GRACE: Gods Riches At Christ Expense

Gods Riches At Christ Expense:

QUESTION: In your personal opinion what do you unsderstand it takes for a person to go to heaven.

I's like to share with you how the Bible answers this question, if it is alright with you. There is a word that can be used to answer this question. FAITH.

F is for FORGIVENESS.
We cannot have eternal life and heaven without God's Forgiveness.
"In him (meaning Jesus) we have redemption through his blood the Forgiveness of
sin." Ephesians 1:7a NKJV

A is for AVAILABLE.
Forgiveness is available. It is AVAILABLE FOR ALL.
"For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that Whosoever
beleives in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16 NKJV
BUT NOT AUTOMATIC. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord Lord' Shall enter the
kingdom of heaven" Matthew 7:21a NKJV

I is for IMPOSSIBLE.
It is impossible for God to allow sin into heaven.
GOD IS - LOVE John 3:16 NKJV
GOD IS - JUST "For judgment is without mercy" James 2:13a NKJV
MAN IS SINFUL "For all have sinned and fall short of the Flory of GOD"
Romans 3:23 NKJV

QUESTION: But how can a sinful person enter heaven, where God allows no sin?

T is for TURN.

QUESTION: If you were driving down the road and someone asked you to Turn, what would he or she be asking you to do? (Change Directions) Turn means REPENT, TURN from something--sin and self. "But unless you REPENT you will all likewise perish"
Luke 13:3b NKJV
TURN to someone, trust CHRIST ONLY (The Bible Tells us that) Christ Died for our sins according to the scriptures: and that he was buried, and That He Rose again the third day according to the scriptures. I Cor 15:3b-4 NKJV
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and Believe in your Heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved Rom 10:9 NKJV

H is for HEAVEN.
Heaven is Eternal Life.
HERE
"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more Abundantly"
John 10:10b NKJV
HEREAFTER
"and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive You to
Myself: that where I am, there you may be also" John 14:3 NKJV
HOW
Understanding what we have shared, would you like to receive this Forgiveness by
trusting Christ as your personal Savior and Lord. (Forsaking All I Trust Him).

(Author Unknown)

The Tale of Two Trees

"The Tale of Two Trees" from God Came Near by Max Lucado

I.
Formless masses. Floating. Disconnected. Divine artist. Earthly dream.

Light! Sun rays piercing through jungle trees. Sunsets volcanic with explosions of gold. Soft sheets of moonlight soothing a weary ocean.

Beings! Snoring. Flying. Splashing. Bleating. Gnawing. Clawing. Digging.

Sound! Horses' hoof beats. Cawing crows. Hyena laughter. Cannoning thunder. Chirping chicks. Rat-tat-tatting rain.

Nothingness Converted.

Then silence...as an unseen Sculptor molds mud and dust. Lions motionlessly watching. Sparrows perched, peering downword. Clouds hovering. Inquisitive kangaros. Curious caribou. Snooping centipedes.
"What's he making?"
"An Animal?"
Giraffes peeking through leaves. Squirrels chattering gossip. Pausing. Wondering. Gibbering.
"A mountain?"
A sudden breeze, surprisingly warm, whistles through the leaves, scattering dust from the lifeless form. And with a breath of fresh air comes the difference. Winging on the warm wind is his image. Laughter is laid in the sculpted cheeks. A reservoir of tears is stored in the soul. A sprinkling of twinkle for the eyes. Poetry for the spirit. Logic. Loyalty. Like leaves on an autumn breeze, they float and land and are absorbed. His gifts become a part of him.
his majesty smiles at his image. "It is good."
The eyes open.
Oneness. Creator and created walking on the river bank. Laughter. Purity. Innocent joy. Life unending.
Then the tree.
The struggle. The snake. The lie. The enticement. Heart torn, lured. Soul drawn to pleasure, to independence, to importance. Inner agony. Whose will?
The choice. death of innocence. Entrance of death. The fall. Tear stains mingling with fruit-stains.

II.
The Quest.
"Abram, you will father a nation! And Abram - tell the people I Love them"
"Moses, you will deliver my people! And Moses - tell the people I Love them"
"Joshua, you will lead the chosen ones! And Joshua - tell the people I Love them"
"David, you will reign over the people! And David - tell the people I Love them"
:Jeremiah, you will bear tidings of bondage! But Jeremiah remind my children, remind my children that I love them"
Altars. Sacrifices. Rebelling. Returning. Reacting. Repenting. Romance. Tablets. Judges. Pillars. Bloodshed. Wars. Kings. Giants. Law. Hezekiah. Nehemiah. Hosea...God watching, never turning, ever loving, ever yearning for the Garden again.

III.
Empty throne. Spirit descending. Hushed anges.
A girl...
a womb...
an egg.
The same Diving Artist agin forms a body. This time his own. Fleshly divinity. Skin layered on spirit. Omnipotence with hair. Toenails. Knuckles. Molars. Kneecaps. Once again he walks with man. Yet the Garden is now thorny. Thorns that cut, thorns that poison, thorns that remain lodged, leaving bitter wounds. Disharmony. Sickness. Betrayal. Fear. Guilt.
The lions no longer pause. The clouds no longer hover. The birds scatter too quickly. Disharmony. Competition. Blindness.
And once again, a tree.
Once again the struggle. the snake. The enticement. Heart torn, lured. Once again the question, "Whose will?"
Then the choice. Tear stains mingle with bloodstains. Relationship restored. Bridge erected.
Once again he smiles. "It Is Good!"

For just as death came by means of a man, in the same way the rising from death comes by means of a man. For just as all men die because of their union to Adam, in the same way all will be raised to life because of their union to Christ!
.....................
Ref: Gen 2:15-17; Gen 3:1-24; Mat 26:1-75

To what extent are the temptations & enticements, in the beginning, & throughout the Bible,(Adam & Eve; Judas) still prevelant today?

Whose will controlls the choices then & now?

What makes us susceptible to tempation & to self-will?

From Jesus' example, what principles can you deduce for resisting temptation and for submitting to God's will?

As technology increases, so does temptation. It's up to us to use this technology to teach & prepare our youth for the spiritual battles ahead!

God Bless!