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Spiritual Progress - 1 Corinthians 15:1-22

Based on 1 Corinthians 15:1-22 (New King James Version)

“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”

In this church of the Corinthians there were serious problems, problems with very basic things in the faith. And many of them, although they confessed to believing in the Lord, were not remaining in the faith that leads to eternal life, but were focused on other, much lesser things. They were questioning one of the most precise things about faith in Christ, the resurrection. And as a result of that doubt, they only focused on everyday life. They lived for the here and now, nothing more, and they sought God only to resolve the things of the present. There was neither a true faith, nor even a spiritual progress, but quite the opposite, a stagnation that does not lead to anything good.

Unfortunately, things repeat themselves, and today this problem exists more than ever within the universal church of God. Nowadays more than ever, the vast majority of supposed believers suffer from these same problems, questioning the resurrection, and totally focused only on God solving their present problems or needs, or even looking for Him to fulfill their superficial desires, and nothing else. There are serious problems of faith. How can I say this? Because it's just a matter of observing the things that God's supposed people do. If you want to know the faith a person has, just observe their actions. Today, the vast majority of God's so-called servants are more concerned with speaking and teaching of things that please the masses than what the Word actually teaches. And for what? Because they want to live well, they want to build temples made by the hands of men, they want the admiration of the people, and they want to exercise control over the simple and unlearned. And also, the vast majority of supposed believers look to God to only solve their problems, to solve the here and now, and nothing more, and of course, that God also serve them to achieve their goals and fulfill their desires. In short, there is no such view on the resurrection, in the coming judgment where we will all give account. There is no true faith, and even less so, spiritual progress. So therefore, there is no life, but only a focus on the earthly and temporal world. And as the Apostle Paul said: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” Why? Because everything in this world will disappear, it will be consumed, nothing will be left, and that is what will also happen with every person who does not think about the kingdom of God and is only focused on this world. Every person will be judged according to the faith they have.

What does God call us to? For our own good, to believe that there is such a resurrection of the dead, and that there is an eternal life for which we must fight for, because if we do not fight for it, if we do not retain and live such faith in Christ, then eternal life will not be obtained. Ladies and gentlemen, one must fight to retain a living and true faith, and if necessary, even die for that faith, just as those great men of faith did who saw the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. This is what the Word says: “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:3-11. But, if there is no faith because one does not really believe in the resurrection, and one does not live for that eternal life, but only for the things of the world, can one add the rest that is necessary so that they can have ample and generous entry into God's kingdom? It is not impossible. Nothing can be built that will resist trial, temptation, and tribulation if the good foundation of faith in Christ is not there. Therefore, the same thing that he said to these Corinthians applies for today: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.” 2 Corinthians 13:5.

Why is it so important to live a real faith in Christ? Because it is the only thing that will drive us to do the will of the Father in our lives. Because if you don't genuinely believe something, then how will you fight for it? The only ones who will be able to enter the kingdom of heaven are those who dedicate themselves to doing the will of the Father, as it is written: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. So then, where is your faith? And, if it is on Christ, are you progressing in Him so you can do what is necessary to enter the kingdom of God? Lord bless! John

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Leaving Behind a Solid Spiritual Legacy - 2 Timothy 1:1 – 2:10

Based on 2 Timothy 1:1 – 2:10 (New King James Version)

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus. You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”

There are people who care and strive to leave a legacy behind them. There are people who wish to leave a legacy for the human race, be it a great scientific, or mathematical, or medical achievement, or even in the form of art such as music, or painting. There are people who want to leave an impact on others, be it their children or families, or loved ones. There are people who strive to leave a company or business behind them so that others can survive after they are gone. A being that sees beyond their person is concerned about leaving something behind them, for those who remain after they have left, and are not necessarily spiritual people or have divine knowledge.

Now, is it wrong to worry about leaving something behind oneself for the good of those left behind them? Of course not. It is good that a human being cares about leaving something good behind them, be it a father or a mother who worries about the well-being of their family after they leave, or people dedicated to noble things who help their fellow man in some way. Either way, leaving some kind of good for someone else after your departure is admirable. And it would be of great value to humanity if there were more people who thought about the well-being of their neighbors instead of just thinking about themselves. We live in a very selfish world today. And even worse, there is too much selfishness within the church of God. So, it is good to worry about leaving a good legacy behind, but we have to think about the duration and impact of what is left behind, that is, what is the greater good. We know that everything in this world is temporary. Everything that we can detect with our senses will cease to be one day. Although we go to other planets, as some think, for the good of humanity, there is something that never changes, and that is that every human being will die at some point. So, no matter how hard we try, if we leave things behind that only impact the temporal world, so will the contribution be—temporary, limited, finite.

So, thinking this way, what is the best legacy that any person can leave behind? The eternal, the divine, that which can last forever. The Apostle Paul thought and dedicated himself to this, as we could read. And in order to do the same, we must look to God, because God is the only eternal Being that exists, just as it is written: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself focused on this very thing for the good of all of us. The Lord did heal the sick, feed the multitudes, free the demon possessed, and even raise the dead, but His main focus was sharing the Word of God and fulfilling the sacrifice that would give us all eternal life. He gave us eternal life and the purpose that comes with that (because the purpose for eternal life is to do the will of God). The Lord did not have physical children, but He did leave an eternal legacy behind Him, as it is written: “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:10-12.

There was another who also left a legacy, although he lived but a short time after his conversion, and that was the thief on the right. This is what the Word says: “Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, ‘If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.’ But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’” Luke 23:39-43. This man did not have years to do things for the Lord like Paul did, but with his few moments, He exercised an incredible faith, and he even justified and defended God Himself publicly, while the Holy One was in His worst physical moment. There is none other that has left such a legacy of faith like this man. He was able to see God fully even in His most difficult moment. So then, what kind of legacy are you leaving? Lord bless! John

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The Lord is a God of Order - 1 Corinthians 14:26-40

Based on 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 (New King James Version)

“How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.”

There are many things that can be seen in this passage, things that are very controversial within our churches, and even in the society we live in today. But we will stick to the main theme, and especially the one that concerns every believer in Christ, the matter of order. Today, and more than ever, there is much disorder in the universal church of God, both at the congregational level and at the family and personal level. And of course, what produces such disorder is sin. Too many so-called believers in Christ have their lives in such disarray that they have become totally useless to the Lord, and that is a serious problem. And unfortunately, many of those who believe they are serving Christ are the ones who are in the worst of disorder problems, and in such a way that they believe they are exercising a ministry for the Lord, but in reality, the Lord is displeased with what they are doing because they are simply wrong.

The first problem that we can see is the issue of disorder within the things of the ministry. There are many people who are involved in so-called service for the Lord, but not for the right reasons. Many want to stand out humanly, to attract attention. Others do things with alternative reasons such as to profit from the things of God, for their own gain in one way or another. There are people who also get involved in the things of God to feel that they can exercise dominance over others, due to some leadership complex or hunger for power that they have. Others start doing things that seem spiritual even for entertainment, to have something to do, and nothing more. The vast majority of people do eventually enter and participate in the things of the Lord, but for reasons completely outside God's will. And that simply is useless, quite the contrary, it is a stumbling block for the ministry, for others, and of course, since God knows all things, also for their own harm, because they will be judged. This says the Word: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23. The all for God does not consist of what we do alone, but rather, why we do things. That is the most important thing to God. What is our motivation or our intention? If it is not done for the right reasons, then there is already disorder that will not lead to anything good.

The other problem of disorder that exists is within many of the Christian homes, that things are not subject to God, but rather, the majority of Christian homes are subject to the things of the world, to the satanic influences than to what God says. Many of the fathers are not being spiritual heads in their homes. Many of the women live in debauchery and moral disorder as well. Children are being raised the way of the world, either because the parents themselves are raising them that way, or because they let the world's system raise their children in school, through the media, and other things and people in the world’s environment. But unfortunately, there are very few families who observe God's principles to lead their homes as God commands. So, is it a mystery why there are so many divorces, so many broken homes, children of believers who even commit suicide, or children in so much disorder? Many homes claim to be Christians, but carry their things as if God did not exist, and as if such a judgment does not come before Almighty God where we will all give an account for our actions. In the end, all disorder is the product of satanic influence followed by feeding the desires of the flesh, sin.

