Fellowship that Fuels
Yesterday was a day of our LORD showing just how much HIS grace is sufficient and working in His people, His body, to bring forth His good fruit (1 Corinthians 15:10) …
“But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet NOT I, BUT THE GRACE OF GOD which was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10
Did you see that? Do we realize that God’s grace—His divine influence upon our hearts and empowerment in our lives—is working in us, in you, as you are seeking and obeying God? Read that verse above again, real closely. Mega divine revelation.
When we have exerted labor, when we are tired, are worn out, Jesus Christ our LORD, the very “Almighty” God of all that is, is still working mightily! (Revelation 1:8)
God always fuels, works in and through His saints as they worshipfully abide in Him, obey Him.
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Okay. Wait. If the power of God works mightily in and through us when we are “weak” …. perhaps a biblical prayer could be:
Holy Father, please make me weak the way You define it – that the power of Christ might reign in this Your vessel, for Your eternal glory. Please do it dear LORD. Make me weak that Your grace in Christ might overpower this Your vessel. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!
It was obvious that brother Daniel was greatly edified after the fellowship he and I enjoyed last week, which included an unplanned call from brother Bill Wegener and lengthy conversation between Bill and Daniel.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16
When we honor God by letting HIS Word dwell richly, abundantly among us, as His people, great things happen, every time.
In addition to the Word being shared together, brother Daniel was inspired by brother Bill’s phone call (JesusFedMe.com ministry). Daniel told me that reading the Scriptures and praying the prayer each morning through the Moments with Our Master book has truly bolstered his life in Christ, fueling him into daily Gospel action.
(Keep in mind that the Moments book states in the very front that NOTHING takes the place of Bible reading.)
The goal of the vast majority of “pastors” operating out of official church buildings in the modern church world is not the feeding, the equipping of Christ’s saints but rather to build their church business. This is unlike what we see amongst the earliest followers of Jesus (John 21:15-17; Acts 4:11-16; 1 Peter 5:1-6; Hebrews 13:7, 17).
Any person not living a Great Commission life, is living a wasted life.
They are out of the will of God.
Read that again.
MAY God grant repentance to any who claim to be Christ’s and aren’t executing HIS Great Commission mandate – they prove to be cross-less, to have reject Jesus as their “first love” in this brief life, and to be all about their own life, business, and not the “Father’s business” (Luke 2:49; Revelation 2:4-5). Repentance needed or irrevocable damnation awaits.
Anyone claiming to be saved and not participating in Christ’s Great Commission is deceived (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20).
We know those who have truly repented and are truly right with God, ready for Heaven …. by those obeying the cross and Great Commission commands Jesus gave us. ALL other professing “Christians” are lukewarm at best and ready to be spued, vomited, rejected (Revelation 3:15-16).
The true fellowship of the early church consisted of four things. Can you find them here in the first verse of this amazing passage?
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:42-47
True fellowship, and Christian living (lifestyle) does not increase allegiance to a certain church or pastor but rather to Christ Himself—“In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:1-19).
In the end of Acts 2 we see that these new saints in Christ “continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). It was immediately after the birth of our LORD’s church at Pentecost and so there was no time to yet have a pastoral bureaucracy. Paul feared, and warned us of such with tears (Acts 20:20-32). There is no mention of a “head pastor” controlling the gold and the bureaucracy. The fellowship was clean and simple—so that Christ could be magnified. It consisted of:
- “the apostles’ doctrine” (Word)
- “fellowship”
- “breaking of bread”
- “prayers”
As we see in the ensuing chapters of the Book of Acts, that such Christ-glorifying fellowship fueled the saints to do great exploits.
“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” Acts 8:4
Speaking of religious bureaucracy, recently I was made aware of a local church, pastor in the Dallas area, who is raising 16 million dollars to build a pickle ball court. And to think just how dark and lost such a congregation is to even put up with much less fund such a fraud. A basketball or pickle ball court will lead ZERO people to Christ, ever. No such thing as a disciple of Jesus participating or even fellowship with such abomination.
Let me get this straight ….
the wolf you call “pastor” is collecting money to build a new building, to build a basketball court, to increase his real estate portfolio, etc. ….. and you still don’t see he’s a fraud?
WHERE did Jesus or His holy apostles collect one penny to build any building to further Christ’s kingdom? Chapters and verses please.
Any person claiming to be a child of God and yet is not involved in the “Fathers business” of the Great Commission, is a counterfeit. Such a person proves they are not saved, do not care about Jesus and the Father who sent His “little flock” to preach and teach the Word of the Gospel (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 2:49; 23:12; 24:27; Book of Acts; 2 Timothy 4:2, etc.).
Brother Daniel was calling all excited, etc., and I couldn’t answer his calls till later…. only to see how God was using him later as we spoke. He took it upon himself to hear and be fueled by, and answer God’s call to go minister. And he did just that – just him and Jesus! Imagine that! This type of Gospel action and fruit doesn’t happen when people are told by other Christians, by religious dupes, to “go find a church” or “come to our church” (country club). We all know people who have been “in church” life and are leading no one to Jesus, don’t even have enough fear of God to get up each morning and seek the face of the LORD in the Word and prayer, etc. They aren’t even lukewarm, they are “trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots.”
“These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;” Jude 12
Years ago, I ceased to even hint of “going to find a church” to any born again saints, especially new ones. No. Such is a trap and we’ve all seen the fruit it’s produced. Stop. Step back. WHY do you think America, on the brink of destruction has progressively become so apostate, departed from the truth, from decency, from that which is right in the eyes of God? It’s happened at the hands of a perverted priesthood of seminarian and greedy frauds perpetrating a false Jesus, a false gospel, fueled by “another spirit” (2 Corinthians 11:2-5; Galatians 1:6-9).
Recently I was blessed to meet and have now fellowshipped with a dear man named Jorge. During our time of fellowship together, brother Jorge informed me that he’s never been part of a local church gathering for the last 42 years after Jesus saved him. He fellowships daily with Jesus and the Father and other of His saints. Jorge told me that he was saved one night 42 years ago on the streets of Mexico at the bless-ed preaching of a disciple of Jesus who was from America and had come down to preach in Mexico. What a beautiful story.
God teaches us “fellowship” is His stated will and that doesn’t mean, that doesn’t equal joining a man’s “church” club to become a member and incubated into hell bound lukewarmness (Revelation 3:14-22).
Haven’t we stopped to see that something is amiss in the waiting till Sunday to “fellowship”? That is, but one day per week, to “fellowship” (if you can call it that)?
The fellowship of the earliest followers of Jesus was “daily” and was not limited to a “temple” but was done everywhere, “in every house,” etc.
“And DAILY in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Acts 5:42
Our walk and fellowship with Christ and His people is “daily” and not weekly (Luke 9:23-24).
See if you can find a “church building” in the following verse:
“But exhort one another DAILY, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13
This kind of teaching, from God’s Word, helps enlighten His saints and defund the wolves Jesus and His holy apostles so often warned us about (Matthew 7:15; 24:11; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1, etc.).
Here we have a modern witness of a man, a new disciple of Jesus, Daniel, having never once attended an official church meeting. Here he is, shortly after Jesus saving him, seeking the face of our LORD daily, evangelizing, spreading Christ’s Gospel on the streets – bringing the Good News to the people. Sound like the Book of Acts? Yes.

Now, how many “good church goers/attenders” do you personally know who have ever witnessed to a sinner, much less early after being saved? In so many cases, they are told to “go find a church” and their lives, time, God-given talents, energy, presence, and finances, are being wasted, exploited. And they shall give full account to God for serving men and not God (Galatians 1:10).
“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23
To put it lightly, they are in big trouble unless they repent.
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Peter 2:1-3
Challenge: Stop. Think about what you have personally witnessed in this matter. Honestly, how many “good church attenders/members” do you know who daily seek the LORD and are fruitful in making Christ known, ministering to the lost and edifying the members of body of Christ.
Honestly, I doubt many of us know 3-5 people who are truly following Jesus, true disciples, who daily worship and serve Him.
Is it any wonder that Jesus calls His flock, a “little flock”? (Luke 12:32)
All who truly Love Jesus Labor for His Eternal Glory
Those who labor for Christ prove they love Him. They are about the “Father’s business” and not their own. Jesus said:
“Wist (knew) ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” Luke 2:49
With these truths in mind, read Matthew 9:35-38 and the Book of Acts.
Each of us is blessed to be surrounded by good ministries. They feed us and they are winning souls (street preachers, God-called Bible teachers, etc). Please pray for and support them saints (Galatians 6:6; Philippians 1:19, etc.). This way we are all, each member of Christ’s body, participating in the Great Commission mandate He gave us—and is coming back to take account of the stewardship of our lives—time, talent, treasure, etc. (Ephesians 4:11-16, etc.). Let’s roll saints. Jesus is coming.
In this hour the vast majority of people alive on this earth waste their time and substance upon this fleeing world, upon obtaining more temporal trinkets. But God calls us—you and me—to pour our lives and resources into Him, into His Great Commission work. It will be forever rewarded. There will be no regrets.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father, please forgive me for doing my own thing instead of Yours. Please convict me of all sin, of everything that defiles me in Your holy eyes. Cut off occasion from the enemy. Please don’t let this life You gave, my one life in this world, be wasted. Let it be used up daily for Your eternal glory. Bless me to live in vital abiding union with You LORD Jesus. Fill me afresh with Your Holy Ghost and use me dear LORD. Make me to become Your consummate edifier of Your saints and Your soul winner. In Jesus’ name.
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VIDEO Mission Mexico Update January 2026 [video]
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Abiding
The Prayer Life of Jesus [podcast]
Prayer is communion, communing with God. Those who earnestly seek God in prayer, who earnestly seek to know Him and to fulfill His will for their temporary lives in this world…. will glorify Him here and to be with Him eternally.
What do we learn from the prayer life of our LORD Jesus?
“Luke 5:16 PRAYERS OF JESUS. Luke stresses more than the other gospels the place of prayer in the life and work of Jesus. When the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus at the Jordan, He was ‘praying’ (3:21), at times He withdrew from the multitudes ‘and prayed (5:16); ‘and He continued all night in prayer before choosing the twelve disciples (6:12). He was ‘alone praying’ before He asked His disciples an important question (9:18); at His transfiguration He climbed the mountain ‘to pray’ (9:28); the actual transfiguration occurred while ‘he prayed’ (9:29); and He ‘was praying’ just before He taught the disciple’s the Lord’s Prayer (11:1). In Gethsemane He ‘prayed more earnestly’ (22:44); on the cross He prayed for others (23:34); and His last words uttered before His death were a prayer (23:46). Luke also mentions that He prayed after His resurrection (24:30).
In examining the life of Jesus in the other Gospels, we note that He prayed before extending the invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labour …’ (Mat. 11:25-28); He prayed at Lazarus’s tomb (John 11:41-42), for Peter (Luke 22:32), and during the institution of the Lord’s Supper (John 17).” Life in the Spirit Study Bible
“And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.” Matthew 14:23
“14:23 PRAY ALONE. While on earth, Jesus often sought time to be alone with God (cf. Mark 1:35; 6:46; 5:16; 6:12; 9:18; 22:41-42; Heb. 5:7). Time alone with God is essential to the spiritual well-being of every believer. We must continually remember that the lack of desire for solitary prayer to our heavenly Father is an unmistakable sign that the spiritual life within us is in a process of decline. If this is happening, we must turn from all that offends the Lord and renew our commitment to persevere in seeking God and His saving grace.” Life in the Spirit Study Bible
“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” Luke 18:1
“18:1 MEN OUGHT ALWAYS TO PRAY. Jesus was frequently concerned that His followers pray continually in order to accomplish God’s will for their lives. From this parable of the widow who persevered we learn several things; (1) We must persevere in prayer with regard to all matters until Jesus returns (vv 7-8; Rom. 12:12; Eph. 6:18; Col. 4:2; 1 Thess. 5:17). (2) In this life we have an adversary (v. 3), Satan (1 Pet. 5:8). Prayer can protect us from the evil one (Mat. 6:13). (3) In our prayers we should cry out against sin and for justice (v 7). (4) Persistent prayer is counted as faith (v. 8). (5) In the final days before the return of Christ, there will be increased diabolical opposition to the prayers of the faithful (1 Tim. 4:1). Because of Satan and the pleasures of the world many will cease having a persistent prayer life (8:14; Mat. 13:22; Mark 4:19).” Life in the Spirit Study Bible
SUMMATION you might ask?
Following Jesus by living a life of prayer with the Father and Himself – living your life in complete submission to and dependency upon the LORD …. daily declaring with John the Baptist that “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30).
“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” John 5:30
“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Be persistent. Be relentless – in praying, communing with your God!
Read aloud, begin to memorize and live out:
“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11
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Articles
IS DOUBTING YOUR SALVATION ALWAYS A BAD THING? [podcast]
Making Sure We are Truly Saved While We Still Can
Obviously, the assurance of salvation should concern each and every one of us.
“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” 1 Corinthians 11:31-32
Notice “if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” Note that those who honestly assess and amend their ways in the LORD will not be judged with the wicked. Those who don’t, will be. They will fall away and not endure to the end (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Colossians 1:23; Hebrews 3:6, 12-15; 10:26-39; 2 Peter 2:20-21, etc.).
Are you judging yourself, testing and discerning your life against Holy Scripture?
“Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.” Proverbs 28:5
Counterfeits refuse to judge their actual fruit, their lives. They want the assurance of eternal glory with no responsibility of actual repentance and an abiding, obedient relationship with the Savior they claim. They want the crown without the cross. They do not wish to be bothered with truly engaging in an abiding relationship with Jesus on His stated terms but rather seek to use Him to get them out of hell. Jesus tells all who’ve been saved that abiding, remaining in Him to the end of their lives is essential to eternity with Him (John 15:6, etc.).
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
Is believing the biblical truth that a saved person can backslide, fall away, and forfeit their place with God (lose salvation) a bad thing? No. It’s only a bad thing in the minds of those who want to live on their own depraved, self-serving terms while deluding themselves into thinking they are going to God’s holy Heaven.
WHY are we so afraid of doubting if we are truly saved – born again AND presently abiding in Christ? (John 15:1-6). It will be too late when we die which could be today. Think about this. NOW is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2) and so today is the day to honestly examine ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:31-32; 2 Corinthians 13:5). Please read the LORD’s book of Ezekiel. You will discover many divine treasures in this magnificent volume. Share this message if you wish to help others.
“A disciplined conscience is a man’s best friend. It may not be his most amiable, but it is his most faithful monitor.” Austin Phelps
“LORD Jesus, please grant me the Holy Fear of God!” should be the daily prayer of every true saint.
“Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.” Psalms 86:11
I told someone recently that I love listening to a preacher or reading Scripture that can make me doubt my salvation because it further quickens my spirit in the fear of God to scamper to the feet of Jesus afresh.
“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” 1 John 3:19-21
As we see in the passage above, assurance of salvation fills the hearts of all born again believers are who working out their own salvation with fear and trembling.
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13
There are conditions the LORD requires to procure and walk in His blessings.
Assurance of salvation is biblical. Eternal security is not. The idea that one is eternally secure no matter what they do after being saved, is a lie from hell. Jesus told us that among those He saves, any who don’t abide, continue with Him, will be cast into the fire (John 15:6).
The lack of a clear conscience, the lack of assurance in one’s heart, is due to the lack of present abiding, obedience. All who are Christ’s and presently abiding, are filled with the assurance of His salvation. Read John 15.
Wolves among us, when addressing assurance, nearly never speak of the personal responsibility God gives to all He saves – to obey Him (John 14:15, 21-23, etc.). When one lacks assurance, it’s only because they have chosen to lack obeying the Savior (2 Corinthians 2:17; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; Jude 3-4).
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22
WHAT ABOUT WHEN SOMEONE ELSE DOUBTS THAT YOU ARE TRULY SAVED?
When a true believer in Jesus Christ questions someone’s salvation, it is in no way to be rude, but rather out of godly concern. Jesus told us to “know” (discern) people “by their fruit” (Matt. 7:16, 20). Good “fruit” (produce) can only come forth from the born again, abiding disciple of Jesus. Good fruit comes forth from a real relationship with Christ (John 15). One must know Him and that begins at the moment of true repentance and faith (Acts 20:21).
If the overall fruit of someone’s life is not that which the Bible teaches is consistent with truly knowing Jesus and having been regenerated, then there should be concern.
There are some among us who violently object to doubting someone’s salvation, Yet, based on the biblical mandate to “know” (discern) others “by their fruits,” this will happen at times (Matthew 7:16, 20). When a professing Christian’s salvation is doubted based upon lack of good fruit to prove it, some become irate with a “How dare you doubt my/that person’s salvation! Just who are you to do such a thing!?” But wait a minute – didn’t Jesus instruct us to “know” others based on their “fruits”? (Matthew 7:16, 20). And if there are no counterfeits who pose as Christ’s people, why did Jesus say that there are chaff among the wheat? (Matthew 13). Yes He did and so why are we surprised if some of those around us are found to be lost even though they think they are saved? And yes the chaff are going to be separated by the angels in the end but for now Jesus told us to discern (to distinguish between) or to “know” them “by their fruits” and that’s done by fruit inspection.
One man said that he believed that over 90% of church goers in America have never been genuinely born again as we “must be” in order to be brought into God’s kingdom (John 3:3, 7).
Repentance is where and when regeneration happens. In the modern church world, such a foundational biblical doctrine is rarely mentioned much less preached or correctly taught to define what it is and bring conviction to the hearers. In the vast majority of churches today, salvation is never or seldom presented. So how can the sinner respond in repentance and be saved? Is it any wonder so few are saved? People are rarely if ever called to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ today as they were publicly called to do by the apostles of Jesus (Acts 2:38; 3:19).
