WHO WILL BE PREPARED TO MEET THE GOD OF ISRAEL IN THE 1ST RESURRECTION :
THE PREPARED & THE READY
By Bro. Jacob
If you will open your Bible to the Book of Amos, we will read our opening text for our lesson. It is found in chapter four verse twelve, and I will only read five words from this verse and here they are: “Prepare To Meet Thy God” - Amos 4:12b
Five simple words, but five words when united in that order give a most solemn message. The message that is given is: we all shall shortly attend a meeting with the one that Amos called God, and that it is of the utmost importance that we [the human race in general], be not unprepared for it. Now with these thoughts in our mind, I shall explain the purpose of my sermon. In this sermon I will set forth to do these following things.
#1. I will identify the God that we must prepare to meet.
#2. I will explain what shall be the business of this meeting.
#3. I will Identify those who are not prepared to meet him.
#4. I will explain how to be prepared to meet him.
With this, we shall enter straightly into the first course of business.
#1. IDENTIFY THE GOD THAT WE MUST PREPARE TO MEET
It would be only logical that we should want to know the one who has scheduled a special meeting with us, who shall we be meeting with? In the next verse of Amos 4, the God we must prepare to meet is identified:
Amos 4:13 For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.
The God we must prepare to meet is the one who formed the mountains, and who created the wind. The one who walks the dark hills, and speaks to the hearts of men. He is the Lord of hosts. He is the God of Israel, the God of the Bible and his name is Jesus if you’ve received faith in his blood for the remission of sins under the New Covenant. He which was know as Jehovah under the Old Testament Covenant!
Since he has now been identified clearly for us, we should see how this God is going to meet with us? For as we study the Bible we see that the God of Israel meets with men in a peculiar way. For he is God that dwells where no man can go with The God Father whom no man has seen nor can see [1 Timothy 1:17, 6:16]; and thus He has a special people and Ambassador, The nation of Israel the church, who represents his very presence to all mankind. The invisible God the Father meets with us through the person of his Son, Christ Jesus [John 1:18, Colossians 1:13-15].
And it is through the Son Christ Jesus that God speaks to us in these last days.
Hebrews 1:1-2 ¶ God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; [see also Col. 1:13,16].
Here we are told that God now speaks to us, and no doubt meets with us, through his Son, through whom God made all things.
Now do we understand what we just read? Let me break it down:
A. God the Father, has a Son, who is Jesus.
B. Jesus is God the Son which was with God the Father, when he was in the beginning
IN HIS FIRST GLORY as Jehovah the creator of all things.
C. God created all things through his Son. In fact the Bible tells us:
“All things were made by him [Jesus a.k.a Jehovah]; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” - John 1:1-3, Ephesians 3:9
Do you know what this means? First it shows beyond a shadow of doubt, that Christ is indeed the eternal Son, that there was never a time that he was not the Son of God.
And Secondly, If God created all things through Christ, and nothing was created except that it was created through him, it means Christ absolutely cannot be a creature. And if he is not a creature, then he must be Creator. Never forget this, God the Son created all things.
Let’s continue with this discourse on Hebrews by noticing the exaltation of Christ in verse four:
Hebrews 1:4 ¶ Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Jesus [aka Jehovah] is much better than the angels by his name, because angels were created by Jesus when he was called Jehovah, and not only is he better than angels, but he is worshiped by the angels according to verse six of this chapter!
And notice, this Son, has inherited an excellent name from his Father. Only true and literal sons inherit the name of their Fathers. Only true and literal Sons inherit the image or likeness of their Father.
And what is the name of the Father? It is Jesus as we have seen in Amos and in other places of the Bible [Exodus 6:3, Isaiah 26:4]. Jesus Christ is the authority, in being the true Son of GOD, to speak and to act in the very name of God the Father.
And note also this, not only do true Sons inherit the likeness and name of their fathers, but they also, always, inherit the nature of their fathers. For instance, the Bible teaches that like begets like [Genesis 5:3]. The offspring always has the nature of the father, for instance: A human will beget a human. A kangaroo will beget a kangaroo. A whale will beget a whale [Genesis 6:20]. Since Christ is the “ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD” [John 3:16, 1 John 4:9], then he must have the very nature of his Father is also named Jesus.
