INSIGHT	How To Raise Children
Family members should be allies, not adversaries

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it Proverb 22:6

“Spare the rod and spoil a child” may be most famous of the Bible’s proverb. Proverb calls punishment a form of love and says that parents who won’t discipline their children are in danger of ruining them (Proverb 29:25). But that much-quoted maxim is only a small part of what proverbs have to offer on the subject of bringing up children.

The overwhelming emphasis of proverbs is on verbal encouragement and teaching. The whole book is framed as a father’s words to his son, teaching him those “facts of life” that have nothing to do with biology. Again and again he pleads, “Listen, my son.” Mother has equally important words (1:8 - My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother; 6:20 - My son, keep your father's command, And do not forsake the law of your mother.) The parent-child conversation is a, and Proverb 17:6 bears out what the whole book implies: [arents and children are meant to be adversaries, but allies in life WHO ARE PROUD OF EACH OTHER.

Proverbs on Parent-Child Relationships:

3:11, 12: My child,²⁹ do not despise discipline from the Lord,³⁰ and do not loathe³¹ his rebuke. For the Lord disciplines³² those he loves, just as a father³³ disciplines³⁴ the son in whom he delights.

10:1, 5: The Proverbs of Solomon: A wise child¹ makes a father rejoice,² but a foolish child³ is a grief to his mother.⁴ The one who gathers crops¹⁶ in the summer is a wise¹⁷ son, but the one who sleeps¹⁸ during the harvest is a son who brings shame to himself.¹⁹

13:1, 24: A wise son accepts¹ his father's discipline,² but a scoffer³ does not listen to rebuke. The one who spares his rod⁸¹ hates⁸² his child,⁸³ but the one who loves his child⁸⁴ is diligent⁸⁵ in disciplining⁸⁶ him.

14:26: In the fear of the Lord one has⁶⁸ strong confidence,⁶⁹ and it will be a refuge⁷⁰ for his children.

15:20: A wise child⁵⁶ brings joy to his father, but a foolish person⁵⁷ despises⁵⁸ his mother.

17:6, 21: Grandchildren²⁰ are like²¹ a crown²² to the elderly, and the glory²³ of children is their parents.²⁴ Whoever brings a fool⁷¹ into the world⁷² does so⁷³ to his grief, and the father of a fool has no joy.⁷⁴

19:18, 26, 27: Discipline your child while⁵⁷ there is hope, but do not set your heart⁵⁸ on causing his death.⁵⁹ The one who robs⁸³ his father⁸⁴ and drives out his mother is a son⁸⁵ who brings shame and disgrace. If you stop listening to⁸⁶ instruction, my child, you will stray⁸⁷ from the words of knowledge

20:20: The one who curses⁶¹ his father and his mother, his lamp⁶² will be put out in the blackest⁶³ darkness.

22:6, 15: Train¹⁴ a child¹⁵ in the way that he should go,¹⁶ and when he is old he will not turn from it.¹⁷ Folly is bound up³⁹ in the heart of a child,⁴⁰ but the rod of discipline⁴¹ will drive it far from him.

23:13 – 16: Do not withhold discipline from a child; even if you strike him with the rod, he will not die. If you strike²³ him with the rod, you will deliver his life²⁴ from death.²⁵ My child,²⁶ if your heart is wise, then my heart also will be glad;

23:22 – 25: Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Acquire³⁸ truth and do not sell it — wisdom, and discipline, and understanding. The father of a righteous person will rejoice greatly; ³⁹ whoever fathers a wise child⁴⁰ will have joy in him. May your father and your mother have joy; may she who bore you rejoice.⁴¹

27:11: Be wise, my child,²³ and make my heart glad, so that I may answer²⁴ anyone who taunts me.²⁵

29:15 – 17: A rod and reproof⁴⁷ imparts⁴⁸ wisdom, but a child who is unrestrained⁴⁹ brings shame⁵⁰ to his mother.⁵¹ Discipline your child, and he will give you rest;⁵⁴ he will give pleasure⁵⁵ to you.⁵⁶

31:28: Her children rise up⁶⁷ and call her blessed, her husband⁶⁸ also praises her:

(Ref.: from NET Bible)

Life Questions: What is more effective in raising children: Punishment & Discipline OR Verbal Instruction & Encouragements?

YOUR DECISION DETERMINES YOUR DESTINY!

“And Yahweh the LORD said, My Spirit shall not always strive with men.” (Genesis 6:3)

AS WE approach the coming world climax, and the end of the age, we see two great powers striving for the minds and souls of men.

On one hand we see the enslaving power of Satan - the devil. He is no myth, but a reality. His chief aim seems to be to frustrate the saving work of God in mankind. Satan, himself, is condemned to Hell. His fate is sealed, as he fully realizes. And in his hatred for God, he seeks to damn as many men, women and children as he can, while he can.

On the order hand, we see the gracious work of God, striving to turn men, women and children from the path that must inevitably end in everlasting misery and despair.

