" Who Crucified the CHRIST ? "

 

THE ROMANS ?

YES.

"And so Pilate (the Roman governor), willing to content the people, delivered JESUS, when he scourged HIM, to be crucified." Mark 15:15

THE JEWS ?

YES.

"Now the Chief Priests, and Elders, and all the council, sought false witness against JESUS to put HIM to death." Matthew 26:59

"Then answered all the people, and said, HIS blood be on us, and on our children." Matthew 27:25

JUDAS ISCARIOT ?

YES.

"And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the Chief Priests to betray HIM unto them." Mark 14:10

"The SON of MAN goeth as it is written of HIM: but woe unto that man by whom the SON Of MAN is betrayed ! It had been good for that man if he had not been born." Matthew 26:24

GOD ?

YES.

"Surely HE hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem HIM stricken, smitten of GOD, and afflicted." Isaiah 53:4

"HE that spared not HIS OWN SON, but delivered HIM up for us all, how shall HE not with HIM also freely give us all things ?" Romans 8:32

"JESUS cried out in a loud voice: "MY GOD, MY GOD, why have you forsaken ME ?" Matthew 27:46

YOU ?

YES.

"The LORD hath laid on HIM the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6

"But GOD demonstrates HIS love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for us." Romans 5:8

"HE was wounded for our transgressions, HE was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon HIM; and with HIS stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

"CHRIST JESUS came into the world to save sinners." 1st.Timothy 1:15

GOD LOVES YOU !

"For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believes in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

" For CHRIST died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, that HE might bring us to GOD." 1st.Peter 3:18

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, . . .For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that HE was buried, and that HE rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:" 1st.Corinthians 15:1-2a,3-4

WILL YOU REFUSE THIS

LOVE ?

"He who believes in the SON has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the SON shall not see life; but the wrath of GOD abides on him." John 3:36

"How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation." Hebrews 2:3

". . .BEHOLD, now is the accepted time; BEHOLD, now is the day of salvation." 2nd.Corinthians 6:2b

You may ask, "How can I receive GOD's love and HIS promise of eternal life ?

Acknowledge that you are a sinner, "for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD" (Romans 3:23).

Believe that the LORD JESUS died for you, for "CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures" (1st.Corinthians 15:3). 

Call upon the LORD to save you, "for whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved" (Romans 10:13).

If you would be willing to turn to CHRIST in repentance (turning to GOD from your sin) and faith, pray this simple prayer of salvation or one like it:

LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe YOU died and rose again for me. I am trusting YOU to forgive me. Come into my heart and save me. Help me to live for YOU always. In JESUS' name I pray, AMEN.

The LORD JESUS said in John 5:24, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears MY WORD, and believes on HIM that sent ME, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

" I'M A PRETTY GOOD PERSON ! "

 

I would never hurt anybody. I am honest. I love and care for my family. Surely I will go to Heaven when I die !  TRUE or FALSE ?

     It is true; most people are pretty good. However contrary to popular opinion, not all good people go to Heaven. In fact, you do not have to be a bad person to go to a Devil's Hell. Notice what the Bible says in Titus 3:5: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to HIS mercy HE saved us. . ." The Bible also states in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of GOD: Not of works, lest any man should boast." You can see that even if you are a good person, GOD's WORD declares that your goodness is not sufficient to merit Heaven.

     Another interesting fact found in the Bible is that you are not really as good as you think you are. Ecclesiastes 7:20 states, "For there is not a just man upon Earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. . . .As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:. . .For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD;" (Romans 3:10,23)

     It is true that you must have goodness to get to Heaven, but the truth is you do not possess that goodness in and of yourself. "But your iniquities have separated between you and your GOD, and your sins have hid HIS face from you, that HE will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2) "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of GOD is eternal life through JESUS CHRIST our LORD." (Romans 6:23) You see, everyone deserves to die and go to a Devil's Hell because of their sin; however, JESUS loved us so much that HE shed HIS sinless blood and died in our place. "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved,. . .For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that HE was buried, and that HE rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:" (1st.Corinthians 15:1-2a,3-4)  Three days later, CHRIST arose from the grave, proving that HE had conquered death and Hell, and establishing that HE alone has the power to give us eternal life. "But GOD commendeth HIS love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for us." (Romans 5:8)

     Think about this. If your goodness could save you, JESUS would have died in vain. The fact is no one can possibly get to Heaven on his own. JESUS HIMSELF stated in John 14:6, "I AM the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE: no man cometh unto the FATHER, but by ME."

