Back To The Basics: Sin

Sometimes it is necessary to revisit basic principles.  We get so involved in being deep thinkers and speakers that we leave out some basic things.  When I coach sports I always hammer basic fundamentals.  Today, we are trying to avoid the basics of sin by changing the name of it.  We avoid calling it sin, so we call it "freedom of choice" or "alternate lifestyle" or "convenience" and in doing that we change the word grace to fit our new look at sin.  We change the word grace to "free pass."  That leaves us with a free pass to a freedom of choice or an alternate lifestyle or to live conveniently.  Today, I want to point out that we can change the names of many terms but we are doing that because we do not understand the basics of sin, like where sin started, what it is, etc..  I read a quote and I thought it was very relevant to this subject and it goes like this, "I covet no phraseology that lends respectability to sin.  The sorest injury we can do a man is to lighten his conception of the enormity of sin."~J.H. Howet  I must add here that we can't sugar coat sin, but we can and should expose it as loving as possible!  Remember, a liar is as evil as a raping murderer in the eyes of God.  You don't have to burn down the place the congregation gathers to be a sinner.

Sin started in the Garden of Eden.  Mankind became a sinner because they heard, believed, and obeyed a lie that was preached to them by Satan through the serpent. Gen 3:1-8  Eve was deceived because the lies that were preached to her was mixed with some truth.  That is happening today as well.  Except Satan is using well dressed, articulate, and intelligent men and women to preach his lies mixed with truth.  Adam and Eve were given a simple and plain command that they chose to disobey.  That disobedience brought sin into the world.  Which brought death, or separation from God, into the world. Gen 2:17   

Let's look at a few words that are translated sin to understand what sin is.  First, sin is lawlessness.  One word translated lawlessness means to break, violate, or reject God's law. Sin is to be in opposition of and disregard God's law. 1Jn 3:4  This is exactly what we see in the actions of Adam and Eve.  Remember there was only one tree forbidden tree in that entire garden.  The command was simple and clear "you shall not eat."  You have to hire someone to help you misunderstand that!  God provided a way for them to be saved forever in the tree of life, but He also allowed Adam and Eve to have the freedom of choice: loyalty or disloyalty, obedience or disobedience, life or death.  He is doing the same today.  He has provided a way for us to be saved forever through Jesus Christ, but He is allowing us to choose from the same choices.  This test of loyalty definitely didn't cause the disloyalty.  This test of obedience didn't cause the disobedience.  The disloyalty and disobedience came from a rebellion of Adam and Eve that started in their hearts!  The eating of that fruit, or disloyalty and disobedience, was just a display  of what is their hearts.  

Second, sin is a transgression of God's law.  This word that is translated transgression means to go over or beyond God's law. It is disregarding the boundaries between right and wrong.  This is the word that the elder brother of the prodigal son uses when he is voicing his complaint to his father. Lk 15:29  This is what we do when we try to change the meaning of the grace.  

Third, sin is missing the mark.  The word translated sin literally means a missing of the mark.  Vine's says this word sin is an inward element producing acts.  That is why I say Adam and Eve's sin started in their hearts.  The mark that is missed is God's mark.  All mankind has missed the mark and fallen short of the glory of God. Rom 3:23  

I read one time, I believe it was Barclay, and he was discussing the difference between sins of commission and sins of omission.  I want you to know that sin is not just avoiding the wrong, but it is also not doing the right!  We can avoid all the bad and never do any good!  That is just as sinful as doing the bad and wrong in God's eyes!  James says as much in Jas 4:17  

