Long, Long Ago

Christ Jesus created, owned and ruled the entire universe, but He was born in a cattle-shed in Bethlehem-Judah 2,000 years ago. Long, long ago, in a stable at night, it was cold, dark, and damp, they were surrounded by the stench of animals and manure. The inn was overcrowded that night; there was no room for Jesus. The hearts of men are overcrowded today; there is still no room for Jesus. Jesus’ first crib was a borrowed feed trough. The animals there in the stable that night loaned their home to their Creator. Jesus stooped very low to die for despicable sinners like us. Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich. He humbled Himself and put on the rags of humanity. He lived a life of abject poverty, submission, subjection, perfect obedience, and selfless love. He was born to be the final sacrificial Lamb for the sins of the whole world.

Christ Jesus, the King of Heaven, left glory and His royal throne on purpose. He was born to die so that sinners could be saved from God’s wrath and have eternal life. He came from Heaven to earth, so we could go from earth to Heaven. He was born of a Jewish peasant, a virgin named Mary; He was born so low and destitute. He went from riches to rags, so we could go from rags to riches. He borrowed everything He had through life. The holy child Jesus was nursed by Mary, and baby Jesus learned to walk and talk just like we did. God Himself became a poor man. The Infinite became an infant, The Holy One of Israel became a human, the Most High God became a man, and the Creator became a creature. Immanuel, God with us, came to this sin-cursed earth to die so we could be with God in Heaven. Jesus carried the rugged Cross from Pilate’s judgment hall through the streets of Jerusalem as the cruel mob hooted at Him. He was brutally nailed to the Cross; the soldiers nailed Him there in your place, so you could be saved by God’s redeeming grace.

Long, long ago, there on the dark hill called Calvary, Jesus willingly bled and died for dying sinners. No greater love for mortal man has ever been known. The heart of the Atonement is that the pure, spotless, sinless Savior bore our sins (John 1:29) and became Sin for us (II Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13). He suffered the wrath of God that was poured out on human sin when He was nailed to the Cross for hours and hours and then at the last, He cried, “It is finished.” Christ on the Cross was the bleeding God dying in the place of sinful man. Jesus satisfied the justice of God and paid your sin-debt in full. Then they took down His broken body from the tree and carried Him away and placed Him in a lonely, stone-cold tomb. The Jewish and Roman authorities thought they done away with Jesus once and for all. But three days later, on the most glorious Sunday morning ever, the stone was rolled away and the Lord Jesus Christ arose victoriously over death and hell. Then forty days later, Jesus ascended into Heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

The Word was God and He was made flesh; the eternal God condescended to earth. (John 1:14) Christ was more than just a baby in a manger that people think about at Christmas and Easter, He was fully God and fully man. Christ is both God and man, and He is the only One able to reconcile your soul to God. Christ represents us as a man and redeems us as God. (See Matthew 1:18,23; Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:31-35; I Timothy 3:16). Christ’s sinless obedience to the law of God and His atoning blood sacrifice as a man was required to redeem sinful, fallen man. Jesus Christ was born sinless and lived a sinless life, and then He suffered the death penalty for the whole world through His bloody death, and then He came back to life and gloriously resurrected. Jesus bore the wrath of God for your human sin. Your sins are infinite because they were committed against an infinite God and it would take an infinite amount of time to pay the penalty, so God became a man to bear the weight of your sin against an infinite God. Only God could pay this infinite penalty - Christ was fully God and fully man.

Christ Jesus came to Earth to bear the sins of the whole world, it pleased the Father to bruise Christ, God laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all, you sins were placed upon Him, Christ bore in His human body on the Cross your weight of sin. He was wounded for your transgressions; He was bruised for your iniquities. Eternal Death was the wages due for your sin, and He paid the death penalty that your sins deserved, He bled and died for you personally. Because Christ is God, He was able to pay the penalty for all your guilt, and then He rose from the dead, and now He offers to you to full and free forgiveness of sins and eternal life freely. Jesus offers salvation freely only to ungodly sinners, to all hopeless wretches that stop trusting themselves and what they are doing, and trust completely in His penalty-paying sinless, blood sacrifice to save their soul.

Christ came to bleed for your sins and die the death you deserved for sinning against a holy God. The Lawgiver came to die for the lawbreakers. For God so loved the world of sinful men that He gave His only Son on Calvary’s Cross. He came to bring God’s bleeding love and the new birth to fallen man. Jesus was born to die on Calvary’s Cross for us vile and rebellious sinners, He was born to set sinners free, Jesus was God Himself in human form with God’s blood flowing through His veins. The death of Christ the Lord was for your immortal soul. It took God’s divine love to save helpless and ungodly sinners like us.

Pride and the love of sin makes the heart incapable of repentance, but the Holy Spirit comes with His power to persuade. Turn to God, that is repentance unto life.  Humbly ask God for faith, repentance and remission, and then gratitude. Genuine Repentance that comes from God causes you leave where you walk, stand and sit spiritually - in darkness, ignorance, indifference, self-righteousness, and the love of sin.  Divine Faith, a gift from God, leads to you come to a childlike reliance in the true and living God, The Lord Jesus Christ.  Freely take from Jesus His mercy and pardon that comes to us all through Faith in His Blood.

Now, Jesus will save all sinners to the uttermost that come unto God through Him. We deserve to be damned; we have willfully and wickedly offended and sinned against God. We cannot help save ourselves. We can only ruin and imprison our souls, but we could never rescue and redeem our souls. Your sins cannot escape unpunished, so let Christ answer for your sins. Christ Jesus is living right now and is seeking you. Most sinners today either hate Christ or ignore Him, but few trust HIM. The very wisest thing you can do is seek mercy from Jesus Christ in prayer. “Great God, save me, I'm a self-ruined sinner! Save me, forgive me, have mercy upon me! I renounce all my merits for I have none; I deserve to be lost and damned; but Lord, please save me now, for Christ’s sake.”

The Voice of Faith

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man (or woman) availeth much. Prayer is the voice of Faith earnestly seeking to obtain Mercy and Help from The Almighty - The Lord Jesus Christ. It's never too early to pray, and it's never too late to pray. When in doubt, always send a knee-mail to God and seal it with Jesus' name and blood.

This Man

And when Jesus was come into His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? is not His mother called Mary? and His brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in Him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in His own country, and in His own house.

And when the sabbath day was come, Jesus began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing Him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto Him, that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands? The Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let Him thus alone, all men will believe on Him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. And the dying thief said, we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And when the centurion, which stood over against Him, saw that He so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. But this man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself. But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool.

For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave Himself a Ransom for us all, to be testified in due time.

The News Media

The mainstream news media - an endless loop of vain deceit, democrat cheerleading, distraction from truth, hype, socialism promotion, devilish sway, dissimulation, mindless chatter, divisiveness, falsified polls and statistics, inciting of fear, profane babblings, immoral brainwashing left-wing propaganda, vain talkers and deceivers, censorship, deception, and self-affirmation.

Desires After God 2

The divine nature given to us by the Spirit of God pines after God, longs for Christ's presence, and sighs for the comfort of the Holy Ghost.  The carnal man doesn't sigh after heavenly things.  We need a real hunger after God and His holiness.  The pure desires are infused into us by the Holy Spirit after He regenerates us.  These desires are increased by the Holy Spirit, instruction in righteousness, and communion with Christ.  We sigh and long to be where Jesus is, and desire to be more like Jesus - tender, loving, brave, prayerful, compassionate, obedient, meek and lowly, self-sacrificing.  Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, aiming only at His glory and honor.  Lord, please give me an all-consuming desire for the glory of God.

Sin cripples the desire for holiness and purity, and dampens the aspiration after goodness and godliness.  Leave the world, take up your cross and follow Jesus, forsake the pursuit of vanity, lay hold on eternal life.  Stop wasting your thoughts upon the cares of time; think more about the matters of Eternity.  Why will you continue to be companions with those who love sin and mock God and whose cause is evil?  Why will you continue to neglect Christ and remain an enemy of God and exist here in time in a lost state?  Desire to love to Christ's glory.  My ambition is to serve and please Christ.  If we could we would live without sin, for we hate and loathe iniquity.

Without a saving interest in Christ Jesus, your soul is lost to all Eternity. Put your soul into the eternal custody of Christ.  It is a matter of first priority to acknowledge Christ, that He is God manifest in the flesh, crucified and risen from the dead.  Acknowledge Christ by receiving Him as your Substitute and Redeemer, trust to His Blood and Righteousness, owning Him as your Salvation, your only Hope, and your closest Desire.

Remain deeply grateful for Christ's Atoning Sacrifice.  Spiritual, intense, fervent, thoughtful.  Build your life on the Rock of Christ's Love - sincerity, pure desire, the work of the Holy Spirit, and be not deceived.  Desires after holiness, self-denial, communion with God.  Self-righteous human nature measures itself by the law of God, and other vain traditions set up by lost religionists.  I desire to know God's will and do what He bids me to do. My highest honor is to be a servant of Christ.  It is for Jesus that I live, and His glory is my highest aim.

Are you God's servant?  A servant does not do his own will or wishes. A servant takes his orders from his master's mouth and eye. Have you submitted your will to God's will?  Are you no longer controlled by a proud and high spirit?  My lifework is to win men and women to faith and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.

My heart is full of loving devotion to Christ Jesus. My heart pants and has an earnest desire for Christ's coming.  A good soldier contends earnestly for the Faith, and fights incessantly against his own sins, evil habits, proud thoughts, and corrupt desires.  Your soul can never find true Rest in baptism or ceremonies.  That is like looking for diamonds in a dunghill.  Special gratitude for Jesus.

Ask the Holy Spirit to soften your heart, guide your judgment, direct your will, give you more repentance.  I pant to have God's own Spirit in my soul and His dear Son in my heart.  Tender conscience, desire after Christ, appetite for the words of God, love for grace, useful servant, led by divine impulses, sensitive to Spirit's leading.  Lord Jesus, all my desire is before Thee.

Intense desire and longings for the glory of God.  Seeking after more light and the fruit of the Spirit, sincere interest in divine things, worship God in all simplicity and earnestness of spirit.  Give over to Jesus all of your mental faculties, passions, desires and ambitions.  Ask the Spirit of God to increase your longings after the world to come.  Prepared hearts, longing appetites, holy aspiration, pure desires.  My great longing is to be set free from sin and self.  Hearty, earnest, intense longings after purity.

My worst problem and trouble are my own sins which are a daily plague and burden.  Sorrowing over sins against God, inward conflict with self, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, joyous gratitude.  Let gratitude permeate your entire life and faculties through and through.  Let gratitude compel you to do all for Jesus' sake.

Have you good thought for all but the Best person who died for you?  Have you admiration for Obama, Hillary, or Trump but none for Jesus?  Have you kind thoughts of gratitude for friends of yours, but none for the Best Friend a sinner could ever have? What can I do today to show Jesus my gratitude?  Think soberly of Eternity, and think seriously of the world to come.  Love of sin, indifference, careless, covetous, worldliness, give no thought to eternal matters, excusing sin.  Seeking the Lord Jesus fervently and frequently. Father, glorify Jesus' name today through my thoughts, words, and deeds.  Humble faith, fervent love, adoring gratitude.