The battle for the souls of men is not one of sheer strength. God is the Almighty; Satan is a created being. But there is a legal battle raging in the minds and souls of men. God has given man a free will - freedom to receive His offer of love - His beloved Son.

God will not force anyone to receive Jesus as Saviour, and to live with Him forever. But if a person really does not want God, or His Son, then God has given him the freedom to reject His salvation - even though it means the rejecter’s ruin.

But God reasons with people today.

“As I live, says the LORD, Yahweh, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked: but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, from your evil ways; for why will you die”? (Ezekiel 33:11)

The main reason why God has revealed the future, in the Bible, is so that we will clearly see the wrath that is coming, and so seek His mercy, and be saved NOW!

“Seek the LORD (Yahweh the Supreme and Eternal Being) while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him: and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)

That the world is overdue for judgment is very clear when you take a deep look at the wickedness, corruption, immorality and ruthlessness of modern civilization And God will not always strive with men. At this time God is holding back the judgment for one reason:

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the Day of Yahweh (the Great Tribulation) will come as a thief in the night.” (2 Peter 3:9-10)

In these last days, Y’shua the Messiah is gathering into His body, the last complement of true believers - people who TRUST in Him. And soon a shout from Heaven will proclaim, “HOUSE FULL.”

Yes, the full Body will be complete; the true believers on earth will be caught up to meet their Sovereign-Saviour in the heavens. Theirs will be a joy inexpressible. But on the earth, the Great Tribulation will begin.

My dear reader, your decision in regard to God’s Divinely-appointed Saviour at this time, determines whether you will be included in that blessed and privileged company ascending to the Father’s House, or whether you will be left on this doomed planet.

If you reject God’s offer of mercy now, in this time of grace, there is every reason to believe that you will never call upon the Name of Yahweh, and His Son Y’shua, in the Great Tribulation, when the world’s situation will be far more terrifying, and when faith will often be paid for with martyrdom.

Today the Heavenly Father is striving with you to be saved. Now!

“Look! NOW is the acceptable time; NOW is the Day of Salvation!” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Can you not feel God striving with you, my reader? You know your sins are weighing you down. You know you must have them forgiven. You know you cannot be sure of tomorrow, for tomorrow may find you in the Great Tribulation, or in Hell. You know it is foolish to neglect this most important thing in your life - your eternal destiny.

Yet, you may have reservations. There may be some sin you are clinging to - something that you would rather hold to, than have peace with God. That thing, that sin, that ambition, that person, that “god” - whatever it is, will bring about your ruin. It will destroy you if you do not renounce it. Your conscience tells you that.

Even now, you think to delay your decision. You have something to complete first. You feel that you may still have plenty of time. You think to procrastinate (to put off till tomorrow what you should do today).

Procrastination is the thief of time! You play with fire! Play with fire and you will be burnt! Be sure, your sin will find you out, at the Great White Throne, if not before!

But you don’t have to appear before that Great White Judgment Throne. You don’t have to go through the Great Tribulation. You can be saved now! How? By receiving the Divinely-appointed Saviour. Here are God’s promises to you. Will you receive them?

1. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

God does not overlook your sin, but as Ruler of the Universe, He can legally and justly forgive your sins, because of one fact:

JESUS the MESSIAH DIED FOR YOUR SINS

“For Christ has once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but raised by the Spirit.” (1 Peter 3:18)

You should have died for your sins, of course; but God made a provision for you - He gave His perfect Son, Y’shua (Jesus), to die instead of you.

“And it is appointed for men once to die, but after this the judgment. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to them that look for Him shall He appear the second time.” (Hebrews 9:27-28)

2. “As many as received Him (Y’shua), to them gave He the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on His Name.” (John 1:12)

Here God promises to make you His own child, to bring you into His family, with all its privileges and joys.

3. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:l6)

Yahweh, the Almighty God, guarantees your salvation. If He gave His Son, to suffer the penalty of your sins on the cross; and if you truly believe with your heart in His Son, He will never cast you away.

4. “If you shall confess with your mouth that Y’shua is the Messiah, (that Jesus is the Anointed Saviour), and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

The Scriptures are very clear and definite on this matter. It is so simple that a young child can believe, and yet many stumble over this truth, thinking they must somehow earn salvation. But it’s...

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” (Titus 3:5)

“All our righteous acts are like filthy rags (in God’s sight).” (Isaiah 64:6)

“For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

The Lord Jesus, promised:

“All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out . . . He who believes in Me has eternal life . . . He who believes on the Son has everlasting life and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36)

TO BE SAVED, then, you must:

1. Confess you are a sinner, and ask God to forgive your sins.

2. Believe in your heart that Jesus, (Y’shua), the Son of God, came to earth, and died on the cross in your place, and that He rose again, and lives to be your eternal Saviour.

2. Receive the Lord Jesus very definitely as your personal Saviour, Master and God, yielding your life to Him.

Will you settle this urgent matter right now?

Will you bow down and talk to the Saviour, asking Him to forgive your sin and to make you a new person?

