The Remission of Blood

 

The scriptures tell us that without the remission of blood there is no remission of sins. Let’s find out what exactly this means. According to the Bible, remission means in Greek, aphesis, which is forgiveness, deliverance and liberty. In other words, in order to have deliverance which is freedom from bondage or imprisonment, and forgiveness which is , pardoning of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed),  BLOOD MUST BE SHED.

Under the law, a life must be given up for a life. The soul that sins shall die.  Therefore, either you die or else blood is shed for your remission.  A sinner cannot die for a sinner because both would end up in hell any way. This is why the bloodshed must not be tainted with sin from the soul who shed it. God knew this and that is why he provided the perfect sacrifice for us. Jesus, who was without sin, gave his life up for the sinner.

There is one more thing. In order to receive this remission, one must repent. Scriptures tell us in Mark 1:4 that John and Jesus (Luke 24:27) preached a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. In other words, one must turn from any and all activity that excludes faith in the blood for remission of sins and turn toward God and trusting in his remission of blood through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Scriptures plainly tell us that it is FAITH IN THE BLOOD that brings salvation, to be saved from the penalty of sin. PERIOD!!! NOTHING ELSE!! NOTHING ADDED.

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. Romans 3:25

Paul tells us the same thing. He says that under the law all are condemned to die eternally because of sin unless they turn to Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins. Read all of Romans chapter 3.

In a nut shell I will simplify Paul’s message.

. All are sinners and condemned to die eternally.

• Right standing with God comes only through faith in Jesus Christ as the remitter of sins.
• To be justified (just as if you had never sinned) comes as a free gift through the redemption provided by Jesus Christ.
• God gave Jesus as propitiation (appeasing the law of God) through FAITH IN HIS BLOOD for the remission of sins.
• No one can boast that they earned their salvation by any works of the law whatsoever.
• The law of God is established through faith in the blood of Jesus or in other words the blood of Jesus has fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the law.

In conclusion, remission from sins comes by FAITH IN THE BLOOD OF JESUS ALONE without the works of the law. Read the book of Galatians, for confirmation, because Paul specifically says that if you trust any other message then you are trusting in a false message that will result in you dying for your sins, and spending eternity separated from God, in everlasting punishment. So, make sure that you are really saved by calling on God to forgive you from all your sins based on faith (trusting in) the blood of Jesus Christ for your remission.

 

 

 

Jesus Christ is the Fulfillment of the Law of God

Jesus is the Fulfillment of the Law of God | The Gospel of Grace Ministries

The New Covenant of Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Covenant promises. Jesus fulfills the moral law and its demands, which cannot be done by sinful man. Jesus in his sinless life, lived God’s laws, and by his death, he took the wrath of God and the laws demands of justice. The resurrection of Jesus Christ brought a new and better way, for Jesus Christ is the end of the law for righteousness, the Bible tell us. Jesus Christ is now the way to eternal life and not by trying to keep the law.

The Old Testament contained types and shadows, which reveal and lead to Jesus Christ. Jesus is the fulfillment of all the righteous requirements of the law. Jesus has come not to abolish. kataluô- “destroy,” “demolish,” “dismantle” but to Fulfill and complete the promise of God, to send the Messiah, that would take away sins.

For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.Romans 10:3,4

During Jesus Christ’s life, the sacrifices in the Temple in Jerusalem, were still valid. The law (Torah) was also still valid at that time. But after the death and resurrection  of Jesus Christ, the sacrificial system became obsolete.Jesus, has now became the Christians’ righteousness, without the deeds of the law. Jesus Christ’s righteousness became our salvation, for his righteousness was imputed (accredited on our behalf) to us, by faith in Christ. Not by any good deeds or moral lifestyles on our part. (Which if we have any, simply are not good enough, for the law demands absolute perfection) Once for all Jesus became the sacrifice for sins.

And therefore it was imputed to him (Abraham) for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Romans 4:22-25

During the Lord’s life time on earth when he spoke through the gospels to the JEWS, the law was still valid, but at the cross, Jesus said…”It is finished” (completed…done…fulfilled.) From that time on there was a transition from the Old Covenant, to the New Covenant, and those who are in Jesus Christ are in his righteousness. They are now declared holy, for he has chosen them, out of the world to be his own.

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. John 15:16

For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a BETTER hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. Hebrews 7:14-22

Jesus has fulfilled the entire Old Testament. Jesus Christ now supersedes the Old Testament law. All the promises of God, are in Christ ,for he is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. The Old Testament laws remain for one purpose, and that is to convict people of sin, and lead them to faith in Jesus Christ.

On the cross Jesus said “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. John 19:30

After the resurrection: “For Christ is the END OF THE LAW for righteousness to everyone who believes.” ROMANS 10:4

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 2 Peter 3:10

Jesus the Son of God

According to the Bible, there is only one true God, only one Creator of all things. There is only one way and one message in order to be saved from sin, death and hell. If your god does not line up with the written testimony of the God of the Bible then you are trusting in a false god and a false message.

The Bible says that God is sovereign over all things, even the devil.

I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. Isaiah 45: 5-6

God the Father sent His Son Jesus the Christ or anointed one into the world with a specific purpose. Jesus means in the Hebrew Jeshua which is a shortened form of Jehoshua, which means Jehovah is salvation.

Jesus Christ is God (the second person of the Godhead.)

 they shall call his name EMMANUEL, which being interpreted is, GOD WITH US.  JOHN 8:24
The Bible says, Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made  John 1:3

You must believe in the deity of Jesus Christ in order to be saved.

if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.  MATTHEW 1:23

Jesus took on flesh and became a sacrifice in order to satisfy the law’s demands for sin.

I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no Saviour. Isaiah 43:11

To the only wise God our Saviour… Jude 1:12
God our Saviour. Titus 2:10

“…the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”  1 John 4:14

 Only Jesus Christ can save you and give you eternal life! No other god!  

Neither is there salvation in any other (than Jesus): for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12

God is the first and the last. I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he. Isaiah 41:4

Jesus is the first and the last. Fear not; I am the first and the last: Revelation 1:17

God forgives sins. The Lord…forgiveth all thine iniquitie  Psalm 103:2-3 Who can forgive sins but God only? Mark 2:7

Jesus forgives sins Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. Mark 2:5

God is our redeemer. Thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer.. Isaiah 63:16

Jesus redeemed us. The great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ…gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity.. Titus 2:13-14

God is one. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD. Deuteronomy 6:4

Jesus and God are one. I and my Father are one. John 10:30

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…All things were made by him…He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not…And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us John 1:1, 3, 10, 14

Jesus saith…he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? John 14:9

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1 John 5:7

God has a Son.

The LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Psalms 2:7
Jesus is God’s Son.

Jesus said also that God was his Father… John 5:18

Only God is worshipped. … Then saith Jesus unto him… Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Matthew 4:10

Jesus is worshipped. While [Jesus] spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him… Matthew 9:18
And again, when [God] bringeth in the firstbegotten [Jesus] into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. Hebrews 1:6
And Thomas answered and said unto [Jesus], My Lord and my God. John 20:28

God is Messiah. unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder…and his name shall be called… The mighty God, The everlasting Father… Isaiah 9:6

Jesus is Messiah. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. John 4:25-26

God is from everlasting. The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting. Psalms 93:1-2

Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) is from everlasting. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah…out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2

Only God is glorified. I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another… Isaiah 42:8

God glorified Jesus. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. John 17:5
All men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. John 5:23
But unto the Son he [God] saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Hebrews 1:8

God is I am
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. Exodus 3:14

Jesus is I am
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. John 8:58

God heals all diseases. Bless the LORD…who healeth all thy diseases. Psalms 103:2

Jesus heals all diseases. (Jesus) he healed all that were sick. Matthew 8:16

God is the Judge of the whole earth. O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself. Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud. Psalms 94:1-2
Jesus is the Judge of the whole earth.
The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: John 5:22
God has life in Himself.

The Father hath life in himself John 5:26

Jesus has life in Himself. so hath [God] given to the Son to have life in himself; In [Jesus] was life; and the life was the light of men. John 1:4
God raises the dead. The Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; John 5:21
Jesus raises the dead. The Son quickeneth whom he will. John 5:21

Jesus Christ is God

The scriptures tell us that Jesus Christ is God.   If you don’t believe that then you are not saved.

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: GOD was manifest in the FLESH, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, BELIEVED ON in the world, RECEIVED UP into glory.1 Timothy 3:16

But unto the SON he saith, ‘Thy throne, O GOD, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom’… Thou, LORD, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands. Hebrews 1:8, 10

I and my Father are ONE. Jesus Christ, John 10:30

CHRIST JESUS…being in the FORM OF GOD, thought it not robbery to be EQUAL WITH GOD: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:5-8

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the FATHER, THE WORD, AND THE HOLY GHOST: and THESE THREE ARE ONE.1 John 5:7

And Thomas answered and said unto him [JESUS], My Lord and MY GOD.John 20:28

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and THE WORD WAS GOD. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, AND DWELT AMONG US, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.  John 1:1-4, 14

Philip saith unto him, ‘Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.’ Jesus saith unto him, ‘Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me Philip? HE THAT HATH SEEN ME HATH SEEN THE FATHER; and how sayest thou then, ‘Shew us the Father?John 14:8-9

CHRIST, who is the IMAGE OF GOD…II Corinthians 4:4

glory of GOD in the FACE OF JESUS CHRIST. II Corinthians 4:6

GOD…hath in these last days spoken unto us by his SON…who being the brightness of his glory, and the EXPRESS IMAGE OF HIS PERSON Hebrews 1:1-3

For in [Jesus] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.  Colossians 2:9

God is the Creator

Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. John 1:3

And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Colossians 1:17

Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. Isaiah 44:6

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 1:8

Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Revelation 1:18

You must believe that Jesus is God as the Bible tells us and trust him to save you instead of the law.  

