Tag: salvation

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Belief in God Biblical doctrines hermeneutics

Only in Jesus is found the way, the truth and the life

In John chapter 14 Jesus tells His disciples not to be worried because He has a plan and that plan includes a place (actually a ‘residence’) in heaven prepared for them.

John 14:1-4 Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Firstly, Jesus identifies Himself as God  (verse 1). He speaks with full knowledge as only the omniscient God can. Here He speaks in absolute terms. He does not say “If you stay away from sin, or if you are good, then I will give you a mansion in heaven”. No, His language is definite. The disciples were chosen and from the moment they were saved they had this promise of eternal life in heaven. But they were not saved until later, which we read in John chapter 20. That was after Jesus’ resurrection.

John 20:21,22 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be to you: as My Father has sent Me, even so send I you. 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, Receive you the Holy Ghost:

It was then they were born again as real Christians. Jesus breathed His Spirit into them that they might be saved and have the Holy Spirit indwell them. This was a pivotal point in the lives of the disciples as it is in the lives of those saved by God now. All saved Christians have the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives the believer an understanding of spiritual things (John 14:26). But at this time, in John 14, they did not have that understanding. Jesus said,

John 14:4,5 And where I go you know, and the way you know. Thomas said to Him, Lord, we know not where You go; and how can we know the way?

Even though Jesus spoke of preparing a place for them in heaven, they did not understand.  Jesus even said that they knew where and the way they knew also. But they didn’t have the understanding of the Holy Spirit to recognise it at that time.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him [Thomas], I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by Me.

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Belief in God Biblical doctrines hermeneutics Trials and temptations

Can saved Christians be overcome by Satan and lose their salvation?

Some erroneously teach, in my opinion, that a saved regenerated believer in Christ can lose his salvation and become un-born-again, unregenerate, through some action on his or her own part. While discussing this one day with a Christian brother, who believes such is possible, I asked him for a biblical text in support of the idea. He gave me 2 Peter 2:19 and 20.

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants [slaves] of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage [enslaved]. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

Reading that passage it does almost seem to support such a notion, except when you put it in its original context. And also it brings up a concept centred on the meaning of the word ‘overcome’ as used in the Bible. Since we are admonished (2 Timothy 2:15) to rightly handle the word of truth, let’s look into this matter a little more. (All bold are my emphases added. Square brackets [ ] indicate meanings of words. King James Version Easy-Reading Bible (KJVER) used.)

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2 Timothy 2:15 Study [Be diligent] to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The Authorized version uses the word ‘dividing’ which I believe captures the point very precisely. We need to divide truth from error.

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Bible prophecy worldview

So shall also the coming of the Son of Man be

Christ said that before He returns there would only be one sign to herald His coming.

Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Theologians have interpreted this to mean that the conditions of the world would be the same as those that were before the Flood. This is indicated by the following verse.

Matthew 24:38,39 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, 39 And knew [understood] not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

And the world does seem to have gotten into the same state now, maybe it is even worse. When discussing this a few days ago with a friend he suggested something that really struck a chord with me.

On July 7, 2016 the Ark Encounter1 opened for visitors in Williamstown, Kentucky (see Fig.1), an actual-size replica of Noah’s Ark (157 m, 510 ft long). It is located inland, far from water, and used by Answers in Genesis to educate people about the size of the Ark and other issues related to the Earth destroying global flood in Noah’s day,2 that resulted the death of all air-breathing land dwelling as well as all flying creatures. But most importantly it meant the death of all humans except for those 8 that were on the Ark, Noah, his wife, Noah’s 3 sons Shem, Ham and Japheth and their wives.

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Figure 1: Ark Encounter Noah’s 155-meter-long Ark replica built by Answers in Genesis’ for $100 million. Credit: Ark Encounter

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Belief in God Witnessing

Do you know Him? 你认识他吗？

Cover他爱你，甚至超过于他自己的生命。

He loves you, even much more than His life.

  1. 谁爱你？ Who loves you?

神差遣他的独生子到世上来，要使我们藉着他得生命，神爱我们的心，在此就显明了。(约翰一书 4:9）

In this was revealed the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. (1 John 4:9)

耶稣对他说：“我就是道路、真理、生命，若不藉着我，没有人能到父那里去。(约翰福音 14:6)

Jesus says to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by Me. (John 14:6)

  1. 神存在吗？ Does God exist?

自从造天地以来，神的永能和神性是明明可知的，虽是眼不能见，但藉着所造之物，就可以晓得，叫人无可推诿。（罗马书 1:20）

For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)

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Biblical doctrines Witnessing

Torben Søndergaard and The Last Reformation

I was asked to have a look at this healing video called The Last Reformation, wherein a preacher from Denmark, Torben Søndergaard, showcases his relatively new, now worldwide, healing ministry.

Now don’t get me wrong, I believe that all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are still in operation, including the gift of healing. I am no cessationist. I have personally experienced my own very dramatic baptism of the Holy Spirit, but more than one year after my salvation. I believe that according to the scriptures God gives the gifts of the Spirit according to His sovereign will to whom He will and when He chooses.

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After some study of Søndergaard and his Last Reformation group, I have to say that this is yet another false cult. But please study for yourself and make up your own mind! You should watch the YouTube film of Liz the Reiki healer’s testimony put out by Søndergaard and read this analysis of his theology. It sounds like and smell very cultic.

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Torben Søndergaard

Torben Søndergaard teaches that Salvation is evidenced by the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, which comes through/by baptism in water and his proof of the in filling of the Holy Spirit is the speaking in tongues. He says that only after you are filled up with the Holy Spirit (indicates with his hand, raising it up to his mouth) the tongues comes out of your mouth. This to him is proof. He teaches that only by water baptism can you be saved, that before the baptism you are dead flesh and after baptism your sins are washed away and you are born again. This is definitely a false gospel. What about the poor thief on the cross (Luke 23:32-43), who was dying next to Jesus, to whom Jesus said that because of the thief’s faith he would see Him that day in paradise. There was no water there!

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Biblical doctrines

The marriage of the Bride of Christ

On my recent trip to Israel, our tour guide shared with us a brief Bible study which relates the Jewish customary arrangements for marriage to the marriage of God’s chosen Bride to her Husband Christ Jesus, the Messiah.

weddingFather chooses the Bride for His Son

Firstly it is the father of the would-be husband who finds and chooses a bride for him.

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: 5 Having predestinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Before the foundation of the world God chose us to salvation and hence He has prepared us collectively to be the ‘Bride’ for His Son.

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him [the AntiChrist], whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

All those who are not the Bride — not the true believers — whose names are not written in the Book of Life shall worship the false Church led by the AntiChrist. Thus from the foundation of the world, God wrote in His Book of Life the names of those who are among the true Bride.

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Belief in God Christianity Creation evolution salvation testimony

Wonderful Works of God: John Gideon Hartnett’s testimony

On December 13, 2015 John Gideon Hartnett shared his personal salvation testimony at the Church at Moonta (South Australia). This was part of several testimonies at the event entitled “The Wonderful Works of God” (Acts 2:11).

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John Gideon Hartnett’s personal testimonies

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Belief in God Christianity New Age religions salvation testimony

Wonderful Works of God: Ben Hartnett’s testimony

On December 13, 2015 Ben Hartnett shared his personal salvation testimony at the Church at Moonta (South Australia). This was part of several testimonies at the event entitled “The Wonderful Works of God” (Acts 2:11).

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Biblical doctrines The Papacy

Refuting Pope Francis and the Roman Church

Reposted from Richard Bennett’s website Berean Beacon. Article by Richard Bennett, an ex Catholic priest of 22 years, now saved and preaching the truth. God bless you Richard! 

October 12, 2015
Dear Friend,

When you study the facts documented in the article below, you will understand that it is imperative that you disapprove of Pope Francis and the Roman Church. No matter how cleverly Romanism is presented, to accept the Church of Rome as a genuine Christian church is mortally dangerous. In history, there are many examples of how perilous it is. For example, in Ireland in 1172, the acceptance of the Roman Church by Christian Pastors across the nation finally meant, for most people, the end of true Christian faith on that island. Thus it was that Roman Catholicism was imposed on Christian Pastors in 1172 by Pope Alexander III with the military might of King Henry II of England. The Pastors and people accepted the Church of Rome, rather than die. How different things could have been if the Pastors and people sacrificed their lives for the Gospel of grace.

In a similar way, in the 1560s, the Jesuits arrived in Poland. They created a network of schools and colleges across Poland, and they managed in a very clever way to present Romanism as the true Church. Thus it was that the Pastors, leaders, and people acclaimed the Roman Church, and what the Reformation had achieved was sadly lost for the most part. Also from 1600 to 1610 the Jesuits also were in the forefront of the Counter-Reformation in Hungary. They were successful in reconverting two-thirds of the population back to Catholicism, when the country was in its golden age of biblical faith.

Now with another clever Jesuit leading the field; i.e., Pope Francis, Romanism is foisted on the nations of the world. It is time for you and all true Christians to take a stand against the encroachment of this apostate Church.

Please forward this article, and have it posted on Internet Websites. Pray that Christ Jesus the Lord will show Himself as the Head of His Church. He it is that rules His Church according to His written Word of truth and the Gospel of grace.

Yours in the Lord’s truth and grace,

Richard Bennett

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Belief in God Biblical doctrines salvation testimony Trials and temptations

The Hem of His Garment

by Virginia Brandt Berg

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Renowned evangelist, revivalist, and author Virginia Brandt Berg (1886-1968) is best known as one of the early radio evangelists through her radio program Meditation Moments, which ran for 15 years starting in the early 1930s, and resumed in the late 1950s.

The riveting story of her journey from agnosticism to faith, and from crippling life-threatening illness to miraculous healing touched the lives of many and led many to faith in Christ.

Table of Contents

  1. In the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia
  2. Christmas Morning
  3. Memories
  4. A Far Country and Husks
  5. College Days
  6. Modernism in Action
  7. A Discarded Bible
  8. A Church that Jesus Never Attended
  9. Romance
  10. Darkness and Despair
  11. The End of the Trail
  12. The Light Breaks In
  13. The Bank of Heaven
  14. In the Sanhedrin
  15. The Appointed Day; and Disappointment
  16. The Still, Small Voice
  17. From Death Bed to Pulpit Over Night
  18. The Hem of His Garment
  19. It Is for You
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