Reason for me saying "Once Saved Always Saved" is wrong

The reason for me saying that the mindset of "Once Saved Always Saved" is wrong, is not to condemn anyone. I have come to truly realize how much God loves us and wants all to enter His new righteous kingdom, but we have to do it His way. I truly believe in my heart that this teaching is giving many, some, or a few, a false hope that they are going to enter the new kingdom simply because that yes, they excepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It is too often that we have forgotten the Lord part of it.

Wouldn't you want me to say something now before you stand before Christ to be judged? There are no do-overs. Whatever He says will be for you and me for eternity. Why accept what man tells you for such a high price? Read and study the Bible. Ask Him what is the truth. If you want to know where you would end up if you died today, ask Him that too. He made me see and feel what it would be like for me if I had died the day He showed me. It was a place totally void of Him and anything of Him; a miserable lonely place. He showed me out of love for me and also to prepare me for this work.

I know that it is not my works that saves me but I truly enjoy and feel blessed when I see myself involved in His work. It amazes me to watch Him work and then sometimes to see the results. There is nothing like experiencing what He tells us in His word.

I can go on and on but I won't. Let me just end this with scriptures from 1 Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 11:28-30

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

²⁸ But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹ For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. ³⁰ For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number ^[a]sleep.

Dream

I woke up at 2 AM this morning from a dream that had. This had to be from the Lord. I say this for several reasons. I rarely know anymore that I dream at all. If I do remember a dream, it is spotty, just bits and pieces of it. This one I remembered clearly.

I was talking with someone and they were explaining to me how the body of Christ is like a human body or my body. All the body parts have a certain function to do. If a part of the body gets sick, the doctor will prescribe medicine to try and make it well. There are times though when a member gets sick in such a way that there is nothing left to do but to cut it out, in order to save the rest of the body.

John 15

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

John 15

Jesus Is the Vine—Followers Are Branches

    ¹ “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He ^[a]prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. ³ You are already^[b]clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit ^[c]of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. ⁵ I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. ⁷ If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so ^[d]prove to be My disciples.⁹ Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. ¹⁰ If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

The Body of Christ

I was just out in the yard doing some mowing when I got some new revelation from the Lord and had to stop and post this before I forgot.

I was wondering why my life has been different every since I asked God to make me a tool in His work. Before that point, I always wanted to do things for the Lord but it never happened. Now I know why.

1 Corinthians 12:27

New International Version (NIV)

 ²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Another scripture is:

Philippians 3:20

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

²⁰ For our ^[a]citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

²¹ who will transform ^[a]the body of our humble state into conformity with ^[b]the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

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My perspective was all wrong. Before, I wanted to do the work. But, it is Christ's work. I am just a member of His body.

This next part is several hours later from the previous part.


When I tell others about this blog, I have too often referred to it as my blog. The Lord made me think about what I just posted. This indeed is the Lord's blog. I am only the part of His body doing the entry work; kind of like a court reporter.

There is no way I could have got this blog started, found scriptures, and found any kind of meaning to this blog on my own. It all just seems to come on its own, it just flows through me.

Hammer Story

Here is a story that I told my grandson when trying to get him to go to sleep. It started as a much simpler version when I was telling it to him. It has developed to this and reflects my life and how God has shown Himself to me.  

The Hammer Story

By Wayne Koch (Pop Pop)

Dedicated to my grandson

Once upon a time there was a hammer. Now this hammer was a very special hammer. Its Creator gave it a brain. It could choose what project to work on and who would use it to build the project. There was just one problem. It often bent nails.

At first, Hammer chose easy projects to work on, things like step stools, tables, bird houses, and tree houses. When it came to tree houses though, he chose only the simplest ones or would only want to do the ladder up to the tree house. As for who would use him to build the projects, he would choose just anyone.

Over time, he saw some of his projects turn out pretty good, some were just so-so, and others were really bad. When he bent a nail, the person who was using him would usually just bend the nail the rest of the way over and down to the surface of the wood. There were some who would try to straighten the nail before driving it the rest of the way into the wood but so often, the nail would bend again. They would get mad, and just hammer the nail all the way over to the surface of the wood.

Hammer felt bad that he bent nails all the time but he just couldn’t help it. As for the people he chose to use him, there were all kinds. Some were mean to him. They would say things like, “You silly hammer. How did you ever become a hammer in the first place? You are always bending nails!” Some would even tell others that if Hammer wanted them for his projects, say “No.”

There was one guy known as Old Scratch who was always trying to get Hammer to choose him for his projects. Old Scratch seemed to be OK and Hammer ended up choosing him a lot of the time. The projects appeared to turn out pretty good. Hammer didn’t notice though that the projects only looked good on the surface. Under the surface, the projects were worse than all the rest.

