Verse of the Week

It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him:

If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him:

If we deny Him, He also will deny us:

If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself.

- 2 Timothy 2:11-13

With Thankful Heart

Thanksgiving is celebrated all over America, and has been for hundreds of years, because of the profound faith and courage of a group of Christian believers, called Pilgrims. These Pilgrims believed that God was calling them to a new land, where they could worship God more freely.

But their decision wasn't easy. Staying in Holland meant greater safety in a civilized land, going to America probably guaranteed religious liberty but the physical risks were enormous and the financial cost of voyage would be very high. They believed God would grant them success. Before departing from Holland the church spent a day in fasting and prayer for the journey ahead. 

William Bradford wrote, "They had a great hope and inward zeal of laying a good foundation for the propagating and advancing of the kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world. Yea, that they should be even as stepping stones unto others."

They are our stepping stones.

In September of 1620 a small ship called the Mayflower left Plymouth, England, carrying 102 passengers—an assortment of the religious separatists mentioned above, seeking a new home where they could freely practice their faith, and other individuals lured by the promise of prosperity and land ownership in the New World. It was a treacherous and uncomfortable crossing that lasted far longer than any had imagined. Only half of the Mayflower’s original passengers and crew lived to see their first New World spring.

 

In 1621, the surviving colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. They gave thanks to God for three days. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. But it wasn't until 1863, (in the midst of the Civil War) that President Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.

 

Whether you are celebrating Thanksgiving Day or not, I hope you have a blessed day of giving thanks to the Lord.

God bless,

Ashlin

 Psalm 107:8, "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"

 

 

Allow Me To Clarify. . .

This post is written somewhat (completely) because I looked back at my previous post called "Saved" and became more aware of the fact that I didn't convey the message I had intended to. Or at least not very well.

I probably don't often spend as much time as I ought to when writing out these posts. I apologize, and hope to be more careful with my words.

I re-read the aforementioned post and realized that, because it is titled "Saved", it would be easy for one of you lovely readers (yes, lovely) to think I was associating works with salvation. I wasn't. I do not believe any good can come from our own accord before we know God. Nor do I think that once saved any good can come from us. All good is from God. Period. Check out Mark 10:18. Or Romans 7:19, or James 2:10 or loads of other passages that I encourage you to look up if you still think good can come from any of your own actions. We can do "good" because we are made in His image, but good that stems from us is tainted by us, only good that comes from the Spirit is perfect.

Those who believe their faith demands actions, or works as they are called in the Bible, will always lack certainty in their standing before God. If salvation requires even the smallest amount of works of righteousness than no man can be saved but a perfectly righteous man. Salvation is completely the gift of God to undeserving sinners.

Salvation is not something to work toward. Salvation is not the end result of works, works is the end result of salvation. A Christian has no need to strive for a salvation that is assuredly attained through belief. Believe is the condition. Read Romans 4-5.

Working for salvation disqualifies the worker from attaining salvation. "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." ~Romans 4:5 [emphasis added]

Works come after salvation. Not because it is mandatory, but because it is natural. Once one is a part of the Vine can he help but bear fruit? (Matthew 7:16-18)

We love God because He first loves us, we try to please Him and find that, in doing so, is the greatest pleasure. (Psalm 34:8)

What was I saying about all the judgement coming for believers, you may ask.

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

We can limit God. "Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel." ~Psalm 78:41

God is all powerful. He can do what ever He wills. Yet in His sovereignty He gave us free will. He gives us choice.

I was saying this, we should choose to do good. "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." ~James 4:17

But that doesn't mean putting on a facade of goodness and obedience. Righteousness doesn't start on the outside and work inward. It is first a hidden inward thing of the heart that grows until it is manifested in outward actions.

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous" ~1 John 5:3

You Better Believe It!

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." ~ 1 John 4:1

I really appreciate the way my mom does that. When she visits a church, hears a teaching, and things of that sort she tests it against the Word. She doesn't pick apart every little thing that was said to argue it, but I can see the way she personally tries the spirit of it even when it seems to many to be a good sermon filled with good arguments to back up their point.