Desires After God 1

Our personal, private prayers in Jesus' name are simply longings and desires after the living God Himself. These inward desires for God's fellowship and presence, and longings for His blessing and divine aid are given to us by the Holy Spirit after we believe on The Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit bestirs in us the impulse to pray and express thanks and praise to God. The divine nature given to us within when we were born again sighs and pines after Christ. No prayers, no life; no seeking, no strength. As soon as a baby is born, he is instantly crying for his mother's comfort and care.

Whatever your desires are, 

that's what your soul is.

Behold - A Bible Word

I want to call your attention today to a little Bible word - Behold.  In the Bible, the word Behold is put there by the Holy Spirit to draw your heart's focus and mind's attention to a great spiritual truth which you need to hear and understand.

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. *Psalm 51:5*  Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. *John 1:29*  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. *Revelation 3:20* And the Lord said unto Ananias, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth. *Acts 9:11*  Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my Strength and my Song; He also is become my Salvation. *Isaiah 12:2*  Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. *Jeremiah 7:8*  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. *Matthew 1:23* Behold, now is the accepted time; Behold, now is the day of Salvation. *II Corinthians 6:2*  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. *II Corinthians 5:17* And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints. *Jude 1:14* Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen. *Revelation 1:7* I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I AM alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. *Revelation 1:18*  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in Righteousness He doth judge and make war. *Revelation 19:11*  And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.  *Revelation 22:12*

Noah's Daughters-in-Law

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark.

And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.

Noah had a wife and three sons, and his three sons were married.  Noah's three daughters-in-law had to forsake their families and go into the ark, or they would have perished in the flood.  A choice had to be made. The daughters-in-law's families probably thought they were religious nuts by marrying into Noah's family first of all, and then they ended up following Noah into the ark.  Noah's three daughters-in-law probably pleaded with their parents, siblings and friends to enter the ark with them, but their family members and friends did not take heed to Noah's warnings of the flood that was coming.  The daughters-in-law may have said, "We're planning for the worst, we're not going to take a chance with our souls.  If Noah is wrong about the storm, then we will be safe, but if he's right, you all will be dead outside the ark. We're going to play it safe inside the ark with Noah. Please come in the ark with us, please, please!"  The same thing was true for Noah's wife's family and friends.  It probably stunk in the ark, because of all the animals; but it was safe in the ark.  In Genesis 7:1, God invites Noah to "come" into the ark:  “Depart” is the word of justice and judgment, but “Come” is the word of mercy and grace.

Noah's daughters-in-law's family members may have came by the ark each of the last seven days while they were sitting in the ark with Noah and his family were waiting for the door of the ark to close. Their families may have called to them and asked to come out of the ark, and quit acting so crazy, and stop letting Noah's message of doom influence you so, you are embarrassing and shaming us; this is so absurd."

They thought Noah was a lunatic and a madman.  The saying in those days was probably, "You're about as crazy as Noah!"  They were always despising him and cracking jokes about old Noah down at the bars and down at the churches.  But the flood silenced their jests and ridicule of Noah. You see, Noah wasn't an educated theologian with his religious garb on walking around shaking people's hands on Sunday trying to make a buck and a name for himself.   Oh no, Noah was a preacher of righteousness every day of the week, and he preached what God told him to say while he worked in the shipyard building the ark for no pay.  Noah bore the reproach of God's message of judgment on this world; Noah was faithful and true to his Creator to the end, no matter the cost.  The professional shipbuilders of Noah's day probably found fault and criticized his ark's plans and design and laughed and said, "Hah! If a flood does come, that piece of junk will never float or sail.  That old wooden box you're building Noah will be your coffin!"  Today is the day of Salvation; Be ye reconciled to God; Humbly believe in Jesus now, and be saved through childlike Faith in His Blood.

There may have been some folks in Noah's day, that actually respected Noah, and they came and listened to his sermons from time to time.  But at the last, when they were invited into the ark, they said, "Well, maybe later, I need to study it some preacher.  I'm taking this matter into very serious consideration, I'm not going to go into the ark just yet, maybe next Sunday I'll join Noah's crowd.  You see, My buddies and I have a card game next Saturday night that I must attend."

Good intentions and good works never saved anybody.  It all hinges on this one matter, inside or outside the ark: you're either inside the ark with a thousand imperfections, but altogether saved; or your'e outside the ark with a thousand good works, but in the end all outside the ark were drowned without a single exception!

Almost persuaded to be a Christian is like the man who was almost pardoned, but he was hanged by his neck on the gallows; kind of like the man who was almost rescued by the fireman, but he was burned up in his house. A door that is almost shut is open, and a man that is almost honest is a crook, and a man that is almost saved is still lost.  Why halt ye between two opinions?  Here is a rule without exception:  all out of Christ are lost; all in Christ are saved; all unbelievers will perish; and all believers will be preserved in Christ. Be wise - give your soul, your sins, your heart, and your body over completely to the Lord Jesus Christ right now.

Noah was a just and perfect and righteous man before God in that wicked generation, and he found grace in the eyes of the LORD.  Noah had a good testimony before the ungodly, in private with his family, and in his heart where God could see it all.  Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.

Noah's closest friends that didn't hearken to him perished just outside the ark.  There was none that understood; there was none that sought after God; there was no fear of God before their eyes.  They would not come into the ark that they might have life. They loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil; they would rather perish in their sins than go into the ark.

The workmen that assisted Noah in building the ark perished as well.  They helped Noah cut the trees, saw the wood, lay the keel, frame the ark, mix and apply the pitch, and they watched the animals get on board, and then they wished Noah and his family well as they went up the gangplank; but they never walked up the brow themselves and got onboard. You see, you can help out down at the church, join the church, even get baptized, get your name on the roll, but that doesn't mean you are truly safe and sound IN CHRIST.

Noah didn't make many friends and he had very few converts (just seven), because his message was so narrow-minded and negative.  The ungodly would say, "Noah, you just think your way is right and everybody else is wrong. Well, we have our faith, and you have yours, so quit judging us with your hell fire and damnation preaching. There's many ways to heaven; we're all working to get to the same place."

All the scientists, philosophers and religionists were swept away in the flood, just like the illiterate and unchurched.  No matter who or what you are in this world - Ye must be born again before you enter the world to come.  Hell is for those who knew God's will and did it not (neglected and rejected Christ); and Hell is also for those who would not know, but who lived and died willfully ignorant of the things of God (never paid Christ any mind at all, lived in total disregard of God).  If you know right from wrong, and if you can understand the gospel of Jesus Christ, at your peril do you reject it, and at your peril do you neglect it!

The flood did not care if your were a prince or pauper, governor or beggar, religious or profane; the flood didn't care if you lived in a hut or in a palace - all were taken away.  The doubters and mockers of Noah also perished in the deep.  And those who tried to build their own boat, because they didn't believe in the finished work of Noah, yes, all their boats sank to the bottom in the storm.  But God remembered Noah, and only the Ark weathered the flood and landed safely on Mount Ararat.  You must personally find refuge in the finished work and person of Christ Jesus.  If your heart is trusting in Christ Jesus Himself, come what may, you are safe; but if you rest not in *Him*, come what will, you are lost.

I am sure those young ladies were mocked and ridiculed for hearkening and forsaking all (family, friends, possessions, reputation) and hearkening to Noah's prophecy.  Now understand - The flood was no respecter of persons; the ark was an absolute (just like the Cross today), and the only way to escape the flood (the wrath of God on human sin).  Christ Jesus suffered the flood of God's fierce wrath when He dying by inches on the Cross. *Psalm 88:16-17*

But on that final day, right before the rain starting falling, the door of the ark was lifted and shut up without man's help while Noah and the others were inside with the animals.  The daughters-in-law's family members outside probably thought to themselves, "Who just lifted up, closed and sealed that enormous door on the ark?" The Bible says that the Lord shut Noah's family in the ark. *Genesis 7:16* The unseen hand of the Almighty closed the door on the ark.

Noah faithfully and compassionately warned the ungodly to flee from the wrath to come for 120 years.  Remember that, they rejected Noah's message for 120 years. Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he; but the ungodly were not so.  Your religiousness can never purchase you an escape from hell fire.  The grace and justice of God are no respecters of financial state, educational level, religious sect, rank or status.  Be wise - simply believe in Jesus as a poor guilty sinner, and look to the Lamb of God - His Blood (Precious, Innocent, Atoning, Forgiving Blood) - for all your Salvation. Trust only to Jesus, or you'll drown in the lake of fire despite your baptismal regeneration (magical water), good works (self-righteousness), and sacraments (idolatry and superstition).  If you're no good, come on to the Cross without delay.

The daughters-in-law were safe inside when the rain started falling; they probably wept when the rain started pelting against the top and sides of the ark.  And once the ark started moving and floating away, the daughters-in-law probably sorrowed over their families that were all swept away and drowned in the torrential downpour of rain.  Their parents and siblings and friends should have listened and entered the ark, but it was too late.

Sin-loving worldlings are neglectful of their souls, busy about fleeting vanities, but negligent of eternal verities. Human beings are indifferent concerning their souls' safety.  Like dead fish, they must go with the stream; for they have not the power of the living fish to swim against the current. They are earnest about their physical life and well being, but their souls are always put last and least. If a man thinks he is going to burn up in a house, he will try to get out and cry out desperately for help.  If a man is drowning, he will kick and struggle to stay alive. If a man gets sick, he will get to the doctor, and find out the best advice and care that will help him recover, and his physical life be spared.  And yet the safety of his soul seems to be a matter of no importance at all. Your soul is your true self, and your body is simply a garment that you are a wearing, a house that you are residing in for a short time.  But the tenant (your soul) residing inside that house (your flesh) is sick and dying while you try to keep the outside in good shape.   Your soul must live forever in another world. The Creator was made flesh to redeem sinful men, and now whosoever trusts in Him shall be saved from the love of sin.

Carelessness and indifference concerning your soul, an evil heart of unbelief, mindless procrastination, vain worldliness, gluttony, drunkenness, lust, money-making, and the love for your sins will be your tragic demise. Get education, get money, get cars and houses and clothes, strive to obtain a respectable title and position in this life, enjoy wining and dining, and then wind up in Hell where you belong. O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!  Prepare for the inevitable Eternity that lies before you.

It's still not too late for you to enter the Ark of Safety that is available today to shelter your immortal soul - His name is the Lord Jesus Christ.  Christ Jesus, God manifest in the flesh, is the only One who can protect your soul from the wrath to come on Sin.  Christ died for the ungodly; It is Finished; Through His Blood - go to God manifest in the flesh in all your sinfulness, without attempting to make yourself better first, and cast yourself upon His infinite mercy through the person and blood of Christ Jesus.

The Ungodly

The ungodly are those folks that could care less about what God thinks, says, sees, hears or feels.  There is no fear of God before the ungodly's eyes.  The ungodly do not care if they hurt or offend God with their thoughts, words or actions.