Now, why is it finally important to do things in order? Because God is a God of order, and if we want to please God, we must live a life of order before God, for His glory, and to be able to genuinely serve Him, because that is the all of man, to love and serve God. above all things, and loving our neighbor as yourself. This is what the Lord Himself said: “Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31. This should be the purpose of our existence, and the reason for why we do everything in life—spiritually, secularly, and personally. And if this is not the reason or motive for which all things are done, then there is disorder, and God will judge all disorder because it is sin.

Some may say: How can I put my life in order? Very easy. Treat the Lord Jesus Christ as who He is, as the King of kings and Lord of lords, and seek His wisdom. He must be Lord, which means that things are done as He says, and not as we think. The Word itself tells us this: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:5-8. Do not doubt that there is a God, because there is an Almighty God who will judge all things according to His truth, and not according to our opinions, and even less, according to the thoughts of the world and the enemy. Therefore, my advice is for you not to let yourself get carried away by the world’s disorder and the devil because we will all give an account before God, and the only thing that will matter at that time is if God approves of what we did. The Lord is God, and He will always be. So, do you have your life in order before God? Lord bless! John             

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Salvation is a Race Run Until the End - 1 Corinthians 9:24 - 10:12

Based on 1 Corinthians 9:24 - 10:12 (New King James Version)

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.’ Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

The interesting thing about the matter is that the Apostle Paul compares salvation or obtaining an incorruptible crown to a race in a stadium. Why would he make that comparison? Because he, inspired by the Holy Spirit, makes it known that obtaining salvation is something that takes a lot of dedication, sacrifice, and determination, and of course, that it has to do with something that must be adopted as a lifestyle. In order to understand the matter well, you have to understand what exactly this physical running is about.

To begin, we must see that we are talking about a competition. And when there is competition, there must be training, preparation, many different things so that a person can stand out from the rest. In a running competition, it's not about bringing together a bunch of unconditioned people or even novices, but professional athletes, so that there can be some genuine competition. Think about this. Can a person who neither trains, nor eats well, nor conditions their body, who is overweight, compete against another person who lives a methodical life, who is robust, strong, training every day, in their best physical shape? Of course not. It's not even a competition. And for this reason, in legitimate competitions, there are basic things that an athlete must have, rudimentary requirements that must be met to be admitted into a race. The Lord looks at the matter in the same way, and for this reason, he reiterates this same concept in another passage, as it is written: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrew 12:1-2.

So, what's this all about? That simply, a person cannot attain salvation, eternal life, or the crown of life just because they prayed some kind of prayer at a given moment, or because they do certain things and not others, or because they believe they are something without being it genuinely. A person does not reach the immortality that only God can give for being religious, or a good person, or for saying they believe in Christ. Salvation is only obtained if a person actually begins a real and genuine relationship with the Almighty through the Lord Jesus Christ and retains and lives that faith until they draw their last breath, a person who is faithful to the end. In the passage that we read today, the Apostle Paul speaks of his own surrender and fight for his faith in Christ, and that even he could have been eliminated if he did not take legitimate care. If Paul showed that this could happen in his own life, a person who did dedicate his whole life to the Gospel, who suffered persecution, was imprisoned, was flogged, and even died for a few moments after being stoned, what would that mean to us? Can we take salvation so lightly? Is the matter of reaching eternal life really that easy? It is impossible. If Paul feared, cared for, and even fought for his faith in Christ, we too must do the same. This same advice was given by the apostle: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12.

That is why he also wrote about those who did not care to be faithful to God, those who fell in the desert. He himself puts them as an example of failure. Even though they were part of God's people, they did not reach the promised land. And let this be very clear, if God did away with them in the desert, it was not to reward them with eternal life later. Their days in this world were shortened and they arrived more quickly to their eternal punishment. If they, who were God's chosen people, were not forgiven, what would be left for the vast majority of us who by nature are completely foreign to heavenly promises? We Gentiles have nothing to do with what is still God's holy people. We have only been added, grafted onto the royal olive tree, only through the mercy, goodness, and grace of God. This is what the Word says, a very clear warning to those who think they can abuse the grace of God: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:26-31.

Salvation is not something to be taken lightly. And of course, it should be clear that you cannot play with God. The reward of eternal life will be only for those who not only believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but who seek to do God's will in every aspect of their lives. If a person does not seek to fulfill the will of the Father in their life, in response to the grace that has been granted, they will not see eternal life, but the closest they will get to see God is His throne in the judgement, and then to an eternal hell. Today more than ever God should be taken seriously, because the end will not be good, not even in this temporary world, and even worse, in the eternal punishment. Be wise and run the race you must run so you can attain eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ. So, are you running towards God today? Lord bless! John      

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Liability for Knowing the Truth - 2 Kings 1:1-17a

Based on 2 Kings 1:1-17a (New King James Version)

“Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria, and was injured; so he sent messengers and said to them, ‘Go, inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this injury.’ But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, ‘Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’ Now therefore, thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ’ So Elijah departed. And when the messengers returned to him, he said to them, ‘Why have you come back?’ So they said to him, ‘A man came up to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go, return to the king who sent you, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ’ ’ ’Then he said to them, ‘What kind of man was it who came up to meet you and told you these words?’ So they answered him, ‘A hairy man wearing a leather belt around his waist.’ And he said, ‘It is Elijah the Tishbite.’ Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty men. So he went up to him; and there he was, sitting on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him: ‘Man of God, the king has said, ‘Come down!’ ’ So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, ‘If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.’ And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. Then he sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty men. And he answered and said to him: “Man of God, thus has the king said, ‘Come down quickly!’ ’ So Elijah answered and said to them, ‘If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.’ And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. Again, he sent a third captain of fifty with his fifty men. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and pleaded with him, and said to him: ‘Man of God, please let my life and the life of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight. Look, fire has come down from heaven and burned up the first two captains of fifties with their fifties. But let my life now be precious in your sight.’ And the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, ‘Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.’ So he arose and went down with him to the king. Then he said to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of His word? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ’ So Ahaziah died according to the word of the Lord which Elijah had spoken…”

According to the Pew Research Center in 2010, they found that there were more than 2.2 billion Christians in the world, people who professed to have some kind of faith in Christ. At that time, they estimated that precisely in this year (2023), there would be a figure that would exceed 2.6 billion people. This is the number of people who were estimated to not only have knowledge of who Christ is, but even more, who would profess to have faith in Him. So then, how many could we say know about the Gospel of God, that maybe don’t profess to have faith in Christ, but do know what it's all about? And we would have to say that there must be many more people than the 2.6 billion estimated to have such faith in the world. I personally have talked with some people who do not profess to have faith in Christ, who are from other religions or even atheists, and they know what sin is and that the only begotten Son of God came into this world to pay for the sins of all mankind, which is the heart of the Gospel. So, a large number of people in the world not only know that there is a God, but also that His Christ came to die for the whole world so that they could obtain forgiveness for their sins and have eternal life.

But, what is done with this knowledge? I am afraid to say that both most people who profess to have faith in Christ, as well as those who only have knowledge of the Gospel, do not give any importance to the matter. It is only knowledge and nothing more. But the matter goes no further in their lives. And from there, many of those who say that they believe do believe, but only for convenience or in their own way. In the end, the large number of people who know the truth does not mean much, because there is no real faith. And what will God say about it? God has much to say, and great responsibility is before His eyes for the truth. For starters, and even for people who do not profess to have faith in Christ, but know His truth, the Word says this: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Romans 1:20-21. So, there is already judgment on those who have such knowledge but reject it. The Word says this also: “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36.

So then, we would have to see, what about those who say they believe, but live their lives in the world's way, and do not do God's will? There is a worse problem there, even more judgment from God. This says the Word: “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” 2 Peter 2:20-22. And the Word says this also: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.” Hebrews 10:26-27. So, we see fully that knowing the Truth and not following it as such has great consequences, if genuine repentance is never reached. God's judgment has already begun, but it will be even worse in eternity where there is no more opportunity for salvation, if a person never turns to the Lord properly. We must bear this in mind: “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:16-17. King Ahaziah knew who God was, but he opted to look to the world for his answers. The majority today have their hearts set on the world, and their intentions are not good despite having the knowledge of the Gospel. And the Word says this: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9-10. That is why the divine counsel is this: “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19. So then, what will you do with the knowledge of the Gospel? Lord bless! John

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We are Defined by our Relationships - Philemon 1:17-25

Based on Philemon 1:17-25 (New King James Version)

“If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord. Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”

The saying: “Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are,” is an old saying with much wisdom, but the one who clarified this obvious concept was God Himself long before. In the Word, it says this: “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” Amos 3:3. Finally, both the saying and what God says come to the same point: If some people maintain an intimate relationship, it is because they are in agreement, and there is an affinity between them. And depending on the matter, this can be a good thing, but also, it can be something very bad. The people with whom we relate define who we are, and free will is what allows us to understand this.