Sin is selfish and that is its essential principle.  The chief characteristic of love is giving.  No matter what it cost ourselves.  The chief characteristic of sin is the exact opposite.  It is getting, no matter what it costs others.  Sin is very alluring.  It has an appealing characteristic to it.  It is very charming and fascinating because it is filled with pleasure.  Often times sin can feel great.  That pleasure may be short lived but is still alluring.  It makes me think of a bug zapper.  I can never figure out how so many bugs fly into that light to their death.  That light is so alluring to bugs that just can't resist.  I would look around see all my dead buddies and say, "Forget this.  I'm outta here!"  Really...   I look around and see my buddies now filled with sin and far too often I fail to say, "Forget this.  I'm outta here."  The biggest reason is because sin is also deceitful.  Sin shows off all its pleasure but disguises its pain, shame, and consequences.  That is exactly what Satan did to Eve!  He listed all the advantages but disguised the consequences and pain of sin.  Satan is a barter, who bargains with things he doesn't have!  That is what he tried with Jesus. Mt 4:1-11  Satan wants us to think of sin as something beautiful and pleasureful.  The beer commercials do the same thing today.  Their product will cause you to do dumb and costly things.  It will make you extremely sick.  It will cause to loose memories of what you did.  It could even kill you.  Yet, their commercials never communicate that.  All we see is fun, pleasure, and beautiful people. If we are not careful sin will make us its slave.  Rom 6:16  

Sin separates us from God. Isa 59:2  It brings suffering.  Eve suffered in childbearing, Adam suffered in labor, the earth suffered in what it produced, and Satan suffered with his head being crushed.  Everything and anything suffers when sin enters the picture!  Sin also brings death, both physical and spiritual.  It may have took over 900 years for Adam's resulting death from sin to catch him, but it did.  Cemeteries all over the place are a reminder that sin resulted in a physical death.  Paul reminds us of the spiritual death that sin produces.  2Th 1:7-9  

Thank you Lord for providing a cure from this sin in Jesus Christ! Rom 5:8-12

He died for our sins, by His wounds we are healed, and He destroyed death and brought life! 1Co 15:3; 1Pe 2:24; 2Ti 1:10  Thank you Jesus!  His blood provides our redemption and forgiveness in accordance with God's grace. Eph 1:7

The cure is provided all we must do is partake.  Antibiotics can't help you if you do not take them.  Christ can't help if you do not obey Him.  Obedience to the Gospel is a must.  God did His part and now we must do ours.  Those at Pentecost understood this and asked, "What should we do?"  Saul understood this and said, "What will you have me do?"  Today, are you ready to let go of sin in your life that is separating you from God and ask the same question as Saul and those at Pentecost?  Sin is not an alternate lifestyle or permissible due to convenience.  It is separating you from God and eternity with Him.

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

We must hear the Word of God:  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We must believe or have faith:   Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We must repent of our sins:  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We must confess Christ before others:  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We must be immersed into Christ (baptized) Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38

We must be faithful:   Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22   

Conversion Is More Than A Van

Mt 18:3

I truly believe the word "converted" is disappearing from the 21st century church.    The above verse is not saying we are to be childish but that we are to be childlike in our pursuit of power and dominance.  Children really care less about those things, but those are the things that drive adults!  Remember, Jesus said this right after he was asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  In conversion, the entire person is remade from the inside out, and that is bound to show up in our daily lives.  What do we treasure most in life?  Consider what Jesus said in Mt 12:35   You see, a new life is the product of conversion!  There are steps a person takes as this conversion, or new life, happens.  Consider the following...

Faith leads to a new life.  Christians live for a world that they have not seen.  They lay up treasures in a place they have never been.  They are not overly concerned with the things of this world.  This is all done is faith!   People of the world, however, are very much a part of the world.  These people are not merely in the world, as a Christian is, but they are truly a part of the world.  Jn 17:14-16  I preached a message a month or so ago and I asked the question, "Will someone from your life stand up and witness, that by the way you live, they know you are not a part of this world?"   Can someone do that for you?

Faith is a must.  Faith changes the way we live.  If you faith doesn't change the things you say and do you do not have a saving faith.  Does your daily walk in the world reflect that you are converted by your faith?  Heb 10:38; 2Co 5:7; Gal 2:20.  We must have and live by faith if we plan to please God.  Heb 11:6  Notice that faith is more than believable that He is.  We must also understand that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him!  Too many people think faith is believing that He is, fail to seek him, and are robbed of a reward!!!!

Faith is believing that He is.  Faith is believing that He rewards those who seek Him.  Faith is believing Jesus is God's son. Jn 8:24  We prove this faith is God's son by loving him with our obedience to his commandments.  Jn 14:15  Having a faith that changes our lives, or converts us, is proving we are "saved by grace through faith." not earning grace!  Eph 2:8   A person cannot live a Christian life without being converted by faith.  The Christian life is a life of faith.  

