RAPTURE READY
A THREE-PART SERIES
So, you have heard, we are living in the days of Noah, before the flood, you all know what happened, however I was to say something, Noah was a man of faith, yes, we all agree on that, he saved his family. Yet Job was a man of faith as well, yet his faith did not save his family. We hear the word Rapture, many do not believe, others joke about it, where do you stand on this?
If you bear with me, through the course of the next couple of months I will teach you about the rapture, the first part that we are going to look at is:
CHAPTER 1: SALVATION
Turn with me to Matthew 20: 1-16
“For the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of an estate who went out in the morning at dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard. 2 When he had agreed with the laborers for a [a]denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour (9:00 a.m.) and saw others standing idle in the market place; 4 and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right (an appropriate wage).’ And they went. 5 He went out about the sixth hour (noon) and the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.), and did the same thing. 6 And about the eleventh hour (5:00 p.m.) he went out and found others standing around, and he said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ 7 They answered him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He told them, ‘You go into the vineyard also.’ 8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last [to be hired] and ending with the first [to be hired].’ 9 Those who had been hired at the eleventh hour (5:00 p.m.) came and received a denarius each [a day’s wage]. 10 Now when the first [to be hired] came, they thought they would get more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they protested and grumbled at the owner of the estate, 12 saying, ‘These men who came last worked [only] one hour, and yet you have made them equal [in wages] to us who have carried [most of] the burden and [worked in] the scorching heat of the day.’ 13 But the owner of the estate replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no injustice. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go, but I choose to give to this last man [hired] the same as I give to you. 15 Am I not lawfully permitted to do what I choose with what is mine? Or is your eye [b]envious because I am generous?’ 16 So those who are last [in this world] shall be first [in the world to come], and those who are first, last.”
This is speaking about God’s salvation that it is available to all, no matter when you start to believe.
Romans 8:1-4
So those who are believers in Christ Jesus can no longer be condemned. The standards of the Spirit, who gives life through Christ Jesus, have set you free from the standards of sin and death. It is impossible to do what God standards demands, because of the weakness our human nature has. But God sent his Son to have a human nature as sinners have and to pay for sin. That way God condemned sin in our corrupt nature. Therefore, we, who do not live by our corrupt nature but by our spiritual nature, are able to meet God's standards.
The act of saving one from harm, physically, financially, emotionally, and mentally. There is only one way to Heaven and that is a personal relationship with the Lord, Jesus Christ. A matter of faith simply by looking to Jesus, real salvation is absolute and eternal deliverance from the dangers and penalties of sin. An eternal spiritual deliverance. Christ came to save everyone, but He saves only those who take Him. The Lord Jesus came to save sinners, He ministered to the needy. He rescues people from themselves, from the devil, from death. He has the power to vindicate (clear someone) of blame or suspicion, show or prove to be right, reasonable, or justified.) the faithful, to judge sinners and completely save all of God’s children. He will renew all things while excluding the wicked from His everlasting salvation.
The way of salvation
It does not depend on obeying the laws and regulations of the Old Testament, it was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets. Now, the way to receive God's approval has been made plain in a way other than Moses' teachings. Moses' Teachings and the Prophets tell us this. God has always planned to save the world through Jesus and the entire Old Testament was a preparation for that climatic moment in salvation history. Jesus promises blessing and reward to those who live in accordance with God’s will.
Salvation is not achieved by works, but neither is it without works.
The Teachings were given through Moses, but kindness and truth came into existence through Jesus Christ. It can never be earned. Therefore, God's choice does not depend on a person's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. The most important things in life, forgiveness, a right relationship with God, acceptance into God’s family as His child, eternal life, spiritual understanding, the transforming power of His Holy Spirit, the promise of God’s blessing now and forever are all gifts of God, there is nothing we can do to get these things for ourselves. Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Through Christ, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing that heaven has to offer.
So, how do we receive salvation?
We are saved by two things:
- Firstly, we must hear the Gospel.
The good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
- Then believe
We must fully believe, fully trust the Lord Jesus. This involves repentance, a changing of your mind about sin, good, evil and Christ, calling on the name of the Lord. Salvation is available in Jesus alone and is dependent alone on God for provision, assurance, and security.
No one else can save us. Indeed, we can be saved only by the power of the one named Jesus and not by any other person."
