Notes From A Retired Preacher

This morning I received a phone call from Rev. Bill Adams, a good friend of many years. He worked for me and with me in my business while we studied for the ministry at Florida Bible College. He then served as my Assistant Pastor and Youth Director when we later started our church in South Florida. After several years as a faithful minister, and with good will all around, Bill left us and went on to start churches and work in some large prominent ministries throughout the country.

On faith alone and believing the Lord wants him to minister in the Dallas, TX area, he has just moved to Arlington TX. His wife, Brenda and their family will soon follow.

He is praying first that the Lord will provide him with a ministry in the Arlington (Dallas-Ft. Worth) area. He is likewise praying that, if not an immediate ministry, then a satisfactory job that will allow him to support his family and leave time for the Lord to use him sharing Christ in some way.

Also, if you know of a loved one, family or friend in the area who needs to hear the Gospel and trust Christ as Savior or receive some clear Bible teaching, Bill will gladly help. You will find no finer or more faithful witness for our Savior. Please contact me through my email contact at the bottom of this post.

Likewise, please pray for the safety of Bill and Brenda’s fine young Marine son, Brett, who is right now in Anbar Province, Iraq. They’ve not heard from him in months because of the nature of his military mission.

Bill and Brenda and I will appreciate your help and prayers. Bill is a man with a mission to share Christ with lost souls and is certainly deserving of your prayers, help and support.

If any of you, my dear readers, know someone whom the Lord can use to help Bill or that he can help, I will appreciate you letting me know.

Please email us using the email link on the side-bar at right.

How to have eternal life:

One world government, one world religion, one world economy, one world currency. These are all implied in the Bible prophecy concerning the world condition in the days leading up to Christ’s return for believers.

Over the last many years I have been asked, “Where does America fit into future Biblical prophecy?” My answer has always been that many near-east nations are mentioned in the Bible regarding the future of Israel in the last big world war. America is never mentioned by name in Bible prophecies. She is not named as part of the last world ruling powers before the Rapture of believers, neither during the seven year Tribulation before the Battle of Armageddon.

However, this may be a glimpse of an explanation.

America may soon be dissolved into one big conglomerate nation, The North American Union. Such a plan is in process which will tie together Mexico, The United States and Canada. The Mexico to Canada Highway which slices like a dagger through the middle of America is already being constructed.

The Amero, a Euro type money for said North American Union has been designed to replace the Mexican Peso, the American and Canadian Dollar.

It will be simple politics to merge these two monstrous conglomerates into one Big World Government, with a one world currency and religion.

Human Events Article on the coming “Amero”

Video — CNBC Discussion of the “Amero” in America

It is anybody’s guess as to how soon will come the predicted One World Ecumenical Religion. The New North American Union’s deceit, tied together with “Hate” crimes legislation in the USA and Canada will mean persecution and subjugation for all who preach God’s Word.

My post on “Hate Crimes Legislation.”

Don Feder — The Forgotten American

Believers — Look up, for your redemption draweth nigh.

How to become a believer in Christ.

Here is a brilliant, intellectually honest Blog for you. I have added it to my Blog Roll.

Antonio da Rosa regularly exposes the lie of Calvinism and the wonders of God’s Grace in His FREE salvation.

For some of us who have been and are exposed to the incessant lie of Calvinism , Antonio’s Blog is a breath of clean, fresh air.

Visit and enjoy: Unashamed of Grace

I would also like to recommend a post on our personal Web Site.

It is a letter written to a friend, George Orick, who was a fellow victim of cancer.  George was a brilliant, retired professional writer who for many years was an assistant to and writer for Peter Jennings, talking head on ABC TV.

George was not a believer in Jesus Christ. He wrote to me asking about faith and prayer. I answered him with a long letter detailing my journey from being raised a Calvinist, to an atheist and finally to a believer in Jesus Christ — by His Grace.