The ungodly forget God, and could live without Him.  The ungodly is content without God.  The saved soul is awakened and rejoices in God.  The regenerate soul is drawn to God, and seeks to be like the Lord Jesus Christ, and to be filled and led by the Spirit of God, and desires to please and honor God.  Religion wants your to patch ups fictitious righteousness.  Christ died for the ungodly; He gave Himself for our sins; He through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God; He gave Himself a Ransom for us all through a pure act of gracious mercy.

Christ is nothing to the ungodly; they take no heed to the Gospel's tender call.  The Lord Jesus Christ must come to your rescue - be wise - Call upon His name in truth. If you reject Jesus, you will die in your sins and surely perish.  The ungodly don't give Eternity a second thought, and they never search the Scriptures.  The ungodly take no heed to the warnings of the wrath to come; they give no heed to the words of God, and see no need to depend upon God.

God has had patience with you for many years now.  Your sins and Christ-rejecting unbelief has provoked God to wrath towards you.  Reckless, heedless, indifferent, neglectful rebels will be banished from the presence of God.  The great Gospel fact is that whosoever looks to the Lord Jesus Christ through faith in His Blood, that man's soul shall be saved, forgiven, rescued, redeemed, born again.  Self-righteous men try to merit salvation by their own works.  They prefer to do this, that, and the other.  Self-righteous human nature prefers any other mode of Salvation except for faith in Christ Himself.  Men want to fix themselves, and try to make their own progress by good resolutions.  Never build your eternal hopes on anything you have done or will do.

If you die in your sins without Christ, you will beyond hope of rescue.  Never look anywhere for Salvation but to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.  Leave off going about to establish your own righteousness and to find some  other way of peace with God.  The Cross is the only way; put your sole trust in Jesus.  Stop closing your eyes to the Truth, and stop hiding your eyes from the light of the Gospel.  Look to Jesus and trust to Him with all your heart.  It's heart unbelief that damns the soul, that chooses to be saved by works, and is indifferent altogether about whether or not they are saved.  Human nature says, "I will not have this Man to reign over me."

Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord?

[Jesus on the Cross] He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me. They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me. God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark. His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.  Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.  For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on *Him* that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?  God spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked.  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

The truth that God will punish the ungodly is without an exception; the fact that all who are outside of Christ shall perish is a fact without an exception; and the truth that all who are in Christ shall be saved from the wrath to come is also without an exception.

And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.  But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

The ungodly forget God, and could live without Him.  The ungodly is content without God.  The saved soul is awakened and rejoices in God.  The regenerate soul is drawn to God, and seeks to be like the Lord Jesus Christ, and to be filled and led by the Spirit of God, and desires to please and honor God.  Religion wants your to patch ups fictitious righteousness.  Christ died for the ungodly; He gave Himself for our sins; He through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God; He gave Himself a Ransom for us all through a pure act of gracious mercy.  Christ is nothing to the ungodly; they take no heed to the Gospel's tender call.  The Lord Jesus Christ must come to your rescue - be wise - Call upon His name in truth. If you reject Jesus, you will die in your sins and surely perish.  The ungodly don't give Eternity a second thought, and they never search the Scriptures.  The ungodly take no heed to the warnings of the wrath to come; they give no heed to the words of God, and see no need to depend upon God.

God has had patience with you for many years now.  Your sins and Christ-rejecting unbelief has provoked God to wrath towards you.  Reckless, heedless, indifferent, neglectful rebels will be banished from the presence of God.  The great Gospel fact is that whosoever looks to the Lord Jesus Christ through faith in His Blood, that man's soul shall be saved, forgiven, rescued, redeemed, born again.  Self-righteous men try to merit salvation by their own works.  They prefer to do this, that, and the other.  Self-righteous human nature prefers any other mode of Salvation except for faith in Christ Himself.  Men want to fix themselves, and try to make their own progress by good resolutions.  Never build your eternal hopes on anything you have done or will do.  If you die in your sins without Christ, you will beyond hope of rescue.  Never look anywhere for Salvation but to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.  Leave off going about to establish your own righteousness and to find some  other way of peace with God.  The Cross is the only way; put your sole trust in Jesus.  Stop closing your eyes to the Truth, and stop hiding your eyes from the light of the Gospel.  Look to Jesus and trust to Him with all your heart.  It's heart unbelief that damns the soul, that chooses to be saved by works, and is indifferent altogether about whether or not they are saved.  Human nature says, "I will not have this Man to reign over me."

Your Majesty

Now be wise - Be always Looking to the Cross of Christ, heartily Trusting to His Person and Precious Blood, Rejoicing alway in His Resurrection, and Waiting expectantly for His imminent return, and Joy will surely follow.

Thine, O Lord Jesus Christ is the Greatness, and the Power, and all the Glory, and the eternal Victory, and the excellent Majesty: for all that is in the Heaven and in the Earth is Thine; Thine is the Kingdom, O Lord Jesus, and Thou art exalted as Head above all.

The Lord Jesus Christ being the brightness of His Father's glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, The Lord Jesus Christ sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Your Majesty, may all the Glory and Honor and Blessing be to *You* Lord Jesus.

Marvellous Works

Take a few minutes today and admire the wonderful things that JESUS has made around you - be ye thankful, and don't ever forget *Him*. Remember His marvellous works that He hath done. I have tasted that He is Gracious, and have wondered at the gracious words which proceed from His mouth. O Lord Jesus, be merciful unto me, take away all my iniquity, be Thou my Arm in the morning, and my Salvation in the evening, please lift me up and set me Free. For You are my Maker, Who giveth me songs in the night, and that unburdens my heavy heart. I have found The Ransom in Your Precious Blood. You have dealt Mercifully and Graciously with me for so many years, You are so Longsuffering, very pitiful, and of great Kindness. O Lord Jesus, I will paise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are Your works, and that my soul knoweth right well. Great and Marvellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints. O Lord Jesus Christ, You are so gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger, and plenteous in Mercy. Your Name is called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

He loved me and gave Himself for me - 

WORTHY IS THE LAMB!

God's Math

-- The Divine Equation --

The Forgiving Mercy of God the Father +

Faith in the Precious Blood of The Lord Jesus Christ +

and The Regenerating Work of The Holy Spirit =

Immediate Forgiveness of Sins
and Irreversible Eternal Life.

They don't teach God's Math 

in any college or university today.

Hurricane SIN!

It has been awhile since the USA has experienced a large hurricane along her shores - This year it is Hurricane Matthew.  The photo to the right is a shot of Matthew from space (shaped like a skull).  Prior to these huge storms, government officials plead with residents to flee the path of the storm in order to avoid death or injury. They cannot stress it enough, that if you are in the projected path of the storm, you must take precautions now. Don't wait, don't delay, prepare for the worst, take the storm seriously, listen closely and follow instructions of your local officials, and obey evacuation orders.

Today, on behalf of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have a special message concerning the dangerous eternal threat of Hurricane SIN.  This is like no storm you've ever encountered or heard about before.  We're concerned about those souls that have decided to continue to remain in their natural state loving their sins and trusting their self-righteousness.  This is a dreadful mistake.  This is not hype and we're not kidding.  We cannot overstate the danger of this storm. You need to head for the only safe spot now, that is, The Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Unfortunately, sin damns lost souls every day.  Do not assume you can survive the wrath of God if you choose to stay in your sins. There will be overwhelming divine justice and a heartbreaking loss of your soul.  Based on everything we know, SIN will damn you forever and ever.  The Lord Jesus Christ does not want you to be part of the destruction left in the wake of the storm called SIN.  There's no reason to procrastinate, it just doesn't make any sense.  People just do not seem to be getting it, and they are not leaving their sins.  I'm not saying this to be dramatic or theatrical:  This storm will damn you - there are no excuses - Get Out of your Sins and into Christ.  Failure to adequately Shelter in Christ will result in loss of your soul and immense eternal suffering.  If you're reading this, and you're in your sins, Get Out!  Are you willing to take a chance to risk your soul?  Are you willing to take a gamble with your eternal destiny?  That's what you're doing.  If you're reluctant to be saved from your sins, think about all the souls that have already been damned by neglecting and rejecting Christ.  Time is running out.  You could be among those numbers soon if you do not take this warning seriously.  

A deadly, damning storm is brewing on every man's horizon and it passes over man's soul, that is the storm of God's Wrath on Sin which will be a Category 10 storm which destroys everything in its path, it is the mother of all storms. This is the monster storm, this is the real deal, this is a big, deadly, and dangerous storm. The Holy Ghost has declared a State of Emergency for your soul. The best wisdom is to prepare for the inevitable. Please heed this warning. Waiting until the last minute is not a smart thing to do - this is life threatening. Head for the only Shelter from God's wrath - Christ Jesus Himself - Hide in Him now. *John 3:36*

Get out of harm's way - use your common sense, be smart, heed the call, be sensible, use your head, think soberly, prepare now, for your sins will damn you if you die in them. The calm before the storm makes people complacent and lethargic. It is high time to get focused. Do not panic, call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am telling you now - the calm before death is deceptive. But this storm of divine justice is approaching your sinfulness quickly, it will only get worst with time, the intensity of sin's temptation, deceitfulness, and hardening is tricking you into trying to ride life's storm out in your own strength. Sin will cause your life to start going downhill fast when you least expect it. *Ecclesiastes 8:11*

Hurricane Sin along with God's divine wrath is the worst possible storm you can imagine - it is headed your way at a fast pace. This storm will soon pass directly over you. It is growing more powerful every day and will only continue to intensify. Hurricane Sin is an imminent threat to you. Your inward corruptions, filthy thoughts, and evil desires are continually surging in your soul. Every sinner is residing in the path of certain death. Remember - All sinners that need assistance can be picked up by Grace and brought to the Red-Cross Shelter free of charge. Do not try to hunker down in your own self-goodness. Your rickety shack of self-goodness will not endure the gale force winds of God's divine wrath and vengeance on your sins. Abandon your own righteousness immediately. Your puny dams and levees of vain religious pretence will be useless against this storm.

You have paid no attention to many calls for evacuation from the Holy Ghost in the past. Men are naturally careless and insanely suicidal pertaining to their soul's eternal safety. Vain human nature causes you to take risk, to be careless, procrastinate, and love the forbidden. You need to find THE safe place to hide your soul immediately, that is in Christ. Your soul is in jeopardy.  You are facing serious eternal danger. If you die in your sins without Christ, death will be a sudden and catastrophic disaster.  Proud human nature defies the imminent wrath of God Almighty on Sin, and remains in the path of the coming storm.  Be wise - flee from the wrath to come, come to Jesus now and trust in His sheltering love.

Sin threatens your life and soul. A full-scale evacuation has been ordered for all sinners to leave their sins. You should be deeply concerned, but sin has slowly lulled you into a suicidal slumber. Get out of your sins now - head for higher ground - to Calvary's hill where the Heavenly Lamb of God was slain for your sins. If you reject Christ, you will inevitably suffer the consequences.  You need to be scared, reconsider your actions, you need to be concerned, do not play around, heed this warning, do not linger in your sins. Get out now, your window of opportunity is closing very rapidly, this is not optional, it's time to get out, in fact, it is way overdue, if you stay in your sins, you do it at your own peril - we beseech you - we beg you - get out now.