Will you ask Him to come into your heart, to be your Master and Saviour from this moment on? He is just waiting for you to call on Him.

Will you trust Him to save you?

Flee from the wrath to come!

Make your decision for eternity.

Talk to the Heavenly Father - praying from your heart, in simple words like the following prayer:

PRAYER FOR SALVATION 

ALMIGHTY GOD, I am a sinner, and I come to You seeking forgiveness for my sins. I am ashamed of my rebellion and unbelief, but by Your grace I turn from my sinful ways. O God, save me from the penalty of sin that I deserve. Save me from the Great Tribulation, and from a lost eternity.

I believe Your promise that if I call upon the Name of the Lord, I will be saved. I call upon You in faith, today, and I place my trust in the anointed Saviour, Your Son, Y’shua, (Jesus) who died on the cross in my place, and suffered my penalty. I believe He rose again from the dead and is the living Saviour. I now deliberately receive Him as my personal Saviour, and by Your grace, I will follow Him all the days of my life.

Lord Jesus, Y’shua, I give my life to You. Come into my life with Your power and holiness right now, and make me Your true disciple.

Thank You, my Master, for Your salvation. Thank You, my Father, for receiving me, and making me Your child. Thank You. Amen

 

CAN CHRISTIANS PRACTICE YOGA?

This writing is based on the firm unshakeable belief that the Bible is the infallible Word of God and anything inside the Word is taken as the Truth. This truth has been proved time and again in history and in the lives of those who have lived, loved and tasted the wonderful love of the living Lord Jesus Christ.

IS MAN SINFUL OR DIVINE?

According to the Word of God, Man is inherently sinful. Sin is inherited at the very birth(Psalm 51, 5). This is totally contradictory to the basic belief of the yogic philosophic system that there is a spark of divine in every human being and the ultimate aim is to realize that divine spark within everyone.

It is very true that God created us in His own image, a little lower than angels. But when sin entered into the blood stream of mankind it corrupted the reflection of God from our lives. We have fallen into the mire of sin, because Adam and Eve believed the Father of lies and allowed the deception of Satan to enter into their lives. So from then on sin grew and flourished in the healthy soil of man’s heart. Can you hear Jeremiah exclaiming, “ the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (17,9). The goodness which was placed by God has been slowly eaten up by the sin which is seeded deeply in our hearts. That is why even Paul the great apostle who ever walked this earth wrote, “what a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?”(Romans 7, 24)

The only answer to deal with the problem of sin is ONLY through the Cross of Calvary. God gave the Ten Commandments for His own chosen people to live close to Him, but that was not the solution to sin, but a God-given way of life to live a godly life and stay close to Him. Since it was not a solution, it failed in many ways. But even when God gave the Ten Commandments, He knew one day He will deal with sin not in letters of stone, but in the body of His only beloved Son Jesus Christ.

For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did that by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. Romans 8,3.

On the Cross the Greatest battle was fought and the Greatest victory was won. Sin was defeated in the guiltless, sinless body of Jesus Christ and His Blood became the atonement for sin, for every sin under this earth. Since this deep rooted sin, was totally defeated in the body of the Son of God, the greatest good news is that through this victory and appropriating the victory and righteousness of Jesus Christ personally, we too can defeat sin reigning in our bodies. Awesome yet so simple. That is why Paul exclaims, “thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7, 25.

To sum up, man is essentially sinful, and first he has to deal with the plague of sin, in his life. This sin can only be overcome, through the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. His precious sinless blood alone can wash our sin and root them from our system. We cannot cover up sin calling ‘divine.’ A rose by any other name is still a rose. A sin by any other name (divine) is still a sin.J One day it will surely rear its ugly head if not dealt with the Cross of Christ.

SALVATION OR ENLIGHTENMENT

Yogic meditation relentlessly talks about this, knowing thyself, mastering the senses, traveling out of the body and enlightenment. Buddha attained enlightenment. Enlightenment is a higher state of knowledge, but this knowledge again, does not ensure the salvation of souls. Siddhartha a young man, wanted to know the meaning of life, and he went to Buddha and asked him to reveal the answer. Buddha simply answered to find his own enlightenment, and Siddhartha travels yet another tedious way for years to find the meaning of life(Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha). And that again is also not salvation.

Finding a higher state of knowledge and coming to terms with it is not going to save your soul. Let me repeat, a new knowledge system, an Enlightenment, will never save your soul. In this world there are so many belief systems that only add to the knowledge reserve, but they can never deal with the inherent problem of sin in our lives. Paul was such a learned man, but he could only lament, “Oh wretched man I am…”

So it is obvious, to save our souls we need something more than a higher knowledge system, something more than enlightenment. Our souls need salvation. And the only way to be saved is to believe that Jesus died on the Cross for me (Laura) personally and my debts are paid by His ransom. The Blood that was shed on the Cross has completely washed my sins. This is it. Just to believe this and I am saved. It may sound ridiculously simple for a high mind, but nevertheless this is it, there is no other way. It takes humility and helplessness to say, “I cannot save me by my own meditation or enlightenment or self effort, but I stand in the need in of the Blood of Christ to wash my sins away.” If anyone would truly confess this from the depths of the heart, then s/he is saved. This simple way itself is a stumbling block to many, since they want a programme where they can substantially contribute also. No there is nothing we can add to God’s plan of salvation. It is only to believe and confess and take it for me personally. That is why because of its simplicity, Paul writes salvation is foolishness for many.

Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

I Corinthians 1, 22-25

Can I just practise only the asanas(exercises) and leave aside everything?

It is like saying that I want to save this baby snake because it looks so harmless and helpless. Wait till it grows. Yoga is not a straight line, where you can conveniently slice and use a part which you want and leave everything aside. The basic premise of Yoga is that the divine in you should unite with the bigger divine. Yoga itself means union.

We believe only one God, who is totally divine, holy and godly. We can never become gods. Only God in His eternal mercy and grace can choose to put the treasure of His Glory, in us who are mere earthern jars of clay (II Corinthians 4,6-7).

‘To become like God,’ was the sinful desire which originated in the heart of Satan, and that was the reason he fell from Glory. Even today, right from Adam and Eve to gullible souls in the 21^st century, Satan is effectively deceiving with this lie, that you can become like gods. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ( Genesis 3,4) . This very lie of Satan is the very foundation of the Yogic system.

If you are a Christian, who believe that you are a sinner standing in need of the mercy and grace of our Saviour, you cannot at the same time practise something which has its foundational idea of the individual divinity which is totally and diametrically opposed to that of the Christian foundational faith.

If you want only to practice the exercises, let me tell you the exercises will automatically lead you into the next level which is meditation. Meditation is not something you do to control your thoughts as is commonly taught and believed. It is only that you open your mind for something else to control your thoughts. Do not believe all that is being said. Remember where Jesus said (Mathew12, 43-45) the demon saw that the house from where it was chased was swept clean, but still empty. So it called seven more deadlier demons and went to occupy that empty house. We either allow the Spirit of God to inhabit your heart or you allow something else. But the decision is totally ours, based on our free will. When we open our hearts and welcome the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit they will come in and make home with us (Revelation 3,20). We also can chose not to, allowing our soul to be raped and ravaged. I am not writing just from my head, but I have personally seen minds totally destroyed and incapable, because they have stepped into this dangerous zone of meditation. I have spent hours and hours, talking to them and even a simple sentence does not make any sense. I have been shocked at the extent their minds have been scattered. I tell you again it is like rearing a poisonous baby snake, but now it is already growing dangerously inside.

I can keep on writing but let me finish with this. Do you know the final stage of yogaic meditation is known as Kundalini? This word literally means ‘uncoiling of the serpent within you.’ So this is the ‘divine’ that was talked about so long. BEWARE BEWARE. The deception began as the divine and in the end, it is so plainly stated that it is the uncoiling of the serpent, the evil within you. He who has eyes let him see, he who has ears let him hear…

My friend if you are trapped in this system, get back, get back to the living Lord. Do not lose time. There is no distance where the arm of the Lord cannot reach. But you should be willing to renounce and fully surrender, your heart, mind, body and soul into the safe keeping of our Lord Jesus Christ. “For I know whom I have believed and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day. II Timothy 1, 12. Yeah our God is able. He can restore and heal the soul that has been raped and ravaged. Come back to the waiting arms of the Father. Surrender yourself into His hands, put your self on the altar.

Take Romans 6, 13 as an SOS.

DO NOT OFFER THE PARTS OF YOUR BODY TO SIN, AS INSTRUMENTS OF WICKEDNESS, BUT RATHER OFFER YOURSELVES TO GOD AS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FROM DEATH TO LIFE, AND OFFER THE PARTS OF YOUR BODY TO HIM AS INSTRUMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. FOR SIN SHALL NOT BE YOUR MASTER, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT UNDER LAW BUT UNDER GRACE.

JUDGEMENT

In the scripture, we are instructed to “rightly [divide] the word of truth” (2Timothy 2:15). This is most essential when studying the judgements. Do not endeavor to make all the judgements conform to the theory of one “general judgement.” The “general judgement” theory is the invention of religion, and is not taught in the Word of God. There are five separate judgements revealed in the Bible, and they differ as to time, place and purpose. Yes, they all have one thing in common: the LORD JESUS CHRIST is the Judge (John 5:22).

Everyone - from Adam to the last man to be born on this earth-will stand before the LORD JESUS CHRIST to be judged.

In the first judgement, the sins of the believer have already been judged in CHRIST on the cross.

In the second judgement, the believer is to judge self, or be judged by the LORD JESUS CHRIST and disciplined.

In the third judgement, all believers must appear at the “Judgement seat of CHRIST” where their works are to be judged.

In the fourth judgement, all nations are to be judged at the SECOND COMING of CHRIST.

In the fifth judgement, the wicked dead are to be judged at the great WHITE THRONE.

