Is it ok to believe in Karma?

Karma is a far eastern religious practice in Buddhism (Buddhism was started by Siddhartha Gautama in the sixth century B.C. It’s an offshoot of Hinduism), and Hinduism. Karma’s main ingredients are the laws of cause and effect and reincarnation. By the adherent performing good deeds (good Karma) in this life, it will guarantee a better life when one is reincarnated (brought back to life in a nobler form if one was good in the prior life). An action good or bad, will result in a subsequent reaction. Bad Karma is obviously negative and keeps one in a endless circle of reincarnation and suffering. Reincarnation is the process where the disciple of the religion has to continue to suffer and divest themselves of bad Karma, the world, and it’s evil attachments through multiple life cycles and counter that with good Karma. So in essence the initiate gets countless “do-overs” until they get it right. This would seem to be their equivalent of eradication of sin since Buddhists do not believe in original sin, only good and bad Karma – cause and effect.

The core doctrine of the Buddha is called the Dharma – the truth and order of existence which consists of four noble truths:

1.     

              The reality of suffering

2.       The cause of suffering (craving/desire)

3.       The cessation or end of suffering (nirvana)

4.       The “middle way”

These are followed the by an “Eightfold noble path” which are:

1.      

       Right understanding

2.       Right thoughts

3.       Right speech

4.       Right actions

5.       Right livelihood

6.       Right endeavor

7.       Right mindfulness

8.       Right concentration

The main purpose of the Buddhist is to reach Nirvana (salvation), that is the graduation past endless cycles of reincarnated lives and overcome suffering; become one with Brahman if one is Hindu, their chief deity and life force.

I guess only the Buddhist can determine when they have passed the Dharma stage of learning; it’s subjective.

Nirvana is ultimate enlightenment where the person has broken the cycle of reincarnation and suffering through continuous good Karma. Nirvana it appears makes the Buddhist a Buddha themselves (an enlightened one).

This is how Siddharta became enlightened (i.e. the Buddha) when he sat under a Bodhi tree in India and this “revelation” came to him – he was successful of ridding himself of bad Karma; overcoming suffering.

There are several problems with Karma .

First, reincarnation is impossible and unbiblical. The scripture clearly tells us it is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). One can not go through multiple life cycles to try to reach nirvana (salvation).

Secondly, Karma is a works righteousness religion. It predicates salvation on man and not God who Buddhists do not acknowledge making them atheistic (Psalm 14:1; Psalm 53:1).

Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved by grace through faith, and that not of yourselves (italics added for emphasis). It is the gift of God not of works (italics added for emphasis) lest any man should boast.”

Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death (not reincarnation), but the free gift of God is eternal life (i.e. salvation) through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Titus 3:4-5a says, “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works we have done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy…”

We must all be constantly reminded that salvation is a gift from God. No one can earn a gift last I checked.

Thirdly, Buddhists teach that a person eventually goes into non existence after nirvana; a sort of annihilationism which is called sunya ( great void), the emptying of all things.

This is also untrue. The bible teaches us that the spirit of man will exist for eternity; with or without the Lord.

Daniel 12:2 talking about the end times said, “And many of those who sleep (a euphemism for death) in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

Jesus said in John 5:28-29, “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice, and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”

Everyone who has ever lived will be raised from the dead and will be judged for how they have lived their lives good or bad. Building on this truth, we go to Revelation 20:13b, “and they were judged (the wicked/unsaved dead) each one of them according to what they had done. Verse 15 says, Anyone’s name was not written in the book of life was thrown (alive) into the Lake of Fire.”[i]

The Lake of Fire is the final non-resting place for all who died in their sins by rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ while they lived on the earth.  The beast, false prophet, and devil will dwell there for eternity also (Revelation 20).

So, there is no going out of existence as Buddhist/Karma teach. All experience either eternal life or the second death (Revelation 20:14).

Concluding, no doubt many see Karma (cause and effect) the same as the law of sowing and reaping. That’s not true. Karma’s end is anything like sowing and reaping because of it’s ultimate end, mainly nirvana and non existence. Karma is legalistic and religious; sacrilegious to the gospel of truth. The law of sowing and reaping is an inherent force that God has put in the earth (like gravity) to govern men’s actions. In today’s vernacular we regard sowing and reaping as, “What comes around goes around.”

