LET US RETURN TO THE LORD!

LET US RETURN TO THE LORD!

“HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD… “The LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: "THERE IS NO FAITHFULNESS, NO LOVE, NO ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF GOD IN THE LAND. There is ONLY cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Because of this the land dries up, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea are swept away.” (Hosea 4:1-3)

Our nation has fallen so far away from the godly morals it was founded on … From the word of God. When we see the news, our society, our schools, our cities, our jobs, etc.---We can clearly see that good morals, kindness, brotherly love, loyalty, and respect for others … Are rarely seen. Without God our society (Our lives) will continue to deteriorate … Everyone lives their lives by their own standards and not God’s. This kind of behavior will only bring devastating judgments upon ourselves and our nation.

Have you ever heard it said: “Common sense is completely lost these days?” Did you know that sin completely dumbs out a person, a society and a nation of making good choices? God said that it does… “The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left. Even as fools walk along the road, THEY LACK SENSE AND SHOW EVERYONE HOW STUPID THEY ARE.” (Ecclesiastes 10:2-3)

Note: As the saying goes, “The BIBLE (God’s word) may hurt you with the truth but it will NEVER comfort you with a LIE.” Why, would you want a lie anyway? It is THE TRUTH of the word of GOD that sets the captives free. (John 8:32, 34, 36)

A sinful lifestyle makes a person stumble in ALL their ways…It completely robs them of knowledge, of a good common sense…And because of their open rebellion against God—they will also be completely incapable of making wise choices (Decisions) in their lives because of their sin. The Lord says that SIN: “…Takes away the understanding of my people.” (Hosea 4:10)

Note: There’s nothing great or attractive in living a sinful life. Sin dumbs people out… Sin brings NOTHING but judgments and destruction to those who partake in them… The LORD says: “WOE to them, because they have strayed from me! DESTRUCTION to them, because they have REBELLED against me!” (Hosea 7:13)

A sinful lifestyle will also keep God’s best away from us too--ALWAYS! The Lord says: “YOUR WRONGDOINGS have kept these away; YOUR SINS have deprived you of good.” (Jeremiah 5:25)

Note: A sinful lifestyle is NOT worth ALL the TROUBLE and the MISERY that it brings to ones life... “Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize HOW EVIL AND BITTER it is for you when you forsake the LORD your God and have no awe of me," declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.” (Jeremiah 2:19)

The Lord wants to bless and do good for His people (Jeremiah 29:11) … BUT how can He, if we continue to rebel against Him?  “…They DO NOT realize that I remember ALL their evil deeds. Their sins ENGULF them; they are always before me.” (Hosea 7:2)

 

Friend, if you have been living in sin and are tired of riding that destructive roller coaster in your life …Our loving Savior allows us a way out. (John 8:3-11, Psalm 103:2-4, Jeremiah 3:22, Isaiah 1:18, 44:22) There’s still time to repent and turn from all of your sins. Return to the Lord, admit your guilt and confess your sins to Jesus and He will forgive you of ALL of your sins and purify you from ALL unrighteousness…Jesus loves you so much and He’s reaching out to you now...Because He does not want to lose you.  (Matthew 18:12-14, Luke 15: 4-7, 19:10)

The Bible says:  “If we confess our sins, he (Jesus Christ) is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, 2 Peter 3:9) Amen!  

“LET US RETURN TO THE LORD… Because sin does not only destroy our lives, but it also destroys our planet … “There is ONLY cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. (Watch This…Don’t Miss It! à) Because of this the land dries up, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea are swept away (Are Dying).” (Hosea 4:1-3)

Note: The mass die outs of animals in our planet today…  Devastating natural disasters are ALL a result of the sins of mankind. Most people do not know or even realize that this is why it is happening. The word of God gave us the warning that this would happen, if we turned our backs on Him and willfully rebel against Him.  Sin is destructive to everyone and to everything around us.  Question: Is sin worth all of this death, disasters, pain and misery that it brings when we sin against our God and break His commands? Answer: ABSOLUTELY NOT!  Friends, NOTHING good comes from living a sinful lifestyle, NOTHING!

Friend, do you also know that if you didn’t give your heart and life to Jesus and you die with your sins, Heaven WILL NOT be your eternal home?

Jesus said: “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins." (John 8:24)

Note: In the book of Matthew Jesus said this: “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”(Matthew 13:40-42)

Sin will cost you more than you know…More than you are willing to pay for them--let them GO, they are NOT worth it! (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 5:1-8, Colossians 3:1-10, 2 Titus 2:19)  Repent and turn from ALL your sins…Because they will eventually lead you (someday) to a place that you DO NOT want to be in for all eternity! (Hebrews 10:26, 30-31, Revelation 21:8, 27)

If sin has you captive come to the ONLY ONE (Jesus Christ) that can set you free… And you will be “FREE INDEED”, my friend. (John 8:36) DO NOT wait…Tomorrow might be too late.

The Bible says: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; “ALL WHO FOLLOW HIS PRECEPTS HAVE GOOD UNDERSTANDING.” To him belongs eternal praise.” (Psalm 111:10) Amen

The Lord says: “My people are “DESTROYED” from lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6)

Friends, “LET US RETURN TO THE LORD, WHILE WE STILL CAN” … “SEEK the LORD while he may be found; CALL on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)

GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS

YOUR FRIEND,

VICKY RIVERA  

CAN YOU LOSE YOUR SALVATION?

CAN YOU LOSE YOUR SALVATION?

Some may think that once they are saved … They are always saved. Yes, this is true for those that obey and keep Christ’s teachings. Let me explain: If we think that just because we attend church, get baptized or recite the Lord’s salvation prayer, it is enough to get us into heaven… Then my friends, we are sadly mistaken. Don’t get me wrong, we must do these things as believers as an expression of our faith but this alone can’t save you. For a believer, when they partake in all those things they are publicly declaring their faith, but we must not stop there. Jesus Christ has set the example and we must follow in His footsteps if we want to inherit eternal life. (John 14:15, 21, 23-24, 1 John 2:3-6)

In the Bible it says:

"One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter, his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became the traitor." (Luke 6:12-16)

Judas Iscariot was one of the disciples that were hand picked by our Lord. He was baptized into the name of our Lord Jesus, he was sent with the rest of the disciples into the towns with the authority to heal the sick, cast out demons and to preach the good news of the kingdom of God. (Matthew10:1-2, Mark 6:6-13, Luke 9:1-2)

If salvation could not be lost and once you’re saved you’re always saved, then what happened to Judas’s guaranteed salvation? My friends it will be a big mistake if we believe we can’t lose our salvation. God has made it very clear through out the Holy Scriptures… Through the Prophets and the Apostles that sinners will not enter into His kingdom. Is God unjust? NO! Judas had a sin that he had not surrendered to God and that hidden sin opened a door to a bigger sin. See Luke 22:3-6 (Judas loved money more than God.)

In John 12:4-6 says: Concerning this hidden sin:

"But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages?” He did not say this because he cared about the poor (Watch This... Don't Miss It!) but because he WAS a THIEF; as keeper of the moneybag, he used to HELP himself to what WAS put into it".

Our Lord did not condemn the woman caught in the act of adultery but He gave her a command “GO NOW and LEAVE your life OF sin” (John 8:3-11). This is coming from the mouth of our Creator Himself… It is a warning NOT just good advice. We "MUST" be doers of God’s word. We must walk on this earth as Jesus did. (James 1:22, 1 John 2:5-6)

The Lord "WARNED" his disciples time and time again to “WATCH and PRAY” why would the Lord give us such a warning if our salvation can’t be lost. (Matthew 24:42, Mark 13:36-37) As long as we are here on earth we will "ALL" have TO WATCH and PRAY. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “GET UP and PRAY so that you will not fall INTO temptation.”(Luke 22:46) The words that the Lord spoke through Matthew, Mark, Luke and John these will lead to the path of eternal life.

Note: I believe a backslidden Christian can and will lose his position in heaven… If he’s not careful. (Name blotted out of the book of life) The Holy Spirit gives us the power to overcome and the good Shepherd (Christ) will not let you stray too far from the flock. However there is still a matter of choice. The Bible uses the analogy of leaven or unleavened bread. (With or without sin)

Think of the fat in our bodies as sin. With discipline exercise and diet will remove the fat. If you maintain this healthy lifestyle the fat will remain dormant (Binding spirits) however giving into temptation, not exercising, and overeating will result in the fat returning. Like wise if we are out of the will of God, out of the Word, falling back into temptation and sin... Your old nature returns and the word says sinners cannot inherit the kingdom of God. (Psalm 1:5, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 5:1-7, Colossians 3:5-10, Titus 2:11-14, Hebrews 10:26-27, 1 Peter 2:1, 1 John 3:6, 7-10, Revelation 21:8, 27, 22:15)

In the book of Hebrews says:

This my friends is a warning against falling away… “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace”.

“Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case- things that accompany salvation”. (Hebrews 6:4-6, 9)

Throughout the second and third chapter of the book of Revelations Jesus instructs John to write messages to the 7 churches in Asia Minor. Over and Over again we read of the blessing and rewards for the overcomer. To the believer (Remember these letters are written to churches, saved people.) That continues in certain practices, there is a clear warning to repent and turn from such practices…

Revelation 2:4-5

Jesus says: “ Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! (Watch This... Don't Miss It!) Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place."

Revelation 1:20 Reveals the mystery of the message- The seven candle sticks are the churches- I WILL remove THY candlestick out of its PLACE. MEANING his place IN paradise.

Removal- Does "NOT" mean to "INCLUDE". A person is not taken to heaven as a reward for sin. Judgment and destruction is the penalty for sin.

To the Church of Sardis Jesus said this to them:

"REMEMBER, therefore, WHAT you have received and heard; OBEY it, REPENT. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you."

My friends watch this… Don’t miss it! Jesus says:

“He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. (Revelation 3:3-5)

Question? If your salvation is guaranteed than how can the Lord say... " I will "NEVER" blot out his name from the book of life" ? Answer: Because the teaching that you can't lose your salvation is FALSE! GOD says if you DO NOT repent and CONTINUE in YOUR SIN…. HE will take your name "OFF" His Book (off the LIST)!

This is why I felt lead to write this blog. The teaching that you can’t lose your salvation no matter what you do… IS false! This is not what the Lord teaches and you can clearly see in the book of Revelation that he will not let anyone regardless of whom they are come into His kingdom if they do not obey His teaching or have sins they have not repented from. The kingdom of God is for the overcomer… For those who didn’t give in to the passions of this world, for those who did not give in to peer pressure, for those that follow the Lord no matter what curve ball life through at them, for those that stood on the Rock “ Christ the Hope of Glory” Be an overcomer in Jesus name.


“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7)



GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA