OBSTACLES IN COMING TO CHRIST

                          

Many of us would like to know when we die, will we go to Heaven? We would like to have Jesus in our hearts and we would like to have salvation but we face many obstacles.

What are they?

1. Pride

The Bible teaches that pride keeps more people from Christ than any other sin. The sin of pride. Pride is taking the glory that belongs to God alone and keeping it for ourselves. The Bible says God resisteth the proud but give grace to the humble.

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

James 4:6(KJV)

Jesus said we are to be converted, and become as little children.

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:3(KJV)

2. Idolatry

Creating a god in our mind or anything that replaces God in our lives. It keeps us from Christ. Idolatry happens when we idolize ourselves, we idolize man, we idolize material things and all of these things become false gods. The Bible says they who commit idolatry shall have their part in the lake of fire.

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Revelation 21:8(KJV)

The Bible says thou shall have no other gods and shall not make any graven image nor bow down thyself to them.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

Exodus 20:3-5(KJV)

3. Worldliness

The interest or pleasure of this world. There are many of us who are selling our soul for a little bit of this world. Suppose you have all the gold, oil, diamonds, and all the wealth of the whole world and all the degrees of education and lose your soul.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Matthew 16:26(KJV)

The Bible says we need to give up the wrong things that are in the world, the lust, greed, hate, prejudice, and the materialism part of the world that’s wrong. We have to turn from those things when we come to Christ.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 John 2:15(KJV)

4. Secret sin

Our families and friends may not even know about our secret sins but we know. Most of all nothing is hid from God and He is speaking to us about our secret sin. Perhaps we have been battling with the hidden man of our hearts with the secret sins. Confess them to Christ, come to the cross and bring those secret sins before the Lord and surrender everything to Him.

In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Romans 2:16(KJV)

The Bible says God will judge every secret things whether good or evil.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14(KJV)

5. Self Righteousness

Is another thing that keeps people from Christ. They have a very good opinion of themselves and their own character and yet are not cleansed from their filthiness of their hearts.

There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

Proverbs 30:12(KJV)

Saying we are good when we are bad. Saying we are good but actually we are sinning, breaking God’s law. Confident of one’s own righteousness.

For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Romans 10:3(KJV)

With Blessing in Christ,

David & Gay

https://www.onewaytograce.com/

WHY WOULD A GOD OF LOVE SEND SOMEONE TO HELL?

In asking that question, they reveal that they do not understand the love of God and the wickedness of sin. God’s love is a holy love, not a shallow sentiment and sin is rebellion against a holy and loving God.

God is loving yes, but that’s not all He is. He’s also a good judge. Should a loving human judge allow criminals to go free? Of course not, if we with our finite justice system think it is necessary to punish criminals in civil court, how much more should an infinite God judge our crimes or our sins against Him. The Bible tells us that God alone is Holy, He the standard of all that is right, virtuous and good, His nature is pure.

Exalt  ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.

Psalms 99:5

Think of it like this, if we were to light a match and we will place a flame next to a dried – out leaf what would happen? Well the fire would consume the leaf? Why? Because they’re different, their natures are opposed one to the other. The same way God and man’s natures are opposite. On the day of judgement sinful man will not be able to stand in the presence of a holy God because of their opposing natures. The issue is not God’s love, the issue is His Holiness. He is described as a consuming fire who dwells in unapproachable light.

For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29

God doesn’t want anyone to go to hell.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

In our evil wicked sinful state there is no way we can approach Him. Our only hope is to somehow take on the same nature as God. We must be Born Again!

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3 KJV

When we repent and put our faith in the resurrected Christ, God imputes His righteousness to us. It’s imperative that we are given this new nature since each of us are headed towards our own personal judgement day. He is coming to judge the world and He will judge the world in righteousness.

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Acts 17:31 KJV

God sent His Son Jesus who willingly laid His life down, crucified on the cross and resurrected after 3 days to pay the price to forgive us of our sins, through His precious blood. The Bible says how shall we escape, if we neglect so great gift of salvation.

The problem isn’t with God, the problem is our sin!

How about you? Where do you think you will go after you die, Heaven or hell?

With Blessing in Christ,

David & Gay

https://onewaytograce.com

WHY IS THERE EVIL IN THE WORLD?

God is not the author of evil. After the final day of creation, God declared, “ it was very good.”

And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Genesis 1:31 KJV      

Adam and Eve were put into a sinless paradise, but they disobeyed and rebelled against God and because of this, they sinned against God and were expelled from paradise. Adam’s sin brought condemnation to all men.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Romans 5:12 KJV

While there is sin which is a transgression or violation against God’s holy law an act of rebellion against Him evil is present.

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4 KJV        

If God is good and powerful, why is there evil in the world? Sceptic's like to use the existence of evil as an argument against God. If God was good, wouldn’t He want to deal with evil? If He is powerful, couldn’t He end the evil? But evil still exists, so therefore your God doesn’t.

God is powerful enough to remove all the evil in the world, but He would need to wipe out all of humanity. We look at things like murder and rape as being evil and they are, but what about lying, stealing, adultery and covetousness? All sin is evil in the eyes of the holy God. The heart of the problem is the problem of the heart. The heart is deceitful and wicked.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Jeremiah 17:9 KJV

Are you concerned about the problem of evil? Well, guess what? We are all part of the problem. Evil deeds can never be isolated from the evil doer. God has not yet cleansed the world of evil simply because He is giving people a chance to repent.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is

longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 KJV

If God were to show up at 12:00 to get rid of all the evil in the world, where would you be at 12:01?

