On The Road To True Salvation
Opposed to popular opinion, could you see yourself taking Christ at His Word or would you prefer to conclude in popular opinion opposed?
When Christ speaks about being the way the truth and the life He was saying He is the way, fallow Him. He speaks the truth, believe Him. He is the resurrection of life, therefore "no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." If you're of those people who say, "I believe on Christ." But you don't keep His commandments, what good is your belief and how can you claim to love Him?
According to the commandments Christ spoke of. The first one that comes to mind is.
Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Yeshua answered and said unto them, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.”
If you ever wanted to know what the Will of God is for your life, well it's right there. That's the work God would have you to do unto Him. Our Father wants His Children to take Christ at His Word.
Christ commands us saying, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
Notice how Christ says, “If you believe and if you’re baptized you shall be saved.” He didn’t say, "I guess you don't have to be baptized, just so long as you believe on me then it's cool. I mean, the thief on the cross didn't get baptized right?"
1 Peter 3:21 agrees that baptism also saves us.
Yeshua answered 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? Yeshua 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 Spirit is spirit.”
When a person is baptized they're making a public declaration that, by being completely submerged in water, symbolically they've died with Christ. When that person emerges from the water they become a Spirit being, a witness for Christ and receives the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit sets you apart from the world, therefore you're not going to be "known" by it and will face persecution.
However, in this case both Christ and the Holy Spirit are needed but it doesn't stop at these two. Christ and the Holy Spirit are a part of the way which makes up the whole way. The key thing to remember is, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
Christ says, “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.” Many people now adays won't receive the kingdom of God because they can't prove that there's anything really out there, life after death, or for some other reason challenge the fact. But this is where Childlike Faith comes into play.
If you tell your little child, or any little child for that matter, “This means this and that means that.” They’ll believe you. Even if they respond, “Why?” They only want to know; so if you tell them this is this because this is what this is, and that is that because that is what that is. Then they’ll believe you still. Unless you’re a liar lying to them and they find you out, they’ll continue to believe you. Even when they’re old enough to figure things out for themselves, they’ll still remember your words. Therefore, Childlike Faith is also a requirement for entrance into the kingdom.
If you truly believe on Him, take Him at His Word, it's just that simple.
Taking Him at His Word should be the natural response among Christians, however many have no faith. As soon as God says do this, already their mind they're thinking about all the reasons why they can't do it. But, isn't that the same as the unbeliever who just doesn't believe in Christ for whatever reason they don't believe? And how often do I find in scripture, where God is saying do this. Even gives the reasons why and most still won't do it.
Scripture warns us against false teachers. Matthew 7:15-20
"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.
Ever tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
Now adays people only take a man at his word. It's, "My preacher said this." Or, "My pastor said that." Yet they themselves don't exemplify Acts 17:11. I'm all excited to hear the message, whatever good news it might be; but when we get to talking, there's an obvious lack in scriptural knowledge and they can't tell me beyond what the topic was about. Save for maybe the scripture their pastor/preacher taught from. What good does it do to go to church, hear the word but never do anything with it?
How many actually exemplify Acts 17:11? Why not do your own research and find who Christ is for yourself? Find out what God did for ya, find out the truth about what's been the destiny of man apart from God's Way.
Yet people do as little as they think they can, acting like they know Christ but they don't know Him at all. They just pretend they do.
“Do you truly know where you’re going when you die?" I’ve never found a scripture that says all Christians are going to Heaven. However I've found one that says, “Not everyone 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.” I'm sure by now you should know what the Will of God is for your life.
Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of Wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
People who live their lives in willful sin I’ve heard say, “Just do it then ask God for forgiveness later, He’ll forgive you.” Encouraging the sin activity as if it’s okay.
Yet, that’s exactly what happens when a person lacks God’s Wisdom. The person never fears the LORD, therefore won’t take any of His commands seriously. That goes for all people, Christian or not.
Wisdom 9:6 “For if one be perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded.”
Despite this scripture coming from a source that was once a part of the bible though not anymore, the Word of God is still the Word of God. Yeshua told me that Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words shall not pass away. And what is a man that I should believe him over my Lord? Not to mention the Spirit of truth guides me into all truth; how then couldn’t this be ordained of God?
That scripture says, "If one be perfect among the children of men yet if thy wisdom be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded."
If you wish to believe that only Christ was perfect and that no one else can be perfect, then you've bought into the lie this world would have you believe in.
If Christ was perfect, then we should also be perfect. Yet if we go by the worlds definition of the word “perfect” we're never going to be that. Even the first description of perfect by this world claims, "they strove to be perfect." That doesn't mean they were perfect it just means they strove to be.
That type of worldly thinking is opposed to what God says perfect is. However if you wish to believe the worlds definition, then that’s on you. Christ commands the Children of God to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect; which has nothing to do with what the world says perfection is. Matthew 5:43-48 explains that loving everyone regardlessly is true perfection.
Although, even if we manage to somehow love everyone regardlessly. To what avail without God’s Wisdom according to Wisdom 9:6? Now don't get me wrong, we're commanded to Love. But can that process truly begin without first acquiring Wisdom?
Lets not be like those who play pretend, seeking to know God as a friend only, never really caring about, or truly showing any real regard for the one whom He sent. To them, God says this through Christ, “Friend, (notice He calls him friend?) how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?” And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, “Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
It’s very easy to put on a show and play pretend for the amusement of others, but remember 1 Samuel 16 last part of verse 7? He knows your heart and what you’re about, don’t think God’s playing your game. Therefore without also Wisdom, Love and Faith, you won't make it into the kingdom.
