Are you willing to call upon the name of the Lord? You can, you know. Why not call on Him right now?

 
• Tell Jesus that you know you have fallen short of the glory of God.
 
• Tell Him that you know that you need His help.
 
• Tell Him that you want Him to change your life and to heal your heart.
 
• Ask Him to come and abide in your heart.
 
• Ask Him to lead you and guide you in your life.
 
• Ask Him to anoint your mind with His Holy Spirit and to give you wisdom and understanding from His throne.
 
• Ask Him to bless your life. You will never be the same. You can begin the journey with Jesus, going from glory to glory and from faith to faith.

Yes.  All of this and more has already been bought and paid for by Jesus on the cross.  Do you see what you have been missing?  

People try all kinds of ways to get saved, but there is only one way.

More about this here  

  Being born again is the first part of being saved.  Once you are born again, were you to die, your soul and spirit immediately go to heaven with Jesus. As soon as you are born again, your spirit is joined to God's Spirit and has broken free from bondage to Satan.  Your soul (mind) and your body remain largely in bondage to Satan--which is the source of all your misery, frustration, and trouble.  By walking in the Spirit, you can be increasingly set free from these bondages.  It is a walk, not a sudden happening.  Don't be discouraged.  You will see a great difference when you are born again, but you will also see that you do have a fleshly nature that is against God.  Yielding to the Spirit of God, He will lead you from glory to glory if you are willing to go with Him and renounce all sin.  Redemption is simply being set free.  You will eventually be set free, redeemed, spirit, soul (mind), and body.  The whole creation is waiting for the redemption of the bodies of the believers in Christ.

How Can I Be A Christian?

You can't join.  You have to be born into God's family, you know, born again.

So how can you be born again? 

1 Peter 1:23 says that you must be born of incorruptible seed by the word of God.

John 1:1 says that Jesus is the Word. You need to be born of Jesus, the incorruptible seed, who is the Word of God.  
 
Romans 10:9 says that if you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.  
 
Will you, just now, confess with your mouth that you have sinned and that you need a Savior for forgiveness and deliverance from your sin? Will you tell Jesus that you will receive Him right now?

Just pray, "Jesus, I receive you and turn my back on all my sin.  I have been wrong.  Please forgive me and give me a new heart.  Please redeem me from my slavery to Satan and set me free from bondage to sin by the power of the blood you shed for me.  Come, Lord Jesus and live in me and let your Light shine out through me."  

Acts 16:31 says that if you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you shall be saved, and your household.

That may seem too easy, but it's the only way.  You see, we didn't really have anything to bring to the situation other than a willingness to be reconciled to God.  
 
Don't miss out now.  
 
It's a wonderful thing to be born again.

Is It Too Late For Me To Be Saved? Have I Gone Too Far To Be Forgiven?

Many years ago while preaching about the harlot who washed the feet of Jesus, the late evangelist JOHN ALEXANDER DOWIE (1847-1907) of Zion City, Illinois, related the following:  
 
"This poor woman, a harlot, who came in from the streets is called 'Hamartolos'; in the original word, that is to say, a prostitute, a poor, wretched, outcast woman, a harlot. Oh, is there any being upon earth so much to be pitied, so deplorably miserable, as such an one?  Perhaps once she had known virtue, and a happy home.  She may have been pampered and petted; perhaps educated and made to think that she was the cynosure of all eyes.  Now she finds herself, by the betrayal of her heart's affection, a poor wretched outcast, whose only means of sustenance is to prey upon unclean and vicious and foul humanity.  I know nothing so sad as this.  In all its naked horror it appeals to no one.  I have never ceased to shrink almost with terror, man of mature years though I now am, whenever I have been accosted in the street by such an one.  
 
One night when I was in far away Melbourne, Australia, I had been engaged in writing in a newspaper office.  I had been asked to write something for that paper, and I had written it for God, and for the people.  It was very late.  I came downstairs, and stood out in the cold night air for a moment, with bared head.  I was looking up at the stars from the quiet, silent street.  A little way off was a great thoroughfare where the people were coming out of a theatre, and crowding the street.  I was in a quiet part of the street, standing there thinking what way I should go home; whether I should take a cab or whether I should walk.   
 
I was enjoying, for a moment or two, that cool, fresh air, when I heard a clear and beautiful voice say to me, 'Good evening, sir.'  I turned around and saw the lovely face of a very beautiful girl.  I said, 'Good evening," but I trembled as I said it; because I knew at once what kind of woman she was. 'Good evening,' she said again; and I again said, 'Good evening,' and that was all.  She asked, 'Will you go home with me?'   And then, having prayed silently, I turned to her and said, 'Home with you?'  'Yes.'  'Where is your home?'  So she told me.  'Oh, no,' I said under the anointing, 'that is not your home.  Your home is the house of her which is the gate of Hell.  The dead are there.  If I went home with you I should share the fate of all who enter there, unless God delivers them.   BUT, will you go home with me?'  She was trembling violently, holding on to an iron post with a ring at the top of it, and her fingers were grasping the ring.  'Home with you?' she said.  'Yes, sir, but where do you live?'  I answered her, 'I live on earth, but my home in the heavens.  Oh, won't you go home with me to heaven.  I will take you tonight to a godly Christian woman here in Melbourne who will be as kind to you as to her own daughter.'  She then knew that she had spoken to one who was a child of God.  
 
Although I am sure that she had not been long in sin, she opened her eyes wide and held up her hand, and I will never forget her cry - 'It is too late.  The waters have gone over me.  It is too late,' and with that she darted away.  I went after her, but she was lost in a moment amidst the great multitude that was surging up and down the streets from the theatre.   'Too late!  The waters have gone over me.'  I went home that night with these words ringing in my ears: 'Too late!  Too late!  The waters have gone over me.'  I declared, 'IT IS NOT SO, God; we shall search for that woman in this city UNTIL WE FIND HER.'  And blessed be God, tonight that woman is living a holy and happy and virtuous Christian life."     
 
