Tag Archives: Christ

To Live Is Christ

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is CHRIST, and to die is GAIN.

I’d like to take our scripture today, and take out two words: “CHRIST” and the word “GAIN”. The text would read this way:

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is __________, and to die is _____________.

What you put in that first blank will determine what goes in the second blank.

Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 7:1, “A good name is BETTER than PRECIOUS OINTMENT; and the day of DEATH than the day of ONE’S BIRTH”.

To have a good name – a good reputation – is better according to God than the most expensive perfumes. I am told that the most expensive perfume in the world – Clive Christian No. 1 Imperial Majesty – is around $12,721.89 per ounce. But a good reputation is better than that. How many people name their children Judas or Adolf? The Bible goes on to say that the day you die is better than the day you were born. Why would it say that?

Beloved, that’s not true for everyone. Going back to our fill in the blanks Scripture, most people – even professing Christians – put the wrong word in that first blank. Most people fill in the blanks like:

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is _for myself_, and to die is _____________.

If you are living for yourself, when you die then it is certainly not gain, but loss. When you die, then it is the ultimate loss of self. When you die, if you have lived your life for YOU, then you will go to a horrid place called HELL where you can be you forever. God is not in hell. Our Lord Jesus did not live… Continue reading

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The Word Was Made Flesh And Dwelt Amongst Us

Every year we come to December 25th, a time and a celebration we call “Christmas”. We talk about the Wise Men who came from the east to see the Baby Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12). Or we turn to the Book of Luke, and read how Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to have the Baby Jesus in a manger (Luke 2:1-7). We talk about the Shepherds watching their flocks by night (Luke 2:8-17) who were told by the angel of the Lord:

Luke 2:10-12 (KJV) .. Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

We celebrate Jesus and His birth at Christmas. But why is His birth so very important? There is a verse in the Gospel of John that is rarely mentioned at Christmas time. That verse is:
John 1:14 (KJV) 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.

Who Is “The Word”?

The Bible tells us that “The Word” was in the beginning with God, and is, in fact, God. We read:

John 1:1-4 (KJV) In the beginning was THE WORD, and THE WORD was with God, and THE WORD was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men…. Continue reading

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To The Saints And To The Faithful

Word Study: Prayer is TO THE FATHER, in the Name or Authority of the Son, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. We do not pray to the “saints”. Beloved, WE ARE THE SAINTS. The word translated “SAINTS” is the Greek hagios, which means those who are blameless or consecrated, whose lives honor God. The Christian is a “saint”. The same Greek word hagios is used in the title of the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy {hagios} Spirit. When a person becomes a Christian, it is not through OUR power that it occurs, but through the Holy {hagios} Spirit of God.

When a person hears the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is awakened to their sinful state by God:

John 16:8 (ESV) When [the Spirit] comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment

The person is left in a place of choice. Will they choose to do as God says,

Mark 1:15 (NKJV) The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.

Acts 2:38 (NKJV) Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Repentance is not a human work, but a human anti-work. It is where you acknowledge YOU are a SINNER, and YOU need the Savior. Like Israel in Egypt, you cry out to God for salvation. You believe on Jesus. You cast your life down at His feet! When you do, you have the promise of God: Continue reading

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What Tree Are You?

Those who are “SIMPLE” {Hebrew pᵊṯî} or “open-minded, worldly” turn away from the Word of God and instead choose the traditions and foolishness of man. The word “FOLLY” is the Hebrew ‘iûeleṯ (pro. iv-veh’-leth) which means “foolishness, that which is devoid of God’s blessing”.

The simple chase after anything that leads them away from God, rather than to the Source of Life.

Illustrate: The simple believe Darwinian Evolutionary Theory to be true, teaching that humans are just another form of animal. They teach their children that you can be a “furry”, an animal, if you want to be, and put litter pans in human toilets. They teach that life in the womb is disposable, then wonder why life in society is so cheaply held. They allow their children to play video games where murder is glorified, then wonder why their child grows up to murder. They give their children rewards for nothing, and the child grows up expecting to be supported in their lives whether they work or not. Their government awards welfare checks to able bodied citizens, and then wonder why these people keep expecting more…. Continue reading

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Judgment Day Is Coming

The Apostle addresses the “beloved of God”. The word “BELOVED” is the Greek agapētos, which certainly means “BELOVED”, but it means also “those well favored, those worthy of love”. The believer in Christ is worthy of love because he is a believer in Christ. Jesus Christ is God’s “BELOVED Son” (Matthew 3:17). God told the Prophet Isaiah of the Lord Jesus, saying:

Matthew 12:18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

When you receive Jesus as Lord and Savior you are “BELOVED” for His sake. You are “called to be SAINTS” because Christ’s sacrifice is reckoned to your life. As father Abraham believed on and received Christ, we do as well. Christ’s righteousness is “imputed to us, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offenses, and raised for our justification”.

But as we come to Romans chapter two, the Word of God does not address the Church, but the lost world. We read:

Romans 2:1 … Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man …

Romans 2:3 … And thinkest thou this, O man …

Word Study: It is not the “BELOVED” that is addressed, but “MAN”, the Greek anthrōpos which means “human being, whether male or female”. The Beloved of God, the Christian is to “let your light so shine before MEN (anthrōpos), that they (the lost) may see our good works, and glorify our Father Who is in Heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Continue reading

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If Anyone Draw Back

Hebrews 10:38-39 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any {one} draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto PERDITION; but of them that BELIEVE TO THE SAVING OF THE SOUL.

“God is Love” is a favorite sermon in the United States. The sermon is largely preached by Evangelists and Pastors that are more concerned about numbers and noses than they are your eternal soul. As long as the churches are packed and the coffers overflowing, these churches prosper materially while being terribly spiritually deficient…. Continue reading

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The Old Covenant Is Gone Forever

Hebrews 10:5-6 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

Who is the One that “COMETH INTO THE WORLD”? Who is it Who had “A BODY PREPARED FOR ME”? It is Jesus. The Bible says:

1 Timothy 1:15 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners …

Mark 10:45 … even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

And again in John 6:38-39 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.

Jesus specifically came into the world because animal sacrifices… Continue reading

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Jesus The Bondsman Of A Better Covenant

What is the proof that Jesus is the Engyos of God? The phrase “BY SO MUCH” is the Greek kata tosoutos, which means “by so many GREAT proofs”. There are many proofs set forth in Chapter 7 that proves Jesus to be the Head of a Greater Covenant. One of those proofs is in the life of a mysterious Person called Melchizedek. Before we talk about the Melchizedek and Abraham, let me ask this question:

Does God Speak To People?

Illustrate: I was watching an episode of a show Sherry and I like called “Blue Bloods”. I’ve been a Tom Selleck fan from his Magnum P.I. days. The show is generally clean, and depicts a Catholic family in law enforcement, with Selleck in the lead as the Police… Continue reading

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God Is Faithful, So Keep Walking

Let’s break this down. “SAME DILIGENCE” is the Greek autos spoudē. The word translated “SAME” is autos means “HIS”, “HER” or “THEIR”. This is a reflexive pronoun of self. It is pointing to the diligence that someone else showed. The word “DILIGENCE” is the Greek spoudē, which means “diligence, earnestness in accomplishing, carefulness in following through”. The person referred to – the one we are to copy – did not start out like gangbusters then fizzle out. This person acted as if they had a “full assurance of hope unto the end”. We are told in verse 12:

be not slothful

Word Study: This is the Greek ginomai mē nōthros, which means “to become sluggish, dull, or half hearted”. We have the promises of God Himself to rely on. Our God is faithful, and what He has promised will come to pass. God has called us into His Kingdom… Continue reading

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God’s Word Our Rest – Hebrews 4:1-12

Hebrews 4:1-3, 8-9 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into HIS REST, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into REST, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into MY REST: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. … 8 For if Jesus had given them REST, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remaineth therefore a REST to the people of God.

We took a break from Hebrews last Sunday to commemorate “Resurrection Sunday” or what many call “Easter”. We talked about the importance of the Resurrection of Christ, and explained how – without the Resurrection – there is no proof that Jesus of Nazareth is the One and Only Messiah. I brought out last Sunday that there were two very common names in Israel, … Continue reading

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