John Wesley on Justification

Paula White Exposed [video]

THAT’s My King! Pastor Lockridge [video]

Powerful Prayers from Children-This Will Shake You [video]

The Fear of the LORD is to Hate Evil: Pride, and Arrogancy #shorts [video]

“My writing of Asbury’s early ministry in England gave me the privilege of interacting with several individuals who hold the Wesley team in high esteem. Even got one of them to laugh with joy when I told him that all that is good in America has a connection to the old man of Oxford (John Wesley) and his amazing friends. Blessings my friend and brother.” Al DeFilippo The Asbury Triptych Series

“Every one, though born of God in an instant, yea and sanctified in an instant, yet undoubtedly grows by slow degrees…” -Letter, 27 June 1760

“We allow, it is the work of God alone to justify, to sanctify, and to glorify; which three comprehend the whole of salvation.” -Predestination Calmly Considered

“By a Christian I mean one who so believes in Christ as that sin hath no more dominion over him; and in this obvious sense of the word I was not a Christian till May the 24th last past.” -Letter to Samuel, 30 October 1738

“God would first, by this inspiration of His Spirit, have wrought in our hearts that holy love without which none can enter into glory” -Letter to John Smith, 30 December 1745

“And by this token you may surely know whether you seek it by faith or by works. If by works, you want something to be done first, before you are sanctified. You think, I must first be or do thus or thus. Then you are seeking it by works unto this day. If you seek it by faith, you may expect it as you are; and expect it now.” -The Scripture Way of Salvation

“And at the same time that we are justified, yea, in that very moment, sanctification begins.” -The Scripture Way of Salvation

“And is it not incumbent on all that are justified to be ‘zealous of good works?’” -The Scripture Way of Salvation

“By justification we are saved from the guilt of sin, and restored to the favour of God; by sanctification we are saved from the power and root of sin, and restored to the image of God.” -On Working Out Our Own Salvation, 1785

“I believe justification by faith alone, as much as I believe there is a God…I have never varied from it, no, not a hair’s breadth from 1738 to this day.” -Journal, 1766

On Sanctification and the Christian Life

“…none shall live with God but he that lives to God…” -Christ Stabbed in the House of Friends

“One design you are to pursue to the end of time, — the enjoyment of God in time and in eternity. Desire other things, so far as they tend to this.” -The Circumcision of the Heart

“May we all thus experience what it is to be, not almost only; but altogether Christians.” – The Almost Christian

“Beware, lastly, of imagining you shall obtain the end without using the means conducive to it.” -The Nature of Enthusiasm

Our gospel, as it knows no other foundation of good works than faith, or of faith than Christ, so it clearly informs us, we are not his disciples while we either deny him to be the Author, or his Spirit to be the Inspirer and Perfecter, both of our faith and works.” -The Circumcision of the Heart

“Having, first, gained all you can, and, secondly saved all you can, then give all you can.” -The Use of Money

“We abhor the doctrine of ‘justification by works,’ as a most perilous and abominable doctrine…our works have no part in meriting or purchasing our justification, from first to last, either in whole or in part.” John Welsey

“I answer, some sin of omission, at least, must necessarily precede the loss of faith; some inward sin: But the loss of faith must precede the committing outward sin.” -The Great Privilege of Those That Are Born of God

“Every one, though born of God in an instant, yea and sanctified in an instant, yet undoubtedly grows by slow degrees…” -Letter, 27 June, 1760

“The more any believer examines his own heart, the more will he be convinced of this: That faith working by love excludes both inward and outward sin from a soul watching unto prayer…” -The Great Privilege of Those That Are Born of God

This is “sanctification;” which is, indeed, in some degree, the immediate fruit of justification, but, nevertheless, is a distinct gift of God, and of a totally different nature. The one implies what God does for us through his Son; the other, what he works in us by his Spirit. -Justification by Faith

“It is incumbent on all that are justified to be zealous of good works.” -The Scripture Way of Salvation

“…all who preach among them declare…’by grace we are saved through faith;’ saved both from the guilt and from the power of sin.” -A Short History of Methodism, 1765

“Let me have the pleasure of making him a whole Christian.” -Journal, January, 1727

“By justification we are saved from the guilt of sin…by sanctification we are saved from the power and root of sin…” -On Working Out Our Own Salvation, 1785

“We allow, it is the work of God alone to justify, to sanctify, and to glorify; which three comprehend the whole of salvation.” -Predestination Calmly Considered

“All who preach among them declare,…by grace we are saved through faith; saved both from the guilt and from the power of sin.” -A Short History of Methodism, 1765

“He may be almost as orthodox as the devil . . . and may, all the while be as great a stranger as he to the religion of the heart.” -The Way to the Kingdom

“But beware you be not swallowed up in books! An ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge.” -Letter to Joseph Benson, November 7, 1768

“The gospel of Christ knows of no religion, but social; no holiness but social holiness.” -Preface to “Hymns and Sacred Poems,” 1739

“What the Scripture promises, I enjoy. Come and see what Christianity has done here; and acknowledge it is of God.” -Letter to Rev. Dr. Middleton, January 4, 1749.