Drop by and enjoy.

http://weaverclan.com/faith.htm

I recently commented on the Blog of The Merry Widow and decided that the subject is worth exploring just a tad. She was rightfully lamenting the sinful, terrible spiritual condition of our wonderful country. Here is an excerpt from her post:

Will the new hate crimes legislations ban the Bible as a book of hate?

The federal representatives of our states, here in the USA, will be deciding on legislation that, if passed, will define civil rights classifications as federally protected against “hate crimes.”

…. If this Bill passes, H.R 254, then the Bible will be fully removed from the public as a federally classified source of “hate speech” as it has been attempted to be classified already in Canada, under their “hate crimes” law Bill C-250. A Pastor already has been threatened with imprisonment in Canada by a “Human Rights Tribunal” under the same premise as our own bill. The “crime” of this Pastor, as reported on LifeSiteNews.com in September of ‘05, was that he * ”published a letter to the editor in the Red Deer Advocate, in which he denounced homosexuality as immoral and dangerous, and called into question new gay-rights curriculums permeating the province’s educational system.”” And we must also realize then, if sexual immorality becomes federally protected, thus making saying such acts are immoral a crime, no Christian will ever be able to vote again!

But something much more important needs to be addressed than merely protecting free speech or the Bible or our rights as citizens: we must address why these things are happening. Since Roe-v-Wade, over 45 MILLION children have been murdered in the USA.

Her post illustrates the depths to which our precious America has sunk — and is still sliding ever so quickly.

A solution may be for Christians to preach FOR the Solution rather than against the sin. A homosexual act is no greater or lesser sin that a lie, theft, abortion or murder in God’s eyes. Sin separates us from God — no matter how large or small.

The problem is not “sins” but “sin.”

Belief (faith) in Jesus alone is the eternal solution for ALL sin that would otherwise keep us from Heaven.. Christ’s death, burial and resurrection paid the complete sin debt..

Faith in Jesus alone gives one the assurance of Heaven… but does not assure removal from daily “sins.” Some folks are believing saved sinners and others are unsaved unbelieving sinners..

For unbelievers there is no concrete guideline for life, except feelings — “what feels right.”

However, for the one who who trusts Christ alone as Savior, God’s indwelling Holy Spirit works His power with the new nature of every believer to set his life in line with what the Lord wants. However, every believer has the will to obey or disobey God’s scriptural commands. Obey and be a happy believer — disobey and be a miserable believer.. Either way — once a believer, always a believer, thankfully, never to be lost.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the first and major step in the solution to the problem of homosexual acts, theft, murder, lying, liberals, abortion, immorality, etc.. one person at a time.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

This post is derived from some friendly correspondence with a friend. As I re-read it I see many things that may be useful to my readers and me. It is slightly edited to “protect the innocent” and remove some chaff.

First, please realize, I am an OLD, retired conservative, theologically narrow-minded preacher. I prefer the KJV version of the Bible (with good reason which I may discuss at a later date) and I prefer the old-time traditional Gospel hymns to the new repetitive stuff that is often called “Gospel Worship Music.”

Next, some have called me an evangelist. I don’t think of myself as an evangelist — just a witness for my Savior Jesus Christ. I was neither born as a witness nor “born-again” as a witness, it is not inherent. Evangelism is a gift, to witness is a request from the Lord.

Not too long after I trusted Christ as my Savior I was devastated because, my eyes being opened, I saw my family and friends lost and without Christ. I made the effort to study God’s Word and yearned to learn how to share it. I understood and believed 2 Timothy 215. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

The more I learned the more I wanted to learn. I didn’t know at the time, but that is the way the Lord intends it. Learn it, use it and learn more and use it more, etc. Never stop studying and using God’s Word.

2 Timothy 22 “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”

I also realized I was only one person. I began to see that I should try to take those who trusted Christ and teach them to study the Word and lead others to Christ, and then teach them to win others, etc, ad infinitum.

Ephesians 411 “And He gave some [to be], apostles; and some [to be], prophets; and some [to be], evangelists; and some [to be], pastors and teachers;“

My understanding is that the Lord never gave some to be bystanders. We also see that Paul and other disciples manifested ALL of the traits above, Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. They did not specialize in “areas of study” but in the whole Counsel of God.