To begin, we are all free to choose both what we want to believe in and who we want to have a relationship with. Nobody does anything by force, per say. Some may claim something extreme: “But if a person has to be with another because it is necessary, such as a life-or-death situation, what should they do?” And I can answer like this: When Caesar told the Christians that they had to acknowledge him as lord, should they have acknowledged him as such to save their own lives? And the answer is: No. If they had recognized Caesar as Lord, then they would have blasphemed and renounced their faith in Christ. There is always a choice, even if we don't like the options we have. Confessing and retaining our faith in Christ is equal to the relationships we choose to maintain. We are free to choose, and although death is part of the choice, if that is the price to be paid, so be it. We are all free to choose and there are always options to do the right thing, even if the price seems very high. Finally, we must ask ourselves this when it comes to the matter of choosing things that interfere with our eternity: What price does my soul have? And this can refer both to the decisions we make confessing our faith, as well as to the relationships we decide to keep.

Now, there will be people who will say: “Does the relationship I decide to have matter so much, that it even defines my own salvation?” And the answer is, yes. This is what the Lord Himself said: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:34-39. What does this mean? That finally Christ must be the One who takes first place in our lives. If we have to choose between a loved one who refuses to follow Christ and the Lord, the choice must always be for the Lord, whatever the relationship, whatever it costs us. Our first love, our priority, must always be the Lord, if we want to attain eternal life and have access to God’s eternal kingdom. We see the relationships that the Apostle Paul had and even defended, people who really converted to the Lord, who changed, and who were dedicating their lives for the service of the Lord. Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke were all completely dedicated to the Lord, and had even suffered imprisonment for their faith in Christ. These were the relationships that Paul had, even with this Philemon to whom he wrote, interceding for Onesimus who was once a thief and even stole from Philemon, but who had converted and left his evil ways behind to follow the Lord.

So, with whom should we be careful and distance ourselves? The Word says this: “I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore ‘put away from yourselves the evil person.’” 1 Corinthians 5:9-13. Those of us who follow the Lord must do just as the Lord did. The Lord gave people the opportunity to know the Gospel, to know the way to salvation, to all sinners, and that is why He spoke to them, so that they could convert, but not to continue a relationship with people who did not want to believe. And this is the problem that exists today in the people of God, who continue to have relationships with people who do not want to convert, with people who know the truth, but prefer to remain mired in sin, and justify retaining those relationships because they are loved ones, be it family or friends. And that cannot be, whatever the relationship is. There is such a thing as the sin of association, and that is when a person supports another person's sin by virtue of staying loyal to them, no matter what they do wrong. This says the Word: “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:28-32. If you retain a relationship with a person that refuses to repent, and that knows God's judgment, you will also be held as guilty as they are, because by maintaining that relationship, you are approving of what they do. The Word says this: “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4. So, if a so-called believer continues to have a relationship with a person who lives in the practice of sin, knowing the truth, they also constitute themselves an enemy of God, because that person wants to continue in the world and in the world’s ways knowingly. So, can an enemy of God inherit or enter the kingdom of God? No. It is not impossible. Your relationships ultimately determine who you are and what you truly believe. So, the question is simple, “who are you?” Lord bless! John           

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The Lord is Watching - Ephesians 5:15 – 6:9

Based on Ephesians 5:15 – 6:9 (New King James Version)

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise: ‘that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.’ And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.”

In this life, we have all kinds of relationships, either personal relationships, or work relationships, or even temporary relationships, like when we go to a store to buy food, or when we go to work most days of the week, with those that drive around us, or walk alongside us. There are relationships that will last a lifetime, and there are relationships that will last minutes or even seconds, but we all have all kinds of relationships with different people. Even in this very cybernetic world that we live in today, relationships or links are made with known people, and with totally unknown people through social networks. Finally, human beings cannot avoid having relationships with others, whether with many or very few, there will always be some kind of relationship with someone.

In today's passage, we see certain examples that the Word gives us to know how to deal with some of these different types of relationships. We see that It speaks to us about how we should act with other believers, in marriage, between parents and children, and with our work relationships. We see that, depending on the relationship, there must be edification, love, subjection, honor, obedience, respect, and decent treatment. In every situation, there is something paramount that must happen. Among brethren or believers in Christ, there should be edification and submission. Between a marriage, the man is to love his wife, and the wife is to submit to her husband. I must clarify, does loving a wife consist of spoiling her? No. God loves us, and we must see what love consists of through what He does with us, and not through what we come up with. And also, does submitting to a husband mean that a person must do everything that is asked? No. In subjection, there is no implication for abuse, even less, following another person in things that do not please God. So, neither in the love of one for the other, nor in the subjection of one to the other, is there place for exploitation, or manipulation, or abuse, or anything that resembles that. It is very clear that the model for marriage is Christ and His church. Between father and children, children must honor their parents, which does not consist in doing things that go against the Lord, but in obedience and also in care. And just because you get married doesn't mean you have to abandon your parents, because honor is for life. Marriage should not interfere at all in honoring parents as is the custom of many today. And of course, parents must raise their children as God also does with us, especially in counsel, and God does not spoil or let a child do as they see fit. And what can we say between masters and servants, or bosses and supervisors and employees? And if a person owns a business, and manages it well, they are servant to many masters, because each client is his master.

And all this brings us to the most important thing, to the reason why we must have to do everything in this life, especially if we really want to attain eternal life and the rewards that only God can give. Above every relationship, whatever it is, we must always keep in mind that God is the one who is watching, and that He will judge us according to what we do. This is true faith: that God exists, and that He is Who He is, and that we must do as He says, whatever it costs us, because He will finally judge each one of us, especially those who say we believe in Him. True faith does not consist of anything else. The Word says this: “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:9-10. There is something we must all have clear, and that is that God made us and saved us so that we could serve Him, to do His will. The Word says this: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. Some will think: “I am a child of God, and that makes me saved.” And yes, being a child of God gives us salvation, but a child who does not do the will of the Father will not inherit eternal life. If one considers themselves a child of God, then they must live to serve the Father just as Christ did. This says the Word: “Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name. ‘They shall be Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.’ Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.” Malachi 3:16-18. Our faith consists of serving God, of doing His will, of dedicating ourselves to His business and not our own affairs. God is watching everything, and He will judge us according to our works. So then, are you living mindfully that God is watching, and that He will judge you based on all of your intentions and works some day? Lord bless! John             

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Loving the Lord - Luke 18:18-30

Based on Luke 18:18-30 (New King James Version)

“Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ So Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ’ And he said, ‘All these things I have kept from my youth.’ So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, ‘You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, ‘How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’ And those who heard it said, ‘Who then can be saved?’  But He said, ‘The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.’ Then Peter said, ‘See, we have left all and followed You.’ So He said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.’”

Today's message is the simplest there can be, so simple that even a child can understand it, but at the same time, it is the most difficult to be able to live because it puts man at the crossroads, to choose between loving God more than everything else. The vast majority of people fail in their faith precisely because of this matter, and they will not enter the kingdom of God precisely because they cannot achieve what they have to achieve, what God demands from each person, because God does have a demand. The point is that despite the fact that salvation is completely free, because it cannot be bought or worked for, that it is only by grace, nevertheless, getting into the kingdom of God does have a price, and this is what the Lord is dealing with. There is a work (because it undoubtedly consists of action) that must be in our life above all work, above all that can exist, which is loving God above all things.