Where are you going Shepherd?  To find My sheep.  
How far will you go?  As far as My sheep.  
 
How far may that be?  To the world's end.  
How long will you seek it?  Until I find it.  
 
When you find it, will it come to you?  No, it will flee from Me.  
Where will it go then? To the rocks and the sand.  
 
When will it stop? When it can run no more.  
What will you do then?  Carry it home.  
 
-submitted by Br. Terry Miller  
as aired over SHARON GOSPEL BROADCASTS 

Why Do I Need To Be Saved? From What?

You need to be saved from slavery and from the unhappy results of that slavery. Everyone who sins is a slave to sin, and everyone sins.  No one reaches the high calling that God has planned for them. The result of sin is death. There is the first death and the second death, commonly called hell. That’s what you need to be saved from.  And you need to be save to your high calling, your destiny, your fulfillment in Christ Jesus.  Don't miss out now.

God created a perfect world. Adam and Eve obeyed Satan instead of God and became slaves to Satan and to sin. People became so evil that God decided to destroy the earth with a flood, and only seven people and enough animals to re-populate the earth were saved alive on a giant boat, which Noah built over the period of about 100 years. From there, populations of animals and people grew, and, though people tried to do what is right, they could not because they had inherited slavery from their common ancestors, Adam and Eve. At the tower of Babel, God confused the speech of the people and the people scattered, which would account for the unique characteristics of various people groups today, while there is only one race—the human race.

All the misery and pain that has ever existed is there because of slavery to Satan. Right from the beginning, God had a plan to save us from that slavery. That plan would require the ultimate sacrifice on God’s part. If there were any other way, God would have provided it.

So God sent His only unique Son, Jesus, the second person of the God-head, to die for your sins and for my sins. This is the way that God personally paid the price for us. All He asks is that you receive what He did. It’s a wonderful salvation and a wonderful way.

We need to be born again because the nature that we were born with naturally is sold into service to Satan. This happened in the Garden of Eden (yes, there really was a Garden of Eden, and God really did Create everything in six days, and all of this fits perfectly with all that can be observed scientifically.).  God has a plan. We are born again simply by believing in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  Here are some Scriptures:

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

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

More about being born again, here: http://www.seekfind.net/God_Made_A_Way_The_Name_Of_Gods_Way_Is_Jesus.html

Without Jesus, Am I Really Dead, Body, Mind, And Spirit?

Before we are saved:

 
• Body, mind, and spirit are in death.
 
• Body, mind, and spirit are in bondage to Satan until we are born again.
 
• Our natural father is Satan, himself. John 8:44  

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• We must be born into a new family, the family of God. John 3:3, 3:7, 1 Peter 1:23
 
• This new birth comes by the Spirit when God drops His faith into our hearts and we believe and trust Him for salvation through Jesus Christ. James 1:17, Ephesians 2:8, Acts 16:31, Romans 10:9
 
• We know that He saves us unto good works and not evil. Ephesians 2:10, 2 Timothy 3:17, Titus 1:16, 2:14,
 
• We know that the good works are actually the manifestation of Jesus Christ in His saints (believers). 2 Corinthians 9:8 
 
• The believers don't earn salvation.  Salvation delivers us from evil and delivers us to the Holy Spirit working in us. 1 Corinthians 15:10, 1 Corinthians 3:13, 1Corinthians 16:10, 2 Thessalonians 2:17, Hebrews 13:21, Galatians 2:20, Matthew 5:16, Romans 13:12
 
• Everyone who believes is a saint and is saved unto good works. Matthew 5:16, Romans 13:12
 
• Jesus, Himself, must do the works. 1 Corinthians 15:10, 1 Corinthians 3:13, 1Corinthians 16:10, 2 Thessalonians 2:17, Hebrews 13:21, Galatians 2:20
 
• The flesh has no part in it.  

  You can be one of those who is saved.  

   

  Click to understand how you can be born again?  

Why Must I Believe In Jesus To Be Saved?

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

God loved you (put your name in here) so much that he gave His only unique Son so that if you (put your name in here) believe in Him, you won't die, but you will have a Aionial life.  This is a specific kind of life that never ends.

... and it's a free gift to you... if you will accept it.

There is no other way.

Can I Do Something To Be Saved?

In the light of all that Jesus Christ has done for you, what could you ever add to it?  God doesn't need any token oblation that you might be willing to give.  He wants you to accept His free gift, which cost Him the ultimate price.

Titus 3:5 says that it's not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

... so no one is good enough to earn salvation.  You must receive the free gift from God.  Set aside your pride, and admit that you have been wrong and need to change but cannot possibly meet the requirement.  Admit that you need Jesus, God's only unique Son, and receive Him.

Ephesians 2:8 says that you are saved by grace and through faith; and that this salvation isn't of yourself: it's the gift of God. Grace is the free gift of God, and through it we are saved from slavery to Satan. It is a powerful, multi-faceted gift meant to free us from slavery to sin and death.

If you believe this, it's because the Holy Spirit is working faith in your heart. If not, it's because you are resisting Him. If you believe this, you can accept Jesus into your heart right now. Whoever believes in Jesus is born again. Being born again is the first step to a new life in Christ Jesus. It's the first step in drawing near to God.

How Can I Wipe The Slate Clean And Start Over?

You can start over.  You can have the slate washed clean.  God loved us so much that He gave us a way, and that is the only way.  It's all about God's family. You can't join God's family. You can't buy your way in. You can't work your way in. You must be born into this family. The way is simple. All who will receive Jesus as their savior from sin are born as spiritual babies into the family of God the Father.  
Romans 3:24  
John 3:14-21 

 
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  Jesus has died and rose again so you can wipe the slate clean.  
 
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  Jesus suffered so you could wipe the slate clean and start over.  
 
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  Jesus is the only way to wipe the slate clean.  
 
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  We deserve hell, but God gave Jesus so we can  wipe the slate clean.   
 
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  God's free gift of forgiveness is offered to all but God Doesn't Force Himself On Anyone.  
 
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  Those who so choose, can choose hell and stay in their filth.  
 
