The Jesus Train

The opportunity to get out of Sodom before fire rains down or to enter Noah's ark before the flood is passing by you today, like a long long long freight train, going slow enough for you to hop on board. But you won't recognize it or pay it any mind. Why? Because it's Jesus that you are refusing to see for who He is. You know about Jesus, that's not the issue. But you don't recognize Him as the Lamb of God who sacrificed his life for you so that He could be your Savior. You would have to believe that you need to be saved from something to begin with. And that gets us talking about your sins, something that has the potential to shatter your "good" self-image. But facing the truth is the only way for you, even being like a camel, to go through the eye of a needle, because God makes that possible when you humble yourself before Him and offer Him a heart that is ready to obey Him in all.

Matthew 7:13-14
13 Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it. 14 But narrow is the gate, and narrow/constricted is the way that leads to [eternal] life and few are those who find it.

You don't like the freight train analogy for Jesus? The truth is that you are already on a luxury train to destruction, as part of the biggest slave trade that's going on in this world right now, and it has nothing to do with your ethnicity or social status. Being a slave of sin, and by proxy, a servant of Satan, doing his will for you on earth rather than God's, that's what Jesus saves you from.

John 8:31-36

31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be made free?’” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 A slave does not live in the house forever. A son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Jesus commissioning the apostle Paul:

Acts 26:15-21

15 “I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But arise, and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you a servant and a witness both of the things which you have seen, and of the things which I will reveal to you; 17 delivering you from the people, and from the non-Jews, to whom I send you, 18 to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ 19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the non-Jews, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple, and tried to kill me.

The cost of following Jesus/being his disciple is your most valuable possession: your life. You have heard of giving one's life to Jesus. Well, that's it. There are phony ways of doing that too that cost you nothing, but God isn't fooled by that. So, see to it that you don't get deceived nor deceive yourself. Dig for the truth like gold, don't just sleep to the voice of a well-spoken preacher (that's not striving to enter through the narrow door).

Luke 13:24

Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in, and will not be able.

What narrow door? Who are not able to enter? Why? How do you strive to enter since Jesus said you must do that? Be on a quest to understand these things and that will be your path to connecting essential dots and heeding God's guidance by the light of his word. Otherwise, you won't be a disciple of Jesus and you will be walking in darkness and heading to destruction by default.

John 8:12

Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

See also:
Freedom From Sin

Is Repentance Just a Change of Mind?
 
Suffer The Cross To Overcome Addictions

Bible Study on Sin

The Great Tribulation

Distinction Between the Righteous (Saints) and the Wicked (Sinners)

Malachi 3:16-18

16 Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. 17 And they shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him. 18 Then shall you return, and discern between the righteous (just) and the wicked (sinner), between him that serves God and him that does not serve Him.

Today, no practical distinction is made between the righteous and the wicked in most Christian literature and teaching. "We are all sinners" is the mantra, before and after what can be called coming to Jesus or salvation, from the minister on down. Yet sinners cannot be called "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14) because they are not. They are walking in darkness (John 8:12) because they are sinners and falling short of the glory of God, not followers of Jesus. They are called to repent and be converted (Acts 3:19). That's the basis to get God's forgiveness and a new slate to start a relationship with God as a transformed (converted) person. 

Jesus says this about those who are formerly sinners and presently righteous because they have repented and have become obedient to God:

John 17:22-23

22 And the glory which you gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23  I in them, and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them, as you have loved me.

Romans 3:23 "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" is no longer speaking for them, because Romans 3:24 is their experience indeed by faith, upon answering the call of the Gospel: they have been "justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

They are called the "just" or "righteous." In the parable of the sheep and the goats, they are simply  called "the righteous" (verse 37):

Matthew 25:31-40

31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32  Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33  He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34  Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35  for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. 36  I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’ 37  “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? 38  When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? 39  When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’ 40  “The King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

They have left their life of sin as they have answered the Gospel's call to repent to be saved:

Luke 5:31-32

31 Jesus answered them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Luke 15:7

I say to you, that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons, who need no repentance.

Alert: There is a false teaching that ignores the reality of being righteous altogether and gives the understanding that repentance is a daily endeavor like sin is an unavoidable thing that goes on daily, even deliberate commission of the same sin. These words of Jesus are not understood: 

John 8:34-36

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35  A slave does not live in the house forever. A son remains forever. 36  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

Matthew 5:29-30

29 And if your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to go into hell.

In the end, Jesus will usher into his eternal kingdom the righteous and holy, those He has freed from sin/justified (made righteous) and sanctified (made holy so as to be called saints) through their faith in Him, which they have maintained to the end:

Revelation 22:11-12

11 The one being unrighteous, let him be unrighteous still; and he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he who is righteous, let him do righteousness still; and he who is holy, let him be holy still.” 12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to each as is his work.

