What can we do to do what God wants us to do?

Christianity is about a personal relationship with God. It's about a reconciliation between one person, you, and God, through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It's like a romance, or a close friendship, or a father-son/father-daughter relationship. It's not about ritual or superstition. It's about turning from sin, and the lies we've believed about reality, and turning to Jesus Christ in faith.

On this planet Earth, we’re being reviewed on how we live by God. And we’ve all sinned and made mistakes right? Tons of them for me. And on judgment day, we’ll all be judged for our sins. And God has to punish sin. So he’ll have to send us to hell. But God set up a second option. He sent Jesus Christ, God in human form, to Earth, to live the perfect life we couldn’t. Then he was crucified on the cross, to make payment for our sins. And 3 days later, being God, he raised again to life, and lives forever now to help us. So if we believe in Jesus Christ, it’s as if Jesus comes into the court room on judgment day and says hold on judge, I paid for that persons sins on the cross. I made payment. So they can go free. I’ve paid their fine. That’s what Jesus does for us.

Repentance is key to salvation in Jesus Christ. The word of God the Bible says to "Repent and believe the good news!" -Mark 1:15. What does it mean to repent? The concept of repenting is that we turn away from sin and turn to Jesus. To repent, means to "put to death" the works of our fleshly desires. A few of the sins that I had to put aside included: Drugs (I was a drug addict), alcohol (I drank constantly), cigarettes (destructive to the body), having sex outside of marriage, pornography, lying, stealing (even pirated movies and music), movies/tv series full of gore and sex, and many other sinful practices. Trust in the Holy Spirit, who will lead you to areas in your life that need to change. Be focused and concentrate on this process of repentance, because Christ expects us to be holy as He is holy.

Christianity is also about serving God. We renounce our plans for life and we embrace what God's will is for our lives. Like for me, I wanted to be a journalist or a novelist. But when I became a Christian, I realized through prayer, fasting, and Bible reading that God was calling me to be a minister. He doesn't call everyone to be ministers, often he calls us to a certain job or vocation. Once again, the Holy Spirit will lead you if you're yielded to His influence.

The three most important parts of our relationship with God are prayer, fellowship, and Bible reading. As a Christian I try to pray twice a day. Sometimes I'll say the "Our Father" but most often I'll just get on my knees and talk to God. It's about communication and love. And remember, if we love someone we'll spend real time with them. Prayer is how we talk to God, but how does God talk back? That's where Bible reading comes in. As I read the various books of the Bible, God will communicate through them to me. Isn't that cool?

Joining a church is an absolute necessity. We can't do it alone. A gazelle wandering away from the herd will be picked off and eaten by lions. There are no solo Christians. We must join a weekly fellowship and a must is also a weekly Bible study/small group. I repeat, this is not optional!

I would encourage you to find a Bible, a good understandable translation like the NIV or ESV. Read through the Gospel of John. That is my favorite Gospel. The Psalms are great to read through, they are poetry about out wonderful God. If you have trouble understanding exactly what's being talked about, consider purchasing a quality Study Bible. A Study Bible will include commentary.

If you prefer to read on the computer, check out Bible Gateway. You can go through the Bible in any translation you like. There are even Bible commentaries, studies, and Audio Bibles. For topical listings of Bible verses check out Open Bible. There are Bible apps as well, like YouVersion for all phones. Check out the Bible Project on YouTube, it's a great way to learn the big story of scripture.

Once you've read through the Bible, ask yourself, do I understand that I need a Savior to remove my sins? Do I realize I've fallen short of the perfect requirement of God, just like the rest of humanity? Do I understand that God is sovereign over my life, and I want him to be my personal God?

Then it's time to cry out to Jesus Christ. Call out to the name of Jesus Christ, with belief in your heart that Jesus can help you. Cry out with all your might. Would you pray with me:

Father God of the Bible, I realize now that you're real, your Bible is real, and your son Jesus Christ is real. I admit to you Father that I've sinned against you, I confess my sins to you now (confess them one by one). I repent of my sins, please Lord set me free from every sin. And I admit that I need a Savior. You have provided that Savior. I accept him Father, today I accept your son Jesus Christ, and his work on the cross as the necessary payment for all my sins, past, present, and future. I recognize that Jesus resurrected from the dead to give me eternal life. Please Father, cloth me in His righteousness. Father God I acknowledge you as the sovereign Lord of my life, please grant me your Holy Spirit to guide me in my new life as a Christian. Thank you so much Father, it's in Jesus Christ name I pray this prayer, Amen.