There are very deep things in this passage, in its details, which leads us to understand what must happen in each person, if they legitimately want to inherit or obtain eternal life. The matter begins with the question this ruler asks: “…what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” The word he used has to do with an action, and the action is a deed. His question is very simple, but also incredibly profound. The most interesting thing about the matter is that the Lord corrects him for calling Him good, and that God is the only good One, but He does not say anything about correcting his concept of the work. The Lord does not say to him: “Man, eternal life does not consist of works.” And even more peculiarly, so to speak, the Lord leads him to remember the law, to the Ten Commandments. Anyone today who believes that salvation is only by faith and the grace of God would say that the Lord is wrong to point to the law, but we have to say that the Lord Jesus Christ is not wrong, but rather, those who have changed the true path to salvation, those who have turned following Christ into a hollow, fruitless, and worthless religion. They have turned the truth into something intangible, and that is why we have what we have today—a large group of people who believe that they will have eternal life just because they say a few words and profess to have some kind of belief, but without any kind of substance in their lives, ultimately, without the work that must be in each one who really wants to inherit or enter the kingdom of God. And the Lord, seeing that this man has complied with much of the law, leads him to the foundation of the law, to the reason why the law exists to begin with, to the first commandment. It is written: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9. This is the all of the law because it is the foundation for all of the law. And the Lord Himself reiterated this point and reestablished this as the first commandment, as it is also written: “Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.” Mark 12:29-30. Therefore, whoever says that the law no longer applies, and that there is nothing that needs to be done after a supposed decision, with all due respect, they are abysmally very mistaken. For the Lord also said: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” Matthew 5:17-18.

And to reinforce more this topic, the Lord made these declarations and clarifications, so that this topic could be made very clear in that we must fulfill the law, the first commandment, to love (action, work) God above all things: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘seta man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:34-39. “Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, ‘If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:25-33. That’s why, the only person that will inherit eternal life is the person that lives out this concept: “For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.” Romans 14:8. Why does God demand this? Because it is fair. He created us, made us, gives us breath and life, and the beating of our hearts. And through Christ, He gives us eternal life without us deserving it, without any kind of obligation, freeing us from eternal hell. We owe everything to Him. So then, the matter is quite simple: “Do you love the Lord as He deserves to be loved so you can have the eternal life that only He can give?” Lord bless! John

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Injustice Against God - John 15:18-25

Based on John 15:18-25 (New King James Version)

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’”

Justice is something that in some way or another we all yearn for. Every human being wants you to be fair to them, without exception. Even the most despicable and unfair beings want others to be fair to them. How do I know this? Do you think the liar likes to be lied to? Do you think the thief likes to be robbed? Does the adulterer like to be cheated on? I think you understand that, in the end, no one, especially those who do harm to others, do not like any harm being done to them. And if that is the case, why then do people do things to others that they do not like to have done to them?

To be able to answer this question, one must understand that something exists, that there is such a thing as sin. There is no other cause for which a person harms another being. There is no other explanation. So where does sin come from? The Word of God explains it this way: “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work…” 2 Thessalonians 2:7a. Lawlessness is a mystery to us. A mystery is not something that has no explanation. There is an explanation, but we do not have the answer because it is beyond our capabilities at the moment. However, just because we don't know exactly where something came from doesn't mean it doesn't exist. There are so many things that human beings do not understand, nor do they want to believe, but they exist, regardless of whether they want to believe or accept it. Reality is reality. God is God, it does not matter if a person wants to accept it or not. God created everything, whether they want to accept it or not. If you want to believe that all of this is a result of some cosmic accident, and that we all came from primates, that doesn't make it true. So, no matter what happens, whether a person wants to believe or not, whether the origin is known or not, sin does exist and its existence is very visible because its final effect is death, as it is written: “For the wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23a. That is why each one of us will die someday, without exceptions.

This is something else that does reveal that we do know, without exception, that sin exists—every person has a conscience. Each human being is born with a conscience, with something inside that tells them when they are doing evil, or sin. We see this example in the Scriptures: “Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, ’Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?’ This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’ And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.’” John 8:3-11. Every one of these people, the scribes and the Pharisees, including the adulteress, had a conscience, without exception. And they were all accused by their conscience, especially those who came to tempt the Lord. They knew that what they were doing was wrong, because to begin with, a character was missing from the scene, the other person with whom the woman was committing adultery. The law is very clear on this, as it is written: “The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death.” Leviticus 20:10. Where was the adulterer? And so, their consciences accused them of deceit, lies, the injustice of wanting to punish a single culprit, and of course, all with the aim of trying to tempt God Himself with sin upon sin. So, every person knows when they do evil. Perhaps many, and now more than ever, have tried to cauterize their conscience, because, although they know what is wrong, they prefer to love evil than to do good. And this brings us to the main point.

We already know that, for one reason or another, the vast majority choose to harm their neighbor, and many times, without reason. But who is it that is wronged the most, and especially without any reason? God. Man in general does the greatest injustice against the One who does not deserve any injustice. Many assign the blame for sin to God, and God is not responsible for all of us having chosen to sin. God allowed sin to exist so that the ability to choose exists, because He gave all beings, beginning with the angels, free will. This mystery of iniquity existed before the devil himself, but just because it existed, it did not mean that he had to choose for it. The devil or Satan, or Lucifer, as he was formerly known, did not have to rebel against God, but he chose to. The demons, or the fallen angels, one third of the heavenly host, did not have to choose to follow the devil in his wickedness, but they did. Adam and Eve did not have to eat the forbidden fruit, but they chose to disobey and sin against God and against themselves, and thanks to that, we have what we have today. And of course, we all have in some way or another the issues we have, either because of our sin, or because of the sin of those around us, or because of the sin of those who preceded us, but the issue is sin, because of the sin of creation, and not because of God. What wrong did God do? Create us? Give us free will? Give us the ability to live and exist? And now, give us the opportunity to have eternal life through the sacrifice of His Only Begotten Son on the cross? Of what evil can we accuse God of? However, His goodness is rewarded with evil, with rebellion, and even with hatred against the Being that has only done good to us. The emptiness that the unbeliever feels in their heart is not only the lack of God, but their conscience accusing them that they are sinning against God, by not recognizing Him for who He is, and by not trying to reconcile with the One who has done to them all the good possible. That is why the Lord says: “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19. And so, I exhort you to practice this very simple concept, first with God and then with your neighbor: “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.” Luke 6:31. Be fair with God and with your neighbor. So then, will you continue being unfair with God and with your neighbor, and like that, seeking your own eternal perdition, or will you look for the Lord and love Him as He deserves to attain eternal life? Lord bless! John

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The Gold Lampstand - Exodus 37:17-24

Based on Exodus 37:17-24 (New King James Version)

“He also made the lampstand of pure gold; of hammered work he made the lampstand. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and its flowers were of the same piece. And six branches came out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side. There were three bowls made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower—and so for the six branches coming out of the lampstand. And on the lampstand itself were four bowls made like almond blossoms, each with its ornamental knob and flower. There was a knob under the first two branches of the same, a knob under the second two branches of the same, and a knob under the third two branches of the same, according to the six branches extending from it. Their knobs and their branches were of one piece; all of it was one hammered piece of pure gold. And he made its seven lamps, its wick-trimmers, and its trays of pure gold. Of a talent of pure gold he made it, with all its utensils.”

The lampstand of the tabernacle has a lot of meaning, things that are very deep, even in its details. But it would not be a very good idea to delve into the details because often we focus so much on the details that we lose sight of the main view, the essential, of what matters most to us and concerns us. There are many people who focus so much on irrelevant details that they lose sight of the truth and end up putting aside the obvious about God and what is necessary for their lives. In other words, it's like focusing on a person's finger pointing to the sky, that if you only set your sights on that, you lose sight of all the heavenly glory to which it is pointing to. That is why sometimes it is good to see details, but also, sometimes it is not worthwhile because there are things that are much more pressing to us individually.

In reference to the lampstand, we will see certain aspects, or even possibly obvious things that matter too much in the total scheme, and undoubtedly apply to our person. The first thing is that the purpose of the lampstand was to give light to those who entered the place where it was located, and those people were very limited and specific, because after it was made and put in its place, hardly anyone could see it because it was set in the holy place of the tabernacle, and only the priests saw it. The second thing that made it very unique was that it was made of pure gold. It was not made like many other things in the temple itself that were covered in gold. The lampstand was carved from a piece of pure gold, hammered into its shape. And the third thing was that the lampstand had 7 branches, that is, 3 branches on each side of the center arm, and with the center arm there were 7 in total, which symbolizes the number of divinity.