In my position as Pastor of a church, I was also an evangelist (or witness) and a teacher. There is nothing in any of these verses that limits any one person to just one of the positions or duties — nor does it absolve any believer from being a witness or evangelist.

All of this is summed up in Ephesians 412 “For the perfecting [complete finishing or maturing] of the saints, for the work [labor or toil] of the ministry, for the edifying [building up, increase] of the body of Christ [the True Church]”

It has been said that maturity includes the ability to reproduce spiritually, to introduce people to the Savior so they experience the new birth.

I personally believe that maturity not only includes the ability to reproduce — but reproducing new believers is the main purpose of believers and the Church, thereby ultimately Glorifying God. Christ said, talking to His disciples, in John 158 “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit [plucked fruit]; so shall ye be my disciples.” The fruit of a believer is another believer. An inactive believer will bear no fruit. A church full of inactive believers will still bear no fruit. So we encourage the Body of Christ (The True Church) to become active winning souls for the Savior, bearing fruit!

Often we see this verse used to accomplish some sort of ecumenicism.

Ephesians 413 “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ“

None of us will see a “unity of the faith” in this world. Even in Paul’s day there was disunity. We see him addressing the Galatian works error, the Corinthian immorality and doctrinal error. Jude addressed problems of false teachers, “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Think about it. The dear believers, family and friends whom we have known and loved — those who are today in the presence of Jesus Christ in Heaven, know in full that ultimate unity of the faith.

A believer who strives to be the “perfect” (mature) man and fit to “the stature of the fullness of Christ” is preparing himself and others for being in the presence of our Savior. How? By leading others to the Savior — by studying and using God’s Word and edifying (building up) the Body with new believers.

It is an amazing thing to see how witnessing builds my faith and joy every time I have an opportunity to share my Savior with someone, whether the lost or simply encouraging another believer.

Likewise, I believe the whole Bible is written (1) to the unbeliever so he can trust Christ (2) to the believer so he will understand how he should live his life in order to be able to reproduce much fruit to Glorify God. That is how we learn to worship the Lord. Without being a believer, one cannot worship the Lord. John 424 “God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” Only believers in Christ can worship the Lord in spirit and in truth.

Every jot and tittle of God’s Word is there for the purpose of building up (edifying) and increasing the True Church, the Body of Christ. That is why I believe it is important that we “study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman...” Can you imagine a church who purports to “worship” the Lord and not regularly give a consistently clear Gospel message and likewise not ask people to trust Christ as Savior — or never encourage anyone to share Christ with church visitors or their lost friends and neighbors?

As mentioned above, the book of Jude was written to warn the flock that godless and evil men had crept into the assemblies. Jude’s answer about how to correct the problem?? Jude 13 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should EARNESTLY CONTEND FOR THE FAITH which was once delivered unto the saints.” Contending for the faith.. that is the root that supports and nourishes the Church.

Someone paraphrased Ephesians 4:15-16 as “The whole body, growing, maturing, joined and held together, truth in love (as opposed to the truth OR love we contend with all the time nowadays), each one doing his work.” Look carefully and you will see that there is nothing in these or previous verses that indicate that a Pastor or Teacher should not also be an evangelist (or simply sharing his faith). When we become too specialized in our service, we begin to think “That is someone else’s job.” Not true. Remember — the lost don’t care who it was that lead them to Christ, a layman, preacher, teacher or janitor. Again in Jude 13 “…… exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith...”

There is no disagreement that worshipful reverence is essential for a Godly church. It is also very important that any worship leader, any Pastor and all the members do not confine their service to “group witness,” believing that, at the end of the service, the job is finished. Everyone should be ready to share Christ at any and every moment with anyone “that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” Or, even if they don’t ask, a believer can share Christ!

I have been asked. “How should the wandering ship of the Church of our Savior be turned around.”

Believers in Jesus Christ must first see the problem and want a solution. That is a big order.

