President Bush signed the Energy Policy Act into law in 2005. The law mandated the creation of artificial markets for biofuels like ethanol, as well wind and solar farms. Energy independence is the purported objective, but Senator Coburn recently said Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) may force two Oklahoma refineries to shut down. He went on to say “we’ve got a regulation out there that’s actually going to kill our ability to provide gasoline to the country”.
Ethanol proponents say the industry is not subsidized but the facts indicate otherwise. Refiners are forced to blend ethanol with gasoline and have to purchase credits (RINs) if they don’t. According to this article, RINs “operate as a flexible subsidy for biofuel producers and are paid for by U.S. refiners.” And the refiners total cost of compliance in 2013 is 19.6 Billion dollars.
The cost of compliance is under the heading “Ethanol’s costs are the refiner’s tax”. This cost is passed onto consumers at the pump, and it will increase if the EPA forces refiners to increase the amount of ethanol they blend. Continental Resources is the largest independent oil company in America. Continental’s CEO, Harold Hamm, says ethanol mandates drive up the cost of gasoline at the pump 9 cents per gallon and force the export of gasoline.
Monroe Energy LLC, a subsidiary of Delta Airlines, anticipates spending tens of millions of dollars in the next several months to acquire credits because it does not blend its own ethanol into gasoline. The company called the ethanol policy “absurd” because it requires more ethanol than the U.S. market can use. But it’s more than absurd, it’s a criminal fraud like Obamacare because falsified climate data was used to justify clean energy mandates.
Federal Clean Energy mandates are just as destructive to the U.S. economy and concept of capitalism as Obamacare. For example, our nation has a 250 year supply of coal but taxpayers are forced to subsidize wind farms. And solar farms subsidize Communist China’s manufacturing.
Check out the post Saudi Arabia, China, and Arab Emirates Own Critical U.S. Energy Infrastructure. Bipartisan leaders allow foreign governments to own U.S. energy infrastructure while clean energy mandates force us to export low cost fossil fuels. And this is their idea of energy independence? Contact your elected officials and tell them to repeal clean energy and Obamacare mandates.
Clean energy mandates are preventing energy independence by limiting use of domestic fossil fuel reserves. In 2013, the ethanol mandate will cost refiners, and eventually consumers, 19.6 Billion dollars. Meanwhile, the U.S. has so much cheap natural gas, domestic oil wells burn off (flare) a billion dollars worth of natgas per year.
We should use natural gas as a transportation fuel because our domestic reserves are equivalent to 3 times the Saudi oil reserves. And natural gas is already piped into millions of American homes, which could be part of a nationwide system of fueling stations. For more info on climate fraud check out this post on Climategate. You’ll find links to the CEO’s of General Electric and Exxon Mobil calling for cap and trade and carbon taxes.
The Declaration of Independence was drafted by Thomas Jefferson. As a student of history and law, Jefferson drew on 3000 years of Western tradition when declaring our independence from a tyrannical king. His knowledge of Judeo-Christian values, ancient Greek democracy, the Roman Republic, and English Magna Carta, etc., provided the foundation for the Declaration of Independence, which has inspired oppressed people around the world to strive for freedom.
Thomas Jefferson was the principal dreamer of the Founding Fathers. A pragmatic and practical visionary, Jefferson was one of the most creative men who ever lived. He penned the thirty-five most revolutionary words in the history of the English language: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Some say the United States were founded on racism. But the framers of the Constitution understood the contradiction of slavery, so the Preamble of the Constitution states “We the People…in order to create a more perfect Union…” The framers knew the Union would not be perfect so they set forth principles that have inspired the world. These same moral principles led to the right of women and former slaves to vote as full citizens.
The principles codified in our founding documents are timeless, their relevance is not diminished by technology, corrupt leadership or globalization. They’re based on self-evident truths, beginning with the recognition that unalienable rights emanate from a Creator, not men or governments instituted by men.
Governments are instituted to secure those rights and abolished when they fail to secure those rights. Self-evident means the argument is over, the truth is self-evident. But America’s bipartisan tyrants still seek to deny the truth, and this is the root of America’s problems today. Freedom isn’t free, and the price of freedom is eternal vigilance, so stand up for your rights!
Alexander Hamilton was the first U.S. Treasury Secretary. He favored a strong central government and private central bank that could issue currency and lend it to governments at interest. Thomas Jefferson opposed the Federalists and wanted a less centralized government that delegated power to states and individuals.
Jefferson also questioned whether a private central bank was constitutional and said banks are “more dangerous than standing armies”. Jefferson’s contempt for banks was founded in his knowledge of the tyrannical monetary system enslaving Europe. Today’s extreme consolidation of power in the Federal Reserve, Federal government and Wall Street, is Alexander Hamilton’s aristocratic vision for America in full bloom.
The Constitution does not prescribe voting as a means to check government power, it prescribes three separate but equal branches of government as a check on power. This includes the Judicial Branch. But the Justice Department abdicates its duty to prosecute high crimes and misdemeanors committed by elected officials, meanwhile politicians and media act as if voting is the only means to check government power.
The two party system is used to protect criminal politicians that subvert Constitutional checks and balances. It’s a citizen’s duty to vote, but until we restore the rule of law, government will not fulfill its obligation to secure our unalienable rights.
The founders set up a government based on equality before the law, not equality of income or outcome. Equality before the law means everybody plays by the same rules. This is necessary for a political process and market economy based on merit, not privilege.
In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson listed the multitude of crimes committed by King George III against the colonies. This list of grievances were the moral and legal grounds for the American Revolution. U.S. citizens must do the same thing today, we must present our list of grievances to local attorneys, public prosecutors, Sheriff’s, State Attorneys General, and U.S. Attorneys. Feel free to use evidence compiled in this website as the basis for your list of grievances.
The purpose of our founding documents was to create a nation of laws, not a nation of men and women whose tyrannical aspirations deprive citizens of their unalienable rights. Thomas Paine said, if there were to be a king, it would have to be the rule of law, and if a day of celebration were to be set aside, then homage should be paid to the law, a crown set upon it to remind those gathered that “the law is king.” Restoring the rule of law is job one if we are going to return to limited government.
The Jefferson Hour Forum was a website allegedly dedicated to promoting Jeffersonian principles. It was a spin off of The Thomas Jefferson Hour radio show hosted by David Swenson and Jefferson scholar, Clay Jenkinson. I wrote posts at the JH Forum under the username “epluribusunum”. The Latin phrase E Pluribus Unum means “out of many one”, and symbolizes the coming together of many different peoples to form the United States of America.
This website (Citizens United) was started as a means to counter propaganda coming from the entire media spectrum. Left, right and center media each contain fragments of truth but never connect the dots, this is a propaganda technique called compartmentalization. Unfortunately, this technique is practiced on the The Thomas Jefferson Hour radio show, so I used the JH Forum to expose the propaganda and connect the dots.
June 11, 2012, I was banned from the Jefferson Hour Forum for presenting information contained in this website, and exposing The Jefferson Hour’s use of public airwaves to spread misinformation. Imagine that, a site allegedly dedicated to promoting Jeffersonian principles, banned free speech. The JH Forum no longer exists, and I suspect the site’s hypocritical tone was a contributing factor.
The pictures of Thomas Jefferson at the beginning of this post and the second paragraph were copied from The Thomas Jefferson Hour website. I thank them for their contribution.
Using propaganda on the American people used to be illegal, but thanks to President Obama, the newest version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes an amendment that would legalize the use of propaganda on the American public.
This is the definition of propaganda from Websters New Students Dictionary: “the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring a cause…”. In this case, the cause being injured is the right of citizens to give their informed consent to government policies.
By law, broadcasters must use public airwaves to serve the public interest and their licenses can be revoked for spreading misinformation. Citizens must pressure broadcasters and the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to use public airwaves in a way that serves the public interest.
When Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, many colonists thought taking on the British Empire was a futile effort that could only end in disaster. Today, many U.S. citizens look at the tyrannical state of our nation and feel there’s nothing we can do to change things. But this kind of fatalistic thinking only empowers the tyrants and leads to horrific outcomes like Nazi Germany.
Securing freedom and defeating tyranny requires commitment. For example, U.S. troops put everything on the line in defense of our liberty. We send our military all around the world to fight for freedom, so the least we can do is stand up for liberty here at home. Doing anything less makes a mockery of the sacrifice made by our troops.
Thomas Jefferson understood the degree of commitment necessary to defeat tyranny, so he ended the Declaration of Independence with these words:
“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
The pdf Knowledge is Power, documents methods used to corrupt nations and suggests possible solutions. The online version returns to the beginning of the document after using a link, so it’s easier to use the links if you email the pdf to yourself. You need Adobe Reader to open the file, click here for a free download.