Now, what then symbolized this very special and unique lampstand, the menorah as it is called in Hebrew? It was simply a representation of God Himself, because it had the divine number in its arms, because it was made of pure gold (Holy), and because God is the eternal light. This is what the Lord Himself said: “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” John 8:12. So then, what is the obvious purpose of the Lord for the world? He is the One that lights the entire world with His light, beyond the physical and temporary, which also depend on His Person, as it is written: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Colossians 1:15-17. He is the Light of life, of eternity, of reason and wisdom, of justice, and all things that can be considered divine light. His light is unique in the entire universe. Not even the biggest star can compare to God's light, especially what it means to us. If a person does not have the light of God in their life, even if they can see physically, by continuing in spiritual darkness apart from God, they will not see eternal life. If a person dies without God within themselves, they will be condemned to eternal darkness after the great judgment where not even the memory of their existence will remain. It will be as if it never existed.

What else can we see through this? That this lampstand or menorah also appears in the New Testament, in the book of Revelation. But in that occasion, it is the symbol for the 7 churches of the Revelation, as it is written: “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,’ and, ‘What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.’ Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.” Revelation 1:11-13. And who are the ones that compose these churches? Us. The incredible thing about this is that symbolism of the lampstand begins with God, with Someone Supreme and Holy, and ends with imperfect and impure people like us. The Lord Himself said furthermore this with regards to the light: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16. So then, how can this be?

God's love, design, and intentions are truly a mystery. How could such a unique Being want to convert things or beings as imperfect, limited, and with as little value as us into something like Him? This is one of those things that we should simply appreciate, be thankful for, and seek to reciprocate such love and kindness. There is no logic that can help us understand such things, and that is why we have the blessing of faith. Faith helps us to accept and appreciate such things. And, through that same faith, we can become what He wants to make of our lives. He wants to make us as precious and unique as that lampstand, for us to show His light to the whole world, so that through us, the world can know Him, and thus continue to perpetuate His mercy from generation to generation until He decides that all this needs to end and let us continue to the eternal universe that He has prepared for those who love Him. So, what should this teach us? That we need Him to be able to convert to His likeness, considering that He is giving us the opportunity to something that before Christ was impossible. The cross of Christ broke the veil of the temple to make fully accessible what was previously so sacred and inaccessible, from a lampstand that only certain men could see, to make us part of that eternal lampstand that is designed to give the light of God to the whole world, to every creature, for all eternity, something that will never go out or cease to be, only by the power and mercy of God. So, are you still in eternal darkness, or will you be part of God's eternal light? Lord bless! John

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It is Necessary to Abide - 2 Peter 2

Based on 2 Peter 2 (New King James Version)

“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)—then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit,’ and, ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.’”

If we understand this passage well, and that it is written to believers, we would understand that we must be very careful with deviation or apostasy, because no one is free to fall. There are many who believe and even preach that a person, at the time they accepted Christ, that they no longer have anything to worry about. But it is not like that. If one has come to Christ, or has been born again, as the Lord Himself explained, that is only the beginning of a long journey. It is not a question of accepting Christ, and nothing else, because unfortunately, that is part of the deviation that exists today in many places. In order to be saved and obtain the eternal life that God has for those who love him, it is necessary to abide.

The first problem that can arise with a believer who takes salvation as something certain, as something that does not depend on their own decision to remain is precisely the matter of taking things for granted, of not being careful with what they listen to or follow, because the devil is always there, dedicated to precisely making believers fall. The believer is the one who is most prone to the attack of the enemy. How can I say this? Very easy. If the devil tried to tempt the Lord Himself many times while He was on this earth, how can he not try to tempt one of us? And do you think he tried to tempt the Lord in vain? The devil tempted the Lord because the Lord had a choice. The devil is not stupid. The thing is that God never takes away free will. The Lord was free to do as He wanted, to yield to the enemy, or to follow the Father’s design. As we read, the angels also have free will because although they were in their sinless state, they fell, and followed the devil. And also, as it is written, these false prophets and teachers arise (and will continue to arise) from the people of God who deviate from the truth, for not remaining. Because what does he say about these? That: “…even denying the Lord who bought them.” Who did the Lord buy (past sense)? The unbeliever? No. Here he speaks of converted people who fell into temptation, and became agents of evil, by giving in to their lusts and to the sin that still dwelled in them. Because it also says: “They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness…” So, the convert can fall, because even if they have converted, they are always free to choose, because God does not force anyone. Everything is based on love, and in love, there is no obligation. There are people who unfortunately, due to their stronger desire for the world and sin, they allow themselves to be seduced by error, and end up settling for the illusionary crumbs of this world.

That is why we must not be overconfident, and we have to take care of our salvation, always choosing the will of the Father, zealous for His Truth. This also says the Word: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:1-6. So, it is necessary not only to convert to the Lord, but also to bear fruit, ultimately, to do the will of the Father with our lives, because the Scriptures also say this: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23. The only way we will enter His kingdom is by doing the will of the Father, but because we love Him, and not with other intentions. God knows everything and will judge His people. So, are you abiding faithfully in the Lord to be able to obtain His salvation, or are you getting carried away by things that seem like the truth that feed your flesh? Lord bless! John

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Persecuted for the Gospel - Acts 24

Based on Acts 24 (New King James Version)

“Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul. And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: ‘Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.’ And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so. Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: ‘Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. ‘Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ’ But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, ‘When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.’ So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him. And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.’ Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him. But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.”

Through this passage, we see that there are difficult and very unfair moments that can be experienced for the Gospel’s sake. It is very likely that at some point in our lives we will suffer for doing good, for doing God's will. Whoever says that following Christ is easy, and that it only consists of prosperity, healing, and triumphs in this world, is either lying, or has no idea what following Christ is truly about. Because this is what the Lord Himself said: “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.” Mark 13:9. So, sooner or later, there will always be some kind of persecution for the Gospel. The Gospel is free, but a price must be paid for it.

But it is very probable that many will say when knowing this: “What is the incentive then to do the will of God if it is very possible that we will suffer for that here and now?” What the Christian must understand, if they really want to be saved, is that this world is temporary. This world and everything in it will pass away, and our life is only a moment compared to eternity. I know this feels like it's long, and that circumstances here can be very difficult just to survive, but nonetheless, all this is going to go away one day. All this will end. So, if we are logical and wise, what should we always keep in mind? Where will I spend eternity? What will happen to me in the great judgment of God? That is why the Apostle Paul himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and by his own conviction, wrote this: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’” Romans 1:16-17. Faith is the main incentive that we must have, the certainty that, if we fulfill God's will here on earth, at whatever the cost, that we will obtain eternal life through Jesus Christ. We have immortality in our hands if we obey God, despite the circumstances that we may have to live. The Word says this: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21.

Now then, how do we know that preaching the Gospel is necessary? This is what God’s Word says: “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4. God wants everyone to know the Truth, to at least listen to it, and of course, because He wants all men to be saved, without exception. But, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:14-15. Therefore, the Word says this also: “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” 1 Peter 2:11-12. So then, if you desire to obtain eternal life, let go of your flesh’s desires, leave sin behind, and submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, facing whatever circumstance for the Gospel, so that when your moment comes where you will stand before God’s throne, that God Himself will say: “…‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’” Matthew 25:21b. So, do you want to live well in this temporary world and lose your soul forever, or will you decide to suffer for these moments for the Gospel, but later, live eternally enjoying the gifts that only the Almighty King and God of the universe can give? Lord bless! John    

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True Gratefulness and Worship - Psalm 107:1-22

Based on Psalm 107:1-22 (New King James Version)

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, and gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city for a dwelling place. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness. Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons—because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High, therefore He brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He has broken the gates of bronze, and cut the bars of iron in two. Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all manner of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing.”

What is the true praise and worship that God seeks? Are songs necessarily what really pleases the Most High? Will nice and flattering words and entertaining music be what the Lord desires? Will the shows that are done today in different places with lights, and shouts, and applause be what God really wants? If there is not something genuine in the heart, if it is only words and music and entertainment, God hates it, as it is written: “…This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me…” Mark 7:6b-7a. True gratefulness and worship to God is shown with things that go way beyond the superficial and passing.

