Remission of Sins Timeline

I have been continuing on with the remission of sins study. I found that creating a timeline helped separate how forgiveness of sins was applied. Forgiveness of sins actually is correlated to salvation. Read Luke 1:76-77. John was sent to prepare the Lord Jesus' way before Him. He was going to give His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of sins. So when someone says that they were saved, what it means is that should be the time they had their sins forgiven. What is the process according to the Scriptures on how forgiveness of sins takes place? 

Some say it happened at Jesus' death. He died for our sins. So if this was the case, then when Jesus died on the cross 2,000 years ago, your sins were taken care of then and you no longer are in sin and you were saved when born. 

Some say just by believing in Jesus you are saved. Just like the thief on the cross right? What did he have to do to be saved? 

This is why I needed a timeline. Is the process of God's salvation different before and after the death of His son?

Remission of Sins

I was doing a study on repentance and I found something that kept surfacing...remission of sins. Repentance or metanous - the change of mind, is one of the foundation principles of Jesus. An elementary teaching that ALL people should know and practice. 

So my questions is, when do you think a person has remission of sins; when God sends away a persons trespasses against Him?

Thoughts!??

Darkness in Todays Churches

Why is it that in today's churches, there is much darkness in them as in the world? Has the world (and its lusts) made its way into the place where people think God dwells? 

2Cr 6:14-18     Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty. 

Today there is lawlessness, darkness, idol worshiping, people that proclaim to be believers but their life is much different during the week... 

Paul goes on to say; "Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE."

What makes someone the temple of the living God?

1Cr 3:16-17     Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

The Spirit of God must dwell in you to be the temple of the living God!

So if todays churches are walking in darkness and we know that light and dark can not dwell together, do you think most people that are in church are a possessor of the Holy Spirit? Well...before we make a judgment on this subject the first question you might want to ask is "How does someone come to obtain the Holy Spirit?" Is it by asking Jesus into your heart? By believing with all your heart mind and soul? Is it just by faith?... 

What does Jesus say in the Bible how one must obtain His Spirit? Remember, God gives us the answers. We must be disciples and ask questions - seek them out - and when we come to a door, start knocking...

God's word trumps any pastors word no matter if he went to seminary for 50 years. If you are taught by mans wisdom, you will only gain mans wisdom. Jesus says you will be taught by His Spirit. Mans wisdom is different then Gods. 

1Cr 2:12     Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

We will look at how man is to receive God's Spirit and see if this is why churches are failing today - because they lack the keys to obtaining eternal life!

Not of This World

Have you ever seen the merchandise that says "NOTW"? It took me forever to actually figure out what it means and stands for. It is short for "Not of this World". So I got to thinking about this a lot and wanted to see what it takes to actually "not be of this world". I mean - does it seriously take slapping a sticker on your car or wearing a shirt around to let me know that you are not from here?

Lets look at what the Bible says it takes to be "not of this world"!

John 17:14 (13-19)
"But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. "As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. "For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.



Jesus states that He has given them Your word (logos - His image) and they are hated by the world because they are not of the world - just like Jesus is not of the world. So we know that there is the WORLD and that there is something NOT OF THE WORLD.

John 15:18-20
"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.



The world loves those of the world. Jesus chose us out of the world and this is a reason the world hates you. BIG NOTE HERE: Jesus chooses - just like in verse 16 of the same chapter - "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My Name He may give it to you." Someone that God chooses is going to bear fruit! I always thought I picked God because I went to church. Sounds like it might be different...



John 8:21-24
Then He said again to them, "I go away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come." So the Jews were saying, "Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?" And He was saying to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."



Those from below (man) are in sin and are of this world. Jesus is from above and without sin. And unless we BELIEVE that Jesus is the I AM, we will die in sin.



So it takes the removal of sin to be from above or not of this world.

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.



So this Scripture shows some of the things that make up the world. These things were not in Jesus making Him not of this world. If we love the world - the Father is not in us.



BUT TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE = WE MUST DO THE FATHERS WILL!

Galatians 5:21 (18-24)
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.



If we practice these things in the flesh - we are guaranteed not to inherit the kingdom of God. These deeds are not of the Spirit but are of mans flesh - things of the world. The fruit of the Spirit are the exact opposite of the deeds of the flesh. And if you are struggling with these things, God gives a way to get rid of them - crucify the flesh with its PASSIONS AND DESIRES. Want to know more about this, let me know!

John 18:36
Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm."



OK! Now we have some pieces to put together:
1. Jesus is not of this world.

2. Jesus chose His disciples and because of this the world hates them

3. Those in sin are of the world (all mankind is) Jesus is from above, we are from below. But He says that we must believe that He is the I AM or else we will die in our sins. So it takes FAITH!

4. The world is made up of lust and pride and is passing away. To love the world means the Father is not in us.

5. Those that practice these lusts and deeds of the world will not inherit Gods kingdom. If you dont like what you do then God gives a way out - crucify your flesh (Check out Romans 6 if you are interested in this. He who has died is free from sin!)

6. Jesus' kingdom or the kingdom of God IS NOT OF THIS WORLD!

Matthew 7:21 - "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

To actually be NOT OF THIS WORLD takes more then throwing your shirt on in the morning. It takes being in the Kingdom of God/heaven WHICH IS AT HAND. And it takes doing the FATHERS WILL. Just like it said in 1 John - "but the one who does the will of God lives forever."

Sons of God = Sons of the Resurrection

A friend and I are doing a coffee shop Bible Study and have been looking into some very interesting things. Things that we learn in church but then soon find out that after reading the Bible that they are actually not the same or not exactly accurate. 