“[Full sanctification] is the grand depositum which God has lodged with the people called Methodists; and for the sake of propagating this chiefly God appeared to have raised us up.” -Letter to Robert Carr Brackenbury, September 15th, 1790.

On Salvation and Grace

“We allow, it is the work of God alone to justify, to sanctify, and to glorify; which three comprehend the whole of salvation.” -Predestination Calmly Considered

“All the blessings which God hath bestowed upon man are of his mere grace, bounty, or favour.” -Salvation by Faith

“And by this token may you surely know whether you seek it by faith or by works. If by works, you want something to be done first, before you are sanctified. You think, ‘I must first be or do thus or thus.’ Then you are seeking it by works unto this day. If you seek it by faith, you may expect it as you are: and if as you are, then expect it now.” -The Scripture Way of Salvation

“Allow that Humanity is wholly fallen and you are so far a Christian. Deny it and you are but a heathen still.” -Original Sin

“And first let us inquire, What is salvation? The salvation which is here spoken of is not what is frequently understood by that word, the going to heaven, eternal happiness. It is not the soul’s going to paradise, termed by our Lord, ‘Abraham’s bosom.’ It is not a blessing which lies on the other side death, or (as we usually speak) in the other world. The very words of the text itself put this beyond all question. ‘Ye are saved.’ It is not something at a distance: it is a present thing, a blessing which, through the free mercy of God, ye are now in possession of. Nay, the words may be rendered, and that with equal propriety, ‘Ye have been saved.’ So that the salvation which is here spoken of might be extended to the entire work of God, from the first dawning of grace in the soul till it is consummated in glory.” -The Scripture Way of Salvation

“And at the same time that we are justified, yea, in that very moment, sanctification begins.” -The Scripture Way of Salvation

“Taking the word in a more particular sense, faith is a divine evidence and conviction, not only that ‘God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself,’ but also that Christ ‘loved me, and gave himself for me.’” -The Scripture Way of Salvation

“Beware you are not a fiery, persecuting enthusiast. Do not imagine that God has called you (just contrary to the spirit of Him you style your Master) to destroy men’s lives, and not to save them. Never dream of forcing men into the ways of God. Think yourself, and let think. Use no constraint in matters of religion. Even those who are farthest out of the way never compel to come in by any other means than reason, truth, and love.” -The Nature of Enthusiasm

“And I saw more than ever that the Gospel is in truth but one great promise from the beginning of it to the end.” -Journal, June 4, 1738

“But if we do not then love him who first loved us; if we will not hearken to his voice; if we turn our eye away from him, and will not attend to the light which he pours upon us; his Spirit will not always strive: He will gradually withdraw, and leave us to the darkness of our own hearts. He will not continue to breathe into our soul, unless our soul breathes toward him again; unless our love, and prayer, and thanksgiving return to him, a sacrifice wherewith he is well pleased.” -The Great Privilege of Those That Are Born of God

Holiness and Happiness

“As the more holy we are upon earth the more happy we must be.” -God’s Love to Fallen Man

Suffering

“How innumerable are the benefits which God conveys to the children of men through the channel of sufferings!” -God’s Love to Fallen Man

Prayer and Devotion

“O God, ‘in the midst of wrath, remember mercy!’ Be glorified in our reformation, not in our destruction!” -Awake, Thou That Sleepest

“Without love, nothing can make death comfortable.” -On Love

“The best of all is, God is with us.” -John Wesley’s final words

“And now run the race which is set before thee, in the royal way of universal love.” -Catholic Spirit

“Keep an even pace, rooted in the faith once delivered to the saints, and grounded in love, in true catholic love, till thou art swallowed up in love for ever and ever!” -Catholic Spirit

Ministry and Travel

“Leisure and I have taken leave of one another.” -Letter to Samuel, December 5, 1726

“I look on all the world as my parish; thus far I mean, that, in whatever part of it I am, I judge it meet, right, and my bounden duty, to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad tidings of salvation.” -Journal, June 11, 1739.

