We Must Be Born Again

Have you been born again?

The question is not, "Have you joined a church"? Nor is it, "Are you trying to do your best"?

Nor is it, "Do you have religion"? The correct answer means one will go to Heaven when they die.

John3:3 in the New Testament states, "Except a man be born again, he cannot seek the kingdom of God." We enter the physical world by birth. Likewise, spiritual life begins with a new birth.

There is no other way to become part of God's family. Neither education, cultivation, reformation, or "turning over a new leaf" will accomplish this. What is neededis not a new "leaf" but a new "life"! "Ye must be born again" (John 3:7)".

A New Nature Needed

By physical we become partakers of the human nature; by being born again we become "partakers of the divine nature", it says in 2 Peter 1:4; A Christian is the product of a divine
"begetting", says James 1:18.

The second birth is not an improvement of the old nature; it is the imparting of an entirely new nature. The old nature is hopelessly corrupt and incapable of ever being made for His presence, says Romans 3:9-20 & 8:7.

The new birth requires a creative act of the Holy Spirit. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." says 2 Corinthians 5:17 and repeated in Ephesians 2:10.

Not Trying But Trusting

Trying to "follow Christ" is not Christianity. Christianity is not an imitation of Christ; it is the indwelling of Christ. Christianity is not trying to do anything. It is trusting Christ who has done it all.

He has "finished the work" and there is nothing left to do but simply to receive and trust Him. He shed precious blood on the cross and the work is all done once and forever! Cease

trying and begin trusting!

What Must i Do To Be Saved?

To get "saved", we must simply "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ," according to Acts 16:31. "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God,"says John 5:1

"As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them the believe on His name: which were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God," says John 1:12-13.

We are born again and become Christian by trusting a Person and receiving a Person. The very moment we do this, the Lord Jesus Christ comes in and life begins!

What Is Meant By "Believe"?

To "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" means more than simply believing the historic facts concerning Him. Intellectual belief about Christ is not sufficient. The belief that brings salvation must be with the heart, with the whole being, states Romans 10:10.

This belief also includes repentance: "Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, says "Acts 20:21. "God ...now commandeth all men everywhere to repent", says Acts 17:30.

The faith that saves includes the necessity to repent, and to receive Christ as Savior and Lord, to rest upon Him alone for salvation. It means we are to trust Him so utterly and completely that, if He should fail, there would be no hope at all!

May I Know That I Am Born Again?

This is an important point. We know that we are born again by the testimony of God's Word. God says in John 54, "He that hearth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not com into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

Have you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as explained by God's Word? If so, you are saved, you are "born again", you have "passed from death unto life". God says so! Take God at His Word, and go on your way rejoicing!

One Final Word

You may belong to a church, you may be trying to do the best you can, and you may be striving to live right. Your outward life may be the model of moral correctness. You may be
looked up to, be honored, revered, and respected.

You may teach in the Sunday school, read the Bible, sing, shout, feel happy, and all the rest. But, if you have never been born again, you are still in your sins and a stranger to the Lord Jesus Christ.

If you have not been born again, you are as lost as if you had never heard of Christ.

One Sin Will Block Us From Heaven

According to the Bible, any ONE unforgiven sin will keep us out of Heaven.

It took only one sin by Adam to drive him out of the Garden of Eden and away from God. He did not lie, kill, steal, commit adultery, or any of the large menu of sins. It took just one act of sinful disobedience.

If people realized that the Bible declares that one sin is enough to keep them out of Heaven, they would quickly look to Christ to save them. It seems people must KNOW they are lost first, in order to get saved. Our sins will keep us out of Heaven and send us to Hell forever.

One sin that will keep us out of Heaven is certainly the sin of "not believing in Christ", says John 16:9. it is fundamental to realize that Christ died for our sins. Peter says "To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins".

Forgiveness is available because the Lord Jesus loved us and died for our sins. God laid "all our iniquities on Him", says Isaiah 53:6. We can benefit from His gift of eternal life by placing our faith in Him and His sacrifice.

Let me explain what believing does not mean. It does not mean to believe ABOUT Jesus Christ dying for our sins. That is necessary, but not enough. It does not mean to believe and then do the best you can. It really means to trust, lean upon, and depend upon entirely. It is trusting Him only.

Salvation is by faith in Christ alone. Nothing added. To know that our sins are all gone and that we have eternal life; will transform us into a new person. If you are not saved, then, this is exactly what you need. It is not religion, but salvation. Surely a clean conscious is what people need, but do not have.

Acts 13:38-39 says, "Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses".

Do you really believe these verses? Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of God is the way to be saved, and, the way to know it. How do we get "saved"? By praying something like this:

Dear God:
I am a sinner. Others have sinned greater than I have. But, nevertheless, I stand before you now as a lost sinner, deserving of Hell. I choose to believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, who, became a man.

I choose to believe that He allowed Himself to be put to death, that he arose again on the third day, and that He is alive today.

The Bible says our sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ and, I believe that. Father I want to be cleansed of all my sins right now.


I know I am not right with God and, I want to be forgiven. I want to go to Heaven when I die. Right now at (Time and Date) ______ I bow at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ, and I am dumping all of my sins there. And I mean ALL of them!


I ask that the blood of Jesus Christ wash away all my sins; past, present, and future. I am sorry for my sins God, and I accept your forgiveness. Right now, I declare that I am a Christian. I ask Father, that you will make me aware of when I want to sin, and give me the courage to say NO.


I ask too, that you will help me understand the Bible, and to make the rest of my days on earth count for eternity. I pray all of this in the name of Jesus Christ, my new Lord and Savior.
Amen

WHERE IS TED KENNEDY NOW?

Based on what Senator Ted Kennedy wrote to the pope before he died (see below), it doesn’t appear to me that Kennedy is in Heaven today.

His letter does not mention Jesus Christ once. Kennedy wrote about this earthly goals and accomplishments. They were noble but, even with his church linkage, they do not qualify him - or anyone else - worthy of Heaven.

As well, the letter from the Vatican to Kennedy, who died Aug. 25 from brain cancer, is sadly void of the biblical gospel.

The senator wrote, “I have always tried to be a faithful Catholic.”

Do we qualify for Heaven by being a faithful Roman Catholic, or Protestant? No. Neither word is in the Bible.

Do we qualify for Heaven by church affiliation or doing good works? No, despite these being admirable attributes.

Good works are an out growth of our accepting what the Lord Jesus Christ completed for us when He paid our total sin debt and arose from the dead. Salvation is in that, alone.

To gain Heaven when we die, we must repent of our sin and put our faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible does not support the idea that our good deeds count for a hill of beans. Jesus secured our salvation 100 per cent.

The Bible states in 1 John 1:7, “…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."

The Vatican is miles off base in suggesting that our suffering is part of our salvation. This Vatican statement to Ted Kennedy is heresy: “He (the pope) invokes upon you the consolation and peace promised by the risen savior to all who share in his sufferings, and trust in his promise of eternal life.”

How do we choose Jesus as our Savior as the sole way to Heaven?

Pray something like this and mean it:

Dear God:

I am a sinner.

Others have sinned greater than I have. But, nevertheless, I stand before you now as a lost sinner, deserving of Hell.

I choose to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who became a man.

I choose to believe that He allowed Himself to be put to death, that He arose again on the third day and is alive today.

The Bible says our sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ, and I believe that.

Father I want to be cleansed of all my sins right now.

I know I am not right with God, and I want to be forgiven. I want to go to Heaven when I die.

Right now at (Time and Date)______________, I bow at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ, and I am dumping all of my sins there. And I mean ALL of them!

I ask that the blood of Jesus Christ wash away all my sins - past, present and future.

I am sorry for my sin, God, and I accept your forgiveness.

Right now, I declare that I am a Christian.

I ask, Father, that you will make me aware of when I want to sin, and give me the courage to say No.

I ask, too, that you will help me understand the Bible, and to make the rest of my days on earth count for eternity.

I pray all of this in the name of Jesus Christ - my new Lord and Savior - amen.

Anything else? Yes.

(1.) Tell someone that Jesus is now your Lord.

(2.) Start attending a church where the Bible is

clearly proclaimed.

(3.) Get baptized by immersion as a public confession

of your new life in Christ.

(4.) Read your Bible and pray regularly.

(5.) Continue - or start - doing good stuff as a witness that you care like Christ cares.

(CNN) -- Shortly before he died from brain cancer, Sen. Ted Kennedy wrote a letter to Pope Benedict XVI. President Obama delivered the letter to the pontiff during his visit to the Vatican in July.

Sen. Ted Kennedy wrote to Pope Benedict XVI, asking the pontiff to pray for him as he dealt with cancer.

Sen. Ted Kennedy wrote to Pope Benedict XVI, asking the pontiff to pray for him as he dealt with cancer.

The following are excerpts from the letter as read by Cardinal Theodore McCarrick at Kennedy's private burial service Saturday in Arlington National Cemetery:

"Most Holy Father, I asked President Obama to personally hand-deliver this letter to you. As a man of deep faith himself, he understands how important my Catholic faith is to me, and I am so deeply grateful to him. I hope this letter finds you in good health.

"I pray that you have all of God's blessings as you lead our Church and inspire our world during these challenging times. I am writing with deep humility to ask that you pray for me as my own health declines. I was diagnosed with brain cancer more than a year ago, and although I continue treatment the disease is taking its toll on me. I am 77 years old, and preparing for the next passage of life.

"I have been blessed to be part of a wonderful family. Both of my parents, particularly my mother, kept our Catholic faith at the center of our lives. That gift of faith has sustained and nurtured, and provided solace to me in the darkest hours.

"I know that I have been an imperfect human being, but with the help of my faith I have tried to right my path. I want you to know Your Holiness that in my nearly 50 years of elective office,

“I have done my best to champion the rights of the poor and open doors of economic opportunity. I have worked to welcome the immigrant, to fight discrimination, and expand access to health care and education. I have opposed the death penalty, and fought to end war. Those are the issues that have motivated me and been the focus of my work as a United States Senator.

"I also want you to know that even though I am ill, I am committed to do everything I can to achieve access to health care for everyone in my country. This has been the political cause of my life. I believe in a conscience protection for Catholics in the health field, and I'll continue to advocate for it as my colleagues in the Senate and I work to develop an overall national health policy that guarantees health care for everyone.

"I have always tried to be a faithful Catholic Your Holiness. And though I have fallen short through human failings, I have never failed to believe and respect the fundamental teachings of my faith. I continue to pray for God's blessings on you and on our Church, and would be most thankful for your prayers for me."

Two weeks later, Kennedy received a response from the Vatican. McCarrick read the response in part, as follows:

* * * * *

"The Holy Father has read the letter which you entrusted to President Obama, who kindly presented it to him during their recent meeting. He was saddened to know of your illness, and asked me to assure you of his concern and his spiritual closeness. He is particularly grateful for your promise of prayers for him, for the needs of our universal church. "His Holiness prays that in the days ahead, you may be sustained in faith and hope, and granted the precious grace of joyful surrender to the will of God, our merciful father. He invokes upon you the consolation and peace promised by the risen savior to all who share in his sufferings, and trust in his promise of eternal life.

"Commending you and the members of your family to the loving intervention of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Father cordially imparts his apostolic blessing as a pledge of wisdom, comfort, and strength in the Lord."

God said No

1. I asked God to take away my habit.
God said, No. It is not for me to take it away, but for you to give it up.

2. I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No. His spirit is whole; his body is only temporary.

3. I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn't granted, it
is learned.

4. I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, No. I give you blessings; happiness is a choice.

5. I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you
closer to me.

6. I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, No. You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make to make
you strong.

7. I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God Said, No. I will give you NEW life so you can enjoy all things.

8. I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
God said...Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.

"To the world you are one person, but to one person you just might be the world"

EVOLUTION QUESTION

Thoughts from the deep-thinking, brain dead scientific community. The litany of the evolutions boils down to something like this:

“We know evolution is true, even though we don’t know how it works, and we have never seen it happen.”

Say, what!

Is there just one judgment in Heaven?

By Paul Tatham
tatham47@hotmail.com

QUESTION: Is there just one judgment in Heaven?
ANSWER: No, there are two judgments.

Those who accept in this life the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as total payment for the all their sins and are “saved” will stand in judgment before God, but will go to Heaven.

Those who have rejected Christ or chose to believe it took the sacrificial blood of Jesus plus their good works to gain Heaven will stand before God in a gut-wrenching second judgment.

Those who stand before God in the second judgment will be separated from God eternally, but their hellish punishment will be based upon how good or bad a life they lived; their works.

Speaking of born again believers, the Bible in 2 Corinthians 5:10 says,

“For we must ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

That verse applies to those who are “saved.” They go to Heaven. However, they will be judged for how they lived as a Christian after they were saved. Eternal rewards will be at stake.

Those who have not trusted Christ as Savior will stand before the great white throne and be judged "according to their works." (Rev 20:11-15). Everyone there is Hell-bound. This judgment will be to determine the degree of their punishment in Hell. A single general judgment day is just another traditional church-taught baloney sandwich.

If you are not a Christian, I would exhort you to sincerely repent of your sins and receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior from sin and so from eternal damnation.

The Bible states repeatedly that the way to Heaven is by accepting what Jesus completed on the cross. There is no other way.

He said in John 14:6,
"I am THE WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, NO MAN cometh to the Father by me.”

