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.
There have been many different kinds of air filtration units and respirators that have been around for quite a few years now, cleaning the air from dust and other terrible things that can really hurt your lungs. You might remember the coal miners using a simple type of paper mask to protect them from all of the coal dust that surrounded them deep within the mines. But back in 1914, Garrett Morgan patented the safety hood and smoke protector, which basically was the precursor to the gas mask, and was very effective at safely filtering the air from dangerous fumes. It worked on the principle of wet sponges, to not only cool the incoming air but trap all of the harmful particles at the same time. Just a few years later, he successfully used his safety hoods to rescue trapped workers in a tunnel that collapsed underneath lake Erie. But over the years it has gone through numerous modifications, and was eventually used during World War I when the Germans began using lethal doses of chlorine and mustard gas against the enemy.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
God wants us to undergo a purification process, because there are many things in this world that can poison one’s soul. Sin is like a pollutant that needs to be filtered out of our lives, but we must first put on the face mask of Biblical Truth, and begin breathing the unadulterated air of God’s Holy Word.
1 Peter 1:22-23 (KJB) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
To live for Christ, sin must be filtered out by the teachings of God’s Holy Word, which happens through Spiritual education. This is because the teachings of Scriptural Truth, and the faithful application of them to your lives, will free you from your sins.
John 8:31-32 (KJB) Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Being born again is more than just a one time event in your life, because each day we must die to ourselves and be born again through the incorruptible seed of God’s Word. Just like an infant, we have to go through a process of learning in order to go on to maturity. Just think of all the things that a student must learn in high school to eventually graduate, and it is by their works that eventually a diploma will be obtained. Getting to heaven is the same thing, because in order to obtain eternal life, you must understand that God is going to judge every man by their works, whether they are good or evil. This is why the message of repentance has been preached for thousands of years, because God is calling us to a transformation, from the sinful person that we were in the past, to a brand new creature in Christ Jesus. This process begins when we are buried beneath the waters of baptism, and we begin to grow, through the knowledge and the application of God’s Holy Word.
Romans 12:2 (KJB) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Many people claim to believe in Jesus, but sincere faith in the eyes of God will result in a change of direction in their life. There were some very religious people during Jesus’ day, but it was the harlots and publicans who were actually filled up with faith and repenting from their dead works.
Matthew 21:28-32 (KJB) But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
In this passage, both of the sons were given a command, just like we are given commands throughout the New Testament. But genuine faith will result in repentance, because if that doesn’t happen in your life, you are only deceiving yourselves. We are born again through the incorruptible seed of God’s Word, but if you don’t possess the faith to do what it says, then you will never go through the life altering change that is required to get to heaven. It is for this very reason that the Apostle James warned the church that they needed to become obedient to the teachings of Scripture.
James 1:21-25 (KJB) Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
People can claim that they are a child of God, but that doesn’t matter unless you become a doer of God’s Word. It is faith combined with our obedient works that get us to heaven, not just lip-service. It’s more than just confessing Lord Lord, because you must possess sincere faith in your heart, which will ultimately result in our humble obedience to His teachings.
Romans 8:14 (KJB) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
In order to perfect our faith, we must possess a good knowledge of the will of God. This is because through obedience to the one true faith, we become pleasing unto Him.
Hebrews 11:6 (KJB) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
It’s complete foolishness to think that salvation will come at the snap of your fingers. That’s like saying that somebody is going to win a gold medal at the Olympics, but they never did anything beforehand in order to achieve it. But that is the absurdity of a lot of the false Christianity out in the world today, who rejects putting forth a diligent effort to submit to God’s Word. Some people can sincerely believe something, but at the same time be sincerely wrong. Many people who profess Christianity are going to be in for a huge shock on Judgment Day, because they will be turned away from Christ. This is because they never had a good understanding of God’s will, nor did they repent from dead works.
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.
So again, we must undergo a purification process, by having a good understanding of the teachings of Scripture. God’s Holy Word can protect us from the many poisonous things of this world, but only when we reach out for it each day, and wear it in our hearts, just like a coal miner reaching out to put on,……
…….The Gas Mask
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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