs to be taught to understand what the problem is, every man’s, not just his friend’s, need for the solution to sin, which God has provided through Jesus. Will he, and his friends, believe the true God, Majestic Glory, trust His Words, and His requirements, not their thoughts, and ways, for eternal life in Heaven? Why make it complicated and confusing; God’s solution is simple enough for young children to understand? One needs to be ready for eternity, God’s way; that is His business; a gift is His way. How can you be prepared for eternity, and know you are ready? These are questions that the author hopes to answer for readers. The answers do not come easy, especially if you are responsible for explaining to someone needing truth in love. God teaches spiritually discerned answers to those, who read and heed His Word. God drafted the plan and gave the instructions to and for humankind. He said that the way one may answer ‘Yes’ to be ready to be ready to be let into the Kingdom of God, (Jn 3: 3), is through a total new birth by God the Holy Spirit. God’s message to humanity is an eternal constant message, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life,” (Jn 3: 16). If you believe God, repent of your sin and, turn to Jesus to believe in Him, receive Him and trust in Him, then God will forgive you your sins, give you peace, and welcome you into His Home in Heaven in Judgment Day. Will you make your decision, for Jesus?

Observe the Apostles’ Creed, used in evangelical Lutheran worship; a summation of the Christian, biblical faith:

“I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth,

And in Jesus Christ, the Only Son, our Lord;

Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit;

Born of the Virgin Mary:

Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and was buried.

He descended into Hell. On the Third Day, He rose again from the dead;

He ascended into Heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

From thence He will come to judge the quick and the dead;

And I believe in the Holy Spirit;

The holy Christian Church;

The communion of saints;

The forgiveness of sins;

The Resurrection of the Body;

And the Life Everlasting. Amen.”⁷

God says of His Only Begotten (not created) Son, “But as many as received Him, to them gave He the right (power) to become the children of God, even to them that believe on His name,” (Jn 1: 12). Will you believe God?” Ask yourself the question about receiving Christ. You may decide to say ‘Yes.’ You do not have to go through life alone. The answer is not easy, nor simplistic, but eternal life in God’s presence, for each of us depends on our answer to God. We need His Promised Holy Spirit at the time of Salvation for being able to perceive and understand God’s gift for everyone, who will believe God, the Majestic Glory as Heavenly Father. The matter is simple on the other side of complexity. God wants to give you His gift of eternal life through His Son Jesus. That is why an individual must be born of God the Holy Spirit, as Jesus said, (Jn 3: 5-8); receive rather than work for one’s salvation. Billy Graham reflects on true spirituality, when in his autobiography, Just as I Am, he writes: “Most of all, if anything has been accomplished through my life, it has been solely God’s doing, not mine, and He, not I, must get all the credit.”⁸ The true believer gives all the glory with thanksgiving to God for eternal life and, being used in Christian service in God’s fields white unto harvest, soul-winning.

In His Word, God introduces Himself to humankind as Elohim (Hebrew) and says: “In the beginning, God (Elohim, Hebrew for God, one God-Three Persons) created the heavens and the earth,” (Gen 1: 1). God crowns his one- week creation with the creation of man: “And God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them,” (Gen 1:27). In the New Testament, God opens the Gospel of Matthew by saying, “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham (regarding the Eternal Son of God, Deity Incarnate),” (Matt 1: 1). In the Gospel According to John, God says of His only begotten Son, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” (Jn 1: 1). Toward the end of the New Testament, God says, in the Book of James:

“Whence come wars and whence come fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your pleasures that war in your members (inside you)? Ye lust and ye have not: ye kill, and you covet and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss (marked by fault or defect; wrong), that ye may spend it in your pleasures. Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God (causes God to be ill-willed toward you)? Whosoever, therefore, would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God. Or think ye that the scripture (the Word of God) speaketh in vain? Doth the spirit (He, the Holy Spirit) which he made to dwell in us long unto envying? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore the scripture saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. Be subject, therefore, unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall exalt you.

Speak not one against another, brethren. He that speaketh against a brother, or judgeth his brother, speaketh against the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judgest the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. One only is the lawgiver and judge, even he who can save and destroy: but who art thou that judges your neighbour? In God’s sight, humans are lost sinners, who need redemption through Christ and His work, alone.

