How shall we escape, if we neglect so great Salvation (if we neglect the Cross of Jesus Christ, we have destroyed ourselves); which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them who heard Him (Hebrews 2:3);
Behold, I wish above all things that you may prosper (refers to financial prosperity, and should be the case for every Believer) and be in health (speaks of physical prosperity of the body), even as your soul prospers (speaks of Spiritual Prosperity; so we have here the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ for the whole man). (3rd John verse 2)
John 3:1-7
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man Be Born Again, (from above; a Spiritual Birth) he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”
This question that Nicodemus asked Jesus, “how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born” shows that he had no knowledge or concept of what Jesus had just told him that, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. By his question, he portrays that he has no understanding of spiritual things. He is thinking in natural terms, while Jesus is speaking in spiritual terms.
Had he truly been “Born Again,” he would have understood these terms. Most people today are just like Nicodemus thinking in the natural. They think because they are a good moral person, attend church on occasions, belong to some denominational church, hold a position in a Church, has been baptized in water, being a good Catholic, etc., they think their destination is Heaven!
Solomon wrote in Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25, 12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. 25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death (anything other than Faith in what Jesus Christ accomplished for humanity at Calvary’s Cross will lead to spiritual death and the eternal loss of the soul). John 14:6, Jesus told Thomas, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
To go through Jesus to get to the Father you must go through the Cross, and to go through the Cross there must be a denial of self, that is self will, pride, your own ideas of how it is accomplished, go exactly the way the Word of God tells you instead of man’s way.
Most of humanity aren’t willing to go exactly God’s way. After the fall of man (Adam), God demanded a blood sacrifice from both Cain and Abel. Cain brought to God an offering of the fruit of the ground, in other words an offering of his own labor, which God could not accept. Abel brought to God an offering of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. Abel’s sacrifice was symbolic or represented what Jesus Christ would accomplish for humanity on the Cross. The firstlings of Abel’s flock meant the very best that he had. When God gave His Only Begotten Son to save all of humanity who would exhibit Faith in His Finished Work on The Cross, He gave the very best that He had as a Sacrifice for our sin (John 1:29).
Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8-10, For by Grace are ye saved through Faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. This is God’s way, and it doesn’t just seem right, it is right, because God only accepts the way that He demands.
John 3:5, Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. 1. This phrase is not speaking of water Baptism! Water Baptism is an outward sign that an inward work has already taken place. There is no salvation in water! The water speaks of the natural birth, when the water breaks the natural birth is ready to take place. Verse six explains the natural birth, and Spiritual birth. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. The Spiritual birth takes place when a sinner confesses with his mouth the Lord Jesus, and believes in his heart that God has raised Jesus Christ from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
The Holy Spirit baptizes the sinner into the Death of Jesus Christ. Romans 6:3-7 explains what happens to a sinner when he or she is Born of the Spirit. 3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (Not speaking of a water baptism, but a Spiritual Baptism). 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5. For if we have been planted (united) together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed (rendered inoperative), that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7. For he that is dead is freed from sin.
So Romans 6:3-7 takes the sinner that has been baptized into the death of Jesus Christ back 2,000 years when Jesus Christ died on the Cross, the believing sinner died with Him, when Jesus Christ was buried, the believing sinner was buried with Him, when Jesus Christ rose from the dead, that believing sinner rose with Jesus Christ in a new source of life. Who that sinner use to be is now dead, buried, and risen with Christ in a new source of life.
II Corinthians 5:17, reads, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Now that who you use to be has died with Jesus Christ, buried with Him, and risen with Him in a new source of life, you are not the same person on the inside, you have been recreated (Born Again; A Spiritual Birth) on the inside. You are the same on the outside. You have been Justified by putting your Faith in Jesus Christ and what He accomplished for all who will simply believe and put total dependence on His Finished Work at Calvary’s Cross.
Justification By Faith means you have been declared not guilty or innocent of past, present, and future sins. The slate has been washed clean by the Blood of Jesus Christ, His spotless righteousness has been imputed to you! When you sin you must always do what I John 1:9 requires us to do. If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Unconfessed sins to God is sins unforgiven).
The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 1:17, For therein (through the Cross) is the Righteousness of God (Right with God) revealed from faith to faith (“from Faith” relates to God as the Provider and “to Faith” relates to man as the receiver): as it is written, The Just shall live by Faith. The same Faith that saves us is the same Faith that gives us Divine Power to live Godly lives!
When you search for a Church you want one that preaches the object of your Faith must be in Jesus Christ and Him Crucified alone for Salvation, and you must maintain the same faith on a daily basis for the Holy Spirit to continue the ongoing process of Sanctification. The Holy Spirit doesn’t automatically work in the Christian’s life, if He did we would never have a failure! He works in the parameters of our Faith exclusively in Jesus Christ and what He accomplished for humanity on Calvary’s Cross.
For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the Law of Sin and Death (Romans 8:2). Now The Holy Spirit can begin bringing our Condition up to our Position, which is Sanctified, Holy, and set apart from the things of the world! With the object of our Faith in the Finished Work of Jesus the Holy Spirit can produce the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23). Jesus said in John 15:8, Herein is my Father Glorified, that ye bear much Fruit: so shall ye be my disciples.
Whosoever rejects Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their life God The Father has a time and place for them to be Judged at the Great White Throne Judgement! (Revelation 20:11-15).
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books (record of all who rejected Jesus Christ) were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works (what they did and what they didn’t do). 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life (a book with the names of all Christians) was cast into the Lake of Fire. I pray you make heaven your Home. It’s Your Choice!
Written by Pastor Willie F. Miller, because I care about people’s souls.
The Cross of Christ or The Lake of Fire!
The Cross of Jesus Christ is the Only Means That Any one Can Escape Eternal Hell. I Am Not Speaking Of The Literal Cross, But what Jesus Accomplished For Us On The Cross!
15 And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life, was cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:15). Every person that rejected Jesus Christ will be Judged at the Great White Throne Judgement at the end of the Kingdom Age. If the Believer does not overcome the trials of this world, and walk away from God and stop believing in Jesus Christ, and His Finished Work on Calvary’s Cross, their name can be blotted out of the Book of Life. He that overcometh, the sameshall be clothes in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my father, and before his angels (Revelation 3:5).
Reference Scriptures on Names being blotted out of the Book of Life (Exodus 32:32:33; Psalms 69:28).
13 Jesus stated, Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destructions, and many there be which go in therest:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Mathew 7:13-14). If you notice, there are very people on the Cross. The narrow way is Faith exclusively in what Jesus Christ accomplished for hamanity on Calvary’s Cross. The broad way is the many and varied religions, including fads, rules, rituals, and traditions created by man. Church denominations, water baptism, church attendance, joining particular church will not save you. The Object of your Faith in these things will lead to eternal hellfire! Salvation comes only when a person repents and put their Faith exclusively in what Jesus Christ accomplished for humanity on Calvary’s Cross.
Faith Hope Love Christian Church, Pastor Willie F. Miller
Website: livingthecrosslife.org