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Archives - FAQs |
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This is the archives of the Frequently Asked Questions section on the What's New section located in this website. The following are questions that have been asked. If you have a question, please review the How do I submit a question, or simply send us an email.
Answer: Why are Christians so serious about Christianity, their faith? No one wants to die, but death is death, everyone dies, in the scheme of things it's really not that big of a deal. Has anyone ever asked you to lighten up about your faith and beliefs? Has anyone ever told you you were just too serious? Why are you so serious? Christians and the Christian faith is serious because of eternal death. Whether or not someone believes in eternal death or not does not mean that eternal death does not exist. Eternal death is serious. Christians believe that God has set before us all a choice for every human being and that choice is Eternal Life or Eternal Death and God desires that we all choose Eternal Life.
Christians believe one must choose between life with God or life without God. Life with God is only received by choice, by one choosing God, by choosing the salvation of God through faith in Christ Jesus for His salvation. Life without God is also a choice to remain apart from God, apart from Jesus, apart from salvation, apart from the love of God. Christians have received the salvation of God by faith in Christ Jesus. With the salvation of God, Christians are blessed with the love of God, the peace of God, the comfort of God. Christians desire to share the love of God and let others know how they too can have wonderful love of God and the peace of God that passes all understanding. For more information please visit the Salvation page in this website. Christians believe the Word of God - the Holy Bible - and believe that there is a serious choice to be made by every human being that will determine where they spend eternity - either with God or without God. The thought of anyone spending eternity without God is beyond terrible, beyond anything we can imagine. The thought of our loved ones, our friends, or anyone spending eternity without God is what motivates Christians to be bold enough and serious to share the gospel of Christ, the plan of salvation, the seriousness of eternal death, and the hope of eternal life to everyone. Christians are serious when it comes to the eternity of any other human being that may be in danger of spending eternity without God because we believe and love God and we love all people. Eternal separation from God, eternal death is serious and should matter to every human being. Again, just because a person doesn't believe in something doesn't mean it is not true. No one person knows everything. Only God is all knowing. Yes, people have a right to believe what they want to believe in our society. When someone tells you they don't believe in your Christ, or your Christian faith, or your God, know that they may stop you from speaking to them about the things of God but no one can prevent you from praying to God for their salvation. Christians can respect other people's views but we never have to stop praying for them. Always remember the love of God is what changes the stony hearts of people. Be kind, share the gospel with love and respect and even when people do not agree with you they will see you genuinely care and that you say what you say because you love them and you love your God. Christians are serious because we take serious the things of God, His truth, His love, His salvation and His eternity. The Christian heart is as the heart of Christ loving, kind, respectful, gracious, and merciful. There is a time for laughter and a time to be serious. Christians must show the world a balance of both joy and sorrow, joy for what we have found in Christ Jesus and sorrow for those who are apart from the God of love and His salvation.
Answer: All this - faith, salvation, loving God, reading and studying His Word, learning about GOD is for our benefit, so that we can have an abundant life with God - a loving, living relationship with Almighty God. We have more choices today than ever before. Choices to be anyone we want, choices to do things our parents could not do, choices to go places others dream about. We all have choices for our lives. The most important choice that we will ever make in this life is whether or not we will have a relationship with God, as it is up to us - it is our choice. The point of having a living, saving relationship with God is so that we can know God, so that we can serve God, so that we can receive His love and give His love to others, and so that we can live with God today and in the world to come. The point of having all this - faith, salvation, learning His Word, praying and worshipping God is so that we can do the will of God and fulfill the plan that God has for our lives. God has an awesome plan for your life. He has a purpose, a goal, a reason for creating your life. By seeking God's will for our lives we receive the blessings of God: peace, joy, love, comfort, forgiveness, strength, grace, mercy and hope. God wants to give us more than we can ever imagine, so much more than this world has to give to us, if we will only let Him, if we will only trust Him, and allow Him into our lives. The point of faith, salvation, living to GOD is to give God back the love that He has so freely given us. We are given but one life to live and we have a choice how we are to live it; we can either live it for no reason or live it for a greater purpose, for God's purpose. Please visit the Choices page to learn more about the choices we make.
Companion to From the Heart of ... What is the point of all this?
Answer: I have many favorite Scriptures. It would be hard to choose just one. I would say my all time favorite Scriptures would be John 3:16 and Philippians 4:13 and Galatians 3:26. John 3:16 shows us how to receive the salvation of God, Philippians 4:13 shows us what we can do with the salvation of God, and Galatians 3:26 shows us who we are with the salvation of God. Salvation, forgiveness, redemption, healing, purpose, love, peace, power, strength, position, identity, life - these are things that people are searching for in this life and they are all found in One who is the Savior of the world - Jesus Christ.