Come now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that. But now ye glory in your vauntings (boastings): all such glorying is evil. To him, therefore, that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin,” (Jas 4: 1- 17).

Some people who profess to be Christian do not believe and heed this Word, sad to say. They are not ignorant, but not willing to be humble for which God resisteth the proud, but gives grace to the humble and obedient, for which God is gracious to forgive and save them.

Due to sin, man is morally estranged (separated, out of relationship and fellowship with God) from God. Unless a person repents, turns away from sin and turns to God through faith His only begotten Son, man remains in this condition of moral estrangement, and if he dies in his sins, he faces eternal punishment. But if a sinner confesses sin to God, repents and forsakes sin and turns to trust in Jesus, he is forgiven and cleansed from all his sin and unrighteousness, (1 Jn 1: 9). One who believes God will have one’s sin, transgressions, guilt, and misery removed as far as the east is from the west (Ps 103: 12) and have peace with God (Rom 5: 1), forever. God promises.

Faith is the biblical response to God's truth. God says that without faith it is impossible to please God. God says that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen, (Heb 11: 1). You can have eternal life and know a living hope. The Word of God is faithful and real. You may ask, ‘What is the truth?’ ‘What is reality?’ Our believing God does not make Him truth; God is God and, He is Truth. We do not create reality by what we believe exists. God is God, our loving creator and, our trustworthy owner. He does exist, and what He says is the Truth. Your faith is only as high as the knowledge of the object of your faith: God who has spoken in His Word, “I Am Jehovah,” in the OT, (Ex 6: 3; Ps 83: 18), and “LORD GOD the ALMIGHTY, who was, who is, and who is to come,” in the NT, (Rev 4: 8). He only is worthy of belief, trust, and worship in spirit and truth.

The thought of this age being Post-Christian and Post-Evangelistic is filled with alternative truth (a lie). This age is filled with the 'selfie,' digital information, artificial intelligence, human labour trafficking, the Big Bang theory, ‘scientific evidence,’ lack of biblical foundations taught by parents at home and teachers in the schools to Generation-X and Millennial children, so they understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This age is filled with corrupt TV, religious and cultural pluralism, relativism, and privatism (one’s religion is a private matter, not to be shared, but kept to oneself) and, yes, the old sinful nature even of every believer. All are an effort of the enemy to deny a person the opportunity to know God, be known by God, receive Jesus, have new life and meaning for their life now, and in eternity. Even some former evangelical God-honoring churches have adopted the occult. But, this is the Church Age, and the Church is a body of believers in a place to worship God. Worshippers are thankful for the availability of God’s grace, for the forgiveness of sin. They are thankful to God for all who believe God and repent of their sins, and for the building of His Kingdom of which they will belong through Jesus Christ their Lord. The above information (involvement of the occult) provides part of the explanation why the Church is on the decline; souls are not being converted and added to the kingdom of God, rather, churches are collecting dollars and counting attendance to support a ‘counterfeit’ religion.

The thought of being a personal idol lures some people into worshiping themselves. They are swept off their feet into a whirlwind of thinking of themselves as a god. Some move from a pantheistic view (God is in everything) to thinking of themselves as a god. How well they appear on social media, they believe. They look famous in their self-conceit by how many people follow them on social media, as on Facebook or Twitter. Fame is more important to them than a willingness to believe God and worship Him. Their claim to fame (temporary at best) seems to be measured in their following. Claim to fame is a trap by Satan to draw people’s attention away from God and His Christ, to themselves. One individual asked the author, “How large is your following?” I wonder how he would inquire if not focused on self-aggrandizement and fame on this earth. There is nothing more significant that gives one a sense of usefulness and fulfillment for one’s existence, than being an influence in another person’s eternal state and leading that person to readiness for eternity in Jesus Christ. If you are sensing God’s call upon you to preach and soul win, you could not be more privileged, even in your wildest dreams. The author encourages you in your calling, to pray, to study diligently, to preach the Word for soul-winning. Converts to dwell with Him is what matters to God, not that people perish. Believers need to encourage others to believe God and be circumspect, i.e. Be careful to consider all circumstances and consequences, regarding this life now, and eternal life after this temporal life, (Phil 3:14).

One person on a TV morning talk show had taken twenty-four ‘selfies’ and was sorting to determine which would make her look great for the audience. Her movement and expression were almost that of ‘self-worship,’ while she was making her selection. The scene of self-worship was repulsive (not to judge, but it was repulsive). Self-worship is falling short of God’s call for true worshippers; He seeks for those who worship Him in spirit and truth, as Creator and Almighty God. For a creature to worship another creature or oneself, puts one at enmity with God. One needs to believe God and confess pride as sin. Pride was the deadly fault of Satan that led him to an attempt to usurp God’s throne, for which he was cursed for eternity. I felt compassion for that lady and prayed for her to find someone to show her repentance and faith in Jesus, by which she would become an eternal child of God, concerned about His glory.

In some cases, the signs of imminent danger are pictured right in their selfies. They are not paying attention, nor do they know that their actions are absurd and

dangerous. Why do they not replace, the Self, in their heart to Jesus Christ and let Him fill them with His love and life? One day we will stand before the True Living God, Jesus, and know Him as Judge. Be circumspect!

The author was on one website which showed people taking a ‘selfie,’ moments before dying. One lady, swimming in shark-infested waters, was taking a picture of herself with a shark, shown in the picture, which attacked and killed her, just seconds after she took a picture of herself. Had she thought of believing God, and being in the eternity of God before this disastrous event occurred? Was she ready? Was she too late for making her decision about God and yielding her allegiance to Him? Signs are posted along the beach. Was she circumspect? People need to think that it is not a matter of how many follow them on social media, but on how many follow Jesus Christ because of their influence on others.

Some like to say, ‘I will wait until I am on my death bed,’ not realizing death can be at any unexpected moment, as was the case for the woman killed by the shark. It can happen so suddenly, and one has no opportunity to set one’s life ready for eternity. Yes, then it is too late unless in the last seconds they repent of their sin and turn to Jesus for salvation. Still, your time is now. Once one makes the transition, then it is too late. If one has not decided, this side of eternity, to repent from sin, forsake all forms of crimes, and receive Jesus as presented by God in the Holy Bible, it is too late. May the truth be known.

May you know this day, “And inasmuch as It is appointed unto man once to die, after this cometh Judgment,” (Heb. 9: 27). God is fair and says that people need to be mindful of their eternal destination as a significant reality; being known by God for being welcomed by Him into Heaven, not just hoping that when they die, they will go to Heaven. Their final state may be shocking, and too late to change their destination once in Judgment Day.

Yes, there is a life after death. Annihilation is a lie, deceit placed in one’s thinking about the afterlife, planted by Satan, the devil, the enemy of God, and man. People need to know the peace with God, the joy of expecting eternal life, this side of eternity before something unimagined takes their life on earth quickly. How can they hear and know without someone, yielded to God, willing to preach the good news, take God literally at His Word, and serve Him by sharing the true Gospel, the Way in God’s Plan of Salvation for humankind to be saved? Humans, who believe on Jesus are protected from the wrath of God to come. They become children of God. (John 1: 12).

Each Christian has been given the call to fulfill their God-given ministry of reconciliation (not just the pastors), but not all Christians believe they have accountability for their gift of reconciliatory ministry. Life or death can be a breath away. May all God’s blessing be upon you for taking up God’s “call” to be an obedient minister of reconciliation, while the opportunity for you remains.

The author has observed that all people have a question about life after death lurking, like a shark, in their heart, and it is ‘the question’ invariably in the heart, accompanied by fear, placed there by God. God is fair in giving a warning about eternity in His Holy Word. In all the author's experience as a minister of the Gospel and life-coach, seekers are overcome seemingly with and searching for a solution to, life after death. How can they know whether eternity will be favourable or sorrowful for them and, have time to choose? If God does exist, does He care? These and other questions are asked by many, if not outwardly, in their hearts and minds. Spiritual leaders need to be mindful of this fact and be able to broach the subject. Some do not understand salvation for soul-winning and therefore, blunder. When a person asks about matters related to the after-life, then the author can explore true Christianity with them and explain the importance of being ready for a surprise transition into eternity. People need a godly vision. How can people know and have this holy vision? Genuine followers of Jesus Christ do not teach false doctrine. They know love and explain the truth.

