Download... July 11, 2010. Sunday Morning Service. Bro. Dave Goble.
A lot of people are asking the question,..how do I know that I am a Christian? The church is not just a physical institution, but made of a body of souls.. truly delivered from sin. It is important to know whether I am truly a Christian,..a seeker of all God’s truth.
TEXT REVELATIONS 20:11-15
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
None of us will be able to hide behind excuses (verse 12),..All will be called into account. All will be judged by the choices we made “from the heart,” based on what life “gave” us. Verse 15 All not found in the book of life, were cast into hell. But all found in the Book of Life, found their way to heaven. What does it take to be a Christian?
Or one who is truly seeking all that God would have for my life. It means whatever it takes to be a Christian, I will be willing to seek all that God would continually show me,.. not satisfied with past efforts. How do I know that I am a Christian? This is truly a Worthy question! It means I truly want to know God. The truth,.. a personal revelation! What does that question mean to “many” people? Many “seem” to think that because they are not atheist, Buddist,.etc., that they are automatically a Christian. The question means different things,..to different people. It is not automatically based on non-pagan declarations that I am a Christian. It does not mean that because I merely belong to a religions institution, am baptized, etc,.. that I am a Christian. We are not the judge of this answer, but only that Holy One, on that great white horse spoken of here in Revelations. While there may be some that you think won’t be in heaven,..only God really knows. Others that you may be sure will be there, again may not, as only God truly knows every heart’s spiritual condition when they die. Again only God knows,.. who is making their calling and election sure. II Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
God calls us out to speak out against sin, seek and follow His biblical guide, for His way has been made simple. We must never stop seeking His way. Keep going and never stop seeking. Never believe something just because it was handed down to you from “trusted” sources. Make sure of your calling and election!
There is often the misguided claim given of the existence of a “purgatory” or in between place for the soul after death, before the final eternal destination. Yet biblically we have an account, (whether a parable or an actual account,) where God’s interpretation is clear:
Luke 16:22-24 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
There is only the account here of the rich man dying, and then directly lifting his eyes in hell. God’s word will still stand in the face of any other version or interpretation (of purgatory, etc.)!
Yet in the reference of “Abraham’s bosom”, was this a type of paradise? We will only really know in eternity. We again do know by this scripture, that for those not Christians, there is No in between destination. In the canon of the bible, we find (again) that there is no concept for a purgatory. The canon is defined as the acceptable word of God, which we call the Bible. So we can only rightfully teach, what we find backed up by God’s word. All frames of these references are only from this canon,..which is entirely consistent if studied in a complete and honest endeavor. All teachings and writings in conflict with the concept of the above scripture, then must be concluded to be false and of confusion. God is not the author of confusion! 1Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Those that in error persist to believe in an “in between” place for the unsaved, is not unlike an allegory of having a flu like or nauseous condition, ..to God and His people. God’s real and true peace is Without sin or falseness, or an in between place! God will not let you be satisfied with an in between place, if you are truly honest and open only to God’s unadulterated word. His word is without fleshly interpretation, but truly Holy Ghost inspired of clear interpretation. It only gives the remedy for sin to all who honestly see their spirit death without God and it’s remedy of Truth.
That great white throne of judgement,.. a fairness. For on this earth and life we have been given God’s clear biblical formula for deliverance from sin,.. to live a pure and holy life. This is what it truly means to seek the Truth. To cling to with our whole heart, to All God has given of individual knowledge,.. for spiritual life. None can live less than All God has given, without being lost spiritually. Being fully convinced of all God has graciously blessed us with, from His unadulterated Word. Fully convinced. Otherwise, theirs will be an incomplete, spiritually unhappy existence.
Your “convictions” will not be accepted, based in only what others have taught you regardless if from parents, preconceived ideas, a subscribed religion, etc. You will be held accountable if taught from the pure word of God, through the office of God’s appointed pastors, looking out for your soul. God has set the members as it has pleased Him. 1Corinthians 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. Ephesians 4:11-12 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: God still has His appointed holy offices, which teach above a man's fleshly ideas, that by spiritual necessity must be accepted and settled individually. Otherwise,..you will accept something else less than God’s pure and best directions for living. Too much self is what interferes. Your own way will be independent of God’s true pastors. There is nothing supported in God’s word for being an independent “contractor.” There is a required cost to live by God’s direction. It will take your All. You must be willing to pay the price. If you are waiting for “something” to change, before you fully pay, you are already “gone” as an independent “contractor” that cannot be submitted to God.