1. The Judgment of the Believer’s Sin – John 5:24

2. The Judgment of the Believer’s Self – 1Cor. 11:31-32

3. The Judgment of the Believer’s Work – 2Cor. 5:10

4. The Judgment of the Nations – Matt 25:31-46

5. The Judgment of the Wicked – Rev. 20:11-15

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1. THE JUDGMENT OF THE BELIEVER’S SIN (JOHN 5:24)

"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

In the above verse, our LORD tells us that the believer “will not be condemned (judgement).” The word “condemnation” is the same word rendered “judgement” (Mathew 10:15). Our sins were judged in CHRIST on Calvary and every believer “has passed out of death into life.” This is present salvation. Christ paid for our sins. He was judged in the believer’s stead. The believer does not come into judgement because:

1. JESUS CHRIST paid the penalty, and on the ground of HIS substitutional death, the believer is separated from his sins for ever (Psalm 103:12).

2. The sins of the believer have been “blotted out” and GOD has promised that He “will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25)

3. Our LORD suffered for our sins, “the JUST for the unjust” that we might be saved and never come into judgement as sinners ( 1Peter 3:18).

4. The believer will never be condemned with the world, because CHRIST was condemned in his place. “He was made to be sin for us” (2Cor.5:21). CHRIST was made a curse for us on the cross, and “has redeemed us from the curse of the law” (Galatians 3:13). HE appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of HIMSELF” (Hebrew 9:26). The believer will not come into judgement because his sins have been purged (Hebrew 1:3).

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2. THE JUDGEMENT OF THE BELIEVER’S SELF (1COR. 11:31-32)

But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

The judgement of the believer’s self is more than judging things in the believer’s life. When the believer judges self, the good and the bad in his life come to light; and he will confess the bad (1John 1:9) and forsake it (Isaiah 55:7). However, it is not enough just to judge sin in the believer; he must judge self.

1. To judge self is to practice self-abnegation, for when the believer sees self as God sees him, he will renounce self. It is replacing the self-life with the CHRIST-LIFE (Col. 3:4). CHRIST IS THE BELIEVER”S LIFE.

2. To judge self is to deny self. This is more than self-denial. Self-denial is denying one’s self of the gratification of the flesh. If we practice self-denial only, it is treating the symptoms and not the cause. But when we deny self, we are attacking the cause, for in self (that is, in the flesh) “dwells no good thing” (Rom. 7:18). To deny self is to take up our cross and follow CHRIST (Mark 8:34-38).

3. To judge self is to lose that self-life and find the CHRIST-LIFE (Gal. 2:20).

4. To judge self is to no longer be self-conscious, but become CHRIST-CONSCIOUS (Matt. 28:20).

5. To judge self is to no longer be self controlled, but to become CHRIST-controlled (Acts 9:6).

6. To judge self is to no longer practice self-esteem, but to esteem others better than self (Phil. 2:3). TO JUDGE SELF IS TO BECOME SELFLESS.

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3. THE JUDGEMENT OF THE BELIEVER’S WORK (2COR. 5:10)

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

The believer’s works will be judged at the “judgement seat o CHRIST.” The term, “Judgement seat of Christ” is found only twice in the Bible; but it is referred to many times. It is found in the above verse; also see (Rom. 14:10). A careful reading of both verses with the context reveals that only believers will appear at the “judgement seat of Christ.” Their works will be judged, not their sins, for we have already seen that the sins of the believers were judged in CHRIST on Calvary, and "there is therefore now no judgement to them which are in CHRIST JESUS.” (Romans 8:1).

1. This judgement will take place “in the air,” following the first resurrection. “The dead in CHRIST shall rise first “ (1Thes. 4:14-18). There will be a thousand years between the resurrection of the saved and the unsaved (Rev.20:4-5), and there will be a thousand years between the “judgement seat of CHRIST” where only saved will appear and the “great white throne judgement” where only unsaved will appear.

2. At the judgement seat of CHRIST, the believer will give an account of himself to GOD. Therefore, we should look to our own works and not judge the works of others (Romans 14:10-13).

3. It is a most humbling thought to know that some day the believer will face all of his work - “good or bad” and “right or wrong.” Some will be ashamed (1John 2:28) and “suffer loss” – not the loss of salvation, but the loss of rewards (1Cor. 3:11-15). So whatever you do, do it to the glory of God (Col. 3:17).

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3. THE JUDGEMENT OF THE NATIONS (MATT. 25:31-46)

31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.

32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?

39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,

43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45 "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46. "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to

eternal life."

This judgement is not the judgement of the great white throne (Rev. 20:11-15). A careful comparison of the two judgement will establish the following facts:

1. The judgement of the nations will take place “when the son of man will come in His glory….then shall he sit upon the throne of His glory.” The great white throne is never called “the throne of HIS glory” (Rev. 20:11-15).

2. At this judgement, He will judge the living nations (Joel 3:11-16). At the white throne judgement, He will judge the wicked dead.

3. At this judgement, there will be no resurrection of the dead. At the great white throne, all the wicked dead are raised: the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them……” (Rev. 20:13).