Being cheerful during tribulation is only possible if you’re saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ overcame the world, but we must warn and educate others who fall prey to sophisticated propaganda.
However, gaining knowledge of what’s happening in our chaotic world is secondary to the spiritual knowledge described in 2 Peter 1:2-4:
Psalm 2 was written by King David. Do today’s kings and rulers heed his instruction to be wise and serve the Lord Jesus Christ? Certainly not, they mock God and conspire to corrupt and persecute the Body of Christ.
Check out the following episode of “Prophecy in the News”. Host Gary Stearman interviews Terry Cook about his book “Beast Tech”. Terry is a former criminal investigator and LA County Deputy Sheriff. “Beast Tech” deals with the creation of a tyrannical world system controlled by technology, and relates it to the beast that deceives the world in Revelation 13.
Terry Cook doesn’t address the symbolism in Revelation, he uses his law enforcement expertise to prove “beyond a reasonable doubt”, that public and private organizations are using technology to create global tyranny. He says this world system will be “global communism”. Evidence of this is the selling off of America to China’s communist government.
The purpose of this website is threefold: 1) Share the good news of the Gospel. 2) Explain how the biblical beast is manifesting in the world so people aren’t deceived. 3) Offer possible solutions.
Chapter 13 in the book of Revelation says the beast will have great power to do wonders and miracles. This power will deceive people and cause them to submit to an evil agenda where, in order to buy or sell, people will be forced to get the “mark of the beast” on their body, and all who take the mark will be condemned. That’s why much of this website focuses on exposing the deceptive nature of this evil world agenda.
Those with ears to hear, let them hear, NOW is the time to get right with God. Many Christians believe they will be caught up in the air (raptured) with Christ before the tribulation described in Revelation. The Bible clearly says the rapture of the church will occur, and some scripture suggests it may occur before the tribulation. But the timing of the rapture is based on speculation.
What if Christians have to go through some or all of the tribulation before they’re raptured, are you spiritually prepared? Those who believe the church will be raptured before the tribulation, need to consider the following four verses from Revelation and 1 Thessalonians.
In the previous verses from 1 Thessalonians, the apostle Paul says the dead in Christ will rise first, this is the first resurrection mentioned in Revelation 20:4, which includes Christians who went through the tribulation. And Paul says the rapture of the church will occur immediately after the first resurrection, then we will all be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air.
If the church is not raptured before the tribulation, it doesn’t mean we are subject to the wrath of God. In many ways, the Exodus of Israel from Egypt is a type and shadow of the church rapture. Many of the plagues mentioned in Revelation occurred in Exodus, and the Israelites were spared from the plagues while the Egyptians were not.
In Exodus, Egypt is a type of the world being judged by God in Revelation, and the Israelites are a shadow of the church during the tribulation. And the passage of Israel through the parted Red Sea is a type of rapture.
Noah is another example of God protecting the faithful while his judgement comes on the earth. Noah’s ark is a type of Christ, i.e., if Christians are not raptured before the tribulation, those who are in Christ will NOT be subject to God’s wrath, just as Noah and his family were spared from God’s wrath. Christ said we may have to lay down our life for our faith, but as the apostle Paul said, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
The rapture may occur before the tribulation described in Revelation, but many Christian leaders are selling a pre-tribulation rapture as if it’s a proven fact. The timing of the rapture is speculation, so if the rapture occurs mid or post tribulation, teaching pre-trib as fact could cause many Christians to unwittingly take the mark of the beast. Christians might take the mark of the beast because they believe they’ll be raptured before that event occurs.
The video below is a short summary of current events demonstrating the rise of the beast in the world. It contains clips of leaders saying they are creating a “new world order” via “globalization”. This includes U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, George H.W. Bush, Henry Kissinger, Charlie Rose, and others. Much of the video is subjective, but given the direction of the world, we should pay attention when leaders admit they are creating a “new world order”. Also, the video accurately describes how central banks use debt to enslave nations.
As a Christian, it’s my duty to work for a just, moral society based on the rule of law. That’s why I created this website. But the most important knowledge is found in the Bible, and manifested in the belief that Jesus Christ is the Jewish Messiah sent by God to redeem the world. I recommend Discovering the Jewish Jesus led by Messianic Rabbi K.A. Schneider. He follows in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul who said Jews and Gentiles are one in Christ.
