r L n -- really LOVE now! : March 2011

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

A Matter of LIFE OR DEATH -- JOHN 3:16

My Friend: i am asking you the most important question of life. Your joy or your sorrow for all eternity depends upon your answer. The question is: Are you saved? It is not a question of how good you are nor if you are a church member, but are you saved? Are you sure you will go to Heaven when you die?

GOD says in order to go to Heaven you must be born again. In John 3:7, JESUS said to Nicodemus, "You must be born again."

In the Bible, GOD gives us the plan of how to be born again which means to be saved. His plan is simple! You can be saved today. How?

First, my friend, you must realize you are a sinner. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD" (Romans 3:23).

Because you are a sinner, you are condemned to death. "For the wages (payment) of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). This includes eternal separation from GOD in Hell. "...it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).

But GOD loved you so much He gave His only begotten Son, JESUS, to bear your sin and die in your place. "...He has made Him (JESUS, Who knew no sin) to be sin for us...that we might be made the righteousness of GOD in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). JESUS had to shed His blood and die. "For the life of the flesh is in the blood" (Leviticus 17:11). "...without shedding of blood is no remission (pardon)" (Hebrews 9:22).

"...GOD commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for us" (Romans 5:8).

Although we cannot understand how, GOD said my sins and your sins were laid upon JESUS and He died in your place. He became our Substitute. It is true. GOD cannot lie.

My friend, "GOD...commands all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30). This repentance is a change of mind that agrees with GOD that one is a sinner, and also agrees with what JESUS did for us on the Cross.

In Acts 16:30-31, the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas: "... 'Sirs, what must i do to be saved?' And they said, 'Believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and you shall be saved... .' "

Simply believe on Him as the One Who bore your sin, died in your place, was buried, and Whom GOD resurrected. His resurrection powerfully assures that the believer can claim everlasting life when JESUS is received as Savior.

"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of GOD, even to them that believe on His name" (John 1:12).

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved" (Romans 10:13).

Whosoever includes you. Shall be saved means not maybe, nor can, but shall be saved.

Surely, you realize you are a sinner. Right now, wherever you are, repenting, lift your heart to GOD in prayer.

In Luke 18:13, the sinner prayed: "GOD be merciful to me a sinner." Just pray: Oh, GOD, i know i am a sinner. i believe JESUS was my Substitute when He died on the Cross. i believe His shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection were for me. i now receive Him as my Savior. i thank You for the forgiveness of my sins, the gift of salvation and everlasting life, because of Your merciful grace. Amen."

Just take GOD at His word and receive His salvation by faith. Believe, and you will be saved. No church, no lodge, no good works can save you. Remember, GOD does the saving. All of it!

GOD's simple plan of salvation is: You are a sinner. Therefore, unless you believe on JESUS Who died in your place, you will spend eternity in Hell. If you believe on Him as your crucified, buried, and risen Savior, you receive forgiveness for all your sins and His gift of eternal salvation by faith.

You say, "Surely, it cannot be that simple." Yes, that simple! It is scriptural. It is GOD's plan. My friend, believe on JESUS and receive Him as Savior today.

If His plan is not perfectly clear, read this over and over, until you understand it. Your soul is worth more than all the world.

"For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36). Be sure you are saved. If you lose your soul, you miss Heaven and lose all. Please! Let GOD save you this very moment.

GOD's power will save you, keep you saved, and enable you to live a victorious CHRISTian life. "There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but GOD is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Do not trust your feelings. They change. Stand on GOD's promises. They never change. After you are saved, there are three things to practice daily for spiritual growth: Pray -- you talk to GOD. Read your Bible -- GOD talks to you. Witness -- you talk for GOD.

You should be baptized in obedience to the LORD JESUS CHRIST as a public testimony of your salvation, and then unite with a Bible-believing church without delay. "Be not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our LORD..." (2 Timothy 1:8)

"Whosoever therefore shall confess (testify of) Me before men him will I confess also before My Father which is in Heaven" (Matthew 10:32).

The above was copied from a Gospel tract -- GOD's Simple Plan of SALVATION -- so that if you are not experiencing the indescribable joy of having peace with GOD, you may be given heart-knowledge by the Holy SPIRIT -- John 3:16, as your life-giving Truth... that CHRIST JESUS is your freely given gift of ETERNAL LIFE forevermore.

my Prayer For You

When i think of the wisdom and scope of GOD's plan, i fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. i pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy SPIRIT. i pray that CHRIST will be more and more at home in your heart as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of GOD's marvelous love.

And may you have the power to understand, as all GOD's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is. May you experience the love of CHRIST, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from GOD.

Now to Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by CHRIST JESUS to all generations, forever and ever. AMEN!

(Ephesians 3:14-21)

The Great I AM

I AM the Bread of life. He who comes to Me will never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
(John 6:35)

I AM the Light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the Light of life.
(John 8:12)

I AM the Door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I AM the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
(John 10:7, 9)

I AM the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep. I AM the Good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
(John 10:11, 14)

I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. I AM the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
(John 15:1, 5)

I AM the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
(John 11:25)

I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
(John 14:6)

Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" JESUS answered, You say rightly that I AM a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the Truth hears My voice.
(John 18:37)

LOVE is...

Though i speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, i have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

And though i have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though i have all faith, so that i could remove mountains, but have not love, i am nothing.

And though i bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though i give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When i was a child, i spoke as a child, i understood as a child, i thought as a child; but when i became a man, i put away childish things.

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now i know in part, but then i shall know just as i also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

(I Corinthians 13)

Rejoice!

Rejoice in the LORD always. i will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The LORD is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in CHRIST JESUS.

Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

(Philippians 4:4-8)

How Great Thou Art!

O LORD, my GOD! When i in awesome wonder consider all the works thy hands have made.
i see the stars, i hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

And when i think that GOD, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, i scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When CHRIST shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then i shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, my GOD, how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! i once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now i see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour i first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares, i have already come; 'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

The LORD has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease, i shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.

The world shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun refuse to shine; but GOD, who called me here below, shall be forever mine.

When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun; we've no less days to sing GOD's praise than when we'd first begun.

The Holy BIBLE -- The Word of GOD

The BIBLE contains the mind of GOD, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the CHRISTian's charter. Here is Paradise restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.

CHRIST is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of GOD its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

(Foreword from The Gideons International)