For by GRACE ( God’s undeserved, unmerited, favour and mercy) are ye saved through Faith; (trust in reliance on) and that NOT OF YOURSELVES : (no by your own ability) it is the GIFT ( free bestowal ) of God: Not of works, (no good deeds or good behavior) lest any man should boast. (no bragging about how deserving you are) Ephesians 2:8-9

If by grace, then it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it [the election to salvation by God] be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work Romans 11:6

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus BEFORE the world began. II Timothy 1:9.

What happens if I reject Jesus of the Bible and choose my own version of god?

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?  Hebrews 2:3

The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:41-42,

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. 2 Thessalonians 1:8b

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15

THE LAW CANNOT SAVE YOU! Jesus Christ superseded the law.  

Galatians 3: 19-25

Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.  Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 

 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (THE LAW!!!)

Those who belong to Jesus Christ are now heirs of salvation.

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Galatians 3:26-29

 

Salvation is through Faith in the Blood of Jesus Christ

Many people who claim to be Christians base their belief upon assenting to the fact that Jesus Christ existed and died and rose again from the dead BUT scriptures tell us that even the devil believes this so what exactly does it mean to be saved from sin and become the recipient of eternal life? According to the Bible under the law if you sinned you had to bring a sacrifice of the death of certain animals and the bloodshed brought you remission of your sin. This was because the wages of sin is death. Someone innocent had to pay the price for your sin, if not you then a substitute for you, on your behalf. The blood that was shed satisfied the requirements of the law of God; a life for a life.

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. Hebrews 9:22

The Bible tells us that Jesus shed his blood on our behalf. In order to have this sacrifice applied to us we must believe in what Jesus did and not just who he was. You can believe in the trinity, the deity of Christ, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and still not be saved. What needs to happen in order for salvation to occur is that you must have a revelation of the shed blood of Jesus and faith in his blood to cleanse you from sin and keep you cleansed from sin.

Paul asserts that the Galatians believed in Jesus according to the law but not in grace. In other words the Galatians believed in the death and resurrection and even deity of Jesus Christ BUT they did not have faith in the blood of Jesus to save them completely. They wanted to remain under the law and be saved too but it does not work that way. The Bible specifically says that salvation is attained by having FAITH IN THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST. This means that we must believe that the blood of Jesus Christ alone atones for sin, without adding anything to it.

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God  Romans 3:25

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:14

If you are trusting in your good deeds, the works of the law, morality, ethics, to save you as well as believing in who Jesus is then you have no salvation. In order to be saved you must completely and totally have faith in the blood of Jesus alone to save you AND to keep you saved.  Let me show you exactly why this is so.

First of all faith in the blood of Jesus alone JUSTIFIES. This means to be declared righteous or in right standing before God. Works of any kind even keeping the Ten Commandments will not justify you. (Not that any could keep them in their entirety in thought and deed anyway)

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Romans 5:9

The blood of Jesus washes and cleanses from our sins, continually. In other words instead of running to the of sacrificial system and killing an animal sacrifice every time we blow it, we can confess the sin to Jesus ask for the help of his Holy Spirit in giving you victory over the sin and he will forgive and cleanse. He died once for sin. IT IS FINNISHED!

 Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood Rev. 1:5

 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

Salvation is attainted through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ alone apart from the deeds of the law. In other words when we have faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, God saves us from his wrath and from hell fire. He gives us eternal life based on his sacrificial gift without adding anything to it.  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Romans 5:9

Not only does faith in the blood of Jesus save you but faith in the blood of Jesus will also give you victory over sin and the devil! This is because the blood of Jesus is continually working on our behalf. What was accomplished at Calvary is a onetime event BUT that event is still working on our behalf to sanctify us! How? The blood of Jesus allows us continual access to God’s throne to receive from him all the help we need to live a life that pleases him in this earth!

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, Hebrews 10:19 And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, Revelation 1:5

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11

In the Name of Jesus

Did you ever wonder why the Bible tells us that we have authority in the name of Jesus and yet scriptures plainly tell us that one can believe in another Jesus? That is, a person can believe in a Jesus which is one of their own imagination, understanding, or organized religion and he is not the Jesus of the Bible. 

“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 [again note that Christ said “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.” Matthew 7:21-23.

First of all let us examine the premise; one can believe in another Jesus who is not the Jesus of the Bible. 
• Paul says, “For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.” 2 Corinthians 11:4
• Paul warns “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-9 

So as you can see from scriptures, it is very possible to be converted to a false gospel and believe in a false Jesus too. Now, check out these scriptures. 

• For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” 
Matthew 24:5-8 

Many (an innumerable amount) 
Will come in my name (on behalf of)
Saying, “I am the Christ.” Or in other words I am anointed of God. 
And shall deceive many- to cause (someone) to believe something that is not true; in order to gain a personal advantage.