There were a few who were nice to Hammer. A couple of them told him about the Creator’s Son. How He always built beautiful and very strong things. They just knew that the Son would be able to help Hammer.

One day, Hammer decided to go to the Creator to ask him if His Son could help him with his problem of bending nails. The Creator said “Yes, I know about your problem bending nails and my Son will be more than happy to help you. He has been waiting all these years for you to come. But, you will have to give up your ways, your desires, and your projects and allow Him to use you for His.”

Now Hammer was startled by the Creator’s reply. How did He know that he bent nails?

After some thought, Hammer believed that the Creator’s Son could help him. So, he went to the Son and said,” I believe that you can help me. You see, I have a tendency to bend nails. Will you please use me for your projects?” The Son, like His Father, said, “I have been waiting for you to come. I know about your problem and I will help you.”

Again, Hammer was shocked that the Son, too, knew all about his problem but he was very happy that the Son wanted to use him for His projects.

Time after time Hammer saw that the Son’s projects always turned out beautiful and strong. He was happy at first that the Son chose him for His projects but, when he looked at himself, he noticed that he was still bending nails. He thought that the Son would fix him so that he wouldn’t bend nails any more.

Hammer was sad and when the Son came to him to start the next project, Hammer refused. The Son was grieved that Hammer would not go with him but allowed him to do as he wished. When the Son was ready to start His next project, He came to Hammer again but, again Hammer refused. Repeatedly the Son would go to Hammer for each new project but Hammer always refused.

The Son could see that Hammer was going back to his old ways. Hammer again was choosing his own projects and just anyone to use him for them. Old Scratch was very sneaky and often talked Hammer into picking him. Hammer didn’t understand why Old Scratch always tried to talk him into choosing him.

Finally Hammer saw that when Old Scratch was involved in his projects that they were, in reality, nothing like they appeared to be. Old Scratch had been hiding Hammer’s bent nails. Even though Old Scratch’s projects appeared to be pretty and strong, they would either get blown down by the slightest of storms or the surface would flake off revealing all of Hammer’s bent nails and a project that was really hideous. He also found out that Old Scratch was going to the Creator and saying really bad things about him.

Hammer was very depressed. He remembered when he was working on the Son’s projects, how they were always so beautiful. He was miserable. He thought, “Why did I ever leave Him? He was always so patient with me and I really enjoyed being used in his projects. Maybe if I go back to the Son and ask for His forgiveness, He will take me back.” Hammer couldn’t think of any reason why the Son would want him back though. After all, it was his choice to leave. But finally Hammer decided to try.

On his way back, even before he got there, the Son saw him coming and ran to greet him. He was so happy that Hammer had returned. Before Hammer could say anything, the Son was already talking about His next project that He wanted to use Hammer for. Hammer was just so thankful that the Son wanted him back. In a way, the Son made him feel special.

As usual, every project of the Son’s turned out just beautiful and was built very strong. Hammer could never see any bent nails even though he was still bending them. He started paying closer attention to how the Son worked. He noticed that when he bent a nail, the Son would tell Hammer it was OK. He would try patiently to straighten the nail with Hammer’s claw and then finish driving the nail true into the wood. There were times though that the nail would bend again. He was never mad or upset when this happened. He would say something funny and both He and Hammer would laugh. Then He would calmly pull out the bent nail and put a new nail in its place. This always worked.

Hammer was extremely happy being used in the Son’s projects. When he thought about leaving the Son before, he just couldn’t understand whatever possessed him to do that. There was something else that Hammer noticed. He was bending fewer and fewer nails. He felt as though the Son somehow was becoming part of him.

This story is a lot like us and Jesus, God’s Son. Jesus has many projects and when we ask Him to use us in His projects, we will begin to see His beautiful work. His projects are with people. He helps them see how much His Father loves and cares for them. The more we allow Him to use us in His projects, the more we too will see how much The Father loves and cares for us. We will experience joy and peace in our lives that is beyond our understanding and, in a way we’ve never experienced before.

I want to end this story with some words from the Bible. They are in Psalms 8 starting with verse 3.

3When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—

the moon and the stars you set in place—

4what are mere mortals that you should think about them,

human beings that you should care for them?^c

5Yet you made them only a little lower than God^d

and crowned them^e with glory and honor.

6You gave them charge of everything you made,

putting all things under their authority—

7the flocks and the herds

and all the wild animals,

8the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,

and everything that swims the ocean currents.

