“We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
—- In their own Self-Righteousness, have some gone so far as to make an idol of repentance? Or, perhaps they’ve made an idol of self.
“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.” Lamentations 3:22
Sometimes those who gain an understanding of the absolute necessity of repentance go off in an imbalance and are unteachable, calling others false teachers who attempt to help them learn a bit more about the LORD.
In this type case, perhaps such a person should consider their own need to repent afresh and to rely upon the LORD who would grant them this gift. Instead of just calling everyone else to repent, perhaps they should consider doing so themselves. We can get to the point where we are calling others to repent and it’s coming out of our own self righteous hearts which are actually in need of repentance (Matthew 7:1-5; Romans 2:1-3).
Many times, sinful human nature is to project our own darkness on others rather than take personal accountability for our own sins (Romans 2:1-3).
Cache in on God’s Mercy The sins that should concern me the most are my own (Job 19:28; Matthew 7:1-5; John 8:7; 1 Corinthians 11:31-32; Ephesians 4:32; James 2:13).
“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” John 8:7
This is an important topic to say it lightly …. there are those who seek to impose a self-righteousness upon salvation …. and CHRIST Himself is lost in the mix and so anything in place of HIM is an idol. Read Colossians 1-2.
We must not lose site of CHRIST Himself in all our preaching about what He commanded (Colossians 2:18-19). The whole reason He came is so we could know Him and the Father – a truth seldom ever heard today (John 17:3).
THERE are some even well meaning people who misunderstand the things of God. They subtly place repentance before CHRIST Himself. Please listen closely and judge this against the whole counsel God’s Word: Repentance is utterly necessary to be saved (Luke 13:3, 5) and you know this is preached often here. Yet isn’t true repentance more a turning TO God than it is turning FROM sin?
“Ye Turned to God from Idols”
“For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye TURNED TO GOD from idols (sin) to serve the living and true God.” 1 Thessalonians 1:9
“You can never be sorry enough to be saved.” Lisa Seiler
Of this imbalance, one believer writes:
“Holiness is first and foremost agape love. Unconditional love for all, including enemies of us and enemies of God. This over emphasis on repentance can make us the initiator and God the responder if we are not careful. God is always the initiator.”
—- Overcoming sin and living a holy life begins with receiving the very mercy of God which each of us is so very desperately in need of. Many times, especially in some circles, God Himself gets left out of His own salvation plan. The chief purpose for which God sent His only begotten Son was so that we could “know” Him (John 17:3). Paul told us that knowing the LORD was his all-encompassing goal. Everything else (including a holy life) will follow (Philippians 3:7-14). THIS is what he pressed toward. An ever-deepening relationship with the LORD breeds or produces that holiness which is necessary (John 17:3; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16).
—- WITHOUT EXCEPTION, any person who repents, changes their whole lifestyle. If a person doesn’t worship and love and obey Christ, they have not repented.
“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” Matthew 3:8-10
—- TRUE HOLINESS can only come by way of knowing CHRIST. There is a true and therefore a false or counterfeit holiness. “True holiness” – Watch this:
“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and TRUE HOLINESS.” Ephesians 4:23-24
Remember how Jesus said that the self-righteous religionists had a false form of godliness as they cleaned the outside of the cup and neglected the inside – knowing Him in their hearts and therefore yielding the fruit of “true holiness.” (Matthew 23:23-25; Ephesians 4:24)
—– If we are preaching and not personally ever deepening our fellowship with our LORD, we can easily fall into this trap and imbalance. This is the sin of idolatry and while we may be busy calling everyone else to repent, God may be attempting to get our attention and lead us to repentance. Right? Like Mary, we must make sitting at His beautiful feet to know Him our highest priority around which all our life revolves (Luke 10:38-42).
Remember, Jesus says that without HIM we can do nothing at all to please God and that we are to LOVE the LORD with all our being (John 15:5; Matthew 22:37-39). Does He matter to us? Or, have we forgotten the One we claim to be serving?
“Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.” Psalms 50:22
One comes before the other. Repentance saves no one – Only Christ can save. Repentance is the divine condition for knowing Him which is what saves us – He does. Yes He without exception requires repenting and when we hearken to His drawing and obey by repenting, HE saves us. We must be very careful about the subtle idolatry of displacing CHRIST Himself even with the preaching of the imperative of repentance (Luke 13:3, 5). Some become so very heavy handed on repentance that they themselves need to repent of their own imbalance due to their own need to actually repent. Repentance is clearly a gift also and only God Himself can draw the sinner to Himself (John 3:29; 6:44; 2 Timothy 2:24-26, etc.).
