The Gospel

Quotations

By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestined unto everlasting life; and others foreordained to everlasting death.
The Westminster Confession of Faith, Ch. III:3

Those of mankind who are predestined unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory, out of His mere free grace and love, without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving Him thereunto.
The Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689, III:5

Jonathan Edwards

The enjoyment of [God] is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husband, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams. But God is the ocean.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Words I Never Want To Hear!

Matthew 7:22-24
22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’


These are the words I never want to hear. How can you be sure to never hear these words from Jesus? Who was calling Jesus, "Lord, Lord"? In the Jewish tradition when a person name was used twice, it meant there was a deep level of intimacy between them. Can you imagine those who said "Lord Lord, I have done everything in Your name, I have preached Your Word, helped the poor, went to church every Sunday, never missed a Sunday School class, loved my family, how could You say You never knew me. I believe our churches today have many who thinks they know Christ but truth is they are far from Christ. (Mark 7:6 .... “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;)
In the book "What Jesus Demands From the World" -- John Piper listed 50 demands to live by. Here are the demands:

Demand #1: You Must Be Born Again Demand #2: Repent Demand #3: Come to Me Demand #4 Believe in Me Demand #5: Love Me Demand #6: Listen to Me Demand #7 Abide in Me Demand #8: Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me Demand #9 Love God with All Your Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength Demand #10: Rejoice and Leap for Joy Demand #11 Fear Him Who Can Destroy Both Soul and Body in Hell Demand #12: Worship God in Spirit and Truth Demand #13: Always Pray and Do Not Lose Heart Demand #14: Do Not Be Anxious About the Necessities of Daily Life Demand #15: Do Not Be Anxious About the Threats of Man Demand #16: Humble Yourself by Making War on Pride Demand #17: Humble Yourself in Childlikeness, Servanthood,and Brokenhearted Boldness Demand #18: Do Not Be Angry—Trust God’s Providence Demand #19 Do Not Be Angry—Embrace Mercy and Forgiveness Demand #20 Do the Will of My Father Who Is in Heaven— Be Justified by Trusting Jesus Demand #21: Do the Will of My Father Who Is in Heaven— Be Transformed by Trusting Jesus Demand #22: Strive to Enter through the Narrow Door, for All of Life Is War Demand #23: Strive to Enter Through the Narrow Door, for Jesus Fulfills the New Covenant Demand #24: Strive to Enter through the Narrow Door, for You Are Already in the Kingdom’s Power Demand #25 Your Righteousness Must Exceed That of the Pharisees, for It Was Hypocritical and Ugly Demand #26: Your Righteousness Must Exceed That of the Pharisees—Clean the Inside of the Cup Demand #27: Your Righteousness Must Exceed That of the Pharisees, for Every Healthy Tree Bears Good Fruit Demand #28 Love Your Enemies—Lead Them to the Truth Demand #29:Love Your Enemies—Pray for Those Who Abuse You Demand #30: Love Your Enemies—Do Good to Those Who Hate You, Give to the One Who Asks Demand #31: Love Your Enemies to Show That You Are Children of God Demand #32 Love Your Neighbor as Yourself, for This Is the Law and the Prophets Demand #33: Love Your Neighbor with the Same Commitment You Have to Your Own Well-being Demand #34: Love Your Neighbor as Yourself and as Jesus Loved Us Demand #35: Lay Up for Yourselves Treasures in Heaven by Giving Sacrificially and Generously Demand #36: Lay Up for Yourselves Treasures in Heaven and Increase Your Joy in Jesus Demand #37: Lay Up for Yourselves Treasures in Heaven— “It Is Your Father’s Good Pleasure to Give You the Kingdom” Demand #38:Do Not Take an Oath—Cherish the Truth and Speak It Simply Demand #39: Do Not Take an Oath—Let What You Say Be Simply “Yes” or “No” Demand #40: What God Has Joined Together Let No Man Separate, for Marriage Mirrors God’s Covenant with Us Demand #41: What God Has Joined Together Let No Man Separate, for Whoever Divorces and Marries Another Commits Adultery Demand #42: What God Has Joined Together Let No Man Separate—One Man, One Woman, by Grace, Till Death Demand #43: Render to Caesar the Things That Are Caesar’s and to God the Things That Are God’s Demand #44: Render to Caesar the Things That Are Caesar’s as an Act of Rendering to God What Is God’s Demand #45: Do This in Remembrance of Me, for I Will Build My Church Demand #46: Do This in Remembrance of Me—Baptize Disciples and Eat the Lord’s Supper Demand #47: Let Your Light Shine Before Others That They May Glorify Your Father Who Is in Heaven Demand #48:Let Your Light Shine before Others—the Joyful Sacrifice of Love in Suffering Demand #49: Make Disciples of All Nations, for All Authority Belongs to Jesus Demand #50: Make Disciples of All Nations, for the Mission Cannot Fail

How do you know for sure you are His? Well Peter said in: 2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.




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