Good Grief Charlie Brown

                In Isaiah 2:3-4 quoted below, Isaiah speaks to us concerning “walking in the way of the Lord.”  Our walk should always be a walk that is serious in nature.  This is not to say that we as Christians must never have fun or enjoy our secular lives.

                  However, a skit was recently sent to me on Face-Book that was supposed to be hilarious.  My wife and I started watching it and I was appalled.  It began with a young couple who were at an auto dealership to purchase a new car.  Before going in they agreed that they were “just looking.”  The salesman appeared and they asked about a particular car they were interested in, but at that time, they were “just looking.”  The salesman immediately said, “Let’s pray about it,” and began to pray using our Saviour’s name and the name of our Father in his prayer. (This was repeated several times before I turned it off.)

                                   

Exodus 20:7  Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

My response was that the skit was blasphemous and it was blatantly taking the name of our Lord in vain.  I know, “Bro John lighten up.”  To those who ask me to lighten up, I want to ask you a question, “Do you know what it means to take the name of our Lord in vain?”  To begin with, any cuss word that simulates or directly takes His name is blasphemy, and it is using His name in vain.  (In vain involves useless use.  Using God’s name or the name of His Son Jesus in persistent and serious prayer is not useless.)  The offering of prayer in Jesus’ name in this skit was not done seriously; it was done to create satire, and that is blasphemy. 

                  The person who sent the skit did apologize with some exceptions. She claimed to have grown up in a fundamental Baptist Church and the Baptist College she attended had such skits.  One person who responded in her defense opened with “Good Grief…”  (That is where I attained the title for this article.) 

                  As long as I am Pastor at our Church, this type of a blasphemous skit, or the taking of God’s name with vanity will not be tolerated.  (I know some people in this town think of us as the odd Church, and our legalistic views.  That is okay by me.  We attempt to set standards, and define a walk that will please God.)

Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  (2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

              In terms of what God lays down in His Word, (our King James Bible,) we as Christians need to examine what is put in front of us.  If what we are looking at is humor or art, does God appreciate us enjoying something that is blasphemy to Him?  Our scriptures guide us, and we are told we all fall short of the glory of God.  However, that should never keep us from looking for the path to His Righteousness.  So, what is keeping us from following the Ten Commandments?  It is our falling short of His expectations!   Is that your excuse?  We need to hold ourselves to a higher standard, a standard that would be “holy, acceptable to God.”                                                                

Bro. John R. E Chastain

Isaiah 2:3-4  And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.  (4)  And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

O Give Thanks

                In Psalm 136:1-3 quoted below, we see the same phrase repeated over and over, “…for his mercy endureth for ever.”  As we ponder God’s miraculous blessings that He has bestowed on us, I do hope and pray this week you will ponder on Him.  It may not be evident to all that God’s mercy through His son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus the Christ is available to all of us. 

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The portion of John 3:16 that may be over looked is “…whosoever believeth…”  The word “whosoever” may be the key word in this verse.  It tells us that regardless of our situation in life, and regardless of what we are or have been, the God of Heaven loves us.

              Our Psalmist tells us “…he is good…” and also states that we need to thank Him, “the God of gods,” and the “Lord of lords.”  There is none other.

              Therefore, remember during this Thanksgiving Day: (the family gatherings, the parades, the football, the shopping trips. etc. etc,) the most important activity must be our giving thanks to God for our families and friends, for the TV to watch the games, the car to drive to shop, and the available bounty with which He has blessed us.

              He is the One who gives us our daily blessings.  He is the One who gives us the income to put turkey, the dressing, and all those pies, (even the canned cranberry sauce) on our table Thanksgiving Day.

Psalms 100:4  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Before you lift a fork or spoon to your lips, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving.”  With a true sincere heart, let us each be Thankful for all He has given,  “O give thanks.”

                       

Bro. John R. E Chastain

Psalms 136:1-3  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.  (2)  O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.  (3)  O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

…He Gave His Life For Many

As we read Mark 10:42-45 below we must also read verses 35 – 41 to understand the context of these given below.  In the last verse Jesus is prophesying His future, telling us what He already knows will happen. 