     Perhaps by now you are wondering how you can obtain JESUS CHRIST's goodness for yourself. It is really very simple. First, you must genuinely believe that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself. ". . .except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3)  True repentance is a turning to GOD from your sin in faith. "I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto THY (GOD's) testimonies." (Psalm 119:59)

     Secondly, you must believe that JESUS died for you, personally. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD JESUS, and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD hath raised HIM from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10)

     Finally, ask HIM to save you and take you to Heaven when you die. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved." (Romans 10:13) Please call on HIM today. You have no guarantee of tomorrow. ". . .BEHOLD, NOW is the accepted time; BEHOLD, NOW is the day of salvation." (2nd.Corinthians 6:2b) What a tragedy it would be for a 'good' person like you to die and go to a Devil's Hell.

     If you would be willing to turn to CHRIST in repentance and faith, pray this simple prayer or one like it with all your heart:

LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe YOU died and rose again for me. I am trusting YOU to forgive me. Come into my heart and save me. Help me to live for YOU always. In JESUS' name I pray, AMEN.

    The LORD JESUS said in John 5:24, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears MY WORD, and believes on HIM that sent ME, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

" GOD's Simple Plan of Salvation "

 

My Friend:  I am asking you the most important question of life. Your joy or your sorrow for all eternity depends upon your answer. The question is: Are you saved ? It is not a question of how good you are, nor if you are a church member, nor are you water baptized, but are you saved ? Are you sure you will go to Heaven when you die ?

GOD says in order to go to Heaven, you must be born again. In John 3:7, JESUS said to Nicodemus, "Ye must be born again."

In the Bible GOD gives us the plan of how to be born again which means to be saved. HIS plan is simple ! You can be saved today. How ?

First, my Friend, you must realize you are a sinner. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD" (Romans 3:23). Because you are a sinner, you are condemned to death. "For the wages [payment] of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). This includes eternal separation from GOD in a Devil's Hell. ". . .it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).

But GOD loved you so much HE gave HIS only begotten SON, JESUS, to bear your sin and die in your place. ". . .HE hath made HIM [JESUS, WHO knew no sin] to be sin for us. . .that we might be made the righteousness of GOD in HIM" (2nd.Corinthians 5:21).

JESUS had to shed HIS blood and die. "For the life of the flesh is in the blood" (Leviticus 17:11). ". . .without shedding of blood is no remission [pardon]" (Hebrews 9:22). ". . .GOD commendeth HIS love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for us" (Romans 5:8).

Although we cannot understand how, GOD said my sins and your sins were laid upon JESUS and HE died in our place. HE became our substitute. It is true. GOD cannot lie. "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, . . .For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that HE was buried, and that HE rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:" (1st.Corinthians 15:1-2a,3-4).

My Friend, "GOD. . .commandeth all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30). This repentance is a change of mind that agrees with GOD that one is a sinner, and also agrees with what JESUS did for us on the Cross. In Acts 16:30-31, the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas: ". . .'Sirs, what must I do to be saved ?' And they said, Believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and thou shalt be saved. . ."

Simply believe on HIM as the ONE WHO bore your sin, died in your place, was buried, and whom GOD resurrected. HIS resurrection powerfully assures that the believer can claim everlasting life when JESUS is received as SAVIOR.

"But as many as received HIM, to them gave HE power to become the sons of GOD, even to them that believe on HIS name" (John 1:12). "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). Whosoever includes you. Shall be saved means not maybe, nor can, but shall be saved. Surely, you realize you are a sinner. Right now, wherever you are, repenting, turning to GOD, lift your heart to GOD in prayer.

In Luke 18:13, the sinner prayed: "GOD be merciful to me a sinner." Just pray this simple prayer or one like it:

LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe YOU died and rose again for me. I am trusting YOU to forgive me. Come into my heart and save me. Help me to live for you always.  In JESUS name I pray, AMEN.

Just take GOD at HIS WORD and claim HIS salvation by faith. Believe, and you will be saved. No church, no lodge, no good works, no water baptism can save you. Remember, GOD does the saving. ALL OF IT !

