The human condition is terminal and needs radical surgery. That is only accomplished in and through the great physician Jesus the Christ.
Luke 5:31-32 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
As it is written: (Paul quotes Ps. 14:1-3)
“There is none righteous, no, not one;
There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
They have all turned aside;
They have together become worthless;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:10-12;23)
David (King and prophet) recognized his sinful condition....
"Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me." (Ps. 51:5)
For there is not a just person on earth who does good And does not sin. (Ecc. 7:20)
We are not sinners because we sin. We sin because we are sinners. WE ARE BORN THAT WAY!
There seems to be a common notion among Christians that all we do is say a sinners prayer and we're in the Kingdom. Without any accountability for our actions. That a lifestyle change is not necessary. That one can keep living a debauched, immoral, profane, perverted lifestyle without any accountability. Christ died...that's it....you now have fire insurance, so to speak. To keep one from going to hell. God doesn't care how you live. So sin on. Scripture says otherwise:
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:1-4)
If God regenerates your heart you will know it. You will realize that you have transgressed the laws of the Lord God Almighty. And you will desire to know him better, through His word and sound Biblical teaching and desire to live accordingly. Paul the Apostle in dealing with the Corinthian church proclaimed to them ,"For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again." God has not only delivered you from His wrath but given you a citizenship in heaven. God sees you through the righteousness of his Son who lived the perfect life that was/is impossible for any mere mortal to accomplish.
God the Father has drawn you through the power of the Holy Spirit to His Son. "Therefore," writes Paul again to the Corinthians "if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." The Apostle Peter proclaims to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, and to us as well "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a Holy nation that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness and into his marvelous light." God wants His people to be Holy(set apart) because He is Holy. In the world but not of the world. For the world and its desires are passing away. But the one who does the will of God lives forever.
God has revealed to us His truth. The Word who was in the beginning with God and was God, the Word by which all things were made.....That Word became flesh...He is the image of the invisible God. The One through whom all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. (hold together) John 1:1-4;Col. 1:13-17. Every proton, neutron, electron. All the atoms that make up all the matter in this seemingly infinite universe are held together by the only name under heaven by which anyone can be saved.
Since the children have flesh and blood, he (Jesus) too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Heb. 2:14-18)
God is not unaware of your struggles with your sin nature. He understands the draw of the world, the flesh and the devil. The battle that rages against those born again-- born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13) It is the Father of all creation Himself who has reached down out of heaven to call you for His own. Therefore since you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. (Col. 2:6-7) That His grace and faith afforded you, not of yourself, this gift of God. The most precious gift anyone can receive. A citizenship in heaven and eternal life in the presence of God and the glory of His power.
Everyone needs the Savior. Scripture tells us if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead. You will be saved. (Rom. 10:9) From the wrath that awaits the reprobates, rebellious and disobedient.The unrighteous will be condemned to a place of blazing fire and utter darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (See Matt. 13:24-30,36-43, 47-50; 22:1-14; 25:14-46.) Jesus called this place “the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” His messengers.
No Christ Jesus. No salvation. No redemption. No eternal life. But only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.(Heb. 10:27)
As "everlasting life" is just that "everlasting, eternal in God's Kingdom.
So everlasting destruction is just that. An everlasting conscious existence. For an infinite God demands an infinite punishment.....Hence, Jesus words in Matt. 25:46 “Then they (the wicked, unredeemed) will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
As the eternal life is just that, everlasting, without end. So also the punishment of the wicked, the unrighteous is likewise without end....continuous, perpetual, everlasting.
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matt. 10:28)
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matt. 7:13-14)
Are you one of the few? Has God proceeded to open your heart to realize your pitiful condition? Have you realized the lostness that surrounds and longs to devour and keep you from God's truth. It is this truth that our enemy (the devil, satan) desires to keep from the world. It is the same words the serpent whispered to Eve at her temptation in Eden, "Has God said??" Instilling doubt and distrust in God's Word. As Paul told the Corinthian church, he speaks to us today... "But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ."
