Monthly Archives: December 2021

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Basic Doctrines, Bible Study, Christian Living, Salvation

Repentance Includes Restitution

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You Must Decide To Right Your Past Wrongs In Order For God To Save You

The Bible says in Ezekiel 33:14-16 “Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.”

Even Jesus Said That Zacchaeus Was Saved Only After He Had Said That He Would Restore Anything He Had Stolen.

Luke 19:1-9 “And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.”

John The Baptist Said To Bring Forth Fruits Meet For Repentance

Luke 3:7-13:

7 “Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.”

Paul Said To Prove Yourselves That You Are Saved!

2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.”

2 Corinthians 13:11 “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.“

The word perfect here means that you do not rebel against God and willfully sin.

We are human, we will make mistakes, but we are never to rebel against God.

To rebel against God is to look into the face of Christ while on the cross, spit in His face, and tell Him “I don’t care what you suffered for me, I am going to do what I want to do!

If you can do that, then you are not saved!

And there are some sins that the Holy Spirit will never allow us to do once we are truly saved. Learn more about this from the post “Sins A Saved Person Cannot Fall Into.”

God Demands Holiness! Not Lip Service!

Isaiah 29:13-24:

13 “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
17 Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.
19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
20 For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:
21 That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.
22 Therefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.
23 But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.
24 They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.”

Basic Doctrines, Bible Study, Christmas

The Wise Men Visited Jesus In Nazareth Not Bethlehem

Wise Men

The Wise Men Visited Jesus In Nazareth Not In Bethlehem

I was shocked when I was reading Luke chapter 2 one day and discovered this!

Luke 2:39 “And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.”

This says Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Nazareth after fulfilling all things according to the law concerning Mary’s purification after giving birth to Jesus.

The law said that if a woman gave birth to a son then she was unclean for a total of 41 days , then she had to go do a sacrifice in order to be made clean.

Leviticus12:2 “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.
3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
4 And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.
5 But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days.
6 And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest:
7 Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female.” 8 And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”

S0, 8 days + 33 days = 41days total.

Mary and Joseph brought 2 turtledoves or 2 pigeons. for her sacrifice.

Luke 2:22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
23 (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.“

Therefore, Jesus was taken home to Nazareth about the age of 6 weeks.

The Wise Men Visited Jesus In A House Around The Age of 2yrs, Not In The Manger When He Was Born.

Matthew 2:11 “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.”

We Know Jesus Was About 2 Yrs Old, Because Herod Ordered All The Little Boys 2 Yrs and Under Killed In Order To Try To Kill Jesus.

Matthew 2:16 “Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.”

God Still Told Joseph To Take Jesus and Mary and Flee Into Egypt, Because Herod Would Have Heard That The Wise Men Had Actually Went To Nazareth, Then Herod Would Have Sent Soldiers To Nazareth To Kill Jesus.

Matthew 2:13-15 “And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.”

The Wise Men Rejoiced When They Saw The Star, Because They Realized The Star Was Not Going To Bethlehem, So They Followed The Star And Found Jesus. If They Had Went To Bethlehem Like Herod Told Them too, They Would Not Have Found Jesus.

Matthew 2:9-10 “When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.”

So Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but He was taken to Nazareth when he was about 6 weeks old (after they did everything they needed to do at the Temple in Jerusalem), and then the Wise Men found Him in a house in Nazareth, when He was about 2 years old.

Also, the Bible does not say how many Wise Men there were, so there were probably more than just 3.

It also says they came “from the East,” not that they went “to the East.” So they were travelling West. (Matthew 2:1)

Basic Doctrines, Bible Study, Christian Living, Hell, Salvation

Faith Without Works Is Dead!

Luke 13:3 "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

Faith Without Works Is Dead!

The Bible says in James 2:17-26:

17 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

We are not saved by works, but if our faith does not cause us to obey God, then we are not saved.

Ephesians 2:8-10:

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

See we are not saved by works, but once we are saved we are created in Christ Jesus to do good works.

So, if we are truly saved, we will obey God and live a life of good works.

You cannot be saved just by believing the facts about Jesus.

The Bible says that even the devils believe the facts about Jesus, but yet they are not saved.

James 2:19 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

So, What is the Proper belief need for salvation?

