PIC: bird-on-a-fence parameter. By Darcy
Image: Are you standing on the fence, or outstanding on a post on your own? Or in good standing – within God’s parameters?
So you think God has saved you? He, His grace and sheer mercy, has you covered? Sure as Heaven is real?
So I’ve got a question for you: Why are you “one of the few”? Matthew 22:14. Ever wondered about that?
Who do you think you are, anyway? Think about it. 1
We cannot understand the mind of God. He is that huge – and we and our thinking…are not. Why does He do the things He does? How can we understand all that God is?
The Bible is God’s message to us. Thankfully the Bible makes a few things very clear. I will be thankful for that for all eternity.
Are you reading it? We can know a bit about all that He has going on here for us on this planet. His Word is trustworthy.
2 Timothy 3:16
Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action)
*See the context also: 2 Timothy 3:14-17
Because of the Bible, I know this:
1 – God offers a free gift of salvation.
2 – I accepted it, and I follow Him.
3 – So I have been saved.
How about you?
God offers. But we must personally make the choice: accept it (or not). Read the Bible more… and we know more about God’s plan for the future. So it is wise to prepare with great fear and trepidation. Make sure – damn sure meaning. The consequences are eternal – either way.
Have you… Chosen acceptance? Chosen nonacceptance?
Parable of the Marriage Feast…Matthew 22
An example of “knowing more about God” is Jesus’ Parable of The Marriage Feast. With this Jesus illustrated salvation and entering His Kingdom.
Jesus tells us many are invited to His Feast. In fact “whosoever will may come”. But few are chosen.
Very few will be there when God throws His huge party called The Marriage Feast. Compared with all the peoples who have lived throughout history…few will be there. And today, in these End Times? Yikes. Very few.
So you think YOU are chosen to enter His exclusive yet inclusive Kingdom? Why you? Only a few are entering, unfortunately.
Why do you think you’re in?
It’s a narrow road
The Choice
It’s there for you. The Choice. Certainly “whosoever will may come”. Jesus promised that Mark 8:34. But…
1. With The Choice comes The Question: Will you make that decision?
And
2. With that confession to accept Him: Will He accept your confession? What kind of confession you making?
God’s salvation is a limited offer. It comes with your lifetime on earth only. We must be born again BEFORE that ultimate Judgement Day. After death? Not a chance in Hell.
Matthew 22:14
“For many are called (invited, summoned), but few are chosen.”
I am mystified as to why so few accept God’s invitation to the biggest feast ever Matthew 22. “Many are invited but few are chosen.”
Why is that? You don’t have to be a foodie define it to want to be at that Heavenly Feast of Feasts! But you do…
God wants to save all of us, but most will not pay the cost which He absolutely requires. Most will not heed the warnings of His specific salvation parameters to get saved. They opt for their own ways.
God is astute. When sorrowful people come to Him for salvation, He can spot a cracked heart, a poser, a “this-and-that type selector of faiths, the faker, the “NOT 100% given-over”. He rejects the false repenter. What about your confession?
Scripture leaves no doubt. He wants to save. We know the will of God in this. 1 John 1:9
– Source: Don’t be a sorry loser – one of The 94%er Losers
God wants to save us – but are you willing to pay the cost? Jesus paid it all for you. Will you submit your will to such a loving God as He? Got the attitude He asks for?
Excerpt from Got the attitude
The righteousness we need for God’s Holy Heaven is the righteousness of Jesus. We don’t “do it”. He gives us His. It’s “imputed” MerWeb. We simply receive it through faith.
“the righteousness of Jesus
is credited to believers
through faith,
allowing them to
be accepted by God.”
– Source: Does 1Corinthians 1:30 Imply Imputed Righteousness? | by
Jesus paid it all. His love is there for the asking. He freely gives us that righteousness.
What must we do for salvation?
The offer is clearly shared throughout the New Testament. See Salvation References. I like this one in particular:
John 1:12
But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—
Like my Dad would say to me as a kid: “Don’t just stand there. Do something!” And “Don’t be a bump on a log!”
That’s what God is saying. Osmosis does not save you. “Receive and welcome Him.” Luke 9:23 is so very clear about this: You must personally accept Him and then follow Him:
Luke 9:23
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].
It has not happened for you until you fulfill His specific parameters for salvation. Jesus is saying to us all (“to them all“):
Swift Paraphrase…what Luke 9:23 is actually saying:
wish it, deny yourself, pick up your cross daily, follow me – which means believe in Me, conform to Me, and maybe even suffer for Me and die for Me
These actions on our part are not attempts to get saved by works. Our actions are evidences of actually following through with what God is asking of us:
Swift Paraphrase Luke 9:23
Come just as you are. Accept my forgiveness. And follow me – obey Me.
