Friday, April 9, 2010

Belief or unbelief (Are you minding the Spirit?) Pt.1

The Bible teaches that Salvation to the human soul is eternally extended to all men that believe in the person of Christ. The gift of Salvation received into the soul of man comes through a believer’s trust and acceptance of the redemptive work of Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Belief provides a union between the heart of a believer and the personality of Christ. Minding the Spirit of God proves man’s belief in the person of Christ. Salvation of the human soul is received “When” man believes in Christ not “because” man believes.

• Eph 1:13…the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise

• Heb 10:39… But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul


Man’s belief goes beyond understanding who Christ is and what Christ did at Calvary. Man’s belief is consent of the human will to a living Christ. Belief is man’s renunciation of sin and disobedience through acknowledgment of Christ. Belief is an every minute, every hour, consciousness and obedience to the omnipresence of a living Christ. Belief in Christ… and obedience to His Divine presence “Is not… a part time relationship”.

It must be understood God does not take away His Salvation from the soul of a believer. Men do however depart from Salvation through sin and disobedience. How? By unbelief… which is contempt of the human will?

• Heb 3:12…take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Unbelief allows sin and disobedience to separate the soul of man from his union made with the Spirit of God. Separation from the presence of an Eternal Christ through unbelief is called, “Death”. This spiritual death is why the Bible teaches,

• James 1:15… when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

• Rom 6:23… the wages of sin is death;


Death separates the unbeliever from an Eternal holiness found in the person of Christ. Unbelief is separation from the union made between the soul of man… and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Belief in Christ allows a penitent man to receive the holiness and mercy of a living Christ. Holy living and mercy found in Christ allows the believer to be saved and preserved blameless until the coming of our Lord.

• 1 Thess 5:23…and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

• Jude 1…to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ

Eternal Salvation of the human soul is everywhere present for those who believe in Christ. Salvation never departs from any believer that trusts and obeys Christ. Why? Belief keeps a believer conscious to Him and in harmony to the Holy Spirits presence. Believing produces obedience to Christ because the believing will is subject to the power of Holy Ghost. A believer minds the Holy Spirit out of trust in Christ. Obedience keeps the believer in right standing with God. Salvation of the human soul is never lost if man obeys God. Men do however leave salvation … through unbelief which is disobedience to Christ.

You cannot separate unbelief and disobedience as they are one in the same. Likewise you cannot separate belief and obedience as they are one in the same.

A believer because of unbelief departs from the saving Grace of God because of a willful act of sin or disobedience to God. Through man’s unbelief in Christ the deceitfulness of sin will always manifest. Sin is a willful act of disobedience to God and is the product of an unbelieving heart.

• Heb 3:12…take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

• Heb. 10:26…For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,


Pt.2 next...

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

I'm trusting in Christ for a miracle for baby Maggie...will you trust Christ with me?

My wife Paula brought a picture home from work yesterday evening... of baby Maggie a newborn (2 weeks) with health complications from birth. My wife asked me if I'd pray for healing...and I did right on the spot! I woke this morning praying again...and was led of God to ask you all at this Blog...for your prayers for little Maggie...also! I'm believing God for another miracle! Prayers get through to God Almighty. God honors the prayers of His saints! I'm believing God for this miracle. Will you believe with me?

The Apostle Paul made a statement in the following verse and believed that the prayers of the saints were higher than all the political powers of Rome. The prayers of the saints are good and acceptable in the eyes of God.

1 Tim 2:1-3... I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, "prayers", intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

We've had "recent" miracles at our Church from God who is faithful. For some reason God is performing these miracles...so I'm led to testify on His behalf by letting this great truth be known...for His Glory!

Please believe with us for baby Maggie to be healed and restored for the glory of God.

Thank you for the cause of Christ...

