by Terry Laughlin | Apr 29, 2016 | Evidence of Salvation
The Pharisee, Nicodemus, was not able to perceive Jesus’ teaching on the most important truth for all mankind. Our Lord gave him the key truth to hearing from God and living for Him. Jesus said, “No one will see the kingdom of God unless they are born again…” You must be born again.” (John 3:3, 7b) Born again is the key truth:
“The birth of a baby is a wonderful thing! Doctors, nurses and parents regularly speak of the miracle of the birth of a child. News of a child’s birth is often reported by newspaper and radio, especially in rural areas.
Exciting as it is, however, no natural birth of a child can compare to the awesome supernatural birth of a child of God. Though the birth of Jesus Christ was announced by an angel of the Lord and though people were amazed at what the shepherds told them about Jesus, only a few gave glory to God as the angels did. In the same way today, few note the birth of a new child of God. It will probably not be announced in the newspaper or on the radio and few, even in the church will rejoice over this miracle of God. Nevertheless, Jesus said, ‘I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.'” (Luke 15:7)
In the Greek, born “again” means born “from above.” Many Scriptures describe what God will do in the life of a person who, through true repentance, accepts Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord. Ezekiel 36: 26, 27 is one of the clearest, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws.”
A heart of stone is inflexible, unyielding and insensitive. It is not apt to receive from or have any devoted affection toward its Creator. A man with a heart of stone has no fellowship with the Lord. He does not do the will of God. He does only what seems right in his own eyes which will lead to his destruction.
When God supernaturally gives you a heart of flesh and puts His Spirit in you, you become sensitive and alive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Only then are you able to determine and do the will of God. Thus knowing the joy that comes from obedience to the Word of God. Once the Holy Spirit of God has entered your heart to implant the life of Christ within you, you will never be the same! Guaranteed!
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 29, 2016 | Evidence of Salvation
In the Book of John, we read of a conversation between Jesus and a Pharisee, Nicodemus. They were talking about spiritual truths. Nicodemus is confused and has no understanding of what Jesus was saying. Jesus made a profound statement that should bring concern to all in ministry. Jesus said, “You are Israel’s teacher, and you do not understand these things? As they continued their conversation, Jesus points out, “…you do not believe.” (John 3:10, 12) The beloved John makes it clear that the Pharisees could not understand what Jesus was teaching. (John 10:6) A Pharisee (Φαρισαῖος Pharisaios) is a member of a Jewish religious sect. Pharisees were educated (Nelson’s New Testament Bible Manners and Customs) The Pharisees are described by two first century sources, the New Testament and Josephus, a Jewish Historian who wrote for non-Jews in the Greek language. The picture of the Pharisees in the Gospels often present’s them as legalistic, hypocrites and were blind to Jesus’ message.
To “believe (πιστεύω pisteúō) means to imply trust. (Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) This trust causes you to live out what you believe. Pisteuo belief is like: I can say I believe there is a game of golf. Golf is real, many play it and there are some that make a lot of money playing golf. My belief in golf does not move me to participate in it. As a matter of fact, when I played golf in high school, I got board. I started chasing ground squirrels with the golf cart and golf clubs. That is not the type of belief in golf one should have. Many have that type of belief in God, Christ and the Holy Spirit. They are reckless in there living for self, while claiming to believe in Jesus.
There is a Arabian Horse trainer, David Boggs. He has pisteuo belief in the Arabian Horse business. He does whatever it takes to make the business work by investing money, time, and strength. He studies and applies what he believes will work in getting Arabian Horses ready for the show ring, he understands the genetics for future generations and disciples others in the business.
Christians who believe in Jesus will do whatever it takes on their part to get done what He says to do. They invest money, time and strength. They study to show themselves approved to be teachers of the Word, they have tasted the Lord is good, they teach the Word to younger generations and they disciples other in the truths of Lord.
Hearing from the Lord requires that you have Biblical belief.
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 29, 2016 | Evidence of Salvation
Are You the Lord’s Sheep
A key step to hearing from God is to take a truth spoken by Jesus seriously, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28) Jesus spoke another truth that must be grasped in order to hear from the Lord, “But you do not believe because you are not My sheep.” (John 10:26)
It is imperative that you understand that Jesus is talking to Jews here. (John 10:24) He had been speaking to the Pharisees, (John 10:1) The beloved John makes it clear that the Pharisees could not understand what Jesus was teaching. (John 10:6) A Pharisee (Φαρισαῖος Pharisaios) is a member of a Jewish religious sect. Pharisees were educated (Nelson’s New Testament Bible Manners and Customs) The Pharisees are described by two first century sources, the New Testament and Josephus, a Jewish Historian who wrote for non-Jews in the Greek language. The picture of the Pharisees in the Gospels present them as legalistic, hypocrites and were blind to Jesus’ message. Jesus had a conversation with a Pharisee, Nicodemus. In that conversation, Jesus points out, “…you do not believe.” (John 3:10, 12) In His parable of the “Good Shepherd and His Sheep” Jesus taught, “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him, because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact they will run from him.” (John 10: 3-5)
“Travelers to lands where old-fashioned sheep herding methods are still used, have noticed the shepherds often give names to their sheep, just like we do our dogs, cats, and horses. They notice the sheep recognizes its own name, and comes when called by the shepherd they know. They even noticed that when the different flocks are mixed, as each shepherd begins to call his flock, travelers are intrigued by the sheep’s readiness to separate and follow the commands given. They notice the sheep paid no attention to the shepherds they did not know.” (Freeman, J. M., & Chadwick, H. J. (1998). Manners & customs of the Bible (p. 518). North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers)
Hearing from God in modern times requires that you be a true sheep, a child of God who hears the voice of the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 20, 2016 | Evidence of Salvation
Jesus’ Command
Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32) All true born again Christians understand, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” In keeping with the key truths spoken by Jesus Christ, it is imperative that we grasp the meaning of “sinners” and “repentance.”
“Sinners” (ἁμαρτωλός hamartōlós) are people who miss the mark in living the life God intends for them to live. Therefore, sinners are people who live as they choose, without regard to God’s will. (The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament) “Repentance” (μετάνοια metánoia) is a change of mind, leading away from evil to righteousness, from good to striving towards God’s best for us. (Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 509). New York: United Bible Societies.) “Repentance” is a profound change of mind involving the change of direction of life from that of self-centeredness or sin-centeredness to God or Christ-centeredness. God’s forgiveness is available only to those who are repentant, for only they can receive it.” (The New International Dictionary of the Bible)
All of us, need to repent! Rather Your Are: A Hypocrite (ὑποκριτής hupokritḗs) a pretender, one who preaches God’s Word, yet, his way of living reveals the counterfeit he really is. (Matthew 23:25-31; Romans 9:4-8) Rather Your Are: Sexually immoral, an idolater, one who hates others, one who brings discord into the family or the work place, one who practices witchcraft, one who is a jealous person, one who exhibits fits of rage or has selfish ambitions. (Galatians 5:19-20) The call is to repent. Rather Your Are: a person who exchanges the truth about God for a lie, one who has unnatural or shameful lust for one another, one who is greedy, a murderer, a gossip, one who disobedient to parents, has no fidelity, a God-hater, one who insolent and arrogant. (Romans 1:18-32) Jesus’ command is to repent. Rather Your Are: an adulterer, a thief, a slanderer, a swindler or involved in homosexuality. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) It is the Lord’s will, “…all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) All sins are manifestations of a life needing to come to true repentance, put right with God.
Many spend their time pointing out the sins of others while overlooking their own sin, others justify or proclaim them as given at birth. The Bible says sin come from a depraved mind, the results from not thinking it worthwhile to retain or seek the knowledge of God. (Romans 1:28) The Bible says “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” (Acts 3:19) John the Baptist has a message for us all, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Jesus gives us this powerful exhortation, “…I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
There is a God who created us, Jesus Christ died for us, and the Holy Spirit longs to empower us to live a life of repentance, one that is pleasing to the Lord. Were is our hearts in regard to repentance? Jesus is not influenced by the conjecture of men, only by the will of His Father in heaven. In a day were many are proclaiming tolerance, Jesus proclaims repent.
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