Karma is far more that just sowing and reaping. It exists because of the religion of Buddhism.

Christians must reject the practice of Karma. It deifies man because it ignores God.

It’s a religious lottery crap shoot. One is depending on luck and chance to find ultimate peace.

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[i] It’s very important to note that the saved and the unsaved are judged separately in God’s end time plan. The Christian is judged in I Corinthians 3:13-15 and II Corinthians 5:10. It’s called the “Bema” seat; means pace, step, or foot room. Speaks of a raised platform like one sees in today’s Olympic competitions. We’re being judged for what we did as believers, not to determine if we’re saved. Salvation has already been guaranteed because we believed in Jesus unto salvation. This judgment is for obtaining rewards and honor from God. When this event occurs the writer is unsure; perhaps after the rapture of the church before the great tribulation in heaven. The unbeliever is judged at the GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT. They’re not judged to see if they are eligible for heaven, they’re resurrected out of hell, judged guilty by the Lord, and cast into the Lake of Fire burning with brimstone. Their names are not written in the book of life.

How Old is the Earth?

“For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day.”

-Exodus 20:11

I know there are those that will read this article and declare, “who cares how old the earth is. Me knowing this doesn’t determine my eternal salvation does it?”

Not if you’re truly born again, but we have an obligation to seek out the truth if it’s available, and regarding this matter it is available (Proverbs 4:7).

How much more should we seek and fight for the truth when this matter has been under vicious attack for over 200 years?

It’s time to set the record straight.

There are a wide variety of views on the age of the earth. If one is an evolutionist, then the earth is at least hundreds of millions of years old, and the universe is around 4.5 billions of years old or older.[i] Man is a result of some evolutionary “primordial soup”, and not the design of an intelligent creator. Basically the earth and everything in it was created by chance and the Big Bang theory. There are even Christians that believe in the “Gap Theory”. That is, there are those that believe there was a parenthesis between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 in God’s creative plan -  there are those that purport (the writer did also years ago), there were millions of years that occurred between the two verses hence the “gap”. Many believe verse 1 deals with the initial creation of God, and verse 2  is dealing with a re-creation. This is because some believe the phrase was void in verse 2 should read became void which would imply something caused the earth to become void.

One would only ascribe to the latter phrase if they believe in the gap and re-creation theory.

Those who believe the first view, was void ( the correct view) recognize that when God made the heavens and the earth that was only the beginning. He still had to form the earth and fill it. Made and form are two separate things in the creation. God created the universe Ex nihilo that is out of nothing (John 1:3; Heb 11:3; 2 Peter 3:5). He didn’t use pre-existent materials.

            

But why do so many believe the evolutionary, gap, big bang and re-construction theories?

Because of the lies we have been told about ancient times by dishonest and ignorant historians and scientists. It’s assumed by many that there was a civilization many millions of years ago prior to Adam and Eve. That “old world” died in some worldwide cataclysm (i.e. the Lucifer flood some have called it). That old world was inhabited by dinosaurs along with pre-historic man; a primeval Pre-Adamite creature.

There is a belief that Lucifer (now Satan, the devil) was kicked out of heaven during this parenthesis in history because he rebelled against God.[ii] This is what may have caused this “Lucifer flood” of the earth before the birth of Adam they say. This is nothing more than horrible conjecture, a Frankenstein monster, myth, and urban legend.

            

These views have had devastating effects on the church and the integrity of scripture.

First of all, if there was a race of people before Adam and Eve, why didn’t God reveal them to us in scripture? Second, it’s impossible for disease, evil and death to occur before the original sin of Adam. Scripture clearly bears this out.

Original sin occurred when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit: “she (Eve) took of its fruit and ate and she gave to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6b). At that point mankind fell into sin and died spiritually. Man became the living-dead for the first time in history. What do I mean by that? Adam and Eve didn’t instantly die physically, but died spiritually (cut off from God) hence the term living-dead.

The Father forgave their sin. How? He slaughtered an animal, shed its blood and covered them with coats of skin (Genesis 3:20). This was the first Levitical act portrayed in the Bible. This was an ancient foreshadowing of God forgiving sin. Adam’s sin required a blood sacrifice, and something innocent had to die to atone for his sin and appease God’s wrath. Jesus of course is the ultimate fulfillment of this when He took away the sins of the world by the sacrifice of his own blood on the cross (John 1:29).

