#2340 1023 16P

            We are often committed to many things—having a renewed interest in something; learning a new skill, sport, or musical instrument—maybe committed to being more active, but being committed to obey the Word of God by faith in the Blood of Christ, is the most important commitment we could make—it is definitely a right start that leads to the right destination.

            A true believer in Christ places a trusting and obedient faith in His Atonement for sin—and this concerns every life issue facing us today.  Wanting to really know God, and to understand how real His love for us is—by having the Holy Spirit inspire obedient faith and trust in us—is critical—it is the defining line between belief and unbelief; acquitted or guilty; Heaven or Hell.

            The Holy Spirit informs us that only those who believe God, and trust in faith on the Atonement sacrifice of His Son, escape judgment and eternal fire.  John 3:16 “For God did so love the world, that His Son—the only begotten—He gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have [everlasting life]. 

            17-18 “For God did not send His Son to the world that he may judge [condemn] the world, but that the world may be saved through him; he who is believing in him is not judged, but he who is not believing hath been judged already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

            The judgment of everyone is delayed until the end of their life on earth, because Jesus came to save them—not to condemn them.  This means that our life here on earth is the only opportunity we will have to repent, confess, forsake sins, and place an obedient trust on the Blood of Christ for things in this life.  Hebrews 9:27 “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.”

            Jesus has the authority to judge everyone, so He will make a judgment of actions and attitudes in this life—whether we believed and trusted Him in faith, or doubted and turned away in unbelief.  John 5:21-23 “As the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.   For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father.”

            Jesus said that obedient faith in His Word leads to eternal life in His Kingdom.  John 5:24 “‘Verily, verily, I say to you—He who is hearing my word, and is believing Him who sent me, hath [everlasting life], and to judgment he doth not come, but hath passed out of the death to the life.’”  We are no longer unable to trust in faith, but are inspired to trust God in faith by His Spirit.

            With authority to judge everyone, Jesus said John 5:28-29 “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, to the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation.”

            We need to rightly define the term faithful believer—it is someone who will do what is right before God, by placing obedient trust on His Son’s sacrifice.  God’s love is always waiting to act on behalf of those who are willing to place obedient trust on Him.  John 15:10 “If you obey [keep] my commands, you will continue in my love, as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and continue in His love.”  To have the mind of Jesus Philippians 2:5 is to obey the will of the Father.

            It is possible to be led away from faith in Christ, by making wrong choices in our life, but the love of God is still there for us.  When shown the wrong decisions we may have made, and Romans 14:23 “All conduct not based on faith is sinful,” we then have the opportunity to repent, and return to a position of trust.  Ephesians 5:16 “Buy up your opportunities, for these are evil times;” Ephesians 5:16 “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

            Redeeming the time, is acting on that opportunity to repent and get back to trusting God—it means to continue in God’s love.  The door is always open for us to return to a life of faith in Christ—by confessing, repenting, and making necessary spiritual changes. 

            Jesus wants us to return to a position of trust, because that is how we continue in His love John 15:10; but we must make that decision.  God spoke through the prophet Malachi 3:7 “‘Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my laws and failed to obey them.  Now return to me, and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

            The divine love Jesus has for us compels Him to plead with the Father for us.  He asks the Father to inspire us to be committed to trust Him and be obedient to His Word.  Only by returning to a position of obedient faith on the Blood of Christ, can anyone stand before God without sin.

            When leaving this life, or at the time of the Rapture, there will be very few obediently trusting God thru believing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  John 5:29 “Those who have done good will rise to eternal life, and those who have continued in evil [unbelief] will rise to judgment [damnation].”

            To be trusting God at the end of our life, is the critical issue; John 6:29 “This is above all the thing that God requires—that you should be believers [on] Him whom He has sent.”  Believing on Him is obediently trusting Him for—health, healing, provisions, protection, justice, and forgiveness.  If believing in Jesus means trusting on His sacrifice, then that is above everything else in importance.

            Many verses confirm this truth—John 3:18 “He that believeth on him is not condemned;” John 5:29 “they that have done good, to the resurrection of life;” and the one requirement is John 6:29 “that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”  To believe on the Son is to trust Him in this life—and not misplacing our trust on something else—like, medical help, hand gun, saving account, insurance policy, company pension, attorney representation, court action, or any other worldly source of help.

            Jesus rose to life and ascended to the right hand of God to plead our case for us.  Hebrews 7:25 “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”  Jesus asks the Father to inspire faith in us, by His Spirit, to be willing to place obedient trust on His sacrifice.

            God has promised to correct and discipline those who have strayed from His plan of obedient trust on the shed Blood of His Son—simply because He loves us.  His mercy and love compels Him to lead us back—if we choose to let Him lead us back to a position of trust through obedient faith in Him.  God does not want anyone to perish through rebellion, but to be delivered, healed, protected, and saved through repentance and faithful trust on Him.

            Hebrews 12:5 “You have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you.’”  God corrects us in love, and guides us back to His Truth—if we stray from His plan.

            If we put our dependence, or our confidence in a company pension, a hand gun, a seatbelt, insurance policy, or prescription medicine, we will be reproved “because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes [corrects] everyone he accepts as a son.”

            God disciplines us when we stray from trust on Him, because He wants to perfect our faith in the Atonement sacrifice of His Son.  Love for Christ is evidenced by showing divine love toward others.  Matthew 5:44-45 “I say to you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven.”

            To love God with all our heart, is to trust God for everything in life.  Matthew 5:46-48 “If you love only those who love you, what good is that?  Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.  If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else?  Even pagans do that.  But you are to be perfect—[our faith perfected in Christ], even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

            Love for God means love of others! We should not judge or condemn someone who has been led astray by the devil to leave a position of faith and trust on God, but we should show concern and compassion by praying for them—asking God to bring them back to a position of faith, commitment, and obedience.

            We would not desire to have close fellowship with them—if they have been deceived and led astray to trust in a substitute of Satan—concerning divine healing; daily finances; protection; laid-up cash; or avenging of injustices done to them.  Being close friends with them could result in our being influenced by them to act in the same way—depending on a substitute, rather than depending on the power of God.

            We should separate from those who choose not to trust God in faith for things in this life, because unbelief is a serious sin.  2 Corinthians 6:14 “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.  For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?  Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” 

            We would have nothing in common with them, and there would be no agreement between us concerning faith and trust issues.  17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”

            We should have concern for their soul, and we should pray for anyone who has been led astray from trust on God.  We should ask God to lead them back to His Truth, because Galatians 5:6 “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”  God wants our love, and He wants us to trust Him in faith, so that we would John 3:16 “not perish but have everlasting life.”

            We are either on the right side of faithful trust on God; John 3:18 “He who [is believing] in Him does not come up for judgement,” or on the left side of no trust on God, “He who [is not believing] has already received sentence, because he has not his trust resting on the name of God’s only [begotten] Son.”  Committed to Christ through obedient trust on God—has eternal rewards.