Peter failed to walk on water when his faith failed.  The disciples failed to cast out demons when their faith failed.  The same thing happens to us when our faith fails.  We sink and fail to imitate Christ!  A living, active, and saving faith is found in the obedience and practice of God's Word (Jn 17:17) and that is how faith leads to a new life.

Repentance leads to a new life.  Our actions prior to being converted nay not have appeared foolish (Titus 3:3) while in the world because we were seeking fleshy things. Rom 8:5.  Repentance of something is to quit doing it!  We must quit seeking fleshy things if we are to be converted.  When we repent of a life of sin we must change that life we lived.  We must change all of our behavior.  1Pe 1:14-16. When someone repents due to a strong faith in God's son they are thrusted into a new life.  That is how repentance leads to a new life.

Confession leads to a new life.  I do not want to spend to much time on this as I have posted on this in the past called, "I confess... I confess..."   God has a claim on every life on this planet.  Many do not recognize that claim and confession is a way of saying we recognize God's claim on our life.  We confess that our creator surely knows more about us than we do, I mean He is our creator!!   The confession is a solemn committal to the will of Christ before others!  That is how confession leads to a new life. 

Baptism leads to a new life.  Many people try to elevate baptism and others try to bury it.  The Bible has a lot to say about baptism and that is a fact.  Here are some more facts, until this point we still have the old self with us and the old sins on us!  We have a dirty conscience about our past life.  How is that going to change?  BAPTISM!  In baptism, we have a clear conscience toward God concerning our past life.  1Pe 3:21  In baptism, we have our old sins washed away.  Acts 22:16  In baptism, we lay the old self to rest and rise to a newness of life. Rom 6:1-4  In baptism, we have the blood of Christ applied to us and that sets us a part for the service of the living God.  Heb 9:14   In baptism, we are clothed with Christ.  Gal 3:27  nd not of it!  That is how baptism leads to a new life.  

Today, do you live a life that says you are converted from the old fleshy lusting person you used to be?  Do you walk in the newness of life?  Do those of the world around you know there is something different about you or do you look too much like the world for them to tell?  I always say if the people around you do not know you are a Christian, God probably don't either.  Potiphar knew God was with Joseph because of his demeanor, do others know God is with you because of yours?  Have you been converted to Christianity or are you just claiming Christianity?

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

We must hear the Word of God:  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We must believe or have faith:   Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We must repent of our sins:  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We must confess Christ before others:  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We must be immersed into Christ (baptized) Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38

We must be faithful:   Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22      

Are You Lacking?

Ps 23:1

Have you ever truly considered the latter part of this verse?  Wow, what a bold statement.  "I shall not want", is a sheep who is utterly satisfied with its owner and content with its lot in life.  Many feel they are missing things in their lives because they are not satisfied with their owner and not content with their lot.  They feel this way because the Lord is not their shepherd, even though some may try to claim He is.  

The word "want" is literally speaking of not lacking, not deficient, in proper care or management.  It is not speaking of the lusts of the flesh. 1Jn 2:16  The word want has a second emphasis and it consists of not desiring anything more.  Ps 34:9-10; Phil 4:19  "Want" is not referring to struggles and problems.  Have you ever thought of David's (the author of this psalm) struggles?  He was a man who had intense privation, hardships, personal poverty, and an anguished spirit.  We look at him as the king who messed up with Bathsheeba, but he had it good.  Sorry, but he had about nineteen attempts on his life.  After all that he still says, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."  It is just absurd to think we, as children of God, should have no struggles.    

Consider men like Elijah, John the Immerser, and Jesus himself.  We must keep a balanced view of Christianity and realize these men have experienced great personal tragedy.  Should we be any different?  Jesus himself said we would have tribulation. Jn 16:33  "I shall not want" is not addressing personal tribulations.  Look at what Jesus said to the rich young ruler in Mk 10:21.  "I shall not want" is not addressing material or physical poverty.  Christians must take a long hard look at life and realize he or she may be called on to experience lack of wealth or material benefits.  Jesus tells us to do three things.  He says we are to deny self, take up our cross daily, and follow Him. Lk 9:23 If you are choosing things in your life that pulls you away from serving the Lord in whatever capacity you desire to serve him, you are not answering the threefold call.  I know plenty of people who desire to serve the Lord in mighty ways but they are making decisions in their financial and material lives that keep them from achieving this desire.  There are hardships we all face.  Yet amid these hardships of following Jesus a person can boast, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."

