Finding Eternal Life

Can we achieve eternal life while on this earth? Jesus said we can:

~John 5:39  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

He taught us that if we search the Scriptures, we will be able to find the answers to the age old question, “How can I get to Heaven?” Furthermore, Jesus states in the latter part of the verse that eternal life is brought to us through Him. There are not many roads to Heaven – there is but one road and that is through Jesus Christ.

One can listen to a wise old guru or a seemingly spiritual minister, but how can one be sure they are being guided in the right direction? Does one simply assume that this person will lead them in the right direction?  Jesus said to “search the Scriptures,” not man. If we could find eternal life through a man, He would have said so. He could have told the people to follow after the Rabbis, John the Baptist, etc. After all, they knew the Law inside out.  But instead, He chose to point His listeners to the Scriptures.

So what is stopping you from searching the Scriptures? Are you afraid? Are you too lazy to search the matter out for yourself?  Are you so entrenched in your church’s doctrines that you would put them ahead of what Christ said? If you are, you are foolish.

~Proverbs 9:6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
~Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

© Kate Plourde 2009

For the Weary – Day 10 – Who did hinder you?

This picture shows an easy way across these mountains. One could get across without the bridge, however, it would be a hard trip. Paul was a Christian that did not take the easy road. His life was a depiction of a difficult path. However, he never swayed. There is no account in history that I have read that shows Paul swayed from the truth. Peter swayed at the beginning but not Paul.

~Galatians 5:7-9 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? (7) This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. (8 ) A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. (9)

Are you weary my friend? Are you tired of the constant spiritual battle that you are fighting? I’m sure if anyone could be weary of the battle it was the Apostle Paul. However, not once do we read about him complaining or slipping. His letter to the Galatians shows him exhorting the brethren for having started out as strong Christians but were not continuing in the faith. Why? Because they stopped obeying the truth. They were listening to false teachings and it was beginning to corrupt them. He emphasized that these teachings did not come from the Holy Spirit (verse 8 ).

Have you ever noticed how bread is made? There is a great object lesson in the process. Without yeast, the dough will not rise. Paul said that a little yeast causes the whole lump of bread to rise, not just a portion of it. He wanted the Galatians to know that when false teaching sets into one believer’s life, he not only corrupts himself but he corrupts the church of which he is a member. False doctrine sets in and then the church body will eventually follow. Dough does not rise immediately once yeast is added. If you notice, it rises slowly. It also needs to be in the right environment – warm temperature and covered. Satan is the father of lies. He is a master deceiver. He will cause compromise to creep into a church using those who are not faithful in the Word or those who are tired of fighting.

Be careful, dear Christian. If you are weary of this battle, do not let your guard down. This is the perfect environment for compromise. There are other believers out there that need you to stand firm in the faith. Be like Paul – do not let Satan have the victory. Instead, run the race to the finish – staying strong in the Word – strong in the faith!

If someone were to write a book about your spiritual walk on this earth after you die, would it be similar to the legacy that Paul left behind? Don’t be weary, my friend. Three times we are told in the New Testament to be strong:

~1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

~Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

~2 Timothy 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Paul told us to be strong in the faith, strong in the Lord and strong in the grace that is in Christ. This is what sustained Paul. Let it sustain you, dear Christian!

© Kate Plourde 2009

Who do we follow?

I hope you can see this photo clearly.  I took this of the beautiful California Redwoods.  Can you see the two vertical trees that have grown from the horizontal branches of this Redwood?  Isn’t that magnificent?  They are all part of the same tree!  I was simply amazed and in awe of the Lord’s handiwork.  In all of creation, there is an object lesson.  This particular picture brought today’s post to mind.

~1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

~Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

~1 Thessalonians 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

~1 Thessalonians 2:14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

Who does one follow when it comes to the things of God?  Does one follow church leaders?  Does one follow the Bible?  What if the Bible says one thing and the church leaders say another? What does one do?

