THE SCOFFER...

PROVERBS references the SCOFFER often. The Hebrew word for SCOFFER is rather humorous. It literally means "TO MAKE MOUTHS AT." From a sneer to a grimace to pursed lips to twisted lips of disapproval to a facial shrug... the mouth is very active. "O, be careful little mouth what you say (or portray)."

Proverbs 13:1....

 "But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke." 

- Dick Christen

WON'T THAT BE GLORY?

 

AS A BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST:

Here below my mind is shrouded in finiteness; someday, when I soar to glory, it will be open to vistas of unimaginable wonder. Think of exploring God's numerous created orders with perfect intellect, unbounded strength, endless minutia, all in perfect harmony with others and for the glory of God alone. And then, to stroll home on gold streets for heavenly feasts in heavenly mansions. 

"Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face" 1 Corinthians 13:12.

- DC

THIS DOESN'T NEGATE THAT.....

Psalm 118:1 

"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good for his steadfast love endures forever!"

Wonderful truth..."his steadfast love." We glory in His unending love. Nothing can negate it nor in any way interrupt it. Nothing can "separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38,39). 

But this glorious truth doesn't stand alone. He is a loving Father who, however, deals with insubordinate children. He can give them a good spanking. And so, His love doesn't negate or toss this verse out:

"For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastens every son whom he receives" (Hebrews 12;6).

- Dick Christen

GOD'S WAYS OF ANSWERING OUR PRAYERS....

 

I BELIEVE GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS BOTH DIRECTLY BUT, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, INDIRECTLY. OR, PUT ANOTHER WAY, HE CAN SPEAK AND IT IS DONE, OR, HE MAY USE 'MEANS' TO BRING 'WHATEVER' TO PASS.

There was a preacher who fell in the ocean and he couldn't swim. When a boat came by, the captain yelled, "Do you need help, sir?" The preacher calmly said "No, God will save me." A little later, another boat came by and a fisherman asked, "Hey, do you need help?" The preacher replied again, "No God will save me." Eventually the preacher drowned & went to heaven. The preacher asked God, "Why didn't you save me?" God replied, "Fool, I sent you two boats!

I do believe God could have reached down with His own arm and plucked the preacher from the water. After all He led Israel waterlessly through the Red Sea. Water is no problem to God, and, to use the prophet's words, His arm is not shortened that it cannot save. But in another instance He sent a big fish to save Jonah and directed that fish to spit him up on dry land. In this way God used other than human means. However, God could have saved both Jonah and the preacher directly, even as He delivered the Hebrew men from the fiery furnace. He mysteriously appeared right there in the furnace with them. 

But, in the cases cited, He rather chose to use 'means.' And, more often than not 'the means' principle' applies to any area of life.

We can obtain wisdom from God, indirectly, even by means of a tiny ant. In Proverbs 6:6 He directs: "Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise..." So, we fascinatingly observe and learn.

OR.....

"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him."

Therefore, we should not presume upon God but actively learn wisdom from sources all around. Nor should we limit God but seek Him intensely to give what we need at any given moment. So, we look down and around for wisdom; we also look up for it.

However we go about it (or He goes about it), God loves to give what is needed in every day life in whatever way He pleases. Let us not limit Him but be so in touch with Him that we will read His responses correctly even while refusing to limit Him in His self chosen ways of doing what He will do. 

- dick christen

 

THAT MAN IN THE PULPIT....

                                                                                

THAT MAN IN THE PULPIT is at once the 1. ELDER (example) 2. SHEPHERD (pastor/feeder/care giver) and 3. OVERSEER (leader) of the local church.

In 1 Peter 5:1-4, the Apostle uses these three capitalized terms to refer to the very same group of church leaders. All three titles apply to all of them. Peter instructs:

"The ELDERS who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: SHEPHERD (pastor) the flock of God which is among you, serving as OVERSEERS, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away."

A holy, Spirit filled minister, (elder, shepherd and overseer that he is), is an awful weapon in the hand of God. The position is God-ordained, not of human invention. Tozer remarked, "I cannot recall, in any of my reading, a single instance of a prophet who applied for the job. The essence of the minister lies in what God had created him to be rather than in what the church has authorized him to do." Effective pastoring and preaching is the dynamic release of a Divine Word that has gripped the heart and mind of the preacher. "A man cannot really preach until preach he must." Such a pastor longs, in like manner, to see the Word take hold of the hearts on his listeners. But it takes much drawing nigh to the Father, much closeness to the Father, much prayer and much filling of the Holy Sprit for such to be reality. Be clear about this: In the pulpit education is no substiture for unction, as essential as 'learning' is. The Holy Spirit's fullness  (or control) is a 'must' for dynamic effectiveness. People hearing such will leave a service, not enamored with the beauty of a sermon delivered, but with the determination to take the God-empowered Word and turn it into the lived-out Word. 

- Dick Christen, D.D.

WHEN GOD SPANKS US....

When life issues us hard times, we often plead with God to change our circumstances all the while forgetting that God is using our circumstances to change us. At such times shouldn't we at least be asking the question, "Lord, what are you trying to teach me? Why are you allowing this to unfold in my life?"

 

Pro 3:11-12 declares: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest His correction; For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights."