Put not your trust in the things of this world, the cravings of sinful man, the lust of the eyes and of the flesh for all these are passing away. Where, or on what, do you put your hope? On whom do you trust and put your faith? Material things? A political party? A religious denominations traditions that do not align with Scripture? Your righteous acts, so called, are as filthy rags (Is. 64:6) The things of this corrupt perishing world are but a mist, a vapor which are here for a little while then vanishes away? But our inward being, our soul, will live on forever in one of two places. Either in Heaven in the presence of God and the glory of His power. Or in Hell, talked about by Jesus more than anyone else in the Bible with the words:
The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.(Matt 13:41-42)
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. (Mark 9:43)
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36)
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, (Rom. 1:18)
But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, (Rom. 2:5)
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. (Col. 3:5-7)
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate [by perversion], nor those who participate in homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers [whose words are used as weapons to abuse, insult, humiliate, intimidate, or slander], nor swindlers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God. Then Paul said this to the Corinthians...And such were some of you. But you were washed, (made clean spiritually) but you were sanctified,(seen as Holy before God through the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ) but you were justified(Just as you had never sinned) in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor 6:9-11AMP) I have always heard Paul saying to them don't do those things anymore, avoid them, you are better than that. Don't give in to temptation. And the Apostle James would be appropriate here where he utters: "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." (James 4:7)
Peter tells us "Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness,(purposely living without restraint), lusts, (sensual desire, appetite, or pleasure) drunkenness, revelries, ( drinking parties that extended late into the night usually ending in sexual debauchery) drinking parties, and abominable idolatries (the worship of someone or something other than God as though it were God.) In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. ! Peter 4:1-5 AMP)
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (2 Cor. 5:10)
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, (sexual immortality with one not your wife) fornication (sexual immortality), sorcery, (in the Biblical context actually refers to magical arts and the usage of drugs for spiritual and ceremonial purposes), hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal. 5:19-21)
Jesus said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” (Mark 7:20-23)
Our sinful nature is inherited, handed down from generation to generation. All flesh, blood and bones human beings are born with the propensity to do evil. All of us are born with a sinful Adamic nature. Natural born enemies of God. With rebellious hearts inclined toward the lust of the flesh and of the mind. Dead in trespasses and sins following the course of this world, the prince of the power of the air and we're by nature children of God's wrath. (Eph. 2:1-5) God the Father sent God the Son to save a people for Himself. The perfect Son of God to live a life without sin; the great high priest Himself. The unspoiled, faultless sacrifice for the sins of mankind.
and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thess 1:10)
For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written:
“As I live, says the Lord,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.”
So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.(Romans 14:10-12)
You will either stand before the God of all creation clothed in your own filty rags of unrighteousness. Or clothed by grace through faith with the righteousness of the Way, Truth and Life of Jesus Christ. The only One in whom the Father said " This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him. Not of yourself. Not because of good works so called. But in the hope of the only name under heaven by which any one is saved. A people elect and chosen by grace through faith and not of yourselves....but a gift from God not of works. Less anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Eph. 2:8-10)
The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.” (Rev 11:18)
And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:10;14-15))
Jesus spoke about Hell in the new testament more than anyone else. And as for Hell being eternal and everlasting, as is everlasting life eternal for the redeemed. I offer these words from Matthew chapter 26.... When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?” He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me. The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better if that man if he had not been born.” Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?”He said to him, “You have said it.” (Matt 26:20-24)
It would have been better if Judas had not been born. For Jesus knew his destination was the fires of an everlasting Hell.
C. S. Lewis said of hell, “There is no doctrine which I would more willingly remove from Christianity than this if it lay in my power. But it has the full support of Scripture and, specifically, of Our Lord’s own words.”As to whether that hell is “purely a mental existence” or “a world or reality,” Lewis refused to speculate except to say, “It will be as actual as — as — well, as a coffin is actual to a man buried alive.”
Scholar Len Woods offers this sobering insight: Hell — not simply the word but the terrible truth it represents — ought to cause us sleepless nights. The biblical descriptions of a place of unquenchable fire (Matthew 5:22), utter darkness (Matthew 22:13), and ceaseless, restless torment (Revelation14:10-11) are horrible beyond words. Even if one regards these images as symbolic or metaphorical, the reality of hell is infinitely worse than we can grasp for this one reason: Hell is the logical destination for those who want nothing to do with God.”
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36)
The biggest mistake people make is that they compare themselves to other people rather than comparing themselves to God. That they havent done this or that. Let these words sink down into your ears. You MUST BE PERFECT as your Father in heaven is perfect. To inherit everlasting life and a citizenship in heaven. Nothing less will do. And ONLY JESUS THE CHRIST WAS a perfect sinless man.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 5:21)
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, (all mankind) the Man Christ Jesus, (1 Tim 2:5)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”(Acts 4:12)
Chancellor Konrad Adenauer of West Germany asked Billy Graham once if he believed in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. He said, Yes, I do. Chancellor Adenauer said, So do I, and if Jesus Christ was not raised from the dead, there's no hope for the human race.
if you confess with your mouth the Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
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