Many things are essential in the Body of Christ, sound doctrine, teamwork, elimination of fragmentation, solving immaturity by teaching those who want to learn and encourage those who don’t think they need to learn. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the center-point, the reason. The Lord, using dedicated, soulwinning people can “turn this ship around.”

Another question has been asked, “Is it that we’ve lost our first love?”

My experience tells me that many Bible believing churches have lost their first love. 1 John 410 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Our first love is the love and excitement we have when we realize we have passed from death to life, not because we “loved God.” but because He first loved us and we understood that love and trusted Christ as our Savior. Some believers who trusted Christ at an early age may not remember that First Love, that excitement and appreciation. But such love for our Savior can be renewed by strong Biblical Gospel preaching and Scriptural encouragement.

Will the True Church ever be “ready” for our Savior’s certain return?

I believe the True Church will go up in the Rapture when Jesus returns for all believers. Some believers will still be squabbling over “things,” but all that will dissolve when we see Jesus Christ in person. We should all be personally looking and expecting His return today, maybe even before this comment is posted. Even so, come Lord Jesus!

We worship the Lord many ways in our fellowships today. When we are with the Lord in Heaven we will worship Him as we really should, not man’s way, but God’s way. However, one thing we must remember — the single thing we can not do when we are in Heaven with the Lord — is witness to the lost for our Savior Jesus Christ.. Why? Because — everyone there will be believers.

So today, let us get about our Father’s business and share the Glorious Gospel of our Savior. An individual or a church which is on fire to see souls saved will be less likely to quibble over unessential details and more likely to grow spiritually.

Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the death penalty for the sins of the whole world (you and me), He was buried and rose again, not only for me but likewise for all my friends — and my enemies. How can we truly show love for our friends and enemies? — by sharing with them the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Visit our Gospel Gospel Site

Dear readers:

Our previous post, “Bible Truth or Fiction” and the wonderful comments grew to the point of being almost unmanageable. Therefore this post is a continuation of and will include the last three points, #5, #6 and #7 from the previous post.

As in the previous post, I will inject my thoughts (in red) in between the statements.

I invite you to comment on these statements and my analysis — and, if you are so inclined, please visit the previous post for some very lively comments.

Are these statements Bible Truth or Fiction?

(5) You must give your heart or life or both to Jesus to be saved.

FICTION: We give NOTHING to God or Jesus to have eternal life (be saved)..

We simply believe that the gift God has offered (eternal life) is true. We take His gift, trusting Christ to be who He says He is (our Savior) and that He will do what He has promised. His promise is that when we trust HIm, He gives us eternal life without charge and with no strings attached.

(6) You must make Jesus your Lord and Savior to be saved.

FICTION: We don’t “make” Jesus the Lord of anything . Jesus IS the Lord God Almighty. He IS the Savior.

We don’t “make” Him our Savior but we trust Him as our Savior…

After we have made that one-time decision to believe in or trust Jesus as Savior, we should then decide to be obedient or submissive to Him and His Word — as a servant is to his Master.

However, whether or not we become obedient or submissive to His word does not affect our eternal relationship with Christ. Yet it definitely does affect a believer’s day-to-day fellowship with Him.

Salvation (relationship) is FREE. Once in Christ we cannot change that relationship.

Fellowship is a work — a decision believers make to be obedient and submissive to their Savior. Fellowship can change day-to-day,

(7) The Bible uses the words, “God is Sovereign” and “Sovereignty of God.”

FICTION: These two phrases do not appear in the King James Version of God’s Word. The word “sovereign” or “sovereignty” is nowhere in the KJV.

However it does appear in some of the more recent interpretations of the Bible. It seems that many of those interpretations emanate from or are promoted by those “theologians” of the Reformed or Calvinist persuasion.

This is an excerpt from a Calvinist web site — which, for obvious reasons will not be cited.