This is why it’s heretical to say that sin and death existed  prior to the fall of Adam; it attacks the pre determined plan of God the Father to send the Son to die for the sins of his people and save them (Matthew 1:21).

It also undermines the biblical text.

Romans 5:12 says, “Therefore just as sin came into the world (for the first time ever) through one man (Adam), and death (italics added) through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”

I Corinthians 15:21-22 says, “For as by one man came death, by a man has also come the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”

Sin, disease and death could not have occurred before the sin of Adam,  it’s also clear that life could not have occurred before Genesis 1:1. Genesis 1:2 is not a re-creation, but the only creation. There was never millions or billions of years of life prior to when God said, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” You can’t have a “beginning” before the actual beginning or else the beginning isn’t the beginning, it’s a continuing.

The millions and billions of years old earth lie did not come into being until the early 1800’s. Since then, geologists and clergyman have given this myth sinews, flesh, bone, marrow, eyes, limbs, a spirit, and teeth to rip up the truths of the biblical creation account from the minds and hearts of Christians and the unsaved.

While there is plenty more that can be said regarding the pointless efforts of evolutionists and gappists, I want to answer the question of this article. “How old is the earth?” The earth surprisingly is a little over 6,000 years old. Is this revelation shocking to you?  The reason why I know this is because the Bible tells us.

           

So here is the bible timeline.

In Genesis 5 we read that Adam is 130 years old when his son Seth is born. Adam lives another 800 years and dies at age 930 (Genesis 5:4-5). This means the earth was 930 years old because Adam was the first man ever created. Seth was 105 years old and fathered Enosh. Enosh lived 90 years and fathered Kenan, etc.

Each time we read the age of when a man fathers a son in Genesis 5, we simply add the ages. By the time you get to Noah who’s 500 years old when he fathers Ham, Shem and Japheth, 1556 years of human history has elapsed. Adam at this time has been dead for 626 years. Noah is born 126 years after Adam dies. The year of the earth is 1056 when Noah is born. Noah is 600 years old when the flood came. So, from the birth of Adam to the flood of Noah is a total of 1656 years of human history that are in the books.  Noah lives 350 years after the flood and dies at 950 years old (Genesis 9:29).  The year of the earth is 2006.

Jesus Christ is born around 6 B.C. – right around the 4000^th year of human history. We have an accurate time of Jesus birth because history tells us that King Herod the Great was born in 73 B.C. and dies in 4 B.C. when Jesus is two years old and has to flee to Egypt because Herod wants to kill him (Matthew 2:13).

According to the Gregorian calendar we use, we are now in the year 2013 A.D.

The world we live in is a young yet mature looking earth that was formed cataclysmically.

I know for some this may be hard to believe and accept, but this is the logical age of the earth not millions of years because geologists think the sedimentary rocks and fossils in the Grand Canyons and elsewhere in the world were formed in a very slow time frame. When God created the earth, he created it mature-with the appearance of age. Adam and Eve were full grown when they were created, not infants. Trees, land, sea animals, and birds were created mature in the first two chapters of Genesis. Nothing was in an egg or a seed that hatched a baby chicken and blossomed into a tree or plant respectively.

That command was given by God after he created everything initially to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:22, 28). That’s when things were first conceived and then born; babies, plant life, and animals.

We need to submit to the biblical account of creation which God was an obvious eyewitness to and reject the mythological gap, re-creation, big bang, and evolution theories which no one witnessed because these events never took place.[iii]

To disbelieve the biblical creation account is to undermine the scripture and the existence of God which is what some have called “Deicide”, that is the murder of God (Psalm 14:1; Psalm 53:1). This view erases God as the benevolent intelligent designer of the universe which no one should ever do – especially believers. If we do not believe the earth was created in a literal six days (Hebrew word for day is Yom) as the Bible records, what other truths of scripture is one willing to compromise on - mainly the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ? If the creation account is false, then why believe any of God’s word?                                                                          

We must stop listening to wicked men devoid of the Spirit of God to be the interpreters of scripture. These men are fools; they’re the blind leading the blind, and to them God is dead!