 

THE MESSAGE (an interpretive paraphrase) renders it: 

"But don't, dear friend, resent GOD's discipline; don't sulk under his loving correction. It's the child he loves that GOD corrects; a father's delight is behind all this."

Discipleship is more than getting to know what the teacher knows; it is getting TO BE what He is. The Father unrelentingly works in us that we will be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). That is His primary purpose in saving us. And God does this according to His desire, not our likes or dislikes. Jesus will be exalted in us! The Father works all things after the counsel of His will whether we are happy about it or not. The making of a disciple means the creating of a duplicate. Such is quite the process and, at times, excruciating. Discipleship is more than getting to know what the teacher knows. It is getting to be what he is.

- Dick Christen, D.D.

THE OFFERINGS IN LEVITICUS, CHAPTERS 1-5

 

THE OFFERINGS IN LEVITICUS, CHAPTERS 1-5

The Leviticus offerings read in Biblical order are how God sees us, we having been saved and justified through Jesus Christ. But, read in reverse, or, starting in chapter 5, are how we come to God through Christ. See this in:

1. THE TRESPASS OFFERING, chapter 5:1-19

This is Christ making atonement for all sinners' sin even if committed unknowingly, ignorantly or "he is unaware of it."

2. THE SIN OFFERING, chapter 4:1-35

In this chapter, Christ makes atonement for sins known to be sin, but forgotten or deliberately ignored.

3. THE PEACE OFFERING, chapter 3:1-17 

When the sinner believes in Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior, he is forgiven. Calvary covers it all.  Such a one is at peace with God (Romans 5:1 - "Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God...")

4. THE GRAIN OR SOFT FLOUR OFFERING, chapter 2:1-16

Christ is seen in His perfect LIFE and sinlessness and in His perfection in all His being and doings. All is in perfect proportion. 

5. THE WHOLE BURNT OFERING, chapter 1:1-17

Christ seen in His perfect DEATH for us. He completely resigned Himself to God's will for the redemption of sinners. He said, "not my will but Thine be done."

And so, believers are ever enjoined to complete yieldedness in body and spirit, to do the will of God. 

- Dick Christen

       

       

GOSSIP = CHEAP CANDY

 

Pointedly, the Apostle James said, "The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity" and, among other biting remarks, that it is "set on fire by hell" (James 3).

As kids we sang, "O, Be careful little mouth what you say...for the Father up above is looking down in love, O, be careful little mouth what you say." Adults should learn it anew. 

The Bible warns often about the dangers of a tongue dangerously misused:

Proverbs 26:22 says this: "The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body."

A paraphrase expresses it this way: "Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy; do you want junk like that in your belly?" (MSG, an interpretive paraphrase)

A discerning head usher in one of my pastorates (when people would try to pass gossip on to him) would take hold of one of his ears and say, "Does this look like a garbage pail?")

An abrupt rebuke like that can certainly put an end to abusive talk. Try it, unless you like "cheap candy."

J. Sidlow Baxter once remarked, "One of the first things that happens when a man is truly filled with the Spirit is not that he speaks with tongues, but that he learns to hold the one tongue he already has."

Good observation!

- dick christen

FOLLOW MY HEART???

FOLLOW YOUR HEART? This is a popular mantra nowadays. Is this a worthy piece of advice? The answer is "no." And to do so is foolishness! (See the verse below.)  Rather, pursue wisdom. Do take the time to study Proverbs 2. It sets forth a necessary and ardent quest for wisdom which leads directly to God and His revealed Word. Obeying this Word aligns our hearts and lives with Him, and that is wisdom personified in the seeker. In other words, follow God and not your own heart. The Holy Scriptures have  a principle or directive for every activity of one's life. 
     "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered" (Prov. 28:26).
     The reading and study of the Word of God for the purpose of discovering the will of God is the greatest of holy disciplines. Yes, and as vital as prayer is, imbibing the Bible is more vital. The Bible is God talking to us. Prayer is us talking to God. Which is more important?And so, loving the Bible, the will of God is revealed. The will of God obeyed produces Christ-likeness and God-honoring character. The old self would rather have its own way. It ever resists what God decrees. We may well become miserable until we turn God's will from a sigh to a song. 
     All heaven is waiting to help those who will discover the will of God and do it.  The sincere Christian is obsessed with finding and doing God's will. Again, study Proverbs 2. Notice the search for wisdom - the intense search, the discovery of God. God speaks, we listen and obey and thereby walk in the light and wonderfully find ourselves on the path of wisdom or God's very best for us. THINK BIBLE! It's God showing us how to live. 

- dick christen

I BELIEVE IN THE CHRISTIAN TRINITY.....

I believe in the Trinity. By this I mean I affirm the Bible's JEHOVAH GOD set forth as Father, Son and Spirit. The three persons are one God and that God is three persons. For instance and most interestingly, in Hebrews chapter 1, the Father calls the Son GOD. Here it is: "But to the Son He says: 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom'" (v8). The first chapters of John's Gospel, Colossians and Hebrews, clearly magnify Jesus, His deity and God accomplishments and wonders. And then, in Acts 5:3,4 the Holy Spirit is called God. Ananias and his wife had sold property and gave some of the pecuniary gain to the Apostles and, hypocritically, made as if they were giving all of it. "But Peter said, 'Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.'” 