GOD's simple plan of salvation is: You are a sinner. Therefore, unless you believe on JESUS WHO died in your place, you will spend eternity in a Devil's Hell. If you believe on HIM as your crucified, buried, and risen SAVIOR, you receive forgiveness for all of your sins and HIS gift of eternal salvation by faith.

You say, "Surely, it can't be that simple." Yes, that simple ! It is scriptural. It is GOD's plan, My Friend, believe on JESUS and receive HIM as your personal SAVIOR today.

If HIS plan is not perfectly clear, read this post over and over, without turning away from it until you understand it. Your soul is worth more than all the world. "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul ?" (Mark 8:36). Be sure you are saved. If you lose your soul, you miss Heaven and lose all. Please ! Let GOD save you this very moment.

GOD's power will save you, keep you saved, and enable you to live a victorious Christian life. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but GOD is faithful, WHO will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1st.Corinthians 10:13).

Do not trust your feelings. They change, Stand on GOD's promises. They never change. After you are saved, there are three things to practice daily for spiritual growth: PRAY - you talk to GOD. READ YOUR BIBLE - GOD talks to you. WITNESS - you talk for GOD.

You should be baptized in obedience to the LORD JESUS CHRIST as a public testimony of your salvation, and then unite with a Bible-believing church without delay. "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our LORD. . ." (2nd.Timothy 1:8). "Whosoever therefore shall confess [testify of] ME before men, him will I confess also before MY FATHER which is in Heaven" (Matthew 10:32)  - Ford Porter

The LORD JESUS said, ". . .I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish. . ." (John 10:28). Everlasting life is ours when we receive CHRIST as our personal SAVIOR.

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

" Strong But TRUE WORDs ! "

 

Psalm 92:4-6  "For THOU, LORD, hast made me glad through THY work: I will triumph in the works of THY hands. O LORD, how great are THY works ! and THY thoughts are very deep. A brutish (stupid) man knoweth not; neither doth a fool (wicked, impious) understand this."

     Many of us probably have had to make strong but true statements at times without regard to what people might think. Samuel Johnson, an eighteenth century English writer, said a remark to his younger friend and contemporary James Boswell, that was, indeed, harsh yet in many cases accurate. "Sir," he said, "no man is an atheist, except in the sense that a dog is an atheist, because he has not brains enough to think." Scripture affirms, "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no GOD" (Psalm 14:1 pictured above).

     The fool (a wicked, impious person) determines in his innermost being that GOD does not exist despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary. A shepherd boy, David by name, looked into the heavens and marveled at the evidence of GOD's handiwork in all of creation (Psalm 19:1-2 pictured above). The Apostle Paul specifically stated that the CREATOR's "eternal power and GODhead" (Romans 1:20) are so evident in creation that man is left without excuse if he does not acknowledge GOD. Today's text reminds us: "The works of [GOD's] hands. . .how great" they are and how deep HIS thoughts . Verse six declares, "A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this." The word "brutish" is from a Hebrew term meaning "stupid." Remember that this is GOD's evaluation of the person who, in the face of firm evidence to the contrary, insists that there is no GOD. He looks into the heavens, gazing upon the celestial bodies and their movements. He ponders the intricacies of the wonders in the world. He sees how fearfully and wonderfully his own body has been designed and given life. And yet, he boldly looks into the face of GOD and says, "No, YOU don't exist."  What a fool ! JED

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.    www.featoday.org

" Being Sorry, Asking Forgiveness, or Confessing ? "

 

1st.John 1:1-10  "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the WORD of life: (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the FATHER, and was manifested unto us:) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the FATHER, and with HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 

This then is the message which we have heard of HIM, and declare unto you, that GOD is light, and in HIM is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with HIM, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as HE is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of JESUS CHRIST HIS SON cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make HIM a liar, and HIS WORD is not in us."