Please abandon the traditions and lies of men and let’s get back to trusting the more sure word of prophecy (II Peter 2:19-21).

Let God be true though everyone were a liar (Romans 3:4).

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[i] The reader should be advised that the age of the earth continues to increase. The last report the writer read about is the earth is now 3.8 billion years old and the entire universe is 14 billion years old. This fluctuation in the age of the earth proves the scientists have no clue as to it’s correct age, but God does because he created it and placed his chronology on it. God has never changed his beginning story and age of the earth.

[ii] To discover the origin of Satan and what happened to him, please read Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28. These passages describe the origin, splendor and beauty of Lucifer along with his horrific fall from grace.

[iii]  For a comprehensive look at these matters the reader is encouraged to read, The New Answers Books 1-3. Kem Ham, general editor

Can I be sure I’m saved? Will I go to heaven when I die?

                                                             

These two questions are very important, and to the writer of this article, two of the most sobering questions we will ever ask in this life of pain and suffering.

Does the Bible assures us that we’re saved and going to heaven when we die? The answer is a resounding yes! We can and I daresay  MUST be sure of both of these glorious realities.

                

              Why?

Because through out scripture it tells us the righteous will be saved and dwell in the presence of the Lord forever. This reality should provide us with tremendous comfort.

For those of you who are Christians and have doubts right now about the afterlife, I do not want you to doubt anymore. My intent is to guide you through the scriptures so  it’s power will permeate your hearts and minds and put them at an eternal ease.

It’s important that you gain a confidence so rich that you will cling to these truths and never let them go for they are priceless.

                

            So, let’s begin.

In Genesis 5:22-24 we read, “Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah at 300 years and had other sons and daughters. All the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not for God took him.”

The phrase “for God took him” means God took Enoch alive to into heaven; Enoch never died. If he was on the earth he would literally be over 5,000 year old! This is a special case of course.  Enoch was raptured by God into heaven – means he was translated. What happened to Enoch will happen to the church in the future[i]

Genesis 6:9 we read that Noah was a righteous man blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.  Noah is in heaven right now.

Genesis 15:5,6 we read where God himself evangelizes Abram (was his name at that time, name changed to Abraham in Genesis 17:5), He says, “And He brought him outside and said look toward heaven and number the stars, and if you are able to number them.” Then He (The Lord) said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Two extremely important things are happening here. This is the first time we read that God who’s the initiator of the covenant approaches Abraham and tells him what He will do for him. God at this point is preaching the gospel (or good news) to Abraham telling him that all nations will be blessed through his seed. Abraham takes the Lord at His word and the Lord saves Abraham and places righteousness into his account. What that means is that the Lord justified Abraham to due to his faith in God. This is a clear picture of how all children of God are saved. When we take God at His word through the gospel message of salvation, we are made righteous by God; we are justified by faith or our trust, reliance, adherence to the word of God (Romans 5:1; Galatians 2:15; 3:8).

In Genesis 18:17-19 we read the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth (emphasis added) shall be blessed in him? For I have chosen him that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what  He has promised him.”

We see here that God made a covenant with Abraham and promised to bless him which he did greatly (Genesis 17:1-10a). Jesus said that many will sit with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 8:11 italics added).

God blessed Abraham on earth and translated that to eternal blessing in heaven where he resides now.

Moses was the man that God chosen to lead his people out of Egypt. Moses was a man that pleased God and was more humble than any man on the earth at that time (Numbers 12:3). The Bible also says that the Lord spoke to Moses face to face (or literally mouth to mouth), and that he beholds the form of the 

Lord. Moses had a most intimate relationship with God almighty. Moses appears with Jesus and Elijah on the mountain of transfiguration (Matthew 17:3; Mark 9:4; Luke 9:30)

The prophet Elijah was the second man taken to heaven alive- by a chariot of fire (II Kings 2:11). Elijah  never died.                                                                                                                                                                                              

Psalm 19:7 says, “The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul.       

The power of God’s word saves the sinner from within (Romans 1:16).                                                 

David in the twenty third Psalm said, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (vs. 6).

David was confident in the preserving grace of God and knew that he would one day see the Lord face to face. This clearly speaks of eternal life.