Rabbi Schneider is building a Christ based bridge between these two groups, which historically, have been suspicious of one another. And like Paul, he draws a clear line between legalistic Judaism and Christ’s gospel, which frees Christians from condemnation under the law while they press toward sanctification in Christ. You’ll be touched by the love of Christ coming through Rabbi Schneider.
I also recommend In Touch Ministry with Dr. Charles Stanley, who exemplifies the wisdom and integrity that makes a great Christian leader. Also, check out The Christian Worship Hour with Pastor Harold Salem. Pastor Salem is 93 years old and still doing the Lord’s work with passion that inspires viewers.
Joyce Meyer demonstrates that we are more than conquerors in Christ who loves us. As a young girl, Joyce was sexually molested by her father. The pain and shame could have destroyed her life, but now she has one of the largest Christian ministries in America.
The Blessed Life led by Pastor Robert Morris, offers Biblical insights and discipleship that few ministries can match.
Dr. Tony Evans emphasizes the need to act on our faith as a means to transform our family, community, county, state, nation and world. Amen to that! Like Rabbi Schneider, the aforementioned ministries demonstrate God’s love for humanity.
Psalm 82:1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. 2How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. 3Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
5They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. 6I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. 7But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. 8Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.
All scriptures in this post are from the King James version. Click on an individual verse for different translations.
IS GOD JUDGING AMERICA?
Many Christian leaders say God is judging America. But no nation in history has done more to spread the gospel than America. And no nation in history has done more to bless the Jewish people and Israel. Furthermore, its a small albeit powerful minority that’s pushing God out of the public square, advocating for abortion and gay marriage, and in general, forcing a corrupt antichrist agenda on America.
The wages of sin is death and the negative consequences of sin are evident in every nation on earth. But all nations will be judged by God at the same time in the last day. If God is currently judging individual nations for their sin, like Sodom and Gomorrah, they would all have ceased to exist long ago.
Also, there is a difference between God judging a nation and persecution by enemies opposed to the Body of Christ. Because of America’s leadership in spreading the gospel of Christ, powerful antichrist forces are trying to destroy it from within by promoting corruption.
There’s a pattern emerging among those who speak curses over America and say God is judging our nation. Invariably, they say God is judging America and blessing Israel. And they point to abortion as a primary reason for God’s judgement of America. But Israel’s abortion laws are among the world’s most liberal, yet they insist God is blessing Israel.
When Arab terrorists murder an Israeli child, their actions are widely condemned, and rightly so. But Israel’s liberal abortion laws sanction the murder of more Israeli children than all Arab terrorists combined, and yet, Christian leaders never mention Israel’s mass murder of its own children.
Those predicting God’s imminent judgement of America often cite God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3, And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curse thee… This is a form of political correctness intended to silence any criticism of Israel, whether true or not.
Those who equate any criticism of Israel to cursing Israel, ignore the fact that most of the Old Testament prophets and Jesus Christ were very critical of Israel. They criticized Israel because they loved Israel. Likewise, if Christians want to be a friend to Israel, we must speak the truth in love, even if that means offering constructive criticism.
Some Christian leaders worship Israel as God instead of worshiping the God of Israel. By portraying every action of Israel as the perfect will of God, and therefore above reproach, they place Israel above God’s law, man’s law, and the teachings of Christ. Israel is a Jewish State but it’s also in a state of anarchy.
The conditions in America are like those in chapters 3 and 4 of the book of Acts. At that time, Christians in Israel were not being judged by God, they were persecuted for preaching in the name of Jesus Christ. Chapter 3 begins with Peter and John healing a man at the Temple gate. In chapter 4, they are arrested by Jewish leaders for preaching in the name of Jesus. Before releasing Peter and John, the chief priests commanded them not to teach in the name of Jesus.
The words of king David are from Psalm 2:1-2. Psalm 2 is only twelve verses long and was written 3000 years ago, but it effectively describes the actions of world leaders from Christ’s birth to the present day.
The situation in America is similar to the days of Peter and John, i.e, antichrist Gentiles and Jews are conspiring against the Body of Christ. But antichrist forces have gotten more clever over the past 2000 years, so now they spin their persecution of Christians as God judging America.
Kelly Shackelford is president and CEO of First Liberty Institute, the largest legal firm in the nation dedicated exclusively to protecting religious freedom for all Americans. But nearly all attacks on religious liberty are against Christians.