              That is one advantage of being God; He knows, and you and I suppose we know.  When I make our plans for the future, for example, I have 2011 pretty well planned out.  Yet, not being God, any prophesy on my part as to what will actually happen in 2011 is just a guess on my part.  It all might happen as planned, or changes may come about.  (Jesus may come before 2011 and none of what I planned will happen.)

              Yet, Jesus, our God, our Lord, and Saviour died on “The Old Rugged Cross” for not only my sins, but for the sins of many (all).  He intentionally planned the date and the time of His death.  He knew before the beginning of time the date, the hour, the minute and the second that His human spirit would be removed from His earthly body.

              You and I are not required to climb on that “Cross.”  We are not required to martyr ourselves physically.  However, we as Christians are to die spiritually, and martyr our souls for the cause of Christ.

(Romans 12:1-2)  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We are to present our bodies (the container of our soul) a living sacrifice. We are to transform our minds to the likeness of God, to be what is “The Perfect Will of God.”  We both know we will never achieve a complete likeness of Him, but we have to prove, grow in the Lord, and seek that acceptable “Perfect Will of God.” 

              We have used the Wordless Book in our children’s classes to descriptively show them the stages: Our Sin, His Blood, His Salvation, and Our Growth in the Lord.  Once we have accepted Jesus as our personal Saviour, our next step is to Glorify God in all manner of our walk.  Our first step is repentance, and then Baptism, now our task is to grow in Him.  We are to seek Him in the Word of God, seek Him in the Preaching, and seek Him in the teaching.

(2 Timothy 2:15)  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Bro John R. E Chastain

Mark 10:42-45  But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.  (43)  But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:  (44)  And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.  (45)  For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

HERE OR HEREAFTER?

(2 Timothy 4:8-10)  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.  9  Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:  10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

            When reading the scripture below Micah 4:1-3 we see “…that it shall come to pass… the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains,” and that we should be looking for the coming of that Day.  That song verse “What A Day That Will Be” can you imagine that day?

              If you love the thought of His appearing, you are not in love with this present world. (1 John 2:15) "…If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (James 4:4) "Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."

            You and I, as Paul did, need to set our sights higher than this passing scene. Demas, and so many people of this world, want to have his portion here and now. Paul, you and I, are pilgrims and strangers, not only in love with Jesus but with His appearing. I wonder how many really love the thought of the return of Jesus.  We do not sense it much in churches today. People hit and miss coming to church, there is no urgency concerning being there. There seems to be no joy in knowing that the King, our Lord and Saviour, is coming. Moreover, we as fundamental Baptists, who do not always seem to "love" the thought of Jesus’ return, find that our interest is purely academic, and not affectionate with a love for Jesus Christ.

              You cannot love and live in two worlds at a time. The love of the world and the love of the Father simply cannot coexist in the same heart.  This double standard is the source of our problem.  We are not willing to give up the grandeur of the world for the austereness of Christianity.  Our grandeur will come later, in our Eternal Life with Jesus.  Does the song “What A Day That Will Be” scare you or thrill you?

              Are you in love with this world today or with the day that is to come? It makes a difference what you choose.

Bro. John R. E Chastain, re-written and based on a devotion written by Dr. Larry M. Groves

Micah 4:1-3  But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.  (2)  And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.  (3)  And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Our Faith

(Hebrews 11:1)  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Awhile back, Sharil had a physical reaction with one of her medications.  She had been taking this medication for so many years she had become allergic to it.

Sometimes we need to stop and look at what we are doing for the Lord.  Are we becoming so complacent (allergic) that we are not sacrificially doing for the Lord?  Are we mechanically doing those things for the Lord without even considering what it is we are doing for Him?  Is this something that I must do, rather than something that I desire to do for the Lord?

God wants you and I, to be thinking Christians, to be a Christian who works to please God and His Son Jesus.  God wants a Christian who is sold out to Him and desires with a true heart to serve Him in any capacity in which he is called.

(1 Corinthians 15:58)  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Are you stedfast in your work for the Lord?   Are you unmovable?  Are you abounding (joyfully, with a great attitude) in the work of the Lord?  If you cannot answer “yes” to these questions, you need to be at the altar asking God to forgive you and ask Him to help you revive your spirit.