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  Those who receive Christ are born into God's family.  They actually are new creatures.  
 
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  We were slaves to sin but now, through Jesus, become love slaves of God.  
 
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  We were children of Satan but now are born children of God.  
 
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  We were lost but now are found.  
 
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  All who receive Christ receive Christ's Spirit.  
 
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  By the Holy Spirit, we were able to believe.  
 
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  All who receive Christ have power to become mature sons of God.  
 
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  All who receive Christ have the opportunity to grow up.  
 
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  God forces Himself on no one; no one has to grow up.  
 
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  All who are born by believing can remain as babies if they choose.  
 
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  Spiritual birth and Spiritual maturity follow God's pattern.   
 
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  All who are born into God's family are born by the blood of Christ.  
 
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  All who are born into God's family are born to do good.  

 
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  If we do any good, it is Christ doing the work in us.  
 
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  If we do any good, it is Christ doing the work through us.  
 
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  It is not I, but Christ living in me.  A hypocrite is one who tries on his or her own.  
 
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  The Holy Spirit is not human effort.  

 
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  The Holy Spirit is not human emotion.  

 
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  The Holy Spirit is not human soulishness.  

 
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  All who are born again have opportunity to see the Kingdom of God.  
 
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  All who are born again receive spiritual senses.  
 
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  All who are born again can learn to exercise their spiritual senses.  
 
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  All who are born again can be taught by the Holy Spirit.  
 
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  All who are born again can be filled with the Holy Spirit.  
 
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  All who are filled with the Spirit can learn to walk in the Holy Spirit.  
 
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  If we do any good, it is Christ doing the work in us.  
 
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  God's purpose is that we be conformed to the image of Jesus.  
 
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  God's purpose is that our bodies be redeemed.  
 
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  God's purpose is that we come to the manifestation of the sons of God.  
 
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  God's purpose is that we come to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ  
 
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  God is going to do this through the Church.  

Does The Scripture Say That My Whole Spirit, Soul, And Body Will Be Saved?

If you are born again, you are heading toward a goal. When you’re heading toward a goal, you want to understand the goal, you want to have a vision of where that goal is so that, when you arrive, you end up in the right place.

That goal is that our whole being be saved.  Jesus already paid the price for all of this.  All that is really required is that we receive it.  Total salvation is to be transfigured completely into the likeness of Jesus.  There is much in the Bible about all of this.

God's way is that we die to self and live to Him.  Dying to self is not always a popular message, so many churches don't even bother to teach it, but they are really missing out on most of what Jesus has already won for us on the cross.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 speaks of being saved completely. Paul speaks of the whole spirit, soul and body being saved. We are three-part beings.

1Thessalonians 5:23 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.

Starting at 1 Corinthians 2:9, especially verse 11, says that we know God by the spirit. When we are born again, the Holy Spirit communes with our spirit.

1Corinthians 2:9-12 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.   Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1 Corinthians 6:19 says that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

1Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

John 3:16 speaks of eternal life. When we are born again, God raises our spirit to life, which had been dead. When Adam sinned, his spirit died. The Holy Spirit has the capacity to give life.

Nothing can undo what the Holy Spirit has done. Never minimize what God has done.  (Note: There are two opposing theories, one saying that no one who has been saved can ever walk away from God and one saying that it's possible to fall away.  Both require some assumptions beyond what Scripture teaches, and we will leave the judgment of that to God.  The reality is that there are consequences to being born again and not walking faithfully in an ever-growing relationship from glory to glory.  That is plainly taught in Scripture.  We certainly are not going to join the ranks of those who wonder how far they can walk away from the leading and power of God and still get into heaven.  We desire to press toward the mark of the high calling of God.)

Without that new birth, there is no way to understand, but the Father can draw us to that new birth.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  

Matthew 16:24 is instruction to the disciples, who were saved believers. Jesus told them that they had opportunity to follow Him.

Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

If they decided to follow Him, they would need to deny themselves. That is, they would have to lay down their rights and privileges and become God-centered and God-directed.

They would also have to take up their cross. We have received revelation that our ministries are our crosses.

Philippians 2:3 plainly states the Jesus was in the form of God. That’s the same as saying that Jesus is God. However, He denied Himself. He didn’t take what was rightfully His. And He took up His cross. He was obedient unto death.

Philippians 2:3-10 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [literal: being equal with God something to be grasped at] 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.  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:   That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Francis Schaeffer said that the church has not prepared Christians for suffering.

Matthew 16:24 and 25 speaks of the saving of the soul, which is the opposite of denying ourself and taking up our cross. The soul is the life. This is speaking of our soul life. If we save our soul life, we will eventually lose it. If we lay down our life, we will save our soul. This saving of the soul is only available for those who already have eternal life.

Matthew 16:24-28 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life [Greek: psuche psoo-khay' literally, breath.  Translated, soul, life, mind, heart]  shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life [soul, life, mind, heart] for my sake shall find it.  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul [soul, life, mind, heart]? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul [soul, life, mind, heart]?   For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.  Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

The unbeliever chooses between life and death.

The believer chooses between saving the soul now or saving the soul later.

The soul is the same as the mind and will. This has to do with the renewing of our mind.

It is unprofitable to satisfy the soul. 1 John 2:15 tells us not to love the world.

1John 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 forever.

Matthew 16:27-28 tells us that Jesus will come to judge our deeds. This is for saved believers.

Revelations tells us the they did not love their lives, they laid down their lives. This may speak of those who are martyred, but this more likely speaks of that soul life.

Matthew 16:27-28 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.   Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Our souls are not designed to be fulfilled by the things of this world. There is nothing wrong with many of these things: good food, vacations, fun, entertainment, and things like that. It’s just that our souls weren’t designed to be satisfied with those things.

The beatitudes were written for saved believers. Matthew 5:6 tells us that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled.