     GOD has given to HIS children only one requirement in order to restore a fellowship that has been broken by sin. That requirement is confession: "If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"(v.9 pictured above). Some think we should come to GOD and just say, "LORD, I'm sorry." Sorrow for sin certainly has its place, but being sorry is not confession. Even with human relationships, it is much easier to say "I'm sorry" than it is to tell the offended person exactly what we have done and to acknowledge how wrong it was. GOD demands more than "I'm sorry." Others, burdened by sin, come to GOD saying, "LORD, forgive me." Yet, asking forgiveness is not exactly the same as confessing sin. GOD has promised to forgive us if we confess our sins. We do the confessing, and GOD will do the forgiving. (Of course, we are speaking here of fellowship forgiveness, not salvation forgiveness, the latter having been already accomplished once for all. In the family of GOD we often need to get things right with our heavenly FATHER, but this has nothing to do with our eternal salvation). Confession entails an honest acknowledgment of the wrong we have done and the sins we have committed as believers. Sorry for what ? Forgiveness for what ? With an open heart, GOD wants you to spell it out. Confession may be summarized in four words: "LORD, I have sinned." GOD wants us to tell HIM what we have done and agree with HIM that it is sinful in HIS sight. David gives a good example of true, contrite confession: "For I acknowledge my transgressions. . .Against THEE, THEE only, have I sinned, and done this evil in THY sight" (Psalm 51:3-4a). GWZ

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.    www.featoday.org

" UPGrading My Christian Life ! "

 

1st.Peter 1:13-22  "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of JESUS CHRIST; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as HE which hath called you is Holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I AM Holy. And if ye call on the FATHER, WHO without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of CHRIST, as of a LAMB without blemish and without spot: WHO verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by HIM do believe in GOD, that raised HIM up from the dead, and gave HIM glory; that your faith and hope might be in GOD. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the SPIRIT unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:"

     The following four verses contain the little word "up," showing me, in practical ways, how I can UPGrade my Christian experience here on Earth:

     1. "My voice shalt THOU hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto THEE, and will look up" (Psalm 5:3 pictured above) -- I must form the habit of starting the day with the LORD. This sets the tone for the rest of the day. When I begin the morning on the wrong foot, it is difficult to return to the path of consecration. Looking up to GOD at the start of the day is a key that unlocks the door of dependent fellowship.

     2. "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind" (v.13 pictured at top of post) -- the Hebrews wore long, loose robes that they tied up with a girdle or belt in order to toil or travel (Exodus 12:11; 1st.Kings 18:46). I must be ready for the battle of the mind. To upgrade my walk I must first upgrade my thinking (Romans 12:1-3 pictured above). To have the mind of CHRIST I must have my mind thoroughly saturated with the WORD of GOD, thinking GOD's thoughts after HIM.

     3. "Stir up the gift of GOD, which is in thee" (2nd.Timothy 1:6 pictured above). I have been gifted by GOD for the edifying ("building up") of the body of CHRIST. "Stir up" means to "keep ablaze, rekindle, fan into flames." May I beware of carnal coldness. GOD wants me to be zealous and on fire for CHRIST (Revelation 3:19). May I be on guard against anything that would cool down or extinguish my testimony for CHRIST and edification of others.

     4. "Take up [your] cross daily, and follow ME" (Luke 9:23 pictured above) -- to the man carrying his cross to the place of execution, the things of the world no longer have any attraction. May my allegiance be to CHRIST alone, no longer to Satan and his world system. GWZ

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.    www.featoday.org

" HEAVEN: GOD's Gift to Believers ! "

 

JESUS said, "I go and prepare a place for you . . . that where I AM, there ye may be also." (John 14:3)

The longer people live, the more they think about Heaven. Untold numbers of songs and poems have been written about that beautiful place.

Heaven is a place with beauty beyond our dreams. The Bible says, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which GOD hath prepared for them that love HIM." (1st.Corinthians 2:9)

Heaven is a glorious city with streets of "gold . . . walls of jasper, and gates of pearl . . ." (Revelation 21:18, 21)

Heaven is a real place and GOD wants everyone to go there. Sadly many will never go to Heaven because they have never come to CHRIST for salvation.

JESUS said, "I AM the door: by ME if any man enter in, he shall be saved." (John 10:9)  JESUS died for our sins and paid our sin debt in full. JESUS rose from the grave. HE said, "Because I live ye shall live also." (John 10:7)

JESUS said . . . "I AM the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in ME, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in ME shall never die." (John 11:25-26)

JESUS said believers "never die."  Their body dies but believers have ever lasting life, they don't die. They close their eyes in death and open them in Heaven.