The word Christian(s) for example we found is used only three times. Grab a Strongs Concordance and prove that out! Fact is, Jesus never used that term towards His disciples and God never called anyone that either. 

But what did God call those that truly followed His Son Jesus? What did Jesus call them?

Grab your Bibles!

Luke 20:36 (27-40)

Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

1. Who is worthy to attain to the resurrection?

2. What does it take to be apart of the resurrection?

     (Hint: what does it take to be a son of God?)

3. When is the resurrection?

4. What happens after the FIRST resurrection? (Yeah, there is more then one.)

Oh, and another word you can look up in your Strongs, RAPTURE....let me know when you find it.

Believe (Faith) - Part 2

John 4:39-42

From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all the things that I have done." So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. Many more believed because of His word; and they were saying to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world." 

This is about the Samaritan woman who meets with Jesus at the well and He reveals things to her that no man would know except for God because He can see into a persons heart. Because of this, she perceives Jesus to be a prophet if not the Christ Himself. She goes into Samaria and shares with the Samaritans there that this man just told her things that no others person would know. Could this be the Christ that we have been waiting for? Because of this, the Samaritans come to Jesus and talk with Him. They stayed two days with Him and believed in His word (logos = Jesus' image).

Their response to the woman after they had spent some personal time with Jesus is, We now believe, not because of what you said but because of Jesus' word.

To believe in Jesus means to spend time with Him. Reading in His word and getting familiar with what He looks like. That is what Joe and I are talking over is the beginning image of Jesus. Spend time praying in the Name of Jesus and putting His word to practice.

Can we believe in Jesus if we don't get to know Him? Or do we just say we believe in Him because a woman at the well told us about Him? No, we have to BELIEVE in Him because we spent time with Him.

It will be better to say " I Believe in You Jesus because of Your word that I read and live by doing it and by talking with You and listening to Your Voice", then to say, "I believe in You Jesus because someone told me about you once."

Faith Study Part 1

I'm going to start by saying Faith is such a huge topic I am not going to put everything in one post as it would be too long and most people might not want to read a novel length posting. So this will be part one in the study of Faith.

Faith is a huge topic in the Christian community today and it very well should be. The word Faith comes from the Greek word peitho, it is used upwards of and if not more than 300 times in the New Testament alone; needless to say faith is very important.

Now that we have established its importance, what does it mean?

I used to believe that faith was just knowing in your heart that whatever you had faith in was true and certain. Websters gives a similar definition: "a firm belief in something in which there is no proof". This I believe is what a lot of people may view as faith, a firm belief. While that is not wrong the Bible shows that there is so much more involved in faith than just knowing in your heart of hearts that something is true.

Throughout the Bible faith (peitho) is translated into various English words: persuaded, believed, obey, agree, trusted, having made a friend, assured, have confidence, committed, and faith. The Anglo Saxon word for faith is actually translated "by life" So faith is more than just knowing, it is living what you know. There is a funny fictional story that gives a great example of what true faith is:

There was a tightrope walker, who did incredible aerial feats.  All over Paris, he would do tightrope acts at tremendously scary heights. Then he had succeeding acts; he would do it blindfolded, then he would go across the tightrope, blindfolded, pushing a wheelbarrow.

An American promoter read about this in the papers and wrote a letter to the tightrope walker, saying, "Tightrope, I don't believe you can do it, I would like to challenge you to do your act over Niagara Falls."

Now, Tightrope wrote back, "Sir, I'd love to come."

Tightrope was to start on the Canadian side and come to the American side. He comes across the rope which is suspended over the treacherous part of the falls -- blindfolded!! And he makes it across easily.

The crowds go wild, and he comes to the promoter and says, "Well, Mr. Promoter, now do you believe I can do it?"

"Well of course I do. I mean, I just saw you do it."

"No," said Tightrope, "do you really believe I can do it?"

"Well of course I do, you just did it."

"No, no, no," said Tightrope, "do you believe I can do it?"

"Yes," said Mr. Promoter, "I believe you can do it."

"Good," said Tightrope, "then you get in the wheel barrow."

Now I know this is just fictional but it shows true faith is doing more than just saying "I believe", it's about you being living proof of the faith you have within yourself.

Hebrews 11 is what some might call the "Faith Chapter" and rightly so, it has at least 26 uses of faith within that single chapter. I want to encourage you to read the entire chapter yourself because there are a lot of neat things listed in here and if you have time go back and read some of the stories about these faithful servants that are throughout the Old Testament.

Hebrews 11 starts of by explaining what faith is: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not yet seen." in verse 6 it says that "without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and He is a rewarder of those who seek Him"

Faith: the assurance (confidence, steadfastness of mind) of things hoped for, and the conviction (proof) of things not yet seen.

• The hope is actually speaking about salvation; the return of Christ, that is what our hope should be in. [We can cover that at another time].
•  And we need to have a conviction of things we can not yet see.
• We were not here on the earth to witness Jesus Christ personally but in Acts 17:31 it says that God has furnished proof to all men by raising Jesus from the dead.
• Where does this proof come from?
• In short it is from the Holy Spirit. If Jesus didn't go to the Father (wasn't resurrected) then the Holy Spirit would not be here for mankind to be able to obtain (John 14 talks about this). So although Jesus isn't here in His flesh walking on the earth we are still able to have that conviction or proof in Him through the Holy Spirit.

Faith is a must have; without it we are not even able to please God. We have to believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Next time we will go into some examples of faith to see what true faith looks like and go into some of the stories that are listed in Hebrews 11. If you want to look into some of those ahead of time and share what the Lord shows you we would love to hear it.