There are some people who hang around with the Christian body that I just never got a peace about. There doesn’t seem to be the presence of the divine Person of the Holy Spirit and therefore the fruit He alone can produce is absent (Galatians 5:22-23). One must be born again and given a new nature by the LORD or we are not His. When this conversion takes place, there will be good fruit (Matthew 3:7-10).
Should we float people all the way into hell instead of helping make sure they have truly repented and been born again? Is that love or hatred?
If someone questions our salvation, how should we react? How about this way: “Well, thank you for being concerned about my eternal soul. I am open and willing to investigate (biblically) the possibility that I may not have truly repented (laid down my life) and placed my faith in Jesus Christ. Or, since He saved me in the past, perhaps I have backslidden and no longer know Him due to allowing sin in my life.”
HONEST CONCERN VERSUS CRUEL CONDEMNATION
There are going to be children of the enemy that will come in and attempt to confuse and to derail you by doubting that you are saved. They do this to bring “confusion and every evil work” instead of “godly edifying” (James 3:16; 1 Timothy 1:4).
David, the man after God’s own heart, was often persecuted by the wicked, his place with God being the central attack of the enemy.
“My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? … As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?” Psalms 42:3, 10
Those who are His have the “witness” of His Spirit in them:
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Romans 8:16
Why are you bothered when someone else doubts your salvation? Do you have the bearing witness of the Holy Spirit as a witness in your heart? (Romans 8:16). If you are assured by God (not self or mere man) of your salvation, why would you be concerned if someone else doubted it? Can you say with Paul “nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day”? (2 Timothy 1:12). Did God not say that we who have and are believing the record He gave of His Son have HIS “witness” within us?
“If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” 1 John 5:9-13
David told us that our “sentence” comes from the LORD Himself not man:
“Let my sentence (verdict) come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.” Psalms 17:2
The Hebrew word that is translated “sentence” here means: act of deciding a case, decision, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable), sentence of formal decree.
By reason of creation, God Himself is the only One who can determine judicially that one is righteous or unrighteous, just or unjust, justified or not justified. The Almighty is the only One qualified to sentence any individual to Heaven or hell. Either He approves of us or He disapproves of us (Ezekiel 18:4).
“STRONG CONFIDENCE”
“In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. 27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” Proverbs 14:26-27
The key to having “strong confidence” and escaping “the snares of death,” is fearing God.
God’s Word tells us that “The fear of the Lord is clean” (Psalms 19:9). The heart that truly fears God is made “clean” from any doubt and has full and “strong confidence” or assurance and strength of conviction.
The key is being with Jesus – being in Christ. Jesus told us that those who are “with” Him are His and all others are “against” Him (Matthew 12:30). The whole of Holy Scripture is the very testimony of God and we can plainly observe that being presently and truly “in Christ” is the determining factor.
The Father spoke from Heaven audibly, declaring of Christ, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). ALL who are presently in Christ, are well pleasing to God – justified, sentenced and declared righteous. Justification, to be declared righteous by God, is always “by faith” (Romans 3:21-5:17; Hebrews 11:4-7).
Ultimately, your “sentence” or sentencing comes forth from God alone who is the only Judge of your eternal soul. In light of this, Paul writes:
“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8:33-34
According to the whole counsel of God’s Word, believers in Jesus Christ – those who genuinely turn to God in repentance, placing their faith in Jesus Christ – have been shown mercy by God. This gift of eternal life was made possible through the finished and perfect work of the One sinless, perfect Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who bled on the cross, was buried, and rose again from the dead. He is “the Son of God with power.”
“And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:” Romans 1:4
Being rooted and grounded in God’s love is so very important to being “sound in the faith,” having a “sound heart” and a “sound mind” (Proverbs 14:30; 2 Timothy 1:7; Titus 1:13). This all comes from learning and believing “sound doctrine” (Titus 1:9; 2:1).
GOING DEEP
Heeding the apostle Paul’s exhortation to all those whom the LORD has saved, is essential to an ever-deepening, abiding, assured place with the LORD.
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7
Only going on to perfection (spiritual maturity) by learning and obeying the truth of God can make one free from doubting that He is God’s child (Hebrews 5:11-6:3).
“As he spake these words, many believed on him. 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. … If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:30-32, 36
As the born again disciple of Christ continues to walk in the light of truth with Jesus, He is kept in Christ and assured of salvation.
“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 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.” 1 John 1:6-7
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