Belief or Blame?
Belief or Blame? We can either believe God; What He has done, is doing, and will do for our good (and His glory), or we choose to blame...
Deceiving
Accusing
Lying
Seeking power
Manipulating
Perverting
Confusing
Blinding people
Destroying
Sometimes helpful
Sometimes loving
Sometimes wrong
Sometimes weak
Sometimes aggressive
Sometimes controlling
Sometimes angry
Can be bad example
Seeking truth
Curious
Selfish
Corrupt
Independent
Fighting - bitter
Broken
Anxious - Fearful
Addicted
Seeking truth
Loving
Restoring
Comforting
Expressing His power
Inviting
Blessing
Revealing truth
Freeing people
Healing
Journey To HELL ?
1. We are all born into sin (that is our nature)
2. Not understanding God's ways of life
3. Distracted
Disinterested
Deceived
4. Loving sin, not knowing it kills us
5. Do nothing and follow man's ways or satan's ways of independence which results in missing God's saving grace and love.
Journey To HEAVEN ?
1. We are all born into sin (this is our nature)
2. Be curious about God
3. Focused
Interested
Wanting Truth
4. Not enjoying sin, wanting more life
5. Become a student following Jesus into everlasting life - in a relationship with God.
ARE YOU ONE OF GOD'S BLESSED CHILDREN ?
"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father
except through Me." (John 14:6 Bible)
Jesus died on the cross to pay for the justice, or the cost, of all of mankind's sin.
God is just and will not allow sin to NOT be dealt with.
Jesus paid for our freedom from our fallen birth.
We were FIRST born IN sin.
God's Spirit gives us new (second) birth OUT of sin.
If we DO receive this spiritual freedom from our sin as God's free gift to us, then we are "saved" from
the penalty of paying for our own sin which would lead to our spiritual death.
Jesus came to save us from:
The penalty of sin
The power of sin
The presence of sin
Why would Jesus die for our sins so that we don't have to die for our own sins?
Because God loves us passionately!
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16 Bible)
When we "believe" on Jesus that means that we are "trusting, clinging to , and relying on Jesus to save us.
Belief can be a mental assent, but it is so much more!
When you are trusting in Jesus to take you to God's Home (Heaven)
then you choosing to:
love God, rather than loving sin
practicing loving God, rather than practicing sin
thinking differently about the consequences of sin
turn to God in faith believing His word (promises, plans, power, purposes, etc...)
Transform your mind, emotions, and wills to enter into God's better and good ways for us.
We are Transformed by both God's Word and God's Spirit.
God's free gift of everlasting life (being saved from sin which produces death) begins as soon as you receive it.
A gift is received.
A gift is NOT earned.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
not of works, lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 Bible)
PLACING FAITH (trust, love in action) IN JESUS' POWER SAVES US.
Faith in GOD'S POWER saves us!
Daily receiving God's empowering grace.
We are now starting a new life that looks to God's power to save our soul,
rather than looking to our own power, or good works, to save our soul.
A gift CAN be;
received
opened
explored
enjoyed
humbly and thankfully received
shared with others
Your First Prayer
Lord God,
I confess that I am a sinner. I confess that I need Your Son--my only Savior, Jesus.
Please forgive me of all the (distorted) ways I have expressed my fallen nature against you,
your people, and your creation.
Lord Jesus, I believe you live, love, and also died (on the cross) showing your love to pardon me.
I now turn from my sins and welcome You into my mind, emotions, choices, and heart.
Come and take control of my life and show me your BETTER ways into life and out of death.
Help me fulfill the good plans you have for me in time and for all eternity.
Fill me with Your Spirit and show me how to live for You.
I now gladly acknowledge You as my Savior and my Lord in the sight of all men and creation.
I'm glad you are alive and want to bless me.
Thank You for hearing my humble prayer and making me your welcomed, blessed, and loved child!