This is what God Himself says about what He really desires: “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6. And the Word also says this: “So Samuel said: ‘Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” 1 Samuel 15:22-23a. So we can see clearly that God is not necessarily looking for what the masses think are manifestations of gratitude and praise and adoration. God desires mercy with our neighbor as adoration, that we seek to know who He is and what His will is. God desires obedience and that we pay attention to Him, that we finally do His true will, because this is also written: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. This is very different from what is taught or demonstrated in our congregations today. Unfortunately, there is much deviation and confusion, and that is why we have what we have today, a people that is not even convinced of the truth of God. And if the so-called people of God do not know or practice the true will of God, how will the world know God? That is why we do not see a great difference between the church and the world, because much of the church continues in the world, just with a different letterhead and different customs.

The first thing to start with is with the “why” God deserves true gratitude and adoration. He is God, and there is nothing and no one higher than Him. This is the first thing. The next thing should be because He created us, and by His will we are still alive. Nothing and no one can exist or subsist without God, as it is written: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Colossians 1:16-17. And this is very important to understand and believe, because if you are not alive, then you cannot come to know the value of the following, that God gave us the opportunity to have eternal life. We can live forever by His grace, through His sacrifice, through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is the culmination of why He deserves all our gratitude and adoration. If a person is not fully convinced of these reasons, I am afraid to say that they still do not know God and do not know what faith really is. The Lord deserves everything because without Him, we would have nothing and we would be nothing, and even more, if it were not for His salvation, our destiny would be hell where there is only darkness, suffering, loneliness, and eternal pain. That is why, if a person does not appreciate the things that God has done, and is more focused on themselves and other things, they continue on that road to hell.

Let's understand one thing. The Lord Jesus Christ is our role model, and He fulfilled God's will perfectly. And since it is so, let's see His life, and what He did, or rather, what He never did, (because what we need to know was left written for us, so there is no need nor reason to speculate about what the Lord did or did not do). Is it written that the Lord sang praises with the masses? Is it written that a music concert was ever held? Is this written that the Lord had said to His disciples: “Is it necessary that you teach the world how to sing to God, and to know how to play instruments to honor Him? It just never happened, and if it never happened, then what are we doing? I am not saying that singing and praising God is bad, but it is not what God truly seeks and desires. It is not His priority, under any circumstances. And if it is not His priority, why has it been made a priority, and given so much prominence? Why has it become the focus of most of our congregations? As far as I know, Christ must continue to be our model.

This is what the Word says when it has to do with the things we should be doing: “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:10-11. “And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?’ So he answered and said, ‘ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ’ And He said to him, ‘You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.’” Luke 10:25-28. So, if you really want to thank the Lord and worship Him as He deserves, love Him with all that you are, and love your neighbor as yourself, and love is shown by deeds, not words. So, do you live a life that fully demonstrates your gratitude and worship to the Lord? Lord bless! John

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Sexual Morality - Deuteronomy 22:13-30

Based on Deuteronomy 22:13-30 (New King James Version)

“If any man takes a wife, and goes in to her, and detests her, and charges her with shameful conduct, and brings a bad name on her, and says, ‘I took this woman, and when I came to her I found she was not a virgin,’ then the father and mother of the young woman shall take and bring out the evidence of the young woman’s virginity to the elders of the city at the gate. And the young woman’s father shall say to the elders, ‘I gave my daughter to this man as wife, and he detests her. Now he has charged her with shameful conduct, saying, ‘I found your daughter was not a virgin,’ and yet these are the evidences of my daughter’s virginity.’ And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city. Then the elders of that city shall take that man and punish him; and they shall fine him one hundred shekels of silver and give them to the father of the young woman, because he has brought a bad name on a virgin of Israel. And she shall be his wife; he cannot divorce her all his days. ‘But if the thing is true, and evidences of virginity are not found for the young woman, then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones, because she has done a disgraceful thing in Israel, to play the harlot in her father’s house. So you shall put away the evil from among you. ‘If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then both of them shall die—the man that lay with the woman, and the woman; so you shall put away the evil from Israel. ‘If a young woman who is a virgin is betrothed to a husband, and a man finds her in the city and lies with her, then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry out in the city, and the man because he humbled his neighbor’s wife; so you shall put away the evil from among you. ‘But if a man finds a betrothed young woman in the countryside, and the man forces her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die. But you shall do nothing to the young woman; there is in the young woman no sin deserving of death, for just as when a man rises against his neighbor and kills him, even so is this matter. For he found her in the countryside, and the betrothed young woman cried out, but there was no one to save her. ‘If a man finds a young woman who is a virgin, who is not betrothed, and he seizes her and lies with her, and they are found out, then the man who lay with her shall give to the young woman’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife because he has humbled her; he shall not be permitted to divorce her all his days. ‘A man shall not take his father’s wife, nor uncover his father’s bed.’”

We are living in a time where our society is more sexualized than ever. The truth is that everything nowadays involves sex, and in such a way that many people are even incapable of having platonic relationships. It seems that the only way to express affection or appreciation for another person is through a sexual encounter. And the worst part of the matter is that I am not talking about unbelievers, but about the so-called believers in God, those who say they believe in God, but live a life completely given over to sexual immorality, from pastors, preachers, and ministers, even to the newest people in the faith, many are living ruled by sexual immorality. Many so-called believers are practicing fornication and adultery to the fullest. And this was bad before the eyes of God in the past, it continues to be a sin before God today, and even more, its practice will be seen as a sin when His judgment comes upon all humanity.

As we read at the beginning, sexual immorality, both fornication (sexual relations outside the bond of marriage) and adultery (cheating within marriage) were highly sanctioned by God. Such was the matter with God that those who did such things had to be killed. What is the difference between then and now, under the dispensation of God's grace? That, as believers, we are not here to stone those who do evil, but this is still a sin before God. And a person may not suffer the physical death penalty here on earth at the hands of men, but if a person maintains this lifestyle, they will be condemned to live in hell for all eternity, if they do not repent and convert from these sins. The final penalty remains the same if a person does not stop practicing such things. Society can justify and applaud it all they want, but society and its laws have no power in the great judgment of God, and this is what many believers either choose not to believe or voluntarily ignore. But be very sure that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God, as it is written: “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21. However you want to see it, whether a person was never saved, or that they will lose their salvation, a person who practices such things simply will not inherit God's kingdom, or will not be allowed to enter His kingdom. But the only one who can inherit is a son, and here the passage speaks of not "inheriting" the kingdom of God, so meditate on that.

What else does God's word say about the matter in the New Testament (since many erroneously take the Old Testament to be a thing of the past)? The Word says this: “But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” 1 Corinthians 6:17-19. “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” Matthew 5:27-29. Thus, both fornication and adultery, even coveting another person outside of marriage are condemnable before God, and a person risks being condemned eternally, because the Lord himself said this: “…than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” So, what is the believer to do, especially within the dispensation of God's grace? To repent and convert from such things, to stop doing it completely, to stop practicing it, let alone excuse such sins. We see the same thing when they brought the adulterous woman to the Lord so that she would be stoned precisely: So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’ And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.’” So, will you seek to do God's will in your life, or will you continue to do things that put your salvation in grave jeopardy? John 8:7-11. Lord bless! John               

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The Blind that Choose to Stay Blind - John 9:13-41

Based on John 9:13-41 (New King James Version)

“They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, ‘He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.’ Therefore some of the Pharisees said, ‘This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.’ Others said, ‘How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?’ And there was a division among them. They said to the blind man again, ‘What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?’ He said, ‘He is a prophet.’ But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, ‘Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?’ His parents answered them and said, ‘We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.’ His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, ‘He is of age; ask him.’ So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, ‘Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.’ He answered and said, ‘Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.’ Then they said to him again, ‘What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?’ He answered them, ‘I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?’ Then they reviled him and said, ‘You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.’ The man answered and said to them, ‘Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.’ They answered and said to him, ‘You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?’ And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, ‘Do you believe in the Son of God?’ He answered and said, ‘Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?’ And Jesus said to him, ‘You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.’ Then he said, ‘Lord, I believe!’ And he worshiped Him. And Jesus said, ‘For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.’ Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, ‘Are we blind also?’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.’”

Blindness is a very difficult and limiting thing, especially if a person has been blind from birth. Some studies show that not only do they have no reference to the physical world around them in their consciousness, but also, since they cannot see anything, they are also very limited in their visual dreams and imagination. In other words, blindness affects practically everything in their life, everything that has to do with visual content, whether consciously or unconsciously. What is it finally that does not allow a person to see? Two things or two ways. Regarding physical blindness, it is when a person cannot see because their eyes lack the ability to detect light, the ability to see how things are visually rendered by light. And with regard to the external, that is, when the matter is outside the body, it is when a person does not have problems with their sight, but rather, because they are in a place where there is no light, that they are in total darkness. It is possible to have good eyesight and be in a place where it is of no use to you because there is simply no light at all.