Conditions of salvation:
Throughout the Bible different aspects of salvation are explained. Here is some of the main requirements:
- Love God
Nothing, neither people nor situations, should get in the way, of our total devotion to God. We must be humble. We are not to allow the worship of our idols (money, power, prestige, careers, hobbies, pleasure) to become our goals.
Matthew 22:37
Jesus answered him, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with your entire mind.
- Love your neighbour
Be kind, respectful and honest to other people. Treat them as you would want to be treated.
1John 4:7
Dear friends, we must love each other because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born from God and knows God.
- Put your faith in God and Christ
Faith is more than just believing that God exists, that Jesus is His son, our Lord and Saviour. Trusting our lives to God instead of worldly things, is very important.
- The heart over laws and rules
In the time of Jesus, people believed they would be saved by following 600 rules and laws. However, they still found ways to live wicked and greedy lives. Jesus taught that God sees everything and will judge us by what sin is in our hearts (attitudes, intentions, and motives)
- Live a moral life
Avoid sins like drunken behaviour, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, slander, greed, envy and jealousy.
- Repent and forgive others
No one can completely live up to God’s standards. When we fall into sin, we must turn away from it and turn to God (repent). Just as God is willing to forgive our sins, we must be willing to forgive other people.
- Do God’s work on earth
It is not enough to be good and do good works. We are to take the gifts that God has given us and use them to preach God’s word.
SINS OF COMMISSION
A sin of commission is a sin we take action to commit, whether in thought, word, or deed. A sin of commission can be intentional or unintentional. If you visit another country in which traffic drives in the left lane, and you drive in the right lane, you are still breaking the law whether you know it or not. The Old Testament Law prescribed special sacrifices for sins that were unintentional but were nevertheless sins. Humanity’s first sin was a sin of commission. God forbade the eating of a certain fruit. Adam and Eve knew God’s command and disobeyed anyway, they sinned against God.
When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realised what she would get out of it -- she'd know everything! -- she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. When King David committed adultery and then had Uriah killed to cover it up, both were sins of commission. The Bible does not hide the often-sordid details of the lives of people He loved and used anyway. (2 Samuel 11)
We are all guilty of sins of commission. We all commit intentional sin by acting in ways God has forbidden. We also commit unintentional sin in our ignorance of God’s standards.
Our ‘sin nature’ keeps us from fellowship with God. We may be able to limit the number of sins we openly commit, but we cannot cleanse our hearts. Jesus said that “what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.”
SINS OF OMISSION
James 4:17
In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don't do it, that, for you, is evil.
A sin of omission is a sin that is the result of not doing something God’s Word teaches that we should do.
In the New Testament, the classic example given by Jesus is the account of the Good Samaritan. After a man had been beaten and left in need of help, the first two men to pass by, a priest and a Levite, both of whom knew better, failed to act. The third man, a Samaritan, stopped to show compassion to the man in need. Jesus used this example to teach that we are to likewise help those in need. By doing so, he clearly communicated that it is sinful to avoid doing good, just as it is sinful to pursue what is evil.
What is original sin?
Original sin can be defined as “that sin and its guilt that we all possess in God’s eyes as a direct result of Adam’s sin of disobedience in eating from the Tree - of - Knowledge in the Garden of Eden.
What is the sin nature?
The ‘sin nature’ is that principle in man that makes him rebellious against God. When we speak of the ‘sin nature,’ we refer to the fact that we have a natural inclination to sin; given the choice to do God’s will or our own, we will naturally choose to do our own thing. No one must teach a child to lie or be selfish; rather, we go to great lengths to teach children to tell the truth and put others first. Sinful behaviour comes naturally. The evening news is filled with tragic examples of mankind acting badly. Wherever people are, there is trouble. Charles Spurgeon said, “As the salt flavours every drop in the Atlantic, so does sin affect every atom of our nature. It is so sadly there, so abundantly there, that if you cannot detect it, you are deceived.”
The Bible explains the reason for the trouble. Humanity is sinful, not just in theory or in practice, but by nature. Sin is part of the very fibre of our being; the stain runs deep — it’s in the warp and woof of our souls. The Bible speaks of “sinful flesh” in Romans 8:3. It’s our “earthly nature” that produces the list of sins in Colossians 3:5. And Romans 6:6 speaks of “the body ruled by sin.” The flesh-and-blood existence we lead on this earth is shaped by our sinful, corrupt nature. The sin nature is universal in humanity. All of us have a sinful nature, and it affects every part of us.
