Love is not about feelings. Love is about making right choices. Love is not about feeling warm and fuzzy. It is about obedience. Love is not about physical desire. Love is about choosing the highest good for the one loved.*

…let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…

*From the blog article ”Are You Thinking Biblically or Culturally?” dated June 11, 2016.

The kingdom of heaven is at hand. What should we do?

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matt 3:1&2

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 4:17

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:1-5

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Acts 17:29-31

The kingdom of heaven is at hand. What should we do?

Repent: Change your mind. Turn away from sin and turn unto God. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.

After I left home at the age of nineteen, one of the sweet memories of home was the fragrance of blooming lilacs on a spring breeze. We had a row of lilacs down through the middle of our back yard and every spring they gave off a fragrance that you could not forget.

After we pass through their midst what do others remember about you and I? Is it the fragrance of Christ?

...let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

But whereunto shall I (Jesus) liken this generation?

It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

Then began he (Jesus) to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:16-30

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

If you change your language, your lifestyle, your habits, your attitude,…..if you change anything just to please me,….you will still die and go to hell.

Someone has said probably more than once: One of these days I’m going to stop drinking, and cussing, and chasing women. Well, that would be a fine thing if you were to clean up your life, but just cleaning up your life without saving faith will still end in hell.

You see it’s not about anything that you do. It’s about what Jesus Christ has already done. This is God’s grace.

Without faith it is impossible to please Him (God).* Faith is the gangplank used to board the ship of grace.**

Faith is a firm persuasion or conviction brought about by hearing the Word of God.***

Do you have a Bible? Do you read it? Why not?

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

*Hebrews 11:6

**Author Unknown – Faith can be used to board the wrong ship. Faith in Christ’s merit alone is saving faith.

***W.E. Vines Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words – Copyright 1984, 1996, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, TN.

The Apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians:

For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while – I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. 

For the sorrow* that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow* of the world produces death.  For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow*, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. 

II Corinthians 7:8-11

*Sorrow – grief, pain, heaviness of mind.

*W.E. Vines Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words – Copyright 1984, 1996, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, TN.

The question to be asked is not: How can a loving God send anyone to hell? The question that should be asked is: How can a holy God let anyone into heaven?

There is a way.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. II Corinthians 5:21

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Matthew 3:1-17

Help me Lord, when I pray, to not perform a religious act, ritual or ceremony, but let my prayer be communication with You from my heart in Jesus’ name.

A means is a course of action…….by which an end can be achieved. In the Christian religion it is the action, the system, or the method by which one receives salvation.

The majority of professing Christendom believes that one receives Christ through sacraments, often referred to as ”means of grace”. It is believed that by participation in these righteous acts, administered by the church, Christ is received.

In Christian theology “works” are defined as moral or righteous acts or deeds.

What does the Bible say about grace and works?

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8&9

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. Romans 11:6

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing (cleansing) of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost (being born from above*); Titus 3:5

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Romans 4:4&5

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Hebrews 4:9&10

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16-18

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:5&6

By what means? By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

Note: Grace is simply God’s help or enabling.

Salvation is of the Lord!

*born again