Both the 24^th and 25^th Psalms of David speak of the God of salvation (Psalm 24:5; Psalm 25:5).

In Psalm 27:1 David declares the Lord is his light and salvation.

Psalm 34:22 says, “The Lord redeems the life of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Proverbs 10:2 says, “Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.”

Proverbs 11:4 repeats the same phrase, “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.”

So, we see in these two proverbs alone that righteousness is a virtue that is priceless and infinitely more valuable than money. To be righteous is synonymous with salvation.

In Jonah 2:9 it reads, “Salvation is of the Lord.”

Isaiah 25:9 says that we’re to be glad and rejoice in the Lord’s salvation. This chapter is speaking of the end times.

Isaiah 42:6-7 says this regarding Christ, “I, Jehovah, have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thy hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;  to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house.

Isaiah 49:6 also speaks of Christ, “yea, he saith, It is too light a thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

The entire 53^rd chapter of Isaiah deals the humiliation, death  of Christ and salvation of sinners.

In Jeremiah 31:31-34 we read the following:  Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:  not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them  out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, saith Jehovah.  But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith Jehovah: I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people:  and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know Jehovah; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith Jehovah: for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more.

Here we see the Lord establishing an everlasting covenant relationship with the Hebrews. Another testament to the mercy and grace of God to save his people.

Daniel says in 12:2 that all people will be raised to face judgment, some for everlasting life and some for everlasting contempt.

Daniel believed in the sovereign salvation of sinners made righteous, and the just condemnation of the wicked.

Ezekiel 36:21-29 says that the Lord will gather Israel from the nations and bring them back into their own land and cleanse them, sprinkle clean water upon them. Also he will give them a brand new heart, a heart of flesh so that they obey his commandments. This the Lord will do this for his holy name’s sake (vs.22).

In Joel 2:28-32 we read: And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:  and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit.  And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Jehovah cometh.  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Jehovah shall be delivered  (or saved).

In Micah 7:18-19 it says, “Who is a pardoning God like you pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance. He does not retain his anger forever because he delights in steadfast love. He will have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”

This was a declaration to Israel directly, but these words penetrate to the present and affect us today.

Zechariah 9:9 says, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your King is coming to you; righteous and having salvation. He is humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt a foal of a donkey.

This was fulfilled on Palm Sunday when Jesus entered into Jerusalem on a donkey starting Passion Week (Matthew 21:5-11).

Matthew 1:21 says that Jesus shall save his people from their sins.

Luke 19:10 says that Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost.

Matthew 9:3-6 forgives the sins of the paralytic and heals him. Only God has the ability to forgives sins. Jesus was making a clear claim of deity. We are all like that paralyzed man that need forgiveness of sins and healing of the soul. Jesus demonstrated the lesser miracle of healing the man’s paralysis to amplify the miracle the crowd couldn’t see, the invisible miracle of forgiving the man’s sins and His claim to be God Almighty. The man was healed completely inwardly and outwardly.

In John 1:12-13 says, But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become the children of God, who were born not of blood, nor the will of the flesh (emphasis added), nor of the will of man, but of God.

At the very beginning of John’s gospel he explains that salvation is purely and act of God’s sovereign grace. No human effort can produce the salvation of sinners – ever! It is always the will and choosing of God to save sinners. Of course this never negates human responsibility to respond to the call of the gospel message.  

John 3:16-17 Jesus talking to Nicodemus says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever should believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For the Father did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but through Him the world might be saved.

John 6:37-40 we read, “All that which the Father giveth me shall come unto me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I am come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the will of him that sent me, that of all that which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.  For this is the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.’

Here we read that only those that the Father gives to Jesus are the ones that he saves. These are the ones that Father will draw to the Son to be saved once they repent and believe (John 6:44).

In John 10:22-30 we read, “And it was the feast of the dedication at Jerusalem:  it was winter; and Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon's porch.  The Jews therefore came round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou hold us in suspense? If thou art the Christ, tell us plainly.  Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believe not: the works that I do in my Father's name, these bear witness of me.  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep[ii].  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who hath given them unto me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.  I and the Father are one. “

These verses speak to the choosing and the ultimate salvation of the believer forever. We are in the grip of the Father and the Son. We will never be lost.