Answer: Justification is receiving salvation and Sanctification is living salvation.
Justification is the righteousness of God. Justification is the act of receiving the salvation of God. Justification is required to see God, be with God for all eternity. Without justification you do not have the righteousness of God whereby you are reconciled to God, whereby you become a child of God, adopted into the family of God, whereby you are saved. Justification is received by faith in God to salvation, believing that God alone can and will save you. Christ Jesus created justification and gifts it to mankind through faith in Him, by His resurrection (Romans 4:25). Justification of life is by the righteousness of one Jesus Christ (Romans 5:18). No person is justified by their works, we are justified by the faith of Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:16). Before salvation we are without righteousness; we have no righteousness without God. This is why our works before salvation cannot save us, because we have no righteous works to give God until after we are saved.
Sanctification is the holiness of God received at salvation and lived out - throughout the life of every believer. Sanctification is the ongoing process of salvation, were we are made holy, and live holy to God, because He is holy, live in holiness to God, reconciled to God and made worthy through Christ to enter into His Kingdom (2 Thessalonians 2:13). Sanctification is living Christ. Sanctification is living holy unto God, for God, because of God, every day of our lives. Sanctification is a lifetime journey of holiness to God, purposefully separating from sin and twistedness of this world. Sanctification is born when we receive Christ and know that He died for our sins. Sanctification is lived by acknowledging that we died with Christ to sin, we commit our lives to serving God, to holiness through Christ forevermore. Sanctification is a commitment to God lived by faith every day to live our lives through Christ in the holiness of God, set apart from the world.
Justification is receiving salvation and sanctification is living that salvation. Justification is receiving Christ and sanctification is living with Christ, through Christ, putting on Christ, conforming our lives to Christ every day of our lives until we see Christ. We receive, maintain, and retain sanctification by living in faith to God every day, by overcoming sin in our lives with Christ, abstaining from fornication, forsaking iniquity, avoiding evil, because God called us into His Holiness, and we are to be holy because He is Holy, and because we love Him with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, with all our strength forevermore (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; 1 Peter 1:15-16 Romans 12:21; 1 John 5:4-5; Revelation 21:7).
Justification is the birth of salvation and sanctification is the life of salvation.
Answer: Many people wonder if they can know that they are saved. Some people believe that no person can have assurance of their salvation. Many people believe that know one can know if they are truly saved until after they die. Let's look at what God tells us in His Word.
Does God give His children proof that they are saved? Yes, He does! God loves us and wants to give all of us His gift of salvation. God's desires that all mankind be where He created us to be which is with Him, living with Him for all eternity. The desire of God's heart is for all mankind, every person He created, to be with Him in His Kingdom, so that He can live with us and love us throughout all eternity. God is the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3). God gives all His children comfort. There wouldn't be much comfort if we were not assured of our eternal destiny, assured of our eternal life, assured of our eternal salvation. It would be torment all the days of our lives, if God did not assure us of our eternal salvation in Him. We would live in constant anguish, fearing our eternal destination, fearing the hear after, fearing death, if God did not assure us of our salvation in Him. God is merciful and full of grace and love. God loving and faithfully gives every child of His full assurance of eternal life, complete full assurance of our salvation forever. God gives His children love, security, assurance, guarantee of their salvation by His infallible Word.
If you have come to God in faith that He alone can save you, then God says that you are saved. By the word of God, all people who place their faith and trust in Him for their life, receive His gift of eternal salvation.
We are all saved the exact same way, which is by the grace of God through faith in God to salvation (Ephesians 2:8). When we believe with all our heart that God alone can give us eternal life, which is eternal salvation, then we can be saved (John 3:14-18). When we give God our life, surrender our life to Him, we choose His will over our own will, then we can be saved (Romans 10:3). When we confess our sins to God, He is faithful to forgive our sins (1 John 1:9), then we can be saved (Romans 10:10). When we give up our old life of sin, when we turn from sin to God, we repent of all our sins, then we can be saved. When we ask Jesus to be our personal Lord and Saviour, the one and only Master over our lives, then we can be saved (Romans 6:23, 10:9).
