Here is Jesus Christ and Salvation in His Own Words

Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit and are life” (Jn 6:63), “My words will by no means pass away” (Lk 21:33), “I have given to them [the Apostles] the words” (Jn 17:8), “when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth” (Jn 16:13), “whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes” (Lk 9:26), “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), “just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise” (Lk 6:31), “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt 6:21), “Greater love has no one than this, than to

No Hope without Jesus Christ – Part 3

Hope is the expectation of faith in our heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for” (Heb. 11:1). Faith is the substance of hope. Without faith, there is no hope. Christians believe, and therefore we must hope in Jesus Christ. “[T]he Lord Jesus Christ is our hope” (1 Tim. 1:1). Every breath we breathe and every thought we think, we live in the hope of Christ. This hope endures while the hope of the world does not. We know and we expect that only the best can come through Jesus Christ. We know that every good and perfect gift comes from God (Jas. 1:17). This is our hope. We don’t hope for the same things or worse. We hope for better things. People who hope for another car do not hope for the same kind of car with the dents and the same mileage. They don’t hope for the same car, but that it does not run or that it does not have tires. People hope for

No Hope without Jesus Christ – Part 2

What are you hopeful for this year? Do you expect to fulfilled your desires and give into your cravings? Do you dream of seeing what the world has to offer you? Do you want more attention, recognition, and influence for yourself? I hope not. This is description of “…all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world” (1 John 2:16). Christ’s Spirit urges us, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). One’s cravings, entertainment, and recognition will all hopeless die and pass away. “And the world is passing away, and the lust of it” (1 John 2:17a). People love the distraction of these worldly things from the reality of endless guilt.

The only hope that is left is to live with God forever. “[H]e who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17b). You cannot follow these lusts and dwell with God for eternity. The extent of God’s grace only cleanses our sins when we

No Hope without Jesus Christ – Part 1

Christians gather each first day of the week, because they have hope in Christ, His life, and His words. When we have hope in Christ’s words, we constantly study them. When we hope in the life of Christ, we conform our life to His. All the hope we can have in this life comes back to Jesus Christ. Every pure virtue and moral teaching are found in Jesus Christ. What hope can we have for our children, our families, and ourselves without Him? What point is there to hope in what will be

What Does Jesus Say about Hell Being Eternal and Just?

Have you ever asked “Why Hell?”, “How could Hell exist?” and have not found a good answer? I’ll do my best to give you a concise answer or even better something for you to study and find for yourself. I will not explain away Hell like some Bible teachers into not being real and some have made Hell into a fire that burns one into not existing.

In the Bible, Jesus spoke the most about Hell. In judgment, Jesus will judge that those who did not do good to the needs will go in to “everlasting punishment” (Matt. 25:46, cf. 2 Thess. 1:7-9). Hell is described by Jesus and by His Spirit as a “the everlasting fire”, a “lake of fire”, and a “furnace of fire” “that shall never be quenched” where the “worm does not die” (Matt. 25:41, Rev. 21:8, Isa. 66:24, Mark 9:43-48). Isaiah 14 describes the worm and maggot covering a king of Babylon and the dead in Hell were excited about him going there. Hell is a place of “outer darkness” and so dark being described as “the blackness of darkness” (Matt. 8:12, 2 Peter 2:17). Hell is dark by that false teachers are bound by “the everlasting chains of darkness” (2 Pet. 2:4, Jude 6). In Hell, “there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 13:49-50). Hell is described as a place where a neglectful rich man will thirst, yet be able to see, and still have memories (Luke 16:19-31).

The eternal punishment includes there being no rest day or night in Hell for those who worshiped the king called the Beast and those who received his mark suffer (Rev. 14:10-11). The Bible teaches clearly that there will be an eternal torment for the Beast, the False Prophet, and even Satan (Rev. 20:10). Everyone not written in the book of life will be cast into this lake of fire (Rev. 20:15). Yet, not everyone is punished the same in Hell (Luke 12:47-48). Yet, questions remain. How could “everlasting punishment” be eternal torment for all the condemned or even some of them? How is this not cruel and brutal? How can a loving God do this?

