Month: July 2023

Humans were made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26, Genesis 2:7) and God is spirit (John 4:24). Who we are is who we are internally, which is spirit and will exist forever. Because of the fall, all humans have been born with a propensity to sin. But because of Jesus’ sacrifice through the Cross and Resurrection, we can have eternal life. Our previously dead spirit will then have eternal life, the very life of God (Romans 8:9, 1 John.4:4, Colossians 1:13). To those who are born again, there is now no condemnation awaiting them (Romans 8:1, Romans 5:9, John 3:17-18, 1Thessalonians 5:9). In this life, we are supposed to live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit (who always leads us in line with the Word of God) from within the regenerated spirit (Romans 6:6-14, Romans 8:8-11,26).

The house we live in, this mortal body, will at the resurrection become immortal (1 Corinthians 15:35-57, 2 Corinthians 5:1-5). But for the time being, this mortal body causes us many challenges. It is subject to death, sickness, embarrassment, temptations, etc. But it can be made to obey the spirit from within. How? By bringing the mind, will, and emotions in line with the regenerated spirit. The re-born spirit already wants to obey God and His Word, but the soul (mind, will, emotions) has to be subjected to the spirit to accomplish that (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). As we progressively bring the soul in subjection to the spirit, we discover more and more what is available to us today in the Spirit of God. We are told to walk (live) in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26). To the degree that we do that, the fruit of the Spirit will be evident in our life, as will the gifts and power of the Spirit!

The gift of salvation is just that, it is a gift. It does not cost you anything. Life itself is a gift from God. Forgiveness of sins and power for service are all gifts from God. But we do have to approach God the way prescribed in the Bible (by faith) to appropriate these things.

When I had my Naturopathic office open, I saw many patients who would say they wanted to lose weight, change their lifestyle or overcome high blood pressure, etc. but were not willing to do what was necessary to get free of those problems. I see the same type of problems in the Body of Christ today.

For example, we are often told of the importance of reading, studying, and meditating on the Word of God. We are told to speak the promises of God because our words have power. We are told to come boldly to the Father in time of need, we are told to fast, etc. We all want the very best of what God has for us but often are not willing to put ourselves in the place we need to be to appropriate those things into daily life.

I notice how easy it is to say we want God’s blessings but not obey the conditions that may come with some of His promises! It is easier to complain about what we don’t have instead of believing and acting on the Word of God! If you want what God promises in His Word, start feeding your mind and spirit the Word of God – specifically His promises (2 Pet.1:3-4) and declare what the promise offers, believe it, say it, and obey it!

One of our Elders at New Life Church was having some health issues about a year ago. He was overweight and as a result of that other problems were manifesting. He determined to start by losing some weight, which he did, he lost 70 pounds in ten months by changing his diet and exercising, and taking no medications. He feels much better, looks better, has more energy, has no brain fog, etc. Most things are possible if you want it badly enough to act!

Since Adam & Eve, in the Garden of Eden, disobeyed God all of humanity has been born with a tendency to sin (Romans 5:15-21). Jesus said it was necessary that each of us believe in Him to be Born Again (John 3:3-6). That belief was more than a mental assent to a historical Jesus, but a decision to turn (repent) from our sin and turn to Him as our Lord and become His disciple (Mark 8:34-38, Matt.28:19-20). When one has done that, is it possible to become unborn? Recently someone asked me that question, so I present the following:

THE SIN QUESTION

Does one go to hell because of Adams’ sin? And does God send people to hell? For me, the Scripture is clear. John 3:16-18 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” There are many other passages that speak to this topic, but I believe this is sufficient to answer the question, God does not send one into a Christless eternity but the individual does so himself by a refusal to repent and make Jesus his personal Lord and Savior. So it is not many sins that send one to hell but the SIN of rejecting Jesus as Lord!

CHOICES TO BE MADE

All of us make many choices each day and there are consequences to all of them. God told Adam he could eat the fruit of each of the trees in the Garden except for the Tree of Life (Gen.2:15-17). He and Eve disobeyed and suffered the consequence of being put out of the Garden and had his fellowship with God broken. Being born again restores that relationship and fellowship with God through Christ and results in all our sins being forgiven and cleansed from us (Eph.1:7, Col.1:13-14, 1 John 1:9). Now “There is, therefore, no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Rom.8:1-2). It was never God’s intention that mankind suffer His wrath (1 Thess.5:9).

WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO REJECT HIM?

They will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire (Rev.20:8,10,14,15).

WHAT ABOUT THOSE DISCIPLES OF JESUS WHO SIN AFTER RECEIVING HIM AS THEIR LORD?

Jesus has already provided forgiveness for all our sins past, present, and future. He has done all that He is ever going to do about them. When the disciple of Jesus realizes he has sinned (John 8:9, John 16:8-10), he should immediately go to God turning from his sin and thanking God for His forgiveness that has already been given!