As much as God’s true body desires to win more souls to Christ, they cannot make up the minds of souls for them. Unsaved souls are either going to desire full truth, or they will be eternally lost! As the workers of God, how hard are we going to make it for the lost to understand? God’s people must continually endeavor not to be a hindrance, by living that Full submission. To be God’s you must seek Full truth. Our present life is our preliminary judgment, not preliminary “play time.” Do you want to go to heaven?
Br D Goble testified, "yes, he enjoys family, friends, etc, but Most of all he Seeks God’s truth Continually." Our seeking truth, must Never be set aside. Everything else,.. you must take it, or leave it! God’s full truth must be your motivation, and be fully settled! It will be demonstrated in part by how we treat one another. Subjection in humility. In illustration, bread requires the ground wheat along with other ingredients, requiring time to blend together before baking in the oven. So our life must be ground, and blended with all the ingredients of God’s word, to be a part of God’s bread of life!
There is no in between place in God’s biblical directions. The idea of Purgatory, wrongly suggest that a sinner is saved by only grace, when God actually ask sinners to Repent and Forsake their sins, to be saved by His grace. Those truly seeking God’s salvation, will desire to forsake all of their sins, to be able to cleanly embrace all God’s pure directions. A “contract” with God that requires our participation. Just as in a earthly example of those “projects” that some might embrace in theory, but desire for it to be near someone else surroundings, and not near their backyard, conversely we must be willing for God’s spiritual project of His contract to take place directly with us,.. in our “backyard.” We must be willing to embrace the “cost!”
Matthew 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not called to call righteous, but sinners to repentance. The first requirement to serve God is Change; repent, forsake, and follow all of God’s word. You need to change to be “born again.” A new spiritual birth. When a literal birth takes place, the parents are fully aware of that birth! So it will be that God’s family around you will know of your “lively” birth.
Matthew 9:16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. You cannot just grow into salvation. It is not a evolutionary change,,..but a revolutionary change! Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. A newness of life!
St John 2:15-16 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; 16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. Jesus (God) by necessity, is not always “nice” as illustrated here when He threw out the money changers from the temple.
In discerning character, there are certain traits of your behavior that depict your motivations. Are those traits (actions) clouded in deceit? Deceitfulness, selfishness, are character traits that are based in motivation. A spiritual change will literally change one from those motivational corrupt actions. A revolutionary.. not evolutionary change! If you are just “taking on” spiritual “actions” instead of having true salvation, you will manifest that lack,.. in corruption of sin. If truly desiring to be a Christian, you will want the change from God,.. More than Anything. If some would “say” that any less is acceptable, you can be sure “they” are not of God. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. God hates sin, and consistently instructs souls, to sin no more. John 5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. And John 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. A revolutionary, not evolutionary change!
Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Those that were called Christians and to later ultimately pay a price of their homes, families and lives,.. first were diligently instructed and studied with the apostle for a preparation of their souls. It must be that same sacrifice and “surrender,” today.
We can know that we are Christ’s church.. or not,..by our fruits. Galatians 5:19-23 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
The fruits of the spirit here are true and not of superficial “niceties.” God’s word will judge our souls by it. The fruits will manifest our character from the heart. To be less then the fruits of the spirit here, (not listening to God) will be of deceit, and eventual delusion of God’s choice. Isaiah 66:4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
If we live in the spirit, we will walk in the spirit. Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. If you have a paramount love of the truth, it will afford you the grace to be amongst the lowest of “ogres,"..and still be at unity with God’s pure word. Regardless of circumstances, God's Will,.. will mean more than anything to you. The truth will separate God’s love and give you an attitude above the circumstances of the flesh. The love of truth will cause one to fully and daily, die out to self. If everyone else leaves God’s narrow way,...( Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.)....that one desiring to live the Christian life, will still cling to Truth, and keep it's message in their heart. A Christian will not “play” church.