Our little minds try to comprehend the concept of one in three and three in one by holding up a cube with three dimensions, height, depth, and width, and note that if we take away any one of the dimensions, the entire cube disappears. This helps, however imperfectly so, but the Scriptures do say, "His invisible attribute are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power AND GODHEAD..." (Romans 1:20). Again, substance of water is seen in three manifestations, liquid, ice and steam. This conditions our thoughts to the concept of three in one and one in three. And, because Jehovah is one in three and three in one, our prayers entail all three persons. We pray TO the Father ("Our Father in heaven...", Matthew 6:9), THROUGH the Son ("No one comes to the Father except through me," John 14:6), and IN the Holy Spirit ("but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered," (Romans 8:26). Praying thus we rest assured that we indeed have talked to our great and holy God. 

Yes, I believe in the Trinity that is the Godhead. 

- Dick Christen

A WORSHIP SCENE LONG AGO......

I mean, what we are going to read is really an example of  worship that happened long ago. The story is about Ezra, a priest and scribe, who ministered about 500 B.C. And yet, similar to Ezra’s worship gathering so long ago, there are elements of worship then that are still included in many places of Christ honoring worship today. I have interjected an outline in the passage below. It makes salient 12 points of God-honoring worship. All that is in parentheses and in caps is my attempt to point out the richness of the text.

NEHEMIAH 8:1-8

​^“And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked (THE PEOPLE’S ASPIRATION) Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses (DIVINE REVELATION) which the Lord had given to Israel. Then Ezra the priest (DIVINE AUTHORIZATION) brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding (PEOPLE’S PARTICIPATION), on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law. Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose (ADVANCE PREPARATION). And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam on his left hand (LEADERSHIP PARTICIPATION). Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up (CONGREGATON VENERATION). Then Ezra blessed the Lord the great God (WORSHIPER EXALTATION). And all the people answered, “Amen, Amen! (WORSHIPER AFFIRMATION)” while lifting up their hands (WORSHIPER EXHILARATION); then they bowed low (WORSHIPER HUMILIATION) and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, explained the law (PRIESTLY EXPLANATION) to the people while the people remained in their place. They read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense (MORE EXPLANATION OR EXPOSITION) so that they understood the reading.” 

D.  CHRISTEN

DANIEL, A GREAT PRAYER WARRIOR.....

DANIEL, A REAL PRAYER WARRIOR

Daniel 9:1-9, 16-19 constitute an instructive, heart-felt and most earnest prayer uttered by Daniel during the Babylonian Captivity. He had learned that Jeremiah had spelled out that it would last seventy years. Now, well into this time span, Daniel knows of the sin of his people which caused the horrible captivity and is also aware that the people have yet to truly clean up their act. And so, he prays so very ardently. It is one of the most passionate payers in the Bible. So open the Bible and read the above Scriptures and feel his burden and yearning heart.  

AND THEN, DO NOTICE DANIEL’S:

SET DETERMINATION (9:3a)

“Then I set my face toward the Lord God…”

     A true prayer warrior sets his or her face like a flint to do so. Prayer can't be merely a whim or a fancy. I must understand that a righteous believer can reach the heart of God and move Him in unusual ways. Speaking in hyperbole, Jesus said if we pray in faith we can move an entire mountain into the sea. Such a faith is perseverance that GOD CAN! It's been said that the difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one often comes from a strong will and the other from a strong won't. 
Daniel had both!

THEN, NOTICE DANIEL'S SERIOUS COMMUNICATION WITH GOD (9:3b)

“…to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.”

     J. Wilbur Chapman told how he met the famous missionary, "Praying Hyde." Chapman asked the man if he would come to his room and pray for hm personally. He was conducting meetings at the time and sensed he needed to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit. Chapman reported that as soon as they were in his room, Praying Hyde locked the door and dropped to his knees. "I waited five minutes without that dear man uttering a single syllable, said Chapman. "Presently I felt hot tears course down my cheeks. Although Hyde had said nothing, I knew I was in the presence of God in a special way. Then, with upturned face and eyes streaming, he exclaimed, "O God!" Then he was quiet again. When he sensed he was in communication with the Lord, there came from the depths of his heart petitions such I had never heard I arose from my knees knowing what real prayer was! 
Daniel prayed like that!

THIRDLY, HEAR DANIEL'S  PRAYERFUL MAGNIFICATION (9:17)

“Now therefore, our God, hear the PRAYER of Your servant…”

Supplication or asking God for 'this and that' (worthy causes as they may be) is indeed encouraged by the Lord Himself. "Ask and you shall receive." But, the very word 'PRAYER' primarily elicits the idea of worship or fixing our eyes upon the magnificent God to Whom we pray. When we enter into communication with Him, He is to be extolled and magnified. When David prayed before the congregation dedicating the materials for the Temple, he worshipped God intensely at the outset  of his great prayer, saying, 
"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all" (2 Chronicles 29:10-12). 
     Jesus taught us to pray in a manner in which, first of all, God is magnified: "Our Father Who art in heaven..." Big thoughts about God bring forth a big faith toward and in God. And so, Daniel commences his prayer. 

