How can I better know and grow in Jesus?

May 5, 2013 Holly Garcia

Encouragement

First, be sure that you have believed the right gospel.

Even if you are sure you are, will you please read it to be able to help others?

So many people out there have a gospel of works added to their faith, even though they deny that is the case and claim they teach salvation is by grace through faith apart from works. Popular names in the LOADship* movement are John MacArthur, Ray Comfort, Paul Washer, John Piper, Francis Chan, Voddie Bauchum, Greg Laurie, Matt Slick, et al.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:21-23

*LOADship is my nickname for lordship doctrine. I have placed my faith on Jesus who is my Lord and Savior and who IS Lord of all. He is God the Messiah. It is this tradition of men (lordship) that most religions actually teach that I deny. Lordship teach you make Him your Lord and confess Him as Lord (things we should absolutely do but have no bearing on receiving the free gift of eternal life). We are asked to believe upon Jesus and His work for us as our Savior. These people shut up the kingdom of heaven to others, binding burdens too heavy for them to bear, just as their forefathers the Pharisees are seen in the Woe chapter of Matthew 23.

Salvation is NOT of works, lest any man should boast (Eph 2:8-9)

Eternal life is a free gift. FREE.

One of our administrators here, John, made this list, I added some Bible verses, and if you’d like to know more, then please comment here and let me know if you wish for your comment to be private.

Everyone is a sinner (Rom 3:23)
The penalty for sin is death (the kind of death spoken of is eternal separation from God in a place of conscious torment – hell) – (Rom 6:23, Isaiah 59:1-2)
One must be perfect to get into heaven. Not good. Not great. Perfect. (Of course we know since we have already sinned, this is impossible) – (Rev 21:27)
One cannot do anything of himself to obtain this perfection – this includes turning from sin, committing your life to Christ, surrendering all, and so on. God offers eternal life as a gift – it’s not for sale or barter. (Rom 6:23)
God provided a sin-bearer for us (The Lord Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. He had no sin of his own, but he came to die for us, paying the full penalty for our sin. He was raised from the dead, proving that His payment was acceptable) – Isaiah 53:12; 1 Pet 2:24. (And also proving He was God, the Messiah. Proclaiming victory over principalities and powers, sin, death and the Grave (1 Cor 15:50-57; Col 2:13-15), and proving He had the power to take His life back up again as He said in John 10:18. The sin-bearer is also foreshadowed in Abraham’s offering up Isaac in Gen 22.)
All we can do to receive everlasting life is to believe upon Jesus Christ as our Savior (John 3:16-18, 36; John 5:24; John 6:28-29; John 6:47).
Eternal life, once received by faith in Christ, can never be lost or forfeited, no matter what happens in our lives down the road (Rom 10:28-29; John 3:16; John 6:38-40).

What is there to do to receive eternal life? Simply BELIEVE that Jesus made that payment for your sin – for you, once for all.

See more at the other site John administrates, expreacherman.com and the article, ETERNAL LIFE FOR YOU

What is the Will of the Father?

And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:39-40

How can you get to know the Lord better?

Once you have believed, now what?

I have to tell you, it’s difficult not to get waylaid at times. Besides many distractions in life, there also are many deceivers out there. The Word warns us that especially in the end, it grows worse and worse. Try to find like minded believers who do not add things TO the gospel. Things like repent from sin, turn from sin, surrender all, commit your life, give your life to Him, etc. were never conditions for the free gift of everlasting life. The only condition to receive eternal life is to believe upon Christ (who He is) and Him crucified and resurrected (what He did for you to save you). BUT, now that you are saved from the penalty of death, don’t you want to get to know the One who gave His life, and shed His precious blood to redeem you from death? If we are not on a solid foundation, we won’t grow in understanding.

