The 10 Commandments
of the Bible
thought I would draw up this article for all of you in order to give you a complete list of the 10 commandments. Most Christians do not have all of them memorized.
I will give you the specific verse from Scripture where the 10 commandments are being given to us by the Lord, along with some of the additional statements that God makes under some of these commandments that you usually do not see on the little tablets of the 10 commandments at your local Christian bookstore.
Before I give you this verse, consider one thing. Even though the 10 Commandments are from the Old Testament, all of these commandments still apply to everyone in this day and age. No exceptions! I call each of these commands “stone commandments.”
The fact that God the Father would manifest 10 specific commandments on a tablet of stone tells me that He is very serious about these specific commandments!
This was one big huge event when it happened in the story of Moses. The fact that God would go this far in manifesting these special 10 commandments on a real live tablet of stone tells me that these commandments should never be taken lightly or for granted.
Most Christians have heard about these 10 commandments while going through grade school and high school and the story as to how they all came about. As a result, I feel that many Christians take these special ten commandments for granted and really do not realize the power and authority that is on these special commandments.
The 10 commandments come to us from Exodus 20:1-17. Here is the verse:
And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
- You shall have no other gods before me.
- You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
- You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
- Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
- Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
- You shall not murder.
- You shall not commit adultery.
- You shall not steal.
- You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
- You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
The above 10 commandments need no explanation. They mean exactly what they are saying. It’s quite amazing how many of these commandments are being broken on a regular basis, even by Christians themselves. If you look very closely at each of these commandments, they really do cover a broad spectrum as to what God is expecting from each one of us.
These 10 commandments are good, basic, moral laws that will help keep us out of trouble with ourselves, family, friends, and neighbors. God knows what is best for all of us and He simply wants all of us to stay out of trouble in order that we may be able to live in peace and harmony with one another.
The fact that God would go so far as to have these basic 10 commandments manifested on a stone tablet really tells me they are very important, and that each Christian should know what they are and do their best to abide by them with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Feel free to pass this list of the 10 commandments onto your friends and family.
No related posts.
Reprint and Copyright InfoComments
135 Responses to “10 Commandments”Speak Your Mind
Tell us what you're thinking...and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!
-
Michael Bradley
Bible Teaching and Bible Commentary,
Over 150 Free Bible LessonsScripture taken from New King James Version.
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2005-2011 by Michael Bradley.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License.
Well spoken AC….Praise the Lord and much Thanks to him…real Thanks…..
If you have pictures and/or figurines in your home of Jesus are they considered the images as stated in the Second Commandment.
The Bible forbids BOWING to any statues or images. Jesus said that God must be worshipped in spirit and truth (John 4:24); not in idol worship and vain manmade traditions (Mark 7:6-13).
“I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” —Isaiah 42:8
But the commandment says “You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth”
So not only can you not worship the image, you cannot make it either. As you’ve said, the commandments are pretty straightforward.
Does this mean all shops and churches that hold Jesus and Mary statues should be destroyed? But that would be destroying God’s image/house so wouldn’t that be treason against him? This doesn’t make any sense, so please enlighten me/us.
Why would you purchase and keep one of these images?
Here is your answer,
Exodus 20:4, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:”
God put into my heart to write this song “ten commandments” here is a link to it if you would like to listen http://www.reverbnation.com/rstudioband
God resides in the being of the person who believes in him as per his word.
you dont have to destroy shops and churchs with idols & images; rather you, if a biblical believer need not patronise such things & churches, nor should you have them on your person.
you should separate your self from such and have fellowship with believers who keep to the apostolic teachings-acts 2:40-42
in the old testament God brought the children of israel out of bondage through moses. Today God brings us out of bondage of sin through Jesus. The ot is a warning to us today
It is better to believe in him and die to find out he does not exist than to not believe in him and die to find out he really does exist!
Great day where should I start. Lets me start in the beginning, there was a Lord our lord/God he made Lucifer and other angels in heaven this went on for a long time how long no clue. Then one day the lord made Adam and his wife. And after a period of time Lucifer started getting upset with the lord he said we serve you everyday and now ur man and his wife have 1,000 down there and yet they don’t worship you they don’t pray or praise your holy name you let them play and look at them they are weak. The lord said my son why u up set with them they done u no harm. Lucifer you gave them free will yet u gave us no choice, at that the lord gave angels free will. And with that the angel Lucifer went down and trick Adam to give his wife the forbidden fruit. This was the first trick he has done to man and this is why he was cast down to roam with us on earth. When the lord went to check on Adam and his wife and then 1,000’s humans he saw that Adam and his wife hid in shame not embarrass about being naked they felt guilt for the beautiful angel trick them into eating the fruit. The lord was upset and then kick him and the others out and with a curse on them and the land. Now the lord went back to Lucifer and ask him why did you do that he said I told u they are weak. And easy to change, well the lord then cast him down to earth and Lucifer following left with him. Now on earth these angels were free to roam they repeatedly trick man to worship the angels over the lord all over the world they took some woman as there wife’s had kids with them time goes on then at the time of Job Lucifer was asking to come back to heaven the lord said No you are not welcome in my house. Then the bet over Job started, the lord won that bet. Yet as a defeated loser Lucifer waited for an opening, then the time of mousses’ came he came down from the mountain with the 10 laws of the lord. This was his chance Lucifer saw and he got the weak men to make false idols to lie, to cheat kids to go against their father and mother, the lord was not happy with us. Then years latter that’s when Lucifer got us to worship a man over the Lord, Lucifer rapes Mary she has a kid with half human half angel blood and he walk beside his son everyday filling his head with thoughts and with words to say and actions to do.
Free Will is hard to control when you don’t understand the laws behind it.. Seek past your hand you see the world open up to you!!
This is the short of a long dream I once had when I was in Iraq, the lord never said worship my son over me he said Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Lucifer wins when we worship anything other then One God/Lord it’s not Father, the son, the holy spirit. Sorry
This your free will use it think about it don’t let another angel show you tricks and believe that what he is, is a god. Theres a story about a tiger and sheep we are the tigers in the world thinking we are sheep.
