Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
I’m not a very big sports person, but occasionally I do like to watch a good baseball game. But as many of you know, sometimes one of the teams can get so far ahead, that they automatically assume that they are going to win the game. They will get a little puffed up, and even begin slacking off during the later innings. But before you know it, the team that was so far behind begins getting a lot of base runs and crushing the ball into the bleachers, and the team that assumed that they were going to win the game, actually loses in the end.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
When you begin to assume things, especially in the Christian Life, you live in a manner that you think that everything is all wrapped up. You assume that you already have your place in heaven, and there is nothing that can ever happen that can change that fact. But one of the main tenants of the Gospels is to repent or perish. This means that no matter how much you think you are going to be in heaven, if you really are not going to repent of your sins, then you won’t be there at all. We are involved in a race towards heaven, but without humble submission to the will of God, then you will come up short of the finish line.
Hebrews 4:1-2 (KJB) Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Unbelief is manifested in open disobedience to the teachings of scripture. It’s clear that people can confess Jesus as their Lord, but that’s not enough to get into heaven. Repentance and turning from dead works must happen in one’s life if you are serious about entering into eternal life.
Matthew 7:21-23 (KJB) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
You can do all kinds of works in the name of Jesus, or even bring all kinds of different gifts to the church, but without repentance from dead works and submission to the will of God, they aren’t going to matter at all in the end. You must understand that the reason why Jesus died on the cross was to grant us a new opportunity to reject the old sinful person that we once were, to become a new creature of obedience towards Christ. You cannot buy off God, thinking that you are going to throw some extra money in the offering plate, and He will look the other way in regards to your sins. You cannot excel in one area of your life, and then refuse to change in another. But in these wicked days, these are the heretical and worldly philosophies that are taught commonly in huge numbers of false Christianity. It is the once saved always saved mentality, but even the Apostle Paul didn’t believe that type of balderdash. He knew that he could become a castaway if he wasn’t going to focus on the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:11-15 (KJB) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Notice at verse 11 that the Apostle teaches,…….(if) I might attain unto the resurrection of the Dead. First of all, the word “ if “ presents a conditional clause. People say God’s love is unconditional? What hogwash! There are most certainly conditions to inherit eternal life, as the New Testament teaches that we must abide in the love of God. To remain in His love means to do His will from the heart. Jesus died so that we could have a second chance, but those who refuse to turn their life around had better get ready for His wrath. He was so upset at the Jews that He threw over tables in the temple, and He has not changed since then. He will do the exact same things to those who profess to be Christian, if they are going to act in the same manner.
You will hear many people who claim to be a Christian, say things like,…. The Pharisees were so terrible, and the Sadducees and the scribes were evil, but if they looked in the mirror they would quickly find somebody else far worse than them. What does a Christian think that they are special? Are they that puffed up? They are like spoiled children who have been loved a little bit too much! The only difference between those who profess to be a Christian and everybody else is that they have received the grace of God. But if they choose to live in complete wickedness after that, then they are ten times worse than complete unbelievers. To think that God’s love is unconditional simply because you claim to be a Christian is absolutely absurd. There is no respect of persons with God, and whether they are a Pharisee, a Jew, a Gentile, or even a complete unbeliever, everyone will be judged according to their works, whether they are good or evil.
Romans 2:5-11 (KJB) But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 (KJB) In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
The Apostle Paul never lived his life assuming that he was automatically going to be in heaven, but knew that he needed to strive diligently to obtain that future place. He was filled with both a love and a reverent fear for God, and understood one of the most important things about the Christian Life,……
……..It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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