When all is said and done the welfare of any flock is entirely dependent upon the management of their shepherd.  It is the shepherd, manager, boss in your life who makes the difference in your destiny.  Are you following Jesus, materials, finances, or self?  The decisions you are making answers that question, not what you say.  Many people are following the last three but are poor in spirit.  Some are following the first one but not the last three.  These people are usually full of a deep, quiet, and settled peace.  Contentment is the hallmark of the person who is boasting, "I shall not want" because their lives are in the hands of the Good Shepherd.  In this country we have unparalleled wealth of material assets yet we are amazingly insecure.  We are insecure and unsure of ourselves because we trust too much in the flesh (Pr 3:5,6) and and are spiritually bankrupt. 

We must be content with what our shepherd has for us.  That is what It means to not be in want.  Many are missing things in their lives because they are following the wrong shepherd.  We put too many burdens on ourselves.  We have a God who wants our burdens so we can be at peace. Ps 68:19  In spite of having an owner and shepherd like that some people are just not content with His control.  I used to call that person a "Carnal Christian."

I read a story of a shepherd who had an ewe that exemplified a "Carnal Christian."  He wrote that the ewe was very beautiful, had a strong constitution, and an excellent coat of wool.  She did, however, have one bad fault.  She was discontent.  He wrote that this one sheep caused more problems than the entire flock combined.   He said this ewe would find a way around his fence and would constantly be found feeding on bare, brown, or sun scorched places that were of inferior sorts of what he provided for his flock.  Soon enough she taught her lambs the same tricks.  They were following her example.  Then the other sheep began to follow her bad example of discontentment.  He said she had to go because he discontentment was leading others down a dangerous and treacherous path, literally.   She was ultimately butchered to protect the flock.     

This sheep was not realizing that she would not be in want with her good shepherd.  She wanted to venture outside the fold to seek better things and she was cut off from the flock.  Today, we call that backsliding.  I called that Carnal Christianity.  Lately, I have began to call it Haran Christianity because many Christians are only trying to go halfway!  When all is said and done, whatever tricky little name we came up with, the discontent sheep will be cut off.  Jesus said in Jn 15:1-11 that if we don't abide in him we too will be cut off.

Actions speak louder than words, is what my Mom always told me.  She said don't listen to people watch people.  Jesus said, "...you will know them by their fruits."

Today, be a fruit inspector and make sure your fruits say what your lips say.  Make sure you are following the Good Shepherd and not an impostor.  Only a sheep in the Good Shepherd's fold can say, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

We must hear the Word of God:  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We must believe or have faith:   Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We must repent of our sins:  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We must confess Christ before others:  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We must be immersed into Christ (baptized) Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38

We must be faithful:   Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22        

Calamity Happens

Lk 13:1-5

It is just not right to think that when trouble comes on people that they are more wicked than another person.  This world is not where we receive retribution.  As a matter of fact, the wicked tend to be prosperous here.  The punishment of the wicked and the blessing of the righteous are reserved for another world.  What appears unequal here will be made equal there.  It is often said at time of calamities, "Why would God let that happen?"  We often blame God for tragedies and calamities but forget to give credit to Him for times of blessings.  We often associate calamities, diseases, and terrible things to unrighteousness.  I have heard it said, "Hey, he didn't change his ways.  He had it coming."  Don't confuse consequences of sin with punishment of sin.  We suffer many hard consequences of our sin, but the punishment of that sin will be much more severe.  Consequences of sin can remain a lifetime, but punishment of sin will remain for eternity.  