Don’t be a sheep, stand up take pride in yourself. Its not a sin to have pride, its not a sin to speak up and do what’s right
You know in witch craft to evoke a spirit you have to ask for it. When your being SAVED what are you really asking to come in your heart The Lord was always there! You don’t have to ask for him just follow his 10 laws And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
You shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
Jesus did not come to destroy the law but uphold the law. Not one jot or tittle. Christians are held to an even higher standard than the law. We are held to perfection. It is not possible because of our sinfulness but that is our measuring stick. Christ is our High Priest that intercedes and prays for us.
Without the law we would not see our need for a Savior, Messiah, Christ.
The Nine Commandments of God
And God spake all these words, saying…
1.Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2.Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
3.Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain.
5.Honour thy father and thy mother.
6.Thou shalt not kill.
7.Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8.Thou shalt not steal.
9.Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
10.Thou shalt not covet. . . any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
Look in Exodus 20:1-17 for the complete text.
Commandment four is a “ceremonial law” which was ONLY for Old Testament Israel. Ceremonial laws were a specific set of laws, for a specific group of people (Israel), for a specific time period (Old Testament). When Jesus died on the cross, He became our Sabbath. The six day work week in the Old Testament pictured man foolishly trying to earn salvation through self-righteous good works (which is impossible). The Sabbath day of rest represented our precious Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who died in our place to pay for our sins. 2nd Corinthians 5:17, “For He [God the Father] hath made Him [God the Son] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”
We are saved by ceasing from our own self-righteous efforts and resting upon the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Jesus paid a debt that He did not owe, because we owed a debt that we could not pay. Only through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ can anyone be saved. Romans 3:25, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through FAITH IN HIS BLOOD, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” Salvation is undeserved and wholly by the grace of God toward us sinners.
Colossians 2:14, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” When Jesus died on the cross, the 6″ thick veil in the Jewish temple was torn into two pieces, signifying a new covenant between God and His people. The ceremonial laws were done away with. Ceremonial laws were “reminders” to Israel of divine truths. Please understand that the way of salvation did NOT change, all people of all times have been saved the same way—by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 10:43; Ephesians 2:8,9).
The Sabbath Day is not enforced today, which is why the Bible further states in Colossians 2:16,17, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” It is certainly appropriate for Jews to observe the Sabbath Day in honor of the Lord, but it is not required anymore. The Israelites were forbidden to even light a fire on the Sabbath (Exodus 35:3).
Obviously, the Sabbath is not enforced today. Circumcision, the Sabbath, eating of swine, and other Jewish restrictions in the Old Testament were ceremonial laws, which were all done away with at the cross (as far as being mandatory). As we just read in Colossians 2:17, the Bible called the ceremonial laws, “a shadow of things to come.” When the sun is directly overhead, the shadow is gone. Jesus was the fulfillment of the Sabbath, in Whom we rest for salvation.
There is nothing in the New Testament about keeping the “ten” commandments. I called this article the “nine commandments”; but in actuality there are HUNDREDS of commandments of God throughout the Scriptures. Jesus summarized them in “two” commandments in Matthew 22:36-40… Love God and your neighbor. There’s certainly nothing wrong with displaying the Ten Commandments; but I think it’s important that we realize the Sabbath Day is no longer in effect. Instead, we honor the Lord on the first day of the week, which is Sunday. This is not the Sabbath; but I think very important. America was a much better nation when stores used to close on Sundays. In fact, many stores lowered their window shades on Sunday, so people couldn’t window shop. This was out of respect for the Lord. Nowadays, greedy companies require employees to work midnight shift, Sundays, Christmas, and have no regard for God nor man.
If the Sabbath were still in effect today, then everyone who worked on the Sabbath (Saturday) would be put to death. Exodus 31:15, “Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.”
Also, moral laws are applicable 365 days a year (all the time). We are never to violate a moral law! We are never to commit murder. We are never to commit adultery. We are never to bare false witness, etc. However, the Sabbath Day was ceremonial and to be kept only ONCE a week. This it was not a moral law.
Also, moral laws apply to ALL humanity, the Sabbath was only for Israel, it was a ceremonial law. As a matter of fact, Jesus broke the Sabbath! Jesus would never break a moral law! Jesus was strict on moral law, but lenient on the Sabbath because He was the fulfillment of the Sabbath. This should make very clear that the Sabbath is not valid today. So when you here people talking about the “Ten Commandments;” in fact, there are only nine remaining, which are moral laws (which do not change).
God’s Commandments are NOT rules to obey as a personal favor to God. They are the fundamental principles without which mankind cannot live together.
They are not laws—they are the LAW.
You Can believe, in that lie that its ok to sin I am not weak in my mind it hard sometimes to hurt the ones i love with the truth, or should i say I am not living in fear of what the truth will hurt them. the lie hurts so much more.
Jesus did not come to destroy the law but uphold the law. Not one jot or tittle. Christians are held to an even higher standard than the law. We are held to perfection. It is not possible because of our sinfulness but that is our measuring stick. Christ is our High Priest that intercedes and prays for us.
Without the law we would not see our need for a Savior, Messiah, Christ. Great point still I will have to ask you do you sin do u find it hard to follow
the lord gave us free will use it every day its an up hill battle or do u fight on the way down cause u find it’s easier just to sin then ask the false god for mercy the lord know its hard yet he feels we a strong to follow the laws so start today with the first law
Do I Have to Give Up My Sins to be Saved?
“And they went out, and preached that men should repent.”
—Mark 6:12
The answer is No! You do NOT have to stop sinning to be saved. No one can stop sinning (Romans 3:23)! No one can live above sin—no one (Isaiah 64:6). Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners. You do NOT have to give up anything to be saved except your UNBELIEF. However, you DO need to realize your sinful condition and “confess” (or admit) to God that you are a sinner, deserving of hell. This is Biblical repentance, i.e., “a change of mind.”
To be saved, a sinner simply needs to become “guilty” before God (Romans 3:19). Repentance is NOT forsaking one’s actual sins, for that would be self-righteousness? Repentance is acknowledging that I am guilty of violating God’s holy Law, and that I deserve to be punished in Hellfire for my own sins. Thus, realizing one’s need for a Saviour. This is exactly what Galatians 3:24 teaches, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
A person who is convicted about their sin won’t have the joyous attitude that they can continue living in sin and still go to Heaven. I would greatly doubt the salvation of anyone who rejoices that they can continue living in sin. This is one of the favorite arguments of Lordship Salvationists. The truth is that God holds believers accountable for their words and actions (Romans 14:12; 1st Peter 4:17; 2nd Corinthians 5:10).
Repentance is a turn of mind. When you turn to Christ for forgiveness, you have just turned your back on sin.
What is Biblical Repentance?
Repentance is a turn-around of mind! Whereas we were heading towards hell-fire and destruction, we realized our sinful condition and turned to the loving Saviour Who shed His precious blood for our many sins (1st Peter 1:18,19). Repentance is a change of heart. Before we were saved, sin was magnified in our life while Jesus was diminished. Now that we’ve been born-again, Christ is magnified and sin is diminished. As we grow in the Lord, this trend should continue to where Jesus becomes everything to us, and sin nothing.
Notice that for a person to turn to Christ in Heaven is to turn one’s back on sin and hell. Does a believer have to repent to be saved? Absolutely! But it’s a repentance of the heart (a turn-around of our heart) concerning Jesus Christ and our sins. Whereas before we did not believe on Christ, now we do! Whereas before we lived in sin with no conviction, now we are convicted for our sins. It is uncommon that new believers simply clean up their act right away; it takes time for the Holy Spirit to work in one’s heart. It’s a lifetime process of growing. We grow with the milk of God’s Word (1st Peter 2:2).
We are all woeful sinners (Romans 3:10,23). To be saved, a person MUST realize their sinful condition. It is NOT enough simply to commit your life to God or decide to turn over a new leaf. This is self-righteousness and a false gospel. To be saved, you must confess to God (not to men) that you are a wicked sinner in need of forgiveness, and then believe on Jesus Christ to forgive you (Acts 10:43).
What a Wonderful Saviour!
Do you need to give up your sins to be saved? No; but you must acknowledge them for what they are, wicked sins. You see friend, most people refuse to acknowledged their sinful condition. I’ve heard a young woman say that since Adam and Eve were naked in Eden that pornography must be acceptable with God. She is woefully wrong. Some people justify immoral sex on the basis that God made the body beautiful. This is wrong thinking. Others seek to justify smoking cigarettes on the basis that it grows from God’s earth, so it must be acceptable. This is of course absurd. Poison Ivy also grows naturally, should we rub it all over our bodies? Many people attempt to rationalize their sins; but God’s Law never changes. Pornography is of the Devil. Substance abuse is sinful. Adultery is sinful. The Bible (Law of God) condemns our sins and we have no excuses.
“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.” —Romans 3:20
Do you have to give up your sins to be saved? No, just your unbelief. I get upset when people teach “Lordship salvation.” What is that? Lordship salvation is the false doctrine that you must make Christ the “Lord” of your life to be saved, that you must repent and depart from sin. That is impossible! There is no such thing as a believer who does not commit sin. We are all woeful sinners. If I have to give up a certain amount of sin to be saved, then how much do I have to give up? How much you say? God’s Word says NO sin can enter Heaven! Just because a person accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour does not mean they are above sin. As a matter of fact, getting saved is just the start of a lifelong process. Try as hard as you may, you are going to walk in the flesh at times and sin. I have often said, “Christians at best are people, and people at best are sinners.” We can walk in the Spirit at any given time; but the fact is that we’re not always going to do so because we are sinners.
A License to Sin?
No one has God’s Permission to sin. If you want to be Biblical, a believer does in fact have a license to sin. No sin that a believer commits can ever jeopardize one’s Eternal Security. To teach otherwise is to negate the gift of God and teach a false gospel of self-righteousness. Salvation is the gift of God, based upon Christ’s imputed righteousness to our account; and not any good of our own. We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8,9). Salvation is receiving; not giving.
Believers who choose to live in sin will be “chastised” by God (Hebrews 12:8). For anyone to be able to live in sin without conviction from God’s Holy Spirit means they are not saved, i.e., a “bastard” as Hebrews 12:8 states… “But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” Certainly, many believers do choose to live in sin; but they are miserable and know that God does not approve. Every believer in Jesus Christ will give account to God for the good and bad done on earth (Romans 14:12; 2nd Corinthians 5:10).
Although the genuine believer does in fact has a “license to sin” if they so choose; they certainly do NOT have God’s permission to sin and will be judged at The Judgment Seat of Christ (2nd Corinthians 5:10) accordingly. Many believers will receive no rewards at this judgment and will be ashamed and overwhelmed with tears (1st Corinthians 3:15; 5:5).
Nevertheless, say what you will, no believer will ever stand trial at The Great White Throne of Judgment for sins committed in this lifetime (Revelation 20:11-15). This is “why” there will be 2 separate and distinct judgments: one for the SAVED, and one for the UNSAVED.
The Biggest Problem in Winning Someone to the Lord
The hardest part about getting people saved is getting them lost! Most people are relying upon their own self-righteousness for Heaven, which is what most so-called “churches” teach nowadays. The Bible plainly states: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…” (Titus 3:5). I haven’t met too many people, although I’ve met some, who say they do know they’re going to Hell and don’t care. Most people want to go to Heaven to live in happiness forever. Sadly, and tragically, most people have been lied to by some priest or sinister minister into believing that good works are a part of saving faith, which is a false gospel.
The Best of Christians are Still Sinners
A lot of religious people have a problem with the idea that a person can be born-again and yet still commit horrible sins. I am not condoning sin at all; I am simply saying that even the best of Christians are still sinners.
King David was a Christian who killed a man to cover up his sin of adultery with the man’s wife. It took one year for David to repent. Peter was one of the Apostles; yet denied Christ, cursed Jesus’ holy name and quit the ministry. Moses murdered a man. Sometimes Christians do horrible things. This does not mean they’re not truly saved.
I knew of a minister with a wicked hot-temper who poured bleach over his wife’s head while she sat crippled in a wheelchair. It’s hard to believe that a Christian could do such a thing, but it happened. It’s wrong and I’m not condoning sin; I’m simply saying that believers are still sinners. You need to be very careful about deciding who’s saved or not based on what you see (1st Samuel 16:7). I’ve known decent believers from my past who later committed some really horrible sins. Though sad and tragic, it does not mean that they’re not saved. It does mean they got away from walking with God on a daily basis.
Please don’t misunderstand me, I’m not trying to go light on sin here. We should try to live above sin.
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ
depart from iniquity.” —2nd Timothy 2:19
God wants His children to live righteous; but living right is not a prerequisite for salvation. You do NOT have to give up anything to be saved except your unbelief! Put your faith in the Lord friend to forgive your sins and you will be saved. Jesus will help you to straighten out your life. Give God your heart and he’ll comb the kinks out of your head.
Never let anyone tell you that you must depart from sin to be saved, for this is heresy. Again, “repentance” in the Bible simply means “a change of mind.” Repentance means that we decide to trust Christ as our Saviour to forgive us of all our wicked sins. Repentance simply means to get saved. We get saved by confessing our sins to God and asking Him to forgive us. To turn to Christ is to turn from sin—this is repentance! This is why we find the word “believe” mentioned 85-times in the Gospel of John; yet the word “repent ” is not mentioned even once. Hence, the man who believes on Jesus Christ to forgive his sins has repented already in his heart.
The Lord Jesus had plenty to say about REPENTANCE–
Luke 24:47, “Jesus said to them] that REPENTANCE and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
Luke 5:32, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to REPENTANCE.”
Mark 1:15, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: REPENT ye, AND BELIEVE the gospel.”
Regenerated versus Converted
I have known believers who claimed to be Christians; yet they went to nightclubs. I’ve known people who claimed the name of Christ who were often mean and abusive to other people. Does that mean they’re not saved? Not necessarily. It does mean that they’ve not been “converted” yet. Conversion has NOTHING to do with being regenerated (saved). At the time we are saved we are re-gened, or regenerated with the Holy Spirit of God. Salvation is like being pulled from the garbage. Just because God pulled you out of the incinerator of Hell doesn’t mean that you’ve been RECYCLED yet. The recycling process is conversion. Being saved from Hell is just the very beginning. God has a recycling program for every believer.
Of course, we are instantly saved at the moment we trust Christ as Saviour; but the conversion process to make us what God wants us to be takes time to grow in the Lord. Please don’t misunderstand—a person does NOT have to be converted to be saved; but an unconverted person will remain outside of the will of God for their life. A person DOES have to be regenerated (born again) to be saved, i.e., Christ born in us.
Sadly, I knew a minister who went to be honored at a Masonic lodge. When the minister wasn’t at his church, he usually would hang out at local bars. Does this mean he’s not a Christian? Not necessarily. I just believe he’s a dead-beat minister (and there’s a lot of them out there!). He has not repented of his sinful ways, just as King David didn’t repent of his sinful ways for so long. When a believer chooses to go into sin, they must repent of their sinful ways and get right with God. I’ve known many people to get saved, live for the Lord for a short time, and then go back into the world again. No doubt, many of them were never saved to begin with; but some were. We must be careful not to judge. Some of the people whom you think are Christians may not be (like Judas, one of Christ’s Apostles). Likewise, some heathen (like Lot in the city of Sodom) may be a just man and you would never know it).
To be saved, we must repent of our sins only in the sense that we must agree with God that we are hell-deserving sinners! To be truthful, we will be repenting of sins for the rest of our life. To clarify, we are saved ONCE and only once. Once you accept Jesus into your heart as personal Saviour (John 1:10-14), you are a child of God forever. You CANNOT lose your salvation! Now once you’ve become a believer God is going to convict you of sin on a daily basis. Now that has nothing to do with your salvation because you are already God’s child. King David went for almost a year in denial after killing a man after stealing the man’s wife. It wasn’t until Nathan the prophet came to open David’s eyes that he repented. David was saved; but hadn’t repented until almost a year later. This happens to many believers, i.e., we get out of line and fail to see it until someone else points it out to us.
Beware of Lordship Salvation
Too many Christian want to add holy living to salvation under the guise of repentance. No friend, repentance is simply a turn around of mind. At salvation, a man’s mind has changed about sin and the Saviour. This is the beginning of his new life in Christ. Yes, he should be sorry for his sins; but this is a FRUIT of genuine repentance and not a part of saving-faith. Yes, he should have a desire to change his sinful ways to please God; but this is a FRUIT of genuine repentance and not a part of saving-faith.
To say that a new believer should be holy and separated is like saying that a newly born baby should be able to play sports or run a marathon. How ridiculous for anyone to place such a burden upon a new believer. God never asks us to give up anything to be saved. There are two types of religions in the world: “DO” and “DONE” (i.e., either you believe you must do something to get to Heaven; or else you believe it’s already done, paid in full by the Lord Jesus Christ). I’m in the DONE group. How about you?
Jesus paid it all,
all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow!
You do NOT have to make Jesus your “Lord” to be saved. Jesus is Lord; you don’t make Him Lord! The idea of surrendering to Christ’s Lordship as part of saving-faith is a false gospel of self-righteousness.
Conclusion
Acts 26:20 …they should repent and TURN TO GOD, AND DO WORKS MEET FOR REPENTANCE.
Acts 2:39, 3:19 REPENT YE therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to REPENT:
Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Again, “repent” simply means “a change of mind.” If I’m going down the road the wrong way and then make a U-turn, I’ll have to spend some time driving back. Likewise, when you get saved, depending how far you’ve gone down the road of sin, it’s going to take time (with the Lord’s help by The Holy Spirit) to straighten out your life. Lordship Salvation totally eliminates the growing-in-grace process. It takes years to genuinely mature in the Lord. All you need to do to be saved is to come as a guilty sinner and trust upon the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive your sins (Acts 10:43).
Do you have to give up your sin to be saved? No friend, just admit that you are a sinner. Go to the Lord Jesus and trust Him to forgive you. What’s done is done and you can’t make up for it, that’s why Jesus came to die on the cross for you. Simply place your 100% faith in Christ for salvation. All you need is Jesus, just like the thief on the cross needed Jesus and called out to Christ for salvation.
AC,
We are sinners and that’s why we need Jesus. But trust those sins to God he will help you and transform and renew your mind. He will help you with that.
Mike,
Angels rejoiced when you accepted Christ. Congrats! You were washed clean, there is no more guilt or condemnation. Don’t be hasty pray and wait on the Lord. I will pray for you.
Atheists,
The bible does talk about rape there is a story about Tamar who was raped by her brother and it illustrates how that scars a person.
You both would read the bible, you would get more answers but its good that you want to seek the truth. I pray for you both.
As for the Christians bashing on the atheists, that is not Jesus’s way. you must love your neighbor, they just have questions and you shouldn’t take offense. God is Holy and sovereign, and He doesn’t need you to defend Him. Just love on them.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” —Isaiah 55:9
no you dont sin till you make that free will choice to sin.
understand that when the Lord and Lucifer fought over Job! job was the real winner for he never turn his back on the Lord stay loyal to the Lord.
Now when you choose to worship ANYTHING other then The Lord That is Your free will choosing that. so again i’m not a sinner for everyday i battle within my self to make great use of my FREE WILL and choice to honor the Lord Just like job. so tell me why u use ur free will to sin. why did u take the easy road. why did u let the angel Lucifer trick you to worship something other then the lord. I say SEEK PAST UR HAND AND U WILL SEE THE WORLD!!!
NIA ur right Angels rejoiced when you accepted Christ. the fallen ones do. your so right Trust in just the lord and that saved our people! they came down and made themselves to be gods all over the world. they turn there back on the lord and are winning the war over our Souls. See i dont believe Jesus! the lord has shown himself to two men Adam and Moses, after that he let us have our free will. it thats were Lucifer saw his opening cause the Lord just waits for us he gave us the Law and YES wants us not to sin to be strong and see and feel that he is always in our hearts, not in a BOOK in your heart WAKE Up and choose the Lord or choose to sin, its up to you, make ur choice, with that i will pray that you choose the lord and i dont have to look down at u when ur in the fire lake screaming for me to help i will say u made that choice for yourself i all ready tried to save ur soul u just believed in Lucifer God,,
How Do We Know The Bible Is God’s Word?
The Bible claims for itself VERBAL INSPIRATION. This is the doctrine that God chose to BREATH His words through His prophets, that these prophets SPOKE God’s words, and that these words were later reduced to the writings that we know today as the Holy Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:20-21; 2 Sam 23:2; Jer. 1:9; Luke 1:70; Jer 36). Christians generally believe this doctrine by faith alone, which is good, but can it be proven? Yes, it can. Any reasonable person would accept the following arguments as legitimate proof for the inspiration of Scripture.
The Bible Is A Negative Book
Why would man write a book to condemn his own race? From cover to cover the Bible is NEGATIVE toward man. It utterly condemns man (Psa 39:5; Isa 64:6; Rom 3:10-18; John 3:18; Jer 17:9; Psa 51:5).
The Bible Is An Authoritative Book
Most ancient writings do not even profess inspiration, but the Bible professes not only to be inspired, but to be the ONLY inspired writing (Isa. 8:20). The central character of the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ, professes to be the ONLY way to Heaven. Unlike the ancient philosophers, the men of the Bible are men who speak with great power, certainty, and authority.
The Bible Is An Infallible Book
Although many have tried, and are still trying, no one has ever proven that there are mistakes in the Bible (KJV). All apparent errors and contradictions can be explained Scripture with Scripture and by closely studying the context.
The Bible Is An Old Book
It’s the oldest REAL book in the world. It was the first book printed on a press.
The Bible Is A Prophetic Book
While other ancient writings do not even attempt prophecy, the Bible attempts it and fulfills it! One only has to consider a few Old Testament prophecies about the life of Christ to see this (Num. 24:17-19; Gen. 49:10; Mic. 5:2; Isa. 7:14; Dan. 9:25; Hos. 11:1; Isa. 53; Zec. 9:9; Psa. 69:21; Psa. 34:20; Psa. 16:10; Psa. 41:9; Zec 11:12; Psa. 35:11; Psa. 22).
The Bible Is A Unified Book
The sixty-six books of the Bible were written by some thirty-five or forty different authors, on three continents, over a period of 1,800 years. These men came from all walks of life, differing greatly from one another, but their writings never contradict. These books COMPLIMENT one another. Such an accomplishment would be impossible if the Holy Spirit were not the Divine Author.
The Bible Is An Interesting Book
Unlike other books, the Bible is read by all classes of people. A small remnant of people from all walks of life share an interest in the Bible (educated, non-educated, old, young, male, female, black, white, rich, poor, etc.)
The Bible Is A Best-Selling Book
Over 800,000,000 copies sold since 1611. Over 2,000,000 per year, and over 5000 per day. This is a very conservative estimate, and it doesn’t include those translated for missionary work.
The Bible Is A Blessed Book
It has changed more lives than any other book in world history. Eighty-eight percent of the colleges in America were founded for the purpose of teaching God’s word and training missionaries. Many literary countries are the product of Bible-believing Christianity. Nations and individuals always prosper when Bible principles are followed.