You're already feeling the winds and outer bands of judgment in your conscience, and you are hearing the distant thunders of divine wrath in your soul's ears. The storm of death and Hell is closing in on you fast and it will be devastating to your soul. Your worries are now rising up in your mind and the dread of death is looming. Death is threatening you; it is near at hand and is likely to occur at any moment. Don't try to ride out this storm. Flee from the wrath of God which is coming on sin. Your sinful condition is deteriorating daily. You're between the Rock and a hot place. The Rock is Jesus Christ and the hot place is Hell Fire. Which way will you choose? You have less time than you think - take heed to the evacuation order from God's words. Sin leads to eternal devastation. The gentle whisperings of Calvary are calling to you flee to Safety.

Your body is reaping the effects of your past sins and your health will soon begin to severely weaken. Your soul has been declared a disaster area by the law of God. You are inundated with the threatenings and warnings of your conscience. You think you are safe just the way you are, but your religious delusion and selfish pride has made insanely suicidal. You are in death's target zone. Don't take a foolish risk with your eternal destiny. The world and the pride of life have made you complacent. In your sins, eternal destruction is inescapable and very close to you. Flee to the only safe place for your guilty soul at Calvary's Cross - the Mighty Refuge. Total devastation is just around the corner. You are under the gun - death will soon bear down on you. Prepare for the worst. The Shelter of God's Forgiveness is open to all lost and hopeless sinners now. Flee into the covert of Christ's blood now. You must leave your favorite sins voluntarily.

You have become unconcerned, jaded, and blase' because you've heard about Jesus and the danger of death many times. You may have become uninterested because of your frequent exposure to Bible truth. I cannot over emphasize the peril you are facing without Christ. Eternal ruin is hanging over your head. Stop flirting with disaster. Certain death awaits you. The imminent peril of death is brewing now on your horizon. You don't know what you are dealing with. There is a serious threat to your soul's safety - it is called Sin. This may be your final call for 'voluntary evacuation' before the Storm of God's wrath barrels down on your soul. It's only going to get worse for you if you procrastinate and reject Christ. One day soon it will be too late to flee the storm.

The tempest of death is closing in on you - Head for the Shelter now. This storm will certainly overtake you if you tarry in your sins. It's time for prayers and pleading with God for mercy. Your condition is the worst-case scenario. You are facing a potential catastrophe. The most important message I can send to you is this: Don't take the storm of Sin lightly. Satan tempts you to ride the storm out and party hard. Sin is nothing to gamble with. Christ died for miserable sinners like you and me, He will receive you into His Shelter at the Cross today - don't look back, turn away from your dead works and favorite sins, flee for your life to Christ Himself. There is no other place to hide from the Storm of Eternal Death. Flee now to Safety at the Bloody Cross before time runs out. Look only to the Cross of Christ. Depend upon nothing but Christ and His finished work on Calvary's Cross.

The Blood of Christ is gently calling you to Calvary's Cross today. But your self-righteousness says, “I must bring some good works with me to the Shelter.” Listen to the Blood as it speaks to you! It says, “Sinner, I am full of merit and righteousness: why do you bring your works here?” “Ah! but,” you say “I have too much sin.” Listen to the still, small voice of the Blood: as it falls from Calvary's Cross, it cries, “being now justified by My blood you shall be saved from wrath through Me.” “Ah! but,” you say, “I know I am too guilty to come.” Listen to God's Blood! “Though your sins be as scarlet I will make them as wool; though they be red like crimson, they shall be whiter than snow.” “Oh no!,” you say, "I have such little faith.” O hearken to the Blood! “The bruised reed I will not break, and the smoking flax I will not quench.” “No, but,” you say, “I know God will cast me out, if I do come.” Just listen closely to the blood! “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” “No, but,” you say, “I know I have so many sins that I cannot be forgiven.” But the Blood says, "I will cleanse you from all Sin."

Now, hear the Blood once more, listen closely, “The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” Come, poor sinner, cast your lost soul at the foot of the Cross, simply rely on God's truth and mercy. Away with your good works and all your vain trustings! Lie simply flat on the sweet promises of Christ. Trust Jesus' Precious Blood now and forever; and when you put your trust alone in Jesus, in His most Precious Blood, He shall speak eternal peace to your soul and conscience. Plead Christ’s blood alone, not your merits.

A receiving faith comes from the Holy Spirit and it is the vital point, Christ-trusting faith is absolutely needful for your soul to obtain eternal life – Christ must be your all in all. “To as many as received Him.” Have you ever received Him, the Lord Jesus, the real Christ? Do you talk to Him? Do you know Him? Is He your companion? Is He a friend of yours? Is your sin pardoned? Is the law satisfied? Are you prepared to die and meet your Maker face to face? If you have received a personal Christ by confiding, trusting, and depending upon Him, your sins are gone forever and you soul is safe and sound.

Always say, "Yes!" to Jesus, and "No!" to self and sin. Just do the right thing – trust Christ – live to glorify Christ! There is a God, He is real, He is always looking at you with His holy gaze, He is always thinking of you, He is a very present help, He is always observing you, He is always listening, He is God Almighty, you are always in His presence. The Bible cannot be bribed, it cannot be resisted, it cannot be escaped, and it will never be changed - we be very careful to be right with the Scriptures. Be always looking to Christ's Cross and waiting for His coming. Lord Jesus, please take the helm, direct my ways, my steps, my paths, my heart into the love of God.

Dear Lord, help me to think soberly from day to day, quicken me, make me holy, earnest, loving souls, cheerfully obedient, gentle yet courageous, pleased with Your will, trustful, denying self, brave, consecrated, teachable yet firm, dependent, and Christ-like. Help me to be grieved when I grieve You. Help me to trust your Precious Blood, rely on your Promises, depend on your Spirit, always look out of myself, and always look to the Bleeding, Living, Interceding Christ of God.

Holy Spirit, please work in me, keep me pure in thought and deed for Jesus' sake. Lord, salt my eyes and tongue, keep my thoughts clean, and may my words few and graceful. The Bible disturbs our selfish routine, wounds our pride, exposes our sins, demands obedience, saves our soul, and exalts Jesus Christ. The finished work of Christ for us is our only hope for eternal life, and the work of the Spirit in us is our only hope of a pure life. Let God be Magnified – All the Glory be to Christ alone.

Take Special Care Of Your Soul

Men today care about everything but their soul; they care much about their hair, teeth, complexion, weight loss, cell phone, automobile, wardrobe; everything and anything but their soul.  You better be wise and take special care of your soul.  Time is hastening on, life's sun is quickly setting for you.  It's high time you put first things first.  *Matthew 6:33; I Corinthians 15:3*  The sands of time are sinking fast for you, and when your hourglass has run out, you won't get another chance. It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the Judgment.  Take special care of your soul - for your soul is your true ego, your real self, your immortal being which will out-last time.

Your deteriorating flesh will soon die and be dropped into a grave, but within your flesh, you have an immortal soul which shall outlive the stars. Sin and Death runs in your family. Most men want to live as long as possible, so they can enjoy this life without God while indulging in their pride and sins. But without Jesus Christ, your death bed will be so lonely and frightening. You must soon bid this temporal world goodbye, and you must deal with an angry God that you have ignored and insulted, and whose Son you have slighted and rejected.

The main reason any man goes to Hell is because he has little thoughts of Christ Jesus and what He has done for sinners.  Don't make light of Christ Jesus your Crucified Creator. The grim reaper will come to visit you personally when the death's cold sweat is beading on your brow. You will see Death itself face to face, and you will shudder in terror. You will have no Christ to shelter your soul from hell’s unquenchable fire. You may laugh about the realities of eternity now, but you won't when it comes time for you to die and go the way of all the earth. Consider your way; it is time to seek the Lord. Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Acquaint now thyself with Christ and be at peace.

The gentle kindness of Almighty God sent Jesus Christ here to earth to die for your sins. The Blessed God in the person of Jesus Christ in the fulness of time was born of a Jewish virgin. He came into this world for one reason - to be the Substitute for sinners.  By the grace of God, Jesus tasted death for every man.  Christ took upon Himself human sin, He went up to the Cross loaded with your sins, and there He suffered in your place to make amends for your guilt. The vengeance of God against human sin was poured out upon Christ, He suffered eternal death on the Cross so that lost sinners might not die in their sins. 

The Lamb of God was slain in your place. Jesus provided satisfaction to the injured and broken law of God. The despised and crucified Christ is the only source of the sinner's salvation. Come to Jesus not to do, but to have all done for you. Not to merit salvation, but to receive it as a gift of God's free favor. Come just as you are, altogether without anything to plead before God. God in everlasting love gave His Son to die for the ungodly.

Believe in the great Propitiation which Jesus offered for your sins. You have nothing to trust to but Christ Himself. Wholly, solely, heartily, and entirely fix your hope on the Blood and Righteousness of Jesus Christ whom God has set forth to be the Propitiation for human sin. Pardon is given freely through the Savior's Precious Blood, graciously granted without human works. Simple faith in Jesus who loved you and gave Himself for you. Look to Jesus for all. Firm reliance on Christ. Cease from your own works and your own righteousness, stop resting in yourself. Be still and Rest upon the Savior, let Him be all your salvation and your only Safety. The way of Salvation in Christ is by heavenly mercy, not human merit; by faith, not works; by divine grace, not human efforts. Simple faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ is the way to Glory.

You must die – it is inevitable; you will not be late for your appointment with death and your Maker. What will you do then without a Savior? You will desperately need Him then. Your soul will soon float down the black stream of death, and then over the roaring brink of eternity into the Lake of Fire to burn forever. There is a Hell, and you are headed there without Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Life is short, eternity is long. You think much about your work, career, income, pet, pleasures, retirement, but rarely about your priceless soul. 

Your soul should have your most serious and best thoughts continually. You should seek above all things that your soul may prosper and be in health, and that your inner man be in a living state. The neglect of Christ has brought your soul into a most hazardous condition. If you continue to reject Christ, your soul will inevitably spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. At the White Throne Judgment your soul will stand quivering on the brink of the dark bottomless pit. Each time your heart beats your soul is brought nearer and nearer to eternity. If you lose your soul, it will be lost and damned forever. Ye must be born again. Plunge your soul in the Blood of the Lamb of God by faith.

If you continue on in your sinful way, your soul will perish forever in everlasting burnings. The things of time are not worth the things of eternity and Heaven. You will soon lie down in torment in the flames of Hell. Do not risk your soul's eternal welfare. Come and humble your soul at Jesus' feet. Look to Calvary’s Cross alone; Turn your eye to the Bleeding Lamb of God. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. Don't run the risk of an eternity of woe for an hour of sinful pleasure. God has continually spared your life in His tender mercy. God could have let your soul descend into Hell years ago, but here you are still breathing God's air on His earth. You laugh and jest while your soul is in eternal peril. Satan is waiting to pounce on you, the Law is ready to condemn you, your sins are as black as hell, God's wrath abides on you, Hell is waiting to devour you. Believe in Jesus Christ, that is, look to His dear Cross, trust your soul with Him alone. Trust in Christ, He will never deceive you. Take special care of your soul. Look carefully to your soul's eternal needs, not just your body. Seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read.

Where will you spend forever? Deep down in your heart, you fear dying and facing reality, your conscience continues to prick and alarm you. You are so vile and sinful, but Christ died for ungodly sinners. As long as you continue to be self-righteous and self-sufficient, your soul in extreme danger of Hell fire. Sinner friend, don't mess around and ruin your soul forever. Come now, believe only in Jesus Christ, you cannot pay your redemption money, you cannot get your soul out of pawn with your own works, don’t bring a single penny with you, bring none of your counterfeit money to pay for your soul. Christ paid all the money for your soul long ago with His own blood on Calvary's tree. Find all your salvation in the veins of Jesus, God manifest in the flesh. The Blood of Jesus Christ alone will cleanse you from all sin. The Blood that flowed from the veins of the Incarnate God, Jesus Christ, is your soul's only hope. Christ finished salvation on Calvary; look to Him alone, and you are saved. Trust your soul with Christ; He will save you. Don’t be a fool and bet your immortal soul on some religious nonsense – go directly to Christ Jesus Himself, the living Savior, and ask HIM to save your soul.

True faith in Christ is when you have no faith in yourself at all. Atonement for human sin is the work of Jesus alone; He doesn't need to be aided by you at all. Believe will all your heart that the Man Christ Jesus who died on Mount Calvary was God, and that He took your sins upon Himself and died in your place. Humbly yield to Christ, submit to His Righteousness, abhor and reject your own righteousness. Put all your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ; let Him sprinkle your soul with His Precious Blood. Ask Christ's Spirit to come and dwell in your mortal body. Christ was punished for 'your sins,' if you trust Christ's atoning Blood, God cannot punish the same offense twice. Believe in Christ; cast your soul on the Blood Atonement that Jesus made for you; Trust your soul with Jesus Christ, and He will save it. Take special care of your soul. Seek Him, Pray to Him, Call upon Him, Trust to Him.

More Light 2

The entrance of Thy Words giveth Light, 

it giveth Understanding to the simple. 

*Psalm 119:130*  

The only person in the entire universe that can cause the words of God to truly enter into your mind and heart and soul, and effectually work there is the Holy Spirit Himself.  Without the moving and working of the Spirit of Christ in your mind and heart, there will be no Light whatsoever.  Your greatest needs are the Words of God, Divine Light, and Divine Understanding.  No Words, No Light; No Light, No Understanding - End of Story.  The words of God enlighten and illuminate the mind and heart of man like a flashlight lights up a dark cellar or attic.  Without Divine Light, the lost souls of unregenerate men and women continue to sit in the darkness of their natural state.  The words of God bring Light, and that Light brings Understanding.

The Understanding that the Holy Spirit first brings to us is about ourselves, that is, our lost and helpless state.  The Holy Spirit helps us see our sinfulness, danger, lostness, inability, and helplessness.  The mere hearing of the word of God with the physical ear will not help at all, the words of God must enter into the inward parts - the conscience, the mind and thoughts, and the spirit, soul and heart of man.  The words of God cannot find entrance in many hearts, because some hearts are blocked by pride, the love of sin, self-conceit, indifference, self-righteousness and prejudice.  Only the words of God which bring Light can dispel the thick darkness in the mind of the natural man.

Receiving understanding is similar to when you go to the Doctor for an annual checkup, and he does blood work on you. Until you get the blood work results back, you do not have a true understanding of your real health status.  You could feel just fine, but the blood work could reveal some real bad news about your current physical condition.  Likewise, until the Holy Spirit probes your inward parts and gives you His divine Diagnosis, you will never truly understand what you really are in the sight of God.  You need help from the outside before you can get understanding about your true physical condition, and this is also true for your true spiritual condition.

Second, after the Spirit of God gives you understanding about your sinful state, He will then begin to warn, persuade and woo you to the Lamb of God and His Precious Blood as the Remedy for your sin-sick soul.  Only the simple (meek, poor, broken and contrite in spirit) can receive divine Understanding.  The opposite of the simple are smart-alecks.  The simple are the meek and sincere souls that through the Help of the Holy Spirit sense their sinfulness and then sincerely seek the Lord Jesus Christ and His Blood as the Antidote for their sins.  The simple not only obtain a knowledge of God but a true Understanding of God's true holiness and free mercy.  The simple truly understand the simplicity of the Gospel.  The world counts the simple that have Understanding as fools and half-wits.  But the simple are those that are not high-minded or wise in their own eyes.  Christ Jesus shall give them Light.  Now understand - nothing on Earth could exist and grow without sunlight.  Likewise, there will be no Life in your heart without divine Light shining there through the Words of God and the Gospel of Christ.

There's absolutely no help or hope for the soul that avoids the Lord Jesus Christ.  Salvation is far from the wicked, for they seek not God's words.  Until you seek God's words, you cannot be given divine Light, and divine Light gives divine Understanding and excellent Wisdom.  You must receive the word of God, not as the word of men, but as it is in Truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh in the soul that believes on the Lord Jesus Christ.  But the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word of God, receive it, understand it, keep it, and bring forth fruit. The simple have good ground in their heart and receive the engrafted word with meekness which is able to save their soul.

The entrance of Thy Words giveth Light, 

it giveth Understanding to the simple. 

*Psalm 119:130*  

More Light 1

All things were made by the Lord Jesus Christ; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. *John 1:3* Like the Creation in Genesis 1, Regeneration begins and ends within your heart through the work of the Crucified Creator and the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit of God must move in the midst of the confused and void soul of man, or there is no hope for him.  The words of God must be spoken and the moving of the Spirit must occur, or you will remain in your unforgiven, natural state.  If you stay away from Christ, and die in your natural, sinful state, you will have to pay the eternal penalty for all the sins you've committed against God from your youth until now.

Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you Rest. *Matthew 11:28* Nothing will ever happen eternally within your mind and soul without the working of the Eternal Spirit. If you don't seek the Lord, that is, the Holy Spirit, and ask Him for help and guidance to the Lord Jesus Christ, you will never find your way out of the mess you've got yourself into.  If you reject the Righteousness of Christ, and try to do your own thing, you shall surely perish and face eternal hell fire.

The carnal mind is enmity with God, and it is filled with confusion and chaos.  The lost soul is totally incapable of doing any real good in God's sight.  There is none that doeth Good, no, not one.  Spiritual light, life and fruit are all the work of God, not sinful man.  In the heart of a lost man dwelleth no good thing. *Romans 7:18* The natural man is utterly void apart from the operations of the Spirit of God.  Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

Darkness was upon the face of the deep.  It is pitch black darkness within the mind of a lost man until God says, "Let there be Light!"  Light excelleth darkness, and only the LORD can lighten your darkness.  For God, who commanded the Light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  God commands His Light to shine into our dark hearts through the light of the Gospel.  Christ Jesus the Savior hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the Light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.  

When you are in the flesh, the motions of sins, and under sin's dread sway, you are completely controlled by the power of darkness (Satan is the prince of darkness).  Until you are born again, you belong to Satan spiritually, and there's absolutely nothing you can do about that.  You must be rescued by Another from your dark bondage.  The Spirit of God must move in your life, or you are doomed for sure.  In Genesis 1, the Earth moved in its orbit, but its own motion could not bring any life upon it, but then the Spirit of God moved, and God spoke His words (Let there be light, and there was light).  The Earth had to be moved upon, or it would've never changed.  Regeneration does not come from the efforts of the natural heart.  

Your greatest need is spiritual light from the God of the Holy Bible.  The ungodly is facing a terrible doom, dying without a hope or a Savior.  Without light, you will never see your sins as God sees them, and you will never see the Remedy for your sins, the Innocent Precious Blood of the Lamb of God.  Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  No light, no sight.  O Holy Spirit, please give me more light, more of Your light, more of Jesus' light - this should be your earnest prayer.  The Gospel is Spiritual Light that shines into the heart of lost men, and reveals the Glory of God through the Lord Jesus Christ. 

God spoke, and it was done.  The words of God are quick and powerful.  The gospel of Christ is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth on the Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus' words were with power - He could control the weather, forgive sins, and raise the dead just with His words, for He was God manifest in the flesh.  What communion hath light with darkness?  God divided the light from the darkness.  Salvation in the heart of a lost man is not a self-reformation; it is Creation, and God Himself must make you a new creature in Christ by the word of His power.  Only the Holy Spirit can quicken your dead soul and bring it back to Life.  Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners who are doomed to die and go to Hell.

If you remain ignorant of God's Righteousness (Christ Jesus Himself), and attempt to go about to establish your own righteousness, and never submit yourself to the Righteousness of God by Faith in Jesus' blood, you will remain hopelessly lost.  If you try to save yourself in any way, you insult God, reject Christ, and do despite to the Spirit of God.  Salvation is not a matter of your deeds and actions; Salvation is the saving of your soul by the glorious light of the Gospel of Christ and regenerating power of the Holy Spirit.  Ye must be born again of the Spirit of God.  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  If you reject Christ, your doom is sealed, you shall not see life, the wrath of God abides on you, and an escape from your Sin is impossible. Rejecting Christ is the soul-damning Sin of sins.  The Blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin - please call upon His name in truth.  More Light LORD - wise prayer. 

As He That Serveth

Seek more grace and faith from God in order to be a happy, joyful, cheerful, thankful Christian servant daily.  Never be ashamed in any company to avow that you are a servant and soldier of the Cross, a follower of the Lamb of God. The fruits of true Christianity are charity, purity, and humility. Christ is Perfect, I am full of sin; He is just, I am unjust; He is meek and lowly, I am proud and arrogant. For Jesus' sake, always try to display a meek, quiet, humble disposition.  Joyfully undertake the lowest service; there is always a door to be kept, a floor to be swept. The last shall be first, and the first last. Labor with the degraded and fallen sinner. The neglected and despised outcasts need your service. Be eager for the lowest work, and the lowest place. Glorify God with a pure, thankful, loyal love. To serve God is the highest honor.

Take your Christianity up a notch; seek to be as one that serveth.  Jesus dissuades us from own selfish ambitious views of superiority over each other, and leads us by love to serve one another. Seek the most menial work. Look out for other's interests, lay yourself out for others' good and benefit. Bear with ill manners, sweetly correct errors and mistakes, be patient with slow hearts. Never be domineering or exacting in your demands, never seek your own comfort at the expense of others. Seek others' welfare rather than your own. Seek to be less than the least among them. A servant is a person that cares for other people's needs, wants, and comforts. A servant is always moving and laboring quietly and unnoticed. A servant forgets himself in thinking of others. Aim at the conversion of sinners, and the edification of the body of Christ.

A real servant ignores his own will and forsakes his own ambitions. He does what his Lord tells him to do. He engages and lives as a servant and joyfully obeys the will of his Employer. A servant bears all manner of hardness, hardship, misjudgments, and harshness. A servant will be lonely at times, avoided, shunned and snubbed, but still he seeks the good of those that despise him. Always seek the good of others. Whose smile gladdens you? Whose frown depresses you? Whose honor do you seek in all the things you do? Find rest in service to God and His Son. *Matthew 11:29-30*  Meditation upon the humility of the Lord Jesus Christ is always good for the soul. 