Pastor, Please Don't Teach your Congregation they can't Lose their Salvation

There's no shame in changing your perspective on a theological concept. I've done it dozens of times over the years. We all can probably look back at our theology ten years ago, and chuckle a bit. 

We see many scriptures that tell us about how God maintains the relationship with us once we are in Christ. God preserves us in a state of salvation. But we also see numerous scriptures that talk about our need to abide in Christ, remain in Christ, hold closely to the teaching we were taught originally. The scriptures give us various statements such as: Do not fall away, avoid a shipwrecked faith, don't drift from what you've been taught, and so on and so forth.  

How can we rightly divide the word of truth? I would like to humbly present the case today, that a just weighing of the various scriptures, and properly balancing them would seem to indicate two key truths that must be held together, first, God preserves the relationship once established. Second, falling away is possible after the relationship is established. Let me make the case, and I invite you to draw your own conclusions from the scriptures.

Many have suggested that if someone appears to fall away, that simply means they were never saved in the first place. But is that what the word of God teaches? Particularly in the book of Hebrews, we see how someone can share in the heavenly gift, have the Holy Spirit, and then go back into the world, and be lost completely. The scripture tells us, they are actually worse off than they were before, and cannot be restored to salvation. If they can't be restored, they this implies they were fully saved, and fell away.

As a man once said, one can't fall off a horse unless one is first riding it. You can't fall away from something you didn't have at one point. 

Also, let me indicate to you, that Lucifer and one third of the angels were once fully saved, fully pure, in perfect right standing with God.  They were flawless. They were preserved by God, faultless. But Lucifer fell away and rebelled against God. And he deceived one third of the angels to do the same thing.  And as such, Lucifer and one third of the angels lost their place in heaven. They lost salvation. And we know they can never be restored. 

Additionally, Adam and Eve were once innocent in God's sight, in perfect fellowship with God. But as we know, Adam and Eve sinned against God, and lost their innocence and became sinful. Thankfully they did repent and turn back to God, through faith. So one can certainly assume, there are many circumstances in which one has stumbled, but may be restored to a right standing with the Lord. 

Did you know that Martin Luther believed a Christian could lose their salvation? Martin Luther wrote in his commentary on 2nd Peter (1523), “Through baptism these people threw out unbelief… and entered into a pure life of faith and love. Now they fall away into unbelief and their own works, and they soil themselves again in filth.” He also discussed this issue in his commentary on Galatians (1531), and The Smalcald Articles (1537).

I've studied numerous near death experiences, from people like Mary K. Baxter, Brian Melvin, Choo Thomas, and others. They all indicate that once saved always saved is a doctrine that leads people to hell. Some even claim to have seen church members crying out in hell, "Pastor you told me I could never lose my salvation!" Truly bone chilling accounts, I'd encourage you to watch some of those accounts on YouTube. Don't despise prophecy, but test it (1 Thessalonians 5:20).

But most importantly I believe is scripture itself. There were seven "I am" statements that Jesus Christ made, that were recorded in the Gospel of John. Each of these "I am" statements taught us something about who Jesus was, and how we interact with Him.  He is the bread of life to us, our sustenance. He is the light of the world, he sustains reality. He is the gate for the sheep, through which we must enter.  He is the good shepherd. he shepherds us along through life. He is the resurrection and the life, if we believe in Him he will resurrect us after we die. He is the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Jesus. Jesus is the road home that we follow. And the 7th I am statement was when Jesus said, "My Father is the gardener and I am the true vine.  Anyone who remains in me, will produce much fruit." We are the branches. But any branch that doesn't produce fruit is thrown into the fire and burned. So remain in Christ's love.  This is the key teaching we need to understand of the 7 I am statements, we must remain in Christ, and if we don't, we will be cast out and burned. This is from John chapter 15.

I know many of us would prefer the theology of not being able to lose our salvation. I admit I find it comforting. Indeed, I believe that was the primary reason I held close to the doctrine of once saved always saved for so long. I found it intellectually and emotionally appealing. But I realized slowly, theology and scripture isn't about what I want or prefer. It's about what it actually says. I can't cross out scriptures I don't like. Or over-emphasize the feel good verses.  

And I think that's why many of us believe in once saved always saved, because we're constantly shown the scriptures that talk about God's preservation of the relationship, I will never leave you or forsake you, I have good plans for your life, nothing could separate us from His love, and so on and so forth. Those are scriptures that are very encouraging, that are preached on constantly.  But the scriptures like John 15, Hebrews 6:4-6, 1 Tim 4:1, Revelation 2:4-5, 2 Peter 2:20-22, James 5:19-20, and so on are not preached on as often. But they are just as much the truth as the preservation verses. 