Here is the Calvinist lie:

“The system of Calvinism …… focuses on God’s sovereignty, stating that God is able and willing…… to do whatever He desires with His creation. It also maintains that within the Bible are the following teachings: That God, by His sovereign grace predestines people into salvation; that Jesus died only for those predestined; that God regenerates the individual where he is, then [he is] (sic) able and wants to choose God;…”

Obviously God is all powerful, the Creator of Heaven and earth.

However, in His sovereignty, He does not over-rule man’s responsibility to make a personal choice or decision to trust or reject Jesus Christ to be his Savior.

Christ died for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD not just those “predestined”:

1 John 2:2 “And He is the propitiation [substitute] for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD.”

Our responsibility? Believe in Jesus to have eternal life:

1 John 5:13 “These things have I written unto you that BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God [Jesus]; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life, ……”

Our Gospel Web Site

Thanks for participating.

ADDENDUM: As you see, I am daily adding my thoughts in between each statement below.

In Order to generate some discussion, which of these are true statements to be found in the KJV Bible? Are any of these Biblical truths or are some of them doctrines of men generated by religions?

I will appreciate your comments..

(1) You must turn from or be willing to turn from your sin and then trust Jesus to be saved.

FICTION: God never makes it a requirement that you either turn or be willing to turn from sin in order to trust Christ as your Savior. God’s Gift of Salvation is His Gift to everyone but only appropriated by those who believe or trust in Christ. To ask a person to turn from sin to be saved is asking them to do works of righteousness in order to qualify. This is Satan’s lie. God’s salvation is “Not of works..” [Ephesians 2:8-9]. However, true repentance IS a requirement for salvation — but repentance is NOT turning from sin. Repent means a change of one’s mind — specifically, in context, about who Jesus is — He alone is the only Savior!

Nowhere does the Bible say that we must “Repent of sin” to be saved.

Sure, as ones who have trusted Christ as Savior, believers should, by the power of God, turn from our sin… but not to gain or keep our salvation — but because we are now in God’s family by faith. “Because He first loved us…” [I John 4:19]

(2) You must make Jesus the Lord of your life to be saved.

FICTION: Many preachers and religions teach that you “must make Jesus Lord of your life to be saved.” Others will say that if He is not “Lord of all He is not Lord at all.” Likewise they say if Jesus or God is not “Lord and/or Master of your life,” you must not be saved or you may have lost your salvation. This is the lie of Satan.

It is very important to remember, Jesus Christ IS the Lord God Almighty in the flesh. That fact cannot be changed by one’s behavior, belief or unbelief. The word “Lord” in the New Testament is the Greek word “Kurios,” meaning “Master.” His Salvation is eternal — without an end!

To be saved, guaranteed Heaven or eternal life, one must simply trust or believe that Jesus is who He claims to be, the Savior and that He is the only Way of salvation. To make an unbeliever think he must submit to the “mastery” or Lordship of Jesus in order to have or keep salvation is confusing God’s clear, simple salvation message.

Submitting to the Lordship of Christ is a decision believers should make AFTER they have received Christ as their Savior. It is a work that believers decide to do, not in order to be saved but, because they are already saved by their faith in Jesus. Why? “For the love of Christ constraineth [compells] us; ….”2 Corinthians 5:14

Every believer in Jesus Christ, secure in Christ, is wise in following the Lordship of Christ (which is simply obedience to Scripture) for the sake of seeing others come to Christ and for the sake of harmony in and building up the Body of Christ.

Let every believer in Christ plead for and work toward a crystal clear Gospel message to help the lost understand the question, “Who is this that forgiveth sins….?” Luke 7:49 Likewise, a clear message will help and encourage those who have already trusted Christ as Savior.

(3) Jesus is standing and knocking on the door of your heart. You must open your heart and let Jesus come in to be saved.

FICTION: It is a pity that many Pastors and some Christians misuse that phrase in an effort to get people to trust Christ as Savior.