Obtaining salvation is offered to all people, by God Himself, no matter who they are or what they have done in the past (1 Thessalonians 5:9). God gives His eternal salvation to anyone who believes in Him as the one true living God who can save them from sin and death and give them life (1 Timothy 4:10). Through the operation of God, when we receive His eternal salvation, our spirit is washed and renewed (Titus 3:5), all our past sins are totally forgiven and washed away, we are adopted into the family of God through faith in Christ Jesus to salvation. We all are saved the exact same way, by grace through faith in Christ Jesus we become the children of God (Galatians 3:26). God does not want us to question our salvation, or doubt the existence of our eternal life. We must know without a doubt that God is faithful to all the promises that He has made (Hebrews 10:23). God promises that whosoever calls to Him, believes in Him for their salvation will be saved. Though faith in God we are saved by God. By the same grace of God that saved us through faith in Him, we can hold onto the profession of our faith without wavering (Hebrews 10:23), because we know God is the one who promised us everlasting life, and God is faithful to all His promises. God is faithful to all His promises (2 Corinthians 1:20; 2 Peter 1:3-4). God has never broken any promise that He has made. God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). God will fulfill all His promises that are yet to be fulfilled, that are written in His word (Matthew 5:18). We are guaranteed by God Himself, the God that holds all the power, that if we choose to receive His salvation through faith in Him, if we choose to receive His everlasting life and live in faith to Him, that He will give us eternal life, that when we die, we will pass from death to eternal life with Him.
God's record is given to all people in His Word. God gives eternal life, His gift of salvation, to all people who believe on the name of the Son of God - Jesus Christ, that we may know that we have eternal life, and this is the confidence that we have in Him. That we may know that we have eternal life - this is the confidence - assurance of salvation that we have in Him forever.
Answer: Many people wonder when Christ will return. Many people ask if Jesus could really come in their lifetime, this year, this month, today. When Jesus left this earth and ascended up into Heaven, Jesus left us all with the promise to come again. Jesus left us with a promise of His coming again.
God created us to be with Him. God desires that we be where He created us to be, that is with Him. Jesus said, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you will be also. The word of God is the truth of God, from God, and all the Word of God will be fulfilled (Matthew 5:18). The promises of God cannot be broken. Although it is true that no one knows what day or what hour the Lord is coming, we are all told in the Word of God that Jesus will come and that He is coming soon.
The word of God states that Jesus is coming soon, the Lord's coming is at hand (Philippians 4:5; Revelation 22:10). There should be no doubt in our hearts and minds that Jesus is coming soon and that He may come at any time. Does something have to happen before Jesus can come? Must anything be fulfilled before Jesus can come in the clouds? Does some sort of sign have to occur before His coming? No. Nothing has to happen before Jesus can come. There is no sign that must occur before Jesus can come. Everything has been fulfilled for the coming of Christ Jesus - the time is fulfilled (Mark 1:15). Absolutely nothing is preventing Jesus from coming right now, today, He can come right this minute. Jesus will come in the clouds for His own at the appointed time, the right time, and on time. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
The time of Jesus' coming is set in Heaven, not on this earth. God has appointed the perfect time for all things to occur. When it is God's will, at that perfect time, Jesus will come. Absolutely nothing we can do can prevent or change the timing of Jesus' coming.
Who is Jesus coming for? Jesus is coming for His own, who are the children of God, who are the saved in Christ, who are the faithful uncompromised believers of the one true most high Jehovah God Almighty and who are doers of His word. No one enters into the Kingdom of God, Heaven, except through faith in Christ Jesus to salvation (John 14:6; Galatians 3:26).
Jesus will be coming for the servants of righteousness, the prisoners of Christ, the servants of God, the saved, all people who love God by living in obedience to God.
Who will NOT be caught up and meet Jesus in the air? The unbelieving will not be caught up to meet Jesus in the air. Without faith in God to salvation no one will see Him. Without faith in God you cannot enter into His Kingdom (Hebrews 3:19). Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Unbelief in God as God separates anyone from eternity with God (John 3:18). Unbelief (no faith in God as God) is the only thing that separates anyone from God. The fearful are all people who live in unbelief and will not go. The servants of sin, those who choose to live in sin, will not see Jesus. The unrepentant sinner are those who do not believe in God for their salvation, all people who refuse to depart from their sin will not hear Jesus' call. All people who have not surrendered their life to Jesus, who do not chose His will over their will, they will not hear His call and will not be caught up to meet Him in the air. All people who have not accepted the gift of salvation from God will not meet Jesus in the air.