4. At this judgement the judge is GOD “the King” judging the living nations in His earthly kingdom. At the great white throne, the judge is GOD, judging only the wicked dead.

5. At this judgement there are no books opened. At the great white throne, the “books were opened.”

6. At this judgement, there are three classes judged: “sheep” – the saved (Rev.7:9 to 17); “goats” – the unsaved (2Thes. 1: 7 to 10); “brethren” – the elect of Israel (Rev. 7: 1 to 8 & Rom. 11: 25 to 28). At the great white throne, there is only one class: “the dead.”

7. At this judgement, the King gives the kingdom to those who have eternal life. At the great white throne, there are no saved and no kingdom; they are all “cast into the lake of fire.”

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3. THE JUDGEMENT OF THE WICKED (REV.20:11 –15)

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done.

14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.

15. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was

thrown into the lake of fire.

The great white throne judgement will follow the thousand-year reign of Christ. This is the final judgement , and only the wicked dead are to be judged. According to Rev. 20:5, the believers were resurrected a thousand years before this judgements, and their works were judged at “the judgement seat of Christ” (2Cor. 5:10).

1. At this judgement, the wicked dead will seek a hiding place from the face of the Lord Jesus Christ, the judge. But there is no hiding place.

2. At this judgement, the “dead, small and great” will stand before GOD But the greatness of the great will be of no value. “There is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Rom. 3:12)

3. At this judgement, the “book of life” will be opened. Why the “book of life” if there are no saved in this judgement? The wicked will be shown that God in His mercy provided space for them in the “the book of life,” so that they are without excuse ( Rom. 1:18-20).

4. At this judgement, the dead will be judged “according to their work,” God is a just God; and since there are degrees of punishment in hell, some will be punished more than others (Luke 12:42,48).

5. At this judgement, there will be no acquittal, no higher court to which the lost may appeal. It is lost and lost for ever; it is damned to all eternity, and that without hope. There is a hell (Luke 16:19-31); and in hell there is no hope, no sympathy, no love, even the love of God does not extend beyond the portals of hell.

(HELL IS REAL, THE ONLY WAY TO ESCAPE THAT, IS TO TRUST IN GOD’S WAY; GOD’S WAY IS NOT A RELIGION, NOT ANY GOOD WORKS, NOT ANY RITUALS (CHILD/ADULT BAPTISM), NEITHER SPRINKLING NOR DIPPING; BUT GOD’S WAY IS A PERSON, THAT PERSON IS JESUS CHRIST (GODMAN). HE ALREADY HAS PAID A VERY GREAT PRICE, THAT IS HIS OWN BLOOD. SALVATION IS ABSOLUTELY FREE FOR EVERYONE WHO REPENTS (BEING CONVICTED AS SINNER) AND RECEIVES JESUS CHRIST AS HIS PERSONAL SAVIOUR AND LORD, BECAUSE NONE IN THE WORLD CAN PAY A PRICE FOR A SINGLE SOUL TO BE REDEEMED FROM HELL.

ANYMAN AT HIS BEST STATE IS ALTOGETHER VANITY. DO NOT BE DECEIVED.

SALVATION IS FREE BECAUSE IT IS COSTLY THAT THE WORLD CANNOT PAY FOR IT. ANYONE WHO ADD ANYTHING WITH THIS, TRAMPLES THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST UNDER HIS FEET, NOT GIVING THE DUE GLORY TO THE ONLY SAVIOUR AND HIS ONLY JUST WORK WHICH ACQUITS A SINNER AND JUSTIFIES HIM.

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HOW WILL IT ALL END

JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD

Christianity differs from all religions, because it is more than a religion- it is the life of the Son of God made living in man. Christ is Christianity and Christianity is Christ. He is the supreme subject of each book of the NT., and fulfills all the promises of God in the OT, from His incarnation to His Second Coming as “Lord of lords and King of kings (Rev. 17:14). He is the God-man Christ Jesus in glory, exalted above all creatures, having “all power in heaven and earth” (Matt. 28:18).

During His earthly ministry, He claimed to be God incarnate (in human flesh). He is all that He claimed to be, or He is less than the least (Rev. 1:8). Before His claim can be denied, there are some things that must be accounted for.

HIS VIRGIN BIRTH

HIS HOLY, SINLESS LIFE

HIS MANY MIRACLES

HIS VICARIOUS DEATH and

HIS BODILY RESURRECTION

1. THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST : John 1:1

2. THE HUMANITY OF JESUS CHRIST : Rom. 1:3,4

3. THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST : Lk. 1:26-35

4. THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST: Phil. 2:8

5. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST: Matt. 28:1-20

6. THE ASCENSION and

SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST: Acts 1: 9-11

1. THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST : John 1:1

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and THE WORD WAS GOD.