              In a few weeks we will be hosting a Faith Promise Mission Conference.  It will be a decision time for each of us.  It will be a time to put our FAITH to the test.  You will be asked to give to Missions.  Some already give by FAITH, they will be asked to give more by Faith.  Don’t become complacent (allergic) and expect the others to cover for you.  You are responsible to God, not me or the Missionaries, but to God.  Talk to Him in prayer, ask Him to help you give by your FAITH in His capability to provide.

Bro. John R. E Chastain 

The Lord Is Faithful

                In 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 quoted below, notice that the scriptures tell us, “…the Lord is faithful…”  We just passed our Church’s Seventy-First Anniversary, which was November 11^th.  We praise God on this day that He has remained faithful, and that He has done marvelous things with His people here in Wellington.

              God, through our Church, has sent many men into the Pastorate and one to the Mission field.  Missionary Eddie Trimble was saved in this Church and along with his family is now serving God in the Philippines.

              The Lord, in His faithfulness, allows us to send Bibles to Missionaries, who in turn give those Bibles to people which have professed Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.

              God, in His faithfulness, has sent The New Testament Church Planters our way. Their mission is to help older Baptist works build or remodel their Church buildings.  This organization has tentatively agreed to complete the outside of our building if the Church approves.

              Many within our walls have been very faithful to our Church and through their faithfulness to our Lord God in Heaven and His Son our Saviour Jesus the Christ.  Many, however, who were faithful over the years seem to have left the fold.  Some likely became discouraged, and some just gave up and walked away.  We do not have anyone in our Church who was at its conception.  However, we do have Believers who were here very soon after.  We don’t always understand why people leave, but we know that “…the Lord is faithful…” and that when we accepted Jesus as our Saviour, He asked us to be faithful too.

John 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

This verse commands faithfulness on our part.  IF we love our Lord Jesus, then we must be faithful to Him as He is to us.  (Longevity in marriage requires fidelity, [faithfulness] to one another.) 

              This also applies to Christ’s Bride, the Church.  We are to have fidelity, (a oneness with God as we celebrate our Anniversary of our walk with His Church, and the walk of those before us who stood and remained faithful to our Lord and Saviour, protecting this Entity of God from the wolves.)

              I thank the Lord, my God, my Saviour, Jesus the Christ for His faithfulness and true fidelity to this Church and to me.  I just pray that I will remain stedfast, loyal, and with great love and fidelity to Him.

                       

Bro. John R. E Chastain

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5  Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:  (2)  And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.  (3)  But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.  (4)  And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.  (5)  And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

Our Faith

(Hebrews 11:1)  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Many years ago, before I was saved, before I knew anything about God or His Son Jesus, my faith was in things that could be touched or reasoned with.  My faith relied upon a paycheck, a car, a house, and all the things that could be acquired.   I invested in (purchased) numismatic coins, gold, and silver.  Yet I didn’t know myself.  All I knew was the security of what was in that safety deposit box.  Many years later after accepting of Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, I sold all that “investment” for pennies on the dollar.  (No safety there.)

You see now my investment isn’t in those types of things.  My investment is in Jesus and His Father.  I have the Holy Spirit within me, and the knowledge of whom and what I am resides with me.  I know I am a child of God, and I rest all this knowledge on the verse above, only by faith in Jesus Christ.

I know down through my past history, I was lost had no place to turn until I found my Lord and Saviour. 

If we just look at one Patriarch from the Old Testament, Abraham, he lived by faith.  We know from our reading about him he wasn’t a perfect man, but he was faithful to God and the Christ who spoke to him.

(John 3:16)  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God loves us and asks us to “Believe” [Have faith in] in His Son and we will have everlasting life.  Abraham has everlasting life because he believed.  Believe on God’s Son as God has requested you to do.

Bro. John R. E  Chastain

Who Are We?

            A major problem facing all Pastors, and consequently the Church remains, "Who is a true Christian?"  Without this being defined, we have no idea who is saved, and of course who is not.  In terms of denominations, there is not always a clear definable difference for the layman.  As a Pastor, generally there is a clear definable difference.  Some are more difficult, yet the differences doctrinally exist.