I'd just like to give you a very quick argument why it's more expedient to do so:

If I'm correct, and you really can "fall away" and lose your salvation, then it's quite dangerous to teach Christians they can't ever lose it. It could encourage complacency and carnal living. 

If you're right, and you can never fall away no matter what you do, but you still teach people that they can lose their salvation, there is no loss. People are just challenged to take their walk with Jesus a bit more seriously. 

Do you see how it's safer to teach people that they can fall away and as such must continue to "abide" in Christ?  

There's no shame in changing your view on this issue. That's exactly what I did. At first I believed in once saved always saved. But I just couldn't reconcile it with the scriptures.  So I quietly changed my perspective.  There isn't anything wrong with that. We're all always learning and growing and developing deep theological concepts.  It's a lifelong process. And we know we teachers will be judged more strictly (James 3:1). So that's my encouragement to you today. God bless you, and take care. 

Dreams of the Millennial Reign of Christ

I've had these very fascinating reoccurring dreams in my life that I'd like to share with you briefly. As always, you should test anything stated as special revelation against the scriptures. Always regard the scriptures above any dream, vision, or concept stated outside the scriptures. That said, also, do not despise prophecies (1 Thess 5:20-21) and recall that in the end times old and young alike will have dreams, visions, and prophecies. 

Joel 2:28 "“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions."

The millennial reign of Christ is something mentioned in the book of Revelation. For those of you who over-spiritual and over-symbolize everything in Revelation to be non-literal, you can stop reading here if you want. For those of you who believe Revelation does have a solid basis in reality, keep reading. 

Stated in Revelation 20, this is what's said about the millennial reign of Christ: "Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the Devil and Satan,[a] and bound him for 1,000 years. 3 He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it so that he would no longer deceive the nations until the 1,000 years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time.

4 Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. I also saw the people[b] who had been beheaded[c] because of their testimony about Jesus and because of God’s word, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with the Messiah for 1,000 years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1,000 years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power[d] over them, but they will be priests of God and of the Messiah, and they will reign with Him for 1,000 years.

7 When the 1,000 years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 They came up over the surface of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city. Then fire came down from heaven[e] and consumed them. 10 The Devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."

During the 1,000 year reign of Christ from Jerusalem, the church will be on the Earth ruling and reigning with him.  This begs the question, who will we be reigning over? I would theorize that we would reign over the remnants and survivors of the nations after the great tribulation and the wrath of God has been exhausted on the nations. Jesus is said to rule literally from Jerusalem with a "rod of iron" over the nations, smashing the nations to pieces like pottery. How does this work? I have no idea.  In fact, I really have no idea if there would even be survivors after the great tribulation.  It's just a guess based on logic. 

But the millennial reign fills me with wonder and intrigue and speculation. King Jesus will be ruling the entire planet, most likely the ruins of the nations and Israel, probably leading repair efforts, healing, and guidance toward salvation in Himself to the survivors. 

King Jesus has defeated the anti-Christ, the false prophet, and the evil one by the splendor of his return.  The body of Christ has returned with Him, to rule and reign with Him. Satan himself has been bound by an angel and locked away, so he is no longer able to deceive the nations, for one thousand years.

This is a sort of 7th day in the progression of history. A 1000 year seventh day, as the scriptures say a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day (2 Peter 3:8). 

Life spans are greatly extended during this time apparently. Given that the body of Christ has "returned" with Jesus, I can only assume that the body has reached glorification and therefore no longer carry sin natures, or the old bodies, but now have new glorified bodies. Once again that's supposition, but it would track with the processes in place currently.

What exactly takes place over these thousand years, I'm not certain. Perhaps the church continues to spread the message of salvation in Christ, with Christ himself leading the efforts from Jerusalem. Perhaps it's a more political effort, with Jesus gathering the nations into a coalition to rebuild on the Earth. But obviously this is all speculative.  

So I'd like to tell you about the dreams I've had, where I've felt certain cues that indicate I'm seeing myself in the millennial reign of Christ. 

I consistently see myself walking along beautiful pathways through massively overgrown wildernesses. Trees, branches, bushes, vines, all overgrown across these pathways.  These walking paths seem to be the last remnants of long overgrown highways. In fact as I would walk joyously along these paths, every few miles, I would come up upon an old cement structure, or a mound of dirt and foliage, and you could tell that this was where bridges and underpasses used to be long ago. 