HIS PRAYERFUL SUPPLICATION (9:17)

“Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, AND HIS SUPPLICATIONS…”

     Again, our Savior taught us to ask Him for whatever is needed. "Give us this day our daily bread." "Ask and you shall receive. Wisely, He doesn't always give what we ask, but, He will give us what we need. He always answers with a RED LIGHT (no), a YELLOW LIGHT (wait a while), or a GREEN LIGHT (yes). 
BY WAY OF PRAYERFUL AND WILLING DEPRIVATION (9:3)
“Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, WITH FASTING…”
     What am I willing to forego in order to pray or receive the right response. It may be food, a change of schedule or some other inconvenience in order to be with God. Someone has remarked that today's plastic saints want to hear all about Jesus doing all the dieing. They want the preacher to preach another sermon on the cross. It never occurs to them that the same Jesus who died for our sins, asks us to die to sin and self. Only thereby can be ever be found to be serious prayer warriors. "Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord."

AND THEN, HIS PRAYERFUL AND LOWLY HUMILIATION (9:3)

“Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, 
SACKCLOTH, AND ASHES.”

     Isaiah the prophet excoriates the proud who parade their feigned goodnesses before the Lord. God hates pride. He sums up much of what he says on this subject in the last chapter of his prophecy when he reports God saying, “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." How profound. Do I want to be close to God? I must then be humble before the Almighty.

- dick christen

THE COST OF CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP....

In his book THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP, Bonhoeffer wrote: 

"Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate."

     Jesus challenges His followers with these words: “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it."  - Matthew 10:37-39.

     Neil Postman remarked, "I believe I am not mistaken in saying Christianity is a demanding and serious religion. When it is delivered as easy and amusing, it is another kind of religion altogether."

     Let's consider Bonhoeffer's comment.

     PREACHING WITHOUT REQUIRING REPENTANCE?

     The Apostle Paul, in rebuking a carnal church at Corinth in his first letter to them, later, in a second communication, rejoiced because they changed their way. They changed their way of thinking, having been so very blithe concerning the sin among them. They (the Christians) had repented. And so, he rejoiced with them saying, "Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.  For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death" (2 Corinthians 7:9,10). The need to repent when confronted with the Word is thereby made clear. 

     BAPTISM WITHOUT CHURCH DISCIPLINE?

      Again, to the same Corinthians, when in his first letter to them, Paul, in bringing a condoned sin to their attention and regarding the erring brother, said, "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,  deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" (1 Corinthians 5:4,5). These are very harsh words, but, apparently, in the Apostle's mind, necessary for cleansing the church from all known sin. The Word does say believers are to be holy even as God is holy. Thankfully, we are IN Christ Jesus but must ever strive to be holy in practice, or BY Jesus Christ.

     COMMUNION WITHOUT CONFESSION?

     Again, the same Apostle, when addressing the Lord's Supper (Communion), requires a worthy approach to the table. He says, "Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord" (1 Corinthings 11:27). And, as if this isn't strong enough, in the next two verses, he further declares, "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body." Again, pretty serious approach to communion, yes? Non confession of sin is to be taken very seriously. These verses address Bonhoeffer's next phrase, namely:

 ABSOLUTION WITHOUT CONFESSION?

     At salvation we ARE forgiven all our sins, judicially speaking. When truly saved a believer will never, ever be condemned for his or her sin. In the court of heaven we are cleared once and for all time and eternity. But, for the sake of daily warm and growing fellowship with our dear Father in heaven, we must regularly mount His lap and acknowledge our sin(s) for the sake of closeness to Him, and for the sake of the abiding life (John 15). 
     Such behavior as thus described constitutes true dicipleship and keeps the cross of Jesus central. 
     Yes, such directives make for a "demanding and serious" Christian faith but is not the Word of God very clear about it? The fact is, it costs to follow Jesus Christ, but it costs much more not to. 

     A disciple is someone who not only learns about the life of Christ but also desires to live it. Salvation itself is free. Jesus paid the price fully at Calvary. It is all of grace. It saves completely, once and forever. But the price of disciple- ship (following Jesus) is excruciatingly high, but BY His promised and persistent sanctifying grace divinely at work in us, true believers press on. They WILL do so. Concerning the Philippian Christians the Apostle Paul said, "There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears" (Philippians 1:6, MSG). 

Coming to Christ and being saved is all by grace apart from any merit by the believing one. It is the positioning of the sinner "IN Christ Jesus" fully clothed with God's righteousness and thereby fully accepted by the thrice holy God. But all such are saved "unto good works" which are made a reality BY Christ Jesus. Thereby discipleship proceeds. 

- dick christen

WHY THE THREE CROSSES?

QUESTION: WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JESUS BEING CRUCIFIED BETWEEN TWO NOTORIOUS SINNERS?

“And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center.” (John 19:17-18)

     God’s Word makes very clear the purpose for which Jesus came into the world. “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Timothy 1:15)
     And so, it is only reasonable to understand that when on the cross He was between two such sinners, one who would recognize Him as Savior and the other who would not. The scene becomes a microcosm of His world wide appeal, some would believe in Him, many would not. Both thieves disbelieved when hung next to Him, but in the minutes that passed, one turned from rejection to acceptance. Jesus promised him entrance into Paradise that very day. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”
     Also, when it came time for the Roman authorities to verify the deaths of all three, they broke the legs of two of them, but Jesus, already dead, did not have His legs broken, thus fulfilling the Old Testament prophecy (Psalm 34:20) mentioned in John 19:32,33….“Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.” 
     He is God! Therefore, He had power to lay down His life and to take it up again. He of His own volition dismissed His spirit, thereby affirming His deity. This amazingly so and in complete contrast to the two between whom He was crucified.