Dr. Charles Stanley had Kelly speak to his congregation. He gave the people insight into his work by laying out the cases he took on over a two week period. It was amazing, and Kelly received a standing ovation for his hopeful message. You won’t find a more informative and encouraging presentation, please watch it.
The apostle Paul talked about Israel’s rejection of Christ in Romans 9, 10, 11, and Paul made it clear that Christians should love Israel and unbelieving Jews. For as Christ said in John 4:22 …salvation is of the Jews.
Fortunately, Zechariah 12:10 says the inhabitants of Jerusalem will one day look upon Christ whom they pierced, and mourn as for a first born and only son. Then, Zechariah 13&14 says God will deliver his holy city from its enemies and all nations will come to worship God. Until that day, Americans must defend Israel’s right to exist and denounce anti-Semitism, but we must not let political correctness stop us from telling the truth about enemies of Christ’s gospel.
Christians should thank God for Israel and the Jewish people through whom came Jesus Christ. The Bible, except for the book of Luke, was written by Hebrews/Jews who are the apple of God’s eye. Many Christians have a condescending attitude toward the failures of Israel and Judah in the Old Testament, but I don’t believe any other people could’ve done better. So we should view the failures of God’s chosen people with mercy and empathy. But for the grace of God….
We can love Israel without supporting its self destructive behavior, just as we can love a family member and not support their self destructive ways.
Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, politically correct Christians portray every action of Israel as the perfect will of God, and all Palestinian opposition to Israel as satanic. But the Bible clearly teaches that no nation is perfect, not even Israel. Revelation 11 compares Jerusalem in the last days to Sodom and Egypt, which means it is a place of depravity, deceit, and bondage.
So why do many Christian leaders fight God’s plan to bring salvation to his chosen people, the nation of Israel? They fight God while supporting Israeli behavior that the Bible compares to Sodom. The apostle Paul and others warned us about false teachers (Judaizers) who would work within the church to corrupt the Body of Christ.
Many who idolize Israel also say God is judging America. They’re reminiscent of Judaizers who said Gentile Christians would be condemned for not following Jewish law. Today’s Judaizers speak curses over America in an attempt to persecute the Body of Christ. The reality is, antichrist criminals run the US government, Wall Street, and Hollywood, and their partners, the Judaizers in the church, are using prophecy to protect the criminals.
Some say America is being judged, in part, because US leaders are pressuring Israel to divide the land promised to Abraham. For example, Rabbi Jonathan Cahn says America was blessed because it supported the 1948 U.N. Resolution that created modern Israel. But then he says God’s judgement (911 and the financial crisis) is coming on America because it’s pressuring Israel to give up land for peace.
This is a blatant contradiction because the U.N. partition forced Israel to give up much more land than what’s being considered in peace negotiations. This Real Clear Politics article says: “according to a December 2013 joint Israeli-Palestinian poll, 63 percent of Israelis and 53 percent of Palestinians support the idea of two separate nations, co-existing side by side.” So why would God judge America for Israel’s decision to divide the land?
So the land promised to Abraham went from the Nile in Egypt to the Euphrates in Iraq, which makes the U.N. resolution that created Israel a radical division of the promised land. For Rabbi Cahn’s argument to be consistent, the U.N., America, Rabbi Cahn, and all Jews that supported the 1948 resolution, should’ve been cursed by God for dividing the promised land.
Israel’s rejection of Jesus Christ is at the core of the problems facing Israel, i.e., God promised Abraham that his descendants (Israel) would be blessed, and Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of that covenant promise.
So God cannot give Israel all the land promised to Abraham as long as Israel rejects the Holy One of Israel, the Messiah that will deliver them from all their enemies. As long as Israel depends on man for security instead of their Deliverer, Jesus Christ, the best Israel can achieve is a temporary truce based on land for peace. And the best America can do is act as an honest broker that defends Israel’s right to exist.
I’m not suggesting that American churches and society are above reproach regarding God’s judgement, but it’s important to recognize that America’s Christian heritage makes it a prime target for persecution by antichrist forces. Regarding the church, I think the “prosperity gospel” is a gospel of covetousness, which is preparing Christians to accept the mark of the beast by emphasizing materialism.
Christians say God is judging America because “we” are for abortion, removing God from schools, the gay agenda, etc., but who is “we”? These issues are pushed by a small, powerful minority. For example, liberal California voted to make gay marriage ILLEGAL. But the people’s decision was overturned by a judge. And the CEO of Goldman Sachs, arguably the most powerful investment banker in the world, is an advocate for gay marriage.
