What is The True Worshiper?

This lesson is about God – about worship – about life – about death . . . and most important of all -  about eternity.

Ephesians 4: 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Now what these three verses tell us is that there is ONE body (one type) of true worshiper . . . It is normally understood that there is only ONE

salvation – but the concept of ONE type of worship is almost universally MISUNDERSTOOD.  Salvation and worship are NOT interchangeable concepts.  

 Salvation refers to how our spirits are “saved” from hell after we die - while worship refers to how “those who have been saved” live a life of thanks toward the God who “saved us”.

Yes there is only ONE salvation – for by grace are ye “saved” through faith . . . Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.  

 And to follow up on this thought – there is only ONE body of true worshipers - which refers to how there is really only “one way” to please the God that has saved our soul from hell by way of His grace (which is technically defined for us as "kindness that we do not deserve").

John 4: 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

It has always been interesting to me - to hear people who have such “varied” religious views express their belief  - "that even though we sometimes teach opposing doctrine" – it is common to hear the phrase 

“we are all working for the SAME place” which seems to indicate that God does not really prefer one type of worship over any other type (as long as we are all sincere in our efforts) God will look upon all of us as 

“true worshipers” no matter what we “teach” in our churches and no matter what type of worship we “practice” in our churches.

Religion “in and of itself” is not the definition of Truth.  It is possible to practice The Truth through religious observances . . . but adhering to religious principles will only guide us in the way of GOD’s Truth IF 

“the religion” that we have adopted is actually "based" upon God’s Truth . . . and if we just look about us – we can easily see that not every religion even recognizes the same God . . . So I guess my point to this - is that 

“religion” is not the answer – but TRUTH is the answer.  If there is more than one truth – or if there is more than one God then what-ever we believe really doesn’t matter –because this would mean that there is  

more than one correct answer to "the question of life" – but if on the other hand there IS only ONE Truth – and if there really IS only ONE God . . . then it quickly becomes apparent – that the most important thing we can 

do in this life is to find The Truth – and to then serve The ONE God who gave us that truth.

Deuteronomy chapter 4: talks about offering worship to false gods and how The True God of heaven does not want us (as His children) to be guilty of such a thing . . . He is speaking to the nation of Israel not long after He 

had delivered her from Egyptian bondage . . . He had already given the Ten Commandments – the first being, thou shalt have no other gods before me . . . another one of these commandments being a simple warning not to make images of false gods for the purpose of worship . . . God explains

Deuteronomy 4: 16 Lest ye corrupt (spoil or ruin) yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female (for the purpose of worshiping such an image)

17 The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,

18 The likeness of anything that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth (for the purpose of having “a god” to worship)

19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven (do not make images of these to worship unless you) shouldest be driven to worship them, (the image) and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.   

20 But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day . . . 

You see it mattered “who and how” the nation of Israel (God’s people in the Old Testament) worshiped . . . and it matters “who and how” the church (God’s people in the New Testament) worship today.

Remember "that worship" is not HOW we gain God’s salvation – worship is how we gain God’s favor AFTER we have already "gained" His salvation.

God never threatened to send the nation of Israel back to Egypt if they served idol gods, but He did promise to punish them if they did not worship properly. 

As we return our focus back to John chapter 4 . . . Did you notice what Jesus told this lady at the well . . . He told her “you don’t really know what you are worshipping – salvation is of the Jews . . . and the 

God that you should be giving thanks to through your worship – is the God that has made this salvation possible (not for the Jews only – but) for all men.” 

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him (if they want God to accept their worship then they) MUST worship him in spirit and in truth.

In the Old Testament – God required His people to worship Him a certain way (there were rules to follow in the Law of Moses) – in the case of the

graven images – God would not accept their worship if they bowed down to these images . . . Notice how God did not accept the worship of His people just because they were sincere . . .

Eze 20: 13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness (they turned away from The Truth) they walked not in my statutes (according to the rules) and they despised my judgments (God says that 

they did not like HIS definition of right and wrong) which if a man do (if a man does accept God's definition of right and wrong then) he shall even live in them (according to God's Word) and My Sabbaths they greatly 

polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

14 But I wrought for my name's sake, that it (that my name) should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out (God was angry that His people had “poisoned” the concept of proper worship in 

front of “the heathen” that He had previously judged because they had turned to idols and chosen not to accept His Truth . . He had punished the heathen for this and now

15 Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them (My people) in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands (referring to how the 

forty years of wandering in the wilderness before finally being allowed to enter into the Promised land  - was all because of how God’s people had polluted True Worship)  God punished them . . .