Such an unclear statement is a misunderstanding or a misstatement of the Bible verse in Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” In context, the Apostle John, writes the words of Jesus, spoken to John by special revelation. If you will read the Book of Revelation from the beginning to the verse above, you will easily see the context. John quotes Jesus after He has just addressed the Seven Churches. Jesus is pleading for a close and proper fellowship between Him and the people, leaders and messengers of each of the seven churches (“and will sup with him” fellowship, not salvation). Let us speak the Truth clearly!

To be saved, one does NOT open his heart and let Jesus come in — but he must simply understand Who Christ is and what He has done for the world and then trust Him alone as Savior. Christ was crucified, was dead, buried and rose again, thus paying for everyone the death penalty we all owe. This eternal life is available only to those who will trust Jesus Christ alone as their Savior.

Jesus died — That’s History.

Jesus died for ME and I trust Him — that’s salvation!

(4) In order to be saved, you must ask Jesus to save you.

FICTION: Salvation (to be saved) is God’s GIFT through our mental faith decision to trust Jesus Christ. He has offered that Gift to whosoever will trust or receive Christ.

There is no requirement or need to ask God or Christ for His Salvation when He has already offered or given it as His Gift to you. He asks you to simply receive Jesus Christ as your Savior to have eternal life. John 1:12 “But as many as received Him (Christ), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, to them that believe on His name (Jesus);”

Think about it… When God offers to you His Gift of eternal life (and He has), must you ask, beg or plead for it? “Please, please, please Lord, give me the Gift of Eternal life!”

NO, simply take His Gift, receive His Gift and you can be thankful for it. Romans 6:23 “….. the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Wages are what we earn or deserve (“The wages of sin is death“). Any true gift is never earned but simply offered to be received with no strings attached. GIFT = FREE , but it must be accepted.

If you have never done so, receive or accept God’s free Gift of Eternal Life right now.. Simply trust or believe in Jesus Christ alone to be your Savior.

_____________________________________

Please note:  because this post has become so large, I have made a new post which includes the last three (#5, #6 and #7) points of discussion.

Please go to the new post, read  and comment.

Thank you…

Thanks to all of you who have contributed to our exciting discussion on easy believism in my previous post. This post will expound upon it.

Obviously, the very essence of the Gospel is Salvation in Jesus Christ. This so great Salvation is the context of these two posts.

As Phil says speaking of Jesus Christ, “He paid it all. He offers freely.” Absolutely true and consequently those who know not Christ have the personal responsibility of making a decision to put their faith in Christ. Otherwise that salvation is never appropriated. Until such a time, a person is lost without Christ.

Some folks to whom I witness “believe” that Jesus died for them but, sorta like a security blanket, they still feel they must do good works for God in order to be sure of Heaven. Not true, faith in Christ alone is all sufficient! They are simply not trusting Christ to be the Savior He is.

Therefore when witnessing to folks, in order to avoid giving a false impression and avoid presenting a false gospel, I make sure that they understand that God’s Gift of Salvation is wholly based on their personal decision to trust in Christ as Savior, nothing more and nothing less. They need to know that in order to secure Salvation in Christ there is NO component of good works.

That’s easy.. Just truly trust in Jesus to be your Savior and you have eternal life, Heaven eternally — nothing to stop it — He promises, He guarantees. But from early childhood, we are all taught the false message that “Nothing is free.” Not true.. God’s very gift of Salvation IS free, no charge, no strings, no works on our part.

So often, the big hurdle is making sure the unbeliever understands that, for Salvation, God’s Grace and our works (or service) are two entirely different things and can not be commingled. We must carefully explain such separation between Grace and works. Then the meaning of Grace must be completely understood by the one to whom we speak.

Salvation is what Christ does for us by His Grace and our decision (faith).

Service or work is what we do for the Lord, powered by His grace, after we have believed (simply our obedience to Him). We can never do any works to either gain or reinforce our salvation in Christ, therefore, when I share Christ, I always try to be sure it is clearly understood — Salvation and service are two entirely separate things. Salvation by Grace is free, what God does, His Gift. And to the contrary, service or work is what we should do for our Savior after we believe.