The world is full of “parameters for entry”:
- “Shirt and Tie Required”
- Visa permit required
- Driver’s License required
- Passport required
- Shower Before Entering the Pool
- “Courses required for your college degree certificate”
- “I will not marry you unless….”
- “Enter at the front gate” (We actually saw a sign like this the other day, as we were starting to walk in from down the road.)
Understand this. Entrance into God’s Holy Kingdom has its “parameters for entry”. Salvation in Christ is not a whatever religion. God absolutely requires we accept His terms: He is asking us to repent. THEN we are granted entrance. This is forgiveness.
We can’t hold-out on Him. Absolutely NO SIN enters God’s Holy Holy Kingdom. Can you imagine it if so? Ghettos in Heaven!?
The logic of “if this – then that“
It ain’t happenin’ for you “if this” is not followed. The logic is simple: Salvation by Jesus is freely available, but you are not ever going to enter The Pearly Gates unless you follow Jesus. Are you following the logic? Salvation is all about following Jesus. Who you followin’?
God is logical and very, very loving. However, He seeks a people who follow Him. No followance? Then, no salvation. “Following” shows you are real. It shows you actually “accepted”. This is the “faith without works” principle of James 2.
When it comes to God things
Be very careful. Be extremely fearful even.
When it comes to what affects your eternity – be ultra specific with your thinking. God is.
Are you not saved yet?
– Source: Not saved yet
Have you followed His divine logic — accepting the forgiveness of Jesus… and following Him?
1 John 5:13
These things I have written
to you who believe
in the name of the Son of God,
so that you may
know
that you have eternal life.
FOR MORE:
Have you followed the divine logic of accepting the forgiveness of Jesus? It is simple, but not magic definition of magic. It is the most powerful act of God possible for us sinners in need of His grace. Put quite starkly, the Gospel of Jesus tells us: Get saved – or stay damned.
God offers. The one-off offer Jesus makes to everyone
What God has going on with us here on this planet
Limited Grace Excerpt: Salvation in Christ is not a willy-nilly “free for all” gift bin. You can’t just say “Okay Jesus”, “Sure thing – God”. The Gospel of Christ is not a “come one, come all” offer by God.
God does offer salvation to all mankind. But you must come with sincerity and truth, and identify totally with His Way… not stay in your own sinful ways.
Salvation is offered to “whosoever will…”, but the “will” must accept and follow Him – obey His Way. (KJV: Matthew 7:24; Matthew 12:50; Mark 8:34; Luke 6:47; Revelation 22:17) You must be born again.
Scripture does not say “Whosoever wants to say a little prayer… may come and be saved. Oh! And then go and live however you want to.” No.
Who do you think you are…anyway? Excerpt:
God, the God, not some little god, is our Father…. He saved us. Or have you not been saved? It behooves each of us to really examine the evidence, and make sure we are not following some “other” god. The actual God of the universe is the One you want. He is the only one that we should give credence to.
Who on earth do you think you are? One day we will all stand before God. If we are born again, He is our Daddy (“Abba”), and we will be home! But, whether you believe in Him or not – He is our Creator God. And He, not you, will be calling the shots. Ready for that?
You’ve chosen not to accept Him. Why…”or not”
We know the will of God in this
What knowing the Bible does for you
What must we do for salvation?
Want It…you gotta want it. Excerpt: If I don’t want it, it does not happen. I have to want it enough, make the decisions, and go for it. If not me, then who? Nobody. I make my life happen – not my mommy nor my wife, not my brother nor my sister. It’s me.
Then there is the matter of me and God. The first step to discovering God is wanting to. He is there, but I’ve got to want to know more about Him. I choose to – or not.
Want it – to know it… God’s message to us Excerpt: Interpreting God’s Bible Message
In these days full of deception, God’s bright message of light for us is good news. But it can be difused, diminished and darkened by misinformation, false teachers, and by our deceitful hearts.
Deafened, Blinded, Muted
We are in the End Time days, when so many people (even the “educated”) know so little about the Bible, and false teachers totally misinterpret the Bible for their own benefit. It is so important for “Berean-type Christians” to closely examine what Scripture actually is saying.
The logic of “If this – then that” to explain useless faith
The Gift by His Precious, Undeserved Grace
The Inclusive Yet Exclusive Salvation of Jesus Excerpt: Absolutely all on earth may come to Him “just as they are”. You need not clean up to come to Jesus. All are offered the awesome grace and mercy of God to be able to approach Him in prayer — in whatever moral condition you may be in. Salvation in Christ is greater than your sins.
“8 Draw near to God,
and he will draw near to you.
Cleanse your hands,
ye sinners;
and purify your hearts,
ye double minded.”
– James 4:8
His exclusive yet inclusive Kingdom
Specific salvation parameters Jesus absolutely requires
The Inclusive yet Exclusive Salvation of Jesus
Acknowledge God and consider Him worth knowing…personally accept Him
Got the attitude? Excerpt: Only the righteous will enter Heaven. You know that, right? Only logical. How could unforgiven dirty rotten sinners, vile to Jesus – like I used to be 1 Corinthians 6:11, enter God’s Holy Holy Place? Not a chance in Hell!
Salvation will cost you…are you willing to pay the cost?
We get His righteousness imputed
when we get His salvation.
The right-mindedness
is of Him,
not of ourselves.
Does 1Corinthians 1:30 Imply Imputed Righteousness? | | by
“the righteousness of Jesus
is credited to believers
through faith,
allowing them to
be accepted by God.”
Was your confession accepted by God?
What was it like – your confession to Jesus?…He is asking us to repent. Excerpt:
According to Scripture: Our confession makes our eternity. It decides our ultimate fate. By it, we either land in Heaven when we die, or we land at Jesus’ feet for Judgement Day.
The ball is in our court, as they say. But it’s more than a game. Our eternity is in our hands.
Why, you may ask, could a confession of repentance before God — land me in front of the Judge for the ultimate condemnation ever? Well, that becomes the question: Was your confession accepted by God?
Don’t rely on “once saved always saved” theology
Receive the Kingdom like a child
Got a cracked heart?…We can’t hold-out on Him
Thinking is good
Know your thinking – Save your future
Betting your eternity on your thinking
That Moment of IF Excerpt: Writing about our salvation by God, the Apostle Paul brings us back to our moment of “if”. He brings it back to the moment of our salvation experience, saying “…if…”:
– Romans 6:4-7 “5 For if we have become one with Him [permanently united] in the likeness of His death, we will also certainly be [one with Him and share fully] in the likeness of His resurrection.”
– Colossians 3:1-4 NASB Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 [a]Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
That Moment of IF when you choose your own thinking
Better is thinking with God’s Word Excerpt:
And you that are far from God —
Better is thinking with God’s Word, truly,
than to be
— thinking with your world
— with all the enemies of your soul
— arguing with God
— supporting evil
— following the godless New Left
— denying Jesus
— choosing not to accept Him
— rejecting what Jesus taught
— caught in The Dead Calm as your journey ends.
You’ve got failure to believe God — and all the while
just one minute away from the Kingdom of God. Wow.
What a tragic error – what many live in all their life.
If you want to miss God’s thing…
do your own thing, be self-taught.
His Ways are not your ways
so how can you join Him on your own?
Betting your eternity on your thinking?
That’s a loosing bet.
The rich mindset of God…He is that huge – but we are not
As if your mindset is protected by God…we and our thinking…are not God’s thinking
Get on God’s side – and be in the Truth
That Day of Judgement…List of References to ¨that day¨ – That Day of Judgement at the end of the age.
Virgins, Talents, and Judgement
Don Lemonites on Judgement Day
Ever grasped that feeling of being wrong with Jesus?
The ultra extreme unresolvable horror upon arrival for Gods condemnation
The many hardhearted mind closed
Running with sin and calling it “just fine with me”
Live your best life wherever, doing whatever you want…a whatever religion
The faith of anything goes…whatever belief
Ghettos in Heaven?…whatever
I didn’t choose a religion…I chose a way of life that healed my spirit…not a religion
We are the odd creature, are we not?
What a crock – having no religious affiliation Excerpt: To say “I have no religious affiliation” is to say…
- I am such a lazy-ass I can’t make-up my mind
- I am so mixed-up I can’t figure it out
- I am so lame I will just leave those matters for others to deal with
- I don’t really care what God does with me; I’ll take whatever He deals me
- I am not going to waste my time weighing through all the evidences for God
- Churches are so screwed-up… I do not care what the Bible says about going there
- I do not care what God says (in the Bible) about the value of going to church
Really!? Don’t you care about your eternity, where you will spend a million-years-to-the-infinite-number?
