May 18th 2014
Is Satan Real To You?
Ephesians 2:1-2 (NIV)
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
As for you—you were dead—when you followed (follow) the ways of this world—and the ruler of the kingdom of the air! You must admit, Paul isn’t beating around the bush here, is he? Paul is putting in context the path that everyone who does not follow Jesus is traveling, as they follow Satan (AKA “the ruler of the kingdom of the air.”) Do you really believe there is a creature called Satan? Is Satan really roaming around this world to tempt those who moderately claim to be followers of Jesus Christ? Remember, Satan does not need to worry about people who have chosen to follow some human being other than Jesus Christ! He also does not need to try to pry someone away who has committed their life to being a true follower of Jesus Christ!
Satan does still tempt even the true followers of Jesus Christ, because such temptation causes us to not be effective in fulfilling the Great Commission, thus Satan is successful in allowing seekers to fall into the trap of following some person or group of common human beings to their death in this world, and to end up in the Lake of Fire! Where will your eternal soul spend eternity? Where will your friend’s and relatives’ eternal souls spend eternity? No! Not every “good” person will go to heaven, because God so loves us that He will overlook their sinful nature! God sent His only Son into this world to allow the salvation of everyone’s soul, through the grace Jesus purchased for all of mankind. However, someone must tell them about this saving grace!
After the verses selected for this commentary, Paul wrote more to the Ephesians, and us, about how they (we) who continue to follow the ways of Satan’s world will miss out on the grace Jesus died to obtain for all of mankind. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:3-5) Make no mistake, “doing good” in this world will NOT save your eternal soul, and cause you to go to heaven when you die. You can only follow Jesus there!
Do not be like Thomas, and claim to not know the way to heaven! As Jesus told Thomas, you can know the way, and you better believe it is the only way! And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:3-6) Jesus said, “No-one comes to the Father except through me.” Could Jesus make it any clearer, but many people still want there to be a way for that “good” non-believer to go to heaven anyway!
What do you really believe; do you believe Jesus, or Satan? You can be sure you are going to heaven when you die! Jesus paid your airfare to heaven when He died for your sins, in your place, so you do not have to do “good works” or anything good to go to heaven, but you MUST follow Jesus there, because there is no other way! When Jesus came to this earth as a man/God, he set in place a plan that was devised, immediately after Adam bit that forbidden fruit, to offer salvation through the grace of God! Some people think this is unfair grace, as it is the only way salvation can be earned now that Jesus came! How do you feel about this situation? Really, think about it!
Was it possible for salvation to be earned before Jesus came? Certainly you may receive different answers to this difficult question, if posed to followers of Jesus whom you respect, so consider my answer as a possible correct answer. In the Old Testament we read how God selected the Israelites as His chosen people, and as such He gave them many rules, and also the Ten Commandments. I have come to believe that the people, who chose to follow the commands from God, were or could have been saved. A small example is given by God through the profit Micah. No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8, NLT)
However, do not overlook the fact that no one who died during the OT times could have been sure of their salvation, as of yet, no Savoir had died for their sins, thus guaranteeing their salvation. We now living in the NT times can be absolutely sure, because of the grace Jesus purchased for you (us)! This is farther made clear by the Rapture of the souls of the believers who have claimed the grace offered by Jesus on their behalf. Living today assures you of salvation through His suffering and death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus into heaven. Breathe easy; you have been saved, if of course, you have chosen to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior! Now that is “Good News!”
Now that is the “Good News” you’ve been “Great Commissioned” to go tell! If having Jesus in your life has improved it, go tell someone about how it is better!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Ephesians 2:1-2 (NIV)
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
As for you—you were dead—when you followed (follow) the ways of this world—and the ruler of the kingdom of the air! You must admit, Paul isn’t beating around the bush here, is he? Paul is putting in context the path that everyone who does not follow Jesus is traveling, as they follow Satan (AKA “the ruler of the kingdom of the air.”) Do you really believe there is a creature called Satan? Is Satan really roaming around this world to tempt those who moderately claim to be followers of Jesus Christ? Remember, Satan does not need to worry about people who have chosen to follow some human being other than Jesus Christ! He also does not need to try to pry someone away who has committed their life to being a true follower of Jesus Christ!
Satan does still tempt even the true followers of Jesus Christ, because such temptation causes us to not be effective in fulfilling the Great Commission, thus Satan is successful in allowing seekers to fall into the trap of following some person or group of common human beings to their death in this world, and to end up in the Lake of Fire! Where will your eternal soul spend eternity? Where will your friend’s and relatives’ eternal souls spend eternity? No! Not every “good” person will go to heaven, because God so loves us that He will overlook their sinful nature! God sent His only Son into this world to allow the salvation of everyone’s soul, through the grace Jesus purchased for all of mankind. However, someone must tell them about this saving grace!
After the verses selected for this commentary, Paul wrote more to the Ephesians, and us, about how they (we) who continue to follow the ways of Satan’s world will miss out on the grace Jesus died to obtain for all of mankind. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:3-5) Make no mistake, “doing good” in this world will NOT save your eternal soul, and cause you to go to heaven when you die. You can only follow Jesus there!
Do not be like Thomas, and claim to not know the way to heaven! As Jesus told Thomas, you can know the way, and you better believe it is the only way! And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:3-6) Jesus said, “No-one comes to the Father except through me.” Could Jesus make it any clearer, but many people still want there to be a way for that “good” non-believer to go to heaven anyway!
What do you really believe; do you believe Jesus, or Satan? You can be sure you are going to heaven when you die! Jesus paid your airfare to heaven when He died for your sins, in your place, so you do not have to do “good works” or anything good to go to heaven, but you MUST follow Jesus there, because there is no other way! When Jesus came to this earth as a man/God, he set in place a plan that was devised, immediately after Adam bit that forbidden fruit, to offer salvation through the grace of God! Some people think this is unfair grace, as it is the only way salvation can be earned now that Jesus came! How do you feel about this situation? Really, think about it!
Was it possible for salvation to be earned before Jesus came? Certainly you may receive different answers to this difficult question, if posed to followers of Jesus whom you respect, so consider my answer as a possible correct answer. In the Old Testament we read how God selected the Israelites as His chosen people, and as such He gave them many rules, and also the Ten Commandments. I have come to believe that the people, who chose to follow the commands from God, were or could have been saved. A small example is given by God through the profit Micah. No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8, NLT)
However, do not overlook the fact that no one who died during the OT times could have been sure of their salvation, as of yet, no Savoir had died for their sins, thus guaranteeing their salvation. We now living in the NT times can be absolutely sure, because of the grace Jesus purchased for you (us)! This is farther made clear by the Rapture of the souls of the believers who have claimed the grace offered by Jesus on their behalf. Living today assures you of salvation through His suffering and death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus into heaven. Breathe easy; you have been saved, if of course, you have chosen to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior! Now that is “Good News!”
Now that is the “Good News” you’ve been “Great Commissioned” to go tell! If having Jesus in your life has improved it, go tell someone about how it is better!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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