            There is no question that ALL who do NOT believe in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone as their Lord and Saviour will NOT go to heaven. John tells us in:

(John 3:36)  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

            Our Bible (The KJB) tells us without a doubt that the unbeliever will burn in Hell (“…the wrath of God…”) There is no question in my mind that the state of the CHURCH is at the brink of apostasy. We see so many churches springing up without a doctrine, or a doctrine that comes from the “mind of man.”

            I have read an article which states that our former President Bush has an “Universalistic” view of religion (regardless of our denomination or doctrine, “we all seek the same God in our beliefs.” That is not what the Bible teaches.) I do believe, however,  a lot of churches teach this doctrine.  The consequence: the membership doesn't go to church anymore.  Paul teaches us in:

(Romans 10:17)  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

If they “Ain't” there, then they “Ain't” hearing; and consequently, they are not gaining faith, or knowledge to bolster their faith.

            Some say that Our God of Abraham is the same god of Mohammed, which is Allah. If you look up "ALLAH" in Daniel Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, you will find Webster didn't understand either.  (Do understand JEHOVAH and Allah are NOT the same.  There is only one God, GOD JEHOVAH as defined in the King James Bible.)  This is a lack of our understanding of the Muslim and other “Universalistic” religions. 

            The real problem isn't the churches; it is the secularism of the world we live in. Our world is much more glamorous than our churches.  It is so much more enjoyable “to live in sin than to live right with God.”  The devil daily creates video games, “Discovery Channel Documentation,” on the fallacies of the Christian faith.  All are designed to pull Christians, children, and the lost from the church. 

            The apostasy of the church is we are no longer preaching “on those sins,” and are hard pressed to call the Dallas Cowboys or other secular past times “Tools of the devil.”  We will preach against drugs, “alkyhall,” smoking, living together without matrimony, (all the obvious sins,) but to defame sports or other past times as “Tools of the devil!”   To the world, it is profane.

            So my title, “Who Are We?” still remains.  Are you a:

            1.         Biblical Christian,

            2.         Just a once in awhile with guilt Christian,

            3.         When you have nothing else to do Christian, or

            4.         I go to church Christian? 

God tells us in His Word:

(Romans 10:9)  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

            Have you confessed Jesus?  Do you believe that God hath raised Him from the grave?  If so, repent and follow Him.  Put these sins out of your life.  Get within the Will of God and go to Church faithfully.                                                                   

Bro John R. E Chastain

Have We?

                In Psalm 145:3-7 quoted below, (v 4) brings to mind the Book of Jonah, and the city of Nineveh.  We see in Jonah that the whole city of Nineveh was saved from destruction because they called upon the name of the Lord.  Yet, if we continue in our Bible, we find that the city years later was destroyed.  Why was it that they accepted God, and then were finally destroyed?

Psalms 145:4  One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.

Nineveh failed to pass on their personal Salvation to their heirs.  They failed to “declare thy mighty acts.” 

              We as Christians are instructed to continue the cycle by declaring God to all: our siblings, and our children.  We are to share our Salvation with all.  We as Christians are to teach others about what we have received.

Matthew 28:19-20  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  (20)  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

How do we to know “to teach” what has been given us if we haven’t studied our Bible?  How do we know “what to teach” (concerning what has been given us) if we are not in Church, and under the Word of God?

              Can I be presumptuous and tell you that you cannot teach what you do not know.  Would you hire a high school dropout to teach Math or Chemistry to your children?  Where then can we justify in our hearts that we are capable of leading our children without an understanding of God?

              I suppose as we look at our community, our state, our nation, that we are becoming a Nineveh, a nation that is heading for total destruction.   Have we gotten ourselves to the point where we (as individuals) doubt our own Salvation to the point of not willingly passing it on?  Are we certain, (without doubt) that Heaven will be our Home?  If so, why have we failed in the instilling of God into our children’s hearts?

              In Isaiah, we are told we are as “filthy rags” and that our iniquities have taken us away from God. 

Isaiah 64:6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Are our sins keeping us from the ability to teach our heirs?  If we surmise this is true, then we must determine to get back into God’s will.  We must get under His Word and learn, and then teach our children and grandchildren.  Have we done our job?                                                                                    

Bro. John R. E Chastain

Psalms 145:3-7  Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.  (4)  One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.  (5)  I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.  (6)  And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.  (7)  They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.