Your god in this life on this earth, will be your same god in eternity. Who you serve now will be who you serve in eternity. All people who have turned their back on God, forsaken God, abandoned God, replaced God with other things will not see Jesus. We must attach ourselves to Jesus (through faith in Him to salvation) in order to be attached to Him in eternity. Do not be deceived, if you do not know Jesus in this life, you will not know Him in the life to come. If you are NOT with Jesus here (earth), you will NOT be with Jesus there (Heaven). All people who are not looking for Jesus' coming, not watching and waiting for Jesus, not anticipating Jesus' coming, all people who do not believe that He is coming, all these people will not hear Him call when He comes, they will not be caught up to meet Him in the clouds, they will not see Him face to face, they will not be comforted by Him, and they will not be forever with Him when He comes. If you do not believe in Jesus, if you do not believe Jesus is coming for His own, then you will NOT hear His call and you will NOT be caught up with Him in the clouds when He does come, and you will NOT be forever with the LORD God. Jesus will not take people to be with Him that do not believe in Him. The time is at hand, the time is now for the Lord's coming. Jesus can come this minute. Nothing or no one in this world can hold Him back from coming soon and fulfilling the word of God.
What should faithful believers be doing? Watching, waiting, praying and be ready. We stand ready by remaining in the faith and by doing the word of God. Living in sin, forsaking God by continuing to sin, living life for yourself instead of living for and to God, pursuing sin, defending sin, permitting sin, committing sin, being a servant of sin - is NOT living by faith, is NOT remaining faithful, and is NOT overcoming sin. We overcome sin through salvation and by living in righteousness to God, by seeking God, by forsaking sin, by living for God and to God, by denying sin, by defending righteousness, by living in faith, by remaining committed and surrendered to Christ. All believers can overcome sin through the power of God given to every believer by faith to salvation. The power and strength to overcome sin is inside every believer through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13).
The saved in Christ Jesus, the children of God, the saints of God, all saved faithful believers are to be ever watching, ever waiting, ever praying, and ever ready - heart, mind, soul, and spirit - ever ready to see Jesus.
Jesus said, "Surely I come quickly". Can you say, "Come, Lord Jesus"? Are you ready for Jesus?
Answer: Let's start with where Jesus isn't today.
Jesus is not on a cross. Yes, Jesus was crucified on a cross for the sins of all the people of this world (Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24-25; Luke 23:33; John 19:18). Yes, Jesus took on our sins - the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2; 2 Corinthians 5:21), so that we could receive everlasting life (John 3:16, 6:47). Yes, Jesus loved us so much that He gave His life for each of us. Yes, Jesus' earthly body died on a cross after His work on earth was done (John 19:30). Yes, Jesus gave up the ghost, and His Spirit left His earthly body (Mark 15:37; Luke 23:46). Yes, Jesus set us free from sin and death by His death on a cross (Romans 6:22). Yes, Jesus conquered sin and death by His blood sacrifice on the cross, but Jesus is NOT on a cross today. the earthly body of Jesus was taken down from His cross over 2,000 years ago (Luke 23:52-53) and Jesus is NOT on a cross today.
Jesus is not in a grave. Yes, Jesus' dead earthly body was taken down from His cross and placed in a tomb, placed in a grave (Mark 15:46). Yes, a stone was rolled in front of His grave and remained there for three days (Matthew 27:66). After three days the stone was rolled away (Matthew 28:2), and Jesus was not found in His grave, He is not here for He is risen (Matthew 28:5-6). Jesus was resurrected from His grave to new life (Matthew 28:7). Jesus received a new body. Yes, Jesus was crucified and His earthly body died on that cross, but Jesus was taken down from His cross. Yes, Jesus was buried in a grave, but Jesus rose from His grave in a new body, three days after He was put in His grave (1 Corinthians 15:4). Jesus died and rose from the grave to be Lord of both the dead and living (Romans 14:9). Jesus is risen! Jesus is NOT in a grave today.
Jesus is not bodily on this earth. Yes, Jesus walked this same earth some 2,000 years ago. Yes, Jesus was manifested in the flesh, born to a virgin, formed in the image of man, believed on in this world (1 Timothy 3:16), hated in this world (john 15:18, 25), performed miracles (John 2:11), healed the sick and diseased (Matthew 15:30), made the lame to walk and the blind to see, made disciples of men and women, walked, prayed, and cried with His disciples, convicted of a crime He did not commit, sentenced to a horrid crucified death on a cross, beaten, bruised, spit on, nailed to a cross (John 20:25), gave up His Ghost on His cross (Mark 15:27), died on His cross so that all mankind could receive everlasting life and see God, be with God for eternity, Jesus was buried, Jesus rose from His grave, Jesus was physically and bodily seen after His resurrection (Acts 10:41; John 21:14), Jesus lived on earth after His resurrection for 40 days, and then He ascended up into the Kingdom of God (Ephesians 4:8), received up into the Glory of God (1 Timothy 3:16), Heaven from where He came (John 3:13), and sat down in the throne of God where He is today (Hebrews 10:12). Jesus' earthly body is NOT on this earth today.
