The Gospel Of Repentance

What is the difference between our will and God’s? Man has free will, but due to our sinful nature, our will is imprisoned by wickedness. As a result, our will is also in bondage. Sounds like double talk? It is not. Let me explain. The ability to choose is freedom. But because of our internal corruption, our choices never are totally pure. Man’s will was perfect before the fall of Adam. God’s will on the other hand is autonomous – meaning it is completely pure and free all the time. God is completely sovereign and has a will that is absolute. God’s will is so perfect that we cannot fully comprehend it.                                            In Isaiah 55:8-9 we read, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are my ways your ways”, says the Lord. “For as the heavens are...

I want to make a comparison with an excerpt from the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution and the Scripture.               “nor shall any person be subject to the same offence to twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.” Why did I use this excerpt? Because it protects one from being prosecuted for the same crime once one has been acquitted of it in a court of law. Also, once someone has been forgiven of sin after they genuinely repent, and exercise belief in the completed work of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross, they can never be condemned for their sins again; neither in this life nor in the life to come. To believe or teach that a person can lose their salvation after they have obtained it is unbiblical. Yet many Christians sadly believe and teach this heretical doctrine. The ramifications of one truly saved losing their salvation and going to hell is enormous. 1.        It ...

In Isaiah 45:7 we read, “I form the light and create darkness. I make peace and create evil. I the Lord do all these things.” So, why in the world would the prophet make such a statement like this? Why would God be responsible for creating evil when He is good and His mercy endures forever (Psalm 136)? One must conclude that if God created evil, then He must 1) be evil Himself. And 2), He cannot condemn man for the evil he does since God created it. And 3) Evil must be good. As always when reading any passage in scripture, context is the key. The word evil in Hebrew is the word Ra . It has multiple meanings such as hurt, ill, pain, harm, sorrow, mischief, affliction, misery, and calamity. It appears 663 times in the King James Bible (KJV). 431 times it is translated evil. The word evil also appears in the New American Standard Bible version (ASV). A more accurate rendering of the word evil in the above verse is calamity. God is the creator of calamity. The proph...

“Come to Me all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” -           Matthew 11:28-30 To really grasp the import of Jesus’ invitation to come to Him, we need to read the three preceding verses. They read like this, At that time Jesus said, “I praise You Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him” (Matt 11:25-27). These verses clearly explain that all authority has been given to Jesus from the Father; particularly i...

Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, In what way have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this says the Lord of hosts If I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing that there will not be room for you to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field says the Lord  -  Malachi 3:8-11   Everyone in the church knows these verses, and many can quote them word for word. These are the premiere verses used to explain the tithe, and why many preachers and parishioners believe we are obligated to “pay” it. I will submit to the reader that these verses have been grossly taken out of context – totally divorced of their original mea...

The reason why I ask the question is because for many God is not fair, they believe. Is this accusation true? Are there times in our lives where we feel we have been dealt a bad hand by God and He can longer be trusted? Perhaps we prayed to God for something and it did not come to pass, or He did not answer our prayer the way we expected Him to? Also, God takes way too long in answering our petitions. What is God’s problem – Is He even listening to us? If God is love, shouldn’t we get what we want from Him? Would it be safe to say some believe God is “ obligated” to meet their need since they are good (in their own eyes of course)? Yes, let us be honest. We have all felt that way. In fact, some of you feel that way right now as you are reading this article. And sadly for some, they have turned their backs on God never to trust Him again because they feel they have been let down by God too many times to count. They have concluded this God everyone talks about is no longer real. ...

The reason why I need to write about this is because it is important that I point out some extraordinary features of what happened at Christ’s crucifixion and prove why He is unique. First, the prophecies predicting His death. 1.        Isaiah 53:12c declares that the Lord was numbered with the transgressors; meaning He was crucified between two thieves (Luke 23:34). Also in the same verse in Isaiah it says Jesus interceded (or prayed) for the transgressors. Jesus did exactly this when He was dying in agony on the cross and said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). 2.        David some 1000 years before the birth of Christ prophesied that our Lord hands and feet would be pierced (Psalm 22:16). This prophecy was fulfilled in the gospel records (Matt 27:56; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:33-49; John 19:18). 3.        In Zechariah 12:10 the prophet said speakin...