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The Fields Are White To Harvest

              As we read Hosea 10:12 quoted below, and we take note of our surroundings here in the Panhandle of Texas, we see that the “…fields…are white…to harvest.”  The cotton pods are burst and white as snow.

(John 4:35)  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest?  behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

              The fields are white with cotton, which was sowed a few months ago, and now the reaping is in progress.

              When you and I “sow” the gospel, we might not be the one who does the reaping.  Yet, we are to go out “preaching” to all we find, sowing God’s Word, never once expecting to always reap what we have sown, but we may reap what others have sown before us.

              Most of us expect results at the first door, and at the second, and so on, and soon disappointment rears it’s ugly head, and we comment, “Door knocking just doesn’t work any more.”  I will admit it seems harder.  There are so many things going on: all the school activities, the televised national sports, hunting season, and whatever is going on down at the Ritz.  All of these must be contended with, no doubt.

              However, we must understand it is the Lord’s work.  We must seek His council and allow Him to direct us.  If we as Hosea tells us will “sow [ourselves] in righteousness,” or if we, “walk the walk and talk the talk,” then we shall “reap in mercy”, and gather God’s blessings.  He tells us He will “rain righteousness” upon us.

              When was the last time God rained a shower of blessing on you?  Some days it seems like an occasional sprinkle, or a day, or maybe weeks of drought.  Where do we put the blame?  Probably not at our own feet.  We will proclaim, “I have sure had a hard row of “Bad Luck.”  Another excuse is, “I sure haven’t been blessed by God lately, and I think He has forgotten me.”

              Rest assured, neither Luck nor Mother Nature exist.  Secondly, if you know God, He has not forgotten you.  It may be you have forgotten Him.  We reap what we sow.  Are you sowing your heart out to God in prayer?  Are you spending time in your King James Bible, hearing what God has to say?  Are you faithfully attending your local New Testament Church you know, the one you belong to?  Are you tithing, regardless of whether you attend or not?  Are you supporting Missions, and your Church with special offerings?

              Search your heart and answer those questions from that search, not from your pride, and when you get the answers, maybe then you will know why God has not rained righteousness down upon you.

              “For it is time to seek the Lord.”  Do understand tomorrow never comes.  If you put off today what you can do, you will continue to put it off day after day, week after week, for an eternity.  The time is now, just do it.

Bro John R. E Chastain

(Hosea 10:12)  Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

Do You?

              As I read John 11:21-26 below, I consider the statement Martha made to Jesus:  “(John 11:21)  …Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” 

                  How many times do we as believers pose this question to Jesus?  The inevitable problem is generally, had we been with Jesus, maybe the problem would have never existed.  It seems you and I have the problem of not including Jesus in our “real” lives, just our “religious” lives.

              However, what was Martha saying?  We know Lazarus was a believer.  He died to give Jesus a sign that He is what He said He is.  The question that Jesus poses is the question in which a lot of folks struggle.  “Am I a true believer, am I saved?”  The only person on earth that can answer that question is you.

              The problem you may have is a lack of knowledge concerning Jesus.  God tells in His written Word that if we Believe, salvation and eternal Life with Jesus and His Father is ours in heaven.

(John 3:16)  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

              Here Jesus tells us that regardless of who, or what you are, you can be saved simply by believing.  The next obvious question would be, “what am I to believe?”    Paul gives us insight to that answer.

(Romans 10:9)  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

              Paul tells us two things we need to do.  The first is that we “shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,” We need to “confess” in our heart that we are sincere in our belief, then confess Jesus to others.  “What are we to confess?”  That we believe in our heart (sincerely) that God has raised Jesus from the grave. 

(Hebrews 10:22)  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

              This is a simple but powerful belief.  However, you must state this with a true (sincere) heart with the faith that God is true and not a liar.  If you believe as we have discussed, then God’s Salvation is given to you through God.  “…thou shalt be saved.”   

              So my question to you is, “Do You? 

John 11:21-26  Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.  (22)  But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.  (23)  Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.  (24)  Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.  (25)  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  (26)  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Bro John R. E Chastain