Notice in verse three Jesus doesn't say that they were NOT sinners, but that they were not WORSE sinners.  I see this as Jesus removing a sense of false security from those hearing him.  That false security is running wild today.  He doesn't want them to feel righteous because that calamity didn't fall on them.  The great truth that is uttered here is that God rejects the thought that some are more righteous because of the severity of sin!  Jesus doesn't say, "You BAD sinners repent."  God is not a respecter of mankind.  Rom 2:11   Today, we try to put levels on our sins.  How many times do we condone fornication as long as that fornication is not with a person of the same sex!  Do we think God is happier with the person that has relations with five different people of the opposite sex, as opposed to the person that has relations with one of the same sex?  Do we think God is happier with a liar than a murderer?  Sin is sin and we all must repent of it!  Acts 17:30  

If there is no repentance in a person their fate is to perish. Many say that there is no need of repentance because we are covered by God's grace. Eph 2:8-10  I agree that grace is what saves us and we can not earn that grace.  However, we are "His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works."  When we are created in Jesus, born again and walking in the newness of life after our immersion where we have crucified and buried the old self (Rom 6:1-4), we are to have works that proves our salvation and that we are a new creature. 2Co 5:17  We are no doubt covered by grace, but we can fall from that grace.  See a previous blog. 

Consider Heb 10:26,27, this is no doubt referring to apostasy.  I see this as a stern warning that the rejection of Christ will result in the only opportunity for salvation from the wages of that sin. Rom 6:23   The Jews rejected Christ and many suffered the same fate as the Galileans in verse one.  They died at the the hands of the Romans as mentioned in Mt 24.  Many are falling away today because they are losing that "terrifying expectation of judgment."   There is a serious lack of a Holy fear of God today.  People are having their ears tickled by the teachers that they are gathering to themselves.  2Ti 4:3

The apostles went around preaching Christ crucified.  1Co 1:23  People see the cross as foolishness because they don't realize the lost state they are in without it!  In Acts 2:14-36, Peter preaches a sermon that explains that God's loving plan has been unfolded through Jesus Christ who was crucified.  It was their sins that put Jesus on that cross.  In verse 36 he said, "whom you crucified."  Is that what everyone wanted to hear?  NO, but it was they needed to hear.  What was the result of a sermon that convicted people by using the Word of God?  Acts 2:37 says they asked what they should do.  They were told to REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED! Acts 2:38

If the life you are leading today does not look like the life Jesus laid out in the Bible, do you change your life or the Bible?   If the church you attend can't be found in the Bible, do you change churches or Bibles?  We must be reminded that through God's love he sent Jesus to be our perfect sacrifice.  He went into the Holy of Holies and that sacrifice was accepted.  We must be reminded that is our sins that put Jesus on that cross.  We must repent from godly sorrow from that message.  2Co 7:10-12  We must repent and separate ourselves of all sin.  We must stop putting levels on sin.  

Today, have you talked to God and confessed your sins to Him?  If we do, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us of our sins. 1Jn 1:9   Unless we repent we will perish.  Today, produce fruit that says you are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus.  Have a healthy and Holy fear of the Lord my friends.  Mt 10:28  I hope this was not communicated in a harsh or angry way because that was not my intention.  It was said in a true concern for souls out of love!

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

We must hear the Word of God:  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We must believe or have faith:   Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We must repent of our sins:  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We must confess Christ before others:  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We must be immersed into Christ (baptized) Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38

We must be faithful:   Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22        

God Is A Jealous God

Ex 34:14; Dt 4:24

Wow, what a week!  I have been so blessed to serve God this week.  I had a great meeting with someone about the PA Preaching In The Mountains Family Camp this week.  I got to spend time with a great Evangelist this week that is in a revival near me for a couple of days.  To top it all off, I sat in a hospital for a very long time waiting on the Lord's timing so a dear sister in Christ could deliver her first child.  That wait was very long and tedious but well worth it.  Wow, to stand there (outside the room) and listen to that baby boy take his first breath and let out a cry!  GOD IS GOOD!  While I was waiting in that hospital I had the opportunity to get plenty of study time in and was thinking about the above verses.

This adjective jealous occurs in the Old Testament six times.  It refers directly to the attributes of God's justice and holiness, as He is the sole object of human worship, according to Mr. Vine.  It means an ardent zeal, jealous.  This shows, in a most expressive manner, what love God has for His people.  He is jealous for our fidelity because He desires us to have an incomparable happiness that can only be obtained if we have a relationship with Him through His son.  God feels for us like we do when we first fall in love in High School.   You remember that feeling, don't you?  You can't do anything but think about that person.  You call them and when you're done you spend thirty minutes saying, "You hang up first."   That feeling is how God loves us!  I thought, what are some things that makes a person in that kind of relationship mad?  Here are some things I came up with...