• On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ Matthew 7:22
On that day- judgment day 
Many will say to be- (an innumerable amount)
Lord, Lord- these claim to know him. As they address him as master. 
We prophesied in your name-spoke in his behalf, saying God told them thus
Works in your name- miracles, virtuous deeds, moral power, force 

Now to my point; In order to use someone’s name legitimately, or perform legal action in the name of another, act on their behalf, proxy: one must be authorized to use that name. If you will notice, Jesus said to those using his name and doing works in his name and being rejected for it at judgment day, Jesus said, I NEVER KNEW YOU. He did not say, “I once knew you, but I do not know you now, he said NEVER, and never means never. ( at no time in the past or future; on no occasion; not ever)

However, these people going about doing works in Jesus name thought that they knew him! They called him Lord! They even thought that they were doing miracles in his name. But were they really? I have noticed that many doing so called miracles hardly ever get doctor verification or witnesses for their so called miracles. Seriously! Why not? 

Now I am not saying that God does not perform miracles, but what I am saying is that many deceivers also claim they are doing miracles in Jesus name. So, miracles are not a sign of a true Christian with authority to use the name of Jesus by proxy (agent, deputy, emissary, representative)

This is why the Bible says to test the spirits. And prove ALL things. There are false” anointed ones” out their claiming to know Jesus, when in fact, they believe in another Jesus and preach another gospel. (One made up in the minds of men and not based on scriptures. )

Always check out what the person is preaching, even if they make you think someone is getting a miracle or even if there is a bonafide miracle because yes, Satan can perform miracles, scriptures attest to this. For example, New age healing and many other kinds of mumbo jumbo have actually healed people, such as hypnosis, mind control, new age spirit healing ect. 

Even preachers could be doing healings and miracles by demons and have a false anointing (another spirit) 

“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie,” 2Thess. 2:9 

“for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.” Revelation 16:14

“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,’” Deut. 3:1-12 

“For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.” Matthew 24:24 

In order to use the name of Jesus legitimately we must be born again, called by him, and be in obedience to scriptures. Many of these false anointed ones preach things contrary to scriptures. They also are very good at making up a lot of subjective stuff too. Make sure all preaching you receive can be backed up with scriptures comparing scriptures. Sometimes these sneaky false deceivers will speak great big swelling words as scriptures tell us. In other words they are silver tongued. 

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” 2Corinthians 11:13 -15

“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. “John 3:1-15 

Scriptures give us safe guards against false prophets, teachers, apostles, pastors, evangelists. Here are some things to watch for. 

• Bad fruit- sexual sins, lying, cheating, faking, stealing 
• False teachings- (non scriptural, adding to or taking away from the Bible or misconstruing in order to pervert or change)
• Greedy for gain- always asking for money, fleece the sheep in order to live high on the hog
• Braggarts-always boasting about themselves as some great one, vain, self exaggerated.
• Prophesying for money- you have to pay exorberent amount of money to hear them speak. 
• They give false words that do not come to pass. 
• They will tell you that there is another way to come to salvation, that Jesus is not enough or that he is not really God. 
• They do not like the grace of Christ and prefer the works of the law. 
• They scatter the sheep by abuse of power 
• They are sensual, of this world, love the world, and preach the exploits of this world. 
• They preach flattering words that the people want to hear but never subjects that deal with sin. 
• They pervert the grace of God into sensuality. In other words they say that you can live a lifestyle of sin and be saved. This is not true! If you are really saved then you will live separated from the world and its evil. 

Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion. Jude 11 

For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and bysmooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. Romans 6:18 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 7:21 

“But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.” Deut. 18:20-22 

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:16 

An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes? “Jer. 5: 30,31

“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44 

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.(eternally damned) As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.” Gal. 1:6-9 

“I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.” Jer.23:21 

“And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord has not spoken.” Ezk.22:28 

“Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the Lord and say, “Is not the Lord in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us.” Micah 3:11

“Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did notpresume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion. These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted;” Jude 8: 8-16

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord. Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord. “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. ” Jer. 23:1-40 

“And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.” 2 Peter 2:3 

“They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘Declares the Lord,’ when the Lord has not sent them, and yet they expect him to fulfill their word.” Ezek.13:6 

“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, (exploits of this world) and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;” .2 Peter 2:1-22 

“And the Lord said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds. Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name although I did not send them, and who say, ‘Sword and famine shall not come upon this land’: By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed. And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword, with none to bury them—them, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their evil upon them.” Jeremiah 14: 14-16 

“For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the fleshthose who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.” 2 Peter 2: 18,19 

“For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” Jude 1:4 

In conclusion, God gives authority in his name (JESUS) to his sheep that are known by him. What this means is, that when a Christian represents Jesus Christ in proxy, then the authority they are given is onoma (GREEK) which means to come in his character and likeness. 

The Bible does not give license to use Jesus name as a magic formula for whatever we want, but rather as a representative of Jesus, you have authority to be like him in character so that you represent him to the world. Christian means Christ like. 

In Hebrew culture, a name represents the person, so to put the name of Jesus to something we must make sure that we take his name as sacred, according to his character described in the Bible and not in vain. Taking Jesus name in vain means to use the name of Jesus without producing the results of his character and word. Christians have authority in the name of Jesus to represent him to the world, so if one is misrepresenting him in this world they will be judged for that. 