16 Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my Sabbaths (or the holy days that were to be set aside for worship -- and He punished them because) for their heart went after their idol instead of after God and His Truth

In religious circles – it is commonly understood that Jesus is the ONE and only way to salvation –

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

But what is not commonly understood “in religious circles” is the concept of ONE type of worship – or true worship as opposed to false worship.

John 4:24 seems to clarify the concept of ONE type of worship – it tells us that "IF we worship" that we “must worship in spirit and in truth” just as 

Acts 4:12 also seems to clarify the concept of ONE way of salvation as “faith in the name of Jesus Christ”. 

We are often eager to accept Acts 4:12 – but if we would be just as eager to accept John 4:24 – then this would usually necessitate a change in the type of church that we attended - as we would have to admit that those  

narrow minded churches “fill-in-the-blank with a denomination of your choice”– are actually no more narrow in their way of thinking than what we find taught in John 4:24 which is a quote from Jesus Himself.

In our reference to the Old Testament and the worship of ancient Israel – God was fairly specific about how He wanted His people to worship Him

– if they “changed the rules” God said that they were guilty of polluting His Sabbath and rebelling against His statutes . . . which resulted in their punishment as a people . . . 

You see it is just not possible to get away from the concept of ONE as it refers to either The Truth or to the Worship of God.

"The ONE spirit" of Eph 4 - refers to THE TRUTH and how that we are only able to properly honor God when we allow “His Spirit of Truth” to guide our worship.

"The ONE hope of your calling" refers to how (as children of God) that we have confidence not in ourselves, but in The Truth.  The hope of our calling is how we view ourselves as having (been called) by The Truth 

to do the following things 1) the truth has called us to live a certain way 2) the truth has called us to seek God with our whole heart – and 3) the truth has called us to worship God “in a very particular way” . . and that is in the way of Truth   

-- Referring to Jesus we see that Titus 2:14 (tells us that He was the one) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Now there are four words that I want to focus on in this verse – they are redeem which refers to setting a person free from their sins or giving thema pardon – 

the next word we see is iniquity which refers to wickedness or unrighteousness . . . the idea is that Jesus died in order to purchase the right to give the sinner a pardon – or to set us free from the consequences of our sins.  

The phrase “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity” describes for us “the salvation” that the cross has made available to us as a sinner– while the remainder of this verse describes 

what Jesus WANTS TO DO with us after He saves us . . . “and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” 

What this last phrase literally means is this – referring to those that have been redeemed (or purchased) from iniquity (or sin) refers directly to

those of us who have been saved – The third word that I want us to notice is the word purify and how God wants to purify (cleanse or wash the lives of) these that He has redeemed unto Himself as a peculiar (or as an out of 

the ordinary type of) people who are zealous (or anxious and enthusiastic) of good works (or to perform service that is virtuous or valuable to God). 

The forth word is peculiar - which we have seen simply means "out of the ordinary" . . . To have a life that is virtuous or valuable in the eyes of God begins with OBEDIENCE . . . So think about what we should

specifically be obedient to –  and exactly what is it that God want us to obey . . . Generally speaking – God wants us to obey The Truth . . . and the first truth that He wants us to obey is The Truth regarding salvation

and the next thing that He wants us to obey is The Truth in regard to worship . . . John 3: 16  describes for us The Truth about salvation . . . we

read here - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son (to die on the cross so) that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Have we obeyed The Truth of God’s salvation – or have we rebelled against His promise to give salvation to all who believe and put their trust in

Him . . and then what of Eph chapter 4 and John chapter 4 regarding this concept of True Worship . . . God seeketh such to worship Him . . .

God is a Spirit and they that worship him MUST worship him in spirit AND in truth because the result of God’s people rebelling against 

The Truth of proper worship – is that God’s Word – God’s way – and God’s will "for the lives of His people" becomes dirty and polluted . . . this is

what happened to the nation of Israel on their way to the Promised land . . . and this very same thing can happen to you and I on our way the “Promised land” of being set aside by God as He seeks to purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Why parables?

New Blog - New post.  Have you ever wondered why so much of The Bible is written in the form of parables?  The intent of this lesson is to help us understand what parables are and to get some insight as to why Jesus so often taught in parables.