Paul wrote several times that we should follow God – and if we follow a church leader, that church leader must be following God and what His Word commands.  In other words, we should not be following after a leader who goes against the Scriptures.  The Scriptures are our measuring stick.  If our church leaders say one thing and the Bible says another, we are to follow the Scriptures.  Paul had the opportunity here to tell us to follow leadership even when they are wrong or even when they make up doctrine that goes against Scriptures.  However, Paul emphatically stated that we are to follow after leaders who follow after God – and God reveals His will in His Word!

Read these verses and ask yourself if the church you attend falls under these guidelines.  There are fundamental beliefs in Scriptures that cannot be compromised – salvation is one of them.  What does your church leader teach about salvation?  Read your Bible – compare the two.  If there is any difference, your church leaders are not heeding Paul’s exhortation.

© Kate Plourde 2009

Does the Bible Support the Sin of Presumption?

The catholic church teaches in its catechism that one cannot be so presumptuous as to say that he is going to Heaven when he dies:

There are two kinds of presumption. Either man presumes upon his own capacities, (hoping to be able to save himself without help from on high), or he presumes upon God’s almighty power or his mercy (hoping to obtain his forgiveness without conversion and glory without merit.” Pg. 507, #2092

This teaching makes my blood boil! Specifically, “he presumes upon God’s almighty power or his mercy (hoping to obtain his forgiveness without conversion and glory without merit.” There are so many Bible verses that contradict this catholic teaching alone, it amazes me that the average catholic has not picked up on it! The average catholic has not picked up on it because the average catholic (and I was one of them) never reads his Bible!

So what does the Bible teach? The Bible says that we cannot be saved on our own but only through Jesus Christ and His shed blood on the cross. It is because of God’s precious mercy that we are not all killed right now and thrown into Hell!

~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.

The catechism teaching has truth mixed with false teaching. The truth is that man cannot save himself (the first part of #2092). The truth is that man cannot obtain forgiveness without conversion (second part of #2092). However, the false teaching lies in the latter part of #2092 “Man cannot obtain forgiveness without merit.” This false teaching is a subtle one indeed. The catholic church teaches that as long as a catholic keeps the sacraments and does good works, he will die and go to purgatory and then be allowed into Heaven.

This is quite contrary to what the Bible teaches. There is nothing man can do in his own merit that can bring salvation. The devotional for August 22, 2008, goes into great depth about how God views our own personal works. Only Christ’s work on the cross is sufficient for God! Christ is the only way. It is only by God’s mercy that we are saved! He did not wait for us to be good enough but sent His Son while we were yet sinners!

~Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

What better proof of God’s mercy than sending His Son to die for us while we were yet sinners? Does this say that He sent His Son to die for us while we did our good works?

~1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (3) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (4) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (5)

Secondly, the Bible teaches that we can know that we are saved, right here – right now! It is not presumptuous at all. Paul absolutely knew he was going to Heaven when he left this earth! In fact, he was torn between staying here on earth to continue his ministry and going to be with Christ!

~Philippians 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

~2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

What proof do you need? Paul told the Corinthians that the Christians are confident that once they leave their earthly bodies they will be present with Christ!

So why can the rest of the repentant, born-again Christians know they are going to Heaven? What verses teach this?

~2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

~ 1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of 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 thewrath of God abideth on him.
~John 5:24 He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Read your Bible, dear catholic! It’s all in there! We can know for sure that we are going to Heaven when we die because we do not depend upon our own works but upon Jesus Christ’s death on the cross.

~Romans 9:31-33 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. (31) Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; (32) As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (33)

Paul told the Jews that they were following after the works of the law, just as the catholic is doing today. Paul told the Jews that because they didn’t seek God by faith, but by their works, they stumbled at the stumblingstone! You, dear catholic, are stumbling as well. You have chosen to follow the works of the catholic church instead of pursuing your faith in the work of Jesus Christ. The catholic church does not want you to read your Bible because they know that within its pages are the words of life!

~Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

As long as the catholic church leaders can keep you out of the Bible, they can keep your faith from growing. But God’s Word promises that your faith will grow IF you read your Bible. In its pages are truth, my friend! Won’t you take the challenge today? You have lack of faith because you do not read the Word of God which builds your faith!

The Sacraments Do Not Save

The catholic church teaches that there are seven sacraments, according to their catechism. They go so far as to say that these sacraments are necessary for salvation:

“There are seven sacraments in the Church: Baptism, Confirmation or Chrismation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.” Pg. 289, #1113

“The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation.” Pg. 292, #1129

These are not my words, dear catholic, but those of your catechism.

The Bible gives us a clear outline on what we must do to be saved. All the sacraments reflect man’s works – man’s ability to achieve salvation through doing something rather than solely trusting on the Lord Jesus Christ’s shed blood on the cross for complete remission of sins. Nothing we do to achieve salvation will ever benefit us or save us. The sacraments, or any works, are man’s attempt to justify himself before God.

~Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Cain tried to justify himself before God by the works of his own hands and God did not accept his offering (~Genesis 4:3-5). Abel offered a firstling of his flock as God commanded of him – of which our Lord Jesus Christ is a symbol (the Lamb of God). But the fruit of Cain’s garden was not pleasing to God – this is a symbol of man’s works – this was Cain’s idea of how he could come to God. Things have not changed in these thousands of years. It did not work with Cain and it will not work for us today either. God will look upon your works with the same disgust as He did on Cain’s.

God views our own works as filthy and putrid, my friend!

~Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Nothing we can do is clean enough of God’s eyes. Can’t you see that? Notice how Isaiah says that all of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags? This means that anything good that we try to do for God appears like a filthy rag to God. This means that praying a thousand rosaries, attending mass every day, or even working at a nursing home to help the elderly will be of no benefit to you.
The Hebrew word for filthy is:

H5708

עד

‛êd
ayd
From an unused root meaning to set a period (compare H5710 and H5749); the menstrual flux (as periodical); by implication (in plural) soiling: – filthy.

Just reading this description is disgusting to me. When we look at the difference between this disgusting type of blood and the precious blood of Jesus Christ, we can see a vast difference. If you read in Leviticus 15:19-33 and 20:18, you will see what was required when dealing with this type of blood – the cleaning ceremonies were intense. The leper was also linked with this type of uncleanness (Leviticus 13:45) and his rags were considered just as filthy. I once heard a sermon about lepers. The preacher said that before the leper could enter a city, he had to take a rag from the top of a post (that other lepers had used) and rub hard over his leperous sores. He would then return the filthy rag back to the top of the post for the next leper to use. Is this not disgusting to you? Isaiah says that God views our good works in the same manner He views this filthy rag!

God compares our own works to this putrid type of filthy rag! There is nothing that we can do that will even come close to the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

Everything you do in order to get closer to God will fall short of what God requires of us. This includes the sacraments required by the catholic church. Here is what the Bible has to say on this subject:

~Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Notice that this verse uses the words just man. This Hebrew word for just is:

H6662

צדּיק
tsaddîyq
tsad-deek’
From H6663; just: – just, lawful, righteous (man).

This includes anyone who thinks he is “just,” “lawful,” or “religious.” That even includes the good religious catholic, Jew or anyone who thinks himself a “good” person. God views every act of a “good” person as unrighteous because of our fallen sinful nature. He sees the pridefulness behind our good works.

We are sinners because we have the fallen nature of Adam. The good person does not have genuine repentance. The catholic’s penance lacks true sincerity and it is reflected in his prayers to God. Furthermore, his prayer life is routine – it is repetitious. He thinks God will hear him because he has prayed a hundred prayers in chapel that morning (~Matthew 6:7).

Because of his pride, he secretly desires that others see his public prayer and his good deeds. He secretly desires to be known for his good works rather than letting God receive the glory for them. A good man’s holiness can only be viewed as putrid sin when compared to that of the holiness of God. In fact, the good person’s religious worship and acts contain enough sin in them all to condemn him to a million hells.

How then can the catholic say that obeying the sacraments assures salvation? The Bible says:

~Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

If the sacraments are to be obeyed, and if the sacraments are of God, then they would be found in the Bible. They are not found there but instead, they are recorded in the traditions of men, the catholic church’s sacred tradition and magisterium – attempting to reach God through religion. But God cannot be reached in this manner. There is nothing we can do in this flesh that will ever please God. We can only reach God through salvation in Jesus Christ and after doing so, we receive the Holy Spirit of God and can now say that we can truly worship God with the same obedience that Abel worshipped God with his sacrifice – because we are covered by the Perfect Sacrifice, Jesus Christ and His blood!

~John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

~John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

~Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Jesus is the only way to God, my dear catholic.

~John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

This does not say that you can reach the Father through the sacraments or even just one of the sacraments, like baptism for example. You can only come to God when you acknowledge that you can do nothing yourself (like Cain) to earn salvation. All God will see is your filthy rags. You must acknowledge that Christ’s shed blood is the only righteousness there is to cover your filthy rags of good works. Once you have repented of your filthy sin and accept Christ’s perfect righteous blood as the only worthy sacrifice, you can be seen by the Father as righteous – not because of your own righteousness but because of Christ’s righteousness! Christ’s blood is the only thing that the Father wishes to see and Jesus’ blood is the only thing that the Father will accept, just as He did with Cain.

No amount of keeping the sacraments, praying a thousand rosaries, going to confession daily, doing daily penance, repeated flaggellations, climbing the stairs of a cathedral on your knees, wearing rough clothing against your skin, working in the soup kitchen, – NOTHING can cause God to view your good works in any other way than as that putrid dirty bloody rag mentioned in Isaiah 64:6. The Father sees only His Son’s righteous blood. Won’t you finally acknowledge that it is only the blood of Jesus that can set you free?

~John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Names of Jesus – Day 23 – Anchor

To whom or what is your faith anchored? The function of an anchor is to keep a ship still in the midst of storm so it does not wander away. The anchor also stops a ship from moving when a mission at sea is necessary. Either way you look at it, the anchor holds a ship securely. What a wonderful depiction of our Saviour and a moving description of Christ.

~Hebrews 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

The word anchor occurs only once in the Bible. How interesting this is to me. The number one is symbolized in the Bible to mean beginning/one. There is but one God – He was there in the beginning and throughout time. It blessed me that this word anchor appeared only once. In other words, there is only one anchor to keep our soul and provide our salvation and that is God!

Hebrews 6:19 says that the Anchor of our soul is both sure and steadfast. Strong’s definition of both of these words are:

G804
ἀσφαλής
asphalēs
as-fal-ace’
From G1 (as a negative particle) and σφάλλω sphallō (to “fail”); secure (literally or figuratively): – certain (-ty), safe, sure.

G949
βέβαιος
bebaios
beb’-ah-yos
From the base of G939 (through the idea of basality); stable (literally or figuratively): – firm, of force, stedfast, sure.

Applying these definitions to the Saviour speaks to our hearts and gives us a glimpse into His characteristics. Our Lord, our Anchor, is both sure and steadfast. It reminded me of another one of the devotionals on Jesus’ names, Foundation! Christ’s nature is revealed in all of the names. I love that Jesus and His Gospel are sure and stedfast. That means they never change. They hold fast – they are secure and certain. We are safe in Christ and our faith is stable – just as our faith is stable in the foundation Christ provided.

Any time the repentant, born-again believer is weak, He can rest assured that his salvation was purchased by Christ and, therefore, is secure in Him because our Anchor holds it. You may wonder why I use the term “repentant, born-again believer” rather than just the born-again believer. I do so because there are many who claim to be born again but their lives have never changed. They have not repented from their sins but have merely prayed a little prayerette to be saved and they think that this gets them saved. Alas, the Word states that you must repent. We must look at our sin as God looks at our sin. Our sin is putrid and disgusting, unholy and we deserve hell because of it. The repentant sinner acknowledges this and is just as revolted at his sin as God is. The repentant sinner desires to live a righteous life and moves onward striving to do so. He does not continue in his sin but his life changes. If he was a thief, he steals no more. If he was a liar, he lies no more. If he was an adulterer, he does this no more. There is a change in the true repentant, born-again believer’s life, just as Paul stated in 2 Corinthinas 5:17!