A Better Sinner’s Prayer?
By NiteOwlDave
niteowldave@gmail.com

The prevailing way to direct a lost sinner to the Lord Jesus Christ and eternal Heaven is by leading a seeker through the standard "Sinner's Prayer."

That prayer of repentance of one's sins and inviting Jesus into one's heart is on the back of the many hundreds - perhaps thousands - of different gospel tracts available worldwide.

Although such a prayer is not in the Bible and Jesus or His disciples never shared the way to Heaven in such a point-by-point manner, it is a valid prayer of salvation with biblical support.
Of course, one who prays it must fully understand this prayer vow and be sincere.

That said, there might be a better way to help someone get saved.

Here's an alternate way of leading a sinner to the foot of the cross of Christ to have their sins forgiven. I have seen this used by a preacher friend, Peter Zein, who is a top gun Christian who has won many to the Lord.



I'VE DISCOVERED THIS NEW WAY IS EXCELLENT FOR SHARING THE GOSPEL IN INTERNET CHAT BECAUSE IT IS BETTER SOURCED. IT IS THE WORDS OF THE SEEKER AND, IN MY OPINION, IT IS BETTER THAN ADVISING, “HERE, PRAY THIS.”


It is a given that a potential new Christian must be seeking truth which means the Holy Spirit must have prepared his or her heart to want answers to what is the true meaning of life. No one can be won for Christ through debate.

Here's how it works:

1. Ask "Bob" if he will go to Heaven one day. The usual response is, "I don't know, but I hope so."

2. Ask Bob if he thinks his sins might be a problem with him being
allowed into Heaven. He will likely answer yes.

3. Ask him if it makes sense to him that God is likely online, seeing what we types, listening to what we say and that it is all stored on His heavenly hard drive. He will likely snicker but will likely agree. He will likely acknowledge that God is everywhere and sees everything.

4. Ask him to picture himself standing before God next to his pile of sin.

5. Ask him to type some of his the sins that make up the pile. One typed sin is fine.

6. As he types, encourage him to spill all - if he’s comfortable with that - without unnecessary details. Like with most of us, the list would likely be lengthy. Seeing our sin list is helpful because we see how much we have messed up.

7. Ask him if he thought God would let him into Heaven if his sin pile were one half or one quarter the size.

8. Quietly share that, according to the Bible, for a person to be allowed
into Heaven, we must be perfect. We must be 100 per cent sin free.

9. Ask Bob that since he has a sin record what does he think he must do?
Wait. He will likely say he needs to repent for his sins.

10. Suggest he type to God about his sins. (I advise "the Bobs" to type like we talk with anyone, and that God could care less about our spelling, word usage, phraseology or typing skills.) Tell him God will forgive all, if we are ask Him and we are sincere.

11. Ask “Bob” what did Jesus did to be able to remove our sins. He will likely respond, "I think He died for our sins." Remind him He arose from the dead, and is alive today in Heaven.

12. Suggest to Bob that he type to God what that something inside of him is urging him to tell Jesus.

13. Encourage him with "Well done. I like THAT. Keep going,"


If “Bob” asks God to forgive him of all his sins - past, present and future – and chooses to type (confess) that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to this earth 2,000 years where He allowed Himself to be put to death to pay for all our sin with His shed blood, rose again from the dead and is alive today in Heaven, HE IS NOW SAVED.

Tell him to share what he just did with someone. Advise him to begin attending a church where the Bible is taught clearly.

Advise him of these verses: Romans 10:9 - "That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

Christians should expect persecution

There are promises in the word of God that don't seem much like promises to some folks.

For instance, this one: "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

That means all whose purpose to live godly lives in this present world shall (certainly) suffer persecution, as did their Lord.


Maybe we contemplate such verses and think they should say something different: perhaps something like, "And all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall be appreciated for their goodness and rewarded with approval, good health and fortune."

There is Paul's statement to the Philippians that declares, "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake."


Perhaps we would be more comfortable if that were to read, "For unto you it is given...not only to believe on him, but also to be blessed with health, wealth and prosperity."

But it doesn't say that; it says what it says.

--Dick York (Missionary, conference speaker, missionary trainer, author)

Mormons exalt a false Jesus

by niteowldave
niteowldave@gmail.com

Recent Republican presidential candidate (2007) Newt Romney is an upright member of The Church of the Latter Day Saints (LDS), The Mormons.

So is popular conservative radio and TV talk show host Glenn Beck.

They are well-educated guys, who dress well, are enthusiastic, engaging, who obviously love freedom. They speak about God. They appear to be men of faith.

This makes it difficult to suggest that these two bright lights are duped. They proclaim they acknowledge Jesus as being the Son of God. The problem is they bow to a false Jesus.

