Hello Jesus! Hello heaven! Hello golden streets, glorified bodies, endless days, and the fresh air of New Jerusalem! During difficult times, the hope of eternity gives us strength. A tent or a cottage, why should I care? Whether we realize it or not, it is part of our past, and it will be part of our future. The moment we resolve to stand strong and walk away is when temptation grows most intense. That is why Scripture is of paramount importance.
Consider these verses:. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it 1 Corinthians But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full—grown, brings forth death James — He listed them in verses 7— They are idolatry, immorality, infidelity, and disloyalty.
To think our temptation is unique is to believe a lie. The apostle James argued that if temptation becomes serious, it is because we have allowed it to do so. Temptation is not sin; yielding to temptation is. There is always a righteous choice to be made if we are willing to seek it.
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. That event is a beautiful example of the willingness of God.
In writing about the timing of the Day of the Lord the end of the age , Peter says God is waiting for all who will be saved to come to Him. The question is never whether God is willing but whether man is willing. God is far more willing to save sinners than sinners are to be saved. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. The church in Corinth was an undisciplined church, and he was letting them know that even though the culture around them was in flux, their faith in Jesus Christ needed to remain focused and sure.
It is true for us today also. How can we remain steadfast in our faith and avoid the pressures of this ever-changing world? As our lives center on God, giving priority to hearing His voice and reading His Word, we become bolder in sharing our faith.
When we find a man meditating on the words of God, my friends, that man is full of boldness and is successful. Dwight L. Marine litter is a huge ecological problem. Fish become entangled in discarded fishing nets and lines, with bellies full of plastic debris they have swallowed. Such images are in stark contrast to the pristine beauty and glory of Eden as presented in Genesis. And that mandate extends to our personal life as well.
Paul writes that we belong to God and we are to glorify Him with our care and use of our body. When you see opportunities to care for creation—nature or your own body—do so as a way of glorifying the Creator. Share 8K. Pin Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians What happens when we die? Footer Stay Connected. For more, log onto DavidJeremiah. Delivering the unchanging Word of God to an ever-changing world.
About Dr. David Jeremiah Dr. Search the site New Beginnings: Ezekiel In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. Ezekiel , NIV We often need fresh starts after enduring bitter disappointments. Modern Idolatry Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
A Whole Person In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility. New Earth Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Revelation A great misconception carried by many Christians has to do with the location of heaven. The Need for Prayer Now it came to pass in those days that [Jesus] went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Luke Officially, church historians recognize seven ecumenical church councils held between A. What Is Humility? But what is the biblical view of humility If someone compliments you on a job well done, do you refuse to take credit or receive their compliment? Those who have rejected Jesus Christ as Savior face only a judgment of condemnation ending in the Lake of Fire.
Appropriately, the Bible ends with both a reminder of rewards for believers, "'And behold, I [Jesus] am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work'" Rev. The GraceLife Ministries Team is made up of a wide array of financial supporters, volunteers, and staff. Charlie Bing is founder and president.
Consider Volunteering and join the team sharing the gospel of grace with the unsaved and the grace of the gospel with the saved. Share with us your talents and gifts using our contact form. Quotes on Repentance as a Chan Answering Common Objections to Practicing Grace In Ministry Misunderstandings about Acts GraceNotes - no.
Charlie Bing. If anyone's work is burned, they will suffer loss; but they themselves will be saved, yet so as through fire 1 Corinthians Fire The judgment will be by fire. Fire is used in Scripture as a symbol of judgment. Sodom and Gomorrah were judged with fire. The Bible describes the glorified Christ in this manner. His head and His hair were white as white wool, white as snow; His eyes were like a flame of fire Revelation Fire often symbolizes the holiness of God.
Without Shame Believers want to appear without shame before this seat. And now little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming 1 John Full Reward Believers will receive a full reward for their deeds of faith.
Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we have worked for, but that we may receive a full reward 2 John 8. Behold, I come quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown Revelation This is loss of reward, not of salvation. Illustration We can illustrate the loss of reward in the following manner: Let us say you have recently built a new two story house.
While on the second floor, you smell smoke. Looking downstairs you see that the first floor is on fire. You jump out the second story window to save your life. You then watch your new house burn to the ground. Obviously you will have mixed emotions. You're thankful that you were able to jump and save your life, but you sad because your new house is destroyed. This is similar to those believers who are saved but have nothing to show for it.
They squandered their opportunities to live for Christ yet they are enjoying the benefits of heaven with Jesus. Position Of Honor All who experience the judgment seat of Christ will possess the privileges and honors as children of God. Jesus said He will acknowledge those who have believed in Him before His Father, and before the angels. Therefore whoever confesses Me before humanity, I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven Matthew But as it is written: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.
But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God' 1 Corinthians , Rewards Proportionate The rewards that the believer receives will be proportionate to the faithfulness they show in this life.