Romans 11:6 is a verse which speaks about the basic principle of Grace, clearly defining the distinction between Grace and works in salvation

“And if by grace, then is it no more of works otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace otherwise work is no more work.”

That is the essence of a clear Gospel message. For salvation, Grace and works cannot be mixed. They are totally incompatible.

That is God’s easily believable message of Salvation… by His Grace (freely) through our faith — without our works.

There is no hard part in Salvation. Just believe in Christ to be your Savior. He took your place in death for your sins, was buried and rose again. He is alive today.

Then, after we have believed in Christ, He teaches and disciples (disciplines) us so we will see and experience the wonders of serving Him. That discipline or testing can seem hard at times, but He gives us a way of escape that we may be able to bear it. [See 1 Corinthians 1013] We as believers have been created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of good works. [Ephesians 210]

What a wonderful Savior! What a privilege to serve Him Who first loved us.

Our Gospel Web Site

On some occasions I have been accused of sharing the doctrine of “Easy Believism.” Have you ever been accused of that?

I believe that Jesus Christ is the true and only Savior of the world. He died personally for your sins and mine — those sins that would separate us from God for all eternity. He was buried and arose from the grave, proving He is God. He is alive today. [1 Corinthians 15:1-4]

Now the simple part.. God simply asks you to trust (believe in) Jesus Christ for your eternal life. He paid the death penalty price and all He asks of you is that you will believe Him. [John 3:16]

That is the very essence of God’s salvation and it is forever.

In John 10:28 Jesus Himself said about those who trust Him as Savior:

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

Salvation is NOT by doing good works but by trusting in Christ alone as your Savior. [Ephesians 2:8-9]

Sure, we should do good works after we have believed in Christ just as the Bible says — this is not for our salvation but because he saved us and now we do His works to show our love for our Savior. [Ephesians 2:10]

Now, if that is called “easy believism,” I plead guilty.

I refuse to believe that the God of the Universe would promote and offer a “Hard Believism” requiring anything other than our one time decision to simply trust Jesus Christ for what He is — The Savior, His Gift to mankind.

Do you have an opinion on this? Please post a comment.

Our Gospel Web Site

This post is not to start a quarrel with those who wish to call Christmas — “Christmas.” However, wouldn’t it be better that Bible believing Christians call it Christday?

I am a Fundamental Bible believing Christian and I do not celebrate Christ-mass. Christ Mass is the origin of the word — a Mass for Christ. It is also called Christ’s Mass and Wikipedia has an exhaustive study of the word “Christmas.” Here is a quote from Wiki:

The word “Christmas” is a contraction meaning “Christ’s Mass” It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038

Understandably there are several religions who observe multiple “Masses” at all times of the year, but my faith is not one of those and that is OK. This is not to take away from those who wish to celebrate a mass on Christday. Go right ahead.

After all, the day really is Christ’s Day — A time to celebrate the day of the Savior’s birth, the coming of the Messiah. Much more meaningful.

Henceforth I will  call it CHRISTDAY in honor of my Savior — not a Mass or Eucharist as some Episcopal, Lutheran, Roman Catholic churches call it.

Will this idea sweep the world like wildfire by next Christday? Naaaaa, probably not..

But it is one little start.

Happy Christday everybody, a few days late.

The Incarnation,

The Birth of Jesus The Messiah, The Savior

John 1:1, 3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.”

The word “incarnation,” like many other words used by Christians, does not appear in the Bible, but the concept is clearly Biblical. Incarnation is defined as “to become flesh or human.” John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” This is a beautiful description of The Incarnation of Jesus Christ the Savior, the Messiah.

Jesus Christ is The Person, The Word, Who has forever existed – with no beginning and no end.

John 1:10-12 “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:”

Jesus so loved the fallen human race that He became flesh and entered into the world as a Babe in the little Judean town of Bethlehem. This event was Biblically prophesied 600 years before the fact in the book of Micah, Chapter 5, Verse 2.