In death Christians are "absent from the body and . . . present with the LORD." (2nd.Corinthians 5:8) Everyone is going to live forever somewhere, one day we will see it's true. Is Heaven going to be your eternal home when you die ?

* ACKNOWLEDGE YOU ARE A SINNER.

The Bible says, "As it is written, There in none righteous, no, not one . . . For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD;" (Romans 3:10,23)

* BELIEVE CHRIST DIED FOR YOU.

The Bible says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of GOD is eternal life through JESUS CHRIST our LORD."

"GOD commendeth HIS love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for us." (Romans 6:23; 5:8)

* CALL UPON HIM TO SAVE YOU.

 

The Bible says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD JESUS, and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD hath raised HIM from the dead, thou shalt be saved . . . For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved." (Romans 10:9,13)

If you would be willing to turn to GOD in repentance and faith pray this prayer:

LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe you died and rose again for me. I am trusting YOU to forgive me. Come into my heart and save me. Help me to live for YOU always. In JESUS' name I pray, AMEN.

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

H E A V E N

by Tom Sexton

There are no shadows

In death with JESUS. 

There are no valleys 

We must walk through.

Death is only a doorway

And all of Heaven awaits you.

Our vision on Earth is limited

We see only into the blue,

But in death our vision is endless

All of Glory comes into view.

Death takes hold of the body,

And our race on Earth is through. 

The battle for us is over.

With open arms HE welcomes you.

So, fear not the end of life's journey.

Believe what GOD says is true. 

Death has been defeated !

Heaven is HIS gift to you.

Printed in memory of Pastor Tim Hawkins (May 20th. 1967 - May 11th. 2023)

GULF COAST BAPTIST CHURCH

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www.FiveStarChristianMinistries.com

" The LORD My GOD Shall Come ! "

 

Zechariah 14:1-11  "BEHOLD, the Day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when HE fought in the Day of battle. 

And HIS feet shall stand in that Day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azalyea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah King of Judah: and the LORD my GOD shall come, and all the Saints with THEE. And it shall come to pass in that Day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: but it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.

And it shall be in the Day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. And the LORD shall be KING over all the Earth: in that Day shall there be one LORD, and HIS name ONE. All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses. And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited."

     It is essential to distinguish between the coming of CHRIST "in the air" for the Saints (fulfilling HIS promises to the church, 1st.Thessalonians 4:13-18) and HIS coming back to the earth with the Saints (v.5 pictured above) to accomplish HIS WORD to Israel. Failure to distinguish between these two aspects of CHRIST's return leads to great confusion concerning the present situation as well as the future of both Israel and the church. The Great Tribulation lies ahead for Israel and the unbelieving world (vv.1-3). What is the expectation of the church ? Believers will experience trials and hardship (John 16:33; 2nd.Timothy 3:12) but not the prophesied seven-year Tribulation that will refine a remnant of Israel and try the whole Earth (Daniel 12:1; 2nd.Thessalonians 2:8-12). Christians are to be "looking for that blessed hope" (Titus 2:13 pictured below), NOT the wrath of ALMIGHTY GOD (1st.Thessalonians 5:9).

     Meanwhile, we must remember that in this present age, GOD recognizes three classes of people: Jews, Gentiles, and the church (1st.Corinthians 10:32). Every promise the LORD gave to Israel concerning the kingdom will yet be fulfilled. Evangelicals who teach that these unfulfilled prophecies apply to the church or that they are figurative rather than literal are deceiving themselves as well as their followers. Charismatics who talk and act as if they are already in the kingdom are patently false and fail to rightly divide GOD's WORD (2nd.Timothy 2:15). All who teach that believers today are responsible to help "bring in the kingdom" do not understand that JESUS HIMSELF will establish HIS kingdom on Earth. GOD's promises to Israel will indeed literally come to pass, and we must not make the error of minimizing or misapplying these wonderful verities. MHR

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.    www.featoday.org

" BEHOLD, Thy KING Cometh ! "

 

Zechariah 9:9-17 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: BEHOLD, thy KING cometh unto thee: HE is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and HE shall speak peace unto the heathen: and HIS dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the Earth. As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoner's out of the pit wherein is no water.

Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; when I have bent Judah for ME, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man. And the LORD shall be seen over them, and HIS arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south. The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar. And the LORD their GOD shall save them in that Day as the flock of HIS people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon HIS land. For how great is HIS goodness, and how great is HIS beauty ! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids."

