FIRE TUNNEL PARTY

I can't imagine what Paul or Peter would say if they walked into one of these types of churches today.  I love this Gospel-preaching video series!  Be forever blessed by God and have sound doctrine and a SOUND MIND!  

We Need JESUS CHRIST NOW!

THE DOCTRINE OF HELL QUESTION?

I know, bad topic to discuss but I just thought of something.  When we preach the true Gospel of Salvation but leave off sin and the likely very real consequences of it, are we not making the Gospel less effective?  

Here's my thinking.  I fell in love with Jesus Christ at 6 but like most, fell away from living FOR Him but I never stopped believing in Him in my heart.  Sure, I've had doubts, we all do, but we realize that our minds our an enmity to God.  It's our heart and faith that matter and not some random thought that comes in our mind.  It's temptation.  Easy to overcome by reading the Word of God.  

Most atheists already think that when we die, we die.  We live in on the memories of our family and our great works on earth anyway.  That's  like a watered down Gospel that is a "feel good" doctrine and no real reason to really convert to Christianity.  No consequences of bad behavior, absolutely no reason to change your life.  I'm an ex-drug abuser.  I struggle with that and I struggle with other fleshly desires.   We're not changed overnight as it's a process.  We are the clay, God is potter.  I'm very guilty of doing this and as I said, those who don't teach sound doctrine are going to face the judgment of God.  Many will say Lord! Lord! in the last day and He's going to say, depart from me for I never knew you.  I don't want to be one of those people.  I'm not sure if we'll be effective if we don't preach a literal and eternal damnation.  I would not agree to say hell will be this or that either.  Say you don't know but God does and He is your judge.  He is Holy.  Be washed in the blood of Jesus Christ for it is HIS righteousness alone by which we will be judged.

"For I am the way, the truth and the life.  NO man cometh unto the Father except by me."  

JONAH - WANNA LAUGH?

I just made a very serious post and so I just want to share a little laughter to release the pressure.  One of my favorite books in the OT is Jonah.  I love that very true story.  It has to be true or else Jesus would NEVER have used it as the only "sign" that would be given to the Jews.  I knew the Sunday School version of the story but I wanted to really read it and understand it.  With a bit of help from my good friend Chaim, through the Holy Spirit I actually got it.  Well, almost.  I reread it last night because I like to go back in time in my mind's eye and put myself in my Bible "heroes" shoes.  I am still having a wee bit of trouble understanding why Jonah was so mad but I can imagine why.  The gourd though.  Why was he so mad and wanted to die.  Have you ever read what God tells Jonah in the very last verses of this story?  I'm pretty sure everyone knows what discern means but in case someone new is reading and doesn't, it's able to tell the difference or see the signs.  Discern the times, discern spirits, etc.  Really read this verse and do you see how and why maybe we have a sense of humor?  God bless.

Jonah 4:11  "And should not I spare Ninevah, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore (120,000) persons that cannot DISCERN between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?"

I think we all know people like this.  It's fine to laugh.  Enjoy the Word of God.  I also love it when Peter, in Acts, is talking to the Pharisees and says while they're arguing and complaining, "You know what I think, I think we OUGHT to be worshipping God."  Go Peter! I am always learning something new every single time I reread scripture.  Enjoy this journey cos it ends really well for those that believe!

HELL - IS IT REAL?

I must admit that the doctrine of eternal punishment for those who don't accept Christ Jesus is one I do NOT like talking about.  I've always been taught that "Hell is for Real" but as I grew up, I didn't want to even think about God sending billions of people to hell.  There was a time when I thought that people who didn't make it to the Kingdom would just die and when resurrected would know what they missed and how wrong they were and would be "cast into the lake of fire" and die.  My mind thought that but deep down I just can't be sure because I think it is.  I don't know but I'm not willing to be eternity that it's not.  

Jesus talks a lot about hell but only mentions the word hell 12 times.  I'm a basic Bibe-believer and have no training but by the Holy Spirit.  So, I found this very informative Christian video that you might not like what you hear but you need to hear it now!  Don't leave it out of the Gospel message.  It's THAT important.  God bless and time is short on earth.  Your time on earth is fastly running out.

Make sure you share the Gospel of First Corinthians 15:1-11 and do not add to it or take away.  When Jesus speaks of hell, He says more to false teachers/prophets and religious people than anyone else.  Think about it and be a mid-Acts Pauline dispensationalist only, rightly dividing the Word of God.

7 IMPORTANT DOCTRINES OF THE BIBLE: BY GRACE AMBASSADORS

By Justin Johnson

The Bible is the most important book in history, and is what defines our faith. Without it we would not know who God is, his will for us, salvation, or the Lord Jesus Christ.

The way to destroy Christianity would be to destroy the Bible. This present evil world knows this and has been attacking the Bible for centuries. No Bible = no Christianity.

As a result of relentless attacks without reply, generations have a view of the Bible that it is an anachronistic book written by men that no one can understand filled with mistakes that is unneeded for true spirituality. What lies!

If Christianity is on the wane it is due to a failure to fortify these important doctrines about the Bible. If removing the Bible makes Christianity crumble, returning respect to the Holy Book of Books will strengthen it.

Here are seven important doctrines about the Bible that will strengthen your faith in God’s word and make you a Bible believer.

1. Revelation – God spoke words.

Revelation is the doctrine that God has spoken. The Bible is God’s revelation. This is important because God is true, holy, good, and without error. Therefore, what he says is true, holy, good, and without error. This is where we get the “holy” in Holy Bible. The Bible is sacred because of its author. The Bible was revealed by God.

“ For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” – Galatians 1:12

2. Inspiration – God’s words in writing.

Who doesn’t know the Bible was written by men. The doctrine of inspiration describes how God’s words were put in writing using the instrumentation of humanity. The Bible was not delivered from heaven like the golden plates of Mormonism, or by oral tradition like the Talmud or Koran. Divine inspiration teaches that God wrote the Bible with human pens to write specific words (2 Peter 1:20-21).

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God…” – 2 Timothy 3:16

3. Illumination – God’s words understood.

The Bible can be understood, and this because of the doctrine of illumination. God did not write a book so that no one could read and understand it. His purpose was for all to know and each to study for themselves (1 Tim 2:4; 2 Tim 2:15). The Bible is not a book God kept in secret, but helps us to understand. How can we understand? First, faith is required (Rom 10:17). Then, you must be spiritual quickened (1 Cor 2:12-13). Thirdly, you must acknowledge Paul’s instruction (2 Tim 2:7).

“ But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” – 1 Corinthians 2:14

“Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.” – 2 Timothy 2:7

4. Utilization – God’s words must be used.

It is necessary to have and understand the Bible, because God requires it be utilized. We are told to preach it, teach it, study it, rightly divide it, eat it, believe it, live by it, stand with it, fight with it, and obey it. This doctrine alone should cause us to cherish God’s holy book: we need it! Faith comes by no other way.

“ For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,…” – Romans 15:4

“ So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” – Romans 10:17

5. Canonization – God’s words complete & sufficient.

This oft neglected doctrine describes how the Bible came to be complete and defined. A corollary to this is the idea that the Bible is all that we need: it is sufficient. There is nothing lacking from it to make us perfect (complete) workmen for the Lord. There is nothing else we need from oral tradition, experience, gut feelings, a Pope, magisterium, deacon board, anointed pastor, or the wisdom of the world. God said many things that are not in the Bible, but the Bible is what God wants us to know, and it is finished, complete, and sufficient in sixty-six books.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable… that the man of God may be perfect” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

“Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God” – Colossians 1:25

6. Preservation – God’s words through history.

Without preservation none of the other doctrines matter. God could have revealed, inspired, and completed a Bible to be used and understood, but without the doctrine of preservation it is all for naught, and the Holy Bible was lost thousands of years ago to history. If God wants us to understand and use his words that he inspired then they must be preserved through history. There are no more original autographs. Preservation is needed for God’s words to endure forever (1 Pet 1:25).

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” – Matthew 24:35

“ Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” – Psalm 12:7

7. Identification – God’s words in your hands and heart.

In a world, culture, or church that does not understand and believe the previous six important doctrines this final doctrine is the most offensive. It is also the most important for the word of God to have an effect in your life.

This doctrine describes how you know you hold God’s words in your hand and are reading them with your eyes. If God inspired and preserved his word we should be able to identify it today.

There are so many different books claiming to be the Bible. It was the need to clearly identify the Holy Bible which drove men to reduce the differences and number of Bible translations down to one. After all, God only inspired one, and we only need one, and the church is one, and so which one is it?

When it is said that God’s perfectly preserved words in English are found in the King James Bible this is a statement reflecting the doctrine of identification.

“…when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:13

The Effect on Those That Believe

The Thessalonians had to identify by faith the words of God before they had an effect. Perhaps the reason Christians are not being effected by the word of God is that they are not clearly identified amidst hundreds of different translations.

Perhaps you cannot yet identify which Bible is God’s words. Perhaps you have been persuaded that they are all the same, or that God does not preserve his words, or that the Bible is too hard to understand or is not completely sufficient or necessary for us to have.

Denying any one of these important doctrines about the Bible brings confusion and doubt upon the Bible. Without the Bible Christianity becomes ineffective, or worse.

“For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar.” – Romans 3:3-4

Christians are people of a book. Strengthen your understanding of these important doctrines about the Bible and your faith will grow, and God’s words will work effectually in you.