THE SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER

For many years I thought that I could lose my salvation. One day I asked God to show me the truth about the security of the believer.

"If it's true, Lord, You show me. If it's not, don't ever let me see it." Then I forgot about it.

One Sunday morning -- several months later -- while sitting in a pew during the sermon, in my mind I saw beautiful white clouds part. They were so vivid that I actually looked up toward the left. The Spirit of God embraced me as one word played over and over in my head: Grace! Grace! Grace! It was a wonderful, humbling experience. A heavy burden lifted off me because I had tried to live perfect and I couldn't. 

Psalm 37:24 Though he stumble, he will not fall, for The Lord upholds him with his hand.

Salvation is entirely a work of God. Man believes but is not perfect.

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

If salvation could be lost, then His sealing would not be until the day of redemption, but only until the day of sinning.

Thank God for grace.

THE GOOD SEED

Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: the seed is the Word of God.

WAY SIDE SEED: A person hears the Word but rejects it. Satan immediately took it away.

STONY GROUND SEED: The Word, received with gladness, had no root and endured for a time, but affliction or persecution offended this person. Unconfessed sin in this life added stones, blocking root. Surrendering to God removes stones.

THORNY SEED; This person heard the Word and is saved. Cares of this world, deceitfulness of riches, and lust are weeds that choke out the Word. Remove the weeds and enjoy fruit.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

GOOD GROUND SEED: The Word is received and brings forth righteous fruit.

We are not robots. We determine our spiritual ground. Spending time in God's Word and asking Him to remove what we don't need in our lives produce spiritual fruit from good ground. 

WHY DOES GOD WANT YOUR BODY?

Romans 6:12-13 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Why does The Lord want your body? The believer's body is God's temple, and he wants to use it for His glory. Your surrendered body is a tool in God's hand.

• He used the rod in Moses' hand and conquered Egypt.
• He used the sling in David's hand to defeat the Philistines.
• He used the mouths and tongues of the prophets.
• Paul's dedicated feet carried him from city to city as he proclaimed the Gospel.
• The Apostle John's eyes saw vision of the future: his ears heard God's message, and his fingers wrote it all down in a book that we can read.

We must surrender daily to Him. The longer we walk with Christ, the deeper the fellowship becomes.

The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.

Adam's Sin --Christ's Justification

Skeptics sometimes ask, "Was it fair for God to condemn the whole world just because of one man's disobedience?"

It was not only fair, but it was wise and gracious. If God had tested each human being individually, the result would have been the same: disobedience. But even more important, by condeming the human race by one man (Adam), God was then able to save the human race through one Man (Jesus Christ).

Adam's sin brought judgement and condemnation: but Christ's work on the cross brings justification. When Adam sinned, he was declared unrighteous and condemned. When a sinner trusts Christ, he is justified -- declared righteous in Christ.

Romans 5:18  Therefore as by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Oriental Myths and Philosophies

A young man at an airport tried to sell a preacher a book filled with Oriental myths and philosophies. When the preacher pulled out his Bible, the young man said, "Oh, we aren't against the Bible, it's just that we have something more, and it makes our faith even better."

Colossians 2:8-10  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power.

Sadly to say, there are many Christians who actually believe that some person, religious system, or discipline can add something to their spiritual experience. They already have everything they will ever need in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

It's OK to read spiritual, uplifting books, but never allow them to replace time spent in God's Word.

Why Did God Create Man?

In creating the solar system, God demonstrated His omnipotence (unlimited power). In fashioning the angels, His Omniscience (infinite knowledge) was seen. In judging Lucifer, His holiness was demonstrated. But one attribute of God had not been exercised -- His grace. 

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

God created man for His pleasure. 

Ephesians :6,7 And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

It's not unreasonable to suggest that God created Adam, knowing full well that he would sin (but in no way encouraging him to do so); and then, in the fullness of time, God planned to send His only Son to die in man's place and thus display His marvelous grace.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.