We see this story of this man blind from birth who was healed by the Lord, who had all the limitations we mentioned before. He was a man who had never experienced the joy of being able to see like most people around him, because the vast majority of people could see in his time, just like today. However, it was a great physical miracle that the Lord performed. But the miracle extended even further, to the spiritual, to what really matters. The man who was blind, through the miracle he received, was able to see the Lord as such, as Lord, and thus, not only managed to see the physical, but also, he was able to obtain the greatest miracle, the spiritual vision, or the light of Salvation.

Now the man who was born blind did not have the choice to be blind when he was born. In other words, at no time inside the womb could he have thought or said: It would be a good idea to be blind and beg to survive and have all kinds of disadvantages in the world. But, when the Lord presented Himself to him, all kinds of choices were presented. If we read a little earlier, he allowed for the clay made by the Lord to be smeared on his eyes. He also chose to wash himself, just as the Lord commanded him. And after that, he chose to suffer harassment, judgment, and even be expelled by the Pharisees. He could easily have denied that the Lord performed the miracle for Him, to be at peace with the religious, but he did not. Why? Because not only did he choose to value what was done to him, but he chose to value the Person who did it to him more than the others who had not done nothing for him. Why was he begging? Because even his parents had abandoned him. What had the religious do for him? Nothing that we can see. The man knew how to choose to value what was really worthwhile, and he valued the Lord to be more precious than his own life.

And well, many would say: If God did such a miracle to me personally, I would do the same. But the serious problem is that the Lord performs miracles at every moment for each one of us, and this is where voluntary blindness enters, the same blindness that the religious suffered. We saw before that the other way that a person cannot see anything is if they are in a dark place. And a person chooses to either leave that place of darkness when the Lord presents Himself, or stay in it, just like these Pharisees. The Pharisees preferred to honor Moses more (someone they had never seen in person, nor did they experience his deeds in person) than to honor the King of kings and Lord of Lords who was in front of them, who had not only healed multitudes, but He had even raised several dead already by then. There are people who simply prefer to remain blind to the fact that they owe everything to the Lord, even the breathing of their lungs, and the beating of their hearts, and yes, even the morning light that they see every day, the same that will be used to judge them if they do not repent, as it is written: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20. And, what can we say about His love through the cross, and about His resurrection? All of these things are irrefutable personally, but only if there is a desire to want to see the Truth. So then, do you want to continue in your voluntary blindness by remaining in the darkness, or choose to see and treat the Lord as Who He really is, and like that receive eternal light? Lord bless! John  

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The Coming Judgment - Matthew 25:31-46

Based on Matthew 25:31-46 (New King James Version)

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ ‘Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ ‘Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ ‘Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’ ”

Will we all have to give an account before the throne of the Lord in the end? The point is that yes, each person, no matter where they are from, whoever they are, rich, poor, educated, illiterate, converted or unbeliever, absolutely all of us will have to give an account before the throne of the Lord for our deeds, without exception. I know that this concept goes against much of what is taught in our Christian community today, but ultimately, we must be guided by the Word of God, and not by what we think or desire. There is much evidence within His Word that teaches us that we will all have to give an account. And that is why dedicating yourself to listening to things that are pleasant and easy can be a serious mistake, because the price of following an error is very serious, and it can have eternal consequences if you remain in that. If you want to be wise, it is better to make sure that you are in what is true than to be seriously surprised at the end. I am afraid to say that there will be many people surprised at the coming judgment.

What misconceptions are there today? Well, for starters, there are many who think that all a person needs to have to inherit or gain entrance into the kingdom of God is belief in God and nothing else. There are others who say that we are saved by grace and nothing else, and that works don't matter, that they don't mean anything anymore. And there are others who believe the opposite, that the only thing that matters is being a good person and doing good deeds, and that a person will be fine with that. Among the most liberal, there are those who believe that we are all children of God, and that God's love is so great that in the end, He will forgive us all, whatever we do, and whatever we believe. There are others who think that everything is already predetermined and that there is nothing else to do, and that you just have to follow a set path, treating God as things of destiny. And the list is very long for so many other ideas and things that people prefer to believe as true, and base their eternal future on things with little or no foundation.

Now then, what finally is the way that we can inherit or obtain eternal life? The first and most fundamental thing is: Who. Many see God as a universal god, or that all religions lead to the same God. And if we talk about religions, there are many religions that have many gods, not just one. The ancient Greeks and Romans, for example, were polytheists, or believed in many gods. So, the matter of all religions leading to the same God cannot be. The other thing that contradicts that concept is that, if he were all the same god, he would be a god with very big psychological problems, because he would suffer from having different personalities. How can a god tell a group of people one thing, and the same god say something different to another group of people? It just can't be. And if so, it would not be worth following him because he would be changeable, capricious, and inconsistent, at the very least. And you can't trust a being like that. When we talk about God, the Judeo-Christian God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we are talking about the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, as the Word says: “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” 1 John 5:7.

When you understand "Who" things are about, then everything else begins to take shape and get more defined. So, what do we have to do to inherit eternal life? This is what the Word of God says, which the Lord Himself reiterated: “And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?’ So he answered and said, ‘ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ’ And He said to him, ‘You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.’” Luke 10:25-28. What does this tell us? This describes a clear path for us. The first thing: that the Lord must be first in everything, and that we must love Him above all things and with all that we are, and to do as He tells us, as the Lord He should be in our lives. And the second thing resulting from the first, or because we love the Lord, and we want to obey him, is that we must love our neighbor as ourselves. The reason why we do everything should be for the Lord, especially when we help people who have real needs. That is what true faith is about, that our belief is so strong in the Lord that we love Him above all things, and that we seek to do His will, whatever it may be, despite the circumstances. The Word says this also: “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:14-20.

So then, are you truly ready for the coming judgment? Lord bless! John

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Grace and the Law - Matthew 25:31-46

Based on Matthew 25:31-46 (New King James Version)

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ ‘Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ ‘Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ ‘Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’ ”

Will we all have to give an account before the throne of the Lord in the end? The point is that yes, each person, no matter where they are from, whoever they are, rich, poor, educated, illiterate, converted or unbeliever, absolutely all of us will have to give an account before the throne of the Lord for our deeds, without exception. I know that this concept goes against much of what is taught in our Christian community today, but ultimately, we must be guided by the Word of God, and not by what we think or desire. There is much evidence within His Word that teaches us that we will all have to give an account. And that is why dedicating yourself to listening to things that are pleasant and easy can be a serious mistake, because the price of following an error is very serious, and it can have eternal consequences if you remain in that. If you want to be wise, it is better to make sure that you are in what is true than to be seriously surprised at the end. I am afraid to say that there will be many people surprised at the coming judgment.

What misconceptions are there today? Well, for starters, there are many who think that all a person needs to have to inherit or gain entrance into the kingdom of God is belief in God and nothing else. There are others who say that we are saved by grace and nothing else, and that works don't matter, that they don't mean anything anymore. And there are others who believe the opposite, that the only thing that matters is being a good person and doing good deeds, and that a person will be fine with that. Among the most liberal, there are those who believe that we are all children of God, and that God's love is so great that in the end, He will forgive us all, whatever we do, and whatever we believe. There are others who think that everything is already predetermined and that there is nothing else to do, and that you just have to follow a set path, treating God as things of destiny. And the list is very long for so many other ideas and things that people prefer to believe as true, and base their eternal future on things with little or no foundation.

Now then, what finally is the way that we can inherit or obtain eternal life? The first and most fundamental thing is: Who. Many see God as a universal god, or that all religions lead to the same God. And if we talk about religions, there are many religions that have many gods, not just one. The ancient Greeks and Romans, for example, were polytheists, or believed in many gods. So, the matter of all religions leading to the same God cannot be. The other thing that contradicts that concept is that, if he were all the same god, he would be a god with very big psychological problems, because he would suffer from having different personalities. How can a god tell a group of people one thing, and the same god say something different to another group of people? It just can't be. And if so, it would not be worth following him because he would be changeable, capricious, and inconsistent, at the very least. And you can't trust a being like that. When we talk about God, the Judeo-Christian God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we are talking about the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, as the Word says: “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” 1 John 5:7.