I receive your pardon gift, for my sin, and receive your new ways leading to life everlasting in your restoration
-- for your glory I pray.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen (Let it be so in Your will God)
Caution….Wrong Ways To Heaven
These are the wrong ways to Heaven and eternal life with God Almighty:
"I am a good person"
I hope you are, but deep inside of us we are not good. When we were children we were never taught how to do bad things. We did bad things because we are sinners. In comparison with a Holy God we are unholy sinners. Our good is not enough to merit the graces of God and to impress Him somehow.
"Heaven is a state of mind"
Heaven is actually a place. Sure it is full of joy, peace, and bliss. But it is actually the dwelling place of God. It is much more than a state of mind.
"All roads lead to Heaven"
The Bible teaches that there are only two roads that we travel. One road will lead us to destruction (Hell) and one road will lead us to Heaven. We must decide what our destination will be. Then get the proper directions for our destination. Sure many people travel their own journey to come to a knowledge of Jesus Christ the one and only savior, but the truth doesn't change--Jesus Christ is still the only doorway into the gates of Heaven.
"I believe in God"
Even the demons believe in God. But we must obey God, turn from our sin and follow Him. Believing in God should not just be a mental assent. God is looking for those who will follow him and not just believe him intellectually.
"I am religious"
Some religions are good and some religions are bad. Religion will never save our soul. Only God can save our soul. We must follow God's truth and not a man made tradition. Religion is man's work or attempt to get to God, but salvation is God's work to get to man.
"My good outweighs my bad"
How much good would we have to do? We are born sinners. If you were to make an omelet for your friends would you sneak in a rotten egg. No. Our good is like a rotten egg to God. Our good deeds will never obligate God to let us into his Holy Heaven.
"I believe in reincarnation"
After we die we stand before God for our judgment. We do not get another chance. We do not come back into this world to try again or to achieve some kind of level. We must choose to obey and follow God's authority as The Creator while we are living. Do not be deceived by this so called option. Know that God is a real being and NOT an impersonal force of power. God has power, but is a being. We too have power to choose freely, or power to choose God. It is wise to know these things now, not after when it is too late to change your mind.
"I go to church"
Each church may teach different things that are contrary to the Bible's truth on salvation. Even if a church teaches the truth about salvation through Jesus Christ alone we still have to believe, receive and follow Jesus into eternal life by being born by His Spirit. Every person has to choose to repent from their sins and follow God by trusting and obeying God.
"I have faith"
Everyone lives with some measure of faith. We trust that the chair we sit on will hold us up. That is a natural faith. But saving faith is an act of our will to totally trust, cling and rely upon the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. And then we must by faith follow God allowing Him to guide and direct us as we grow in our relationship with Him.
"I was water baptized when I was a child"
Our decision to follow God and obey God is not a one time moment or event. Our relationship with God is a day by day acknowledgment of His grace and truth living on the inside of us changing our desires for His glory.
Ask yourself...
What road am I on?
Where are my life choices leading me?
Am I trusting in something I want to believe or in something that is true according to God’s Word?
Am I willing to evaluate my lifestyle and be responsible for my choices?
Am I willing to learn about Jesus Christ as He claims to be the only way to God the Father?
Jesus, the Messiah, is the only way to God (His Father, our Father if we choose) in Heaven (click here)
Jesus Defeats Sin And Death For Us!
"There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12 Bible)
We are all born broken.
We are born as sinners.
What do sinners do?
They sin.
Sin affects our perceptions
Sin affects our thoughts
Sin affects our desires
Sin tends to look only at “self”
Sin is selfish
Sin causes us to blame others.
Sin causes us to live in fear.
Sin causes us to “cover-up” and justify our wrong ways.
Sin is deadly.
Sin is deceiving.
Sin is punishable by death.
This is God’s justice.
To righteously punish sin.
However,
Jesus took our punishment so that we don’t have to be guilty.
Now, we can live free from the condemnation of sin which leads to death.
In God’s love, Jesus took our guilt and gave us His free gift of pardon.
All we have to do is choose God’s plan over our own ideas
When we follow God’s plan we can be confident that God will help us and work things our properly.
However, if we follow our own plans, then we will be confused or even arrogant that we are right and God is wrong.