Jesus the Christ was born as the Perfect One into a sinful world. Just imagine a thankless mankind, hating, disobeying and cursing the Very God who created and provided for them. Yet He still loved the entire world, so much that He chose to give Himself as the necessary sacrifice to pay the required penalty of our sin. He is the substitute for each of us. Jesus Christ was born to die, thus satisfying the eternal death penalty we deserve. He surrendered Himself, was put to death, was buried and rose from the grave under His own power, thus proving He is God.

Look again at the verse John 1:10-12 above. In an act of Divine Mercy and Grace, God so loved disobedient humankind that He GAVE an undeserving world the GIFT of Salvation in Christ. This GIFT is available to anyone and everyone who will RECEIVE it by believing, trusting in Jesus alone for everlasting life. (Ref. John 3:16) He died for you — Believe in Him!

“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:” Though undeserving, ExPreacherMan and Sweet Wife rejoice that we have received God’s greatest Gift ever given, Eternal life in Jesus Christ.

This Gift is for you too. Today is the day you can receive His immeasurable Gift, eternal life in Jesus Christ. If you are not sure of Heaven, Eternal Life, trust Jesus alone as your personal Savior.

2 Corinthians 6:2b

“….behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” We pray you will have a wonderful season remembering the birth of the only Savior, the only Mediator between Man and God, Jesus Christ the Messiah.

This year, December 15 is the 42nd anniversary of my spiritual birthday.In 1964, my good friend and political compatriot, Shirley Spellerberg., tricked my wife and me into going to a Christmas Concert. I heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ loud and clear, how that Jesus Christ died on the cross for me (atheist sinner), He was buried and rose again, proving Himself to be God in the Flesh, That very night I passed from death to eternal life, from an atheist to a believer in the Savior of the world (but specifically me), Jesus Christ by making that simple decision to trust Jesus as my Savior.

I thank the Lord for His Grace and Mercy, that he would die on that cross for such a wretch as me.

I thank the Lord that Pastor Ray Stanford made the Gospel and the invitation to trust Christ so clear at that Christmas Concert that even I could understand and believe in Christ.

Right now, you too can pass from death to life by trusting Christ as YOUR Savior.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world (you), that He gave his only begotten Son (Jesus), that whosoever believeth (you) in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Trust Jesus Now, make this the greatest Christmas ever.

Personal Web Site

Today I looked over some old “message notes” from the 1970s and 1980s. Some would call them sermon notes but I’m not sure I ever “preached a sermon.” My Pastoral goal was to tell forth God’s Word accurately and interestingly. Thus saith the Lord!

It amazes me how current these messages are, as if written for today. However, God’s Word, in context, is always current.

In the next few days I will begin transferring my old notes onto my computer and from there to my Blog. The original notes were either hand written or typed on an old IBM Ball Selectric typewriter.. much the same as I do now with my computer… two finger typing.

Now, with more than half my vision gone, I look at those old papers and wonder how I ever deciphered them on a lectern or pulpit.

Coming to a Blog near you… Notes from twenty to thirty years ago.

Meanwhile visit our Gospel Web Site –

How to know for sure you are Heaven Bound.

My Sweet wife and I have so much for which to be thankful to God, it would take a scroll the size of the sky and an ocean full of ink to record it all; family, friends, the Lord’s provision and a million more.

But first and foremost — and maybe the most overlooked:

2 Cor. 9:15
“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable [indescribable] GIFT.”

Romans 6:23
“….. the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

We thank the Lord that “…God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US.” Romans 5:8

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world [you and me], that He GAVE his only begotten Son [Jesus], that whosoever [you and me] believeth in Him [Jesus] should not perish, but have everlasting life [Heaven}.”

With God’s guarantee that we may look forward:
“To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice,…..” 1 Peter 1:4

Are we thankful? What a promise! What a Gift! What a Savior!

If you do not know that thankfulness.. having never trusted Jesus Christ alone for your eternal life, for Heaven.. we urge you to make that decision now.

We would like for you to be able to thank the Lord as do we — for His indescribable and undeserved Gift, Jesus Christ, our Savior.

The Good News!