March 13th 2022
Salvation Is A Free Gift Only To Those Who Have Come To Believe It Is The Truth.
Matthew 18:3 (NIV)
And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
The selected verse starts with the word, “and” which of course tells the reader that Jesus was asked a question, “and” now He is responding to this question, so here is that question. At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. (Matthew 18:1-2). So then, what does Jesus mean when He says, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” It seems to me that Jesus is teaching His disciples (us) that little children are very inquisitive and therefore they ask many questions. Then when someone answers their questions, they are receptive to the answer, and thus, they learn and believe what they have been told!
However, most adults have already formed opinions or their own answers for what they are being taught, and thus, they are receptive only to the parts of speech they already agree with! There is an adage, “Do not confuse me with facts, I’ve already decided!” And yet another adage that comes to mind, “You cannot teach an old dog new tricks!” Of course, this is not referring to dogs, but it is referring to people. Children are more open-minded than adults and are more receptive to new information and thus more apt to become believers when they hear the Good News about who Jesus is.
The biggest weapon that Satan uses in this world today is that the theory of evolution is a fact and therefore, the Word of God in Genesis 1-11 cannot be the true history of how God/Jesus created all life, and that Jesus continues to maintain the universe until His return and the creation of the new earth, AKA heaven, will be created for all believers to inhabit. Sorry to skip to the end of the story here but let me try to get back to how being child-like must be compared to becoming Christ-like in this cursed world.
Jesus again used a child-like description to help us understand that believers may still have troubles in this world. Jesus talked about how unbelievers could have been saved if they had been receptive to the messages from God in Old Testament times. At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No-one knows the Son except the Father, and no-one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (Matthew 11:25-27). So, now those who can believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of this cursed world will be saved and end up in heaven.
Most of the people in this world are too worldly to have that child-like attitude to believe that Jesus is that one and only Savior. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). All the worldly religions have created an earthly belief system that teaches that you must do certain things that some member of mankind has taught that they must do in order to be saved. Jesus taught, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." In this world you will have trouble, if you choose to believe the theories dreamed up by some member of mankind that does not know everything, instead of believing that Jesus is the answer to the questions related to the question, “is this life all there is to existence?”
Paul has attempted to help us understand that mankind does not have all the answers related to life. In fact, we still not know how life begins, or when life ends. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. (1 Corinthians 1:19-21). The foolishness of mankind cannot deter God’s gift of salvation, if through human teaching we become to believe in Jesus Christ our immortal soul will be saved.
All that is required for salvation of your immortal soul is that come to believe that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. (Ephesians 1:7-8). The account of Jesus Christ is contained in the Bible and should be required reading for every human being, but it is not held by most people as being supplied by the God of the Bible. The Bible is the only God given instructions for mankind; all other books have been written by a human being who has a sinful nature inherited from the Fall of man!
Your faith must be obtained through your understanding of God’s Word, which requires a child-like acceptance through an absolute faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (1 Corinthians 2:4-8).
Salvation is a free gift only to those who have come to believe it is the truth. Everyone must cling to the truth that Jesus Christ is the Way, and because of our sinful nature we will not want to believe it! Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus also said you must be born again to allow you to overcome your sinful nature and believe in Him!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Matthew 18:3 (NIV)
And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
The selected verse starts with the word, “and” which of course tells the reader that Jesus was asked a question, “and” now He is responding to this question, so here is that question. At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. (Matthew 18:1-2). So then, what does Jesus mean when He says, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” It seems to me that Jesus is teaching His disciples (us) that little children are very inquisitive and therefore they ask many questions. Then when someone answers their questions, they are receptive to the answer, and thus, they learn and believe what they have been told!
However, most adults have already formed opinions or their own answers for what they are being taught, and thus, they are receptive only to the parts of speech they already agree with! There is an adage, “Do not confuse me with facts, I’ve already decided!” And yet another adage that comes to mind, “You cannot teach an old dog new tricks!” Of course, this is not referring to dogs, but it is referring to people. Children are more open-minded than adults and are more receptive to new information and thus more apt to become believers when they hear the Good News about who Jesus is.
The biggest weapon that Satan uses in this world today is that the theory of evolution is a fact and therefore, the Word of God in Genesis 1-11 cannot be the true history of how God/Jesus created all life, and that Jesus continues to maintain the universe until His return and the creation of the new earth, AKA heaven, will be created for all believers to inhabit. Sorry to skip to the end of the story here but let me try to get back to how being child-like must be compared to becoming Christ-like in this cursed world.
Jesus again used a child-like description to help us understand that believers may still have troubles in this world. Jesus talked about how unbelievers could have been saved if they had been receptive to the messages from God in Old Testament times. At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No-one knows the Son except the Father, and no-one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (Matthew 11:25-27). So, now those who can believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of this cursed world will be saved and end up in heaven.
Most of the people in this world are too worldly to have that child-like attitude to believe that Jesus is that one and only Savior. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). All the worldly religions have created an earthly belief system that teaches that you must do certain things that some member of mankind has taught that they must do in order to be saved. Jesus taught, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." In this world you will have trouble, if you choose to believe the theories dreamed up by some member of mankind that does not know everything, instead of believing that Jesus is the answer to the questions related to the question, “is this life all there is to existence?”
Paul has attempted to help us understand that mankind does not have all the answers related to life. In fact, we still not know how life begins, or when life ends. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. (1 Corinthians 1:19-21). The foolishness of mankind cannot deter God’s gift of salvation, if through human teaching we become to believe in Jesus Christ our immortal soul will be saved.
All that is required for salvation of your immortal soul is that come to believe that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. (Ephesians 1:7-8). The account of Jesus Christ is contained in the Bible and should be required reading for every human being, but it is not held by most people as being supplied by the God of the Bible. The Bible is the only God given instructions for mankind; all other books have been written by a human being who has a sinful nature inherited from the Fall of man!
Your faith must be obtained through your understanding of God’s Word, which requires a child-like acceptance through an absolute faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (1 Corinthians 2:4-8).
Salvation is a free gift only to those who have come to believe it is the truth. Everyone must cling to the truth that Jesus Christ is the Way, and because of our sinful nature we will not want to believe it! Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus also said you must be born again to allow you to overcome your sinful nature and believe in Him!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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