I traveled with an incredible joy and purpose. That's why I believe the sin nature is completely gone for the body as this point during the millennial reign. I sensed internally that sin was no longer a danger. In fact, as I traveled, I would find groups of people hiding away in underpasses and underground places, and there was some sort of new rule in reality, where these people could in no way hurt each other, attack each other, sexually assault each other, or anything. And they didn't seem to need to eat. It was as if the law of death in reality had been suspended. These people were very afraid. They didn't understand what was happening. I think part of my mission was to go and minister to these people and explain to them what had happened. They seemed to have been through the great tribulation, and were terrified. They didn't know it was over. 

I think what I remember the most is the sense of safety I felt. I felt a great joy as well. It was like sin no longer held any danger to me. I was in Christ, glorified completely, and safe, unlike on the Earth right now, where sin is always a danger to the believer. And falling away is always a danger as well. In the millennial reign, we were safe in Christ.  And in great joy. 

I recall very clearly the post-apocalyptic nature of the dream. Everything was completely overgrown, like foliage and nature had retaken the Earth. There was very little left. That would make sense, given all the judgments in the great tribulation. 

But I find it hard to understand the concept that there could be any survivors from the great tribulation. I had thought that becoming a tribulation saint was the very last opportunity for someone to get born again and know Jesus. But maybe that isn't true.  Then again maybe it is true.  Time will tell. 

I'm very much looking forward to this millennial reign of Christ. As much as I'd like it to be over after the tribulation. As much as I'd prefer to go directly to the new heaven and new Earth, and the New Jerusalem.  I'm pleased to do it God's way.

One closing thought, there is something quite terrifying about the millennial reign of Christ: How it ends.  After the one thousand years are completed, Satan is released one last time to attempt to deceive the nations.  And it's just so shocking to read that he really completely succeeds. These are people who have seen Jesus literally ruling and reigning from Jerusalem for 1,000 years.  Yet it still says an army gathered around Satan numbering more than the grains of sand on a sea shore. So we're talking billions and billions of people, despite having seen Jesus face to face, are deceived by Satan, and join in an army to attack Jerusalem. 

I'm guessing the church is recalled to Jerusalem at the end of the 1,000 years. And we watch as Satan gathers billions of people from the nations and marches on Jerusalem. But we see in Revelation, that Jesus calls down fire from heaven, as this army surrounds Jerusalem, and they are completely destroyed. Satan is captured once again, to never be released again.  

The old Earth passes away, the old heavens pass away, and the new heavens and new earth come, and the New Jerusalem comes out of heaven and lands on the new Earth. And we live in peace there with God forever.  It's just so crazy to me that even after the great tribulation and the millennial reign, that Satan would succeed in deceiving billions of people to rebel against God yet again. It's haunting to me.  Would this include the church?  Could the church during the millennial reign be deceived as well? Hard to say. That would contradict the idea that we are completely safe during this time.  But that's just speculation.  So hard to say.  I guess we'll find out eventually won't we? See you there Christian. See you at the millennial reign, if I don't see you before then. 

What's the Deal with the Council of Nicaea?

The Council of Nicaea was extremely important because it brought together the leaders of the early church for the first time, in a council to deal with the serious concern of the heresy of Arianism.  Several issues were dealt with at the council of Nicaea, including what date Easter fell on, whether the Jewish calendar should be followed, the fate of Christians who lapsed, church discipline, church government, the order of precedence, and other important issues. The declarations of which they made of Christ are as follows: They declared that Christ was not a created being but co-eternal with the Father. They declared that Christ was of the same substance as the Father. And they declared that the Son knows the Father perfectly. The Trinity was affirmed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, under which the understanding we have today, that they are co-equal and co-eternal, of the same substance but distinct persons.

What would've happened if the Council of Nicaea had never occurred? Well, it's hard to say, but I think that there would've been a great deal more division in the church. Some of the heresies and confusions they addressed would've continued.  The date for Easter and other holidays would've continued to be divided based on region.  Essentially it would've meant the church would've stayed divided on doctrine and practice of belief. It probably would've allowed the heretical teachings to continue to grow and prosper. And of course Arianism might've won out and there would be distorted perceptions of Christ and the Trinity.

If Arianism had won out, our understanding of Christ today would probably much like the Jehovah's Witnesses. We would see Christ as a created being, as an angel maybe, or some sort of lower being. This would distort the truth about Christ. And would probably lead to the eroding of Christianity, eventually becoming less and less important and widespread, as heresy had won out.  There would probably be no understanding of any sort of Trinity, but we'd worship God the Father only, and Christ and the Spirit would be relegated to a back seat role.