The Bible Is A Preserved Book
If the Bible is only a man-written book, then why does it still exist? Satan has fought endlessly to rid the world of the Bible, yet it still exists today. Everything that man accomplishes eventually falls apart (wonders of the world, educational system, governments, etc.), but the Bible lives on (Psa. 12:6-7; Mat. 24:35).
AC The Bible Is A Preserved Book
If the Bible is only a man-written book, then why does it still exist? Satan has fought endlessly to rid the world of the Bible, yet it still exists today. Everything that man accomplishes eventually falls apart (wonders of the world, educational system, governments, etc.), but the Bible lives on
Your right if u cant beat it join it they say. when the devil lost to the lord Over Job He found the way to get us to turn our backs on the lord. I’m sorry you are a believer in lies, I hope one day you will See that the Lord is in your heart trap there by the thing you let in ur heart now. you never had to let the lord in ur heart he has always been there loving you AC now its time to show him u love him back Back not praying to ANYTHING other then the LORD. I like all ur facts about the bible. can i tell you i have been to the first church that was built in Iraq close to the turkey border it was build in 348AD that was about 5-10 years after the NT was written this church was built. and if you read more of the past you see the reason y the bible made it this far was out of Fear. Please AC use the strong mind you have and speak to me from your knowledge, not from a book that I also know. thank you may u open ur mind to the One and Only Lord. Our Soul Father,
Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
AC do u read what I write or do you dismiss it as so as you cant conceive the meaning of the words. Its ok I Have showed pastors and priest the way to Lord. I met A man Name Jay once in Davao Philippine’s. A week after I shared my story he quit and then became a farmer. the church would of gave him a house, a car a living. and now He Is a tiger that no longer sees himself as a sheep.
AC email me your own words please reread what i wrote and send me loving letter not how My words are wrong. see my words and put yourself in my shoes. go to the 2nd most mention place in the bible yes go to where i have been In Iraq! and have the same dream i was given and then you understand that its always been you AC you have the choice to use your free will any way u see fit as long as you obey the Lord Laws. so email me Jenytod@yahoo.com
And I say this you dont sin till you choose to sin.
The Tiger Raised by Sheep
Posted on January 8, 2010
One of my favorite stories is an Indian tale about a little tiger who loses his parents at birth. This poor baby tiger wandered around for some time, looking for his mommy and came upon a flock of sheep. Now, this little baby tiger was not threatening to these sheep. So, they took in the tiger and raised it as their own.
Now, this tiger grew large, as tiger’s are want to do. But, instead of feasting on food that other tigers eat, it ate grass…just like the sheep.
One day, a big male adult tiger was hunting and came upon the sheep. Its eyes, sticking just above the grass, the big male scanned the flock, looking for the tastiest meal and what did this hungry tiger see? He saw a big adolescent tiger eating grass and when this adolescent tiger paused, it would lift up its head and say, “BAaAaaaAAAaaa”.
“Oh no”, thought the adult tiger. At once, he pounced into the herd, as though having come from a cannon filled with springs. The adult cat easily nabbed two sheep at once! The junior tiger looked up at the adult and…gulp, swallowed his grass.
The big male sauntered over to the cat and said, “Kid. What happened”? All the young tiger could respond with was, “BAaAaaaAAAaaa”.
The adult male thought to himself, “This is totally unacceptable” and he took that young tiger back to his cave. First thing he did upon arrival, was to open up one of the sheep he had nabbed. The adult tiger shoved a paw full of meat into the young tiger’s mouth. Having never tasted meat in his whole tiger life, do you know what he did? He through up all over the cave floor.
Well, in time, our young friend grew accustom to the taste of the Tiger’s diet. He ate meat hardily and happily. He learned to silently hunt, to be still, and to attack with ferocity and suddenness. Perhaps most impressive, our big tiger friend learned to open up his jaws and roar, a roar that could reverberate throughout the fullness of the jungle and shake every animal to its core. In time, that young tiger grew into a very large adult and roamed and ruled its territory as every tiger so desires.
What a great story, eh?
Have you grown up eating grass and have come to know the way of the sheep?
Have you come to know your nature? Have you tasted its diet? If you are like the little tiger in this tale, you may have, upon first taste, rejected that which is for you (remember he throws up the very thing he needs in a tiger diet). But…in time he learns to roar.
Do you BAaahaahahahaa or do you roar?
And answer this the story before you what does it mean to you!
once you learn the TRUTH its hard to take I understand. I fought myself over my dream i had for a long time. all my life i knew of the lord. yet i did not understand what really Free Will was. so i learn that i can confess my sins still do them and it be ok. no that is what the Fallen angels have put in our heads thats it is ok to sin. well my soul brothers and sisters its not. when u accepted Christ in ur heart you pray to to him and not the Lord thats is your choice. thats were u sin and break the first commandment. theres no gray area there there ONLY THE LORD. the rest are the Fallen Angels to trick us and trap our souls in Hell. so keep believing, in your christ i will just believe in the Lord. and when you see the gates to heaven and your name is not in the book of life for today you make your choose and repeatedly choose to worship something other then the lord, I will be in the inside crying for your soul for today i show you the real Truth and you Use your Free Will unwisely
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[g] (which means “God with us”).
The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Jesus Christ
The word “Jesus” implies “Savior” and “Christ” means “anointed one.”
Therefore “Jesus Christ” is God’s ANOINTED SAVIOR.
He is the virgin born Son of God (Isa. 7:14; Mat. 1:23) who was born into this world to be the sinless sacrifice for the sin of the world (Jhn. 1:29; Rev. 13:8).
His birth, life, ministry, and crucifixion were all pre-planned in the heart of God, and He was obedient unto death (Phi. 2:8).
Jesus lived a sinless life and gave Himself as a payment for the sins of the world.
He was resurrected for our justification (Rom. 4:25), and He is currently seated at the right hand of God as our high priest and mediator (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 3:1; 10:12; I Tim. 2:5).
He will soon return to this earth to receive His saints unto Himself (Jhn 14:1-3), and to take over the kingdoms of this present evil world (Rev. 11:15-17; 19:11-21).