Jesus in John 15:16a said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain or abide.”

Jesus says in John 14:1-3, “Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Jesus promises the disciples locally and all saints ultimately that he will ascend into heaven, prepare a place for us, and come back to take us where He is. This speaks of eternal relationship and love. Those whom Christ died for are most precious because the Father gave them to the son as a love gift to come and redeem. Since the Son loves the Father perfectly, any gift the Son receives from his Father will be loved perfectly; that is all believers in Christ.

Jesus says in John 15:13 that his love was the greatest of all because He gave his life for his friends. No one can give more than their very life.

In John 17:2-3 Jesus says, “Since you (The Father) have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

John 17:12 says that those the Father gave to Him he kept and guarded and not one of them is lost except the son of destruction, Judas Iscariot whose betrayal was foretold way back in Psalm 41:9, John 6:70-71, and fulfilled in Matthew 26:21-25;Mark 14:21;Luke 22:21-22;John 13:21,26-30.

Jesus prays to the Father that the disciples would be made pure through the word of God. Not only are we to be saved by the power of the word, we are to experience and ongoing sanctification by that same holy word. Jesus also request that those succeeding the apostles would hear and believe the gospel through their preaching (John 17:20).

In Acts 2 Peter preaches the first church sermon to the Jews. About three thousand souls are saved (vs. 41).

In Acts 4:4 we read that five thousand souls were saved at the preaching of the gospel.

Acts 4:12 says, there is salvation in no other name than the name of Christ.

The house of Cornelius are saved and filled with the Holy Spirit by the preaching of Peter in Acts chapter 10.

The Ethiopian Eunuch is saved by the preaching of Phillip in Acts 8:38.

Acts 13:47-48 tell us Paul speaking, for the Lord commanded us saying, “I made a light to the Gentiles that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed[iii](italics added).

This is a clear indication that Jesus was the savior of all men, the Israelite and the pagan nations. Jesus  himself said, “ I have sheep not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd (John 10:16).”

The Philippian Jailer and his family are saved by the preaching of Paul and Silas (Acts 16:31).

Romans 1:16 declares the word of God as the power of God unto the salvation of Jews and Gentiles to those that believe.

Romans 5:1-12, Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;  through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only so, but we also rejoice in our tribulations: knowing that tribulation worketh stedfastness;  and stedfastness, approvedness; and approvedness, hope:  and hope putteth not to shame; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given unto us.

For while we were yet weak, in due season Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: for peradventure for the good man some one would even dare to die.  But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from the wrath of God through him. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life; and not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

This is an extraordinary verse in that God knowing our sin state so loved us and sent Jesus anyhow to die for us. Jesus death was not in vain. Who Jesus died for has been, or will be saved from their sins and forgiven forever.

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 8:1- There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.                                                              

No one can charge the believer with guilt due to Jesus wiping the slate clean of those He exonerated at the cross.

Romans 8:16 – The Spirit (i.e. the Holy Spirit) bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.

Remember the Holy Spirit is our pledge, guarantee, or earnest that who God saved in soul salvation, he will consummate in glorification – bodily salvation (Ephesians 1:14). This makes our salvation experience complete. Right now we wait in hope of our final salvation (glorification, Romans 8:24). Right now we’re in 

Phase II, ongoing or practical sanctification.

In Romans 8:28-39 says, “And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose.

For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren:  and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things?  Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth;  who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,  nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul in his doxology of praise clearly lays out the whole plan of redemption, sanctification and glorificaton. First he discusses how God knew before hand who He would choose in eternity past to be like Jesus (vs. 29). Secondly, he called, justified (i.e. saved us, made us right with God), and will glorify us. I heard a statement that describes our total salvation perfectly, “Salvation is our possession and destination.” Thirdly, nothing shall ever separate us from the love of Christ. Whom Jesus saves, he preserves them in salvation forever. The elastic that holds salvation together is eternality.

Romans 10:9-10 says, if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

We have to believe in who Jesus is – Lord, and what he did – that God raised him from the dead in order to be saved.

Romans 10:13 says, whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

II Corinthians 5:8 says, that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

All those who died in Christ are with the Lord in glory at this moment.

Ephesians 1:4 declares we (the elect of God) were chosen before the foundation of the world.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says for by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves (italics added), it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.