Now that we have confirmed where Jesus isn't, we can confirm where He is today.
Jesus is in the Kingdom of God, Heaven. Scriptures tell us all that Jesus ascended to Heaven, the throne of God, the Kingdom of God, where He came to earth from, which is on the right hand of God the Father, in the throne of God, which is in Heaven (John 3:13). Jesus welcomes every genuine believer into the Kingdom of Heaven personally (Matthew 7:21). Every person who has a current personal relationship with Jesus Christ through the salvation of God, one day will be met in Heaven by Jesus Himself. Jesus waits to see each of God's children, because we are part of His family, Jesus waits to see every one of us face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12), either at our earthly death (2 Corinthians 5:8), or at the rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:17), whichever happens first.
Jesus is with all faithful believers. Jesus lives within every faithful believer through the power of the Holy Spirit (John 15:4; 2 Timothy 1:14).
Jesus is always with us. If you are a faithful believer, Jesus is always with you. Jesus promised to be with us always, even until the end of this earth. Jesus will be with us when we leave this earth and begin our eternal life with Him. Jesus said: "I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:20) Jesus is our eternal Hope, our eternal Life today and forevermore (John 3:15; Romans 5:21, 6:23; 1 John 5:11, 13, 20). Even Jesus' name given to Him by the angels, Emmanuel, means God with us (Matthew 1:23). Jesus came to earth to be with us. We were created to be with God, today and forever. God desires that we be where He created us to be, that is, with Him. Jesus waits on us to be with Him today and for all eternity.
I am a child of God and Jesus is with me today, and I will be with Him forevermore! (Either, when I die 2 Cor. 5:8, or at the rapture 1 Thess. 4:17). Jesus can be with you today, if you ask Him to be with you and believe in Him with all your heart, He will be with you today.
Dear Lord Jesus, I believe that You came to earth to be the Saviour of this world. Jesus, I believe that You died on a cross for my sins. I believe that You conquered death and the grave. Jesus, I believe You rose from the Grave and You live forevermore. Jesus, I give my life to You and I ask You now to come into my heart, change me, forgive me of all my sins, make me whole, save me, free me from sin and death, I repent of sin, please, give me eternal life. Thank You Heavenly Father, I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
Answer: First, let's define sin. The Word of God states that all unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:17), sin is born when we act on temptation. Yielding to temptation is sin. Temptation is not sin, but when we 'yield' - give in to sin, this is when we commit sin. The Scriptures tell us that when lust is conceived, it brings forth sin (James 1:15). Sin can be a physical act or a mental act. Sin can be acted out or conceived in one's mind. Lusting after someone in your mind, coveting someone or their possessions is sin conceived in your mind. Murder is a sin and is a physical act. God states that hate is the same as murder, hate is a mental act. Every living person is confronted with the temptation to sin. And every person must make a choice when confronted with sin, whether or not to act upon that temptation. We commit sin, when we yield to the temptation of sin, either physically or mentally. There is good news, in that God promises for every temptation given to us to commit sin, that God gives us a way to escape it. The word of God reads that there is no temptation given to anyone, that cannot be resisted. God promises everyone that every temptation that they are confronted with can be overcome, with His help. God says that no one is ever tempted beyond what they are able to bear, and that God will always give us a way to escape every temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). We are to avoid sin at all costs. God tells us all to "sin not". God does not want anyone to sin. God gives everyone that comes to Him, the power to overcome sin. God will never promote sin, in any way, for any reason, because God cannot be tempted with evil and He never tempts any one with any sin (James 1:13). But, the question here today is, "can we sin in our dreams?". The answer is not simple, because when we dream we are in an unconscious state. So the question might be, "are we responsible for our unconscious minds?". Do we have any responsibility to our unconscious state of dreaming? Yes, I believe we do. Here is where we have to claim responsibility, because most of us are responsible for what we pour into our minds, via conversations, music, media, magazines, television, the radio, movies, books, the internet, and the like.