An alternate translation of Revelation 22, verse 12, says:

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to each one according to what he has done."

So, under false teachings, the preaching to get saved isn't about opening people's eyes, turning them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so they can be sanctified by their faith in (trust in and obedience to) Jesus (Acts 26:18)! Let's call it what it is: a satanic "gospel" that twists the truth and saves no one. So, people keep on struggling in their sins and get to think that's the normal Christian experience. That's sad, because countless are calling themselves Christians and don't understand what Jesus is supposed to have done for them on the cross. 

Matthew 1:21

And she will bring forth a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.

Acts 3:26

God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent Him to you first, to bless you, in turning away everyone of you from your wickedness.

wickedness = sin = iniquity = unrighteousness

So, when the false teacher again says, "there is no one righteous, no, not one" out of Romans 3:10, ask him/her to read it in context (Romans 3:11-18) and see if what is said (it's quoting from Psalm 14) can possibly be talking about a "born again" new creature in Christ — a saint. If that is what the person believes, then it means there is no power of the cross to save in what that person believes and preaches. We need to be alert and aware of these things. This is not a time to blindly trust a preacher and not study the scriptures. That time never was. Wake up to righteousness and do not sin!

1 Corinthians 15:34

Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

See also:

Are we All Sinners?

Is There No One Righteous (Romans 3:10)?

Who is the man struggling in Romans 7?

Are You an Ex-Sinner Calling yourself a Sinner?

The Bible speaks about the wicked (sinners) and the righteous (saints)

Who is Hebrews 10:26 speaking to?

Freedom From Sin

The Great Tribulation 

The desire of the righteous is only good,

But the expectation of the wicked is wrath. - Proverbs 11:23

Jesus vs False Teachers

The Goal of Repentance

Romans 10:9 Salvation

Romans 10:9
That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.

That must be read in context. But amen! That means turning away from unrighteousness (2 Timothy 2:19, James 1:21) -- that's repentance, and becoming obedient to Jesus in all (James 1:22, Luke 6:46, Matthew 7:21) -- that's faith. 

Hebrews 5:9
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him

Acts 20:20-21

And [you know] how I did not hold back from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus.

Picture by FotoRieth from Pixabay.com.

The context of that verse (Romans 10:9) refers to Deuteronomy 30 that calls to obedience to God. But when this believing in Romans 10:9 is disconnected from the call to obey God, that is a deceptive use of the scriptures. That one verse is not the gospel when it is twisted that way and believing is just a mental agreement to those facts that Jesus is the Son of God who died for the sins of the world and was raised from the dead. A person can believe all those things but not actually regard Jesus' words as commandments to obey from the heart (Romans 10:10) and never hears about nor understands the call to repentance. There won't be salvation based on Romans 10:9 in that case.

Deuteronomy 30:11-14
1 For this commandment which I command you this day, it is not hidden from you, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it to us, that we may HEAR it, and DO it? 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, that we may HEAR it, and DO it? 14 But the word is very near to you, in your mouth, and in your heart, that you may DO it.

Here is Romans 10:5-9
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, "The one who DOES them [the works of the Law] will live by them." 6 But the righteousness which is of faith says this, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' (that is, to bring Christ down); 7 or, 'Who will descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)" 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;" that is, the word of faith, which we preach: 9 that if you shall confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved (you shall live by doing these things).

So, if someone believes that Jesus is Lord, then that person will hear and obey Him (not the works of the Law). And it's the obedience of that person from the heart that proves he/she truly believes that Jesus is Lord. So, anyone who is introduced to what Romans 10:9 says should also be reminded of these words of Jesus:

Luke 6:46-49
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not DO the things which I say? 47 Everyone who comes to me, and HEARS my words, and DOES them, I will show you who he is like. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep, and laid a foundation on the rock. When a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it was founded on the rock. 49 But he who HEARS, and DOESN'T DO, is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

Matthew 7:21
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who DOES the will of My Father who is in heaven.

John 14:15
“If you love me, keep my commandments."