As the time and opportunity arise, would false teachers be willing to settle their account with God? May they realize that now is the day of salvation, (2 Cor 6: 2). Do they desire to believe God, and have access to Him through faith in Jesus? In a nutshell, they hear about Jesus and then are asked if they would like to repent of their sin and believe on and accept Jesus, in whom they are made complete, (Col 2: 10). What a joy is theirs to be had in looking forward to Jesus coming back as their Lord.

God wants them to know and believe they are made complete in Jesus Christ, alone. The author asks, ‘Would you be instrumental in the changing of one’s relationship to God from enmity with God, to peace with God?’ Faith in Jesus, empowered by God the Holy Spirit, is your strength. Jesus has prayed for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit in your heart, the moment you first believed on Jesus. Those, who choose to believe God, have a real sense of eternal perspective, love, peace and, joy, and begin to utter praise to God, and have a desire to love and serve Him as their Savior, Resurrected Lord, Master, Defender, Deliverer, and Coming King to bring others to receive Jesus by grace through faith. The joy, abundance of life, and desire to win others to receive Jesus are miraculous and remarkable in a new believer’s life. There is nothing as fulfilling as it offered on earth.

Recently, the author was preaching a Gospel message to a group, and a lady jumped up in the middle of his preaching and said, “What you are talking about is what I need right now for myself. I believe God, and could you show me how to receive Jesus, right now?” We stopped the message, and two of us prayed with her; she confessed her sin, received Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, and new life. Immediately, she expressed love, peace, and joy of the Holy Spirit, whom the Father had sent into her heart. She thanked God in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. We stood up, and she reached out and grabbed our hands and was joyful in her aggressive handshakes. Pastor went back to the pulpit, and as a congregation, they sang and prayed a closing prayer. She caught Pastor at the exit door. She was excited that God had shown her how she could stop smoking. She retook his hand, shook it hardily, and walked out the door.

God says that Abraham believed God, and God reckoned it unto him for righteousness, (Rom 4: 3). Our lady is sure happy that she found God; that she heeded His Voice. God had reckoned His righteousness unto her account. Jesus will present her blameless in eternity and welcome her into Heaven. God is real and trustworthy.

Believe Him. He will do the same for you when you believe, trust, and obey Him. His work of Salvation is through the Way, the Truth, and the Life: JESUS. He will forgive you and set you free from the control of sin, the world, and Satan, and give you abundant Life, freely, (John 16: 4, Ephesians 2: 8-9, Rev 3: 20).

The alternative, which is not to believe God, would not be pretty. She would

not be known by God in Judgment Day, thus turned away from Heaven into everlasting punishment, (Matt 7: 23). She was what God calls ‘born again’ of the Holy Spirit, without which no one will ever see the Kingdom of God, (Jn 3: 3). Believe God, and you will see. He will prove His Word is authoritative and powerful unto your salvation. He will give you a purpose for your life on earth, at the end of which you will dwell with Him forever in Heaven. That is a promise, God ‘s promise, (Ps 23: 1-6; Jn 3: 16; Col 2:10). Be circumspect (sensible). Make sure you are a child of God, yourself, then ask Him to lead and prepare someone with whom you might share the beautiful love of God and His Master plan of salvation for them as He did for you. Confess your sin, forsake your sin and turn to receive Jesus into your heart and you will be made complete in Jesus. No jibber jabber required.

Ronald Sider quoted Peter Gillquist as saying, “All the evangelism in the world from a church that is not herself holy and righteous will not be worth a hill of beans in world-changing power.”¹¹ So many born-again Christians are living just like the rest of the world that the world has lost respect for the Christ they proclaim and the profession of themselves as Christian and any desire for attendance at their church, which to them has lost meaning and relevance to their lives. So-called Christians are slow to the apprehension of their differentiation between living in the flesh vs. living in the Spirit.