Matt 13: 1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

Jesus spoke to a very broad type of crowd – this multitude did not consist of only the educated – and neither did it consist of only the ignorant . . . so Jesus had to choose His words wisely so as not to over-whelm those who were hearing the gospel for the first time . . . and the other side of

the coin – was not to discourage those who were more learned in the scriptures with the boredom of teaching “the same things” over and over again.  In the following scripture - we see where Paul says that they should go on to perfection (or to gain spiritual maturity and a greater understanding of the scriptures) by avoiding ONLY teaching and studying about the doctrine of salvation and baptism . . .


Heb 6: 1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this will we do, if God permit.

The foundation of repentance from dead works refers to the basic doctrine of salvation by grace through faith, not of works lest any man should boast.  The doctrine of baptisms refers to the New Testament church ordinance of scriptural baptism that is taught in our churches.  The laying on of hands makes reference to the special gifts that were present in the church during the age of the apostles.


The point Paul makes here is that all of these things are most definitely the foundation of a "Christian life", but once the foundation "is laid" it is time to work on building that will rest upon it. 

After we have been saved, after we understand the significance of baptism and have submitted to the proper authority in obedience to God's commandment to symbolize our walk in newness of life through the pictorial ordinance of baptism it is time to start working on "the life" that we plan to build upon our saving faith and upon our obedience to God's commandments of New Testament worship.

3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

So the idea of speaking in parables - is an effective way to teach the lost about their need for salvation while at the same time teaching the child of God that his need is to properly build upon the foundation of faith that has already been laid in his life.

“And he spake many things unto them IN PARABLES” . . . The word parable means to compare “different things together” – it means to form a parallel or a similarity between things that are different . . . for instance we see in Matt 7 a wise builder and a foolish builder – these builders {and

their choice of a solid or a sandy foundation} – is what is compared to the choice that men make
regarding whether or not to “build” their lives upon the strength of God’s Word – or to build their lives upon the shifting sands of the world.

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them (or applies my Word to their lives) I will liken (or I will compare) him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell NOT: for it was founded (or built) upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not (or the man who does NOT apply my Words to his life - he) shall be likened (or he will be compared) unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:     And the RESULT of building on the sand is that

27 . . . the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

This parable compares {building a house on a solid foundation} with the man who lived his life paying attention to The Word by APPLYING that word to his life. The analogy (or the parallel) between these two things is that a house that is built upon a solid foundation can endure a storm
without being destroyed in the same way that a life which is patterned after The Word can endure “the storms of life” without being destroyed.

The similarity (or the parallel continues) with how the life of those who hear The Word but will not APPLY that Word to their life will BE LIKE a house that has been built upon the sand – (the comparison between them) is that both (the house and the life) will be a total loss after a storm.

This is how Jesus preaches THE SAME gospel to those who have never heard it – and also to those who have heard it before without laying again the previous foundations of salvation and baptism that as mentioned in Heb 6 . . . On the one hand – when the lost man hears this parable –

he is able to connect the dots and see the comparison of heaven or hell – based upon accepting Jesus as savior . . . and this is a perfectly good interpretation of what we read here as the foolish man is the parallel of the lost man who rejects The Word and suffers loss in “the storm” of God’s judgment.

And the wise man is similar to the saved man who accepts The Word and is “spared” in the day of judgment. But not everyone who Jesus speaks to with a parable is lost . . . there are other applications which are just as valid as the comparison that we just made between being saved and lost and heaven and hell –

When those who are saved read this parable – they can learn something more than simply being reminded how they were saved . . . they can grow in understanding as they are able to see a comparison between an obedient child of God and a disobedient child of God.

The disobedient child of God falls in love with the world and even though he does not lose his soul – his life is counted for loss – because he fails every test that God sends to him for the purpose of making his reliance upon God stronger . . . and then in the life of those who properly fear God we    

can see the obedient child being spared many of the trials that come upon those who are being punished for their disobedience . . . when "the faithful" face “the storms” of life – they are totally dependent upon God – and this is how they are able to “come through” the storm without a damaged life.

So the very same parable – the very same message teaches very different lessons – depending upon the need in the lives of those who hear it taught.

“But this is not all” that we find in this parable . . . there are churches which God sees as being foolish.  A church can be considered foolish because of how they have left their first love like the church of Ephesus did . . . Churches are not immune to the “storms of life” any more so than the individuals within them are . . .

