I am so thankful for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, leaving the world not in anguish, or hopeless, or lost, but with the full knowledge of who we are and what our destiny is....Praise be to God for His Son and His Word!

I have been listening, if you have followed my notes, to Paul Washer. He is a fire and brimstone type Baptist preacher, at least in the messages I've listened to, who are aimed at a church in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He contends that it is harder to be a Christian in Alabama than in Russia and North Korea, because at least in those countries you know where people stand.

I for one have been in tears more than once thinking about some people I know that I fear have not been born again, but only conformed to "church behavior." John 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. "

People may say they profess Christ academically in their mind, but God has not done his work in them, because there is no real strong evidence they have passed from death unto life. Others will say that their hearts tell them it's true, but the Bible says the heart is deceptive in Jeremiah. You are not saved because you said a prayer half heartedly, you aren't saved because you went forward in church or filled out a card. You aren't saved because you were baptized. We are saved by grace by faith in Christ...not by good works.

What exactly do I mean? Well, to be Born again, means that you have received Jesus Christ as your personal savior, meaning that the Holy Spirit has convicted you of your sins, leading you to repent (both confess and turn away form your sins).

The Holy Spirit is the third part of the Trinity (the others being the father and the son). The Holy Spirit is the helper that Jesus promised to leave behind when he left. He empowers us to do his will, and make disciples. When we are born again, we receive the Holy Spirit, literally. The Holy Spirit, or Ghost, is a literal being.

It seems that Jesus is very adimate that we know the truth concerning following him. One of the most scary passages in the Bible is Matthew 7:13-14 13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Jesus Says only a few find the narrow gate, which is of course, belief in Him. He also adds narrow is the road that leads to life.Right after that passage Jesus goes on to show who false prophets are and says you will know them by their fruit. What kind of fruit do we have? Jesus says not everyone who says Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, only he that does his will.

Does this mean that after we are saved we have to keep all the commandments and be perfect? No, because that is impossible. But, we will know his will when we are born again, at which time the Holy Spirit enters us. Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you WERE SEALED FOR THE DAY OF REDEMPTION. (once we have the spirit, we are sealed!) This also is repeated by Jesus when he says no one will snatch those who are saved out of his hands.

Paul knows that many believe they are saved but are deceived, as he writes in 2 Corinthians 13:5 "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?" He tells us to test ourselves!!! In John's first epistle, he goes in length of part of that test....1 John 5:13 "13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."

Among the tests in the book, which I suggest you read personally if led, says those that do not love his brothers does not hold the truth, those who say they have no sin, those who do not say Jesus was 100 percent flesh and 100 percent God don't have the truth. A statement that is very convicting is 1 John 3:7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 9No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

Now, does this mean we are going to be perfect, NO. But if we continue in sin and do not abandon it through conviction of the Holy Spirit the truth is not in us. Yes, we have freedom, through the Spirit.

1 John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

OK, this has been long...thanks for sticking in....

1 John 1. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.I wont quote 1 John anymore, but know this... Jesus can, and will forgive us, if we genuinely wish to follow Him.

Personally, i'm not so sure that I haven't recently been saved...seriously. I lived so long going for personal gain, in vain. What good is it that I gain the whole world and lose my soul? NONE! I know one thing for sure...sin has a different meaning in my life. Paul Washer states in his sermons that when people say they have a new relationship with God, he asks them if they have a new relationship with sin. Are you free of sin? Do you hate sin?

I just hope you took the time to read this, and then were either convicted of sin, or reaffirmed of your faith. I suggest if you are battling with this, read up some more on it. Here are some links that have helped me battle with these tough scriptures....

Paul Washer's sermons on salvation (also try youtubing "Paul Washer")http://www.heartcrymissionary.com/resources/sermons/paul_washer#biblical_assurance_series

John Piper's thoughts

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/1985/487_If_Our_Hearts_Do_Not_Condemn_Us_We_Have_Confidence_Before_God

If any of you have any personal questions, please let me know! I love you all, which is why I write these things. It is time to become Kingdom people! Jesus LIVES! He is faithful to forgive you! Live for Him, it's all thats worth living for. God Bless You all!