When we turn to sin, we turn from God. Sin and God are not together, we cannot have both in our lives. If you have a television, it might be a good idea to place this Scripture (Psalm 101:3) on your set to remind you what you can and cannot watch, or maybe place it on the remote control. Place it on all the computers in your house, to remind you every day, you can control what you place into your mind, with God's help. The Word of God is very clear, stating that we are to guard our hearts, guard our minds, guard our lives, and guard our thoughts. There is an old saying, "garbage in, garbage out". Meaning, if we fill our lives with garbage, nothing but garbage can come out. Another favorite saying of mine is, "what comes up the bucket is down in the well". If you expose yourself to wicked and vulgar things, then that is what you will think about. Your mind replays words and images that you feed it. The more you saturate your life with the things of this world, sin, those who blaspheme God, sorcery, witchcraft, cursing, murder, wickedness, fornication, other doctrines, etc., the more your mind will conform to this world and conform to sin. The word of God is specific concerning sin, and says we are to avoid all appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). This includes viewing other's sins, because by viewing other people's sin we are participating in their sins.
Do not be deceived, watching sin is sin. When we view other's sins (tv, internet, movies, books, music, etc.), God says that we participate in their sin, we cover ourselves in their sins, we take on their sin, meaning we are as guilty as they are who are physically performing the sins, even when we are "only watching". Many people are unaware that viewing sin is sin, because satan and the world tells us "it is okay to look". God definitively states that it is NOT okay to look at sin, and that by watching another's sin, we put on their sin, just as if we were participating, acting out the sin ourselves. When we watch, view another person's sin purposely, then we have committed the exact same sin in the eyes of God. The Word of God states that people are defiled from within, by the evil that comes out of our hearts, which is placed into our hearts through committing sin, acting out sin, through viewing sin, meditating on sin, living in sin, surrounding themselves with evil (Mark 7:21-23). When we accept the free gift of God, eternal salvation, our life changes, our thoughts change, our activities change, we no longer conform to sin, but we conform to the image of Christ.
Believers put on Christ. We are clothed in Christ and His ways. Believers have a shift in their mind, a recalibration of the mind takes place upon conversion that makes our spirit pain and ache to associate with sin. Every day on our faith walk, our journey to Heaven, we are molded into the image of Christ.
God does NOT conform to our sinful life, but we change, we conform to the ways of God, we are molded into the image of Jesus, we put on the mind of Christ. The just shall live by faith, every day. We choose to continue in the faith every day, we choose to put on the new man, every day.
Be ye separate (2 Corinthians 6:17). Every day we separate more and more from the ways of this world, and every day we are drawn closer to God, through prayer, through worship, through seeking God, through reading and mediating on His Word, through loving God. Growing in the faith, in the knowledge and wisdom of God, in the truth of God, never ends in this life. Our journey ends when we receive the salvation of our souls, the crown of life, when we see Jesus at the end of our earthly life (1 Peter 1:9). This earth is not our permanent home, for our home is in Heaven with our God and Saviour (Philippians 3:20).
Back to the original question: Are we responsible for our sin in our dreams? If we place sin all around us, if we view sin and partake in sin, our dreams will project our digested thoughts. In this regard, we are responsible for our bad dreams, because we have not separated ourselves from the sins of this world. If you go to sleep thinking about a sin act, forcing your mind to mediate and live out sin, you will probably dream that way. Thinking about sin and mediating about sin is sin, even if you do not physically act out the sin, you have acted upon the temptation in your mind. God is specific as to what He wants His children to think about.
Peace is found in God alone. Peace is not found in the world, or the things of this world. The world has no peace to give anyone. Never before in history has there been such a cry for peace. Thousands of people every day seek peace of mind through prescription medicine, illicit drugs, alcohol, dangerous behavior, all of which cannot deliver permanent everlasting peace. The peace of God is promised to those who pursue God, who seek Him, who follow His ways, to all who accept His free gift of eternal salvation. A sound mind is promised by God to all who seek Him and who have received His salvation.
So what about those people who are saved, have Christ abiding in them, who seek God and have a close personal relationship with God, who diligently and earnestly follow Christ, but who still have disturbing dreams? Can a child of God sin in their dreams? No, because we are not conscious during our dreams. Some people who are on prescribed medications have bad or disturbing dreams. Some people who are in the hospital or sedated for surgery have disturbing dreams. There are many causes for bad dreams. If you are having recurring dreams, in which you feel like you have sinned against God, always know that you can go to Him and confess anything, ask God to deliver you, ask God to take away your bad dreams, God will give you peace about any situation if you ask Him. God desires all His children to come to Him with all worries and cares.
Answer: Victory is where God is taking us, not suffering. I heard on the news recently where the singing group Mercy Me were involved in an accident where the couple that hit their tour bus died. How tragic for all the families involved. Why did this happen? If you have lived any length of time you have probably been to a funeral. Every family buries someone they love. Everyone is touched by death sometime in their lives. Death and suffering are part of human existence. Every person born will be hurt, will feel pain, will go through suffering, mentally and physically, it is part of life. It is who we trust and how we go through and deal with pain and suffering that is the difference. As believers we place our hope and trust in God, not in things that are happening to us or around us. The Scriptures actually tell us that, if we choose to be part of God's family, that we are promised suffering. Shouldn't God's family especially be exempt somehow from suffering. If we are following Jesus and obeying God, why do we suffer?