On Judgment day we will give account for how we lived as a representative of Jesus Christ in this world and not based on how many miracles were performed in our ministry. Satan is a very crafty liar and deceiver. Many calling themselves anointed of God are nothing more than deceivers who represent their father the devil. Do not follow after them or their judgment will be our judgment. Be wise and check out everything you hear and see in these last days, for many will come in Jesus name claiming to know him and be his representative but they are not. You will know them by their fruit.

EXCEEDINLY SINFUL

In order to truly understand just exactly what Jesus Christ has wrought for us in salvation we need to understand the state of the soul without Jesus Christ.

Let me show you what the Bible says:

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions desert.” Jeremiah 17 :9-10

“Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that SIN BY THE COMMANDMENT MIGHT BECOME EXCEEDINGLY SINFUL.” Romans 7:13,

According to the Bible, those without Jesus Christ are DEAD in trespasses and sin. This means that they are dead people who are alive in this world BUT DEAD UNTO GOD. They cannot know him, believe in him, or hear him in any way. They may have a “form of knowledge” but they have no intimate experiential knowledge of God.

This is why the Lord likens our relationship with him as a husband and wife. Until the relationship is joined as one in the marriage bed it is only a formal relationship but not an intimate one .

According to the Bible, the state of man without Jesus Christ is totally depraved, that means totally corrupt. Having NO GOOD THING. There are some who will argue with this by saying that mankind can make good choices because they are made in God’s image and have his law written in their hearts BUT this is not so according to scriptures because the soul without the born again experience is corrupt in every way, shape and form.

In fact, the carnal heart is corrupt to all which is good. Even what looks like a good choice will always have a selfish motivation behind it. Always! Even man’s so called “good behavior” is evil.

Just because one has knowledge of good does not mean that they can preform what is good. God put the tree of the knowledge of GOOD and evil in the garden and Adam and Eve partook of it. Mankind knows what is good but they Cannot perform good without being given the new nature: the nature of God.

In fact the mystery of the gospel is thus: CHRIST IN YOU THE HOPE OF GLORY. Without the Spirit of God dwelling in a person they do not belong to God. Many “accept” (which by the way means, “approve of”) a false Jesus made up in the minds of men in order to get blessed and rich and prosperous BUT these are apostates not true Christians. They do not have God’s Spirit living in them or they would be able to perform good, which is surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ even if that means persecution, affliction or poverty.

The doctrine of original sin in the Bible reveals that the sinful state of man is by nature in ENMITY WITH CHRIST.

Romans 8:7-8: “For the mind that is set on the flesh is HOSTILE [echthra-enmity, hatred] to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Genesis 6:5: “The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

Romans 3:10-11: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.”

1 Corinthians 2:14: “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

Ephesians 2:1-3: “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience – among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were BY NATURE [physis-birth, physical origin, the force, laws, order of nature]
children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”

John 8:34: “Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.’”

John 6:44: “[Jesus said,] ‘No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.’”

Mark 7:21-23: “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

John 3:19: “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.”

Psalms 51:5: “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

Psalms 58:3: “The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.”

Job 15:14: What is man, that he can be pure? Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous?

Jeremiah 13:23:”Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil “

John 6:64-65: “[Jesus said,] ‘But there are some of you who do not believe.’ (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, ‘This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.’”

The Bible clearly says that the soul without Jesus Christ is DEAD IN SIN, BLIND TO THE GOSPEL, BY NATURE SINFUL, HAVING NO GOOD THING AND BY NATURE HATES GOD.

The Bible also says that UNLESS the Father draws, chooses, allows, permits, a person to see the truth he cannot and will not get saved.

Man is a three part being BODY, SOUL[EMOTIONS, MIND, WILL] AND SPIRIT. ALL THREE OF THESE AREAS ARE TOTALLY DEPRAVED, CORRUPT, IN BONDAGE TO SIN AND CANNOT WITHOUT GOD’S HELP BE FREE.

Ask your self this question,”If the carnal man is exceedingly sinful, having no good thing in the body, soul or spirit, and by nature hates God, by nature is the child of the devil, by nature is dead spiritually, by nature is blind to spiritual things, how then can he choose the good? How then IF sinful man is corrupt totally in every way can he make a decision to “accept” Jesus Christ of his own reconnaissance ?

Quite simply, HE CANNOT!

John 6:64-65: “[Jesus said,] ‘But there are some of you who do not believe.’ (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, ‘This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.’

Maranatha Brethren!

Christian Humanism

Christians who deny the Biblical doctrine of total depravity are humanist Christians. In other words they add human goodness to the Adamic fallen nature. The Bible says that man is not good. There is nothing good in man at all outside of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. According to scriptures, mankind is dead in trespasses and sin. That means just what it says! DEAD!

The fallen nature is corrupt. (depraved) Nothing is good in man. Not in the mind, the will, or the emotions which are all part of the brain process. In the Old Testament when God told the Israelites to choose life, what he was saying was to choose to be under the law and the animal sacrifice system in order to be right with God. The new covenant was not in effect back then and so men had to be under God’s grace system at that time which was a temporary covering for sin. It was not in any way a heart changing system.

To say today that man must choose his salvation is to say that some part of man is inherently good which is not scriptural. What does the Bible really say about man’s condition in the fallen nature? Let me show you.