When a church is faced with adversity – with trials – with persecutions . . . the type of ground upon which she stands (how firm her foundation is) will be the difference between moving toward maturity by drawing closer to God OR a lack of spiritual understanding as she moves closer to the world . . .
 
So we have ONE story from God’s Word and we have at least Three completely different applications . . . the lost man who rejects God’s Word is like a foolish builder who puts his entire fortune into a house built upon “the world” which falls apart when tested by a storm . . . and the opposite of

this true for the wise man who put his trust in Jesus.  The man who puts the hope of his eternal life on anything except Jesus – will be disappointed when he walks through the doorway of death and
wakes up in hell . . .

The child of God who is at home in the world – so that he makes no attempt to please the God of his salvation – he will also be disappointed in judgment – when he suffers loss and understands that he is saved – yet so as by fire . . .

And the New Testament Church who puts religion before Christianity is a church that will be disappointed when they stand beside the church of Ephesus and lose the candlestick of church authority because they loved "other things" more than they loved Jesus . . .

So how does this parable apply to us – are we lost and does this parable of the foolish and wise builder convict our heart of heaven and hell . . .

Re 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

As a child of God – does the parable of the foolish builder and the wise builder convict our heart of the obedience that IS NOT present in our heart?

Nu 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

As a church – as the spiritual body of Christ whose responsibility until Jesus returns - is to both teach and to preserve the gospel . . . is our heart convicted as a church because we are guilty of trying to love the world while also trying to love God and His Truth – which means that like the

church at Ephesus – we have left our first love and stand in danger of (not losing our salvation, but) losing our candlestick of church authority?

Rev 2: 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.




It is my hope that this lesson has at least to some degree fulfilled the intent of Heb 6: 1 ¶ Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.



Salvation is without a doubt the greatest gift that God has ever given to mankind.  But lest those of us who have been saved forget . . . "The knowledge" of how to serve - "The knowledge" of how to worship - "The knowledge" of how to please the God that saved us is worth any sacrifice in this present life to not only pursue this knowledge - but once it is gained - to never let go of it.


It is a good thing if we are glad we have been saved . . . but it is also a good thing (after salvation) to spend our lives in pursuit of how to please our savior and not to lay again the foundation of repentance from dead works . . .




God bless until the next post.

Water and Ice

  Is the truth absolute?  Is it possible to change the truth without creating a lie?  We are all interested   in what happens to us after death, and I hope the following post helps answer some questions that you might have what is really true about "what happens to us" in eternity.

  Water and Ice

    John 1: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    2 The same was in the beginning with God.

    3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.

    4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

    5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

    The Word refers to The Bible – it refers to The Truth – and as we see here in this passage
   –     The Word actually refers to God Himself . . .

    We are told specifically . . . “and The Word WAS God”-- If The Word cannot be separated or taken     away from God – and if God cannot be separated or taken away from The Word – then it is
     not  really possible to define GOD without also talking about the WORD.

   For example - If we consider the difference between water and ice – how is it possible to define
    or to explain one without also explaining the other? 

   We can easily understand that it is just not possible for ice to exist if “water” did not exist . . . if
    water had never been created – then conditions would never exist that would form ice.  

    Well the same thing is true regarding God and the Word – God is like the water – and The Word
    is like the ice . . . if God did not exist    then the conditions would never occur that would bring
    about what we know as The Truth and righteousness . . .

   Truth cannot exist without God – We are told in Heb 6: 18 that it is impossible for God to lie –

    If it is not possible for God to lie – and because we understand that IF “The Truth” is changed or
    made into something that is different than it was before – then it is no longer The Truth . . .

   From this we can see that God is TRUTH because God does not change . . . or else He would
    cease TO BE God . . . and The Truth would be lost.

    Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (KJV)

    Righteousness is the other thing that could not exist without the presence of God - Ps 50:6 And the
    heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself – this tells us that God is THE
    ONE judge of all creation and that HIS definition of truth {or what is right or wrong} is what He
    will use to Judge us - after we pass through the doorway of death and enter into eternity.

   Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
   (KJV)

    Now we know that a judge is the one who compares our behavior with The Law - and then based
   upon this comparison - he decides if we are guilty or innocent – and then the judge he either
   pardons or pronounces a sentence . . .

    2Co 9:9 . . . his (God's) righteousness remaineth forever.