Only a humble few ever came into a close intimate acquaintance with Jesus. Jesus' whole care was for others. I came not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. He always had to be about His Father's business. Jesus' sole concern was to be a Servant. He was infinitely great and wise, but meek and lowly in heart. Jesus was pure and good, He was Holiness, Meekness, and Goodness Incarnate. Jesus came down here to Earth to simply bless us poor sinners. He was heavenly Light in the midst of human darkness. He was so truly Great, yet the humblest of all. Jesus was so Great, that He willingly did little unknown things for nobodies. Jesus has unspeakable love to us sinners. Wondrous love would not let Jesus stay in Heaven in the midst of His glory, but Bleeding Love made Him come here to seek and to save us which were lost in sin.

The little selfish man always tries to wriggle himself into the limelight in order to be noticed somehow. He wants to be seen, and do something by which he will gain the preeminence. He is so little that he could never rise to such a dignified position as a servant. It is the nature of a great heart to be willing to do any necessary thing for those in need. Love is always happiest when it is doing something to benefit others. It is a servant's joy rather than bondage to take care of others. Loves holds us near to those in need. Nothing seems to be a stoop to a servant. We must follow in Jesus' footsteps, as he that serveth.

Seek to fill the very lowest office. At all times be lowly in your own self-esteem. Be ready, servants at times may be insulted or treated in a disrespectful manner. People will often find fault with a servant, wiping their boots on them. Have a lowly estimate of yourself, do not retaliate when you receive unkind words and untrue accusations. Always be seeking to do good to others. It is a high office to be the least and the lowest.  The carnal mind seeks its own good; the mind of Christ seeks the good of others.  How much good have I done to others this week? The Christian's way of living is to give out to others. It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Serve someone first in your home. Always be trying to bless others for their good at home. Everyone should enjoy being home, and be glad when you're home. Do everything you can do to minister to the comfort of others.  Don't be peevish, snarly or snappy when under duress. Seek to display an affable, gracious, loving spirit in the midst of trials. The Holy Spirit can help you live the life that God wants you to live. Really love others and desire their present, future and eternal Welfare. Be willing to forgive and forbear. Be willing to bear and suffer wrong rather than inflict wrong to others.

Faith is the ability that God gives to us to please Him.  Lord, increase our Faith.  Forgive as quickly as possible. And the one that wrongs you, pay them back the next day by doing them some kindness which you would not have done if they had not treated you badly. Always try to speak as well of everybody you can. Exhibit a humble, forgiving, gentle, gracious spirit in afflictions. As he that serveth.

Let's Get Down To Business

Your main business here below is to first Trust to the Blood of the Lamb, and then Follow the Lamb, Feed His lambs, and as you have opportunity, say to those around you, "Behold The Lamb, and Worthy Is The Lamb."  Your very first business is coming to Christ Jesus through Faith in His Blood, or your ruin and damnation will be certain.

Your first business is with Christ Jesus Himself - Personal dealings with the living Savior.  Your first business is to get to Jesus Christ.  The main business a Christ has to do is tell the Gospel of the Grace of God to sinners who sit in darkness. The chief business of the Christian is to represent Christ by behaving himself wisely here on Earth, and as an ambassador, speaking on his King's behalf.  Lord willing, and for Jesus' sake.  Do your utmost to be the means in which God brings sinners to trust and praise the Lord Jesus Christ.

Simply tell sinners what Jesus has done for you - tell them of His saving grace and redeeming blood, and always be inviting sinners to the Cross.  Set forth Christ crucified in sinners' ears.  Make manifest Christ's Life and Savour with your daily conversation, have a good conscience towards God, publish His gospel, call attention to His Precious Blood and Atoning Sacrifice, magnify the Cross-work of the Lamb of God, and hold forth the word of life.  Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and Christ's Righteousness - let the supreme aim of your life be to glorify God.  Work for time as well as Eternity.

Make the Lord Christ your companion in this life everywhere you go, take Him always with you.  Ask the Holy Spirit to always be with the words you speak to those around you.  Flee evil habits, abstain from lewd music and indecent jokes, simply give up everything that grieves the Spirit of God, and follow after those things which make for peace with God, and the things wherewith one may edify another. Be patient, be kind, be courteous, in a word, be Christ-like.  Be upright at work, be kindly affectionate at home, strive to make those around you happy, live Christ, practically prove to this world that Christ Jesus is alive and that He is the Lord of your life.

Your main business is to work for the spreading of the Kingdom of God, to be continually shining the light you have, and wait upon God for the words to say to those around concerning His Son.  I need Jesus as often as I need a breath of air, or a drink of water, or a bite of food:  I cannot live off of yesterday's supply.  Wait upon the LORD for a good conscience, stand fast at the foot of the Cross.  Ask Jesus to purify your mind, exercise yourself unto godliness, behave yourself in private, walk in wisdom toward them that are without, and ever follow that which is good and honest.

Wait upon the Holy Spirit for His teaching, learn Christ, and be taught of Him, consult with the pure words of God, and seek to know the will of the Most High God, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Seek guidance and enlightenment from the Holy Spirit alway.  Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, and follow righteousness, faith, godliness, patience, meekness, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Your life business should be to follow in the steps of the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for you.

Beware of the Religionist!

You see, the deluded religionist thinks he has special favor with God because of his own doings, that is, his own cockeyed convictions that he dreamed up to make himself think he's right with God.  The only reason any sinner has favor with God Almighty is because of Jesus' Blood, for Jesus' sake, that's all.  God gives respect to Jesus Christ, and no other man.  *Acts 10:34; Matthew 17:5; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9; Matthew 3:17; I Peter 1:17; Luke 3:22*  I don't believe Paul the apostle lived like that.  The religionist is a proud sinner, he boasts of his own righteousness; and you will never get self-glorying out of him.  Watch the religionist close - he desires self-glory, not Christ's glory. But remember, the God of the Bible is no respecter of persons.  The religionist's do's and don'ts have gone to his head and made him looney.  Now understand - Beware of the man that thinks he has some sort of special favor with God, because of the version of the Bible he totes around, his dress code, or his denomination! *Luke 20:46*

Those sinners that trust in a church's water and their own works, and then add a little Jesus to it will surely wind up unprepared to enter Eternity and are destined for the lake of fire which burneth with brimstone.

 You can cross all your T's, and dot all your I's perfectly, and still spell the word wrong. Religion is that stuff you do on a certain day at a certain place that makes you think you're better than someone else, the stuff that pleases man, the stuff you think impresses God, and the stuff you do to help save yourself from sin and hell. Religion will only make you self-righteous (more lost), really strict, and continually mean; but JESUS and the Gospel will make you self-abhorrent, meek and merciful.

Now come up close, and listen with both ears: Most religions these days will adamantly teach you that you must trust *their water* and *your works*, and then maybe you'll get to Heaven through their help, but only if you endure to the end in their sect; but the Gospel teaches and persuades you to trust the *Water of Life* (Christ Jesus Himself) and His Finished Work (Precious Blood and Perfect Righteousness). JESUS endured to the end for me - He cried, "It is Finished!" on the Cross right before He gave up the ghost. You see - It is Finished, Through His Blood, Worthy is the Lamb! I believe I'm just going to Count on what Jesus did for me, that's all. AMEN!

Now just hold your breath and wait for the Pope-ster, Joel Osteen or TD Jakes to tell you that. Oh, and by the way, the Pope can't make anyone a saint; only the Blood of God and the Holy Spirit can do that miracle. The old Pope-ster is just trying to make the news again.

The old religionist, have you ever met him?  He stresses on the non-essentials, because he is lost. He wants glory from man, he lives for man's praise and applause.  He makes much of his own religious dos and don'ts. He is always strutting and trying to do something in order to make himself feel accepted with God, or to earn God's loving favor by doing and suffering in some way he has concocted.  When he enters, he wants all eyes on him - look at me, look at me!  He has a nitpicking, critical, judgmental spirit.  He thinks his convictions make him special - well guess what, you're not special; you're just a proud ego-maniac. *Mark 12:38*  The conviction-ite exploits and extorts simple-minded folks through fear, guilt and superstitious nonsense.

The clever religionist keeps his sheeple corralled up by using fear, shame, guilt, and superstitious tactics on them.  The vainglorious religionist's greatest fear is that one of his sheeple will finally see through his nonsense and figure him out, and leave his little clique for good.  He tells his sheeple to keep those without their same convictions at arm's length.  He doesn't want one of those normal outsiders to rub off on his robots. You see, without any sheeple, the religionist is out of business and it will affect his bottom line ($$$).

The hardest thing for any person to do is to live a quiet (meek), sincere (lowly), practical life without becoming religiously conceited, strutting around, and getting the big head. If you're not careful, self-righteous religion will slowly turn you into a cold, technical, strict, critical soul. Religion is that stuff you do that makes you think you're better than other folks. When human nature gets a little bit of religion, pride and haughtiness inevitably lurk into the picture and puffs them up bigger than a bullfrog. *Proverbs 16:18*

The religionist thinks he is right with his *god*, and he will flat out tell you so. *Galatians 6:3* The religionist attempts to create spirituality in someone with his made-up rules and regulations, but that is an impossibility.  Only the Holy Spirit Himself can make someone spiritual and Christ-like.  It is a dangerous and natural tendency of outwardly religious people to dream that they are advantaged over others simply because they attend a certain church building or keep some religious ordinance or sacrament.

The poor religionist is caught up and blinded in his own vain traditions and religious pride. You can't earn God's grace, that's why God's grace is only given freely to sinners. We are unable to earn anything from God, and we can never repay the Lord Jesus Christ for bleeding and dying for our sins. In the religionist's little world of church-ianity, he thinks he's something special, and completely forgets that God is watching and listening to him all the time.  The religionist is hung up on a religious front and show.  Every legend in their own mind must come to an end.  Religion will damn you quicker than dope or liquor or pornography.  The religionist's message never upsets anyone, for that might affect his pocketbook or attendance.  The religionist is always dwelling upon the "must nots" of his religion, as if godliness was a list of negatives.

The religionist often gets fanatical and inevitably goes off on a tangent on some religious non-essential. Religionists take God's goodness for granted. The religious expert loves empty church-ianity.  Every conviction-ite is a nitpicker which is overly concerned about insignificant religious details such as dress, diet, and ceremony with the intention of finding fault in others in order to justify and magnify themselves.  Pharisaic pride puffs up and blinds the religionist.  All religionists are control freaks; they want to play god, and they will try to control you mentally by fear and guilt.  The religionist thinks you owe him a living, because he puts on a show.

The religionist is very clannish, that is, he tends to exclude from his group and slander all those that do not adhere to his strange doctrines and his list of do's and don'ts. Religionists are egotistical strutters who stress on the non-essentials and lead others away from Jesus and off into hell. *Matthew 15:14* The high-browed religious con-man is so excellent in his own eyes, and so everything he ought to be, that he reeks of pride. The only one that doesn't smell the foul odor of religious pride all over him is himself.