Romans 3: 9-31
What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin,
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways, And the way of peace have they not known, There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe, for there is no difference:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Why is it that people think they can choose salvation? Why do they think that they can accept Jesus Christ? This is an unscriptural doctrine. Man has no good, he cannot choose any good for he does not seek God and in fact he CANNOT do good! Scriptures tell us clearly that man is in ENMITY (deep seated hatred) with God and is not subject to his laws and indeed CANNOT submit to his laws!

“Because the carnal mind (sinful nature) is enmity (hatred) against God: for it IS NOT subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 8:7

Many Christians have mixed the doctrine of humanism with the gospel of Jesus Christ. What does the doctrine of humanism teach? That Man is good in the state of nature.

What part of man is good so that he can freely choose the gospel? The soul? The spirit? The flesh? Did you know that the will is a function of the brain? Cut out that part of the brain and one cannot make rational choices.

The Bible says that there is none good, all are corrupt, (Depraved), all have the devil’s nature, unless God grants them repentance unto life through faith in Jesus Christ!

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” Mark 10:18/Luke 18:19

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9 –

To the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. Titus 1:15-16

You must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. Ephesians 4:17-18

Whoever trusts in his own [heart] is a fool Proverbs 28:26

To learn more about the sinful nature and saving faith check out my other blogs!

https://thegospelofgraceministries.wordpress.com/2014/05/27/saving-faith-3/

Maranatha Brethren.

Salvation is Eternally Secure!

No one can snatch a true believer out of God’s hand and neither will a true believer fall away from the truth. This is because Jesus is holding on to us for salvation. He holds us even though we may feel like we are weak in faith at times. Jesus will hold on to us through every trial and adversity. He has promised in his word to walk with us through the fire and through the waters of adversity and be our strength in weakness.

The problem that people have in accepting eternal security is that they do not understand how fully Jesus dealt with sin on the cross. They still have an Old Testament view of forgiveness. The Bible tells us that “We are not of those who draw back to perdition” (the Apostate) but rather we are the redeemed that believe and who are eternally saved!

God’s word is written in the born again Christian’s heart because the law giver lives in us. Therefore we no longer need to obey the written code but rather each of us individually and corporately are led by the Spirit of God who dwells in us. Any person who does not have the infilling of the Holy Spirit does not belong to God. Even if they name the name of Jesus Christ, attend church, are baptized, or obey the golden rule. A true Christian will live for Jesus because the heart has been transformed into the new person, the person with a revived spirit which is indwelt by the living God! A true Christian has been changed and will continue to change from one degree of God’s glory into another! Why? Because God indwells them!

Those who sin willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth are believers who have received the word but have never had a changed heart. They know the gospel with the mind but they are not children of God because they have never been born from above.

It is not enough to believe the gospel to be saved! The bible says that the devils believe in God. Both demons and men know the gospel and will even preach the gospel but they are not partakers of the gospel. To taste of heavenly things means to have some understanding and to witness the things of the Spirit such as miracles or answers to prayer but it does not mean to drink of the wells of living water. Taste and drink are two different meanings. Jesus said you must drink of his living water not just taste it!
Those who count the blood of Jesus as unholy are those who desire the law in preference to the blood covenant.

There is no Christian who has never sinned and even willfully sometimes. All have sinned the Bible tells us, even Christians. Scriptures (Hebrews 10) tells us that whoever seeks to be justified by the law falls from grace or in other words they don’t stand the test for salvation. Whoever seeks righteousness by the law makes Jesus Christ’s death to be in vain. Christ is become of no effect to them. Christ’s sacrifice profits them nothing, (Gal. 5:2, 4)

Apostates crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to open shame. “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite to the Spirit of grace?” (Heb. 10:29)

The Spirit of God calls those who prefer their own righteous after the law rather than Jesus Christ’s righteousness doomed. These are they who are under the law and despise the blood covenant. They add works to their faith or human belief. They trod on the blood of Jesus and do not think it holy enough to save them. Yes, they have heard the gospel many times but still they sin willfully by knowing the truth and yet prefer the law even as Cain preferred the law, his own works of righteousness rather than the slain Lamb of God. To these people Jesus Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice is in vain because they reject it.

Charles Spurgeon wrote “Can I comprehend a gospel which lets saints fall away after they are called, and suffers the children of God to be burned in the fires of damnation after having once believed in Jesus. Such a gospel I abhor. If one dear saint of God had perished, so might all; and then there is no gospel promise true, but the Bible is a lie, and there is nothing in it worth my acceptance? If I did not believe the doctrine of the final perseverance of the saints, I think I should be of all men the most miserable, because I should lack any ground of comfort.”

The Bible says that God keeps his children to the end. He has sealed his own with the seal of his Holy Spirit and the blood of the lamb. Jesus Christ is an anchor to the soul and all that come to him he will never cast out!

“For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14

Understand with the Heart. (spirit)

The Bible says that unless the spiritual ears are opened by the Holy Spirit one cannot understand the gospel. It is God who gives understanding by revelation of the word [bible-logos (written word) becoming rhema (living active word) ]. Unless the Father grants a person ears to hear they will not hear his word because they cannot hear. Let us examine Mark chapter 1 and compare it with other scripture.

Mark 1: 10-10-12 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them

Jesus taught in parables on purpose and many did not understand what he was talking about because it was not given unto them to understand.

Mark 1: 1

And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

God told Isaiah that he would save some but he would also harden the hearts of others.

Isaiah 6:9-10
And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

When the Lord preaches through his people the word of God it is not always to get them saved. Sometimes it is to bring judgement in their lives. The preaching of God’s word may actually harden the hearts of those who have no ears to hear.

For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2

Let’s look at the parable of the Sower and examine the hearts of those who had heard Gods word.

Mark 4 : 3,4 , 15

Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

vrs 15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

Satan comes to take away the word that was preached, the thief steals it. Why? It was sown in a heart that was living in the WAYSIDE– The side or edge of a road, way, path, or highway, fall by the wayside-To fail to continue, to give up, go by the wayside- To be set aside or discarded because of other considerations. So we can see that these hearts did not continue in what they heard because they loved this present world. They were busy, preoccupied with other things. Something like Esau, they preferred world’s affairs to the gospel and so they could not hear.

Timothy 4:10
For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica.

1 John 2; 15-17
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love 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 pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Vrs. 6,7 The word was sown on stony ground. There was not much soil, so the seed was sown on the surface, a surface conversion is not a real conversion. When persecution and trials come these fair weather friends take off. They want all the blessings but not the cross. They get offended when you preach about suffering for Jesus and about being persecuted for his sake.

And some fell on stony ground where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. Vrs. 16,17 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

Then we have the heart of thorns in vrs 7,18,19

And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.vrs 18,19 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Self explanatory really, these hearts love riches, praises of men, position, power, and  worldly ambition. These hearts hear the word but they do not receive it. They are of the world and belong to the world, and that is why you will see no spiritual fruit in these folks.

Finally we have the good soil. What exactly is good soil? In the natural good soil is filled with nutrients and has a good texture. Bad soil is acidy, filled with rocks and weeds and cannot grow the seed which was planted. So in other words the heart must be without impurities to receive the word of God. How can this be if all hearts are desperately wicked as scriptures teach?

Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

Mark 7:21-22
For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.

Matthew 13:15
For this people’s heart has become calloused;(HARDENED) they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

The heart or spirit of man must be made new by God, transformed, born again. Then the soil is able to hear and receive because the heart is a converted heart. God created man as a spirit which lives in a physical body and has a soul; (psyche, mind, brain function) The soul (personality, mind will intellect are all stored in the brain) was the issue of the breath of God entering into the nostrils of the body of dust. But the spirit is the life of God. When Adam fell and the sin nature came upon all men, all men became corrupt (totally depraved) body, soul, and spirit. He in effect became dead in sin, dead to God, a child of the devil, having the devils heart.

Psalm 53;1-,3
The fool hath said in his heart,There is no God. Corrupt (DEPRAVED) are they, and have done abominable iniquity:there is none that doeth good.The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

John 8:44

Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Romans 3:10-12
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

The reason God gave the law to man was because of the evil unregenerate heart. Not to eradicate sin but to control sin until Christ should come. When a person becomes born again he/she then gets a new heart and now has ears to hear what the Spirit of God says through the word, he is now reconciled to God!

God breaths into man the breath of life which produces man’s spirit. Heart and spirit in scripture are interchangeable. God must give a new heart because of the Adamic fall.

Genesis 2:7
Jehovah God formed man with the dust of the ground. And breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.

Breath comes from from the Hebrew word neshamah which, means “spirit”

Proverbs 20:27
The spirit [neshamah] of man is the lamp of YHWY.

Ezekiel 36;26-27
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Luke 6:45
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

John 7:38 Anyone who believes ( pisteuo- to have faith, to trust in.) with the heart(spirit) will be saved. This is different than simply to believe in something with the mind or accepting something as true. The devils believe and are not given new hearts. For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’

Romans 10:9-10
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart (spirit) that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that Jesus is your Lord (MASTER)that you are saved.

Ephesians 1:18
I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

Vrs.8 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred..

If you have been given by God spiritual ears to hear, then you will be given understanding through revelation of the Holy Spirit concerning the scriptures and the more you have the more you will get. You will always grow and keep on growing but those who have hard unregenerate hearts, who are not born again will hear the word of God and misunderstand it, distort it, flee from it, hate it, reject it and in the end be judged by it.

Unless the Lord by his grace grants repentance, faith, conversion which are all endowments of the Holy Spirit, the heart will remain hard to the word of God.

2 Timothy 2:25
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure(PERHAPS) will GIVE THEM repentance to the acknowledging of the truth

Vrs 23-25 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

In conclusion, only the Lord can give understanding of the gospel. Unless the heart has been enlightened to the truth of the word of God a person will remain blind and in darkness. It is important to pray that the Holy Spirit draws and enlightens the understanding when ministering to the lost. Unless the Lord changes the heart from the lost condition to the born again experience no one can enter into the kingdom of God according to the Bible.

Maranatha brethren!

NEW LIFE IN THE SPIRIT

According to the Bible, the unsaved person is dead in trespasses and sins. The unsaved person cannot understand spiritual things because the unsaved person is not spiritual, (born again), but is carnal, (in the unregenerate sinful nature) SOLD UNDER SIN. The Bible also says that the unsaved person has the devil’s nature and in fact belongs to the devil or is the devils seed. That is why the saved person is adopted when becoming born again. Take note that in the adoption process the parent always choses the child, the child does not choose the parent.

To be saved from sin means to be translated,(To change from one form, function, or state to another, convert or transform) from the power of darkness into the Kingdom of his dear Son. Changed from the old man into the born again man, having a new heart. So when the bible says to believe with the heart and you will be saved, what that verse is saying is, one must believe with the spirit that is born again.

It does not mean to have an intellectual (physical mind/body) assent to the gospel. Scripture tells us that even the devils believe the gospel. They believe that Jesus died for the sins of his elect and that he rose from the dead. That kind of belief does not save! Satan’s seed many times believe with the head the salvation message. Judas believed with the head. He walked with Jesus, saw all the miracles BUT he did not have divine revelation of Jesus in the same way that Peter did. Jesus was amazed that Peter knew who he was? Why? Because he knew that no one could really believe in the heart(spirit)unless the Father revealed who Jesus was.

Under the law, the Holy Spirit would come upon a person and reveal himself. That is how God had relationship with the prophets. However, those were temporary incidences. This is the experience Peter had because until Jesus rose from the dead and sprinkled his blood on the mercy seat and sent the Holy Spirit to make people born again. God’s elect back then were circumcised in the flesh under the law. Under the New Testament, however, to become one of God’s elect one must be circumcised by the Spirit in the heart. (spirit of man)

Another example of a person who believed with the head but not the heart is Simon the sorcerer. Simon believed but Peter told him that his heart (spirit) was not right before God. What was Peter saying? That Simon was not really saved. He was not born again. He “believed” with his intellect but he did not believe with the heart unto salvation.

“But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then SIMON HIMSELF BELIEVED ALSO AND WHEN HE WAS BAPTIZED, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: FOR THEY HEART IS NOT RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the LORD for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.” Acts, 8:9-24

Now let’s take a look at those who believed with the heart in the New Testament. Both Cornelius and Lydia were seeking the Lord. What did they each have in common? First of all they were seeking the Lord for his direction. Not their own purposes like Simon and APOSTATES do, wanting to have God’s power for selfish motivation (usually power, money, and the praises of men) but because the Lord was revealing himself to them, drawing them by his Holy Spirit, they were both called and chosen. In the book of Romans Paul says that the unsaved do not seek after God. They do not want him and nor is he in their thoughts but those the Father is drawing are true seekers.

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is NONE THAT SEEKETH AFTER GOD. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Romans 3:10, 11

“He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” Heb 11:6

God was drawing Cornelius and Lydia to Himself. He sent someone to bring the Gospel to them and He opened their understanding so that they could believe the Gospel and be saved. In Romans chapter 10, Paul says that “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth”. No longer are God’s elect under the law because the new covenant of grace is now here which has been provided for by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Under the new covenant one must be circumcised in the heart in order to put off the flesh rather than the physical act of circumcision under the law.

So we see that both Cornelius and Lydia were seeking the Lord and then the Lord send someone to preach the word of faith to them and then when they heard the word, they believed unto salvation and became born again into God’s kingdom. To believe with the heart means to receive the engrafted word into the spirit which was dead because of sin and to be born of God by being translated into a new creature. God must give the spirit of man life by his Holy Spirit and then being risen from the dead the person can believe. The preaching of the word is what produces that faith. Not preaching of man’s opinions but preaching scripture. However, remember that the word must be preached to opened hearts as Jesus said in his parable of the sower. The heart must be drawn and prepared by the Holy Spirit whose job is to convict of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Then when the word is sown into a prepared heart faith comes and that person believes unto salvation.

The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt BELEIVE IN THINE HEART that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For WITH THE HEART MAN BELIEVETH unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So FAITH COMES BY HEARING,(the ability to hear) and hearing(the ability to hear) by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. Romans 10:6-18

To believe with the heart Kardia in the Greek means to believe with the spirit (inner man) not the soul When we are born again, the Holy Spirit comes to live in our spirits and then we are no longer in the flesh (carnal) but are spiritual, (in the spirit because we are joined to Gods Spirit) That is why Jesus said that “you must be born again to enter into Gods kingdom.”

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Being born again, not of corruptible seed,but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.1 Peter 1:23,

“And you hath he quickened, ( MADE ALIVE UNTO GOD) who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were BY NATURE THE CHILDREN OF WRATH, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath QUICKENED US TOGETHER IN CHRIST, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS UNTO GOOD WORKS, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

In conclusion, the Bible says to believe with the heart (spirit)in order to be saved, not the mind. Just so you know, the will is part of the mind, it is a function of the brain and there is scientific evidence to back that up. You must be born again to be saved, that is made alive in the spirit and born of God.