     - Dick Christen

PREACH/TEACH THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD'S WORD.....

A BROTHER WRITES... "Christianity is not first and foremost about our behavior, our obedience, our performance, our faithfulness, our diligence, our sacrifices, or even our love for God.
It is first and foremost about Jesus. It is about His person, His performance, His faithfulness, His sacrifice, His life, death, resurrection, ascension, and promised return. We are fully and finally rescued and adopted by grace alone through faith alone in the finished work of Christ alone. Full stop."

TO WHICH I RESPOND.... Don't confuse salvation and sanctification. You've beautifully described what Jesus does to save us. But to "work out (our) salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12) "our behavior, our obedience, our performance, our faithfulness, our diligence, our sacrifices (and) even our love for God" is first and foremost and He has freely given (grace) us all things that pertain to life and Godliness" (2Peter 1:3).

BEWARE modern day Antinomianism! Rom 6:1,2

​"What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be!"

- dr. dick christen

INSTRUCTION FROM THE BIBLE ABOUT ANGRY SPEECH AND HUMBLE APOLOGY...

     THIS PASSAGE INSTRUCTS ALL OF US ABOUT THE DANGERS OF ANGRY SPEECH. WITH SOCIAL MEDIA SO PROMINENT, IT IS MOST APPLICABLE IN THIS DAY OF INTEMPERATE POLITICAL, PERSONAL NON-ENDING COMMENT.  READ THIS CAREFULLY AND THOUGHTFULLY. LOOK FOR THE MEANING: 

     Act 23:1-5......(THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS BEING TRIED AND ABOUT TO BE WHIPPED FOR PREACHING THE GOSPEL) The passage says:

     "Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, 'Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.' The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, 'God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?' But the bystanders said, 'Do you revile God’s high priest?' And Paul said, 'I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of A ruler of your people.’” 

     There are two negatives and one positive for the Apostle Paul:

Negative 1 - He spoke proudfully (1,2) 
Negative 2 - He lashed out negatively (3) 
Positive 1 - He responded respectfully (4,5) 

     NOW, apply to yourself and to the politcal personalities and chatter of today.

- Dick Christen

A BRIGHT FAITH IN LIFE'S DARKEST HOURS......

A VERY STRONG FAITH is brightest when circumstances are darkest. What did Job learn when he experienced a devastating and multiple swipe by the Evil One? What dawned upon him when he had lost his enormous wealth and ten children? Well, this was his response: He fell on his face, worshiped and said, "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." The Scriptures report that "through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God." (Job 1:21,22).
     Do I BLESS God when tough times come? A MATURE FAITH EVEN WONDERS WHAT POSITIVE AND SANCTIFYING THING GOD IS UP TO IN SUCH EXPERIENCES OF LIFE. DO I UNDERSTAND WHEN I ASK GOD TO CHANGE MY CIRCUMSTANCES THAT HE IS USING THOSE TOUGH CIRCUMSTANCES TO CHANGE ME?
     Admittedly, this handling of difficulties is easier said than done. But consider further 2 Corinthians 12:9,10 where Paul, after God refused to heal his physical malady, responded with such a trusting faith, saying "Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong."
     Such a faith is a dynamic and implicit trust in a God Who wisely engineers our lives. And, we rest in the fact. 
     Matthew Henry knew this wisdom when he remarked, "Sometimes Christ sees that we need the sickness for the good of our souls more than the healing for the ease of our bodies." 
     And the inimitable Spurgeon put it this way, "I venture to say that the greatest earthly blessing that God can give to any of us is health, with the exception of sickness. Sickness has frequently been of more use to the saints of God than health has." 
     May God give His people this insightfulness along with its special faith (wrought in us by the knowledge of the Scriptures) that when struggling with the realities of life here below a certain brightness still shines because ours is a bright faith during life's darkest hours. Many of God's children have experienced this. 

- dick christen

WHEN I OPEN MY BIBLE.....

This following passage sets forth the intrinsic place God's Word should have in our lives.

“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. (Psalm 119:9-16).  

WHAT IS THE KEY AIM OF THIS PORTION OF SCRIPTURE?

It is to instill within our hearts a holy respect for God’s Word and the necessity of compliantly responding to it. WE MUST READ OUR BIBLES WITH A VIEW TO:

1. OBEDIENT CONFORMATION (9b)
“By taking heed according to Your word.”

(To take 'heed' is more than merely reading or  memorizing the holy Scriptures. It is to understand and put it into  action.)

2.WARY ANTICIPATION (10b)
“Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!” 

(The human heart easily opts for and delights in alternatives. The old hymn declares: "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it; prone to leave the God I love....")

3. DEEP-DOWN APPLICATION (11a)
“Your word I have hidden in my heart.” (11a)

(An elderly person says, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks. The problem with this thesis is, YOU are not a dog." A busy young person says, "I'm too busy." Too busy to tuck a treasure away in the heart?)

4. SOUGHT-FOR EDUCATION (12)
“Teach me Your statutes.”

(Read Proverbs 2 and notice the intense and striving verbs for finding God and the Words He has spoken.)

5. READY DECLARATION (13)
“With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth.”

(When we share the truth of God's Word we reinforce it in our own lives. "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so."

6. HAPPY CELEBRATION (14)
“I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches.”

(To learn that discovering truth in the Bible is like discovering a large nugget of gold.)

7. CONTINUED MEDITATION (15a)
“I will meditate on Your precepts…”

("Meditation is the activity of calling to mind, and thinking over, and dwelling on, and applying to oneself the various things that one knows about the works and ways and purposes and promises of God" - J.I. Packer)

8. SEARCHING CONTEMPLATION (15b)
“…and contemplate Your ways.”

(Applying God's Word to my life and making the necessary adjustments thereunto?)

9. HEART-FELT GRATIFICATION (16a)
"I will delight myself in Your statutes…” 

(Reading, memorizing and meditating upon God's Word should be the greatest thrill in life. The Almighty and eternal God is talking to me and wanting to show me the way?)

10. DETERMINED RECOLLECTION (16b)
“I will not forget Your word.” 

(Is it not amazing the God instructed holy men of old to write His Word down and then He made sure to preserve it for all time?)

The shortest road to an appreciation of the Bible is the acceptance of the idea that God is speaking in every line, yea, in every word.

- Dr. Dick Christen

BE READY, HERE COMES THE DEVIL......

WHEN APPROACHED OR TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL…….FIGHT!

When Satan comes after us, God says FIGHT (“Whom resist stedfast in the faith – 1 Peter 1:9).

HOW ARE WE TO RESIST OR FIGHT THE DEVIL?

Answer: We FIGHT him like Jesus fought him, being studied in God’s Word (the sword of the Spirit) and using it to offset him and make him flee.  MATTHEW 4: 1-10:

​¹ THEN Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”

     (Satan tempts us at our most vulnerable spot and time. Jesus was hungry after so many days fasting. And, sure enough along comes the Evil One and in effect says, "If you're the great Creator, turn these stones into bread." The imagery projected was that of steaming hot loaves of fresh bread, smothered in butter, and with an aroma to die for. But, Jesus responded perfectly (of course) and said in effect there is more to living than only satisfying the physical yearnings of the flesh.)

⁵ THEN the devil *took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and *said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘HE will command His angels concerning You’;
and ‘on their hands they will bear You up, so that You will not strike Your foot against A stone.’” Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

     (FAITH looks to God trustingly but refuses to lazily use Him to do for us what we need to do for ourselves. Faith believes God knew what He was doing when He gave us brains and brawn. He expects us to use them. Not to do so tests God (strange concept) and unfairly attempts to use Him. This is always wrong. A present day example would be someone who refuses medical and medicinal care and rather puts God to the test saying, "I'm just trusting Jesus to take away my ailment." This is foolishness, as if God didn't equip scientists and medical personel to invent medicines and learn the best ways of diagnosing and caring for the physically needy.)

 
⁸  AGAIN, the devil *took Him to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus *said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”

     (Perhaps a man's most vulneable area of temptation is his ego. Egotism can be defined as a person who is his own best friend or as obesity of the head. But, a man all wrapped up in himself makes a mighty small package. And a foul smelling one at that. The Bible pronounces pride as "abominable" to God. Thomas Manton said, "Pride not only withdraws the heart from God, but lifts it up against God." And, this is exactly what Satan desires in order that man will follow him. As Al Martin descriptively remarks, "Every breathing of pride in its first stirrings, if it had its way, would run and tear the crown off God's head." Satan's cravings to be God are so strong he tries to get God's Son to go against His Father and instead worship him. What desperate self-worship. 

MAN IS A TRIPARTITE OR THREE-FOLD BEING consisting of body, soul and spirit. Scripture says, ^“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete…” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). FORMULA: “I am a soul (self consciousness), I have a body (world consciousness and I have a spirit (God-consciousness).

THE DEVIL’S TEMPTATON WAS THREEFOLD, AIMED AT JESUS' TRIPARTITE BEING: 1. AT HIS SPIRIT, by messing with his relationship with God. In essence, Satan says, test God foolishly. "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down..." Behave presumptuously! Don't believe God knows best. Rather impose your notion upon God. This is a faux faith which in reality is a "no faith." This is an attempt to get man to think he knows better than God. 2. It was aimed AT JESUS' SOUL attempting to get him to behave egotistically or psychotically wierd. Satan promised him the world forgetting that he himself had power only temporarily. Satan said, "All these things I will give you, if you fall down and worship me." 3. The temptation was also aimed AT HIS BODY, Satan knowing Jesus at not eaten for 40 days. He's hungry. And so Satan challenges Jesus with these words:  “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” Jesus could have! He could imagine those round stones to be piping hot loaves of bread with the savory aroma wafting upwards. But Jesus countered that there is much more to our earthly existence than things physical or material. Rather, firstly, we must ever pursue the Kingdom of God and His will. 

In each instance Jesus wins! Amen! "Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him" (Matthew 4:11). 