Is it important to God that we suffer? God is not punishing us by allowing us to suffer. God loves us and cares for us and God does not want us harmed, but He does want us to trust in Him and to see us learn of Him and live in victory. We must remember that God sees the end from the beginning, the beginning from the end. God sees our life completed, start to finish. Every season of our lives have been seen by God. God knows everything. God sees the whole picture of our lives, start to finish and everything in between. Our vision of our life is short sighted and incomplete, that is why we must trust in God with all our heart, trust in what God has prepared for our life. Our focus is generally on what is happening to us now - fix it now, cure it now, answer me now. We look at suffering from the wrong end. All we see is the suffering, but God sees our victory. Victory is where God is taking us to, not the suffering. We must look past the suffering, trust in God's plan for our lives, look through the suffering to the victory.
Paul got the meaning of life, it wasn't about him, it was all about his Lord Jesus Christ. So what he suffered, so what he was jailed and imprisoned, so what he was beaten and persecuted, so what he had physical pain, so what people spread lies about him, it did not matter, nothing did, because Paul abided in Christ, because Paul attached himself to Christ - not his problems. For Paul, life was all about Christ, nothing else mattered, not even death, death was gain, for Paul knew he would be forever with His Lord God.
When we put on Christ, live in faith, seek God, we have the mind of Christ and through Christ we are able to see past the suffering to the victory, we can see the majesty and glory of God. Though salvation we receive the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit guides us and leads us to where we need to go, if we listen. We only need to seek God and trust God, He promises to take care of us, our whole lives, now and forever.
No one can talk about suffering without remembering Job of the Bible. If you haven't read Job in a while, you should. The Bible is the living word of God, meaning it is not dead or old, it is living, alive, new, fresh with every read. Every time you read the Word of God, if you seek God and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you, your spirit will be taught something new. (New to you, not to God.) This is most exciting about reading God's word every day, because it is alive and new every day.
But is Job a book about suffering? Is that really the focus? Are we missing the point? The book of Job is more than a book about suffering, it is the book of promise and victory. The book of Job is about God's grace and never ending mercy. The book of Job teaches us how to trust God, through every trial, and no matter what the circumstance. Trust God when everything seems to crumble around us. Trust God when we have lost everything. Trust God in spite of illness and pain. Trust in God always, no matter what happens to us or around us. Because Job trusted in God, held onto God, held onto his faith in God, did not forsake God, did not curse God, he was able to have what God had seen all along, his victory. God has a victory planned for every one of His children, if we can hold on, trust in God, remain in the faith, we will all see our victory.
When we are going through suffering, pain, illness, loss, we must claim God's promises.
All things are done for the glory of God, our life, our trials, our joys, our sufferings, our death, and our victory.
Join me today in claiming your victory. I am claiming victory in Jesus! Thank you Jesus! Praise the Lord!!
Answer: No, we are to be separated from pagan rituals.
Scripture is very clear, believers of the Most High God are to be separated to God, by being separated from the world. Believers are not to play with things that are apart from God. Pagan rituals, satan, witches, charmers, wizards, enchanters, the dead, physic readers, demons, spells, curses, debauchery, unrighteousness, drunkenness, idol worshippers, envyings, murders, revellings, necromancy, offerings to evil, devil worship, drinking blood, divination, dark spirits, these are all apart from God (Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Leviticus 19:31; 20:6). The word of God is clear and explicit as to which things are not of God, and also is clear as to the results of doing them. No one is exempt from the promises of God. The works of the flesh are apart from God, are against God, and include adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. The Word of God states that they - people who do such things - shall not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21). Do not be deceived, absolutely no one who banquets at the table of satan, will banquet at the table of the LORD God Almighty.