On judgment day Jesus didn’t say He was going to say to the counterfeits “Depart from me because you didn’t repent” but rather “Depart from me ye workers of iniquity, I never KNEW you.” (Matthew 7:21)
Relationship mean alot to God…. you know, the ONE who invented relationship? Please memorize John 17:3.
Some preach as though God hates sinners. They misunderstand and take out of context things from Psalms. If God hated sinners so much, why did He so love the world, including you and I, that He gave His only begotten Son to come to die for us “WHILE we were yet sinners”? (Romans 5:6-8)
Listen to Jesus:
“For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.” Luke 9:56
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:17
Your input welcomed. I am simply attempting to prayerfully be in God’s will in this understanding.
Memorizing Titus 3:5-6 has greatly helped me understand the relationship between God and us, His people. Can anyone relate?
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;” Titus 3:5-6
Will we give thanks today because WE have repented and obeyed OR because of the GREAT MERCY God showed to send His only begotten Son to die for OUR SINS and “while we were YET sinners”? (Romans 5:6-8) Oh and by the way, no man can possibly partake of the divine gift of repentance unless and until God blesses Him with that gift (John 3:29; 6:44; 2 Timothy 2:24-26, etc.).
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us…” Ephesians 2:4
Do you think that the patriarch Jacob could have understood a truth we also need to understand? When he really met with the LORD, here’s what he stated:
“I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.” Genesis 32:10
A holy life is the fruit of truly coming to HIM, repenting and putting our faith in Him … obedience doesn’t save, JESUS saves, amen? And when He saves a soul that soul will choose to abide (remain) or not and if he remains/abides in Christ, he will live a holy life. To GOD be that glory! John 15
“We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
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Preacher Viciously Attacked for Speaking the Truth! [podcast]
Articles
4,500 JESUS Tracts have been Hand-Delivered !
These JESUS tracts in Spanish have been handed out person to person with the love of God and the Word of God spoken to the recipients in Spanish!
You have integrally participated in this mission by your prayers and support. We are not finished yet saints.
Saints, you are the ones who make this possible – by your prayers and support. There is no support from any church, ministry, or corporate support. Individual disciples support this work.
FYI: I also help support this work financially in a limited fashion and yet there’s kingdom opportunity for more saints to participate. There are less than 10 saints monthly who support this work financially. God be praised for their participation in our LORD’s Great Commission work (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20). Jesus is coming and remember, Jesus says “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62).
God be praised that nearly 4,500 JESUS tracts in Spanish have been distributed in Mexico thus far – with a personal touch, a speaking of the Word of God in Spanish to the recipients.
This week I am going to be speaking with a local printer to get another 1,500 printed or 2,500, depending on what resources come in.
The following words of our LORD are specifically spoken to and the grand opportunity and responsibility of the saints in the earth now in this last hour before Christ’s return.
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14
Reprinting the JESUS tract is at hand. New supply needed. A grand kingdom opportunity is before each of us in this mission.
In general the prices are higher where I am now. $300 should take care of 1,500 copies of the JESUS tract.
Feel free to participate clicking on the Support button on here on safeguardyoursoul.com Takes seconds to contribute.
See the Mission Mexico category for many more pics, videos, and testimonies.
Abiding
“Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith” [podcast]
Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith and He requires our personal participation both initially and ongoing, as we “endure to the end”, abiding in Him (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; John 15, etc.).
“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” John 6:66-67
WHERE O WHERE are we going to go if we depart from Jesus? …. does He, the eternal God and Creator of all things not hold the future of every living soul in His holy hand?
FB Meyer on John 6:60-71
“THE SIFTING OF JESUS’ FOLLOWERS
Christ’s pathetic question-Will ye also go away?-elicited from Peter a reply which proved that the inner meaning of His words had already broken upon their souls. ‘Thy words give us and nourish within us the eternal life.'”
“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” John 6:66-67
There are many today, who like the 5,000 who departed from Christ, leave when they hear the cross message – the divine command to be crucified with Christ. Jesus asks us today: “Will you allow He who authored your faith to finish it?”
“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18:4
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness”? Romans 6:1-16
“In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. 5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 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. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” Colossians 2:3-10
The Gospel, the Resurrection of Christ
1 Corinthians 15
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
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Abiding
“My Sheep Hear My Voice, and I Know them, and they Follow Me” [podcast]
There are 7 portraits of Jesus in the Gospel of John. One of those seven portraits is Jesus our “the good shepherd.” (John 10)
The first thing the good shepherd of the sheep did was give His life to purchase the sheep with His own blood.
“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:11
Jesus who created us, then came to die to buy up back to the Father and Himself.
The Bible, God’s Word, is full of illustrations of who God is, and who He is to us. He is our shepherd….the shepherd of His true sheep. How do we know who His remnant saints, sheep truly are? How do we know if we individually are truly His?
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” John 10:27-29
“John 10:27
My sheep hear my voice – But ye will not hear: – my sheep follow me; but ye will neither follow nor acknowledge me. Any person who reads without prejudice may easily see, that our Lord does not at all insinuate that these persons could not believe, because God had made it impossible to them; but simply because they did not hear and follow Christ, which the whole of our blessed Lord’s discourse proves that they might have done. The sheep of Christ are not those who are included in any eternal decree, to the exclusion of others from the yearnings of the bowels of eternal mercy; but they are those who hear, believe in, follow, and obey the Savior of the world.” Adam Clarke
We know He is our shepherd if we are reading, listening for, and walking out the voice of His Word. That’s why He gave us His Word. The voice of His Word is His voice. This is why God gave us the Bible, His Word, the “voice” of His Word. Jesus says “My sheep hear my voice” and the “voice” of Jesus is with us, is God’s written Word. We have the “voice”, the very words of our LORD on record. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
The primary way God’s voice is heard by His sheep is the Holy Scriptures….. reading God’s Word is hearing the voice of God.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalms 119:105
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” John 16:13-14
Our LORD, the good shepherd of our souls, told us that His sheep are those who hear His voice, the voice of His Word. Those not in the Word are not hearing the voice of God.
“He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” John 8:47
Those who are “of the truth” hear the voice, the words of Jesus Christ.
“To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” John 18:37
Jesus made it clear who His true sheep are ….
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” John 14:21
Jesus’ sheep hear His voice, He knows them, they follow Him. They don’t listen to nor follow their own feelings, human reasoning, their own wicked heart, nor any mere men … “follow your heart”? No. That’s a lie from hell. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) Jesus died to save you so you would be His, and that you would follow Him, His voice and none other.
Jesus, on record in John 10:27-29, is telling us that it’s only those who are hearing His voice, the voice of His Word, and following Him, who are going to be kept in His holy hand. After being saved, only those who abide in Christ to the end will be kept by Him and with Him eternally. Read John 15:1-6 where you will see that any whom Jesus saves and yet then they don’t “abide” (remain, continue) in Him will be cast into the fire of hell (v6).
Take a closer look at John 10:27-29. Anchor the promise in verses 28-29 on verse 27 where Jesus identifies who His sheep are—those who hear and continue to hear His voice and continue to follow Him (present tense). The divine promise here to be kept is a conditional
promise requiring the individual recipient of the gift of God to continue to hear His voice and follow Him (John 10:27-29). If you are born again, a sheep of Christ’ pasture, and you cease hearing His voice and following Him, you are no long His.
Many today detach, separate our LORD’s words in verse 27 from verses 28-29 of John 10. In doing so, they perpetrate their “eternal security” mythology which is Satan’s first lie (Genesis 2:17; 3:4). Beware as this was the first lie Satan told mankind, which led to the fall (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).
The LORD saved you to be His – to hear the voice of His Word and to follow Him, to walk with Him.
“Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:5
To be kept you must live “through faith” – to hear and believe the voice of His Word, and walk with Him accordingly.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
“Eternal security”, otherwise known as “once saved always saved”, is a lie from hell. Run from any and all wolves peddling this, Satan’s first lie (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).
To be “kept” by Jesus, the saved sheep must live his life “through faith.”
“And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.” Luke 17:5
The recipient of salvation must “through faith” be “kept.” God never removes man’s free will and requires not only initial but also continued faith. Jesus foretold that some would be saved and then not continue with Him and “fall away” (Luke 8:12-13).
“Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:9
Prayer: Father, I know You are holy and require my faith to the end of this life. Make sensitive my conscience, quicken my spirit to repentance and to be holy as You are holy. In Jesus’ name.
Jesus Christ our LORD is “that great shepherd of the sheep.”
“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21
“For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,” Psalms 95:7
“Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” Psalms 100:3
“To hear His voice, we submit to the pruning of the Holy Ghost in our heart. The fruit of righteousness can only be produced in an ABIDING relationship with Jesus and cultivated by the Holy Spirit given to them that OBEY him. (John 15:3-5; 14:15-17)” Jon Crane
Moments with Our Master [book] 365 Day Devotional book available at and amazon. English and Spanish.
See what others are saying about this devotional book.
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4,500 JESUS Tracts have been Hand-Delivered !
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4,500 JESUS Tracts have been Hand-Delivered !
“Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith” [podcast]
“My Sheep Hear My Voice, and I Know them, and they Follow Me” [podcast]
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