John 12:48
He who rejects me, and does not receive my words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

We know that faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). And that hearing for those who have ears to hear then must be followed by their doing of that word (putting it into practice/obeying God's commandments). So, no one can be saved with Romans 10:9 without being a disciple of Jesus who receives his words and walks according to his words:

John 8:31-32
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 15:10
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

Knowing Romans 10:9 alone then saves no one. But if a person agrees with Jesus and receives his words, then his understanding and application of Romans 10:9 will without doubt bring him to salvation in Jesus Christ.

James 1:21-22
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But BE DOERS OF THE WORD, AND NOT HEARERS ONLY, DECEIVING YOUR OWN SELVES.
 
Faith Inplies Obedience (disobedience is unbelief).

This is the rest of Romans 10 that makes it amply clear that faith implies obedience:
Romans 10:8-21
8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;" that is, the word of faith, which we preach: 9 that if you shall confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. 10 For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture says, Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But THEY HAVE NOT ALL OBEYED THE GOSPEL. For Isaiah says, Lord, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT? 17 So then FAITH comes by HEARING, and hearing by the WORD OF GOD. 18 But I say, HAVE THEY NOT HEARD? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. 19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses says, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. 20 But Isaiah is very bold, and says, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21 But to Israel he says, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a DISOBEDIENT and gainsaying people.

Lastly, the following is also one way Jesus' apostles knew Him and presented Him to people they preached to: a prophet whose coming was announced since Moses' time. Those who knew the scriptures made no mistake on his identity. He was a prophet whose words should be heard and obeyed, lest the people perish in their sins!

Acts 3:22-26
22  For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 23  AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT EVERY SOUL, WHICH WILL NOT HEAR THAT PROPHET, SHALL BE DESTROYED FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE. 24  Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. 25  You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in your seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 26  Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

That is hardly how people regard Jesus when they are shown Romans 10:9 to get saved. Most who hear from preachers who use Romans 10:9 deceitfully and skip repentance altogether don't obey Jesus and turn from their iniquities. So, Jesus doesn't do for them what He came to do for them either because they are believing lies.

« Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. » – 2 Timothy 2:19


See also:
Faith Implies Obedience

The Salvation of the Thief Who Was on the Cross

"Coming as you are" to God does imply a changed heart   

The Goal of Repentance - video

Faith in Jesus

Free doesn't mean easy

Complete Surrender - video

The work of the Gospel

The Great Tribulation

"The Great Tribulation" is a deceitful concept inasmuch as it is made to line up with the false teaching of a pre-tribulation rapture of believers that will leave unbelievers bewildered as they themselves face that "Great Tribulation."

There will be a time of tribulation for followers of Jesus that will be like never before for sure. That's what Jesus said (Matthew 24:21). But tribulation is guaranteed in this world from day one of being a disciple of Jesus. Jesus spoke these words to his disciples: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

So, an experience of no acquaintance with tribulation coupled with an expectation of necessarily escaping a future time of great tribulation is to be carefully examined by any person professing to be a Christian (2 Corinthians 13:5). A follower of Jesus will partake in his sufferings (1 Peter 4:12-14, 2 Timothy 3:12, 2 Thessalonians 1:3-7). If that’s not happening, he/she should cry out to God to find out what’s wrong.

Christians have to overcome the world like Jesus overcame the world. That ought to be their focus rather than escaping great tribulation because they fear it:
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Revelation
2:7b
To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
2:11b
He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.
2:17b
To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows except he that receives it.
2:26-28
26 And he that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star.
3:5
He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
3:12
Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
3:21
To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

1 John 5:4
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith.

Revelation 2:7b, 2:11b, 2:17b, 2:26-28, 3:5, 3:12, 3:21, 1 John 5:4.

Concerning the tribulation that will precede the 2nd coming of Jesus, He told this to his followers:
Luke 21:36
Watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
 
Does escaping all these things mean being raptured out the earth to not have to face them, or not being overcome by them/being kept safe through them¹ (serious question)? Study, pray, fast, and get clear answers from God. Don't be satisfied to follow a man/woman and what he/she has understood. Do not lean on your own understanding either, and by all means, be ready to stand before the Son of man.

1. cf. John 17:15, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, Revelation 3:10

See also:
Trials and Tribulations

Trust Check (scriptures to strengthen your trust in God) (YouTube video)

Coming of Jesus (Bible Study)

Tribulation Saints (Bible Study)   

The Mark of the Beast - No Forced Worship

The Man of Sin or Antichrist

Difference Between the Wrath of God and the Great Tribulation

The Gospel Is Not "Don't Take the Mark of the Beast." It's "Repent."

Original picture by EliasSch on Pixabay.com.