Binary, 14

 ~ Binary Destination: Heaven or Hell, 2 ~

 

Series Comment  ~  When it comes to spiritual paths it is strictly a binary choice. 

(1)   It is a choice between the True or False.  “Jesus said to him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6).  [See Post #1 in this series.]

(2)   It is a choice between Do or Done.  Jesus said, “It [the work of salvation] is finished!” (John 19:30).  Your Doing can add nothing to what Christ has Done for you.  [See Post #2 in this series.]

(3)   It is your choice between Religion or Relationship.  Religions are geared toward self-effort whereas Christianity is an intimacy with the only One who can save.  Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).  [See Post #3 in this series.}

 

Scripture  ~  Jesus said, “Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.  The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire.  There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 13:40-43).

 

Jesus said, “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.  So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’  And he was speechless.  Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’” (Matthew 22:11-13). 

 

Comment  ~  There are many passages that relate to the fact that we cannot enter heaven due to our own righteousness.  When the blood of Christ is the basis of our justification and sanctification we are welcomed to heaven since God, the Father, sees us clothed with the righteousness of our Savior Jesus Christ.

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW  

 

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God Attribute, 10

 ~ God Cannot Fear ~

 

This Series  ~  This series of posts looks at some of the many attributes of God.  Generally, we move in alphabetical order.

 

Introduction  ~  We are living in a day of increased fear across the population.  In the U.S.A. we see a declining morality and reasons to fear both within our borders and regarding other nations. 

 

Our hope lies in the only authentic source of love – which is diametrically opposed to fear.  God does not fear but instead offers love and true inner peace. 

 

Scripture  ~  “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:17-19).

 

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You,

because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3).

 

Comment  ~  Do you have true inner peace regardless of what this life on earth has thrown at you?  If not, why not?  Ask God, the best you know how to forgive you for your sins, ask His Spirit to come and dwell in you providing all the help you will ever need and a guarantee of life with God forever. 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

* * * * *

Why Trust God? 8

 ~ God Is Able To Rescue (Genesis 1of6) ~

 

Introduction  ~  “Abundant Life Now” previously provided a list of Biblical of examples of fearing / reverencing God (217 posts).  In this current series we look at Biblical accounts that demonstrate that we can fully trust God.  Initially we posted seven general reasons for trusting God.  We are currently looking at passages from all 66 books of Scripture which demonstrate a reason for trusting our Creator. 

 

Scripture  ~  “And they sat down to eat a meal.  Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt.  So Judah said to his brothers, ‘What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?  Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.’  And his brothers listened.  Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver.  And they took Joseph to Egypt” (Genesis 37:25-28).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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