November 5th 2023
As a Follower Of Jesus Christ, You Will Go To Heaven When You Die!
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no-one can boast.
Many people seem to think that they are good enough to go to heaven when they die, and the good deeds they do provide evidence for them. We can know we are going to heaven when we die, but it has nothing to do with how good we may be in this lifetime. The only Way to go to heaven when you die is by claiming your salvation through what Jesus Christ did in this cursed world! As the writer of Acts puts it, “Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).
Our world seems to be becoming more violent every day, and thus, a more dangerous place to live. The biggest problem it seems is that people do not want to conform to any form of a legal system. Too many people object to being directed by other human beings. I would rather do it myself is a common attitude in the USA, and the basis for this attitude is the belief that I know what is best for me, so I will not take advice from anyone! We can observe this lawlessness by just getting into your car and driving on any highway. Literally everyone is speeding and driving like the road belongs to them! Breaking the speed limit is just an easy example, as it is always available to observe, you just need to drive and observe.
The influence of a Christian lifestyle is missing more currently than it had been even in the recent past. As fewer people regularly attend a church of their choice, the more we see uneducated people defining their own idea of a lifestyle. Disobedient lifestyles lead people to try and develop a plan for how to live their life based only on their own opinion of right and wrong. Everything they do is self-centered, and often embellished by using drugs and/or alcohol to help them feel justified with whatever they do!
Many people today take pride in doing things they, down deep, know are a sinful pursuit. Parades are often organized to honor some great accomplishment or to honor heroes who have given their lives to protect our country. Or sometimes a parade will be organized to honor our favorite team that just won a tournament or the world series. Some parades are formed to honor a lifestyle that the Bible seems to indicate is not approved by God. Currently parades are being created by a group of people that express hatred for another people group, or because they have a different form of government.
Since Jesus came into this world and His followers formed a group called Christians, there has always been people who disliked these people, and such people tried to dissuade people from becoming Christians. Some groups that obtained earthly power have tried to disperse Christians from attending worship services, and they have killed Christians without being penalized for such murders. Sorry to be writing such sad truths in this commentary today. Our world seems to be on a collision path with wars being fought on a large scale in two places for very different reasons.
Now let me get back to a point of view that is based on my Christian beliefs, which makes this world be acknowledged as a temporary place where we must spend our mortal life. We believe there is better place for our immortal soul to go to when it is decided by Jesus Christ that our time here should end. As followers of Jesus Christ, we will go to heaven when we die! While we are still living in this cursed world, we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves! If everyone would follow Jesus Christ in this world there would be no wars!
Let us think about such a place as it is coming quickly, and maybe it is coming soon. John wrote about how, if we love God/Jesus we will obey His commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:3-5). Did you get that comment about overcoming this world? This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
Are you a believing Christian? Then be happy in Jesus! I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13). More of the promises of Jesus! For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23). Your salvation is a free gift, you earned it by your faith!
Jesus Christ is holding the universe together until He decides to end this world and replace it with heaven! For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:16-17).
Do not try to conform to this cursed world, but just prepare for the new world that has been promised. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2). This world is going to cease to be, but you are not going to cease to be, as your immortal soul is on the narrow path that leads to heaven!
If you have not already done so, choose a church of your choice and then attend it regularly. You may be the piece that church needs to be as complete as it can be in this cursed world! Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. (Romans 12:4-6a). Go be with likeminded people as often as you can if/while you are still able. If you are no longer able to attend, remember Jesus is always available to you and the Holy Spirit is ready to indwell all believers.
We each must decide if we are going to join with the evil inhabitants in this cursed world or if we will be part of the saved people who want to love their neighbor as they love themselves. First you must love yourself before you can genuinely love others. Jesus brought salvation through love into this world, and it was meant for everyone, but most people do not have the faith to believe it. Do You? Those who truly love God desire to obey His commands, and thus, they will someday end up with Jesus in heaven. Where is your immortal soul going to end up?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no-one can boast.