The deity of Jesus Christ, or His God nature, is well established in the NT. Some of the facts are:

1. He is called God by the apostle (John 1:1)

2. He is called God by the apostle Thomas (John 20:28)

3. He is called God by God the Father (Heb. 1:8)

4. He claimed to be God in that He was with the Father before creation

(John 17:5)

5. He claimed to be God in that He was before Abraham. “Abraham rejoiced to see my days….” (John 8:51-59)

6. He received worship, and only God is to be worshiped (Matt.14:33). Angels refused worship (Rev. 22:8,9). Man refused worship (Acts. 10:25,26).

7. He forgives sin (Mark 2:5-11). ONLY GOD CAN FORGIVE SIN.

8. He is creator and maker of all things (Col. 1:16)

9. He is sustainer of all things (Heb. 1:3). Only God can control the universe.

10) He claimed to have “all power in heaven and in earth” (Matt. 28:18).

Only God has all power.

11) He walked upon the blue waters of Galilee.

The winds and the waves obeyed His command.

He healed the sick and raised the dead.

He gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf.

He cast out demons and made the lame to walk.

He turned water into wine.

He fed five thousand with the lunch of a lad.

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2. THE HUMANITY OF JESUS CHRIST : Rom. 1:3,4

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which WAS MADE OF THE SEED OF DAVID ACCORDING TO THE FLESH; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

THE HUMANITY OF JESUS CHRIST IS SEEN IN HIS HUMAN PARENTAGE (Matt. 2:11)

1. He developed as a normal human being (Lk. 2:52)

2. He was subject to all the sinless infirmities of the human nature:

1. He hungered (Matt. 4:2)

2. He was thirsty (John 19:28)

3. He was weary ( John 4:6)

4. He wept (John 11:35)

5. He was tempted (Heb 4:15)

Jesus is man, and yet He is more than man. He is not God and man, but the GOD-MAN. He is God in human flesh. His two natures are found together in such a way that the two become one, having a single consciousness and will.

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3. THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST : Lk. 1:26-35

31. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.

34. "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a

virgin?"

34. The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon

you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

The virgin birth of Jesus Christ is without parallel in human history. It is by the virgin birth that God became man, one perfect person but two natures: one nature being that of Almighty God, the other being that of man-man without sin (Heb. 4:15).

THE UNION OF THE TWO NATURES BECAME THE GOD-MAN CHRIST JESUS.

1. The first hint of the virgin birth is found in Gen. 3:15. The

one to to defeat Satan was to be born of “the seed of the woman.” This is a biological miracle; there is no “seed of the woman.” For this we are to understand that One was to be born of a woman without a human father (Lk. 1:34,35)

2. Isaiah prophesied that a “virgin would conceive, and bear a son and shall call His name Immanuel (God with us)”

(Isa. 7:14)

3. Again prophesied saying, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” (Isa. 9:6,7). This means that God gave His only begotten Son who was with Him from eternity, and the Child Jesus born of a virgin. God gave His Son “unto us.”

4. According to prophesy, He was to be born in Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2). Joseph with Mary went up to Bethlehem to be taxed, and to fulfill prophesy (Lk. 2 : 1-7).

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4. THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST: Phil. 2:8

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled

himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a

cross!

The death of Jesus Christ is mentioned more than 120 times in the NT and is spoken of many times by the prophets in the OT.

1. THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST WAS VICARIOUS: Matt.: 20:28. He was God’s substitute for sinners (2Cor. 5:21). On the cross, Christ was made sin for sinner. By faith in HIM, THE SINNER IS MADE RIGHTEOUS with the righteouness of God.

2. THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST WAS NATURAL:

John 19:31-37. By natural death, we meanthat His spirit

and soul were separated from His body.

3. THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST WAS UNNATURAL: Rom. 6:23. By an unnatural death, we mean that since He was sinless, in that “He did no sin” (1Pet 2:22); “had no sin” (1Jn. 3:5); “knew no sin” (2Cor. 5:21) – before He could die, He had to be “made sin for us.” Therefore, His death was unnatural.

4. THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST WAS PRETERNATURAL (Rev. 13:8). By this, we mean that the death of Jesus Christ was not an afterthought with God, It was the forethought of God.

5. THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST WAS SUPERNATURAL; (John 10:17,18). Jesus said, “No man taketh life from me.” Then He said “ I lay it down to myself (supernaturally).” “I have power to take it up again (supernaturally).” This He did on the cross, and three days and three nights later, He took life up again when He arose from the dead. Only God in the form of man could die a vicarious, natural, unnatural, preternatural and supernatural death.

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5. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST: Matt. 28:1-20

Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life” (Jn. 11:25). The resurrection of Jesus Christ was the doctrine of every disciple, the faith of every believer, the courage of every martyr, the theme of every sermon, and the power of every evangelist.