9O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

"Once Saved Always Saved" is wrong

OK, I'm finally going to say this, the mindset of "Once Saved Always Saved" is wrong and dangerous. I've been very reluctant to say it because I know it will upset a lot of people. Not all that long ago, it would have upset me too to hear someone say this. It took a lot of convincing from the Lord to get me to this point.

This was probably the biggest reason I felt led by God to start this blog in the first place. In fact, I would say that this is the Lord's blog. What I've posted here thus far, He has led me to in the scriptures and has compelled me to post. I don't always understand completely what I post. Each day I study His Word and talk with Him and He gives me more understanding.

As I look back in my life, the Lord has been preparing me for this for a long time. He didn't make it evident to me though, bringing together all that He has shown me, until two weekends before I started the blog. I actually thought I was to say this at a church reunion of members, pastors, and missionaries from a church I belonged to back in the 70s and 80s. The reunion was the weekend after enlightenment and it seemed to me that this was of God's doing because it just materialized out of nowhere. The timing was perfect, as it always is when it's God's, and many churches were represented.

It didn't occur to me at first how big of a statement I would be making. I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior in this church and I was taught the principles which are summed up in this saying "Once Saved Always Saved." Everyone at the old church believed "Once Saved Always Saved." I was fearing that the only way anyone would take me serious was going to end up with me and someone, who strongly believed "Once Saved Always Saved", to stand up before all the people and let God decide. I was distraught all that week before the reunion. I don't know if it was because of God, Satan, or me, but I never got the opportunity to talk and my mind was not functioning well because of an on-coming cold. I was thankful though that the picture in my mind never happen. Anyway, God put in my mind to start the blog right away after the reunion.

As I said before, I feel strongly that Christ wants me to tell the churches that He is coming soon. He led me to Revelation where He talks to the angels of the seven churches. Even though He names specific churches, what He says about them and to them should be relevant to us today. He sparked my desire to find out about the Nicolaitans, their deeds and their teachings because this is something He specifically says He hates.

Nicolaitans are likened to the scribes and Pharisees. These are our church leaders today who are there for all the reasons other than the right one, which is to shepherd their flock, teaching them God's truths. They skew the meanings of scriptures which leads their flock astray. Sometimes they do it on purpose to get what they want but many are unknowingly doing it because it is what they were taught. There is so much of this in our world today that it is difficult to know what doctrine to trust. This is the reason why it is so very important to study scriptures ourselves and learn from God himself. I believe this mindset of "Once Saved Always Saved" is part of that teaching.

Because Christ loves us and wishes all could enter the new kingdom, He is in the process of correcting many of the false teachings and teachers of today, before He comes to judge. I'm sure that I am but one of many who He is using in His work.


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I regret having to say this but I almost chickened out posting this, because I listened to man rather than following the direction of the Lord. Please forgive me Lord. As I mentioned in a comment I made on the second post, this is for me too.

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To keep me going, the Lord has led me to a website that explains far better than I can, why the "Once Saved Always Saved" thinking is dangerous. Here is a link to it:

Eternal Security or Conditional Security

I am glad that He lead me to this website because for me, there were still some scriptures that supported "Once Saved Always Saved", even though many more did not. I did not know that the Greek verbs had some that were in a continuing state, like believe continuously. I often think of how much better my understanding of God's word would be if I could only read the original text. Hence the reason why it is best to try and get a Bible where they translate from the original text. More than one Bible also helps.

I want to take this opportunity to say something. I have not always felt that I was involved in God's work. About three years ago I came to realize that God is always doing something here on earth. So, I asked Him to just make me a tool in it. Ever sense then, I have seen Him use me many times. Sometimes I can see the results of His work fairly quickly. Sometimes He prepares me before He uses me. It may be leading me to a book, or a person, or a church, or scriptures, you name it. It is amazing to me to see Him work. Sometimes, when I know I am involved, I picture in my mind how it will all play out. I don't think I've ever been right which proves what He says in His word, "My thoughts are not your thoughts."(Isaiah 55:8)

God gives us opportunities all the time to get involved in His work. We have the free will to work or pass it by. If we pass them by, He uses someone else. When you work, you experience His truths. How can we sincerely believe, in our heart, what He says to be true, if we don't experience it by works?  The book of James is a good book to read that describes this.

You might ask, "How do you know when He is offering you something to do?" Do you ever have strong feelings about something? Well, do them and don't debate. Some things that He has given me, I can take my time before reacting. As time goes on you will find that you will need to react quicker. God knows that I have a lot of trouble with this, but I trust this will improve over time. Remember, you do these things through the strength of Christ who is in you. Also remember that the more you do, the attacks from Satan will increase. Have no fear, God is hear. :) God does not allow you to be tempted more than you are able to handle (1 Cor. 10:13).

