Biblical Teachings

Will being a good person get me to heaven?

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“NOT BY WORKS of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). This Bible verse makes it plain and simple that good works will not save anyone. Listen to the message of Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.” Salvation is not by merit. “Knowing that a man is NOT JUSTIFIED BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW, but by the …

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This section of Scripture begins the terrible story of Dinah’s rape and subsequent retaliation by her birth brothers Levi and Simeon. There are several troubling situations which we will see this chapter. First, Jacob was supposed to be on the way from Paddan-Aram to Bethel where his father and mother lived. He had not seen them for twenty plus years and they had never met his wives and children. He was on the way to be with them (Genesis 31: 18 etc.) when he stopped in Shechem. He should have kept going and not mingled with the Canaanites for they …

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Salvation by Grace through Faith Alone Ephesians 2:8-9

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If you were to die today and stand before God and He asked, “Why should I let you into My heaven?”, what would you say? The question gets to the heart of, “What are you trusting in for eternal life?” Paul answers this crucial question in these verses (Ephesians 2:8-9). He wrote these truths to those who were already saved, to clarify and solidify their understanding of these vital matters. When you share the gospel with others, their misunderstanding of God’s grace and the relationship between faith and works will be the major issues you will need to clarify. When …

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True Freedom

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Jesus did not come to save us from worldly circumstances but to free us from the power of sin in our heart   JOHN 8:31-36 31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered Him, We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, `You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, …

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“Thou art my hope in the day of evil.”—Jeremiah 17:17.

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HE path of the Christian is not always bright with sunshine; he has his seasons of darkness and of storm. True, it is written in God’s Word, “Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace;” and it is a great truth, that religion is calculated to give a man happiness below as well as bliss above; but experience tells us that if the course of the just be “As the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day,” yet sometimes that light is eclipsed. At certain periods clouds cover the believer’s sun, and …

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Don’t rock the boat!

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By Laurel J.Davis In the 2010 movie, How Do You Know?, this guy loses almost everything when he comes under federal investigation for stock trading fraud at his father’s firm. Although he is completely innocent, he still loses his girlfriend, is forced to leave his job and oh, forget about trying to find a new one. Adding insult to injury, he realizes his father would rather let him — his own son — take the fall instead of the company; and the fees for his legal defense will start at a whopping $300,000 retainer. The guy’s loyal secretary, Millie, knowing …

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True Humility

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Reflections True humility is not the result of putting oneself down, or of denying oneself enjoyment. Rather, true humility is only possible if I see the greatness of Jesus Christ. Human thinking tells us that we either have high self-esteem or low self-esteem. And much Christian teaching today is geared to affirming high self-esteem in Christian people .Many are teaching that God wants us to have high self-esteem and that to know God loves us will actually enhance that. That is a lie. For both high and low self-esteem are a focus upon SELF. We need to be delivered from …

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A SPECIAL PURPOSE

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  Psalm 150 150 Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens![a] 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! 5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! The Lord has made us a special people in order that we may fulfill a special purpose. Isaiah 43:21 …

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The Watered Lilies

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The MASTER stood in His garden, Among the lilies fair, Which His own right hand had planted, And trained with tend’rest care. He looked at their snowy blossoms, And marked with observant eye That the flowers were sadly drooping, For their leaves were parched and dry. “My lilies need to be watered,” The Heavenly Master said; “Wherein shall I draw it for them, And raise each drooping head?” Close to his feet on the pathway, Empty, and frail, and small, An earthen vessel was lying, Which seemed no use at all; But the Master saw, and raised it From the …

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The Campaign of Armageddon

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The two climactic events of the Great Tribulation are the Campaign of Armageddon and the Second Coming of Jesus the Messiah. A considerable amount of data is given about this time period in the Scriptures. One of the greatest difficulties in the study of eschatology is placing these events in chronological sequence in order to see what exactly will happen in the Campaign of Armageddon. This chapter is an attempt to do just that. The basis of the Second Coming of Messiah is Israel’s national regeneration. Until Israel as a nation is saved; until Israel as a nation looks to …

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“MY REDEEMER LIVETH”

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by Charles H. Spurgeon CONTINUALLY have I spoken to the reader concerning Christ crucified, who is the great hope of the guilty; but it is our wisdom to remember that our Lord has risen from the dead and lives eternally. You are not asked to trust in a dead Jesus, but in One who, though He died for our sins, has risen again for our justification. You may go to Jesus at once as to a living and present friend. He is not a mere memory, but a continually existent Person who will hear your prayers and answer them. He …

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“God, even our own God.” Psalm 67:6

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It is strange how little use we make of the spiritual blessings which God gives us, but it is stranger still how little use we make of God himself. Though he is “our own God,” we apply ourselves but little to him, and ask but little of him. How seldom do we ask counsel at the hands of the Lord! How often do we go about our business, without seeking his guidance! In our troubles how constantly do we strive to bear our burdens ourselves, instead of casting them upon the Lord, that he may sustain us! This is not …

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