Sunday, June 28, 2020

Has Jesus Promised to Make His Followers Rich?

Deuteronomy 28 may be used to make the case for God's promise of material prosperity to his people, but that was part of the Old Covenant. In any case, these promises of blessings did not apply to anyone who was rebellious, sinning or backslidden in any way. Curses were laid out right alongside those blessings for people who would forsake God and break his commandments (sin). He forsakes those who forsake Him (2 Chronicles 15:2b).

One thing Jesus promised to his followers in the New Covenant is that their needs would be taken care of if they are living for Him, so they wouldn't have to worry (Matthew 6:24-34). But most today have their trust in money, in their bank account, in their job, rather than in God. So, trusting God for basic needs is an area most know nothing about apart from having a job, savings or some kind of income.   

There is no promise of material wealth to a Christian but of a life of spiritual abundance that comes by doing God's will out of a faith that works through love (John 14:15; Galatians 5:6; Matthew 6:1-4, 19-21; John 10:9-10;
Romans 2:7).  

Of course God can bless someone with material wealth to help or, in general, to do good to others, but never for the sake of being rich according to the world's standards. Having no money cannot stop any servant of God from doing exactly what God has called that person to do in his service (Acts 3:6, 2 Corinthians 6:10, Revelation 2:9).  

Read also about blessings in Matthew 5:3-12, James 1:12, and Acts 3:26. Being saved from sin is the blessing Jesus gives to those who give their lives to Him! So, if someone does not have that freedom from sin (John 8:34-36, Romans 6:7, 16-18), there is no point in chasing anything else that may be considered a "blessing." The grace of God that brings salvation teaches how to say 'No' to sin (Titus 2:11-14, Romans 6:12-15), and someone who has that power from God is richer in God's eyes than someone who is still sinning and may be a millionaire but heading to eternal death because of sin (Romans 6:23).

Being a "rich" servant of God (having material wealth), if God has a purpose in that for the person, comes with great responsibility and accountability toward God also (1 John 3:16-23, James 2:1-9, Matthew 25:14–30,
Luke 12:13-21). God will judge each one as much for the things done (good or evil) as for the good things not done when He had given the means to do them. 

There are also dangers in having a wrong relationship with money, being either rich or poor (Matthew 6:24, 1 Timothy 6:3-10). Being greedy (wa
nting to be rich or ever richer), can also breed pride and selfishness. That is a destructive temptation to succumb to (1 John 2:15-17, Matthew 4:8-9), and is not a sign of loving God or of even having a saving relationship with Him. Jesus has warned against greed (Luke 12:15), which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5), but false ministers who equate the blessings of God with money will never point that out.  
 

See also:




Saved From Greed


 
 


Saturday, June 27, 2020

Once Saved Always Saved is a Lie

Once Saved Always Saved promises one-sided faithfulness to maintain a relationship. Who regards his/her spouse or marriage that way? Love goes two ways. Those who don't love that don't love God. The one-way love God has shown to us is in offering his Son to die for us while we were still sinners, his enemies (Romans 5:6-8). The purpose is to get us to respond to that love and be reconciled to Him. That is how we begin our relationship with Him. And because we love Him, we must practice his love language, which is obedience.

How to return God's love to begin with and be in a relationship with Him:
James 4:8
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Sinners who have their mind set on their sins they love don't love God and have not answered the call to repentance. They have not surrendered their lives to God. Such can't even be considered "once saved," so forget about "always saved," but they can believe lies and be deceived.

People who believe OSAS is true are asleep and likely cannot name one false prophet/minister/preacher in this day. They are following them and believing their lies.

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

Jesus said that. So, some say "If you don't keep my commandments, it doesn't matter... it's optional..."

In marriage, for instance, would you say faithfulness is optional to your spouse? Do you say that for yourself? God expects faithfulness from his servants. A new creature in Christ can't be selfish in his/her relationship with Jesus, or salvation isn't understood and there is no salvation or a new creature in Christ to actually speak of.

John 15:9-10
9 Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love.

Understand where love comes into one's faith. Then make sure you have that love for God because you shipwreck your faith if you turn to sin and think God has got you covered with an OSAS insurance policy.

Galatians 5:6
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works through love.

Here are believers, people who called Jesus "Lord" but were doing their own thing. Jesus asked them:
Luke 6:46
"Why do you call me, 'Lord! Lord!' and do not do the things which I say?"

If Jesus would ask you that (because you are not loving Him as He expects it of you), would you be ready for an answer?

No true believer can ignore this:
Mark 12:30
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment.

And again, "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15).



See also:
Saved From What?

Can You Lose Your Salvation?


Eternal Security - Once Saved Always Saved - Heresy
 

"Am I Saved?" Why Do You Ask?










Friday, June 19, 2020

The Mark of the Beast - No Forced Worship


Forced worship isn't true worship. And even Satan, the father of lies and the master of deception isn't interested in fake worship. He has a stake in people who are saying, in their thoughts and in their actions, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?" (Revelation 13:4). Such people have nothing forced on them to be speaking like that. They bear the mark of the beast and speak like that wholeheartedly.

Revelation 13:15-17*
15 And he [the second beast] had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, except he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

*Note that the book of Revelation shows prophecy using many symbols.

If you are worshipping God, you are already not worshipping the beast nor bearing his mark. And if you don't plan on changing your heart from worshipping God, there is no (future) mark of the beast you have to worry about. That mark is a spiritual identification mark that signifies who you belong to. It's not something that's coming and that could trick you into becoming a worshiper of the beast. And it's not a question of being told to worship the beast or get killed. Those who do not worship the beast are already on the beast's hit list and they suffer in the world that hates them (John 15:19-20).

So, if you're with the beast, you have his mark. If not, you don't. But let no one be casual about having a relationship with God and be making assumptions. That's a sure way to be and to remain deceived.

God's worshipers receive a mark or seal, too:
Revelation 7:2-3
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.

2 Timothy 2:19
However God's firm foundation stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness."

People who are serving God already know which kingdom they belong to. They know they belong to the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ rather than the kingdom of darkness.

Colossians 1:13
For He [God] has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son

1 John 5:18-19
18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the power of the wicked one.

Romans 8:9
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.


Us, we, you... Please read these scriptures in their context to know who they are talking about and avoid misappropriations.

The choice to worship God or the devil has already been put before mankind:
Joshua 24:14-15a
14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth: and put away [ALL IDOLS] the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River, and in Egypt; and serve you the LORD. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom you will serve;


This speaks of those who have chosen to answer the call of the Gospel to repentance and faith in Jesus (Acts 20:20-21, Acts 26:19-20) and have turned away from idols to worship the one true God:
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
9 For they themselves show of us what manner of welcome we had unto you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come.


Having been redeemed, you know that no special ceremony was needed to sell your soul to the devil when you belonged to him. Being a sinner made you the devil's asset. But because Jesus paid the price to purchase you with his blood (1 Corinthians 6:20), you can have an inheritance in God's kingdom and not perish.

Servants of God look forward to meet Jesus. They do not prepare to face the beast and his mark — and it's not because of their escape through a pre-tribulation rapture.



See also:




Call To Repentance


The Goal of Repentance