“Think then what you say, before you say you cannot live up to what is required of constant communicants. This is no more than is required of any communicants; yea, of everyone that has a soul to be saved.” -The Duty of Constant Communion

“I am always in haste, but never in a hurry.” -Letter, 1777

“In the evening another storm began. In the morning it increased so that they were forced to let the ship drive. I could not but say to myself, ‘How is it that thou hast no faith?’ being still unwilling to die.” -Journal, Friday 23, 1736

“I went to America, to convert the Indians; but oh! who shall convert me?” -Journal, January 24, 1738

“It is God alone who can cast out Satan. But he is generally pleased to do this by man as an instrument in his hand.” -A Caution Against Bigotry

“About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” -Journal, May 24, 1738

“I should have thought the saving of souls almost a sin, if it had not been done in a church.” -Journal, March 29, 1739

“At four in the afternoon, I submitted to be more vile and proclaimed in the highways the glad tidings of salvation.” -Journal, April 2, 1739

“God would first, by this inspiration of his Spirit, have wrought in our hearts that holy love without which none can enter into glory.” -Letter to John Smith, 1745

“Secondly, all works of mercy, whether they relate to the bodies or souls of men; such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, entertaining the stranger, visiting those that are in prison, or sick, or variously afflicted… or contribute in any manner to the saving of souls from death. This is the repentance, and these the fruits meet for repentance, which are necessary to full sanctification. This is the way wherein God hath appointed his children to wait for complete salvation.” -The Scripture Way of Salvation

“The longer I live, the larger allowances I make for human infirmities.” -Letter to Samuel Furley, 21 February, 1756

“Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen, such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on earth.” -Letter to Alexander Mather, August 6, 1777

“You have nothing to do but to save souls. Therefore spend and be spent in this work. And go not only to those that need you, but to those that need you most. It is not your business to preach so many times, and to take care of this or that society; but to save as many souls as you can; to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance.” -Conversation with Francis Asbury, Thomas Coke, and others, 1784

“Be diligent. Never be unemployed a moment. Never be triflingly employed. Never while away time; neither spend any more time at any place than is strictly necessary.” -12 Rules for Preachers

Charity

“All worldly joys are less than that one joy of doing kindnesses.” -God’s Love to Fallen Man

Christian & Doctrinal Unity

“A man of a truly catholic spirit has not now his religion to seek. He is fixed as the sun in his judgment concerning the main branches of Christian doctrines.” -A Catholic Spirit

“As to all opinions which do not strike at the root of Christianity, we think and let think.” -The Character of a Methodist

“Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences.” -Catholic Spirit

“Think not the bigotry of another is any excuse for your own.” -A Caution Against Bigotry

“His heart is enlarged toward all mankind, those he knows and those he does not; he embraces with strong and cordial affection neighbours and strangers, friends and enemies. This is catholic or universal love. And he that has this is of a catholic spirit. For love alone gives the title to this character: catholic love is a catholic spirit.” -Catholic Spirit

“I dare not, therefore, presume to impose my mode of worship on any other. I believe it is truly primitive and apostolical: but my belief is no rule for another.” -Catholic Spirit

“A catholic spirit is not indifference to all congregations. This is another sort of latitudinarianism, no less absurd and unscriptural than the former.” -Catholic Spirit

“Speak evil of no one; else your word especially would eat as doth a canker. Keep your thoughts within your own breast, till you come to the person concerned.” -12 Rules for Preachers

Education

“Read the most useful books, and that regularly and constantly.” -Circulation of Books

“But beware you be not swallowed up in books! An ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge.” -Letter to Joseph Benson, November 7, 1768

“But as sickness and diseases have created the necessity of medicines and physicians, so the disorders of our rational nature have introduced the necessity of education and tutors.” -On the Education of Children

Creation Care

“But truly affectionate parents will not indulge them in any kind or degree of unmercifulness. They will not suffer them to vex their brothers or sisters, either by word or deed. They will not allow them to hurt, or give pain to, anything that has life. They will not permit them to rob birds’ nests; much less to kill anything without necessity, — not even snakes, which are as innocent as worms, or toads, which, notwithstanding their ugliness, and the ill name they lie under, have been proved over and over to be as harmless as flies. Let them extend in its measure the rule of doing as they would be done by, to every animal whatsoever.” -On the Education of Children.

On Methodism

“Our main doctrines, which include all the rest, are three,—that of repentance, of faith, and of holiness.” -The Principles of a Methodist Farther Explained

The Asbury Triptych Series

The Love Walk

The Holiness of God [podcast]

History and Purpose of the Pulpit [book]

Articles

“That Ye all Speak the Same Thing” [podcast]

Yes some abandon the sound doctrine which is the Holy Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15-17). Let such cease.

“That ye all speak the same thing” right?