As believers of the Most High God, we are to be an example of Christ Jesus to this lost world. We are to remain separated unto God, all the days of our lives. We are not to partake in the evil of this world. No one glorifies God by dressing up as satan or a witch, or some headless zombie creature. We love God and because we were bought with a price, we choose to glorify God in our body and in our spirit, which are God's (1 Corinthians 6:20). We choose not to dress up into something that is an abomination to the very Lord God that we serve and adore. As believers of the One true living God, our bodies are the members of Christ Jesus, as believers we are the body of Christ. God forbid that any member make themselves members of a harlot, take part pagan rituals (1 Corinthians 6:15). Our bodies are not our own, but they belong to God forever. My body is the temple of God, the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in me (1 Corinthians 6:19). Salvation requires surrender to God. Without surrendering your life to God, you cannot be saved. By salvation we give ourselves to God, not my will but thine be done. We are all saved the exact same way, by the grace of God through faith in God (Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 3:26). If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23
Depart from evil (Job 28:28; Psalm 34:14; 37:27; Proverbs 3:7; 16:6; 16:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:22) Don't know what is evil? Even a small child knows what is evil. God tells us all to depart from evil, don't do evil, leave it alone, don't touch it, don't be part of it, and to run away from it. Departing from evil is serious with God. We are instructed in God's word exactly as to what is evil, what to do instead of evil, how we can depart from evil, who will not depart from evil, and the end for everyone who does and does not depart from evil.
God tells us in His Word:
Many Christians choose to celebrate Halloween and profess that they don't see anything wrong with it. If you listen to God, He will show you His truth.
Answer: Through the written word of God we are all given the will of God (John 20:31). God gives His love and Himself to all people, not just a few. "Whosoever" is who God reveals His will, and "whosoever" is used from the beginning to end, from Genesis to Revelation, throughout the whole word of God, "whosoever" includes all people. Everyone can know the will of God. God wants all people, everyone to know His will. The Will of God does not have to be taught to you only by certain people, special people, because God says that He will teach each of us about Himself, God Himself will teach us His will, all we need to do is come to Him and ask Him for His instruction and wisdom (1 John 2:27). God shows us all His will for each of us in His Word (1 Timothy 3:16), and through continued prayer. The will of God is revealed to all people by God Himself through His Word. The will of God is that we choose Him, choose God above all else. (Exodus 20:3) The will of God is that we choose to love Him, because He first loved us. (John 14:21; 1 John 4:19) The will of God is that we choose to love Him with all our heart, all our mind, all our soul, all our strength. The will of God is that we choose His love and love one another with His love. These are the greatest of all commandments from God, that we first choose to love God with all our being, and second that we choose to love one another with the love God gives us. (Deuteronomy 6:5; Mark 12:29-31) The will of God is that we choose to live in Him and to Him always, now in this life and the next. (John 15:4) The will of God is that we choose life, His life, by choosing to accept His free gift of salvation. The will of God is for all men to obtain His salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:9), given freely by His grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 2:12; Galatians 3:26 1 John 5:12). The will of God is that we choose to fearfully and reverently respect God, because we love Him (Ecclesiastes 12:13). The will of God is that we choose to obey and do His word, live by His word, because we love Him (Luke 8:21; Colossians 3:23-24). The will of God is that no one should perish, but that everyone choose to receive His everlasting life (John 3:16). God does not force His will upon any person, to choose to follow His will is our choice alone (Luke 9:23).
God places before each person life and death (Deuteronomy 30:19), life through faith in Him or death through the wages of sin (Romans 6:23). The will of God is for all people to choose life, God asks that we choose life, His life, so that He can love each of us for all eternity. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)
It is the will of God that we receive the reward of the inheritance, which is eternal salvation, because we serve Christ Jesus (Colossians 3:24). God Himself wants to personally give each of us eternal inheritance into His Holy Kingdom for all of eternity (1 Peter 1:3-4; Ephesians 1:11).
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There seems to be a lot of Christian websites today, so why did you create this website? Answer: As with many people, we were not finding the biblical answers we were so hungry for through the other websites, and if we couldn't find them, we believe others couldn't either. We did find many websites with the label of Christian, but when we read them in depth found them to be self promoting or selling something. We strongly believe that the word of God is to be shared freely to all people. We do believe that there are good Christian websites out there today, but very few. There is only one truth, the truth of God. We believe that the greatest life changing words are not ours or the words of others, but the words of God, what has already been written down for thousands of years by God in the living Word of God, the Holy Bible.
God changes people. The written Word of God is the most powerful book in this world, as it contains the words of God Himself, which can change the life of anyone forever. Loving God Today is our personal mission and as a website it is a biblical study of the Word of God, with specific questions asked and answered with Scripture. Our hope and mission with this website ministry is that you will receive the Love of God and develop a passion for reading God's word, studying God's word, mediating on God's word, and accept God's free gift of salvation and establish an everlasting personal relationship with God. It is our intention to promote God through a biblical study of His gospel and show others that God's love can permanently change their lives today. This world is hurting and seeking someone to help them, and God is the answer.
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