   Righteousness is how God has defined “what is good” or how to remain innocent and avoid
   judgment (receive a pardon) . . . Now given the fact that God CANNOT lie – which means that
   TRUTH is something that is CONSTANT or unchangeable for all men in EVERY generation,

    this idea of righteousness or “what is good” is tied to The Word of God - which is tied to The 
    Truth of God – which is tied to GOD our JUDGE or the one who will pardon or condemn
    when our behavior is compared to His law of righteousness.

    In judgment our lives will not be compared to the latest trend or what has slowly become
    acceptable over time because of how we (society) have come to think about right and wrong - but
    judgment will compare our lives to the standard of righteousness that God established WITH the
    truth - from the very beginning.  In the beginning was THE WORD . . .

     So when we consider The Word – when we talk about The Truth – we can understand these
     terms better if we realize how closely related these actually are to God. 

    John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS GOD.  
    2 The same was in the beginning with God.  

    The Word is just as eternal – and it is just as everlasting as God is . . . in fact if you stop and think
     about it – The Word is also just as POWERFUL as God is.  We can say this because we receive
      spiritual life THROUGH The Word . . . So Who is it that gives LIFE – who is it that has created
      life – who is it that existed “in the beginning” alongside of God?

    Gen 1:1 says . . . In the beginning God . . .

    John 1:1 says . . . In the beginning was the Word and The Word was with (beside) God   and The
    Word WAS God (or God possessed The Word of His Truth) even in the very beginning of creation

     In the beginning was water and the water was with ice and the water was ice . . . the same was in
     the beginning with water . . .

    The Word (the Bible) is what gives life to those who believe – and The Word (the Bible) is what
     condemns those who die in unbelief.  So if “The Word” has such power over spiritual life and
     death – it is not a wise thing for us to treat “The Word” as we so often do . . . by ignoring it or
     taking what it says lightly.

      John 1:3 All things were made by him (By God’s power) and without him (without The Word –
      without The Truth) was not anything made that was made. 

      Now we have established the fact that The Word cannot be separated from God . . .

      God cannot exist without The Truth because The Truth is of part OF God – and neither can The
     Truth exist without God because God is part OF The Truth . . . this would be like trying to
     separate all the water from all the ice that has ever formed on the earth.


      If all the water on Earth was taken away - then all the ice would go with it - which in the context
      of our scriptures -  means that if we could remove God from our lives (or from the world) then
      because The Truth is so closely related to God – then the truth would also be taken away . . . and

       Counter-wise – if we could somehow remove The Truth from our lives or disprove it in the
       world then God would ALSO be removed or disproved.  This is why Satan is the author of so
       many of our school books . . .

         Children that have been deceived – soon grow into adults who suffer the same type of
         deception . . . but children that are grounded in "the faith" or what is true for all men in all ages
        – they grow into adults who are also grounded in this same faith or the concept that Truth is
         universal and unchangeable for all men in all ages.

        Eph 2: 1 And you hath he quickened (or made alive) who were dead in trespasses and sins;

         2 Wherein in time past ye walked (lived) according to the course (way) of this world,
        according to the prince of the power of the air (this refers to Satan which is) the spirit that
        now worketh in the children of disobedience:

        When The Truth is removed or taken out of our lives – then the only thing left to take its place 
        is something that is not true {a lie}.  If we do not give God access to our lives – or if we
        withhold God's truth  from the lives of our children, then we DO give this prince and power 
       of the air –access to our lives – and he (Satan) is the one who works in the children of
        disobedience . . . among whom also we all had our conversation (life style) in times past (when
        as a lost man we walked)  in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the
        mind  and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others

        I know that it is not possible to take our Bibles with us everywhere we go and “advertise our
        Christianity” to everyone we meet . . . but it IS possible to hide God’s Word in our heart so
         that THE EFFECTS which The Bible has had on us CAN be taken - literally everywhere we
         go . . . If

        The Truth is not in us – then we have given the control of our lives to a lie which means that if
         we are not following The Truth – the only thing left for us to follow is a lie . . . Mt 12:30 He
         that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

        Ps 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

       Now if we are not saved (if we have never trusted in Jesus) – then it because we have hidden our
       heart from The Truth so that we will NOT allow The Truth to save us . . . if we are not
      “looking” for The Truth – then we are “hiding” from The Truth . . . Now this may make us
       uncomfortable – but if “God” and His Truth are not in our heart – then Satan and his lies are
       the ones who live there  and have dominion over our lives.

