By: Shone Bagley, Sr. – Ordained Minister / M.C.C.
Shone Bagley, Sr.
Off of last week’s thoughts…
God is the God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow… what He spoke from the beginning holds to the very end. It is important for us to understand that fact; even if we are under a new covenant with God through Jesus.
Matthew 5:17-18 ( KJV ) 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
In fulfilling the word, we need to understand that Jesus does not take away the word of God nor the commandments of God, but just fulfilled it so there is nothing else to follow after him. Within the fulfilling, we who were sinners, being saved through the blood of Jesus, still would have to be keepers of God’s words as well as face God for judgment. One can say that once saved always saved; through the blood of Jesus you are right… however, within judgment ones name could be taken out of the Book of Life because it is not the “saved” part that you will be judged on, but of the lifestyle you express after you have been saved.
Hebrews 10:26-27 (KJV) 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
When did God change his mind? Do you really think we who went through the blood of Jesus are exempt from the possibility of judgment? The blood does cover your sins, however your lifestyle is what God will be looking at…
Matthew 7:21-23 (KJV) 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Reading this scripture, some would say these men did not have a true belief… don’t be deceived by false doctrine. They called Jesus Lord, so they confessed that he was Lord.
They had faith because of the evidence of their works. They used the word of God by using the most powerful name, Jesus.
Nothing here talks about their belief or lack of; In fact, they had fully believed in the name of Jesus, and Jesus himself states they have works. It was just that their works were of “iniquity” which is defined as sin; meaning there is a standard.
For example, if you have year’s worth of food, but yet you drive by poor people and you don’t feed them except for the holidays… all of your works then become iniquity. If God blessed you with closets full of clothing and you see people who are without and you do nothing, then all that you do in Jesus is considered, iniquity. Or you have food for a year and you have clothes for a year and you don’t drive by the poor, then no matter what you do is considered iniquity and you are a hypocrite in Jesus eyes… Jesus then can say “I know you not” and God then will take your name out of the Book of Life. Again, the focus is not on the fact that you are “saved” but on the lifestyle you have after being “saved.”
I speak of this because I know that there are those out there teaching you once you come to Jesus, your soul is ok. And please know that by my speaking on this subject, the focus is not about you going to hell, but about you living a life as God wanted you to live: prosperous, healthy, full of peace, and joy. However, to live as God wanted you to is in addition to helping your brother and sister who are in the dark and of need within this world.
Know this: Jesus was sent to us all, that whosoever call on him will be saved (Roman 10:13). And, if we all are in the image of God, and we all have a living soul that comes from a living God, then all of us within the world are God’s children. A lot of God’s children are lost, and a lot of them will go to the Lake of Fire. But we who God have blessed have a responsibility to help those who are without. Jesus said: Matthew 9:12-13 ( KJV ) 12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Are you a follower of Jesus to go out and live a lifestyle where you can connect with the sinners and bring them to repentance? Are you a follower that lives a lifestyle to feed the poor, gives shelter to the homeless, or goes to visit the sick or the imprisoned? Or are you one who takes, as one of the 5 thousand, or like the goats and gives only a little or gives in comfort?
Thought of the week:
Sheep = giver of their life Goat = feeder of self, give only when needing to Ask yourself… “Which one does my life represents?” and if God had to judge my life today, “What would He see?” It’s your life…
May God bless you with full understanding… until next week, Love you my brothers and sisters.