READ HIS WORD FAITHFULLY AND STUDY WITH HIS APPROVAL AS YOUR GOAL

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom 10:17

I suggest you start in the book of John, for this is a recap of the story of Christ. John is mostly about the last days of His life with His disciples, the one who betray Him (Judas), and why He came. (To save us, to forgive us our sins, to reconcile us to the Father — make peace with Him — which gives us eternal life, and to give believers life more abundantly, and far more…). John’s stated purpose (Jn 20:30-31) shows us that through this book we can actually come to know how to have eternal life. Then spend some time in Romans and Galatians, understanding what the gospel (good news) of grace is and what the gospel is not (such as loadship doctrine).

In John you will see that even His disciples did not yet understand that He was not going to be ruling the Kingdom that He had offered to the Jews if they would Repent (which means to think differently about what is the only way to be saved) and believe upon Him. Jesus told them but they wouldn’t hear Him.

We see Jesus weep over Jerusalem, He wanted to gather Israel to Him, but they were not willing (Matt 23:37, Luke 13:34). We see Jesus tell the leaders of Israel, that even though they searched the Scriptures that testified of Him, they would not come to Him that they might life. (Do you see any religious thinking in this process? — These Jewish Pharisees trusted in their religion, and their standing, and later we see, they trusted in their own goodness along with being descendants of Abraham. In Luke 18:10-14, the Pharisee compared himself to others, thanking God he was not like them, praised himself for the works he did, (fasting, tithes), yet the Publican (tax collector) was humbled, and prayed, “God be merciful to me, a sinner). Trusting in one’s goodness is a fatal flaw.

In the gospel we see His death in our place for our sin. When He laid down His life willingly (John 10:17-18), we also can know He is God (Jesus had the power to take His life back up again). His crucifixion and resurrection shows us His victory over all sin, death and the grave (1 Cor 15:50-57; Col 2:13-15). When He arose, He spent 40 days showing many witnesses that He was alive (1 Cor 15:5-8).

Remember, Christ died in your place. For your sins. The penalty of your sins is death. But Christ overcame the sting of death forever when He took His life back up again. The Gift of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord. IT IS FREE! We have to realize, we have nothing, not one thing to offer towards salvation (Eph 2:8-9; Rom 4:2-5; 11:6; Titus 3:4-7). Our trust needs to be in the perfect work of Jesus Christ not our filthy rags of our own righteous works (Is 64:6).

We all tend to think we are somehow good, but in God’s sight, sinners are all a stench of death, sin is abhorrent to Him. Sin of any kind, little lies, unkindness, looking at a woman with the wrong thoughts, curse words, taking His name in vain, cheating on taxes or taking a pen home from work that isn’t yours. All of the little things we might justify, but He sees…

We need Him, we need His righteousness.

You can either seek to justify yourself through your own good works, or you can realize there is no way you can do any part it. If you miss just one time, you are condemned. There is one reason according Jesus that you are condemned, one thing that you are condemned for.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:16-18, 36

IF YOU HAVE BELIEVED, PRAY FOR THE RIGHT CHURCH OR FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER LIKE-MINDED CHRISTIAN FRIENDS. AND MOST OF ALL, READ HIS WORD WITH HIS APPROVAL AS YOUR MOTIVE…

Be good Bereans, Acts 17:11 tells us to search the Word to see if what someone is telling us is true. 1 Thess 5:21 tells us to prove all things, hold fast to that which is good. It is so terribly important for our well being and those we influence. Now it might take a little investigation, a little searching, some praying, asking others for wise counsel, (be sure they have commended themselves to you by their pattern of speech, by their conduct, by their good doctrine).

Write us, or comment here, we are happy to help you with the next steps. I will also provide a picture I made once for a friend on some ideas to help us grow in His grace.

To be a disciple means to be a pupil or learner. We have to continue in His Word to become one (John 8:30-31). So learn from Him, gain knowledge of the One who loves you so much, it is a very good thing for many reasons…

Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge; For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon your lips, So that your trust may be in the Lord; I have instructed you today, even you. Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may answer words of truth To those who send to you?