        If we have not hidden The Word within our heart – then I want us to consider what we HAVE
        hidden in our heart.   

     If we are not WITH God (beside) God like The Word is with God or beside Him . . . then we are
      against God – which means that we are NOT JOINED together with GOD regarding faith and the
       eternal salvation of our soul.  He that gathereth not with me – scattereth abroad.

      Matt 6: 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or
      else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

      Now please remember how we started this lesson . . . we learned that “The Word” cannot be
       separated from God (because like water and ice) they are really the same thing. . . we learned
     that “The Truth” cannot change without becoming a lie – and then we learned that God cannot lie.

      Now bearing in mind what we have learned about God – The Word – The Truth & Righteousness
      – I want us to read from Acts 16 about a man who had hidden his heart from The Truth – but
      who changed his mind (he repented) and wanted instead to hide his heart from the death and the
      deception of Satan.

      Acts 16: 25 (Paul and Silas had been thrown into prison) And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed,
      and sang praises unto God: and the (other) prisoners (in the jail) heard them.

       26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were
      shaken: and immediately all the doors (of the prison) were opened, and every one's bands were
       loosed. (KJV)

      The prison doors came open – and the chains fell away from all the prisoners . . .

      27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he
       drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
      (KJV)

      The reason for this – is that it was common for the jailor to be responsible for his prisoners – if
       they escaped – the Roman government would put the jailor to death.

       28 But Paul (the man who just a few hours before – this jailor had beaten - he) cried with a
        loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

        29 Then he (the jailor) called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down
        before Paul and Silas,

        30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (KJV)

       Now remember The Power of The Word . . . Faith (or trust) in The Word will save us – but
       unbelief – refusing to accept The Word – or believing a lie are all things that will condemn us
       before God as our supreme judge when in judgment He looks for faith and repentance in our
       heart.

      31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

      The Word which was with God in the beginning – The Word which WAS God . . . this WORD is
      the only thing that stood between this jailor and the eternal flames of hell fire . . . If God cannot 
       lie – if The Truth cannot change and "remain" True – and if The Word was God – and if The
      Word IS God

      Then when you ask this question - “preacher what must I do to be saved” – the answer is THE
      SAME for you – as it was for this jailor that ask the exact same question about 2000 years ago . . .      and that answer is “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved (just like he was)"

      Now very briefly – I want to explain exactly what it means “to believe” in this respect “on the
       Lord Jesus Christ”

       Paul and Silas had been cast into prison because they had been preaching about Jesus . . . So this
       jailor had heard what they had been preaching.

        Romans 10: 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

       This jailer heard the gospel message – and this jailor called out in faith to the God that this
       gospel proclaimed . . .

        14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe
        “in him” of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

  

        How could this jailor have reached out (in faith) to a God that he had never heard preached
       about?

        When we consider where we will go after death (referring to our soul) - and when we realize
         that we are without hope (like this jailor was) For us to call out in faith shows that we believe
      “the message” that God has sent to us through the preacher.

        15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of
          them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

           Not every preacher takes the right message to the place where God directs him -and not
           every man accepts the message that the preacher happens to bring to him.

         16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our
          report?

       What about you – has the preacher delivered the right message to you this blog? . . . and have
       you chosen to accept this message or (at the risk of your eternal soul) have you chosen to reject
       it?

       17 So then faith (which saves) cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

        To believe – is to see that we have a need (or to be convicted or burdened in our heart) because
          we know that we are guilty (we agree with God that we have sinned) . . .

       To believe – is to direct our hope (point ourselves) toward God and His message of hope  (which
       is repentance) and because we see our guilt - because we are sorry for our sins we turn (in our
       heart) and call out to Him – trusting IN HIM to satisfy that need

      This is what it means to believe unto the salvation of our soul and this is what this Philippian
       jailor did.  Are willing to confess (admit) that you are a sinner?  Are you willing to believe that
       Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead?  Are you
       sorry - do you regret the pain that Jesus endured because of the payment He made for your sins?

      I just ask you three things - are you will to confess your sins - are you willing to believe in Jesus -

       are you sorry for your sins (do you want to repent or to turn away from your sins) . . . if the
       answer to these are yes . . . then consider this final verse and think about how you also are not
      far from God's salvation.

      Mr 12:34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far 
       from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

        I hope that you have learned something from my first blog, please comment whether positive or
        negative - until next time God bless.