We don’t lose our sin nature once we receive Christ. The Bible says that sin remains in us and that a struggle with that old nature will continue if we are in this world. Paul bemoaned his own personal struggle in Romans 7:15–20. But we have help in the battle, divine help. The Spirit of God takes up residence in each believer and supplies the power we need to overcome the pull of the sin nature within us. “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God”. God’s ultimate plan for us is total sanctification when we see Christ.
What are the seven deadly sins?
The seven deadly sins are a list originally used in early Christian teachings to educate and instruct followers concerning fallen man's tendency to sin. The misconception about the list of seven “deadly” sins is that they are sins that God will not forgive. The Bible is clear that the only sin God will not forgive is that of continued unbelief, because it rejects the only means to obtain forgiveness, Jesus Christ and His substitutionary death on the cross.
Proverbs 6:16-19 declares,
“There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
1) Haughty eyes,
2) A lying tongue,
3) Hands that shed innocent blood,
4) A heart that devises wicked schemes,
5) Feet that are quick to rush into evil,
6) A false witness who pours out lies, and
7) A man who stirs up dissension among brothers.”
However, this list is not what most people understand as the seven deadly sins. According to Pope Gregory the Great in the 6th century, the seven deadly sins are as follows: pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed, and sloth. Although these are undeniably sins, they are never given the description of "the seven deadly sins" in the Bible. The traditional list of seven deadly sins can function as a good way to categorise the many different sins that exist. Nearly every kind of sin could be placed under one of the seven categories. More importantly, we must realize these seven sins are no more “deadly” than any other sin. Praise be to God, that through Jesus Christ, all of our sins, including the “seven deadly sins,” can be forgiven
Romans 6:23
All sin results in death.
How can I overcome sin in my Christian life?
The Bible presents several different resources to aid us in our effort to overcome sin. In this lifetime, we will never be perfectly victorious over sin, but that should still be our goal. With God’s help, and by following the principles of His Word, we can progressively overcome sin and become more and more like Christ.
- The Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18).
Don't drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of Him.
- Immerse ourselves in God’s Word (Colossians 3:16),
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!
- Prayer (Matthew 26:41).
Stay alert, be in prayer so you don't wander into temptation without even knowing you're in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there's another part that's as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.
- The church (Hebrews 10:24)
Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping.
The key to victory in our struggles with sin lies not in ourselves, but in God and His faithfulness to us.
HOW TO LEAD A PERSON TO CHRIST
- Step one
God's purpose, peace, and love. God wants you to experience peace and life abundantly and eternally.
- Step Two
Our problem: Separation. God created us in His own image to have abundant life. He did not make us robots to automatically love and obey Him but gave us the gift of free choice. Hence, we chose to disobey God on our own will, which resulted in our separation (Romans 3:23, 6:23). Our attempts through the ages have failed to bridge the gap.
- ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR LOST CONDITION
- BELIEVE THE GOSPEL
- Step Three
God's remedy: The cross. Jesus Christ is the only answer to this problem. He died on the cross, rose from the grave, and paid our penalty.
If we aren't willing to follow Jesus through thick and thin, then we aren't worthy to be called His disciples. We are to love Him more than anything else.
- Step Four: Our Response.
To receive Christ, we must trust in Him by personal invitation.
Then pray with the individual and make sure they receive discipline. And focus on the basics, which include prayer, scripture, devotional life, accountability, and discipleship.
- REPENT OF YOUR SINS
- The First thing you must realize is that YOU ARE a sinner. –Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”
- We are ALL sinners. But God loves us, and He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins.
- Next realize that God Loves YOU. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” There is no greater love than that someone would lay down their life for a friend. That’s what Christ did for us.”
- Without Him, you’re literally doomed. Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.”
Yes, the wage of sin is death, but God has given us the privilege of Eternal life in Christ. It’s a gift, you don’t have to work for it, just ASK! What a gift!!!
- Confess your sins.... Romans 10:9-10, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” Romans 10:13, “For Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord, will be saved.”
That’s all you must do! (Call on the name of Jesus and ask him into your heart, and you will be saved from the eternal pits of Hell!)
- RECEIVE CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOUR
- CONFESS HIM AS YOUR LORD
THE PRAYER.... If you honestly, in your heart, believe everything that was said here, pray this prayer:
Dear Jesus, I KNOW I am a sinner. I know that You were sent by God to die on the cross, to save me from my sins. I ask You now to forgive me of the sins I have committed and come into my heart. Thank You for dying on the cross for me. From this day forward, I will follow Your will and serve You. AMEN.