     One of GOD's oft-repeated promises to HIS people Israel in the Old Testament is HIS pledge of a future, perfect, all-powerful KING. Zechariah describes in verse nine of our text the lowliness of this mighty KING's first coming, and Matthew 21:4-5 (pictured at top of post) confirms this specific prophecy concerning the first coming of JESUS CHRIST. The description GOD gave of this coming KING in Isaiah 7:14 (pictured above) and Isaiah 9:6-7 leaves no question about the fact that the prophesied KING was the LORD JESUS CHRIST, GOD manifest in the flesh (John 1:14). When CHRIST was born of the virgin in Bethlehem and the wise men came from the East to worship HIM, the Jewish religious leaders knew exactly where to direct them (Matthew 2:1-6 cf. Micah 5:2). JESUS CHRIST proved through word and deed that HE was the promised LAMB of GOD, KING of kings, and LORD of lords.

     But human history, as well as GOD's WORD, records the fact that the majority of the religious leaders and people of Israel not only rejected JESUS as KING but actually demanded HIS crucifixion and declared, "We have no King but Caesar" (John 19:15). John 1:11 (pictured above) records the sad truth concerning the sinless SON of GOD: "HE came unto HIS OWN, and HIS OWN received HIM not." But does this fact negate GOD's many promises concerning CHRIST's coming eternal kingdom ? Of course not ! The GOD of Heaven will indeed set up an eternal kingdom "which shall never be destroyed" (Daniel 2:44; 7:13-14). In tomorrow's study we will see the importance of "rightly dividing the WORD of truth" (2nd.Timothy 2:15) with regard to the coming of CHRIST and to unfulfilled prophecies relating to Israel as well as those specifically for the church in this age of grace. MHR

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.    www.featoday.org

" The ONLY Doorway to Heaven ! "

 

JESUS IS THE DOOR TO HEAVEN.

JESUS is the door. . . HE said in John 10:9, "I AM the door: by ME if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." JESUS is the way. . . "I AM the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE: no man cometh unto the FATHER, but by ME." (John 14:6).

JESUS IS THE ONLY DOORWAY TO HEAVEN.

My Friend, let me ask you an most important question. Are you trying to enter Heaven some other way than through the way JESUS provided ? If you are, JESUS said you are a thief and a robber. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber." (John 10:1)

There is no other way to get to Heaven. Religion is not the way ! The preacher or priest is not the way ! Water baptism is not the way ! Church membership is not the way ! Being a morally good person is not the way ! Doing good works is not the way !

The Bible states in Acts 4:12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." There is nothing you can do to earn salvation or your way into Heaven. "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;" (Isaiah 64:6a). Only by receiving JESUS CHRIST as your personal LORD and SAVIOR can you enter into the kingdom of GOD.

HOW CAN YOU ENTER THE DOOR ?

You enter the door by asking JESUS to come into you heart and save you. "But as many as received HIM, to them gave HE power to become the sons of GOD, even to them that believe on HIS name:" (John 1:12). The Bible states, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD JESUS, and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD hath raised HIM from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved." (Romans 10:9-10,13).

Don't let the Devil deceive you by making you believe there is some other way. The Bible says that the Devil ". . .is a liar, and the father of it." (John 8:44b).

Eternal salvation is a free gift to all who will simply receive JESUS CHRIST into their heart. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of GOD: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9).

JESUS said in Mark 1:15, ". . .repent ye, and believe the Gospel." Believing the Gospel is believing ". . .that CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that HE was buried, and that HE rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:" (1st.Corinthians 15:3,4). Repent simply means that you are turning "to GOD" from your sin.

JESUS died on the cross, was buried, and was resurrected by the power of GOD for our salvation. "For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believes in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16).

My Friend, if you want to be sure that you are saved and Heaven will be your home, pray this simple prayer or one like with all your heart:

LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe YOU died and rose again for me. I am trusting YOU to forgive me. Come into my heart and save me. Help me to live for YOU always. In JESUS name I pray, AMEN.

The Bible says in John 3:36, "He that believes on the SON hath everlasting life: and he that believes not the SON shall not see life; but the wrath of GOD abides on him." PLEASE don't reject JESUS, trust HIM today before it is too late !

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie