A CALL TO HOLY LIVING
A call to holy living, what does this mean? How can we live a holy life before our God?
To live a holy life is to walk on this earth as the Lord commanded. Are these commandments too hard to carry out? No. The Question Is: Are we willing to do them? Everyday we make choices … whether to do right or wrong, and the choices we make will either lead us to eternal life with Jesus Christ in Heaven, or Separated from God in hell; and then for all eternity to the lake of fire. (Matthew 7:21-23, Matthew 13:40-42, John 8:51, Revelation 20:14-15)
The Lord commands that we do not: commit adultery, (cheating on your spouse) fornicate, (sleeping with someone your not married to) idol worship, lying, not to steal, murder, no witchcraft practices, (do not consult psychic’s / mediums) etc. Those that do not obey the commands of the Lord are not His children and only His children are heirs of the kingdom of God.
The Bible says, that the disobedient are children of the devil. “ He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning.” (1 John 3:8)
1 John says this concerning the true children of God:
"NO ONE" who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:9)
Note: Do you know that if we hate another fellow human being…the Lord considers us, “A Murderer”? Let me show you where it says this in the Bible…
“Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him” (1 John 3:15)
Note: The children of God will love God not by words only BUT in ACTION…When we put into practice what the Lord has taught through the Holy Scriptures then we are considered HIS children.
Jesus says: “Whoever has my commands and obey them, he is the one who loves me. (John 14:21) and this is how the children of God will live a holy life here on earth by walking in obedience to their Creator and Father. Not just by talking the talk but by walking the walk. “Doing what the word says”. (James 1:22) Jesus is the door to Heaven …If you don’t know the man at the door your not getting in. (John 10:9- NKJV /John 14:6- NIV)
Note: According to Jesus own words, to receive eternal life is to believe in HIM…That’s our first step (John 3:16). Does everyone that hears the words of the Lord believe and repent? NO. Why?
The Lord answers this question in his conversation with Nicodemus….
This is the verdict: Light (Jesus) has come into the world, but men loved darkness (their sin) instead of light because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)
Jesus says: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:17)
Note: Jesus has his arms open wide waiting for people to come to Him…To believe in Him, to follow and obey Him but sadly not everyone will believe in Him or accept Him…Their sin is a lot more attractive to them than following and obeying the Lord.
Eternal life is a free gift to all, but we must reach out and get it… It’s there for you if you want it. God is not going to push Himself on anyone. I personally wouldn’t want anyone to be with me who didn’t want to be …I would rather that they be with me because they want to be ... Wouldn’t you? So the choice is up to us to reject Him or accept Him.
There are only two roads in life that man can take: one that leads to heaven (Jesus) and the other one (going your own way/making up your own rules) that will lead to hell. You could follow and obey the Lord and receive a rich welcome into heaven, Or you can go your own way and do what seems right to you but know this… The consequence of living this way will lead to a separation from God in hell and then for all eternity in the lake of fire.
The Bible shows us how to live holy lives; this is why it’s very important that we study the Scriptures. In 2 Peter it says:
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."
Note: This is how the children of God will behave while living here on this earth…
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness; knowledge; and to knowledge; self-control; and to self-control; perseverance; and to perseverance; godliness; and to godliness; brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
"For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."
"Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. (Watch this last verse…Don’t miss it!) For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:3-11)
Note: Peter says add to your faith goodness, etc… What is Peter saying here? Faith in what? Faith in Jesus Christ is what Peter is telling the reader. The first step of whoever wants to be saved is to believe in the Savior of man’s soul…Jesus Christ. (John 3:16/ Acts 16: 30-31) and after we do this, the next step is to walk on this earth as the Lord commands. (Holy Living)- (John 14:15, 21, 23-24, James 1:22, 1 John 2:3-6, 1 John 5:3)
Can we behave like this on our own…Like the Bible is telling us to do in the book of 2 Peter and many more other passages in the Bible? No. Jesus tells his disciples in the book of John this…
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (But watch what happens to those that do not remain in Jesus) If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." (John 15:5-6)
Note: To remain in Jesus means to apply to your life His commands… To live your life here on Earth, following His examples; by these actions… You will remain in Him and He in you. You have Jesus word that if you believe, trust and obey Him…YOU WILL GO TO HEAVEN. That’s all you have to do…I think that’s a pretty good deal, if I ever heard it. But once again the choice is yours… To reject Him or accept Him.
John the Baptist says in the book of Luke:
“The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Luke 3:9)
Note: The trees here represent people; good fruit means to repent of our sins, following, and obeying the Lords commands and the fire here means hell.
What John the Baptist is telling people through the book of Luke could be translated as this:
“People that do not repent of their sins and do not follow the Lord, like the Bible commands…These people will be send to hell and then for all eternity in the lake of fire.” (God does not play games; what He says, He really means!)
The Lord is calling His people to Holiness and to get ready for His return. I believe with all my heart that His return is very near. It is not hard to see all the things that the Lord spoke about when his disciples asked Him the question: What would be the “Signs of the end of the age”? (Matthew 24:1-51, Mark 13:1-37, Luke 21:5-36). We see it every time we turn on our televisions. It’s on the news, politics, technology, and even in the weather. We as the body of Christ need to walk in holiness and reverence before our God daily.
In the book of Hebrews it says:
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness "NO ONE" will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)
We do not want to be left behind like the foolish virgins; who weren’t prepared to meet their bridegroom. (Matthew 25:1-13) The Lord said these parables to us so that we may watch and pray, and that in watching and praying we would be found a holy nation prepared for HIS kingdom.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