Until then, all who believe on Him may have eternal life and enter into the glories of Heaven.
Deity of Christ
The Deity of Christ is the doctrine that Jesus Christ is GOD. God is a Trinity (I Jn. 5:7), and the second Member of that Trinity is the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 1:1 says that “the Word was God,” and John 1:14 tells us that “the Word was made flesh.” Jesus Christ is the Word incarnate, and John 1:1 tells us that the Word was God; so Jesus Christ is God.
Jesus allowed Thomas to address Him as “My Lord and my God” in John 20:28. In Isaiah 9:6 He is called “The mighty God” and “The everlasting Father,” and we read in Micah 5:2 that Jesus is “from everlasting.”
Our Lord allowed people to worship him in John 10:38 and in Matthew 14:33, and since He is “God with us” (Mat. 1:23), He also has power to forgive sins (Mk. 2:5).
The Deity of Christ is one of the main fundamentals of the Christian faith, because the Bible is very clear in emphasizing the fact that Jesus Christ is more than just a great man.
He existed long before He came to this earth to be born of a woman, because He is ETERNAL. He’s God.
Only the Weak Survive!
“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” —2nd Corinthians 12:10
The world has it all wrong. Both Elvis Presley and Bryan Adams sang a song titled, “Only The Strong Survive.” There’s even a movie with the same title. We hear propaganda from military recruiters about being “Army strong.” Then there’s Charles Darwin’s, The Origin of Species, which theorizes about “natural selection,” i.e., only the strong survive.
The Bible, God’s Word, teaches that God’s strength is made perfect by our weakness. It was the mighty preacher Dwight L. Moody who said:
“God had no children too weak, but a great many too strong to make use of.” —Dwight L. Moody
God doesn’t need your talent, knowledge, money, connections, or brilliance—He wants your heart.
“God stands in no need of our strength or wisdom, but of our ignorance, of our weakness; let us but give these to Him, and He can make use of us in winning souls.” —Pastor D.L. Moody
God is looking for a few weak men. Are you weak enough to be used of God?
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” —2nd Corinthians 12:9
You Need HIS Righteousness! JESUS CHRIST
I am so sorry AC I thought you could understand what I have wrote! I guess your the weak minded and cant see your being fooled and trick! i will still pray for you my soul brother I can help you any more then i have tried too.
Jesus Overcame the World
John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
I rejoice every time I think about John 16:33, which is exactly what the Lord tells us to do, because Jesus has overcome the world. I’m excited just writing about it. Jesus is so awesome and amazing. The Pharisees tried, oh how they tried, to find fault in the Savior; but they couldn’t. Jesus is the perfect Lamb of God. Amen!
The Scribes and Pharisees, and many of the Jews, desperately tried to turn Jesus into a villain. They hated His guts because Jesus spoke the truth, and was good and perfect, and confident in His teachings. The religious leaders hated Jesus because He was beyond reproach, and the people loved Him, and He was influencing a lot of people. They were envious.
This is why so many wicked and arrogant people today despise the name of Jesus, because He overcame the world. Just as the Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah 2,000 years ago, so do most Jews reject Him today. Judaism teaches that their Messiah hasn’t come yet. In their arrogance and hatred for the Lord Jesus Christ, they will instead embrace the Antichrist as their Messiah (2nd Thessalonians 2:4).
It is wonderful to know that Jesus overcame this evil world. 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.”
Jesus is the spotless, perfect, holy, Lamb of God. Jesus overcame this life. The arrogant and self-righteous chief priests, Scribes and Pharisees are burning in Hell this moment; but Jesus is seated on the right hand of power, at the Father’s side (Colossians 3:1).
Everyone in this world has one of two options:
Humble yourself by coming to God the Father through His Son for forgiveness of sins (John 14:6).
Go to Hell (2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9).
Those people today who are arrogant, and reject Jesus as the Messiah, are going to Hell if they don’t repent of their unbelief. It makes some people so mad that they have to go through Jesus Christ to be saved, that they’d rather burn in Hell, and they will, forever (Revelation 20:15).
Accusing the Lamb of God
Mark 12:13, “And they send unto Him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch Him in His words.” Ah, but they failed!
In John 8:5-7, the Pharisees tried to find reason to ACCUSE the Lord…
“Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting Him, that they might have to ACCUSE HIM. But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not. So when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
I believe I know what Jesus wrote on the ground, but I cannot say for certain… “Where’s the man?”
Those hypocrites dragged the woman before Jesus to have her stoned, but they didn’t bring the man. They claimed they had caught her in the very act of adultery. So why did they only bring the woman?
Here are some more Scriptures, but not all of them, where religious hypocrites accused the Lamb of God…
Matthew 12:10, “And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse Him.”
Luke 11:53-54, “And as He said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge Him vehemently, and to provoke Him to speak of many things. Laying wait for Him, and seeking to catch something out of His mouth, that they might accuse Him.”
Luke 23:2, “And they began to accuse Him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ a King.”
Luke 23:10, “And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him.”
If evil men accused the precious Lord Jesus Christ, then certainly they will accuse His disciples. Ah, but Jesus has OVERCOME THE WORLD, and we are on the winning side in Christ Jesus.
We can be of good cheer because we know that it’s just a matter of time until we see the Lord, and the tribulations of this earthly life will be over, and our health problems will be gone forever, and we will be with our precious Lord Jesus Christ.
The ten commandments are very clear. And I think everyone who read it from Bible with a an obedient mind to GOD, can understand what it means. e.g. For the second command. It is clear that images or statues should not be made for worship that is specified in the same verse that ‘You shall not bow down to them or worship them’. That’s all.
Todd says There is nothing in the New Testament about keeping the “ten” commandments.
Hebrews 4:4 And God rested on the seventh day after all the work he had been doing.
4:9 There must still be, therefore, a seventh-day rest reserved for God’s people,
4:10 since to enter the place of rest is to rest after your work, as God did after his.
Matthew 24:20 Pray that you will not have to make your escape in winter or on a Sabbath.