Monday, April 5, 2010

The humanity of Christ; Christ's descension and ascension; and Christ's power behind the preaching of the Gospel

The humanity of Christ illuminates the only human being that ever lived (his entire life) without sin. Without mysticism, spiritualization, or misinterpretation of the scriptures Christ’s humanity refers to him coming down from heaven (as a man of no reputation) into earth’s present conditions during that time.

John 6:38…For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will…

Eph 4:8-10…Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Through a comparison between heaven and earth; and Christ being both God and man… he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth… simply illustrates an enthroned Christ stepping down from His heavenly position and becoming a servant to all the earth.

Phil 2:7…But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men…

Eph 4:9-10...(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended

Love for fallen man is why Christ came down. When Christ descended to earth (became a man) He encountered the worst conditions of life:

1. He was born in a barren land
2. He was born to an enslaved people
3. He was born in a manger
4. He caught a fish to pay taxes
5. He was a man of no reputation (33 yrs.)
6. He lived a lonesome life
7. He was a man of sorrow
8. His Apostles forsook Him at the trial
9. He died alone at Calvary
10. The father turned His back on Him
11. He died as a criminal
12. He died as a slave
13. He died a hideous death of crucifixion


For centuries scripture verses have been taken out of context and formed into traditional fable like stories. These are misleading and harmful to any student of the Bible. The spirit of Christ compelled Noah to preach the truth of righteousness. He preached to the ungodly for 120 yrs.

Gen 6:5-6…And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually, and it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

1 Peter 3:19-20…By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

2 Peter 2:5…And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;


The Spirits in prison which were sometime disobedient (1 Peter 3:19, 20) had no reference to Satan, demons, or Christ’s descension into hell, but scripturally dealt with Noah’s preaching toward fallen man; the wickedness of man’s heart; and ungodliness upon the earth.

Historically through the Roman church the “Apostles Creed” is the origin of the mystical fable concerning Christ’s descension into Hell.

Christ descended first into the lower parts (worst conditions) of the earth and atonement was made for humanity through His suffering and sacrifice on the cross. On the third day (after His body was placed in a tomb) He resurrected and walked among men for a short time. He then ascended back to heaven (from which He came) and is now seated at the right hand of the Father.

When mysticism, spiritualization, or fable like emphasis is placed on Christ “descending into Hell” the magnitude of “His Ascension” is diminished. This is misleading; a hindrance toward Biblical understanding; and contrary to the Glory of Christ.

When Christ ascended back to heaven He provided freedom and liberty in the Spirit; released men from bondages; and delivered them from the captivity of sin and the flesh. His light overcame the powers of darkness. Through the power of His Divine mercy, love, and grace Christ sanctifies and leads men away from an evil world and places them into the security of His own body. By faith and obedience to Christ, a child of God continues to be His property, under His Divine ownership.

Eph 4:8-10…Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive…

1 Cor 6:20…For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Christ’s ascension took him from humanity back to a heavenly position where He now rules and reigns from the right hand of the Father. From this position He also governs the body of Christ, His church, and gives gifts unto men so others can learn, hear, and be taught.

Eph 4:8-10…Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men vs.11…and He gave some; apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

The power of preaching Christ saves man from sin, disobedience, and judgment. God sealed Noah and his family into the ark and saved them from the Flood; likewise this same power baptizes man into Christ; takes away all guilt from sin; and saves him from a judgment to come.

1 Peter 3:20-22…when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God;

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. The power of the Gospel message ministers Spirit, truth, and righteousness to those who receive. The Gospel was preached so man could be changed and live according to the will of God.

1 Peter 4:6…For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the Spirit.(referring to Noah, the Prophets, etc.)

Heb 4:2…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. (Referring to Moses and the Children of Israel)

Galatians 3:8…And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, in thee shall all nations be blessed.

The power of God unto salvation has always come through preaching. Hearing, learning, and being taught the Bible in its proper context is among the greatest of God’s gifts in the body of Christ.

Eph 4:8-10…Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men vs.11…and He gave some; apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

John 6:45…It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

The true and only Gospel is:

1 Cor 15:1-4…Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: