Latest video is now posted under the Videos + Tab/2014. You can see the 2014 videos HERE. Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Gal 2:20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Rom 6:4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Beloved, we are simply just spiritually dead men and women walking until we are born again by true faith in Christ. It's inevitable that this body that we currently live in will die and then eternity begins. Will you live it up in this world to deal with an eternity void of God? No one alive has any clue as to what this really entails. No clue. All of us everyday live in God's grace. God is love, God is light, God is everything beautiful and that will all be gone forever if one dies without being born again in Christ. I can't even begin to fathom how utterly terrible that will be. People have absolutely no clue what they are doing by refusing to humble themselves and to live for the one true God that created them, our precious Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. This verse really stood out to me the last time I read it. Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life.. I stopped right there. Without Him living in us we are dead. That is the reality folks. We need the living water, the bread of life, without Him we are risking eternal death. Weeping and gnashing of teeth as the Word of God warns us how miserable this fate will be. Either the Bible is the Truth or Jesus Christ is the biggest lie ever to deceive mankind. I know He is real because I know how much my own life has been transformed. Nothing else means anything compared to knowing our Lord and Savior. Phil 3:8 I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. Dung! Rubbish! Nothing compares now and will ever compare for all of eternity beloved. Once you realize this truth, it will absolutely blow your mind....it will blow you away!! Gal 2:20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. You see, when you become born again it's all about Christ. That old life is dead and gone. We look to things above not of this earth. How? By putting on the new self and keeping that self on. Why go back and live as the dead man? He is dead and should have no place in your life now. Sure we still sin but as born again believers we will repent and get back in line with God's will for our life. There is nothing better than to be obedient to God. It is priceless beloved! John MacArthur quotes “When a person trusts in Christ for salvation, he participates spiritually with the Lord in His Crucifixion and His victory over sin and death.” end-quote Col 3:1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. How beautiful is that passage? I love it.. MacArthur on verse 1 quotes “Because of their union with Christ, believers spiritually entered His death and Resurrection at the moment of their conversion and have been and are now alive in Him so that they understand spiritual truths, realities, blessings, and the will of God.” end-quote. Verse 2 by setting our minds on the things above means to think about heavenly things. Don't get caught up in the deception of the world...reality exists with God and not Satan's lies. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. This world cannot understand the full impact of the regeneration that has taken place within us. However, they can see the good works we do produce via Christ indwelling us. Life only exists in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Apart from Him there is no life. There is only mass confusion in the devil's world. Never forget that Satan is the god of this world. 2 Cor 4:4 the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. Before becoming born again we were blind and lost in a world of darkness. Now that we have the “light of the glorious gospel of Christ” lets make sure we make it known in this lost and dying world. Imagine for a moment what it must be like to exist in eternity void of God's love. Then think about all the souls you come into contact with on a daily basis. Hand em a gospel tract, it only takes a second. If they reject it fine, remember they are not rejecting you but rejecting the one true God in Jesus Christ. Simply move on, life is not a game folks. It's serious business. You and I were born to become saved and grow in God's grace and knowledge. We are not to hoard it to ourselves but to share Jesus in love, knowing that this world needs to be born again. Each and every person needs to be lest they end up in eternal damnation. Such a scary thought but God is a gentleman and gave us all free will. He doesn't force anything upon us. I want to read The Message translation of that same passage to you. Colossians 3:1-17 3 1-2 So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. 3-4 Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ. 5-8 And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That’s a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It’s because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. It wasn’t long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it’s all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk. 9-11 Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ. 12-14 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. 15-17 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. This world promotes the very things we are to mortify (vs. 5 &8.) MacArthur quotes “This refers to a conscious effort to put to death the remaining sin in our flesh.” end-quote. Sex is out of control these days, so is ill fitted language. The negativity that people vomit out of their mouths is so appalling. It causes dismay and horror to the listeners. That is the definition of appalling. It's gross. Some folks just can't help but throw in the f bomb in every other word in which they speak. It's like really? In the end all of this monstrosity should boost out faith through the roof. The Bible talks about the escalation of evil in the end times. So it's really no surprise to us born again believers. We know better and need to live out our new lives in Christ. We really need to understand just how much God can't stand sin. He can't look upon in. However, we must treat these people with love as God does hate the sin but loves the sinner. Christ died for everyone but unfortunately not everyone appreciates it...or should I say the majority of this world could care less. Mankind is wicked and evil and that is why we need to continually put on the new self and mortify the ugliness that exists in us all aka the sin nature we were born with. There is no self improvement program to better ourselves...we must die to self and live for Christ. It's the only way beloved. 10And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. This new man is the new, regenerate self. We now live a life that previously never existed. MacArthur quotes “It is God's plan that believers become progressively more like Jesus Christ, the one who made them.” end-quote. Each day we live out in God's will for our lives we gain more and more of the mind of Christ. How awesome is that? I look back at my life without Christ and what a waste!! It's so important to raise your kids with the truth of the Bible. So much damage is done without it. 15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. How many people in this world are ungrateful? It's utterly ridiculous as to how much we have and yet we refuse to give thanks. I know of people in other countries who have much less than us and are very grateful..it's no wonder they have Jesus as the apple of their eyes. God gives us peace, chaos abounds in this world and within our old sin nature. We conjure of problems 24-7 when we refuse to live in the divine plan of God. Do we really think that we can plan a better life than the One that created us? How foolish! Verse 16 in reference to the “Word of Christ,” MacArthur quotes “This is Scripture, the Holy Spirit-inspired Scripture, the word of revelation He brought into the world. Dwell means “to live in” or “to be at home,” and richly may be more fully rendered “abundantly or extravagantly rich.” Scripture should permeate every aspect of the believer's life and control every thought, word, and deed. The Holy Spirit fills the life controlled by His Word. It's a steady controlling of the life by obedience to the truth of God's Word and is not some ecstatic or emotional experience.” end-quote. Love people, the ones that hurt you don't know any better. They are blind remember? By living out your faith you become a testimony to this world. But you must put on the new self, we can't possibly live out the christian virtues in the old sin nature. It's just not gonna happen folks. It's vital to attend church weekly, pray on a continual basis, and read your Bibles daily. I recommend getting a 365 day Bible. It's all sorted out by the day. I adore mine. Life is difficult but with Christ we can truly live. He is our life and may you never forget that! John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Comments are closed.
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Tommy Costa"Good people" don't get to Heaven, only saved ones do. Are you saved from your sins by true faith in Jesus Christ? Archives
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