America’s business and political leaders commit crimes with impunity, if we do not hold them accountable, we’ll be forced to pay for their crimes. US leaders prefer Communist China’s totalitarian model, so they implement policies that prosper China while making America subordinate to a godless Communist regime.
Christian churches must do five things: 1) Repent of unbelief 2) Pray 3) Have faith in God and act on that faith 4) Organize and vote, less evil is better than more evil. 5) Starting at the local level, place God fearing men and women in positions of authority.
Those saying God is judging America rarely support standing up for God in government. I’m sure they know faith without works is dead, i.e., praying for America is not enough, we must stand up for morality in government while believing God is on our side. Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Many people, having read parts of the Old and New Testaments, perceive God as an angry judge. This misunderstanding results from a lack of knowledge regarding the full message of the Bible. God hates sin because it destroys people and is the cause of all pain and sorrow. It is sin and Satan that rob, kill and destroy, not God. Violence in the Old Testament should be viewed as the internal human struggle between the desires of our flesh and our desire to serve God.
And the Old Testament enemies of Israel are also a metaphor representing the internal human struggle between good and evil, i.e., our carnal nature that is enmity toward God. Christ’s death and resurrection defeated Satan, so our old carnal nature is our greatest enemy. Likewise, Israel was and still is, its own worst enemy, which is true of all people.
Isaiah’s vision is key to understanding the merciful, loving, and holy nature of the God we serve. When standing in his presence, Isaiah was overwhelmed with the holiness of God, and painfully aware of his own sinfulness. But because Isaiah humbled himself and confessed his sin, our merciful God cleansed him and sent him to call the Israelites to repentance. The Israelites are God’s children, and God chose the nation of Israel to bring salvation to the world.
Like any good father, God has rules that are designed to produce the best possible life for his children. These rules, a.k.a. laws, were given to Moses in the ten commandments. When they broke the rules, there were consequences that caused the Jews to repent and turn back to God. When God’s children obeyed the law, they were blessed more than any nation on earth.
The Book of Revelation was a letter written by John to seven Christian churches on behalf of Jesus Christ. Christ warned five of the churches to repent or suffer consequences. The church at Philadelphia, which means “brotherly love”, was not called to repent. In 1 Corinthians chapter 13, the apostle Paul says charity, i.e. love, is the greatest gift that Christians can share with the world.
Praise God! We can stand boldly on the day of judgement. Not because we are perfect and without sin, but because the blood of Jesus Christ covers our sin, and because Jesus Christ lives in us, we are the righteousness of God. God is love!
Revelations 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. The Greek word for repent is metanoia, which means to change our mind. We must change our mind about God and who he created us to be. Then make a commitment to turn away from sin. So do not turn away from God when times are tough, submit to God and resist sin, then great shall be your reward.
The Christian faith is unique in the world because God became flesh in Jesus Christ, and assumed the role of a humble servant who willingly took all the sins of the world on himself. The perfect love of Christ, who washed his disciples feet and shed his blood for the forgiveness of sins, enables anyone who believes in Him to stand righteous before God. Praise and thanks to God and our Lord Jesus Christ who was crucified, buried, resurrected, and then ascended into heaven. He sits at the right hand of God and is our great high priest who, knowing all the temptations of the flesh, intercedes on our behalf with the most High God. Believe in Him, receive Him, and you will be set free.
DO YOU WANT A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST?
Click here and you’ll find the Bible in hundreds of languages, both audio and text. Scholars agree that Jesus is a real historical figure because there are thousands of ancient manuscripts verifying his existence. But many don’t believe he’s the Son of God who performed miracles, died for the sins of the world, and was resurrected from the dead.
Many people don’t believe in hell, which is permanent separation from God without any hope for joy, pleasure, or love. But the only way we can be condemned to hell is to refuse the pardon that’s available to everyone if they accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Jesus said in John 14:6 …I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Without the Way, there is no going, without the Truth, there is no knowing, without the Life, there is no living. We don’t go heaven to find Jesus, we go to Jesus to find heaven.
If you’re new to the Bible, start in the Gospel of John, the fourth book of the New Testament, which is about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. If you would rather begin with some common sense advice about living a successful life, start in Proverbs in the Old Testament. But do not be deceived, whether you believe it or not, we will all have to stand before our Creator and give an account for our life.