I’ve always found it thought-provoking that skeptics do not believe the Bible for the same exact questions that believers ask and do not lose faith. Both skeptics and believers ask, “How could God send people to Hell?”

Must Christians Fast?

Fasting means not to eat and even not to drink (Est. 4:16, Zech. 7:5). Fasting was done with prayer to show humility and reliance on God (Psa. 35:13, Ezra 8:21-23). In the Old Testament, fasting was sometimes an emotional reaction of sorrow (Neh. 1:4, Psa. 69:10). Many times in the Old Testament, fasting was a decision set at a specific time while still done in mourning (see scriptures in footnote #1). By the time of Jesus, fasting had become a religious tradition for the Jews, who would fast in specific months (Zech. 8:19) and some fasted twice a week (Luke 18:12). Some applied fasting to the affliction of the soul in observing the Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:27). Moses fasted for 40 days when he received the covenant, the ten commandments (Exo. 34:28). Jesus also fasted for 40 days (Matt. 4:2, cf. Deut. 18:15). Yet, Jesus was led unto the wilderness by God’s Spirit for the purpose to be tempted in His fasting.

Must Christians fast? While Jesus walked the earth, He was asked why His disciples did not fast (Mark 2:18-20). Christ said,

Christ’s Music, Musical Instruments, and Making Melody (Psallo)

Music is an essential part of the Christian’s faith and worship. As Christians, we should be diligent to make melody in worship and in edification as Jesus would have us to do. Jesus’ words are spirit and life (John 6:63), which words He gave to His Apostles (John 17:8, cf. 15:20, 16:12-13). By the Apostles’ doctrine and revelation by the Holy Spirit, the Church is directed by Jesus Christ (Acts 2:42, Eph. 3:3-5). By Christ’s Spirit, the Apostles delivered to us the doctrine of Christ in the scriptures that the person of God could be complete equipped to every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17, cf. 1 Tim. 5:18). In the Scriptures, we find the complete and perfect teachings of Jesus Christ. In the Scriptures, we find His ideal for music. With this affirmed, let us consider whether Jesus’ music for His Church is only singing or included musical instruments. With no specific mention of singing with musical instruments or any types of instruments in the New Testament, Christ’s ideal music would only be verbal singing, which should be supported with good reasons. The case for using instruments is noted by the use of psalms and the verb form of psalm, psallo, which this study will consider. By giving honest diligence in defense of both singing only and using instruments, the scriptures show whether the use of psalms and psallo include worshiping with musical instruments.

The Psalms make numerous mentions of musical instruments and Christians are to sing psalms. Yet,

A Second Letter to the North Jacksonville Baptist Church

This is my second letter to the leadership and congregation for the North Jacksonville Baptist Church in Florida. With prayer to God, I plead with this congregation again to consider all the words of Jesus Christ as believers to be disciples, baptized in Jesus’ name, who will observe all things that Jesus has commanded (Matt. 28:19-20). I write this letter in love, honesty, and diligence in following Jesus Christ. I hope that you will also seriously consider the words of Christ’s Spirit written in the scriptures as presented here.

December 1, 2011

To the leaders and congregation of the North Jacksonville Baptist Church,

You are right to confess that Jesus is who He says He is (Matt. 10:32, John 8:24). Yet, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). I write to encourage you by the words of Christ that will never pass away (Matt. 24:35) and knowing that Jesus will be ashamed of those on judgment, who are ashamed of His words (Luke 9:26).

I plead with you that as you admit that no one can be saved by the works of men and we are not saved by saying a prayer as your minister teaches. Salvation and regeneration by prayer is not in the New Testament scriptures. Do we have life by the traditions of men or by the words of Jesus Christ (John 6:63)?