Matthew 5:3-12 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.   Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.   Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.   Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.   Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.   Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.   Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.   Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.   Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

The gate is very narrow indeed.  There is a difference between drawing a line in the sand (walking according to a law or set of rules or principles) and walking in the Spirit.  When the Spirit is leading, we either follow Him or we don't.  When the Spirit is our source of power, we either lean on His power and let Him be our power or we don't.  There is no place in between.

Matthew 7:13-27 Enter ye in at the strait [constricted] gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:   Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.   Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.   Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?   Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.   A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.   Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.   Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.   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.   Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:   And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock.   And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.  

Philippians 3:7 tells us that there are things that have value to our souls, but these things are not the lasting.  
Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Matthew 19:16-26 is not a self-help sermon.

Matthew 19:16-26 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?   And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.   He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,   Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.   The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?   Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.   But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.   Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.   And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.   When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?   But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

There is another very important way that we suffer in the flesh.  Whenever we follow the Spirit rather than the body, we suffer in the flesh.  The flesh dies and the soul is brought more into unity with the Spirit of God.

Matthew 5:27 shows us a little bit about man’s and God’s responsibility. No one would say that their hand would be something they would want to cut off or that their eye would be something that they would want to pluck out. This is talking about good things, not bad things. If these things are causing you to stumble, then you would want to get rid of them, even though they are good things.

Matthew 5:27-30 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:   But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.   And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.   And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

 
A computer can be a good thing, yet there was a young man who gave his computer away because it became a problem for him.

There are many things that would fall into this category. The TV would be a good example. A 2007 study showed that, on average, all the major networks show some form of obscene, violent, or anti-Christian content every three and a half minutes.

When I’m walking, I choose my route because there are things that I don’t want to see. We have to be careful what we put into our minds through our senses.

Often, the temptation happens much sooner than we think it happens. By the time the sinful thought would occur, we may have said, "Yes," to temptation several times in subtle ways.

The scriptural pattern of the church are such that just accepting God's way of doing things is a death to self.

Did Christ Love Us When We Were Not Saved?

1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

Revelations 1:5-6 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, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.   
 

Why Can't God Accept Me Just As I Am, Sin And All?

In a sense, He does take you just as you are, but some people present God with a proposition that is unworkable.  They want to be joined to God and to not be joined to God.  That can't work.

God takes you just as you are and makes you a new person.  Some people are so rebellious that they don't want this free gift.

Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities [literal: not wanting to submit to God] have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you.

Being joined to God is an act of submission.  No person has enough power to overcome his or her own rebelliousness.  Since we didn't have power to do it on our own, God made a way.  Iniquity is rebelliousness.  God made a way to overcome that.

Some people want to get saved their own way.  They reject God's great sacrifice in sending His only Son to lay down His deity for a while, humble Himself to take on human form, live a life in perfect submission to the Father never even once thinking His own thought, doing His own will, or speaking His own word, then suffering and dying the most cruel death imaginable on a cross.  In the process, the Father laid every sin of every person on Jesus, and Jesus suffered the penalty for that sin.  In this, the Father had to turn His back on Jesus for that time, which was the most painful thing imaginable for both the Father and the Son.  There is no higher price, but it was the only way.  Then, Jesus went into hell itself and preached the gospel to those there and led captivity still captive out of hell.  After three days, Jesus overcame death, raising to life again.  When Jesus resurrected, He gave five gifts to the church, which will bring about the final completion of what God has in mind.  On Pentecost, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to lead and empower the church with power from on high.

Some people are so rebellious, so full of iniquity, that they even refuse God's free gift of salvation.  Others are so rebellious that, after accepting the free gift of salvation, they reject the scriptural pattern for finishing the work.

You need to understand that sin is failing to attain to the glory of God. 

Rebelliousness against God does separate you from God.  Even after you are born again, a rebellious attitude is as the sin of witchcraft.  It is an abomination.  It will separate from God.  Eventually, a person who is rebellious will turn to his or her own flesh, own self, for answers, and those answers will seem to be right but they will be wrong.  They will seem to be helpful, but they will have a final result of destruction.  They will seem righteous, but they will be shown to be self-righteous.

You can be one of those who is saved.

Click to understand how you can be born again?

Can God Have Fellowship With Me Without Saving Me From My Lower Nature?

1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

God cannot fellowship with darkness.  You would have to be totally holy to have fellowship with God.  Jesus changes the relationship.  When you accept Jesus, you are born into the family of God.  God treats you as a growing child, to be taught and to learn to be like Him.  He gives you the Holy Spirit so that you can do two things: first to even want to do His will ans second to do His will. 

You can be one of those who is saved.

Click to understand how you can be born again?

Are Self-righteous People Allowed Into The Kingdom Of God?

Do you think that you are good enough to make it into heaven? Then, you are self-righteous.  You think you are righteous in your own right without Jesus.

God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.

Some have forgotten that God is Holy.  It isn't that He doesn't love us, but He needs a pure and spotless bride.  That will require the work of the blood of Jesus plus the work of the Holy Spirit to make us pure and to fit us together in unity.

Psalm 145:17  The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.

God Is Holy And God Requires That You Are Holy

No self righteous people are allowed.

Self righteousness doesn't work. No one, by his or her own effort, can achieve the perfection that God needs. There is only one way to attain righteousness, and that is through Jesus Christ, God's unique Son. He came and died for you so that you could become holy before God. All of this was done so that God could bless you and commune with you.  God loved you first, then supplied your need.  It would be terribly disrespectful to turn Him down on His amazing offer.

You can be one of those who is saved.

Click to understand how you can be born again?

How Do We Know If We Have Been Good Enough To Make It Into Heaven And Avoid Hell?

We All Fail To Keep The Commandments.  We All Need Jesus.  The emphasis on avoiding hell and getting to heaven is sometimes over-done.  This misses the glory that is available in God.  Jesus is the only one who can reconcile us to God.

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God"

We have not pleased God. God is absolutely holy and just. Justice must judge all that falls short of absolute holiness.

Hebrews 10:28-30 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 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 unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

You can see that Hebrews 10:28-30 is written to Christians who have been sanctified.  Even after we are born again, it is important that we remember that salvation is about a relationship with God.