We do not like to be "cheated" on!  God does not like to be cheated on, or two timed, either!  We do things that show others we are "taken" or we are "set apart" from those that are single and not in a relationship.  In High School, we often give someone a class ring, a necklace, or a letterman jacket.  As we grow older we give engagement rings.  Finally, we give a wedding ring.  I always say there are four rings in a relationship.  First is the class ring, then the engagement ring,  then the wedding, and the final ring is suffering!  Haha, my wife doesn't like that joke! These rings are sign that we are taken.  Unfortunately, sometimes people will wear several other people's rings!    

There are signs that we are in a relationship with God too.  Obedience is a sign of a relationship with God.  We are to obey God's Word as it sanctifies us, or sets us apart, from the world.  Jn 17:17  Baptism is another sign we are in a relationship with God.  I know this kind of falls under the obedience category, but I read somewhere that a Muslim is not considered an infidel when they read a tract or even the Bible for that matter.  They are not considered an infidel until they are immersed into Christ.  The problem is the church is sneaking out at night with the world.  The church is two timing in their relationship with God!  Jas 4:4  We aren't sanctified by the Word because we do not obey it.  We treat the Word of God like a buffet.  We want to pick and choose which parts we want to submit to and disregard the rest.  That is cheating on God with the world!   Sure we will wear the ring of baptism but forget that ring of obedience.  We say, "Well, I'm not that bad.  Tommy is bad.  That guy is a hypocrite!"  Remember, we are to imitate God. Eph 5:1  We should compare our lives to Jesus and not Tommy!

In a relationship we don't like to be stood up.  I remember one time I had a friend that was all excited that he finally got this girl to go on a date with him.  He was all pumped up.  He left to go meet her and she didn't show up.  He called her and never got an answer.  She decided to go out with her friends instead of him! He went from pumped up to stood up and then to let down!  She later told him she thought she would have more fun with her friends and could always reschedule with him.  How many times have we stood up God for our friends?  We say, "I never miss, this one time will be OK.  I can reschedule with God for next week!"   We fall victim for the things of this world.  1Jn 2:16  We lust after the things of this world and stand God up when He wants us to meet with Him around His table and commune with Him. We often find out the grass is greener on the other side of the fence because it is filled with manure! We often stand up God because we was sneaking out with the world the night before.  We often stand up God on the Lord's Day because we are too busy sneaking out with the world!  

     

Apostasy is possible.  God desires us to fellowship with Him through his son. 1Jn 1:3  Many people, unfortunately, have moved away from God.  It will be worse for those who do not repent of apostasy than those who never submitted to God. 2Pe 2:20-21  Far too often when a person dumps another person they may realize it was a mistake but never returns to that person out of fear of rejection.  People who move away from God feel the same.  They feel they never can return to God or He will not forgive them, but that is nonsense!  Look at what Simon was told by Peter in Acts 8:18-23   We must repent if we moved away from God.  We must confess to Him in prayer and He is faithful to forgive. 1Jn 1:9  God is still driving and has His arm across the back of the seat.  The question is, will get in, let Him drive, and slide over next to Him?

Today, understand that God is a jealous God.  Not because He is insecure, but because he has a love for us that is expressed with an ardent zeal for us to have a relationship with Him.  We must be obedient in that relationship and make sure we don't cheat on Him with the world.  We must not stand Him up and meet with Him around His table.  We sneak out with the world and eventually dump Him and get out of His truck.  When we realize that we made a mistake dumping God and want back in His truck to snuggle next to Him all we need to is repent and confess to Him in prayer.  I am honored to serve a God that is jealous and desires nothing but the best for me.  I am proud to in a relationship with Him. I hope you are too!

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

We must hear the Word of God:  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We must believe or have faith:   Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We must repent of our sins:  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We must confess Christ before others:  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We must be immersed into Christ (baptized) Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38

We must be faithful:   Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22