So, my friend. Is your salvation securely held by the Saviour? Does your faith grip to the Solid Rock or is it gripping onto the traditions of men and religion? This will collapse like a house built on sand. Are you depending on good works through sacraments, penance, baptism and purgatory to get you to heaven? This, again, is building your faith on sand. Christ is the Anchor – His salvation/Gospel is built on the Solid Rock – it is unshakeable – immoveable – impenetrable – and everlasting!

In Times Like These
by Ruth Caye Jones

In times like these you need a Savior
In times like these you need an anchor;
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

Chorus
This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He’s the One;
This Rock is Jesus, the only One!
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

Names of Jesus – Day 22 – Foundation

The Prophet Isaiah prophesied that a Messiah was coming who would be the foundation for all things.

~Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Isaiah says that not only is Jesus the foundation but His foundation is tried, precious and sure! Why are these adjectives so important? They are important because Christ’s foundation is like no other. No religious organization can have a foundation of equal value or strength. Let’s look at these adjectives and see what makes Jesus so different from religion.

Isaiah says that Jesus is a tried stone. As a refiner works with metal, he puts it through the fire and tests its quality. The same word used for tried is the same word as in:

~Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Christ had to take human form to become the perfect sacrifice on the cross. His life was tried and He came forth as gold. As a result, He was the perfect Lamb of God. Therefore, His Gospel, the very foundation of the Christian faith, was tried and proved worthy. Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8 ). Therefore, He does not change. His Word does not change. It stands as firm as His foundation. Any religion that changes their stand or eventually compromises does not have Christ as their foundation.

Secondly, Isaiah says that the Messiah was a precious corner stone. What a wonderful graphic picture of what Christianity is all about. A builder will use the largest and strongest blocks to place in the corners of his building. This word precious, according to Strong’s:

H3368
יקר
yâqâr
yaw-kawr’
From H3365; valuable (objectively or subjectively): – brightness, clear, costly, excellent, fat, honourable women, precious, reputation.

It is safe to conclude that the best and strongest stone was used in Isaiah’s depiction of the foundation that Jesus Christ was to lay for us.

Thirdly, Isaiah refers to Jesus’ foundation as a sure foundation.

H3245
יסד
yâsad
yaw-sad’
A primitive root; to set (literally or figuratively); intensively to found; reflexively to sit down together, that is, settle, consult: – appoint, take counsel, establish, (lay the, lay for a) found (-ation), instruct, lay, ordain, set, X sure.

There is no other foundation that can be as perfect as the foundation that Jesus Christ has laid for us. He is the Chief corner stone.

~1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Yes, the Apostles helped to lay this foundation but we cannot forget that Christ is still the Chief corner stone. He is the Head – it is His work that paid the price, not ours. It is because of His strength as the Chief corner stone that we are able to stand as His church. It is not religion – it is not the catholic church – it is not Judaism. It is all Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ only.

The Apostles and early church disciples always pointed others to Christ. When they encouraged others to follow their example, they always ended by pointing their followers to Christ!

~1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Many religions use this verse as their basis for church tradition and following after the Apostles, i.e. Apostolic succession. However, note the latter part of the verse: even as I also am of Christ. In other words, follow after me because I follow after Christ. But it stands to reason that if the one you are following strays from what Christ taught or laid in His foundation, you should not follow him any longer. Christ has the final word.

