I am so sorry to hear of your situation, but there truly is hope in the Lord. Our principle hope first needs to be in the hope of our salvation, according to his Word

“My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word. Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?” (Psalms 119:81-82)

When we seek the Lord according to his Word, then the comfort will naturally come because we are following his Word in every way he has shown us.

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

Before when sin was in our lives, we were separated from God, but through the Bible plan of full salvation we can be forgiven and made free from sin to serve him in holiness. The blood Jesus shed on the cross makes this possible.

“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:12-13)

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19)

This same sacrifice that cleanses us from all sin and changes our heart desires to love and serve him, also is the sacrafice that paid the price for our healing.

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1 Peter 2:21-24)

When they scourged Jesus, his blood was also shed, and by those stripes we can claim the promise of healing, because he also paid that price – for us.

May the Lord comfort your heart through full salvation, and the hope of the scriptures.

Sincerely, Richard

Jesus Christ came to save the humble and contrite ones; the ones who are sick of sin and that want nothing between them and God. It is sin that separates us from God, and through full repentance (asking forgiveness and turning completely away from all sin we know) we can be reconciled, or brought back to God in a holy and true relationship. The problem is that there are few people, and few churches that are seeking God sincerely today.

Ann, we have many good Bible based resources that we have also published on our Web site at http://www.churchofgodcarmichael.org/ including: books, tracts, blog posts from our Bible study classes, and the sound files from our Sunday morning messages. I am certain you will find much good help from them.

I believe Jesus Christ died for the sins of all mankind, and that he will forgive all sins if asked todo so. I know this leads to Salvation, but do not understand the principals. Does one have to be re-baptised????? and what other things, other than doing the best to live a Christ like life are necessary. Could you please advise me what I need to do to assure my Salvation????? I have asked Jesus to accept me, forgive my sins, grow in faith, and assure me my Salvation.

What overt acts are necessary to achieve the promise of Salvation? Please help me understand this process, and save me and dedicate my life to the principals of a truly “born again” Christian.

Thankyou for any guidance you are able to give me, and assist me toward my Salvation…

Love in Christ

“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 5:20 – 6:2)

People must be willing to be dead to the sinful lusts of this world so that they can be alive to God, to obey and fulfill his will. Through Jesus Christ, and his law of love, this is possible even in this present life while we yet still live amongst this world of evil.

“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Romans 13:8-10)

Justice is applicable in man’s keeping of the prophecy in the book of Revelation. Holiness and righteousness demand there be justice on all which is contrary. Scripture identifies justice in regards to man’s experience in his fallen state.

Man is judged according to his adherence to the law. The law was given to define that which is holy and that which is unholy. Jesus is the perfect one to whom the law leads and He judges according to the law. Scripture states that although the law is not unjust, man questions if the law of holiness which was to be their life is now to their damnation. “And the commandment which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.” (Rom 7:10)

Sin so that it may achieve its purpose in separating man from God worked mightily to oppose the law. Death is justified due to sin and empowered in man due to man’s indwelling sin. When man is accused it is sin that provides Satan the basis to approach God’s throne. “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid…” (Rom 7:7) “Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid” (Rom 7:13) All pertaining to God is just, holy and true. Man is without excuse and it is pointless for him to seek justification apart from having his sin forgiven by the blood of Jesus.

As demonstrated by the twenty four elders in the book of Revelation we have a new song. Our new song can only be sung by us for there is none other that has the testimony of the church. “…For thou was slain, and has redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” (Rev 5:9)

“If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (John 14:15-17)

Did you notice what he said to them concerning the Holy Ghost? “…but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” There is a time in our walk with the Lord where He is with us, but the Spirit of God desires to be more than just “with us.” He wants to be “in us”, but what does that really mean? It means we must completely yield our selves to him for good! Nothing “part-time” or “most of the time” about it. You see to say “I want the Holy Ghost” is not a concept, it is desiring the very nature of the Holy Ghost which is a holy and pure nature, and is a nature to not do his own will, but that of the Father, and to glorify the Son. This is the nature of the Holy Ghost:

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” (John 16:13-14)

If we really want the Holy Ghost in us, we really want his nature to rule in us, so we will “…not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak… …He shall glorify me”. This is what will rule in our hearts, when the Holy Ghost rules in our hearts. If he cannot rule there, he will not come into there. The battle for this “rule” in our hearts is much of what the battles in Revelation are all about. It is a battle for the throne of our hearts – who will get it? Jesus, or the devil.

The Word of God teaches us this, but sadly most of the so-called Christian religions today will tell you different.

Jesus sees right through the insincere condition where one claims to be a Christian, but yet they still do sinful things. So it is better to seek God for forgiveness and complete deliverance from sin, and to not claim to be a Christian until we have it. God does not want sin between us and him.

This is what the grace of God (the mercy and devine favor of God) teaches us:

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:11-12)

“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” (1 John 3:8-10)

Now with that said, I must address another lie that is taught by so-called Christian religion, but has no Bible foundation. That is that temptation is sin – but temptation is not sin because the scripture teaches us concerning Jesus: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16)

The principle way we are tempted is in our mind, so the devil will present all kinds of thoughts to our mind, but these thoughts presented to us are NOT sin! What is sin is when we take those thoughts and from our hearts we desire them and want to continue to keep thinking on them. Again, the Word of God gives us instruction on how to deal with these thoughts: “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

By the Word of God, the grace of God, and his true Holy Spirit we can overcome sin in this life. That is what being a Christian is all about – being “Christ-like”. Living holy and true to Jesus.

May God bless you as you continue to seek him with all your heart!

Note the full scripture in context:

“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Hebrews 9:24-28)

The parallel of the full scriptural context compares Jesus’ one time death, as the sacrifice for all – so it is also appointed to us once to die, and after death, the judgment. The parallel comparison is clear when the full context is read. Those who have already repented, meaning they have turned their back completely on sin – they are looking for him, without fear. Those who have not fully repented, they fear his return, and therefore are not looking forward to his return.

Those who have fully repented, they love him with a faithful, perfect love, and therefore there is no fear of the judgment.

“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:17-19)

Through the sacrifice of his blood, we can be made clean and pure in this life. Therefore we can have a heart with true love for him, and without fear of the judgment to come. The reason people come up with these ideas of a second chance to repent after they die, is because today they are not right, and they fear the judgment to come.

In our day and age we have trouble understanding what a Bible servant is, because the term was used in the context of what a servant meant back 2000 years ago. As stated in this page, servants in general back then (not speaking of Christian ones necessarily) were people who were wholly owned by someone else. And yet Jesus was looking for something “deeper” in his servants:

“But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” (Luke 17:7-10)

Servants were expected to do certain things; yet Jesus wanted more than what was commanded. What might that be? He wants what we do for him – to be because we love him, not because we have to or feel obligated to.

Now with that said, we should feel obligated to obey the Word of God, the Bible, because he gave that to us so we could know his will – and true salvation is what will save and set us free from sin. But there are still those who do only what they feel is required, and yet they will do nothing further in sacrificial love. If someone else needed help, encouragement, mercy – if it was not directly their responsibility, not their family, not of their culture or neighborhood, they would not help when it was truly needed. Their heart could not be moved to reach out to a lost soul to witness of Jesus Christ’s power to save from sin, unless it was convenient or socially accepted by others.

Jesus’ love reached beyond: family, culture, status, what people expected, even what people deserved. Jesus did not just give handouts – he personally provided himself in teaching and living before us the way of holiness, obedience, and faithful love and devotion. Ultimately he give his life for us.

This answer really is not enough, but you can find more of the same in the Bible Study Blog that we post to regularly at:
http://www.churchofgodcarmichael.org/mature-adult/mature-adult-class-blog.html

There are many thoughts brought right along these lines that I believe would help you in your desire to be a true servant of the Lord. May the Lord continue to bless you in this endeavor!

Thank you