When a person teaches, they will -in general- emphasize the Scripture that supports their own view and try to discredit the verses that support the opposing view.




To often we go to church and accept all the preacher says without question. We are trusting our eternal soul's destiny to them.

One's personal opinion, or a particular tradition one inherits is of no importance when searching the Scripture. When one accepts a view largely in blindness adhering to it without there own investigation of the Scripture they are likely to be deceived. We must be careful. It is very easy to fall into such a snare when we make added teachings or respected men a final authority. As I said, this happens largely out of blindness on our part, but when we allow someone else to interpret God's Word for us we are making them our final authority and trusting them with our eternal soul's destiny.

Commentaries can be helpful, strong Christian friends can bless one's growth, preachers are needed, but we must, out of a whole-hearted love for the Lord and thankfulness of the pureness of His Word, search all Scripture before accepting any belief.

No mere man can know the mind of God. We all must be open to correction.

Say you had the opportunity of speaking with Paul the apostle. That's right, the man once known as Saul who heard the Lord's voice -spoke with Him!- and through whom God wrought special miracles, so that his handkerchiefs were brought unto the sick and the sick were healed.

Indeed, you had one or two hours to hear Paul preach. You would want to take notes, record every word, right? This guy was one of the major authors of the Bible after all! I think most of us Christians would receive his every word.

Well, Paul taught some in a synagogue in Berea, and they received his words, but they didn't accept them without question. They daily searched the Scripture to see whether or not what he taught was truth. Acts 17:11 calls them "more noble" for readily receiving the word and searching the Scripture.

When I feel presses with a question (or questions) about the Word of God, I want to find a respected teacher's writing on the subject, or ask my parents. All of that can be fine as long as we long as we remember preachers, teachers, brothers and sisters in Christ, they are only people maybe close to God, but they do not have God's omniscient, divine, boundless knowledge. God has given us His words. May we never despise them by accepting another person's. The first and last source we look to should be the Lord. 

Romans 14:5,6 says, "One man esteemet one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks." [emphasis added]
Brothers and sisters in Christ will have different beliefs sometimes, but we should each understand why we believe what we believe. Not have are argument with excellency of speech, "not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God"! (1 Cor. 2:4-5)

Beloved in Christ, God will bless the students who diligently search of His Word. How often are we told to seek for truth in the Bible?

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and abraideth not; and it shall be given him."

~James 1:5

Saved

Recently a friend and I discussed the difficult subject of how actions contirbute to our salvation (not to say that we can be saved by our own doing). I felt I could not possibly convey all that I believed on that in one e-mail, even if it was very lengthly.

I thought it would be helpful if I studied the subject more closely and wrote out a blog post on this so that I could gather my thoughts.

At the first church I ever remember going to, the pastor would give an altar call/the sinner's prayer at the end of every sermon. While that's deffinitely not always bad thing, it isn't always a good thing either. So I naturally came from the point of veiw that once you say a prayer you're saved, and their is nothing you can do to change that. Still I believe that once saved one can never loose one's salvation, however I fear for those who believe and live with a saved-by-grace-no-need-to-work attitude.

1 Corinthians 3:12-15 says, "Now if anyone builds on this foundation [which is Christ] with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."

My granddad is a preacher and I have often heard him say how sad it will be when people will get to heaven and see that the earthly riches and acheivements they have worked for will be worthless. "Those Christians will have no reward in heaven" he says with frown and a shake of his head, "but I want a crown."

Often times when we read passages like 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 we read "he will receive a reward" and we look forward to that. Which is good. But we forget to think about it saying "If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." I think to few Christians have a healthy fear of God.

Hebrews 10:26-27, 30-31 "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries... For we know Him who said, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. And again, 'The Lord will judge His people.' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

Don't think the judgement is only for those who are not Christians. You an be saved and still appear before God with "spot and wrinkle".

2 Corinthians 5:9-11 "Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all [must all!] appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences."

Pay close attention as you read this: 2 Peter 2:20-21, "For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them."

The warnings are there. No one is hidden, all must give an acount before God someday. (Hebrews 4:13)

Jesus Christ alone is qualified to be the Judge of all mankind. Only He has ever lived a perfect life. Not only that, but He knows what it is like to be a human being and He understands the difficulties His people have while living in this present, evil world (Hebrews 2:14-18).
Upon what things will we be judged? Ecclesiastes 11:9; 12:14; Matthew 12:36; 1 Peter 4:17; Luke 12:3; 1 Corinthians 4:5.

God says that individuals will have to account for all of their works, our secret sins, even every word we have spoken will be judged. It doesn't matter if you were just a kid having fun, or if you "didn't really mean it". That includes the motive for our works."Every man's work shall be tried to see of what sort."

What standard will we be judged against? John 12:48; Revelation 20:12

God will judge us by the things written in the "books", His Word (both the Old and New testements). The Bible contains God's laws, the standard of righteousness by which everyone is judged. But at the same time, some have better opportunities to understand and learn to obey God's law in this life than others. God's judgment is perfectly fair. He says "to whom much is given, much is required". Luke 12:48. Teachers of God's way will be held to an even higher standard. James 3:1.

Why does Philippians 2:12 tell already born again Christians "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"? Because although we are completely saved, we still must work toward righteousness not in own might, but as we ask, seek and knock so will He answer. Read Luke 6:38.

A recent survey of church goers showed that,

10% of church members never attend church.

70% never give to missions.

75% never engage in any church activity.

80% never attend prayer meetings.

90% never have family worship.

95% never win a soul to Christ.

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God.

Maybe, worship has just become a "form of Godliness" because too many of us do not have a right vew of what it means to live "in Christ".
To many Christians are "scarcely saved. (1 Peter 4:14-18)

Even though this is already very long, I want to end with a quote: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me" (John 14:6). Even this glourious directive is tragically limited when seen as a rebirth reference. "Coming to the Father" applies powerfully to growth in knowing. We can obey the Lord with scanty understanding and scarcely know Him at all.We can be healed and forget to go back and thank Him. Close friends keep in close touch. The ultimate intamacy is as a bride with her bridegroom. Rebirth does not guarantee we will be "presented before Him without spot or wrinkle." He is able to complete our cleansing, if we grow in His likeness, ingest of His nature, diligently seeking to grow "in the knowledge of Him".

Both "it is finished"(John 19:13) and "author and finisher" (Hewbrews 12:2) are repeatedly mis-read. {See page 211. [His work is finished]} This is not demeaning of the Lord's magnificent work. "By which also ye are saved [not thoroughly and instantly, but progressively], if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you [such as 1 Corinthians 3:3, 4:2, the whole letter], unless [or else] ye have believed in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:2) "We then as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain... now is the day of salvation." Written to believers. Have we sought Him today? He will achieve in us increasing salvation from blindness and sin and mature our faith if we love Him and seek Him dillegently in the prayer closet, working out our own [Matthew 25:9] salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12-13)."

~Ashlin

Do the Next Thing

From an old English parsonage down by the sea

There came in the twilight a message to me;

Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,

Hath, it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.

And on through the doors the quiet words ring

Like a low inspiration: “Do the next thing.”

Many a questioning, many a fear,

Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.

Moment by moment, let down from Heaven,

Time, opportunity, and guidance are given.

Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,

Trust them with Jesus, do the next thing.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer;

Do it reliantly, casting all care;

Do it with reverence, tracing His hand

Who placed it before thee with earnest command.

Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,

Leave all results, do the next thing.

Looking for Jesus, ever serener,

Working or suffering, be thy demeanor;

In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,

The light of His countenance be thy psalm,

Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing.

Then, as He beckons thee, do the next thing.

 

[A poem quoted by Elisabeth Elliot ] 

Verse of the Week

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

~Jude 20,21~