Cults begin and end with following after men who lay another foundation. Mormonism, catholicism, Jehovan’s witnesses, etc. They add to the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

~2 Corinthians 11:3-4 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (3) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (4)

The devil’s subtleties crept into some of the early churches and men adopted heresies as a result of their fleshly desires. The catholic church is famous in this area for it has been building on a foundation laid in sand. Their doctrine is quite contrary to the foundation that Christ laid. Christ makes no mistakes. Christ’s words are final as He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the End. Let’s take a look at some of the dogmas and sacred traditions the catholic church requires of its members:

• Celibacy of its priests
• Nuns
• Praying and worshipping Mary, Queen of Heaven
• Mary’s sinless beginning and sinless life
• Baptism of babies
• Praying to the dead and to the saints and saying the rosary
• Purgatory
• Indulgences
• The saying of masses for the dead
• The Lord’s supper administered only in bread and not grape juice
• The seven sacraments
• Only the catholic can be saved because salvation is only in the catholic church

These are just a few – I could keep on going but my point is made. IF these traditions and dogmas are true and are so important that people are cursed if they don’t follow them, then why are they not recorded in God’s Word – especially that of salvation found in only the catholic churh. This is not the foundation that Christ laid. In fact, there are no Scriptures to be found that describe these traditions or dogmas.

There is no other foundation than that which Christ laid for our salvation. There is nothing to be added, no matter what people tell you. Everything we need for salvation is found in Christ and in His Word. If we needed more, God would not have us in the dark but He would have told us in His Word.

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

Head Knowledge Versus Heart Knowledge

~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.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee in the Jewish religion. A Pharisee was the exclusively religious of the Jews. In fact, they were known as the separatists. Nicodemus was also known as a ruler of the Jews.

According to history, to become a Pharisee, it was necessary to memorize the first five books of the Old Testament! If anyone had a reason to NOT speak with Jesus, it was him. Nicodemus had a lot of head knowledge of the Bible, known as the Torah to the Jews. Yet, something drew Nicodemus to go talk to Jesus.

Nicodemus had a head knowledge but his heart was being drawn to Jesus. What is keeping you from doing so as well? Won’t you draw nigh to God today? Won’t you seek to know what the Bible has to say? Why are you so afraid to open your Bible and read it? God has placed a desire within every man’s heart to seek after Him. However, it is possible to quench that desire and have it no more. Don’t delay! The Bible says that if you draw close to God, He WILL draw close to you. Seek Him while you still have time.

~James 4:8a “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”

How Serious is Your Faith?

Is your faith based on religious beliefs or on a real relationship with God? Is God just God to you or is He your Heavenly Father – your Abba Daddy? As you read today’s Psalm, does it mean something to you or is it just dry reading? To the true born-again believer, these words are like gold – they are precious and full of meat. The born-again believer reads, studies, gleans and applies God’s Word to his life. Is this true of you, dear catholic?

~Psalm 1:1-6 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (1) But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (2) And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (3) The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. (4) Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. (5) For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (6)

Examine your own heart, my friend. Can you sit here truthfully and say that you meditate in God’s Word and you delight in it? Or have you allowed your religious leaders to guide and direct you? How do you know what they teach you is from God’s Word? How can you be certain? Do you double check to make sure?

~Nehemiah 9:34 Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them.

How can one be certain that he is being taught the truth? You can’t just “hope” that you are being taught the truth, my friend. You, alone, will be held responsible for your own spiritual condition.

~Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

What would seem right to a man as it relates to his spiritual condition? I believe that this means that a man’s religion seems right to him but God warns that his religion is the way of death.

What is religion according to God’s Word? The word “religion” is only used five times in the Bible. The number five represents grace in God’s Word. How appropriate it is that God’s grace saves us from religion!

~Acts 26:5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

~Galatians 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

~Galatians 1:14 And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

~James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

~James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Wow! Even Paul, being in the strictest sect of Judaism (a Pharisee) considered his religion wrong. Surely the Pharisee fulfilled James 1:26-27! However, something was different in this born-again “religion.”