Many people seem to think that they are good enough to go to heaven when they die, and the good deeds they do provide evidence for them. We can know we are going to heaven when we die, but it has nothing to do with how good we may be in this lifetime. The only Way to go to heaven when you die is by claiming your salvation through what Jesus Christ did in this cursed world! As the writer of Acts puts it, “Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).
Our world seems to be becoming more violent every day, and thus, a more dangerous place to live. The biggest problem it seems is that people do not want to conform to any form of a legal system. Too many people object to being directed by other human beings. I would rather do it myself is a common attitude in the USA, and the basis for this attitude is the belief that I know what is best for me, so I will not take advice from anyone! We can observe this lawlessness by just getting into your car and driving on any highway. Literally everyone is speeding and driving like the road belongs to them! Breaking the speed limit is just an easy example, as it is always available to observe, you just need to drive and observe.
The influence of a Christian lifestyle is missing more currently than it had been even in the recent past. As fewer people regularly attend a church of their choice, the more we see uneducated people defining their own idea of a lifestyle. Disobedient lifestyles lead people to try and develop a plan for how to live their life based only on their own opinion of right and wrong. Everything they do is self-centered, and often embellished by using drugs and/or alcohol to help them feel justified with whatever they do!
Many people today take pride in doing things they, down deep, know are a sinful pursuit. Parades are often organized to honor some great accomplishment or to honor heroes who have given their lives to protect our country. Or sometimes a parade will be organized to honor our favorite team that just won a tournament or the world series. Some parades are formed to honor a lifestyle that the Bible seems to indicate is not approved by God. Currently parades are being created by a group of people that express hatred for another people group, or because they have a different form of government.
Since Jesus came into this world and His followers formed a group called Christians, there has always been people who disliked these people, and such people tried to dissuade people from becoming Christians. Some groups that obtained earthly power have tried to disperse Christians from attending worship services, and they have killed Christians without being penalized for such murders. Sorry to be writing such sad truths in this commentary today. Our world seems to be on a collision path with wars being fought on a large scale in two places for very different reasons.
Now let me get back to a point of view that is based on my Christian beliefs, which makes this world be acknowledged as a temporary place where we must spend our mortal life. We believe there is better place for our immortal soul to go to when it is decided by Jesus Christ that our time here should end. As followers of Jesus Christ, we will go to heaven when we die! While we are still living in this cursed world, we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves! If everyone would follow Jesus Christ in this world there would be no wars!
Let us think about such a place as it is coming quickly, and maybe it is coming soon. John wrote about how, if we love God/Jesus we will obey His commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:3-5). Did you get that comment about overcoming this world? This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
Are you a believing Christian? Then be happy in Jesus! I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13). More of the promises of Jesus! For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23). Your salvation is a free gift, you earned it by your faith!
Jesus Christ is holding the universe together until He decides to end this world and replace it with heaven! For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:16-17).
Do not try to conform to this cursed world, but just prepare for the new world that has been promised. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2). This world is going to cease to be, but you are not going to cease to be, as your immortal soul is on the narrow path that leads to heaven!
If you have not already done so, choose a church of your choice and then attend it regularly. You may be the piece that church needs to be as complete as it can be in this cursed world! Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. (Romans 12:4-6a). Go be with likeminded people as often as you can if/while you are still able. If you are no longer able to attend, remember Jesus is always available to you and the Holy Spirit is ready to indwell all believers.
We each must decide if we are going to join with the evil inhabitants in this cursed world or if we will be part of the saved people who want to love their neighbor as they love themselves. First you must love yourself before you can genuinely love others. Jesus brought salvation through love into this world, and it was meant for everyone, but most people do not have the faith to believe it. Do You? Those who truly love God desire to obey His commands, and thus, they will someday end up with Jesus in heaven. Where is your immortal soul going to end up?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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