THE DIVINE NATURE OF CHRIST
Hebrews 3:3-4 For this man [JESUS] was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
Why is Christ worthy of more honor than Moses? Because the builder of the house is worthy of more honor than the house that he built. Who made Moses? Who made all things? It was Christ, and if Christ is Creator, and if Christ is the literal and eternal Son, then he must in his very nature and substance be God. And this is what the Bible explicitly declares when it says: “In him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead”-Colossians 2:9
This is seen in many places, but since we are in Hebrews we can look again in the first Chapter and see what God the Father called his Son God.
Hebrews 1:8-9 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Here God, the Father of Christ refers to his Son as God. Also in John 1:1-2 the Word which is Christ [see John 1:14], is identified as having the same nature as the God he was with. God and his Son share the same Divine Nature [Godhead]. And we should never doubt that the one we must prepare to meet, who Amos called God, is Christ, for the one who is coming again, that everyone prepare to meet is God the Son.
Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him...
Philippians 2:10-11 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
[also see Psalms 2:12]
#2. EXPLAINING WHAT SHALL BE THE BUSINESS OF THIS HOLY CONVOCATION (HOLY MEETING)
Now that we have identified that the one we shall meet with is God the Holy One of Israel, Jesus. We shall explain the purpose of this Holy convocation. And it is divided into the following parts:
A: Christ shall set on his Throne of his glory, the Throne of his Fleshly Father David because he is both the root and OFFSPRING OF DAVID ( Revelations 22:16)
Luke 1:31-33And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
And for those that follow the Christ they will set on David’s Throne.
Matthew 19:28 And Jesus said unto them [ his disciples], Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Luke 22:28-30 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And for the rest of us while he was yet Jehovah
Psalm 132:11-13 The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne. If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore. For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
Revelations 3:21-22 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
B: Christ shall rule the world from Jerusalem for a Thousand years.
Jeremiah 3:17
At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.
Revelations 20:5
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Isaiah 2:3
And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Christ is coming again to judge the world with righteousness and the inhabitants there of with truth. God Almighty shall judge the world [Acts 17:31].
Do you believe that? Here are the very words of Christ while he in the flesh:
“For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son” - John 5:22
Jesus Christ is going to judge the world after his 1000 year reign, he is going to judge between the sheep and the goat. The righteous and the unrighteous. The children of God and the children of the devil. He will judge between those who are worthy of eternal life (John 3:16) and those who are worthy of eternal damnation (Mark3:29).
What shall he judge the world by? When men sit as judges for the purpose of passing sentences of “innocent” or “guilty”, they normally examine the evidence to see if the person has transgressed the law or not. The question is, and it is a very important one, what rule of law shall we be judged by? The answer is: It is his Word and his Law. As it is written:
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” -
What commandments form the fountain head of the law of GOD? James identified them in the Second chapter of his Book when he said: James 2:10-12-“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty”.
Clearly James is referring to the 10 Commandments that God give to the children of Israel when he brought them out of the house of Egypt
Exodus 20:1-2
And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Now if you studied these Ten Commandments you will see that if you are transgressing any of them, it is what God shall judge us by this is why we must keep the Passover which now points to Christ (1 Cor 5:7-8).
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Christ shall execute Judgment also.
“And [God] hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man” - John 5:27
That is, he will not only judge between the wicked and the righteous, but he will also execute judgment. That is he will meet out the due rewards. In our Court Systems the Judge passes a judgment, and the executioner carries out the penalty, but with Christ he both passes judgment and then executes the penalty.
As Christ has said: “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be”. - Revelation 22:12
And Jude also wrote of this:
“ Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” - Jude 1:14-15
Now we ask a very important question: What shall be the reward of the wicked? Let’s turn to the word and read it for ourselves:
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power
The punishment for wickedness is everlasting destruction, it is being cast alive into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is called the second death. A punishment to which there is no remedy. Oh friends, do you see why it is so important to prepare to meet thy God? If you are not prepared you will hear him say to you:
“Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” Matthew 25:41.
#3. IDENTIFY THOSE WHO ARE NOT PREPARED TO MEET HIM.
We have thus far identified the one we must meet, The Holy One of Israel which is Christ Jesus , and we have found the agenda of the Holy convocation , which is judge (rule) over the House of Jacob which is Israel. We have even established by what law we shall be judged by, and the punishment for not being prepared for the Holy meeting.
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Now we must identify those who are not prepared to meet God, so that if we are currently in that dreaded number, we can do something about it. Let’s begin with the last book of the Bible, Revelation, for it identifies many who are not prepared.
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Those not prepared had not the witness of Jesus of Holy Bible, and nor the word of God, they worshipped the beast, they conformed to his image, and received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Here is a good list of those who shall find a home in the lake of fire, and
I would think it wise to begin with the second group listed.