Do you keep yourself unspotted from the world? How can one possibly do this? In the flesh, one cannot. As an unsaved person, one cannot fulfill James 1:27 because he is dependent upon his own works to do so. For example, as a catholic I fulfilled visiting the fatherless and widows but that did not save me. Why not? Because I also did not keep myself unspotted from the world. I did as the world and then went to confession. These were my own works and they did not bring peace. I was depending on myself, not on Christ’s complete work on the cross!

The Word has all that we need to guide and instruct us, my friend.

~Psalm 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

The born-again believer desires God’s Word so that he may learn and grow spiritually. This desire draws him closer to God.

~James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

As a catholic, I was desirous to grow close to God. However, the way that I was taught to do so only drove me further from God. What was I doing wrong? I was not cleansing myself through the Word. I was double minded in my religious beliefs. I believed what the catholic church taught me but I never once opened the Bible to find out whether these teachings were of God. God will teach us. God will “spank” us when we are doing wrong. We do not need the penances of the catholic church.

~Psalm 94:12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;

The catholic church has made God’s law void. They want the poor catholic members to rely on the church rather than rely on God’s Word.

~Psalm 119:126 It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.

The Bible promises that God’s Words will not go out void, however. That is why I have dedicated my life to this blog so I can reach the dear catholic who has depended on his church to save him.

~Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

My friend, God’s Word is never ending. He has not left us to our own devices. He has provided us truth in the Bible. He has provided us instruction in righteousness and truth. Christ, the Word of God, has given Himself for us. He removes all doubt – He removes all debt – He replaces it with eternal life!

~Psalm 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.

Turn to the Bible today and read it. Let Christ show you salvation as He intended it to be. God wants to set you apart from the world. He wants you to be different. He wants you to be born-again, not the words spoken when you were baptized as a baby. Born-again is a newness of life – no longer following after the works of darkness. Search the Scriptures whether these things be so, dear catholic!

~John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Rejoicing in God’s Word…

Where do you stand as it relates to God? As a catholic, can you say that you can read your Bible and walk away with the same spiritual satisfaction as David did? You can, you know. Read these precious verses from Psalm 119. Note David’s heart,

~Psalm 119:162 I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

~Psalm 119:164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.

~Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

David loved God’s Word like someone who had found a precious treasure! Is God’s Word a treasure to you? Do you treasure God’s Word in the same manner as David? When you open your Bible, do you turn each page believing that what you are about to read is worth more than a treasure? If not, why not?

David praised God seven times a day because God’s judgments are righteous. Everything that God does is holy and righteous. He provided a holy and righteous Son to take on our death penalty, my friend. Jesus Christ is our Saviour – He alone provides complete and total salvation. It is no wonder that David wrote the 165th verse! The person who loves God’s Word to this extreme will have great peace and there will be nothing that will cause them to stumble because they have the Word to guide them.

~Psalm 119:102-105 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. (102) How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (103) Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. (104) NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (105)

So dear catholic, can you say you live by these verses? Do you let God’s Word teach you or man’s words? If you are the same kind of catholic I was, I dare you say you don’t. If you are the same king of catholic I was, you don’t even open your Bible but you depend on your priest to interpret the Scriptures for you.   It is not man that will teach you without error but you can totally depend on God to teach you without error! The catholic church has its members convinced that only the priest can accurately interpret the Word of God. But David was not a priest yet he penned these verses. David was not a priest yet he had God’s heart according to Acts 13:22. David was not a priest yet God taught him (~Psalm 119:102), God’s Words were like honey to him (~Psalm 119:103), God’s Words gave David understanding (~Psalm 119:104), and God’s Words gave David clear direction (~Psalm 119:105)!

If you are the typical catholic, as I was, these words are like a foreign language to you. They are foreign because you choose to listen to a priest instead of opening the Bible and reading for yourself. What harm can come to you if you read your Bible? If the catholic church is the same today as it was when I was a member, you are told not to read the Bible yourself because you will misinterpret it. God says differently in Psalms, doesn’t He?

How very sad indeed! Christ desires for us to have this kind of relationship right here – right now – this very moment – on this earth! Won’t you open your Bible and read? The Holy Spirit of God will enlighten you if you do!