In his own false judgment he is within a half inch of being perfect, but he is about a quarter inch from hell. He has a fond conceit of himself, fancying his own religiousness and laundry list of do's and don'ts. In his own mind, he is IT, he admires himself and hopes that others might attain to his level of religious consecration some day. The religious high brow thinks he is right with God in his own eyes. Beware of the arrogant religionist that is more infatuated with his convictions than he is with converts. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; every man did that which was right in his own eyes; every way of a man is right in his own eyes; but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

The religionist's motives are self-serving; they are fame and money. He scams simple-minded people. He compares himself with others; he sets one duty or day or place above another. He feels himself to be wonderfully good, and thinks himself to be right with his god. He uses the Bible as a resource, but not as the Source. He mistakes duty for spirituality and creates extra man-made commandments which are not from the Bible in order to make himself seem more 'spiritual' than others. Oh yeah, and anyone outside of his religious clique  can never be not 'right with God'.

Don't be a critical, technical, cold, hair-splitting conviction-ite. Being right with God in the religionist's eyes is when you follow all of his self-made do's and don'ts. He will never give Jesus Christ all the glory and humble himself as a nothing. Keeping his list either leads people around him to pride or despair. Christianity is not keeping a list; Christianity is coming to Christ, and letting Christ help you purify your life out of simple gratitude to the goodness and mercy of God towards you. The religious con-man serves God through a sense of pride - Look at me, if you want to see someone that's right with God, just watch how I do it. He does plenty of religous stuff but none of it is spiritual. He mistakes his imaginary goodness and carnal zeal for spirituality. *Romans 10:2*

The religionist loves to strut, and he pumps himself up with his religious self-righteous attainments. He trusts in himself that he is righteous and treats others with contempt. A convictionite is a religious kook who thinks the more dos and donts he has, the more spiritual he is. He thinks his convictions bring him more favor with God, and he looks down on those that don't keep his kooky list.

The religionist uses superstitious fear and guilt to keep people in bondage that are stupid enough to follow him. Religion leads a man to judge everyone else, when he is guilty of doing the same thing or something worse that the sin he is judging others over. Religion makes you think you are better than others. If you only preached what you practiced, your sermons would be real short. Deceived religious people are not upset over their sins against God.

The religionist harps on social issues, not the person and blood of Jesus Christ. The religionist tries to appear like he has a burden for missions and lost souls overseas, but he has never sincerely tried to reach his next door neighbors for Jesus Christ. Religionists are strange birds. Just like the Pharisees, "they say, and do not." *Matthew 23:2-3* The religionist focuses more on tithing and giving money to missions, than walking humbly with God, adoration of Jesus Christ, and inward purity.

Religious bosses are highly interested in filthy lucre that keeps their religious machinery operating. The religionist loves entertainment, and he tries to religiously entertain people to keep them coming to his meetings. Religionists are peculiar self-righteous folks.  Religion gives men a false hope that damns them. Religion cannot change the heart; it tries to hide wrongdoing and forgets that God see everything.

We have no merit at all to please God with. The religionist wants to be a Christian, but he ends up only being super-religious. He is on the treadmill of religion, going nowhere really fast. Stay at it, work at it, try and live it - that is the religionist's motto. The religious con-artist is more interested in what he can get out of people, than what he can put in them. The religionist isn't concerned about filling the hearts of people with God's word, no he wants to fill up his pockets or ego. Human nature loves to put on a religious show; it loves religious programs, buildings, drama, settings, performance, entertainment, personalities, paraphernalia, and propaganda. Superficial external religion is a hard chain to break.

Hireling religious politicians are after your membership and pocket book. Religious emotionalism is the dangerous counterfeit of holy zeal and worship. You can be sound in your doctrine, religious in your conduct, and moral in your daily life, and still wind up in Hell. Self-righteousness is a hellish thing. The most damning, blinding, and dangerous pride there is is religious pride. You can never religionate yourself into favor with God. Make sure your guilty soul is regenerated, not just religion-ated.

The religionist has much external formalism, but no internal dealings with the living God, Jesus Christ. Professional religious bosses will always try to put something between you and Jesus Christ. The religionist is hopelessly arrogant, self-righteous, and orthodox. He say he believes the Bible, but he never does what the Bible says - walk humbly with God, do justly, and love mercy. Human nature loves the religion of show, but it neglects the religion of the heart, of inward and personal private purity (that is, careful conscientious daily discipleship). Pride (me first) and presumption (I can do it) fill the religionist. Religion says,"Pay up!" But the Cross says, "Everything is paid in full by Jesus' blood, come now and take everything you need from Him freely!"

The religion con-man loves the outward parade of religion; he makes a living swindling people out of their money and then helps damns their souls. He cleverly manipulates simple souls using his religion to cause fear, guilt and superstition. But you don't need outward religiousness; you need inward grace. The Love, Blood, and Grace of God is what your poor soul needs. Religious services will ruin you if you put them in the place of personal dealings with the Mediator. The conviction-ite spends more time looking at his convictions than he does looking at Christ's vicarious Sacrifice on the Cross. The religious externalist is starched and ironed, but he's never been washed. The religionist wants attention, and he wants to be Somebody. The conviction-ite is a mechanical Pharisee. The religionist thinks his convictions make him right with God and impressive to God. The conviction-ite has much religious activity, but it is has no true spiritual eternal value.

The inner thought of the true religionist is this,"God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I can't let people with fewer convictions than me draw me away from You." The griping hunger of human nature feeds on the restraints, duties, and formalities of religion in order to try and satisfy the guilty conscience. The religionist is an artificial charlatan who is busy protecting his turf and polishing his title. Be very sure you are regenerated, not just religion-ated. Religious conceit is a dangerous thing. The conviction-ite is a professional religious sham. The religionist worships his own foolish self-image; this is the highest form of idolatry. The religious man joys in false profession, hypocritical formality, and a vain show. The conviction-ite is hopelessly trapped in his religious stupidity; he is hopelessly preoccupied with religiousness. The religionist loves to put on a show with his fake Christianity.

Being religious will never take away your sinfulness inside. Human religiousness is of no value, Christ-less religion is worthless. One small breath from the Spirit of God is all it takes to wither all your human pride and conceit. The Cross dashes in shivers all man-made religiousness. The religionist makes himself comfortable in his own useless do's and don'ts. The conviction-ite thinks much of his accomplishments, but he is as dead as a door-nail in God's sight. The religionist preaches morality, not the Cross. Your moral deeds, acts of charity, religious performances, and empty ceremonies are all in vain. The religionist believes certain days and places are more sacred than others. He strives to maintain orthodox religion, but he still has an unclean private life. The conviction-ite loves to put on a religious show.

The religious flimflammer strives to maintain orthodox religion but he has an unclean private life. The conviction-ite pretends to adore God, he mocks the LORD by a feigned heartless worship, he loves Sunday-religion, but not Monday religion, his service is a pretense with no heart in it. The religionist doesn't actually know he is a sinner indeed, but because of his self-made morality and the rigid strictness of his life, he has a high conceit of his own excellence in the sight of God. A lofty view of your own excellence will tempt you to look down upon your neighbor who is not as 'religious' as you.

The religionist seeks to win friends and influence people with his carnal charisma. Religious con-artists are known as unaccountable personalities. Whatever he says is truth. Whatever he speaks, he expects you to believe it, because he said it. His followers should not question him. He may say, I prayed and God told me what you should do in a particular situation in your life. He sets himself up as the authority. He alone is the source of spiritual insight. He takes advantage of people's insecurity, loneliness, poor health, simple ignorance or religious superstition. The religionist is off limits, he is out of your jurisdiction, you can't touch him, you just need to keep to your self. The religionist is more interested in what he can get out of people, not what he can put in the people. He want to fill his pockets and ego, not the people's souls with Christ. He can never be wrong. If you question him, you are being rebellious. But remember, no one is ultimately unaccountable.

The religionist thinks he is the only one who speaks for God. He has empty speech, worthless words with no real substance, no solid content, fluent but Biblically shallow. They promise things they cannot produce. They have smooth words without spiritual life. They so beautifully and smoothly say nothing. You can't pin them down, they wiggle around the real issues of Scripture. The truths about sin, rebellion, judgment, salvation, the Cross, hell, and heaven are avoided. Jesus is only a buddy, a good model, a political messiah. They may tack on the plan of salvation at the end of their social issue message in order to make it sound Biblical. They say you need to saved from low self-esteem, financial problems, an unfulfilling job, racial oppression, or bodily sickness. Rule over your credit card, or your credit card will rule over you. You can quit smoking, quit drinking, and improve your marriage, and still go to Hell. They say the Gospel is not sufficient, Grace is not satisfying, Jesus' atoning blood is not enough, you have to do something yourself to earn Heaven.

The false teacher focuses on everything but Christ Crucified. They will teach you how to get gold, parenting skills, better health, you should have no problems now, you should be prospering. Look to the crucified atoning Lamb of God for sinners slain who is risen from the dead and is soon coming to rule and reign. The root goal of their religious activity is a buck, power, influence, and prestige. Wealth, health, and prosperity is their trinity. This is the promoting of self for the sake of gain. They fill up their wallets, not the believers. They try to take shortcuts, ignore the map of Scripture, and wind up lost forever. Don't be conned, be careful. Don't be scammed, be vigilant. Yield your desires to God, and submit to His will.

The religionist never speaks of Holy Ghost conviction which comes from reading the Bible and listening to the preaching of the truths of the Gospel, the unconditional love of God in Christ, or assurance and certainty of the free forgiveness of sins through simple faith in Jesus' atoning blood. He is all quiet about the Crucified Creator who was rejected and denied, the God who stooped to become a Jewish man to redeem sinful man by shedding His own innocent blood to satisfy His divine justice, so that sinners could be saved by simply trusting in His atoning Blood.

Much religiousness and superstition is found in the heathen of America and third world countries. Many conviction-ites have been brought up religiously, they respect ministers, church music and ordinances. He reverences Sunday, the Bible, the church, and its ministries. He has a superstitious trust in religious things, his light becomes darkness. He regards public worship as a substitute for inward grace. He looks to membership with a particular denomination as a certificate for spirituality. He may even think that baptism helps put a sinner into the body of Christ. Baptism only makes you wetter, but not any better on the inside. The conviction-ite forgets to look wholly and alone to the Lord Jesus Christ for everything his soul needs. Outward forms of worship will not help your guilty soul at all. It is possible to be intensely active and very diligent in religious duties, and yet know nothing of Christ Himself and the workings of the Holy Spirit. The externalist is stuck on himself and his religious attainments. It is a horrible snare for people to trust to any man whatsoever.

The religionist tries to do right and stay right with God, but then he falls and becomes guilty - that is idolatry, because he is the source of his own joy, his joy comes from himself and continual self-working, but the true Christian's joy comes from the finished work of Jesus Christ. On your very best day, you are wretched and rotten. Stop looking to yourself and trying to please God with your own efforts, because you can't do it, but Jesus did. Come and Rest in Christ's Precious Blood now (Matthew 11:28). The religionist wants to be something big; he doesn't want to take the backseat. Trust in Christ's perfect works, not your own self-perfection. The religionist is a professional church operator, an ambitious egotist, a self-exalting narcissist. Stay humble before God: "Lead us not into temptation" is an admission of sinful weakness.

Trust in Christ's perfect works, not your own self-perfection. The moral religionist is a professional church operator, an ambitious egotist, he loves the preeminence and spotlight, he is a self-exalting narcissist. They have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof. A technical religionist doesn't walk with God in secret and he is concerned about private godliness. He is eager to be seen of men, and is covetous for publicity. Superficial surface work will never make you a new creature in Christ, or cause you to pass from death to life. If you know not the Spirit of God in truth, you are still carnal and sensual, dead in sin, and the flesh will profit you nothing. Don't be white-washed by human religion, part with self, and be washed whited in the Blood of the Lamb. The religionist becomes enamored of new convictions, he falls in love with his own scriptural interpretations, he makes himself look good by appealing to strict elitist Christians, and he comes to love self, stuff, flattery, popularity, and money. The religionist preys upon the superstition and ignorance of human nature.  The religionist's doctrine is just as straight as a gun barrel, but it is just as empty and cold. The Bible in your head produces proud self-righteousness, but the Bible in your heart produces humble purity.

Wandering eyes, a distracted heart, a discontented soul, and uncontrolled affections lead the conviction-ite down a dark path of religious nonsense. The vain religionist is an empty show - he wears the cloak of religion to appear more respectable, or to help out his wallet. He thinks the Gospel is a good message for thieves and harlots, but not for him for he has many good works to boast of. Remember, you have no good works except in your dreams. High-browed religionists trust in themselves that they are righteous and despise others. The vain religionist loves admiration from his followers. If you try to make a savior out of your convictions, you will be lost as surely as if you made a savior out of ceremonies. The conviction-ite uses his religious dogma as a means to an end. Religiosity is only behavior modification, a facade of hypocrisy, a long list of religious chores that make you worse that you were before. Religion is like putting perfume on dung (Philippians 3:8), it just doesn't work. Salvation is not based on your merits, but on Jesus' obedience and blood alone.

The religionist is a stickler for the form, but he neglects the inner life that is needed to walk humbly with God. The conviction-ite has a formal religiousness with a hypocritical heartless nominal profession. His religion is worldly, his prayer mechanical, in public he is one thing, and in private another. He prefers emotion to regeneration, he is a cloud without rain, a well without water. They throw out the kernel, and cleave to the husk.

The religionist has three fatal flaws. He believes that outward appearance is all that matters. He thinks if he appears righteous, that he is righteous (Matthew 23:25-28). The Pharisee still does his dishes the same way in the 21st century, as he did in the 1st century. He washes the outside sparkling clean, but he leaves the inside filthy and reeking. The religionist is filled with hypocrisy and iniquity. There is no excuse, and there is no escape. The problem with the conviction-ite is on the inside, not on the outside. He is a pretender, a great big actor, a respectable religionist. He thinks that if you don't have any problems, you are walking with God. The conviction-ite seeks to put a yoke of bondage of Do-Do-Do on your life, so that you will have to come to him for help, and he thinks he is the one that determines whether you areright with God or not.

The religionist is self-deluded and self-deceived, and he makes merchandise of human beings. He loves it when religious people look to him for spiritual guidance and direction. He thinks that if you don't have any problems, you are walking with God. The religionist is a vainglorious professor with no real holiness of heart. He is in bondage attending church every week and trapped and lonely in his vain religion. The religionist is interested only in preserving religious exercises in an irreligious world. Outward religiousness is unimportant, get your sins forgivenfirst, believe now on the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and you are saved.

The fashionable religionist has a form of godliness and nothing else. They think they are on"the inside" just because of their family, or their denomination, or their doctrines and convictions. But your religious morality never changes you on the inside. Only the Holy Ghost can change you inwardly, and He must get all the glory, so face it, you have absolutely nothing to boast of. Daily, you must ask the Holy Spirit to make you a Christian within, and not become super-religious. With the religionist it is all about competing, comparing, conceitedness, and convictions. The conviction-ite wants to manipulate you so you will follow him, and not the Lord Jesus Christ.

Religion promotes Self, runs its mouth about Self, honors Self, and brags on Self. Religionists love religious drama and man's admiration. The religionist rests on outward forms. The conviction-ite crosses his I's, dots his T's, and spells the word wrong. He dresses right and talks right, but he's crooked as a dog's hind leg within. He has a form of godliness, but he doesn't have Christ - the power of God. Men think they can please God with their religiousness, outward performances, and by religious strictness and correctness - human nature sets up its own faulty disobedience against Christ's sinless obedience.

The religious moralist always majors on external issues, and not the internal issues. The externals have little or nothing to do with your inward character. The religionist imitates spirituality, he love to strut in his ecclesiastical correctness, and this will eventually damn him. Human religion always wants to try to shine you up on the outside without any real heart change inwardly. The religionist tries his dead-level best to do right on the outside, but he has never been changed on the inside. The religionist tries to control people and micromanage everything you think and do; he wants you to be accountable to him at his church, but not with God in private. The religionist wants you to need him. But what you really need is to be conscious of and sensitive to God's eye (what He sees), God's ear (what He hears), and God's heart (what He feels). This is what the Bible calls the fear of the Lord.

The religionist leads you to always think about him and his do's and don'ts and never about God's continual presence. The conviction-ite will only show you his approval when you live up to the standards he has selfishly created for you to follow. The externalist will have nothing to do with you, if you do not attend his church or obey his religious regulations. The moralist enforces too many of his carnal preferences on others, he thinks his preferential rules are the same as Biblical commands and standards. It's all about what the religionist prefers, not what pleases God. The pretender is all about unnecessary separatism, they don't want you to be involved with anything that involves those worldly "heathen" who might defile you.

The religionist becomes a spiritual elitist and begins to not even associate with some of the people at his own church, because of a strange fear that he might be affected by someone without his particular convictions. The externalist is always fault-finding and nitpicking, being critical of everything, producing a constant attitude of criticism and condescension. He only wants to be around people like him, and that meet his standards, he continually shows favoritism to his little conviction-ite clique. The Pharisee takes himself way too seriously and is often glum. He builds up himself and his denomination, not the Savior and His Cross. The religionist focuses on external morality, not inward regeneration and sanctification.

The external without the inward is good for nothing. Years of reputable external religion is not worth a minute of grace: "Ye must be born again;" the Holy Spirit must come into your soul or else you are still dead in your sins. Outward morality and religion cannot reach the sinful soul's internal leprosy. The religionist is externally washed but not internally quickened. Form, ceremony, position, image, and convictions is the religionist's blindness - they can only worship God in a wooden box, they call the "house of God." They begin to feel smog and arrogant, they think they are God's favorite and they become proud of knowing God's will and what's important to God. The clean-living, morally upright, sweet-smelling, conviction-abiding, legalistic, conceited religionist looks down his nose at those outside his religious circle. All other churches are compromising apostates and not "right with God". The conviction-ite is a silly, blind slave to his religious games and rules.

The religionist thinks that God has put them here on earth to be everyone's guide and corrector - they are super-religious authorities - they think they have been given to this earth to set the record straight, and they begin to fill up with arrogance and become spiritual balloons. But they are still needful of this one essential - an inward spiritual life and fellowship with God. They still lust in their mind and boast in their religion. They trust in themselves and view others in contempt, they think they are a cut above everyone else. For the religionist, it's all about maintaining a religious image no matter what. Their mind is all wrapped around their self-importance - they become religious narcissists. They use naive people and see others as inferior. But their mind is just as vile, and their inward nature is no purer than any other human being. They are all offensive in God's sight. The religionist uses fear and intimidation to maintain loyalty and devotion to "his group". Any question of the religionist's authority is treated as rebellion, and you are not willing to take his correction. Superficial, mechanical, second-hand, lifeless religion is the way that the professional religionist deceives the simple.

Some definite symptoms of a Christ-less religionist:
* Dress codes become more important than your inward moral code. Religious, super-pious, hypocritical, conviction-ites always major on the minors.
* Try to appear and sound more spiritual than you really are.
* Begin to use religious rules (convictions) to control women, teenagers, and the spiritually naive.
* Begin to think you're something, when you're really Nothing.
* Add regulation upon regulation, you make Christianity a wearisome burden that no one can follow. Become unyielding in your spiritual pride, position, and performance. Earthly religion always goes full speed in the wrong direction.
* Choose rules over relationship, facts over fellowship, works over worship, rituals over righteousness, convictions over communion, activity over an authentic relationship with the living Christ. Going full speed in the wrong direction.
* Constantly, persistently, continually seeking another way (convictions/religious do's and don'ts) to make yourself feel better about your own religious self.
* When you pray or give of your money or time, you want to make sure someone knows.
* You say, and do not; you talk of good works, but do none; you bid others to do them, but do not practice them yourself, very strictly and severely force them on others, but are very careless yourself to observe them.
* You say you've made yourself "right with God". You continually let everyone know you are "right with God."
* You want to perform religiously. You seek to build a monument to yourself. Look at me! Look at me!
* Feel you have been called to "fix" other people; you only see what's wrong in others and never what's right with them. You are obsessed with the clothes people wear, not the good of their soul. You don't pray for people, you only judge them in your heart.
* Neglect private and family worship, Bible reading, closet prayer, and personal evangelism with souls.
* It becomes harder and harder to submit to anyone spiritually or be taught by anyone.
* Don’t evangelize your neighbors, friends, and work-mates. Don't invite people to church anymore.
* Become so "separated" that you can't fellowship with anyone except for the one or two souls left that have all your kooky convictions.
* Find better things to do than serve in your local church.
* Fill your life with questionable movies, music, television, and internet.
* Your thought life becomes filled with self-righteous and judgmental thoughts (evil surmisings). Externalists love superficial, second-hand, lifeless religion.
* Set aside fellowship and accountability with fellow brethren in Christ.
* Let your study of divine things become dull, mechanical, boring, lifeless, and mundane.
* Don’t read to learn and do; read only to refute what you believe is wrong and build your list of endless convictions.
* Spend more time blogging than studying and praying and witnessing.
* Avoid Sunday School and church and other opportunities for corporate worship.
* Forget that your primary responsibility is to care for your family through provision, shepherding, and leadership.
* Master and love your favorite theologian or preacher more than the Law, Prophets, and Apostles.
* Gain knowledge in order to merely show others how much you know or to win arguments. Don’t expand the effort it takes to deal with your own heart and inward sin.
* Pick apart your pastor’s sermons every week. Only point out his mistakes and his poor theological reasoning so you don’t have to be convicted by anything he says.
* Only be nice to those folks that support you and follow your convictions.
* Protect yourself from real fellowship by only talking about theology and never about your personal spiritual issues, sins, and struggles.
* Resent, behind-the-scenes, unrecognized service. You only want to serve in areas where you are sure you will be seen and receive public praise and accolades.
* Must appear spiritual and knowledgeable at all costs. Don’t let others see your imperfections and ignorance, even if it means you have to lie.
* Love books and sermons more than the Bible, denomination more than sound doctrine, convictions more than communion with the Holy Ghost, and ministry more than personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
* Let your passion for the Glory of God and the Gospel be replaced with a passion for complex doctrinal speculation, that is, strange doctrines and kooky convictions.