The Gospel Of Repentance

In Him (Christ) we have obtained an inheritance, having predestined according to the purpose of Him who works   all   things according to the counsel of his own will .                                                                                                                                                        -Ephesians 1:11   Isaiah 46:10 says this of God, “ declaring the end from the beginning (emphasis added), and from the ancient times things not yet done, saying my counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose”. The despot Gentile King of Babylon Nebuchadnezzar declared to the known world at that time   regarding the sovereignty of God, “all the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does according to His will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay His hand or say to Him, “What have you done?” (Daniel 4:35). Regarding the judgment on the nation of Assyria Isaiah says this, “ The L

If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes and even his own life can not be My disciple. -           Luke 14:26   The word hate means to feel hostility or animosity toward. To detest.   The Greek verb is miseō; having malicious and unjustifiable feelings toward others, whether toward the innocent or by mutual animosity. So, is this what Jesus is commanding us to do? Hate our loved ones and our own lives too? Doesn’t this command seem way too harsh, extreme, contradictory to other parts of scripture? Don’t we read in other places where Jesus commands us to honor our mother and father, to love one another; even our enemies? To Jesus live audience this must have seemed like a mixed message. How would you feel if in one speech Jesus is commanding you to love, and in another speech He is commanding us to hate our family and even our own lives?                 What’s goin here? Jesus definitely isn’t contr

I recently read a story where a father asked his young son, “ Do you know where you are going when you die?” The son replied, “Yes. I would go to heaven.” The Father asked his son a second question, “If you were to die tonight and God asked you why should I let you into my heaven what would be your answer?” The son answered immediately, “Because I’m dead!” Do we see the logic in the child’s response? From his understanding of these questions, he believed that a person automatically goes to heaven when they die. Why did the son respond the way he did? It would be safe to say the reality of hell had never been taught to him. This boy like most people (this includes many in the church) believe in what someone called Justification by death.   A more popular way to say it is Universalism – meaning that everyone is automatically saved when they die.   This is a novel idea, an emotionally comforting one especially when loved ones and friends die. It makes us feel better to believe t

Yet she will be saved in childbearing – if they continue in faith and love and holiness with self control.   -I Timothy 2:15   To understand the aforementioned passage we need to start at verse 8 to verse 15 to get the whole flow of thought . The Apostle Paul speaking says, “I desire that in every place that men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or quarreling (some versions say without wrath and doubting); likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel with modesty and self control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper of women who profess godliness – with good works. Let the women learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather she is to remain quiet. [i] For Adam was created first then Eve, and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor (of the command of God not to eat the fruit from t

Imputation by definition means: the act of placing something into one’s account. To lay something to one’s charge.   Imputation is the effect of a prior cause; some act someone has committed. In the Bible we deal with imputation negatively and positively.             Let’s begin with the negative. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, their act of sin was imputed, reckoned or charged to everyone of their descendants, the entire human race. Since we were all in the loins of Adam when he sinned, we in God’s eyes are guilty and condemned before we were ever born!             Guilty by association to our father Adam. Remember God told Adam specifically, “the day you eat of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil, you will die” (Gen 2:17).   Death was the result of disobedience to the command of God. The scripture says when Adam died (spiritually and eventual physical death), we all died (Rom 5:12). We were born dead as a result of Adam’s sin (Eph 2:1; Col

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death."                                                                                                                                     - Revelation 12:11 The question needs to be answered because there a lot of Christians making this declaration. This is a particularly popular confession in the Neo Pentecostal – Charismatic movement. This phrase is used in prayers all the time. To many using this phrase no doubt is supposed deliver more power and force in their prayer; to move the hand of God to grant their petition. Just recently a neighbor who admitted she’s afraid of certain animals in the neighborhood like Skunks and Raccoons   said that she “pleads the blood” that God will not allow her to see these animals. Others will use this same phrase when it comes to protecting their homes, cars, finances, loved ones, health,   jobs, etc. Bu

Husband love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that He might present the church to himself in splendor without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church.                                                                                                                                                                 -Ephesians 5:25-29   This is a tall order for a man. This command is a huge responsibility for us as husbands. It requires obedience by both spouses. The husband has to be willing to lead his wife in this manner, and the wife must be willing to follow her husband as he endeavors to imitate Christ’s love for