[Biblemat] X-SPAM A Lesson, Who's To Blame If You Are Lost?

Sat Jan 27 14:18:37 CST 2007

Whose To Blame If You Are Lost?
(1). What if God really does exist?
(2). What if the Bible really is His infallible word?
(3). What if your soul will survive the death of the body?
(4). What if He really intends to punish the disobedient?
(5). What if He really intends to reward the obedient?
(6). What if Hell is just as real as is Heaven?
(7). What about your soul and those of your offspring?
(8). What if Jesus really is the Son of God Almighty?
(9). What if Jesus died for your sins and mine?
(10). What if He really did arise from the dead?
(11). What if He is coming again at the end of this age?
(12). I believe every fact stated above! Do you?
Who's To Blame If You Are Lost?
One thing for sure, you cannot lay the blame on God! He has made every
provision for the salvation of the soul of every man, woman, and child of
accountable age (John 3:16-17; Romans 5:6-8; Hebrews 2:9;Titus 2:11-14).
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did
not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world
through Him might be saved" (John 3:16-17).
"For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the
ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a
good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love
toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans
5:6-8). "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for
the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace
of God, might taste death for everyone" (Hebrews 2:9).
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed
hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who
gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and
purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works" (Titus
2:11-14-NKJV).
You Can't Blame Our Lord Jesus Christ
Paul said the following by divine inspiration: "This is a faithful saying
and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners, of whom I am chief" (1 Timothy 1:15 NKJV). Do your recall the sad
words of Jesus as He spoke of His own people in the flesh, Israel? "Oh
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, ...how often would I have gathered your children
together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not
willing" (Matthew 23:37)! 
As was prophesied, He died a cruel death by crucifixion, paying the penalty
for your and my sins (Isaiah 53:1-12).
The amazing and wonderful thing, is, He did it willingly! It was no accident
 He came with that mission in mind (Philippians 2:5-11; John 10:14-18). This
was for both Jews and Gentiles as was also prophesied (Isaiah 2:1-4; Acts
2:17).
The gospel which is "God's power to save" (Romans 1:16-17), consists of
facts which must be believed as well as commandments which must be obeyed to
become a recipient of the blessings promised. Paul wrote to the Corinthians
thus: "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to
you, which also you have received and in which you stand, by which you are
saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you have
believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also
received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and
that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the
Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that
He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part
remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen
by James, then by all the apostles. And last of all He was seen by me also,
as of one born out of due time" (1 Corinthians 15:1-8).
"God Wants All To Be Saved.."
(2 Timothy 2:1-4)
We have observed that God's grace has been given to all men (Titus 2:11-14).
We have observed that Christ tasted death for every man (Hebrews 2:9). We
have seen that the gospel is God's power to save (Romans 1:16-17). Then we
observed that the Corinthians were saved by this gospel (1 Corinthians
15:1-8). When and how were they saved by the gospel? This question is
answered in (Acts 18:8). This is in keeping with the "Great Commission" as
given by Jesus just before His return to the Father's right hand enthroned.
In reading the Acts of the apostles we learn how and when folks were saved
by the gospel. Few, said Jesus, will enter the strait gate and walk the
narrow way leading to life eternal (Matthew 7:13-14). Who are those "few?"
It happens to be those who "obey the gospel of Christ" (2 Thessalonians
1:6-9; 1 Peter 1:22-25). Now the "when" were the Corinthians saved? "And
Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his
household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized"
(Acts 18:8). This is the answer as to the "when" they were saved. Turn and
read the "Great Commission" passages before you continue (Matthew 28:18-20;
Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:45-49). All of these show conclusively that man must
be "obedient" in order to become a recipient of the blessings found only "in
Christ."
"All Spiritual Blessings Are In Christ"
(Ephesians 1:3)
Since every spiritual blessing is found "in Christ," then the logical
question at this point should be, how does one come into the spiritual
condition referred to as being "in Christ?" That is a great question. Paul
answers it in writing to the Romans as he includes himself along with them
reminding them "how" they got into this relationship as well as he, saying, 
...Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall
we who died to sin live any longer therein? Or do you not know that as many
of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, that just as Christ
was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should
walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness
of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection
 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin
might be done away with, that we should no longer serve sin" (Romans 6:2-6).
There is no promise of the blessings found "in Christ" for those who have
not (1). Died to sin. (2). Been buried in the watery grave of baptism. (3).
Arisen to walk in newness of life. This shows the need to "obey the gospel."

When Was Their Relationship Changed?
(Romans 6:17-18)
"But God be thanked that though you were servants of sin, yet you have
obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And
having been set free from sin, you became servants of righteousness."
At the same instant one comes into this saved relationship "in Christ," one
is numbered among the saved in the church, the kingdom of Christ. This is
clearly seen when one reads what happened on the birthday of Christ's church
(Acts 2:22-38, 40-41, 47). Then in what Paul wrote in (Colossians 1;13-14)
about a deliverance from the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of Jesus
Christ. He also spoke of being "reconciled unto God in one body by the cross
" (Ephesians 2;13,16). Later in the Ephesian letter we learn that God is
only glorified by Christ "in the church" that His blood purchased (Eph. 3:21
 5:23,25). 
When Jesus Comes Again
Yes, Jesus is coming again. He will never set foot on the earth when He
comes. No, his glorified bride, His blood bought church, will rise to meet
Him "in the air." Paul says "and so shall we ever be" (1 Thessalonians
4:13-18). He is coming not only to receive His bride, the church (Ephesians
5:27), but also to deliver the kingdom to the Father in heaven (1
Corinthians 15:23-24). He is also coming to meet out the suitable punishment
to those who have rejected His many overtures of love and grace, all who
have not "obeyed the gospel." 
"Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who
trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord
Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking
vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These will be punished with everlasting
destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired
among all those who believe, because our testimony was believed" ( 2
Thessalonians 1:6-10). 
What About You & Yours My Friend?
God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit have made your salvation possible by Christ
in the one body His blood purchased by the gospel. Have you obeyed? Are you
faithful ? Let us help.

Kenneth E. Thomas
Pekin church of Christ
1451 Valle Vista Blvd.
Pekin, IL 61554
1 (309) 347-3582 - Office
1 (309) 347-5645 - Home

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20070127/8f6c6774/attachment-0001.html 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/gif
Size: 251 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20070127/8f6c6774/attachment-0003.gif 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/gif
Size: 289 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20070127/8f6c6774/attachment-0004.gif 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/gif
Size: 18861 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20070127/8f6c6774/attachment-0005.gif 