However, the holy Bible says God is rich in mercy, He provided  a  Saviour, Jesus took the punishment for the sins of the world. He died on the cross, so that we could be forgiven, then He rose from the dead and defeated death.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 KJV

To receive everlasting life as a free gift, repent, believe, trust and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone to save you and you will pass from death unto life.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24 KJV

With Blessing in Christ,

David & Gay

https://onewaytograce.com

 

END TIME SIGNS

                                                      

False Bible teachers would be money hungry. They would be smooth talkers, have many followers, and slur the Christian faith (2 Peter 2:1-3)

Homosexuality would be increasingly evident at the end of the age (2 Timothy 3:3)

Earthquakes would be in diverse places (Matthew 24:7)

Stress would be part of living (2 Timothy 3:1)

Many wars would erupt (Matthew 24:6)

People would forsake the Ten Commandments as a moral code, committing adultery, stealing, lying, and killing (Matthew 24:12)

There would be a cold religious system, in denying God’s power (2 Timothy 3:5)

Men would substitute fantasy in place of Christian truth (2 Timothy 4:4). This is so evident at Christmas when the birth of the Saviour is lost behind the myth of Santa Claus.

Deadly diseases would be prevalent (Matthew 24:7). The worldwide increase in AIDS deaths is almost inestimable.

The fact that God once flooded the earth (the Noahic flood) would be      denied (2 Peter 3:5-6). There is a mass of fossil evidence to prove this fact, yet it is flatly ignored by the scientific world because of its uncanny implication.

The institution of marriage would be forsaken by many (1 Timothy 4:3)

     There would be an increase in famines (Matthew 24:7)

Vegetarianism would increase (1 Timothy 4:3-4)

There would be a cry for peace (1 Thessalonians 5:3)

The possession of Jerusalem would be at the centre of international turmoil ( Zechariah 12:3)

Knowledge would increase (Daniel 12:4)

There would be hypocrites within the Church (Matthew 13:25-30)

There would be an increase of religious cults/false teachers (Matthew 24:11 & 24)

The future would seem fearful to many (Luke 21:26)

Humanity would become materialistic (2 Timothy 3:4)

There would be many involved in travel (Daniel 12:4)

The Christian Gospel would be preached as a warning to all nations (Matthew 24:14)

Jesus said Christians would be hated “for His name’s sake” (Matthew24:9)

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s heart failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (Luke 21:25-26)

Youth would become rebellious. For men shall be lover of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy (2 Timothy 3:2)

Men would mock the warning signs of the end of the age saying, “for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” (2 Peter 3:4). The Bible even reveals their motivation, they love lust (verse 3). They fail to understand that a day to the Lord is as thousand years to us. God is not subject to the time that He created. He can flick through time as we flick through pages of a history book. The reason He seems to be silent, is because He is patiently waiting, not willing that any perish, but that all come to repentance.

 

With Blessing in Christ,

David & Gay

https://www.onewaytograce.com/

                                                     

HE IS NOT HERE - HE IS RISEN

Above: On back of door in Tomb of Jesus

The reason why God commands all men everywhere to repent is…. Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.(Acts 17:31)

We can have assurance that the day of judgement will take place and that Jesus will judge the earth - because of the resurrection.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Revelation 20:12(KJV)

The Garden Tomb is believed by many to be the garden and sepulchre of Joseph of Arimathea, and therefore a possible site of the resurrection of Jesus.

So should we then try and convince an unbelieving world of the resurrection?

God’s Word is very clear about Jesus Christ resurrection appearances below:

              CHRIST’S RESURRECTION APPEARANCES

              APPEARED TO:                      

            1. Mary

                John 20:10-18                                  

            2. Mary and women

                Matthew 28:1-10                  

            3. Peter

                1 Corinthians 15:5                                   

            4. Two disciples

                 Luke 24:13-35                        

            5. Ten apostles

                 Luke 24:36-49, John 20:19-23                        

            6. Eleven apostles

                 John 20:24-31                  

            7. Seven apostles

                 John 21                     

            8. All apostles

                 Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:14-18                        

            9. 500 brethren  

                1 Corinthians 15:6                    

          10. James

                1 Corinthians 15:7                                       

          11. All apostles

                Acts 1:4-8                         

          12. Paul

                Acts 9:1-9, 1 Corinthians 15:8                                    

Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God - who was beaten and bruised for our transgressions, willingly giving up His life to conquer the grave for us!He then rose from the dead, because it was not possible that death could hold him.

Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.Acts 2:24(KJV)

Above:Tomb of Jesus

           

When sinners repent and believe the gospel, the eyes of their understanding are enlightened. They pass from darkness into light, from death to life.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 5:24(KJV)

We then become a new creation in Christ with a brand new heart and new desires.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17(KJV)

Above: Outside Tomb of Jesus

It is through the power of the gospel that the world will appreciate the miracle of the risen Christ who is the resurrection, also have assurance that God has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness.

So celebrate the resurrection by sharing the good news of the gospel with someone today.

With Blessing in Christ,

David & Gay

https://www.onewaytograce.com/