-       Dr. Dick Christen   

WHAT IS REPENTANCE?

REPENTANCE is not an idea, it is an action of the mind. The mind thinks again, or differently. It sees something anew or in a fresh light. And so, there is a marked change in understanding. 

Through the ages God's people have wondered why He has not yet handily dealt with evil once and for all. It can get pretty awful down here but where is He? Why hasn't He come and straightened this mess out? Peter knew exactly how Christians might think. And so he wrote as follows: "But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:8,9). In other words, Peter was saying the way you question God's timing and cast doubts on God's ways needs to be understood more accurately because you are reasoning like mere men and must see things as God sees them. 

REPENTANCE principally has to do with a CHANGE OF MIND. When it comes to the salvation of my soul, whereas I have long considered the cross of Jesus merely a religious symbol, I now ponder it and realize that on that cross Jesus the Christ bore my sin, paid for it in full and now, believing in Him, I am set free from the guilt and penalty of that sin, past, present and future. He prolongs His second triumphant return in order that more will be saved. Of course in all this it is the Holy Spirit, who enables us always to think with a godly perspective.  

In other words, when I truly understand God's salvational intent in sending His Son to buy redemption for sinners, I see it and seeing it in a new light, I repent, believe in Jesus' death for me (He was my substitute on the cross) and am saved from my sin.

We sinners either repent NOW or we will repent FOREVER in hell. In hell the true meaning of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ will be abundantly clear. But, it will be too late. C.H. Spurgeon declared, "Sin and hell are married unless repentance proclaims the divorce." 

In the book of Acts the Apostle Paul characterized his ministry as "solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ." And that is our commission too. Not just belief in Jesus, but repentance and faith. They are the two sides of the same coin. 

Repentance and faith (the twin sisters) are necessary in order to become a Christian, and, as seen in the text above, repentance often must be exercised by Christians in order to put away erroneous thoughts and think God's thoughts on any given subject. Paul said the Corinthians would acknowledge their sin if "God peradventure would give them repentance to the acknowleging of the truth." And so, we pray for erring brothers to repent and return to the Lord (James 5:19.20). 

- Dr. Dick Christen

THE GOOD FATHER, GOD, DISCIPLINES HIS CHILDREN.....

Have you ever heard a Christian admit his affliction is from His loving heavenly Father? Usually we blame circumstances, others, ourselves or whatever, and will even shake our fist in God's face if deeply disturbed. We know the familiar line: 'If God would do this to me, He isn't a God of love.' Rare is the child of God who admits he needed it! But, the fact is, we do and ought to admit God doesn't begin to give us what we really should get. In this fun-loving age we need to remember GOD IS MORE INTERESTED IN OUR HOLINESS THAN OUR HAPPINESS! (cf Hebrews 12:4-11).

"My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord
or loathe His reproof, for whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights" (Prov. 3:11,12). Read further in Hebrews 12:4-13.

I once read this insightful story: There was a group of women in a Bible study on the Book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, the came across verse three, which says: “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” Puzzled, the women wondered what this statement meant and what it said about the character of God. One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study. That week she phoned a silver smith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silver smith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot. Then, she thought again about the verse, that He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver. She asked the silver smith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that “yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. It the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed." The woman was silent for a moment. Then, she asked the silver smith, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?” He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy. It’s when I see my image in it.” 

If I’m presently feeling the heat of the fire, I know that God has His eye on me and really does love me. He may seem far away but He's right 'here'! He's looking ever so closely at me, looking to see His Son in me. 

- dick christen 

WHEN SINNERS ARE FINALLY JUDGED....

I recently listened to the beautiful tune MAKE THE WORLD GO AWAY, by Floyd Cramer. Just those words will make some start humming it (all day long). 

     It brought to mind the following verse of Scripture. When, at the end of time, God sets up THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT SEAT where Jesus Christ will judge all unregenerate sinners, the scene is described with these words: "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them"(Revelation 20:11). 

     Often when leaving 'home sweet home' we feel nostalgic and lonely as the old homestead fades in the rear view mirror. But just imagine all earth and heaven distancing themselves, fading into the far reaches of the eye. All unsaved people will experience this! It will be awful. They can't go back. Their destiny is decided. They stand before the Judge of all judges, Jesus Christ, devoid of His salvation. And here is what happens..."Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.    And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." When this happens it will be Jesus who makes the world go away. No pleasant tune will sound forth from the glorious angels of heaven. Only the agonies of hell will become louder and louder as the lost near hell. 

     Oh, be saved now! To avoid hearing the words of condemnation at the Great White Throne, right now hear and heed the words of the Gospel: "The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" (John 3:36).

     Sir Winston Churchill is reported to have said: "All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a simple word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy and hope." At heaven's gate just one word gains admission: JESUS! "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." And this, not just to escape hell but to know God and enjoy Him forever.

-Dick Christen

MUSIC NEEDN'T DIVIDE A CHURCH....