1Jo 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

No one can find any other way to approach God other than through Jesus Christ.

Time does not erase sin. Saying you are sorry does not erase sin. If someone else is worse than you, that does not erase your own sin. No human being has the ability to be totally holy—total holiness is what God needs.

Someone has to pay the price. That’s why Jesus (God) had to pay the price.

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Many unsaved people think that they will not be judged, that they don’t need Jesus, but they are wrong.

Hebrews 2 tells us plainly that we will not escape if we neglect such a wonderful salvation. God is merciful and God is just. Only those who persist in rejecting God will find themselves in hell. Only those who reject the salvation that is available in Jesus Christ will find themselves in hell. Those who reject Jesus are already condemned because they have rejected God’s mercy. They do so because they love darkness rather than light.

If we sin after we have been born again, our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus, because we accept God’s salvation.

Once we have been born again, we have changed family affiliations. Satan had been our master due to our obedience to him. Romans 6:16 As children of God, we are in school. This is not the final exam but rather the exercises of learning to walk in the Spirit.

If we are born again and we sin, we are not lost but can repent sincerely and stop sinning.

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

That’s why the Holy Spirit was given to bring us to the "measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4

The Holy Spirit gives us holiness.

Those who insist that there must be error in the Bible or that the Bible is no longer relevant do so because they hate God and they love sin.

The idea that the Bible has errors is, in fact, the act of trying to make human speculation equal to God’s revelation. It is the sin of rebellion, which is as the sin of witchcraft. In reality, no one has ever found an error in the Bible. If you have ever rebelled in this way, then you need Jesus and the salvation that is only available through Him.

Books like the DaVinci Code are the false hope of unbelievers. The false prophets who present such ideas will share the just rewards for their acts and words.

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Have you ever scoffed at the Bible? That is rebellion. God forbids it and judges it. If you have ever scoffed, then you need Jesus and the salvation that is only available through Him.

God commands us to study His word. How are you doing? Have you ever had lapses in this? If you have ever been neglectful, then you need salvation. You need forgiveness, which is only available through Jesus Christ.

It’s not possible to be "good enough" to please God without Jesus.

Some people may rationalize that they are pleasing God when they are not pleasing God. The Bible tells us that even our righteousness is as filthy rags. Someone may disagree and defend himself or herself. God really doesn’t care about human opinions. He has His own opinion, and He has all power and dominion. God lets us know His opinion in two ways. He does so through our conscience and through the Bible, and those two are never in conflict. We can sear our conscience so it no longer works. Much of what is called psychology consists of methods that are designed to short-circuit the conscience. If we set our mind against giving God any glory and persist in following out own minds, God will turn us over to our own unfruitful minds, but the conscience is still there letting us know that we are not coming up to what God expects of us.

You have not perfectly obeyed the Ten Commandments.

The 10 Commandments are part of God’s law. Do you know the 10 commandments? Test yourself on these basic principles:

Is God first in your life or not? Do you love Him with all of your strength and mind or not? Are you sure that He has no competition for your affection or is there something or someone who competes with God? Is there anything else that you want as much as you want God? Is all your mind to do God’s will in everything or are there areas of your life where you do not want to do God’s will? Do you want, with all your heart, to have a personal relationship with God, to know Him personally or not? In all of that, is there any violation of the first commandment?

Have you ever used God’s name or Jesus’ name as a curse word? That is blasphemy. Have you ever thought that you were a god. The is blasphemy and idolatry. Have you wanted to do your own thing? That is also idolatry.

Have you ever disobeyed or talked back to your parents? Have you ever talked disrespectfully about your parents or those who are set into authority in the church? This is rebellion. The Bible says that the sin of rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.

Have you ever worked on Saturday? If you have not received the salvation, you are under obligation to obey the entire law of God.

Have you ever looked at a person to whom you were not married and lusted after them? This is adultery, fornication, or else it’s perversion in God’s eyes.

Have you ever wished that something bad would happen to someone? Have you ever hated someone? Have you ever hurt anyone? These all break the law: "Thou shalt not kill."

Have you ever taken something home from work or used some of your paid time to do personal work? That is stealing? Have you ever shoplifted? That is stealing. Have you ever cheated on your taxes? That is stealing. Have you ever taken anything that belonged to someone else? That is stealing.

Have you ever said anything false about any person? Have you ever repeated gossip? Have you ever accused someone of anything when you really didn’t have first hand knowledge that your accusation was 100% correct? Have you ever accepted the accusations against a person in political office not knowing by your own observation whether or not those accusations were true or not.

Have you ever envied the rich? Have you ever wished you had something that belongs to someone else?

If you have failed in any of the points above, then you are guilty of the entire law of God.

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Of course you failed. Everyone has failed. That is why we all need Jesus Christ. We need to receive His salvation.

How Much Sin Can I Do And Still Go To Heaven?

A bumper sticker reads, "How much sin can I do and still go to heaven?"  The real question is, "Why would anyone who hates God and God's ways want to go to heaven to be with God?"  Those who love darkness more than light will not come to Jesus.  God just lets these people have what they want.  Look at the following clear Scriptures:

1Sa 8:7-9 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.   According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.   Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. 

Rom 1:18-32 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;   Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed [it] unto them.   For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:   Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.   Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,   And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.   Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:   Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.   For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:   And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.   And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;   Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,   Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,   Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:   Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.   

  Romans  1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has showed it to them.  1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  You see?  You know because God has showed it to you and to all of us.  

Did God Send Jesus To Save Me Or To Condemn Me?

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  John 3:17

God's effort was totally for your good.  He paid the ultimate price to save you.

What Is God's Purpose In Opening The Door So I Can Be Born Again?

God's Purpose Is To Bring You Back Into His Family.

We're talking about God's family. You can't join God's family. You can't buy your way in. You can't work your way in. You must be born into this family. The way is simple. All who will receive Jesus as their savior from sin are born as spiritual babies into the family of God the Father.

Will I Miss Life And The Kingdom Of God And Fulfillment Without Jesus?

