4. April 2010 by PawBill.

As Christians celebrate the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ this Easter weekend—Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection—those without a saving faith in Jesus can only look forward to the grave, punishment and an eternity without God. The true God revealed in nature and written about in the Biblical scriptures awaits those who are destine to become children of God through their confession, acceptance and belief.

The deity of Jesus as a member of the Trinity, His virgin birth, His death on a Roman cross for the sins of man, His resurrection that overcame death and the grave, and His second coming are doctrinal truths every Christian, those true followers of Jesus who have made Him their Lord and Savior, believe.

Your faith in another god may get you to “a heaven,” but will it be the kingdom of heaven Jesus promised.  As Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on this Easter Sunday, may all who have not placed their trust in Him, hear and accept God’s calling to make Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior of their life.

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian  

Copyright © 2010 by North Loop Cottage LLC.  All rights reserved

Posted in Religious, The Trinity and Salvation | No Comments »

27. March 2010 by PawBill.

When will “being a good person” ever be good enough for God?  In a word, “Never.”

The many peaceful followers of the religion of Islam, as I understand, will not know until they face Allah whether or not they have done enough “good works” to allow then entry into heaven.  Islam jihadists who are living their faith as the Koran teaches, on the other hand, will be allowed into heaven by killing themselves and hopefully other infidels in an act of violent terrorism.

Ask yourself this question, “How do I measure up on God’s scale?”  If you are honest in your measurement you did not reach the “perfect-no faults found” mark.  Without input from God, man’s religious thinking needs rules and scales. But, there is another way and that way is found in Jesus Christ.  (God knew that man [Adam] would not be perfect even though he created man to be perfect and to walk with Him in that light.)  God, however, did not want man to be just a “clone of perfection” so He gave man the freedom to make decisions, be they good or bad. This is where the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ provides man with hope in an afterlife.

Jesus Christ gave His life freely and died on a Roman Cross for our sins.  He then arose from the dead and guaranteed our redemption.  Consider God’s way and not man’s way to have forgiveness and eternal life by “faith and belief” alone and not by “good works.”  Consider the following: 

• We are all sinners, outside the will of God, and can never be perfect no matter how good we try to be.

 Romans 3:23 (NIV), “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” 

• We face death and an eternity without God, because of our sin.

Romans 6:23 (NIV), “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

• Jesus Christ took our sins upon Himself and died for us so that we would not have to spend eternity without God.

Romans 5:8 (NIV), “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

• By believing in Jesus Christ your faith and hope will seal you for eternity.  All you have to do is pray (or say): “Jesus, I know you died on a cross for my sins when I should be the one who died. I believe that you arose from the dead as a guarantee of my redemption. Today I place my faith and trust in you, and I make and claim you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you for everlasting life.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV), “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.”

 If you considered, understood and prayed (or said) the words written above and accepted them in faith and now believe them in your heart, Jesus Christ has guaranteed you eternal life.  Now, rejoice and tell others of your decision.  Carry the following words in your heart knowing that your faith has saved you: John 5:24, “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned: he has crossed over from death to life.” 

As we approach the season in which we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, rejoice in knowing if you prayed or said the words written above and you believe them, one day when you approach the gates of heaven you will not have to bring an account of your good works; your decision to make Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior paid your sin debt and guaranteed your entry into heaven. 

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian 

Copyright © 2010 by North Loop Cottage LLC.  All rights reserved

Posted in Religious, The Trinity and Salvation | No Comments »

2. August 2009 by PawBill.

I surf various radio station broadcasts while I am driving to avoid advertisements.  As soon as a station goes to a commercial I punch one of the preset buttons.  It is convenient now that most functions are on the car’s steering wheel.  Finding good content, however, is getting harder. 

Anyway, I tuned in a Jewish talk show host who was answering a young callers question.  I did not hear the question, but the host was certain of his answer.  The question must have been about who would be going to heaven because his answer was “anyone, no matter what their religious belief, would be going to heaven if they had lived a good life.”  I may not have quoted his words exactly, but his belief was all you had to do was be good and do good things.   

Jesus Christ is the Jewish Messiah whose life was prophesied and fulfilled as described in the biblical writings of the Bible. The Jewish people rejected him while he was on earth, and He is still rejected by a large percentage of today’s Jews. They believe in the book of Isaiah, but not chapter fifty-three. Read the chapter for yourself if you have an interest. 

If you believe in the heaven described in the Bible, you can only go there if you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.  Jesus made this very clear in his teaching.  Do you believe He lied?  I do not, but If you believe in another way then you will not be going to the heaven of the Bible.  Read Jesus’ words for yourself in the Gospel of John.

You may be going to another heaven, and I wish you well.  I would be interested in hearing from you about your god and your heaven.  Where does your god live?  Does he or she have commandments? Do you have to do good works or deeds? Do you have an image that you worship? Do you have writings about your god? I want to know.  Write me and let me know.

Jesus Christ offers you salvation by grace.  No works or good deeds are required.  What is so hard about believing in Him? Let me know. 

Contact me at bt@northloopcottage.com.

Posted in The Trinity and Salvation | No Comments »