The key is faithfulness to the gifts God has given. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful 1 Corinthians Well done, my good servant! To another one he said. His master answered, 'You take charge of five cities' Luke Crowns The rewards believers will receive are called crowns. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing 2 Timothy Book Of Life Those who overcome will have their names written in the Book of Life: You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels Revelation , 5. Believers will be clothed in white garments, having their names written in the Book of Life. In addition, they will be acknowledged before the Father and the holy angels.
After Rapture The judging of believers will occur after the rapture of the church, but before the Second Coming of Christ to the earth. In the Book of Revelation we are told. Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. Revelation , 8. We are told that the bride is clothed with righteous deeds.
The church, therefore, has already been at the judgment seat of Christ because they are ready for the groom when He comes. Hence the judgment takes place sometime before the Second Coming of Christ. Summary The judgment seat of Christ is a time of examination and reward. From Scripture we can conclude the following concerning the judgment seat of Christ, the bema. The Lord will resurrect the bodies of the saints who have died during the church age, as well as change the bodies of those still alive.
Now I know that that has been the teaching of some rabbis throughout history. As a matter of fact, hundreds and hundreds of years ago, there was a rabbi who taught basically that Abraham stood at the gates of hell and he looked at everybody who was entering into hell, just to make sure that none of his covenant descendants by accident started to go into hell. If there was such a one, one of his Jewish descendants, he would stop them and send them to heaven instead. There are people who think that salvation has to do with genetics, just belonging to the right family.
God had to choose a people to express what his kingdom would be like — He chose the Jewish people. God had to choose a place to express these things — so He chose the Land of Israel. God had to choose a people who would be the custodians and the recipients of His Word. God especially had to choose the people who would bring forth his Messiah for all of those things and more.
Now, this chosen status before God, sometimes it has been a great blessing for the Jewish people. Sometimes it has been a great burden for them to bear. But in that regard, they are chosen by God. When Peter closed his first epistle was he using symbolism when he mentioned the saints in Rome? Or was he actually leading a church in Rome at that time? At the end of 1 Peter, it says she who is in Babylon elect together with you greets you and so does Mark my son.
And the concept of Babylon is basically the picture of the world. You have Babylon, which is the word city of the world, and you have Jerusalem, which is the City of God. Peter very well could have led the church in Rome for a time. We know that Peter did not found the church in Rome. It was founded by anonymous scattered believers who came and establish congregations in Rome. When Paul came to Rome, there was already a congregation there, and Peter as well. We know this from New Testament history.
The Pope is a bishop; he just happens to be the Bishop of Rome and that has primacy or preeminence over every other Bishop or city or institution, at least in the thinking of Roman Catholics. What I have a problem with is the idea that Peter passed that authority down to anybody else — to me the great debating point.
The devil can certainly attack people at church. God is in it to strengthen believers. When any believer is attacked by the world, the flesh, or the devil, God is there to strengthen and to give that believer the resources they need to make it through such a time, if they will put their attention and their trust in him.
I truly believe that we receive the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation. Why did the Samaritans that believed to have to wait for john and Peter to lay hands on them, after Philip shared with them? There are a few different ways Christians approach this question. There are people who try to make the argument that those Samaritans were never really saved to begin with.
I would just say this — every believer receives the Holy Spirit when they believe. There may be continual fillings or experiences of the Holy Spirit. Regarding the Samaritans, my first inclination is to say that some of those from time to time, may be quite remarkable.
Isaiah says that God created the end in the beginning. Who knows? Maybe America will play a significant role. Perhaps America will go through some judgment and be tremendously diminished in its capabilities in that judgment. Now, I know that people sometimes point to Amos that says that the Lord will not do anything without telling His prophets. Clearly, we understand that is speaking with prophetic exaggeration or hyperbole There are significant things that God has done that He gave no prophetic forewarning.
For example. The New Testament specifically says that that was a mystery not revealed to those in ages past. How can my faith become stronger? It seems that I have faith at times, but I feel weak in that area at other times.
Let me give you two ways very practically that you can build your faith First of all, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. When you work it out, it gets stronger — so work out your muscles, trust God for something small, and then something bigger. Start praying for things believing and make a note about what you pray for. And then when you see the prayers answered, put it in that notebook. Go out and do things where you can see God move and God work. And that will build your faith and write them down.
Remember, the Garden of Eden was part of the pre flood world. That world was dramatically transformed in its geography, in its geology, and so it would be absolutely impossible to place where the Garden of Eden was then, and where it is today. I could see all kinds of mischief coming from that. What do you think about the black Hebrew Israelites? Do you think that some of the things they say may be true? When I listen to them?
But in the whole, what they teach is just wrong. If we all come from Adam, how do we have different races like Asians, whites and blacks? God built into Adam and Eve, the capability for this genetic variation. And because of that genetic variation, we have this great, great diversity among human beings.
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