Luke tells us that we have “many infallible proofs” of His resurrection (Acts. 1:3). Let us look at some of these “infallible proofs” according to eye witnesses:

1. After His resurrection He appeared first to Mary Magdalene (Jn.20:11-18).

2. He appeared to the women returning from the sepulchre (Mt. 28:5-10).

3. Then He appeared to Peter (Lk.24:34)

4. To the Emmaus disciples (Lk.24:13-31)

5. To the apostles, Thomas not present (Lk.24:36-43)

6. Again to the apostles, Thomas present (Jn.20:24-29)

7. To the seven by the sea of Tiberias (Jn.21:1-23)

8. To over 500 brethren (1Cor.15:6)

9. He was seen of James (1Cor.15:7)

10. He was seen again by the eleven apostles (Mt.28:16-20 & Acts1:3-12)

11. He was seen of Stephen, the first Martyr (Acts 7:55)

12. He was seen of Paul on his way to Damascus (Acts 9:3-6; 1Cor.15:8)

Many of these eye witnesses died martyr’s deaths because they preached the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They were glad to die for a living Christ. They had the “infallible proofs”

When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, all of His disciples “forsook Him and fled” (Mt.26:56). From this time until after His resurrection, the disciples lived in fear. They did not believe that He would rise from the dead (John 20:9). Had Jesus not come from the dead, the cross would have been the end of Christianity. After the death of Jesus, we see His disciples dejected, discouraged and defeated. The death of Jesus meant but one thing to them: the end. How do we account for the great change that came into their lives three days and three nights later? The only logical explanation is that they had the “infallible proofs” that He had risen from the dead, and was alive for evermore. They saw Him, talked with Him, touched Him and ate with Him.

NOW LOOK AT SOME “INFALLIBLE PROOFS” ACCORDING TO CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE:

1. The change that came into the lives of the disciples after the resurrection – from fear to unlimited courage. They rejoiced in persecution (Acts 5:40-42). They chose death, with faith in the resurrected Christ, rather than to deny that faith and be delivered (Heb.11:35).

2. The early church began to worship on the first day of the week, the day of the Resurrection. It was not a law-it was spontaneous (Acts 20:7). For almost 2000 years, the church has worshipped on the first day. For the Christian, every Sunday is Easter.

3. The early Christians went everywhere with the word of the Resurrection (Acts 8:1-4)

4. The empty tomb – for if Jesus is not alive, what happen to His body? The Roman guards were paid to say, “His disciples came by night, and stole Him away while He slept (Matt.28:12,13). First the disciples lacked the courage. Had the disciples stolen the body, then how do you account for the fact that they all suffered, and most of them died martyr’s death? In the face of death, one of them would have revealed the hiding place of the “stolen body” to save his own life. Second, no one was ever arrested or tried for stealing the body of Jesus. It is evident that the governing officials did not believe the story of the guards. Third, the guards could have been put to death for sleeping while on watch. Fourth, if they were asleep how could they have known that it was the disciples who “stole” the body? Fifth, had the enemies of Jesus moved the body, they could have produced it and brought a quick end to Christianity; and they would have

5. The grave cloths found in the empty tomb are proof of the Resurrection (Jn. 20:1-10). Had friend or foe stolen the body. They would not have removed the grave cloths; since He had been dead three days and night. When John saw the grave cloths and recognized that they were folded the same as when they were wrapped about the body, he knew that a miracle had taken place. Jesus came out of the cloths, and they collapsed without disturbing the folds. They were left in the empty tombs as “infallible proof”; and when John saw and understood, he believed that Jesus had come from the dead.

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6. THE ASCENSION & SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST: Acts 1: 9-11

09 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.

11. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken

from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

After 40 days of instructing His disciples, the risen Christ ascended up on high and is seated at the right hand of the Father (Heb.10: 12). Two men brought the message of His second coming to the apostles: “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner.” The message of the second coming of Jesus is so important, that it is mentioned over 300 times in the NT.

1. He is coming to take His church to be with Him (1Thes.4: 16,17); (John 14:1-6).

2. He is coming to judge the nations (Matt. 25:31-46)

3. He is coming to save Israel (Romans 11: 25,26)

4. He is coming to sit upon the throne of David (Lk. 1:31-33); (Isaiah 9: 6,7).

5. He is coming to bring righteous government to this earth (Heb. 1: 8).

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JESUS CHRIST IS COMING BACK TO THIS EARTH AGAIN. “EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS” (REV. 22:20).

Jesus Christ is the absolute Saviour, hence all glory is due to Him only. He (ACCEPTS) us because He is MERCIFUL. He (PROVIDES) us because He is GRACIOUS. No man can add anything to His finished work of Salvation. Rev. 7:10

Repentance TOWARDS Jesus Christ

Faith UPON Jesus Christ

Baptised INTO Jesus Christ

Laying hands IN THE NAME OF Jesus Christ

Resurrection WITH Jesus Christ

Judgement BY Jesus Christ

JESUS CHRIST IS THE PERFECT MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN. BECAUSE HE IS GOD MAN.

All doctrines must highlight the PERSON of the doctrines. AMEN (Jesus Christ)

Eg: It is not our believing or praying, but WHAT, WHOM and WHY one believes is more important.

Hallelu YAH, AMEN.

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HOW WILL IT ALL END