Something else just came to me. I hope you know that when you talk with God, it does not have to be out loud. Just as you talk to yourself, you can talk to God the same way. He knows and understands your thoughts. He knows you very well; better than you know yourself. This is by what He will judge us at Judgement Day; our inner being and not what we've done that the world sees.

I will leave you now with some scriptures that I just came to which seems appropriate.

1 Timothy 6

New International Version (NIV)

1 Timothy 6

 ¹ All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. ² Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare^[a] of their slaves.

False Teachers and the Love of Money

    These are the things you are to teach and insist on. ³ If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, ⁴ they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions ⁵ and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. ⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹ Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Final Charge to Timothy

 ¹¹ But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³ In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you ¹⁴ to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. ¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹ In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
 ²⁰ Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, ²¹ which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.    Grace be with you all.

Luke 13

New International Version (NIV)

Luke 13

Repent or Perish

 ¹ Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. ² Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? ³ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” ⁶ Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. ⁷ So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
   ⁸ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. ⁹ If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman on the Sabbath

 ¹⁰ On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, ¹¹ and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. ¹² When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” ¹³ Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. ¹⁴ Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”
 ¹⁵ The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? ¹⁶ Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”
 ¹⁷ When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast

 ¹⁸ Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? ¹⁹ It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.” ²⁰ Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? ²¹ It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds^[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

The Narrow Door

 ²² Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. ²³ Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”   He said to them, ²⁴ “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. ²⁵ Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’
   “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
   ²⁶ “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
   ²⁷ “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’
   ²⁸ “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. ²⁹ People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. ³⁰ Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”

Awesome God

We have such an awesome God. He created everything just by saying them into existence. He created us in His likeness

Genesis 1:26

New International Version (NIV)

    ²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,^[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

He has given us a recipe for life; a way to live in harmony with each other and to have fellowship with Him. But, we don't want to follow His plan so we try and do it our way, which just makes a mess of things and separates us from Him (sin which leads to death). He sends His only begotten Son, Jesus, to earth to be the perfect sacrifice so we can have forgiveness for our sins and Jesus was so willing to do that for us. He wants to help us live a godly life through the power of the Holy Spirit so that we might enter His new righteous kingdom. And He pleads with us to have life through His Son:

Ezekiel 33:11

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’

What more can He do for us? He is such a powerful loving God!

End Times

Around November of last year I was searching something in my Bible. I don't remember what it was I was studying at the time but my search took me to the last chapter of Revelation. As I was reading in chapter 22, I felt that Jesus was speaking to me personally. The Bible I usually study from is the "New American Standard Bible." Here is what it said in verse 16: "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star." And, in verse 20, it reads: He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

I felt and still believe that He wants me to tell the churches that He is coming soon. Now this is not the soon as we think of soon, it is God's soon.

Sense that day, He has led me to many scriptures to help me understand why it is so very important to tell the churches. Unless many of us, who call ourselves Christians, wake up, we are going to be very disappointed when we stand before Jesus Christ on judgement day.

........I just got back from another funeral. This is the third person I know who has passed away recently. As I look at these three peoples' lives, I see that they some how got it. I don't think it was from the teaching they received but I could see that all three lead godly lives. You could see their love and concern for others was very genuine; a Christ like love. I have no doubt in my mind that all three will hear "Well done my good and faithful servant.", when they stand before Jesus Christ on that day.

These funerals and the scriptures that the Lord has lead me to, tells me that there is more to it than just believing in God's Son, Jesus Christ and that He paid for all my sins; there is more to this than what I've mentioned but I feel I need to move on to the point I feel I need to make.

I heard this again this morning at the funeral, in fact the pastor had us all say John 3:16 which is so familiar to us and is used in sharing the gospel. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." But, if you look down the scriptures a little farther to verse 21, it says "But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." 


I do not want to minimize Christ Jesus and what He did in any way; for it was because of Him I have been made right in God's sight. Thank you, thank you, thank you Jesus. Not only has He paid for my sins, but He wants to help me live a godly life, to be holy, so that I can enter into His kingdom. I can not do this without Him.

Some how we Christians are waiting for God to change us so we can live a godly life. It doesn't work that way. We have to start the work and Christ will perfect it. The more we do through Christ, the more we are changed into His image, His likeness. We become godly, holy.

God told Israel, His chosen, to be holy. He also tells the church, us, to be holy. Why, because He is Holy. How can He allow sin into His new kingdom? Why destroy His creation, this heavens and earth, create a new one and allow sin to enter back in?

You don't have to believe what I am saying, but please don't just trust what someone else has taught you. Search the scriptures and let God teach you. What I've said so far is what I believe God has shown me.

