The Gospel Of Repentance

  I am currently studying the book of 1 Chronicles. When one arrives at chapter 21 the Bible says Satan stood up against Israel and tempted David to count Israel. The reason this occurred is because the same account is in 2 Samuel 24 where it declares the anger of the Lord burned against Israel (We are not given the reason why the Lord was angry). David gave the command to Joab and his leaders to count Israel from Beersheba to Dan so he could know the size of his army. (From north to south). Joab objected to this command because he knew David’s motive behind the numbering – to boast in his military might rather in the power of God who had given him every victory through the army He (God) raised up for David. The Bible says David’s word prevailed over Joab, so he counted all the men that carried the sword. Only the tribes of Levi and Benjamin were not counted because the command of David to number the people was an abomination to Joab his military commander (1 Chronicles 21:6). Davi...

Judas was one of the twelve original disciples of Christ (Matthew 10:2). He is known as the betrayer. He is the one that sold Jesus out for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15) – which at that time was the price of a slave. Judas is the prototypical person who begins with enthusiasm with following the Lord, but when their personal expectations are not met, they are disappointed, they decide it is time to bail out and join the enemy. That is exactly what Judas did.     You see Judas ultimately did not follow Jesus because he loved Him. He was a thief and was in it for the money (John 12:6). Do we not see that same mentality today with many who are claiming to be leaders in the Church? They fleece the flock, all in the name of Jesus.    So, the question was Judas a believer in Christ? Absolutely at some point! How do I know? Judas was an eyewitness to the teaching and miracles Jesus did for three years. He was even given power to do miracles himself along with ...

  Yesterday my daughter let me hear a segment of a sermon she was listening to that concerned her. The minister declared in his message that, “A person does not go to hell because of sin because they are covered by the blood of Christ. A person goes to hell due to unbelief!”   While it is true that a person will go to hell due to unbelief, the way the minister presents his case is misleading. How? Any unforgiven sin against the Lord can send a person to hell – not just unbelief. Judas Iscariot was a believer in Christ, yet he went to hell. Why? Not because of unbelief. But because he never repented of his sins to God. He committed suicide due to his sin of betrayal of the Lord Jesus for money (Matthew 27:3-5).   Another problem with his logic is that he is implying that all sin is forgivable except unbelief. Is not unbelief in the atonement of Jesus a sin too? Yes, it is. All sin is forgivable, including unbelief.   As long as a person does not die in unbelief, the...

This article is the negative balance of the prior one. The question has been asked, “Why should someone suffer eternally for a temporary life of sins?” That is a valid question. When we sin, it is ultimately against an infinite being – God Almighty. He requires eternal punishment for a life of unrepentant and unforgiven sins. God is completely holy and in His perfect wisdom decided it would be this way. The Lord will not allow evil men to rebel against Him and not suffer the just penalty for that rebellion. The reality of eternal punishment should strike us with fear to the point that we cry out, “LORD WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED – TODAY” (Acts 16:30; 2 Cor 6:2)!    Think about it, God forgives those eternally who trust Jesus Christ as their sin bearer. It only makes sense that He would punish those eternally who do not believe that Jesus is the only  way truth and life (John 14:6).  Why do men reject the truth after hearing it explained to them? Jesus said ...

The word of God is replete with scriptures that make it clear we have eternal life abiding on the inside of us if we are Christians. What that means is that we can never lose our salvation although many believe we can. If we can lose eternal  life,  then it is not eternal is it?    Eternal life along with eternal forgiveness are inextricably linked. God does not save a life forever and not forgive that life forever too. God saves who He forgives and forgives who He saves. Why do I belabor this point? Because you have many that tragically believe and teach that a sinner that Jesus shed His blood for on the cross and saves can somehow void the power of the atonement through sin and nullify the grace of God once given to that person. What that means is that the person has allowed their feelings to override the authority and truth of God’s word. Saying it another way, the person does not have faith in the word of God; they have more faith in their vacillating fe...