Philippians 1:6 says, Being confident of this very thing, He that began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

What God began in the Christian, he’ll finish.

Philippians 2:12-13 says, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you both to will and do of His good pleasure.

Salvation is our gift from God through Jesus Christ. We’re commanded to develop it. God is also working in us to produce good fruit and His will in us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Colossians 1:13-14 says, giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;  in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.

Titus 2: 11-15 says, For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men,  instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world;  looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works .

Titus 3:3-7 says, For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.  But when the kindness of God our Saviour, and his love toward man, appeared,  not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us (emphasis added), through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy 

Spirit,  which he poured out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour;  that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

These passages parallel Ephesians 2:8-9 mentioned earlier in the article.

I Peter 1:3-9 says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials,  that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ:  whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

II Peter 2:3-10 says, seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue;  whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in that world by lust.

Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge;  and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness;  and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love.  For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus 

Christ.  For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.  Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble:  for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Not only is our salvation secure from heaven, we are to make our election sure here on earth for our benefit and edification. Peter tells us how to do that by developing and  fortifying our faith with: virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. These are fruits that we as Christians must cultivate in order to provide us with confidence in God and joy in salvation. This is parallel to Galatians 5:22-23, the fruit of the Spirit. If we do these things continually, we will be certain of our salvation always. The Christian life is a faith walk in God through Jesus Christ and it must be practiced. Just like anything else we practice, the more we do it, the better we become at it, the more proficient we are, and the more confidence we have in that area of expertise.

How much more should we imitate Jesus and our relationship to the Father.

We practice/do what we love. Even if it’s harmful.

I John 1:7 says, we are children of light if we walk in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.

I John 2:12 – Says that our sins have been forgiven.

I John 3:1 says, Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is.  And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

I John 4:2 tell us that every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.

I John 4:11-12 says that, this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life and this life is in His Son (emphasis added). Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

I John 5:1-5 says regarding salvation, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments.  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.  For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith.  And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

I John 5:13 John says that he wrote these things to us that we may, “know we have eternal life.”

Jude 24 -25 says, “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy. To the only wise God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our 

Lord, be glory majesty, dominion, and authority before all time and now and forever.

Amen.

Jude the half brother of Jesus Christ said that the only wise God is the one that keeps us from slipping. God causes all his children to persevere in faith so that we’re what he commissioned us to be once we’re in his presence.

Revelation 19:11-21 deals with the end of the Great Tribulation and the actual return of Jesus Christ with the saints of God. Jesus will destroy the armies of the earth: And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon called Faithful and True; and in righteous he doth judge and make war. And his eyes are a flame of fire, and upon his head are many diadems; and he hath a name written which no one knoweth but he himself. And he is arrayed in a garment sprinkled with blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and pure. And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.  And he hath on his garment and on his thigh a name written, KINGS OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.  And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid heaven, Come and be gathered together unto the great supper of God;  that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of them that sit thereon, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, and small and great.  And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat upon the horse, and against his army.  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone:  and the rest were killed with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, even the sword which came forth out of his mouth: and all the birds were filled with their flesh.

Revelation 20 deals with the redemption of the “Tribulation Saints”, the binding of Satan for one thousand years,  and his final judgment in the Lake of Fire, and the Great White Throne Judgment of the wicked dead, and their final non-resting place, the Lake of Fire. These events occur before, during and after the millennium.

                                                            

                                                                   Conclusion

I trust this jet tour through the scriptures will give you more confidence in God’s word; more than you ever had before regarding your salvation. I know it was swift. I took you through 5,000 plus years of biblical history; in three days and twelve pages; Genesis to Revelation.  Please take the time to read every passage carefully. I know it will transform and bless your life; given you the assurance of your salvation and that peace of mind you need to run this race with joy.

Jesus when praying to His Father said, “Sanctify them through your truth. Your word is truth (John 17:17).”

II Timothy 3:15-16 Paul talking to Timothy said, “and from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is breathed out (or inspired –the KJV) by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent equipped for every good work.

The apostle Paul charged the church at Philippi to practice the things they learned from him so that the peace of God would be with them (Philippians 4:7). This is also the charge we must obey.