Luke 23:56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. And on the Sabbath day they rested, as the Law required.
According to Luke they are still keeping the Sabbath according to the Commandment after the New Covenant had begun.
Matthew 5:17 ‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them.
18 In truth I tell you, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, is to disappear from the Law until all its purpose is achieved.
19 Therefore, anyone who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of Heaven; but the person who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of Heaven.
John 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away
Colossians 2:16 Then never let anyone criticise you for what you eat or drink, or about observance of annual festivals, New Moons or Sabbaths are ceremonial laws.
This is speaking of Sabbaths, not the Sabbath day spoken of in the 4th commandment. That is why it is plural. Ceremonial laws are the high Sabbath or feast days. There are seven annual Biblical festivals in the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy.
Genesis 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Read your Bible and ask Jesus to guide you to the Father for He is the truth, way and life. There is no other way.
Religion is a man made creation, designed to control the masses. It is a necessary evil on this world. Without religion … people have no hope in a better tomorrow. The downside is that people of religion (pick a God) find it necessary and indeed JUSTIFIED in the name of ones lord (again pick a God) to go forth and spread hate, loathing and persecution on non-believers.
That is funny David. You completely ignor Aristotle and other philosophers development of the ideas of politics, government, ethics and morality. Your Religion is a man made creation, designed to control the masses comment is without merit. Man has many tools to control man – taxes, laws and prisons are just three. Vladimir Lenin was not a religious man.
Pick a God to go forth and spread hate, loathing and persecution on non-believers shows a lack of knowledge of the teachings of Jesus – love your enemies and pray for them. There is only one true living God who loves you.
Religion wants to fit us with glasses, but the Lord wants to open our eyes!
Religion is the worst thing that ever happened to this world. Tons and tons of books about the religions of the world have been printed. The figure is beyond count. Many religious people are totally blinded by the good deeds system. They have no concept of the doctrine of the total depravity of man (that all men are corrupt, evil, sinful and unable to please God in their own human efforts).
They think of “total depravity” in terms of people who lie around in the gutter. Actually, those individuals who lie around in the gutters might be respectable compared to some religious people.
The sins of religious people are amongst the most awful sins of all. The sin of pride for example is fantastic. The sin of legalism is the system of trying to impress God with something you can do, rather than be impressed with what God has done through Jesus Christ.
Let’s consider a religious person talked about in the Bible. His name was Nicodemus. He was a very well educated man. He was a Pharisee (religious leader). Nicodemus was a very proud, vain, legalistic and hypocritical man. He came to Jesus at night, for Nicodemus was a very busy man. No doubt, he hoped to impress Jesus with his flattery. He addressed Jesus as “Rabbi” (an official title of honor). To Nicodemus, Jesus was a teacher, nothing more.
Though Nicodemus had a body and a soul, his spirit was dead. He had no ability to fellowship with God, because he was “spiritually dead”. He had never been born spiritually.
If you are to be “born from above” or “born-again”, you must accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. This is such a wonderful truth that is taught in the Bible. Many people, far beyond count, just don’t believe upon the Son of God. They believe in a God; maybe a god of wood, of stone, of metal, of spirit, of knowledge, of power, of nature, etc., etc., etc.
Religion by the ton, of every sort, of every kind. Religion, religion and more religion. People have all kinds of ideas what God should be like. If they can’t find a god that is already made for them, they will make a new god to their liking.
It is very difficult for some people to realize they are sinners, they feel they are very good people. Many don’t believe in a god, of any kind. They do not believe that there is anything beyond the grave.
In short; many believe we are born, live and we die, the end!
However, so many questions about life are with us all the days of our life and they must be answered one way or another. In this life, a time comes when we must settle in our hearts whether or not a God does exist. Is there life after death? Is there a heaven? Is there a hell? What is the purpose of life? Does God really give us eternal life?
Will God actually punish people in hell? Is God, if there is a God, telling me the truth? Look at the world today and the destruction sin causes! Will the wicked really be turned into hell? WE ALL HAVE TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS AND MANY MORE because they need to be answered.
No person can escape having to decide the answer to these questions; no one, it’s a part of life! You may decide you want nothing to do with God at all, but THEN THAT IS YOUR DECISION. See, you have to decide!
Many religions will offer you answers to these questions, but the answers are not found in religion. The answers are found in a person, the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son!
Miracles are happening today, just as in the time of our Lord Jesus. You may have not thought about this before, but it takes a miracle to become a child of God. Salvation is a supernatural act of God in response to our child-like faith in Christ alone.
When we reach that point in life where God has drawn us to make that decision to either accept or reject His Son Jesus Christ as our Savior from sin, a miracle will or will not take place; depending on what we do with Jesus. Whether we reject or accept the Son of God as our Savior is totally up to each of us. If we reject Christ, no miracle of the new birth takes place.
On the other hand; if we accept Christ as our Savior, admitting that we are sinners and that we do want Christ to come into our hearts, our sins will be forgiven immediately.
The new birth takes place immediately…not partially over time, not in steps; but instantly the very second we accept Jesus as Savior. We then belong to God, we are adopted into His family.
A miracle has taken place and according to the Scriptures, there is no power, no person, or anything in this universe that can separate us from the love of God; which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35).
The question of accepting or rejecting Christ must be settled in your heart. Whether you are a church-goer, give lots of money to charities, and do all kinds of religious works, it really doesn’t matter. What matters is—ARE YOU A BORN AGAIN CHILD OF GOD?
No amount of religion or outward self-righteousness can help you on judgment day. Salvation is not found in a religion; but in a person, Jesus Christ. It’s simple! You are a sinner in need of a Savior.
Stop trying to save yourself and decide to rely upon Jesus. Only Jesus paid for your sins, so only He alone can save! From your heart, simply ask Jesus to forgive your sins and become your Savior.
Decide to rely upon Him alone to save your soul, because of the precious blood that He shed for you (1st Peter 1:18,19).
The Word of God is the ANSWER!!!