All of us are guilty of sin and deserve condemnation, but God so loved the world he gave his only begotten Son to pay our debt of sin by shedding his blood and dying on the cross. And WHOSOEVER believes in Him shall receive an undeserved pardon and eternal life in heaven.
God wants you to know He loves you personally just as you are, so don’t turn down His unconditional pardon. Revelation 3:20 says “Behold I (Christ) stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in…” (to your heart). Do you want Jesus to forgive your sins, free you from oppression, and heal your broken heart? First, you must believe in your heart and say (Romans 10:9-10) that Jesus died for your sins and was resurrected from the dead.
Then pray a short prayer confessing your sins to God and asking him to forgive you. Next, invite Jesus Christ to come into your heart and be the Lord and Savior of your life. Making Jesus the Lord of your life means changing old sinful habits that previously governed your life. This requires getting your thoughts, emotions, and actions in line with the will of God, which is expressed in the teachings of Christ.
The teachings of Christ are found in the first four books of the Bible’s New Testament. These four books, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, are called the gospels which means “good news”. After ascending into heaven, Christ personally appeared to the apostle Paul and revealed the mystery of grace. So it’s very important to read Paul’s letters, a.k.a. epistles, which are the books Romans through Philemon in the New Testament.
Also, get involved in a church that teaches the Bible as the inspired Word of God. The more committed you are to following Christ, the better your life will be. Studying and applying the Bible (God’s Word) in your life will produce benefits beyond anything you can imagine. Psalms 107:20 He (God) sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
The Apostle Paul sums it up in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21:
In verse 41, the thief confessed his own sin and the innocence of Christ. Then, by calling Jesus his Lord and asking to remembered in his kingdom, the thief confessed belief in Jesus as Messiah. By saying the thief would be with him in paradise, Jesus granted him salvation without water baptism.
However, water baptism (full emersion, not sprinkling of infants) is important because it symbolizes our union with Christ in his death and resurrection. Being fully submerged in water symbolizes going to the grave with Christ and dying to the desires of our flesh. Emerging from the water symbolizes our new birth in the Spirit and resurrection with Christ.
In a spiritual sense, when someone is born again, they are literally a new born baby. There are three stages of growth to becoming a mature Christian. 1) as a new born, we need to be fed God’s word and taught Christian principles. 2) As we grow, we’re able to feed ourselves, i.e, study God’s Word ourselves and apply it in our lives. 3) A mature Christian is able to teach others and lead them to Christ. So we are chosen by God for a purpose that surpasses salvation.
So faith without works is dead, meaning, if you really repent, believe in your heart that Jesus is the risen Christ, and invite him to be Lord of your life, you will bear fruit in the form of good works. But Jesus and the apostle Paul made it clear that believing in Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation. So the only work that yields salvation is believing that Christ’s sinless life, death, burial, and resurrection, fulfilled the law and paid the price for all the sins of the world.
Dr. Charles Stanley’s explanation of “saving faith” verses “intellectual faith” is better than any other I’ve heard. Whether you’re a believer or not, please listen to Dr. Stanley’s sermon on what it means to have a saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Paul’s thirteen letters, Romans through Philemon, are the standard by which doctrine was established for the Gentiles (non Jews). If you master Paul’s teachings, you will be standing firmly on the Rock of grace in Christ Jesus. Paul’s conversion was unique among the apostles. He was a Pharisee, which is the equivalent of a doctorate degree in Jewish law, and he persecuted Christians until his conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-22).
Chapter 15 in the book of Acts describes the dispute between Paul and the other apostles who, as a qualification for salvation, were imposing Jewish law on Gentile believers.
In the New Testament, all references to scripture refer to parts of the Old Testament. New Christians should focus on the first four books of the New Testament (the gospels) and Paul’s epistles. But as Paul said to his protege Timothy, the Old Testament scriptures are an essential part of a mature Christian’s walk with God.
Jesus wants us to make disciples who “observe all things” he commanded. Unfortunately, most American churches focus on making converts, not disciples. A convert is a new born Christian who lacks the spiritual knowledge and power to transform others in their circle of influence. The lack of discipleship training greatly weakens the ability of churches to manifest the transforming power of Christ in our communities and nation. So make a commitment to continually grow by studying God’s Word, and then make disciples of others for great shall be your reward.