Beloved what it boils down to is we either believe the testimony of God (i.e. the scriptures) or we don’t.

I trust the word of God implicitly for it is objective truth.

For those of who you are not saved, today is the day of salvation, not tomorrow since it’s not promised. Do not receive the grace of God in vain (II Corinthians 6:2).

END NOTES

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[i]  For an explanation of what happened to Enoch in detail read the following passages: I Corinthians 15:51-58; I Thessalonians 4:13-18. These passages specifically deal with the rapture of the church.

[ii] It’s important for the reader to grasp the import of this strong statement by Jesus. What he was telling these particular Jews was that they were not part of the kingdom of God. They are the goats that are described in Matthew 25 who were cursed into everlasting hellfire (Matthew 25:41-46).

[iii] Those appointed to eternal life are those whom God chose before the foundation of the world to be saved. This is a sovereign act of God Almighty. Being we are chosen before we are born clearly means the plan of salvation is monergistic – a work of God – alone.

The Bible contains errors. I can’t trust it!

That statement no doubt is uttered everyday by haters of scripture and also unfortunately by Christians who are unsure of the Bible’s inerrancy.

What I will do in this article is point out a few texts of scripture that appear to be errors and or contradictions.

Apparent contradiction# 1

Proverbs 26:4 – Answer not a fool according to his folly lest you be like him.

Proverbs 26:5 – Answer a fool according to his folly lest he be wise in his own conceit.

Looking at the two verses back to back they seem to contradict one another but they do not.                                    

            Let me explain.

There are times when we are not to answer a foolish person according to their behavior or else we stoop down to their level of stupidity (vs. 4).                                                                                                         

There are other occasions that we’re to rebuke the reasoning of foolish people or else they’ll feel confident in the nonsense they’re spewing out of their mouths and believe it to be true (vs. 5).

These verses are two sides of the same coin. There is no contradiction here. The writer was not confused or double minded. The writer most likely King Solomon was expressing to the reader to exercise discretion in both scenarios – when not to speak and when to speak forth.

Apparent contradiction# 2

Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.

James 2:14 – What does it profit brethren if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

Also in verse 21 it says that Abraham was justified by works (italics added).

Here in these two verses we appear to run into the same dilemma. The Apostle Paul in Ephesians is making reference to our salvation is a gift from God. There is no work involved on behalf of the sinner. The Work was completed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when he shed his precious sinless blood on the cross. Once God grants faith to the sinner, they then have the ability believe God for eternal life. Both the faith to believe and the salvation are gifts to us. We can not earn them or else faith and salvation are no longer gifts; they become debts owed to us due to our labor. This line of reasoning is obviously un-biblical.

In the epistle of James we read that we’re justified by works. James appears to contradict Paul. We must look carefully into the context to see what James is actually talking about.

James isn’t talking about justification by faith like Paul was. James is saying that genuine faith will manifest itself by good works. This is the only way one can really know their faith is the real thing. If you are a true believer your faith will always produce fruit. How do I know this? Ephesians 2:10 says, “We are His (The Father’s) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works (italics added), which God had prepared before hand that we should walk in them.”

Paul said those whom God chose (His elect) before the world began were designed to perform good works. It’s in the believer’s DNA to produce good works.

Galatians 5:22-23a – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, meekness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

These are the nine attitudes and or virtues that every Christian must develop. To do otherwise is disobedience.

Titus 2:14 – who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed, and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

So now we understand why James says at the end of chapter two, “Faith without works is dead.” (v 26).

Concluding the two verses, Ephesians 2:8-9 is strictly dealing with justification by faith in Christ for salvation. 

Jesus has already performed all the work needed. We’re the sole beneficiary of His work. James 2 is dealing with justification of our faith by good works. The works we do gives vitality and fervency to our faith, proving that it’s genuine. This is something we do. If a person never produces good works, it proves they have a dead faith, and also proves they were never justified by grace through faith; they are a fake Christian and need to get saved for real.

Let me sum it up this way, we do not work to get saved, but we work because we are saved. That is how we harmonize Ephesians 2:8-9 and James 2:14, 21.

There are more controversial passages in scripture like these but I’ll tackle those at another time. Hopefully the explanations given above prove that the passages above are not contradictory phrases, but rather complementary ones.