     MULL WITH ME..... When we all insist upon MY kind of music, others invariably are 'turned off', even to the point of animosities and church splintering. A fair BLENDED FORMAT seems best. 
     A blended  approach includes in equal proportions the 'oldie-goldies' with their substantive expressions of truth (may the Church ever value them) along with newer styles with meaningful LYRICS , not just frothy empty and worn expressions. And there exists a growing body of such. May the Church welcome them. 
     It doesn't take a genius to put such an agenda together. It does take leadership that values ALL the gathering saints, refusing to cater to just one segment of a congregation. Such an approach allows ALL the saints to gather at any stated service. This makes for cohesiveness and oneness among God's people. And such is what Holy Scripture enjoins. Ephesians 4:1 - 4:6 states it clearly. The Apostle declared....

     "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." 

     In keeping with the above passage, the divisive tactic of different services for different tastes can happily be laid to rest, and hopefully, a many measured long rest. (Pun intended). 

- Dick Christen

WE WILL TRUST AND NEVER DOUBT......

      FAITH, for the believer in Christ, is the sight of the inner eye. It sees what the physical eye cannot. When sight cannot confirm it and when the mind cannot fathom it, faith stays positive and says 'all is well.' And, this which is my present difficult experience, 'is as it is,' but comes from a God too loving to be unkind and too all-knowing to be wrong! The character of God can always be trusted. He cannot fail. 

     Faith follows God implicitly, albeit with trembling on occasion; while sight calculates, considers, cautions and cringes. Faith declares: God said it, I believe it, that settles it! Where God speaks, faith is dead to doubt, dumb to discouragement and blind to impossibilities.

     Spurgeon expressed it this way: "Faith is reason at rest in God."

     Proverbs says it like this: "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own" (MSG. 3:5).

     Years ago I read this from Oswald Chambers. It was deep to grasp, but thinking about it gives insight to the root substance of faith:

     He said, "The real trial of faith is not that we find it difficult to trust God, but that God's character has to be cleared in our own minds. Faith in the Bible is faith in God against everything that (seemingly) contradicts Him. I WILL REMAIN TRUE TO GOD'S CHARACTER WHATEVER HE MAY DO!" 

     Job said, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." 

     God cannot and does not fail, even though He allows loss, disappointment, hurt, sorrow and hardship to touch me. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones put it this way: "Faith is a refusal to panic." It has the characteristic of remaining firm, no matter what.

     A lady in one of my congregations once gave me the following poem when I was traversing a difficult period in my life. It has meant so much to me. And this, because in life, try as we may, situations arise which we just cannot figure out. And in such a season, we must simply believe God, accept the situation, stay engaged and never doubt the essential character of God or any of His ordained experiences. The poem is by Hannah Hurnard:

In acceptance lieth peace, 
     O my heart be still;
Let thy restless worries ceae
     And accept His will.
Though this test be not thy choice,
     It is His....therefore, rejoice. 

Cease from sighs and murmuring,
     Sing His loving grace,
This thing means thy furthering
     To a wealthy place.
From thy fears He'll give release;

- Dick Christen        

YOU MUST BE 'DEAD' AGAIN......

Each of us must be born twice or we will die twice. Jesus once said to a very religious man, "You must be born again." He was telling Nicodemus that religion alone is not enough to enter heaven. This leader of the Jews stood before Him dressed 'to the nines' in all his religious garb. Jesus was not impressed and cut through all the laudatory comments, saying to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Born again? Whatever does that mean?  

     And, while sinners must be 'born again' to have eternal life, the write of Hebrews tells us another opposite but equally intriguing gospel truth. He declares, "And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment" (9:27). In other words, you must be born again, but, if you are not you will die again. Yes, after physical death you will stand before your Maker and without Jesus as personal Lord and Savior you will die spiritually. Unsaved, you must die again!  Revelation 20:11-15 describes the place and the dreadful assignment of all sinners to eternal hell. We understand that all humans die physically but to what does 'after this comes judgment' refer? Does this raise the specter of a judgment that could result in another death of sorts? Yes, it does! Just as we are born once bodily, we must be born again spiritually in order to see eternal bliss. And likewise, we will die physically once and will die again if we are judged and found wanting. We will fall short without Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord. He took the judgment of sinners on Himself at the cross. "Christ died for our sins." He paid the price God demands for sin, and that is death. Accepting His death personally as 'my' death satisfies God's righteous demands and the believing sinner is set free. In other words, the believer's judgment place is Calvary. The person without Jesus' judgment credited to him will then be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment Seat of Christ and suffer a second death, being consigned to an eternity of without God the very source of life. Read the Apostle John's account:

   "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.    And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and  books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.    And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.    Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.    And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:11-15).

     And so, we can emphatically say, "You must be born again" OR you will die again at the final judgment of the ages. You 'must be dead again' without Jesus Christ.

     How is a sinner "born again?" Jesus answered that very question from Nicodemus the very religious but lost man in John 3. What was Jesus' answer? Here at His exact words:

      “For God so loved the world, that He gave His  only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.    For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.    He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:16-19). 

     So, we sinners must be born again or we will die again in the great resurection of the unjust. We will have nothing to plead without Jesus. We will pay forever in hell for our sins, having rejected the payment Jesus made on His cross. 

     Again, this is why the Savior said to that religious leader, "You MUST be born again." Be saved, now! Put this article down, bow your head and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. 

     God invites you to His salvation found only in His Son. He says "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:9-13). "Where you die, when you die, or by what means, is scarcely worth a thought, if you do but die in Christ."


-dick christen