John 3:1 - 21

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.  Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?  Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.  If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?  And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

John 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Why Would Anyone Go Through The Mental Gymnastics Required To Rationalize Rejecting God’s Free Salvation?

Many people try to rationalize away the salvation of God. Examples include evolutionism, naturalism, materialism, uniformitarianism, Atheism, Humanism, Agnositicism, Hinduism, Islam, and New Age. Why do people do this?

John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

1 Thessalonians 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:  

1 John 1:5-10 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 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. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 John 2:3-11 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Paul defines love as obeying the commandments. Thou shalt not commit adultery etc.

Rom 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

See, following Jesus requires leaving darkness behind.

These people love darkness rather than light. They love sin more than they love righteousness. They love their own thoughts instead of God’s thoughts. They want to be freed from God, but don’t even realize that they are slaves to sin.

John 3:18-21 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

2 Peter 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

2 Timothy 3:2-5 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

This, of course, describes liberalism and false religion as it can be observed everywhere today. It also describes those who have been born again but refuse to go on to maturity.

With Free Salvation Being Such A Great Offer, Why Would Anyone Reject The Offer?

With free salvation being such a great offer, the only reason anyone would reject this salvation is because they love darkness rather than light.  It's not just freedom from the punishment--it's freedom from the sin.  A lot of people try to trick God.  They say give me the salvation from punishment, but I still want to keep my sin.

John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

God gives each person an opportunity to accept the redemption that Jesus Christ has so graciously provided. The alternative to accepting God’s free gift is unspeakably terrible beyond our comprehension as finite creatures. Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. The offer is wonderful. Why would anyone reject it?

Because they know that salvation is salvation from the very works of darkness that they love. They love darkness more than they love light, so they reject salvation.

Every person has a sense, through the conscience, that they have failed to please God. We know that time does not absolve us or dissolve our debt of sin. We know that God is just and the He must judge sin. We also know that God is also merciful as evidenced by the fact that He provided one last opportunity for every person to be saved—the wonderful free salvation that is only available through Christ Jesus, God’s only unique Son. Why would anyone reject this free salvation.

We all know, intuitively, that salvation includes a transformation. That’s the reason that some people reject God’s salvation. No one would reject salvation if there were no transformation. Some false teachers provide a non-transforming false salvation and almost everyone can accept their false salvation. Unfortunately for them, God is not mocked, and this "escape the punishment without being freed from sin" lie has no power to help anyone. God knows the intents of the heart. Nothing is hidden from Him. No one can fool God.

Those who reject God and God’s salvation do so because their deeds are evil and they want to continue to do evil. They enjoy sin too much to ever turn from sin. John 3:19 They love darkness rather than light. They love pleasure rather than loving God.

Those who reject deliverance from sin don’t want to honor God as God. The fornicators and perverts want to keep committing fornication and perversions. Those who envy and covet want to continue to envy and covet. Those who don’t want to put God first in their lives want to continue to put other things before God. Those who dishonor God, want to keep dishonoring God. Those who dishonor parents and all authority want to continue to dishonor. Those who are stealing want to continue to steal. Those who are lazy want to continue to be lazy and live off of the work of others. Those who love to lie and love to accept the lies of the anti-God crowd—they want to continue in those lies. God is absolutely holy and requires holiness and perfection. God cannot fellowship with sinners of any kind. He needs transformed people.

If there were an easier way to give us forgiveness and transfiguration, God would have used it. The salvation that was provided was at very high price with unspeakable sorrow for the Father and for the Son. There is no other Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

The word, repent, means "turn around and go in the opposite direction." The Greek word from which "repent" comes actually means, "Have a new mind." When we repent, we have a new mind, a mind that focuses on the spirit rather than the flesh. Even after salvation, we have free will to focus our mind on the flesh rather than the spirit, but the call is to .

The required true repentance is the turn off for those who love darkness. Most people would really like to escape the judgment. The law of God tells each person that they are in danger of judgment. They are all without excuse. Yet, they find rationalized speculations to reject God’s free offer because they do not want the transformation of repentance. Repentance is, in fact, a miracle. It is a progressive transformation or transfiguration.

It is the miracle of repentance that causes a Christian to hate evil and love good. This repentance is both instantaneous and progressive. Each saved person is changed instantaneously as soon as he or she believes--providing they do not reject the free gift. (God doesn’t force Himself on anyone.) The Holy Spirit is given, acting on the believer, to give power for holiness. Many things fall away in the moment of salvation. The flesh (the body) remains in rebellion against God, but the human spirit is set free. The mind/soul/will is free to focus on the spirit or on the flesh. Now, after being born again, the saying is fulfilled that says, "To be fleshly minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life." Up until that point, the unbeliever was totally dead, spirit, mind, and body. Up until new birth, there was total death and corruption. Now, the spirit is made alive by the blood of Christ.

It is holiness that the scoffer does not want. Those who reject Jesus Christ do so because they want to continue in sin.

Holiness and perfection are difficult concepts, even for a believer. They seem so foreign and impossible. It’s a good thing that God specializes in things thought impossible. One of the erroneous rationalizations that unbelievers use to justify rejection of being born again believers use to justify rejection of walking into a deeper relationship with Christ is this: "Nobody is perfect." Well, we know that Christ is perfect. We also know that He has come to dwell within us, but only for those who accept His salvation). We know, from Scripture, that the only way we can do any good work is if He does the good work through us. When He does the work, He does it perfectly. Our flesh may muddy the water, but we are not even to identify with the work of the flesh. The flesh of this body is the enemy. With the mind and will, we will serve Christ. We fully admit that the flesh is an enemy of God. We owe our flesh nothing and we refuse to identify with it, listen to it, or obey it. We are spiritual beings having an earthly experience since Christ has set us free from the law of sin and death.

This is what the unbeliever rejects, repentance. The unbeliever rejects the idea of being ridiculed by the worldly and yet loving the worldly in return for their ridicule. The unbeliever rejects the prospect of being rejected and ridiculed for the sake of Christ and yet loving his or her enemies, not returning hate for hate but love for hate. The unbeliever rejects leaving the pleasures of sin behind. That is the only reason they reject Christ.