Let’s begin with the unbelieving. This group is made up of all those who have rejected Holy One of Israel by not putting their trust fully in the Biblical Christ which is the Jesus spoke of between Genesis and Revelations. It does not mean simply “believing” that there is a God for the devils believe in God and they tremble, but they do not TRUST him unto salvation [James 2:19], and here we have the certainty of the Word of God that all who do not trust him shall be cast into the lake of fire. I do not want any of you to be deceived, there is no other name given under heaven whereby men must be saved [Acts 14:12], and no one who refuses to have Christ as Lord and Savior shall be lost [Luke 19:27]. It doesn’t matter if you are a ‘good person’, if you do ‘good works’, or if you are called ‘religious’ by the world, if you do not trust in The Holy One of Israel, the True Christ as Lord and Savior which is also called by name THE WORD OF GOD (Rev 19:13),
you will be lost,but if you are performer of this, ye shall not fail.
Isaiah 34:16
Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail,
none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.
but if you are doer and teacher of this, Jesus says
ye shall be called great in the Kingdom of God
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
As Jesus explained in Mark 16:16: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned”.
LOST PROFESSORS OF RELIGION
Now we move from those who have not professed Christ the Holy One of Israel as LORD, to those who claim to, but yet are still not prepared to meet him.
Christ warned that in the day of his coming, that many will cry to him, “Lord, Lord” but he will say to them, “I know you not” and he promises that he will cast them into the lake of fire [see Matthew 25:41].
I want to warn everyone of you that a profession of faith will not save you, but you must have Biblical Christ the God of Israel in your possession. And be warned that many are deceived, thinking that Christ is in their possession when he is not. Jesus himself said
Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity
How shall we know if we are deceived? The Apostles Paul tells us to do the following:
2 Cor 11:4- For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.-Matthews 24:4
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” - 2 Corinthians 13:5
According to the Bible it is wise to examine ourselves. What must we look for? What should be tested? Christ said “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves you shall know them by their fruits” [Matthew 7:20].
What are fruits? They are the things in one’s life that are made evident by their heart’s condition. A heart that is filled with the True Christ shall bring forth good fruits and a heart that is not filled with the True Christ, will bring forth evil fruit. The Bible names many works or fruits that prove whether a man’s heart is or is not prepared to meet God.
Let’s continue to look at this list of those who shall find themselves in the lake of fire.
Again in Revelation 21:8 we see the fearful, and unbelieving, and
the abominable - that is anyone who practices something that God has deemed an abomination, this could range from homosexuality, to cross dressing, to religious customs that are heathen i.e todays Satanized Christianity [Deuteronomy 12:30-32, 18:9-13, and Jeremiah 10:2-5;12:10].
and murderers, and whoremongers,
and sorcerers - here sorcerers not only refers to witchcraft, but to pharmaceuticals or drug use and abuse. Drug abusers are not ready to meet God.and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
ALL THAT WALK IN THE FLESH
Now I could sum up the list by simply saying: All who walk after the flesh are not prepared to meet God! For if we walk in the flesh, or according to the wants and desires of the fallen fleshly nature, we are the very enemies of God. Do you believe that?
Romans 8:6-8 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Why is the Carnal or Fleshly mind the enemy of God? Because it is not subject to the law of GOD, it will not obey the Commandments of God [Remember we shall be judged by these commandments]. The fleshly nature is prone to sin, and a sinful life is what is produced from a person that walks in the flesh. And I absolutely can warn you with all confidence that those who walk in the flesh shall die.
Now how shall we know the carnal or those who walk by the dictates of the flesh? By their fruits or works. The Apostles gives us the following list of carnal works:
Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations [jealousy], wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings [ parties i.e Mardi Gras], and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Is it not clear, dear reader, that those who walk in the flesh, who have the works of the flesh manifesting themselves in their lives are not prepared to meet God?
THE UNRIGHTEOUS WILL NOT BE THERE.
1st Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?
The Bible tells us that the unrighteous are not prepared to meet God. But who are the unrighteous? Those who do unrighteousness are unrighteous and all unrighteousness is sin [1 John 5:17, 1st John 3:7-8], and sin is the transgression of the Law [1st John 3:4, Romans 3:20, Romans 7:7]. And be not deceived, when Christ The Holy One of israel comes, he shall destroy the unrighteous or sinner out of the land
[Isaiah 13:9]. In the following verses we find a partial list of unrighteous deeds.
1st Corinthians 6:9-10 ....Be not deceived: neither fornicators [people who have sex without the intent of marriage] nor idolaters [persons who bow to images, or love anything more than God-Ezekiel 14:3], nor adulterers [people who have sex outside of the marriage.. also see Luke 16:18], nor effeminate [men who act like women], nor abusers of themselves with mankind [homosexuals], Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers [one who abuses with the tongue], nor extortioners [one who takes from another unlawfully, as in rapists and robbers], shall inherit the kingdom of God. [Also see Ephesians 5:3-6]
Do you see friends? If you walk in the flesh, then you shall die in the flesh. If you sow to the flesh, you will reap corruption. If any of these things are in your life, or anything that is similar to these things is in your life, then you are NOT prepared nor are you preparing to meet God.
#4. EXPLAIN HOW TO BE PREPARED TO MEET HIM.
Thus far we have learned that those who are carnally minded are not prepared to meet the True God. Now we must show how those who are not prepared may prepare for that meeting that is soon coming. Paul tells us how in the next verse.
1st Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
We must be washed, we must be cleansed of these things. Every act of the flesh leaves a dark blot upon our souls, and a mark upon the record books of heaven. We must have our souls and the heavenly record cleansed. Not only must we be cleansed, but we must be sanctified by the Spirit of God, or in other words be set apart from these
sinful deeds that were in our life, and live holy for God the Holy One of Israel.
Do you know what cleanses us? Some people think that if they ask God to forgive them before they go to bed that he simply cleanses them; that they can be ‘forgiven’ without accepting Christ as Lord and Savior, and that is simply a false doctrine.
The only soul cleanser in the world today is the Blood of Jesus Christ [Revleation 1:5]. There is no remission/forgiveness of sins without his blood [Hebrews 9:22]. And the only way to receive this blood is by receiving the Holy One of Israel, Christ our Passover (1 Cor 5:7) ourLord and Savior.
Not only must we be washed in the Blood of Christ the Passover, but we must be sanctified by the Holy Spirit of God which is the Word of God. As Jesus told Nicodemus: “you MUST be born again to see the Kingdom of God” [John 3:3 SEE BORN AGAIN PART 1].
How shall we then receive the blood for washing and the Spirit [The Word of God in the case] for sanctification? The Bible gives just a few simple steps. Turn with me to Romans Chapter Ten and there we shall read the following:
Romans 10:8-17 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
How do we enter into salvation, and have our sins washed away? By Trusting the whole Bible from the beginning to the the end concerning why God has raised up Christ from the dead, and confess him as Lord with your mouth, and by walking in his word and you shall be saved.
Simple isn’t? Yet many people say they believe that God raised Jesus from the dead on Easter Sunday which is actually a open denying of our Savior by the whole world, and yet they say Jesus is Lord with their lips, and yet they are still just as lost as the devil. Why?
First to believe that God raised up Christ from the dead, means you believe the Gospel that starting in Genisis all thru revelations. To believe in both The Law and Testimony means you believe:
#1. To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20 [Christ is the Light of the World]
#2. That Christ is the Son of GOD, the Holy One of Israel as he said he was [Matthew 12:40]. Jesus told the Pharisees that he would be dead for three days and three nights, and that would be the sign that proves that he is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
#3. That Christ died for your sins. That is, your sins were placed on Christ, and he suffered your punishment for you. [see Isaiah 53:6, 1 Peter 2:24].
#4. That Christ’s sacrifice was accepted by God as payment for your sins, and this is proven by God raising him again to life. A “raising to life” is a resurrection. In a resurrection the dead body is brought back to life [Luke 24:3, 39].
#5. And that Christ now is at the right hand of God, making intercession for you.
My friend this is the Gospel [see 1st Corinthians 15:1-4, 1 Timothy 2:5]. And I warn you, that if you reject any part of this,
then you are not saved from Satanized Christianity!
IS JESUS LORD?
Now what else is there to do? You believe all of this, and now what is the next step? You must “Confess that Jesus Christ ( THE WORD OF GOD) is Lord”. Today many people confess Jesus Christ is Lord, but I am afraid that many people are merely saying the words, without making the Biblical commitment. We must make certain that we mean “Jesus is my Lord” when we confess him as Lord. TURN WITH ME TO LUKE 6:46 and we shall see what this confession really means.
Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
What does it mean to confess Jesus is Lord? The confession of the mouth, is the outward sign of something that has happened within your heart. You are to confess Jesus (THE WORD) as Lord with your mouth, because you have received Jesus as both Lord and Savior over your heart.
If you have not accepted the Lordship of The Holy One of Israel which is Jesus THE WORD OF GOD over your life, then your confession is vain and void! Jesus told the Pharisees of yesterday that they worshiped him in vain because they taught the fear of God by the precept and commandments of men, yet they gave honor from their lips and not from their hearts. Matthews 15:7-9
Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men
You see too many Phariseeded people of our time are only willing to receive a Christ as Savior, they want the forgiveness of sins, and salvation from hellfire, but they really don’t believe in the Holy Bible nor they want the Christ of the Holy Bible as Lord over their lives. But I tell you that this is a package deal from Satanized Christianity. If you will not have CHRIST THE WORD ( John 1:1-4)as Lord, then you cannot have Christ as Savior. If you are not willing to obey Christ in all things, then you have not made him your Lord. The Bible says:
He [Jesus] became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him - Hebrews 5:9
TRUE REPENTANCE
Please remember dear reader that repentance is necessary for salvation; if you we do not repent we will certainly not be prepared for the 1st Resurrection and perish. For Jesus warned:
Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Those who say they have saving faith, but have not repented are lying. You must repent to escape damnation. Do you realize what repentance is? It doesn’t just mean you are ‘sorry’! It means you make a turn, you make an about-face!
What do we turn from? We turn from a life of sin to God. To repent we must determine in our will that we are turning from our sin to God [see Ezekiel 18:21] .
What is sin? It is disobedience or the breaking of God’s law. So if we repent, we must make a decision to stop living in disobedience to God, and to start living in obedience to GOD. We turn from having the flesh ruling our lives, and we turn to Jesus, and lay our lives at the feet of Jesus and we let him rule our lives.
You know when I first came to Jesus, I didn’t know much about the Bible and the ways of God, but I knew certain things were sin. For me to be saved, I had to be willing to lay them down. The moment I became willing and I called upon him for salvation [Romans 10:13], he not only saved me but he delivered me from the bondage of these sins. He gave me power over the sins in my life. I simply had to make the decision. So we see that to enter salvation we must do these things, we MUST believe the gospel, and we must Confess Jesus as Lord, because we have received him as Lord over lives [that is we have made the decision to be obedient to him]. If we have never done this, then we have never been saved.
But the moment we believe the Gospel, and make the decision of the will to turn from sin, to Christ, we shall be saved.
A WORD FOR THE BACKSLIDERS, THE LUKE WARM, OR THE FALLEN
Now let’s look at those who at one time served the Lord Jesus Christ, but have now backslidden from him [Hebrews 3:12-19]. Be not deceived dear friends, Christians can choose to disregard Christ as Lord over their lives, and when they do, the works of the flesh are made manifest in them. Mark my words, dear professor of Christ, if you have a known sin in your life then you are not prepared to meet your God. If these works of the flesh, that we have looked at previously are in your life, then you are not ready for his coming.. So it is with that solemn warning; we wish to teach how the Backslider can recover himself. Please read with me Chapter two, verse five of the Book of Revelation.
Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
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The only remedy for sin is confession and repentance. As it is written:
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. - Proverbs 28:13
WHERE SHALL THE UNGODLY APPEAR?
Now as we conclude our lesson, I want to read the following passage of Scriptures.
1st Peter 4:17-18 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
Friends, if you are not saved from Satan’s Gospel, and if you are not living righteously nor preparing yourself for the 1st Resurrection in this present world, don’t deceive yourself into thinking you shall on that day open your eyes in glory! For that is not the day prepared for the ungodly and sinners.
Here is the sobering question: If this moment would be your last, would you be prepared to meet Christ at his coming for the 1st Resurrection? Will you appear in glory with him? If you cannot say with 100% certainty that you are ready to meet him, then you should by all means take this opportunity to make yourself ready. God is willing to save you from Satan's Gospel, it is not his will that you perish [2 Peter 3:9]. He showed that he wanted you saved by the giving of his Son to die for you [1st John 4:9, John 3:16]. If you will turn your heart to prepare for him, he will forgive you, cleanse and sanctify you thru is word, and make you fit for his Kingdom. If you end up in the 2nd Resurrection facing the lake of fire, you will do so by your own choice; by refusing to surrender your sins and taking the total Salvation that God is offering you today.
Right now the door of mercy is still open, today is the day of salvation, and right now is the accepted time for you to be saved
[2 Corinthians 6:2] Will you not turn to prepare for God now? Prepare for the 1st Resurrection?