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1 Corinthians 1:10

Satan is introducing doubting, casting doubt upon what God has said, His Word, when he said to the woman in the temptation, “Hath God said?” See Genesis 3:1. And Satan in this exchange, changed, altered what God said, God’s Word. See Genesis 2:17 and 3:4. Game changer! The enemy has not changed and we are not be ignorant of his devices, right? (2 Corinthians 2:11).

“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

We stand with both feet and every ounce of our weight on God’s Word with utter impunity to Satan and his kingdom of evil.

“God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” Romans 3:4

The final blow of death is coming to him, soon.

“And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” Romans 16:20

“But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:” Titus 2:1

“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11

The Importance of Personal, Organic Bible Study [podcast]

To study the Bible organically means simply to study God’s Word without the undue influence, the taintings of mere men! God’s Word is your life (Proverbs 4:20-23). The Word is your “daily bread,” and your life depends on knowing and obeying it (Matthew 6:11). Knowing and adhering to Holy Scripture is your protection (Proverbs 30:5-6). “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield (protection) unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6 RECENTLY: In a very engaging fellowship discussion […]

Teach the Bible [podcast]

JESUS IS COMING AND THE TRUE BODY OF CHRIST IS “HOLDING FORTH (BOLDLY DECLARING) THE WORD OF LIFE” “Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.” Philippians 2:16 WHEN you speak God’s Word, you are speaking divine authority. “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” Titus 2:15 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, […]

Abiding

Fruitful Life. Fruitful Evangelism. [podcast]

The Life God Blesses to Bear Fruit for His Eternal Glory

A fruitful life for God’s glory involves first being genuinely born again, abiding in Christ via the crucified life, bearing spiritual fruit—such as Christlikeness in character, good works, and evangelism—by remaining in vital union with Jesus, the true vine (John 15).

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” John 15:16

JUST as Jesus multiplied the little with the boy who gave the loaves and fishes, so He does with our efforts. Jesus multiplied that little and fed 5,000 men, and that doesn’t count the women and children present. Try Him.

“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Psalms 34:8

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” Matthew 25:40-46

God blesses the lives of His faithful saints. His faithful saints seek His face continually.

“Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11

God prospers us according as we seek His face and stay upon Him. Of king Uzziah king of Judah, God’s Word says:

“As long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.” 2 Chronicles 26:5

At times in this life there are season of uncertainty, where our vision may not be clear. We must “stay upon” the LORD.

“Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.” Isaiah 50:10

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.” Jeremiah 29:11-14

“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

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Ephesians 3:20

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8

We’ve never been so reminded of this as of the miraculous events of late where beloved brother Juan dropped some plastic water bottles that hit me in the feet. Only God could have orchestrated this collision of Juan’s life and mine.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” Psalms 37:23

Ask Him.

Recently brother Stacy Strother reminded me that God simply wants us, His people to be available, to pray and watch Him work!

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” Mark 16:15-20

It has been wisely stated:

“Show me a man’s prayer life, his life of prayer or lack thereof, and I will show you who that man truly is and who and what he loves most.”

All who are zealous for the LORD are zealous about His work, to do it. Not build a church, but to see Christ work in the hearts of men—to strengthen and equip His body and convict and save lost souls to Himself.

One source notes:

“Evangelism is the act of sharing the Christian gospel—the ‘good news’ of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection—with the aim of inviting others into a relationship with God. It is considered a core mission for believers to spread this message of salvation, hope, and love, often stemming from Jesus’s command in the Great Commission.”

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30

YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father, in Jesus’ name, unite my heart to fear Thy name. Do your work in and through my life. I am all Yours. Maximize the fruit produced to Your eternal glory. You must increase but I must decrease. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Satan Hates Soul Winners With A Passion

Are You On His Hit List? “He that winneth souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30 Do you desire to win souls? Are you willing to try a new, yet time-tested method to reach others for Christ while there is still time? This method that I am going to share with you is approximately 500 years old and could revolutionize your life today here on earth, and throughout eternity. It started when the LORD had the printing press come into existence so that His Word could be propagated to all the peoples of the earth. As a roman catholic monk with an […]

"Be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" [podcast]

“Be Not Moved Away” “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;” Colossians 1:23 The victory is in Jesus Christ, and we are “stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved […]

The Harvest is Coming for all those Sowing the Seed of the Word [podcast]

The Joy and Expectation of Seed Sowing What we sow, we can expect to reap (Galatians 6:7-8). As we continue to sow the good, the incorruptible seed of God’s Word into the hearts of men, good news will continue to flow, will continue to be reaped – because God’s Word prospers in the thing where He sends it! See also 1 Peter 1:23. “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent […]

Bearing the Precious Seed of God's Word [podcast]

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves (harvest) with him.” Psalms 126:5-6 A harvest of blessed souls is going to be the result, the ministry produce, the fruit of all who bear and distribute, scatter the seed of the incorruptible Word of God into the hearts of men (1 Peter 1:23). The LORD didn’t say “go explain who I am to other people.” No, He said “preach the word” and “preach the gospel” (2 Timothy 4:2; Mark 16:15). Our […]

The Seed of Salvation [podcast]

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 When we follow Jesus He makes us fishers of men: “And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. 18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.” (Mark 1:17-18) We must forsake the nets, the world’s ways in following Him. Prayer: Father, in the name of Jesus, please […]

Abiding

Washed. Sanctified. Glorified. [podcast]

“Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” John 13:8

Jesus’ true bride is known in that she is making herself ready for Him.

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” Revelation 19:7-8

“This morning I read Psalm 45. Titled the Kings marriage. The story of the King and His bride. This is a beautiful picture of the marriage supper of the Lamb in Rev 19:7-9. The Bridegroom is adorned in glory, majesty, righteousness and truth. Sitting in His royal throne. Then enters the Bride. Holy, without spot or wrinkle. Wearing the righteousness of Christ. And Jesus says, you are in thy Father’s house and He desires thy beauty and worship. Wow! Because she is wearing the beauty of the Lord (Psalm 27:4). His attributes. And she is wearing gold. Fine gold because she has been tried in the fire of affliction. And she is one of the five wise virgins who is invited to enter into the King’s palace. What a glorious picture of all who make themselves ready and are clean and white before their King Jesus! Alleluia!” Karen Cochran

The person who repents, puts their faith in Jesus Christ, and is saved, and continues rooted in Christ, continuing/abiding in Him, will confess any sin committed and be perpetually transformed by Him (Proverbs 28:13; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 John 1:7, 9; 3:4-10).

Many have been misled. Jesus invented the term “FALL AWAY” (Luke 8:13). The Son of God does not lie. If falling away isn’t possible, why did Jesus say it is possible? Jesus is returning for those who are looking for Him by the way they live.

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27

Only those hearing and obeying God’s Word are being washed by it.

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto THEM THAT LOOK FOR HIM shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:28

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are WASHED, but ye are SANCTIFIED, but ye are JUSTIFIED in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

The explanation below is modified from another source and notes the following:

“‘Washed, sanctified, and justified’ (often replacing glorified with justified) describes the comprehensive spiritual transformation of a believer in 1 Corinthians 6:11. It signifies being cleansed from sin, set apart for God’s purpose, and declared righteous through Christ, moving from a past life of disobedience to a new identity and a life of obedience to God (2 Corinthians 5:15).

- Washed: Refers to being cleansed of the defilement and stain of sin, often linked to baptism and the washing of regeneration by the Holy Spirit.
- Sanctified: Means being set apart to God for His holy purpose. It involves both a position of holiness in Christ and a progressive, lifelong process of becoming more like Him.
- Justified (Glorified/Righteous): Means being acquitted of all guilt and declared righteous before God on the basis of Christ’s finished work.

Contextual Meaning

- Transformation: The Apostle Paul reminds the Corinthians that while they once lived in sin, their identity changed upon following Jesus.
- The Power Source: These changes are accomplished in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God, not by personal merit.
- Living the New Life: This transformation signifies that believers are no longer defined by their past sins, but by their new, holy standing.”

Prayer: Jesus, I know You are going to return for a Bride that is without spot, wrinkle, or sin of any kind. Purify this life LORD Jesus which I now submit to You without reserve. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Is the Crucified Life Essential for Going to Heaven? [podcast]

Jesus taught that the Heaven bound disciple must have root in himself, must “endure to the end”, must have a long term, an eternal perspective (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Mark 4:17; Luke 8:13). The Cost of Discipleship “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 […]

How We Know the Bible is the only Holy Book on Planet Earth [podcast]

There’s only one Book whose Author is God. Only God knows the future – and His foretelling of the future in the Bible clearly proves it’s His Book. Law of probability and the fulfillment of Bible prophecies: Odds of the more than 300 prophecies of the prophets concerning the coming Messiah, given hundreds of years prior to His arrival coming true are: 8,749,002,899,132,046,697,490,008,908,470,485,461,412,622,723,572,849,745,… 703,082,425,425,639,811,996,797,503,692,894,052,708,092,215,296 to 1 Fact: Only the Almighty could know the future and forthtell it in specific detail, long before it ever happened. THIS is how we know that the Bible is truly the Word of the one […]