I want to leave now with some more scriptures:

(NAS) Ezekiel 18:23 "Do I have pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord God, "rather than that he should turn from his ways and live? 24 "But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die."

2 Peter 3

Amplified Bible (AMP)

2 Peter 3

 ¹BELOVED, I am now writing you this second letter. In [both of] them I have stirred up your unsullied (sincere) mind by way of remembrance,

    ²That you should recall the predictions of the holy (consecrated, dedicated) prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior [given] through your apostles (His special messengers).

    ³To begin with, you must know and understand this, that scoffers (mockers) will come in the last days with scoffing, [people who] walk after their own fleshly desires

    ⁴And say, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the forefathers fell asleep, all things have continued exactly as they did from the beginning of creation.

    ⁵For they willfully overlook and forget this [fact], that the heavens [came into] existence long ago by the word of God, and the earth also which was formed out of water and by means of water,

    ⁶Through which the world that then [existed] was deluged with water and perished.

    ⁷But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been stored up (reserved) for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly people.

    ⁸Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape you, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.

    ⁹The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.

    ¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will vanish (pass away) with a thunderous crash, and the [^[a]material] elements [of the universe] will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.

    ¹¹Since all these things are thus ^[b]in the process of being dissolved, what kind of person ought [each of] you to be [in the meanwhile] in consecrated and holy behavior and devout and godly qualities,
    ¹²While you wait and earnestly long for (expect and hasten) the coming of the day of God by reason of which the flaming heavens will be dissolved, and the [^[c]material] elements [of the universe] will flare and melt with fire?
    ¹³But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness (uprightness, freedom from sin, and right standing with God) is to abide.
    ¹⁴So, beloved, since you are expecting these things, be eager to be found by Him [at His coming] without spot or blemish and at peace [in serene confidence, ^[d]free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts].
    ¹⁵And consider that the long-suffering of our Lord [^[e]His slowness in avenging wrongs and judging the world] is salvation (^[f]that which is conducive to the soul's safety), even as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the spiritual insight given him,

    ¹⁶Speaking of this as he does in all of his letters. There are some things in those [epistles of Paul] that are difficult to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist and misconstrue to their own ^[g]utter destruction, just as [they distort and misinterpret] the rest of the Scriptures.

    ¹⁷Let me warn you therefore, beloved, that knowing these things beforehand, you should be on your guard, lest you be carried away by the error of lawless and wicked [persons and] fall from your own [present] firm condition [your own steadfastness of mind].

    ¹⁸But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and ^[h]recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)!

Be Like Paul

I've been studying the Bible for a while now and have asked God to teach me Himself. I don't want to learn through commentaries, or hand books, or any other books, or even through people. I want to learn His truths from Him; by the way, I ran across a passage that said that there is but one teacher, Christ Jesus. I ask Him many questions. He has taught me much but I've come to realize that His teaching is a life long process.

I guess the reason why I mention this is because I've come to understand Paul and the race he talks about and fighting the good fight.

Jesus said this; John 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." 35 "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." and in John 14:15 He says, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."


Paul came to realize that if he was to have the same kind of love for all men as Christ has for us, it would take some hard work and a real commitment; a new mindset; just as it would be if we suddenly decided to enter and win the marathon. The good news is that we have Christ and the Holy Spirit to help us. They will never leave us or forsake us in our quest to become holy; to be like Jesus, minus His deity of course. The bad news is, because God gave us a free will, we can choose to quit the race, to give up.

This is what Paul meant about fighting the good fight. We still have our sinful flesh and Satan to deal with. This is why it is so very important to read and study God's word and be in constant communications with Him.

Sheep or Goat

As I was thinking about what I might post next, I noticed that my Bible was open to Mathew chapter 25. Let me read it starting with verse 31.

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Mathew 25 (NIV Bible)
The Sheep and the Goats
    ³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³²All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
   ³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
   ³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
   ⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
   ⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ⁴² For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
   ⁴⁴ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
   ⁴⁵ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
   ⁴⁶ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

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Blog Beginnings

I was talking to the Lord this morning, wondering how I will ever get this blog started. I opened my Bible, as I sometimes do, just to wherever, and it opened to 1 Timothy chapter 4. What an appropriate beginning; thank you Lord. Here is how it reads from the NIV Bible:

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1 Timothy 4

New International Version (NIV)

1 The Spirit clearly says that in the later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

6 If you point these thing out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

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God commands us to be holy because He is holy. If we have accepted Christ Jesus as our savior and asked Him in, to be Lord of our life, then we now have a helper in that pursuit of becoming holy. Without Him, it is imposable.