The word “believe” in Romans 10:9 in the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance roots backwards twice to a word, which means “obey” (the word believe is Strong’s # 4100 in the Greek, which comes from # 4102, which comes from # 3982, which means obey and also yield).

This shows that true faith is rooted in obedience.

Therefore, in order to fulfill the requirements of salvation in Romans 10:9 you must be fully persuaded in your mind of who Jesus Christ is and what He has done, and your heart must change from wanting to sin to wanting to obey God. This is an immediate change of your heart (meaning desire and will).

It means that you yield (submit) your will to God’s will.

When a person truly gets saved, they no longer have a complete free will to sin. The Holy Spirit will not allow them to fall into really evil sins like murder, bullying, adultery, racisism, homosexuality, any kind of theft, etc.

1 Corinthians 6: 9-10 “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

Jesus said in Matthew 7:18 “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.”

The word evil in Matthew 7:18 means hurtful, grievous, mischief, and malicious (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible with Greek and Hebrew Dictionaries # G4190). Therefore, a saved person is not capable of falling into any hurtful, grievous, mischief, and malicious sins like murder, rape, bullying, falsely accusing, stealing, alcoholism, drug addiction etc. A saved person cannot do any of those kinds of sins. The Holy Spirit will not allow them too!

To learn more about sins a saved person cannot do please go to http://shiningthelightministries.com/2021/05/12/sins-a-saved-person-cannot-fall-into/

If a person wants to hold onto their ability to commit any sin, then they are not saved!

The Bible says in Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

To diligently seek God includes surrendering your whole will to Him.

Also, Philip told the Ethiopian Eunuch that he had to believe in Jesus with all his heart. The word believe means to yield (Acts 8:37).

In order for a person to get saved they must yield their whole heart to Christ!

Therefore, God is not going to save someone who does not surrender their free will to Him!

That is repentance of sins, and it is required for you to receive forgiveness of your sins.

Luke 13:5 “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

Ezekiel 18:23 “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?”

Ezekiel 18:23 agrees with 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

In addition, Matthew 9:13 says “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

You may still struggle with some sins like a short temper or saying bad words for awhile after you get saved, but you are going to be so convicted over your sin, when you mess up, that you are going to cry out to God to help you to change.

However, a saved person cannot be overtaken by any sin either.

They cannot live any kind of a sinful lifestyle. A saved person can fall into some sins, and they can struggle with some sins, but they cannot become addicted to any sin, or live a sinful lifestyle. And there are some evil sins like the ones mentioned before that they cannot even fall into. 

In addition, I am not saying that a person has to work for their salvation, nor do they have to stop doing their sins on their own before they get saved. I am not saying that they have to be afraid of doing any of those kinds of evil sins.

That is what Grace is for! Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit to keep us from falling that bad.

You don’t have to work at not doing those sins. When a person truly repents and makes a true commitment to Jesus Christ, then the Holy Spirit just comes in and makes it impossible for them to fall that bad. Therefore if they are a drug addict or an alcoholic, God will take the drug addiction or alcoholism away from them, when they truly get saved. They will never be able to do drugs or get drunk ever again. God will not let them!

This is the only way you can go to heaven.

If you have never done this please do it now. Here is a prayer that you can pray word for word or use as a guide to tell God that you believe the gospel, repent of your sins and ask Him to forgive you of your sins. You will not get saved just by praying this prayer, you must truly believe and repent with your heart.

The prayer does not save you. The decision to believe in Jesus and repent of your sins (submit your whole free will to God) is what saves you. The prayer just helps you tell God that you have made these decisions.

Here is the prayer:

“Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross and bodily arose from the dead 3 days later to pay for my sins. I repent of my sins, and I yield my whole free will to you. Please forgive me of my sins and help me to obey you and live for you for now on. Please take me to heaven when my life on this earth is over. Thank you for saving me. In Christ Jesus name, Amen.”

Also, just because a Christian is capable of falling into certain lesser sins, does not mean that they get away with doing those sins either! Christians will not get away with any sin! They cannot lose their salvation and go to hell, but they can receive a harsh judgment. To learn more about this please go to http://shiningthelightministries.com/2021/01/05/christians-will-not-get-away-with-sin/

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