That sounds nuts, doesn't it?

So what is a MAJOR difference between what the Word of God, the Bible, teaches and what the Mormons believe.

The Jesus of the Bible cannot be the Jesus the Mormons hold up as being the Savior of the world. No way.

The Bible states that Jesus Christ is part of the Trinity with God and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is complicated for a mere mortal to understand, yes. But it’s biblical.


The Bible quotes Jesus as saying is He is the one and only way to Heaven and is equal with God.

“If you knew me, you would know my Father also'" (John 8:19) "I tell you the truth,'
Jesus answered, 'before Abraham was born, I am!'" (John 8:58). "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30).

Mormons preach that Jesus Christ is the created brother of Lucifer, the once top angel who was booted out of Heaven and who is now Satan and Hell-bound, as are his Demons who choose to bow to him. (Gospel Through the Ages - 1946 Priesthood Manual by Milton R. Hunter, p. 15).


Satan will be joined in eternal torment by men and women on earth who refuse to bow to the real Jesus.

Good people make it to Heaven, right?

Question: If I live a good, clean, respectable life, will I not surely be saved?

Answer: This is the common belief of humanity, but it is wrong.

"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12)

To the natural mind this seems right, but it is not. There are two major problems with this thinking.

First, it makes salvation something we merit or earn. It obligates God. He then owes it to us.
Salvation on the other hand is by grace, or unmerited favor (Ephesians 2: 8,9).

Second, when God looks at that kind of person He sees their past sins. "God requireth that which is past" (Ecclesiastes 3:15). God does not look at us, as you presently are, but He sees our life from the cradle to the grave.

We are without strength to save ourselves (Romans 5:6). It could not be by works; if so, then man could boast. "Not by works lest any man should boast."(Ephesians 2:9)

Quitting all our sins is very good, and it will make us a better person in society, but it will not take away one past sin we have committed.

These sins must be taken away before we can be saved. Only the blood of Christ can cleanse you from sin—1 John 1:7.

People who live good lives, depending on that to save them, will never make it; but their judgment in eternity and the penalty will be less. "Every man shall be judged according to their works." (Revelation 20:11)

Are you depending on yourself or Christ for salvation? He alone can save. This is why He is called "Savior"—Luke 2:11.

God whispers


Question: If a person in a remote and hard-to-reach area is seeking the true God, will God use some supernatural means (such as an angel or voice from heaven) to reach him with the gospel?
Some suggest God does not use methods other than humans preaching the gospel to spread the salvation message.

But God has and does use supernatural methods such as angels and visions to convict and convert. Call them God whispers.

There are many accounts of people who have accepted Christ after a dream, vision, or revelation without human assistance.

In the tribulation, a desperate time that might compare to some cases today, an ANGEL shouts the "everlasting Gospel" from the heavens "to preach unto them that dwell on the earth and to every nations and kindred and tongue and people saying Fear God and give glory to him etc." (Rev. 14:6,7)

We must keep in mind, however, that today the written Word, the Bible, and the living Word, Christians, are the major tools used by the Holy Spirit.

Our priorities are nuts

Are some of our laws absolutely nuts, or what?

A pregnant women in Florida may choose to have an abortionist terminate a life inside her any time of day.

Let a pregnant woman get nabbed using crack cocaine while pregnant and she can be charged with "child abuse."

There's more!

A school nurse in the same state cannot dispense an aspirin to a child without written permission from the parents.

But, a pregnant girl at the same school can get an abortion without notifying her parents.

Ever feel like tossing your hands in the air?

Absolute is truth fading fast.

What was considered absolute truth is taking a kick in the teeth by non-biblical relativism, which allows for the ridiculous notion that truth can shift.


What was considered non-negotiable truth yesterday is open for change today. Non-negotiable truth? No such thing anymore.

In 1991 the Barna Research Group reported that 67 percent of all adults said that there is no such thing as absolute truth.

In 1994, the figure climbed to 72 per cent.

In the same year, 62 per cent of those who called themselves born-again Christians said they doubted the existence of absolute truth.

Many religious leaders counted themselves among those who deny absolute truth.

In many denominations it is common to hear spiritual leaders speak of their own faith as tradition rather than belief. Pastors can be as open-minded as the rest of the culture.

Even though bearing the symbols of Christian ordination, many are more committed to the doctrines of relativism than to the doctrines of biblical faith.

This has led to the diabolical teaching that one religion is as good as the next, prompting many to lose their fear of God and discount the biblical truth that salvation is solely through Christ.

The ABCs of SRA and DID

The ABCs of SRA and DID - PDF File

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