Why we should fear God Almighty
God hears and wants us to approach Him with sincere and honest prayer
Following What Scripture teaches us about following: see these references in one link CEB or:
Romans 10:17 NASB So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Luke 10:27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Romans 6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts
Galatians 3:26-29 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
Galatians 5:22-26 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
Where’ you going? Are you truly “following” Christ?
Practicing sin, not following Christ Excerpt: Scripture teaches us very clearly what is obviously …NOT following Christ. In fact, we are warned that “that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.“
If that does not give you pause and great fear… then you most certainly are not “of Christ”, for those in Christ seek Him with all of their heart Luke 10:27 .
Those who make sin
a regular, accepted part of who they are
— are not truly saved.
The man of God, the lion, and obedience
The Way to Salvation always involves obedience to Jesus
Receiving the forgiveness of God through Jesus the Messiah…receive the free gift of forgiveness
_________
Me, when I die, forgiven Excerpt: When I die, I will see the dawning of a brand new existence. I will be free from this body of death and dying (Romans 7:24). Pain and grief will be no more (Hebrews 8:12).
The Bible tells me what it will be like to die and what to expect on the other side. For the believer in Christ, there is nothing to fear in death.
Me, when I die, still in sin Excerpt: God declares that all creation is condemned and due to be cast out of His presence, forever. But He also prepared a way for us to be pardoned and live with Him forever! He is waiting for you, prolonging his “second coming” – to give you more time to accept Him. (2 Peter 3:3-14)
What a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God
There will be an accounting on that Day of Judgment. And if you have not accepted the free gift of forgiveness made available by the substitute death of Christ on the cross… you will arrive in front of God – guilty as charged.
_________
Who can be saved?
“Whosoever will may come”…ANYONE who so chooses, may accept His free gift. Try it! Prove me wrong.
Whosoever
Jesus said, “Whosoever will – may come”. Here are the “whosoever” passages.
See all 17 in one link
or individually: Matthew 7:24, Matthew 10:32-33, Matthew 16:25, Mark 8:34-35, Mark 8:38, Mark 10:15, Luke 9:24, Luke 9:26, Luke 14:27, Luke 14:33, John 3:14-16, John 11:26, Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13, Romans 13:2, James 4:4, Revelation 22:17.
“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them,
Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
– Mark 8:34
Prove me wrong – annotated version Excerpt: Search the Bible and …prove me wrong. What I say is true: Jesus came down to be born of a virgin, fathered by Father God – in order to provide a way for His justice system to forgive us of our sins.
Salvation is “a God thing”…salvation by God
The Godman Jesus said “Follow Me”…I follow Him
The Work of Salvation Excerpt:
God’s Work of Salvation
God’s work of salvation was done by Jesus when He came down to earth: when He became the Godman, when He died on the cross, when He was buried, when He arose from the tomb, when He ascended back up into Heaven.
From the beginning of time, He wants all of us to be saved. And now HE is saving people from Hell — in that very moment when they first believe.
God promises – and He delivers
Jesus did not come down to earth to condemn us (Verse 17 of John 3:14-19). He does not get angry with our sinfulness so that He then angrily takes away our salvation.
For those who have accepted Him with sincerity and truth — all sin is forgiven – past tense. It was done for us by Him. And further sin by us does not “undo” that salvation that He gave us.
The Whosoever People who miss the turn to Jesus
Don’t be a sorry loser – one of The 94%er Losers…Yikes. Very few winners. Excerpt:
God wants to save all of us, but most will not pay the cost which He absolutely requires. Most will not heed the warnings of His specific salvation parameters to get saved. They opt for their own ways.
God is astute. When sorrowful people come to Him for salvation, He can spot a cracked heart, a poser, a “this-and-that type selector of faiths, the faker, the “NOT 100% given-over”. He rejects the false repenter. What about your confession?
Scripture leaves no doubt. He wants to save. We know the will of God in this.
The Seed of the Word was sown. What happened to yours?…What it is when Hell is yours
Did you end up in Hell?…What it is when Hell is yours
The sins we can practice to go to Hell. Just so you know…What it is when Hell is yours
Hell is my last choice, last on my list, not what I really want…What it is when Hell is yours
There is a broad road that says Heaven but goes to Hell
So you think you are a Christian saved by His amazing grace
Being God Damned…the ultimate condemnation ever
Footnotes
- You definitely have been invited. Scripture is definite: “Whosoever will may come”. Read Matthew 22:11-14 for context. Verse one starts: “Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.“
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