The most popular speculations about when this total holiness will take place are that holiness takes place at death or at rapture or both. Is holiness for us right now, and to what extent is it available?

Though there is variation in doctrines regarding when holiness will take place, I don’t know of any denomination that does not teach holiness. Let me clarify that statement. I know of no Christ-following, Bible-believing denomination that does not teach holiness. Perhaps in the pews, in that Babylon of one-person denominations that sit in the pews, there are those who do not believe that, one day, total holiness will be restored. Perhaps in all those one-person denominations who don’t attend any church, there are some who don’t believe God’s Word that says that we must be perfect. Of course, many of the cults do teach sin in heaven, teaching a heaven that is basically an orgy, because that is what the flesh wants.

Why Do People Reject God? Why Do People Reject Jesus?

Those who reject God do so because they don't want the God of Love ruling them.

 
 
• They don't want the power of God's Love being the motivating empowerment in their lives.
 
• They want the self-glorification and self-gratification of their own flesh, their human mind, spirit, and emotion, to rule over them and be the power in their life.
 

For this reason they are willing to go through unbelievable mental gymnastics and speak of their loopy logic, calling it "science," which it is not.

 
 
• They seek to denigrate anyone who will not bow down to their false "science."
 
• They refuse to see God's active Hand in the lives of men and women.
 
• Being unable to deal with the reality of the loving God, they seek to find a naturalistic/materialistic explanation for every miracle of God. 
 
• They hate God and God knows it.
 

 
John 3:19  
2 Timothy 3  
I John 4:16  

What's So Bad About Not Receiving Jesus As Savior?

They miss the Kingdom of Glory because they love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil.

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:19

 
 
• Light, Jesus, has come into the world.
 
• People loved darkness.  
   
  • Their deeds were evil.
   
  • They loved doing evil.
   
  • So they rejected Jesus.
   
 
• And so they are condemned.
 

How Do I Enter The Kingdom Of God And Leave The Bondage Of The Enemy?

Unless you are born again, you will lose out.  You can't enter the Kingdom of God.

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.   John 3:4  (Read all of John 3 for a more complete understanding.)

Literally, this is the Water of the Spirit.  Baptism is part of salvation, but being born only requires the Water of the Spirit. 

God, through the Spirit of Christ, drops His faith into your heart and reveals His way to you.  His way is Jesus. 

 
 
• You admit to God that you have been wrong.
 
• Sin:  You receive Jesus as your Savior from your sins and your sinful nature.
 
• You ask forgiveness.
 
• You leave all your allegience to your sinful nature and to Satan.
 
• You commit to obeying Jesus and seeking Him.
 
• God forgives you and receives you as His own child and your family affiliation and slavery to Satan is broken by the power of Jesus' blood.
 

 John 3  
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:  
 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can  
 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  
 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  
 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  
 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  
 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  
 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.  
 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?  
 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?  
 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.  
 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?  
 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.  
 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  
 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  
 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  
 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  
 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  
 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  
 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  
 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.--  
 22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.  
 23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.  
 24 For John was not yet cast into prison.  
 25 Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.  
 26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.  
 27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.  
 28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.  
 29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.  
 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.  
 31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.  
 32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.  
 33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.  
 34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.  
 35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.  
 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

2 Timothy 1:9 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,

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Note that in Mark 16:16, not believing results in being damned, but not being baptized is never mentioned in Scripture as resulting in being damned.

Luke 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

Romans 10:9  because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:

2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Being born again is a one-time occurrence, but there are ongoing and increasing benefits, free gifts, that are also part of salvation.  Note that sanctification is also a part of salvation.  Scripture indicates that is progressive from glory to glory and that it is by the Spirit of God as indicated also here.  Belief in the truth is also progressive as indicated by 1 Corinthians 13, where it says that we will one day know as we are known.    
 

Will I Be Judged If I Reject Jesus?

He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him: the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. John 12:48

Again, Jesus was very matter-of-fact when He said this.  If it were not true, then it would be very bold to say such a thing.  Since it is true, it is very compassionate to say such a thing.

Is A Person Who Does Not Believe In Jesus Condemned?

He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18

This is straight-forward.  God has been very clear, so there is no excuse.

Those who reject Jesus are rejecting God and rejecting God's only way of salvation.

Does The Bible Say That Jesus Is The Only Way That The Father Has Provided?

John 3:1 & 21 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

    
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

     
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.  Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?  Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.  If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?  And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

     
 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

     
 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

     
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

     
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

     
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

John 3: 36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

How Can I Know Jesus And Know God?

So how can you know Jesus and how can you know God? How can you be born again? First Peter 1:23 says that you must be born of incorruptible seed by the word of God. John 1:1 says that Jesus is the Word. You need to be born of Jesus, the incorruptible seed, who is the Word of God.  And once your are born in Him, you must go from glory to glory to maturity in Him.  
 
Romans 10:9 says that if you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.  
 
Will you, just now, confess with your mouth? Will you tell Jesus that you will receive Him right now?

Just pray, "Jesus, I receive you and turn my back on all my sin.  I have been wrong.  Please forgive me and give me a new heart.  Please redeem me from my slavery to Satan and set me free from bondage to sin by the power of the blood you shed for me.  Come, Lord Jesus and live in me and let your Light shine out through me."  
 
If you have received Him, would you be willing to commit to receiving Him in a deeper, more fulfilling way?  
 
Ephesians 2:8 says that you are saved by grace and through faith; and that this salvation isn't of yourself: it's the gift of God. Grace is the free gift of God, and through it we are saved from slavery to Satan. It is a powerful, multi-faceted gift meant to free us from slavery to sin and death.  
 
Titus 3:5 says that it's not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

... so no one is good enough to earn salvation.  You must receive the free gift from God.  Set aside your pride, and admit that you have been wrong and need to change but cannot possibly meet the requirement.  Admit that you need Jesus, God's only unique Son, and receive Him.  
 
Acts 16:31 says that if you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you shall be saved, and your household.  
 
If you believe this, it's because the Holy Spirit is working faith in your heart. If not, it's because you are resisting Him. If you believe this, you can accept Jesus into your heart right now. Whoever believes in Jesus is born again. Being born again is the first step to a new life in Christ Jesus. It's the first step in drawing near to God.  
 
God has made one way by which mankind may approach to Him.

Acts 4:12 says, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there's none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Satan is offering every other way in hopes that foolish people will obey him once again and, so, come into greater slavery. God has offered you and me a way to be free from that slavery to Satan. The name of that Way is Jesus Christ. He is a person, not a religion.  Don't fall for Satan's empty, lying religion and miss God's only way of salvation.  
 
The relationship in which God is interested is an ongoing and increasingly more intimate relationship. If you aren't experiencing that relationship, then you have stopped listening to His voice. He always calls you to a closer walk with Him. Romans 10:13 says that whoever will call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Do you feel that you can call upon the name of the Lord? You can. Why not call on Him right now? Ask Him to come and abide in your heart. Ask Him to lead you and guide you in your life. Ask Him to bless your life. You will never be the same. You can go from glory to glory and from faith to faith.  
 
Don't miss out now.  
 
It's a wonderful thing to be born again.

How Did Albert Einstein Miss Out?

Poor Albert Einstein Never Made Contact Despite His Great Intelligence.

Albert Einstein believed in God.  It was obvious to him that God exists.  He wished that he could think the thoughts of God.  He never believed that God would love Him.  He didn't believe that the Almighty would want to communicate with him.

This is very sad.  All that intelligence and yet Albert Einstein missed it.  Don't you miss it.  Take advantage of the greatest offer ever.  Receive Jesus as your Savior.  Learn how He leads.  Submit yourself to His Spirit and walk in all His ways.

Albert Einstein had a very disorganized and inconsistent view of God and the eternal.  God gave him an intellect and God used that intellect for His Own purposes, but Einstein never glorified God for the wonderful Gift.  Einstein ended life an intelligent fool, having never recognized the wonderful gifts that God had given him.

All wisdom, knowledge, and understanding comes from God.  Life and all of creation comes from God and God blesses the just and the unjust.  He blesses the fool and the wise man.  Einstein was a fool, and God blessed him with intellect.  Had Einstein come to God and asked for wisdom, God would surely have given it to him and not scolded him for waiting so long.  However, Einstein didn't humble himself to come to his Creator.  Instead, Einstein, like so many others, missed out on the most glorious thing that could possibly happen to a human being.  He missed out on a relationship with His Creator God.

Bible Witness And Christian Witness: How Do I Witness To The Unsaved

It's as true in Bible witness and Christian witness as in any other area that argument is fruitless.  In sales, they say that if you win the argument you will lose the sale.  In Bible witness, you can easily turn people away from Christ rather than winning souls to Christ. 

That is not to say that no one can come to Christ or come to a better understanding of Christ.  It also is true that it is important that we Christians continue to testify of Jesus.

As the wheat and tares are growing together, it seems that the tares are becoming quite mature and poisonous.  In the Church, I believe that we need to pray that we are also brought to maturity in Christ.  It seems that a life that is without contradiction in righteousness is what the Atheist and Agnostic must see.  I'm convinced that they are not seeing this very often, and the lives of Christians only confirm their godless opinion that there is no God, no Jesus, and no salvation.

Questions About Life Answered

Questions About Life Answered:

Questions About Prayer Answered

Questions about prayer answered:

Wisdom For Life

 
• Give God what's right - not what's left.
 
• "Pray" is a four-letter word you can say anywhere - except in public schools.
 
• Man's way leads to a hopeless end - God's way leads to an endless hope.
 
• A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.
 
• He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.
 
• To be almost saved... is to be totally lost.
 
• In the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma - but never let him be the period.
 
• Don't put a question mark... where God puts a period.
 
• God grades on the cross, not the curve.
 
• Are you wrinkled with burden? Come to the church for a facelift.
 
• When praying, don't give God instructions - just report for duty.
 
• God doesn't want shares of your life - He wants a controlling interest.
 
• Don't wait for six strong men to take you to church.
 
• We don't change God's message - His message changes us.
 
• The church is prayer-conditioned.
 
• When God ordains, He sustains.
 
• WARNING: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning.
 
• Plan ahead - It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.
 
• Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory position.
 
• Suffering with truth decay? Brush up on your Bible.
 
• Exercise daily - walk with the Lord.
 
• Coincidences happen when God chooses to remain anonymous.
 
• Wisdom has two parts - 1) having a lot to say 2) not saying it.
 
• Never give the devil a ride - he will always want to drive.
 
• A clean conscience makes a soft pillow.
 
• Nothing else ruins the truth... like stretching it.
 
• Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps coming  back.
 
• He who angers you controls you.
 
• Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop.
 
• Give Satan an inch & he'll be your ruler.
 
• Forbidden fruits create many jams.
 
• Be ye fishers of men - you catch them & He'll clean them.
 
• Deciding not to choose Jesus is still making a choice.
 
• God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
 
• If God is your co-pilot - swap seats.

How to be Born Again

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There is so much more for you. This is what you have been missing. Don't let anyone deceptively keep you from fulfilling your destiny and God's purpose for your life.

God has established the pattern of Scripture, for life and for the Church.

You can feel free to use the Contact Form further down on this page to ask any question regarding this pattern of Scripture. The Church, the Body of Christ, and discernment of this Body, is the method that God is using to finish the work in His Body. The Body of Christ, God's Temple, is built up by that which every joint supplies, building each other up in love, and the Temple must be built according to the pattern of Scripture.

We believe the Holy Scriptures teach:

• The 5 apostolic ministries (Ephesians 4:11)
• The nine gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8-10)
• Local congregations overseen by elders and deacons (Titus 1:5)
• Every member having and being a ministry in the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:11)
• Being led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14)
• The gathering together of the Body of Christ (Genesis 49:10, John 17:21)