When you understand "Who" things are about, then everything else begins to take shape and get more defined. So, what do we have to do to inherit eternal life? This is what the Word of God says, which the Lord Himself reiterated: “And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?’ So he answered and said, ‘ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ’ And He said to him, ‘You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.’” Luke 10:25-28. What does this tell us? This describes a clear path for us. The first thing: that the Lord must be first in everything, and that we must love Him above all things and with all that we are, and to do as He tells us, as the Lord He should be in our lives. And the second thing resulting from the first, or because we love the Lord, and we want to obey him, is that we must love our neighbor as ourselves. The reason why we do everything should be for the Lord, especially when we help people who have real needs. That is what true faith is about, that our belief is so strong in the Lord that we love Him above all things, and that we seek to do His will, whatever it may be, despite the circumstances. The Word says this also: “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:14-20.

So then, are you truly ready for the coming judgment? Lord bless! John

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Grace and the Law - Galatians 5:1-18

Based on Galatians 5:1-18 (New King James Version)

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

Since the Lord came to this world to establish the new covenant through His Person, there has been a lot of confusion in man about what a person must do to be saved, to attain eternal life. But what must be made very clear is that it is not God's fault, because He is not a God of confusion, but of Truth, of light, and of life. So, what is the problem? Us. Human beings, when they are guided by their carnality, by their own ideas, and are not humble and sensitive to God, are the ones who produce these controversies and confusions, because the Truth is the Truth, but it all depends on how a person wants to hear It, whether they are really willing to listen to It, or if they have other intentions. But, quite simply, there are no controversies in the sound doctrine of Christ, in what He taught us. God offers a single, exact, and precise Path to reach eternal life, but man (and of course, through the devil's temptation) is the one who creates other paths, other ideas, and gives birth to confusion and ravings.

The first thing we should look at is the matter of whether Christ really came to put an end to the law. Let's first see what this law is. The law is all the commandments that were given to us before the Lord came to earth, and it was given through Moses, so that God's people could have the best life possible on this earth. And within that law, there were commands that were carnal or symbolic signs or practices, like this matter of circumcision. Circumcision was a physical sign that God established as part of that law. And if we see it medically, it is also a very good hygiene practice for men, to avoid certain complications that can affect men and women. But the Lord said this: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17. So, is there a contradiction between what the Lord said and what Paul teaches here in Galatians? Of course not. Christ did not come to abrogate or remove the fundamentals of the law, which does produce eternal life, but the physical, which does not really impact the soul of man, and that is what Paul is referring to. That is why this practice of circumcision is no longer necessary, because it was something external, physical, something that within itself has nothing to do with the soul of a person. Just like the matter of whether Saturday is the correct day to worship God, and to rest. The Lord Himself worked, per say, on Saturday on several occasions, but of course, to do things that were the full will of God, not to get rich, or for other things. So, is Saturday or Sunday important enough to define a person's eternity? No. What matters is that a person congregates with other people to worship God, as was the Lord's custom (because He is our example), and creation itself, which God created, teaches us that having a day of rest regularly is good for our health.

So, what is the grace that both the Lord and Paul teach? The true fulfillment of the law through the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The law is simply the instruction that God gives us through His Word so that we know what to do to inherit or have eternal life. This for example says the Word: “Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ So Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ’ And he said, ‘All these things I have kept from my youth.’ So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, ‘You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, ‘How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’” Luke 18:18-25. And the Word says this also: “And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?’ So he answered and said, ‘ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ’ And He said to him, ‘You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.’ But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ Then Jesus answered and said: ‘A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?’ And he said, ‘He who showed mercy on him.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’” Luke 10:25-37. So, what do we see clearly? That everything that has to do with loving God and loving our neighbor in the law is still as valid as when God commanded it. And that, if you do not love the Lord above all things, doing as He commands, nor love your neighbor as yourself, you will not inherit or obtain eternal life. And that after all, faith without works is dead, because love can only be shown through action, through work. So, do you live the grace of God through Jesus Christ for eternal life, or do you follow your own ideas following and observing things that are of no value? Lord bless! John         

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Parent’s Responsibility - Numbers 3:1-4

Based on Numbers 3:1-4 (New King James Version)

“Now these are the records of Aaron and Moses when the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. And these are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab, the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he consecrated to minister as priests. Nadab and Abihu had died before the Lord when they offered profane fire before the Lord in the Wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests in the presence of Aaron their father.”

Having children is something beautiful, and of course, if you have them for good reasons. There are people who think that children should be had when two people love each other, and that these children are the fruit of their love, and that's good. There are others who have children with the desire that they be like extensions of themselves, and to be able to give them everything that they could not have, and that is not bad either. There are others who have children so that the children can achieve goals and dreams that they could not achieve, and that within itself is not bad either. And of course, there are people who have children by accident, or by trying to keep a partner, or unfortunately, to get things they want, and these are not very good reasons to have children. In short, children come for different reasons, some are good, and others are not good, but whatever the reason, a great responsibility begins, which starts at the moment of conception (because from there the responsibility begins, not when they leave mother's womb). And like all responsibility, you have to give an account, and the one who will demand an account is none other than God, and from God, no one can escape, as it is written: “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13.

Now, what are the things that parents (speaking of mothers and fathers) owe to their children? Not only before God, but also before society, they owe them essential things like food, clothing, a place to live, and care. These are the physical things that must be there for a person who can't provide for themselves. But also, in conjunction with that, what you owe them the most is not necessarily a university degree or giving them so they can enjoy pleasures or have fun, or even leaving him material goods. What you owe a child the most is instruction, and even more precise, to give them full knowledge of God, and to implant the fear of God in them. That is a must. Anyone might say: “But I don't even know about God. I don't know who he is. How can I give something like this to my child?” And here comes what forms part of all responsibility. You have to seek God to be able to give your child accordingly. You must have your own relationship with God to be able to impart that knowledge to your son or daughter, and that is a responsibility, and like any responsibility, you have to fight for it. Isn't it hard for you to work, to pay bills and debt, to maintain a place to live, to have food to eat, and also have enough to buy clothes and medicine if necessary? Of course. So, you also have to make an effort to seek God, seek to know who God is, and gain that relationship you need, as it is written: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8. So, all this implies action (work). If you seek God, you will find him. If you call on God, He will open up to you. Because, in short, just because you don't know or know about something, it doesn't free you from the responsibility you owe your children. There is no excuse. Just like there is no excuse for not knowing that there is a God, because He is in all things, as the Word also says: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20. So, no one has anywhere to escape from God, nor from their responsibility as a parent before God.

It has been mentioned that parents have a responsibility to let their children know who God is. And you may ask, where does the Bible say that? It says this: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9. This remains in effect to this day. Parents are supposed to teach their children to love the Lord with all their being, and they have to give them this instruction and knowledge always, since they are in the womb, because from there says the Word that God calls every person, from the belly, as it is written: “…From My mother’s womb You have been My God.” Psalm 22:10b. Parents need to repeat to their children as many times as possible and have things around them to remind them of this. This is not a good idea, but rather, a commandment. Because the Word also says: “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.” Psalm 127:3. Nothing and no one in this world can take away this responsibility before Almighty God.

What happened then to Aaron's children? This happened: “Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.’ ’So Aaron held his peace.” Leviticus 10:1-3. And also: “So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. Ezekiel 33:7-9. They had been given the instructions they needed, but they did as they saw fit, and they paid dearly for it. And Aaron was not blamed because he told them what had to be, or else Aaron too would have perished with his sons. Parents fulfill their responsibility finally when they do as God commands. Having children is not a game, and a person should not do as things seem to him, but as God commands, if he really wants to do the will of the Father, which is what allows us to have eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ . As the Word also says: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. So then, are you fulfilling your responsibility before God? Lord bless! John         

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The Causes of Disobedience - 1 Samuel 15:1-24

Based on 1 Samuel 15:1-24 (New King James Version)

“Samuel also said to Saul, ‘The Lord sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’’ So Saul gathered the people together and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Judah. And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and lay in wait in the valley. Then Saul said to the Kenites, ‘Go, depart, get down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.’ So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. And Saul attacked the Amalekites, from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is east of Egypt. He also took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed. Now the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, ‘I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.’ And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the Lord all night. So when Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul, it was told Samuel, saying, ‘Saul went to Carmel, and indeed, he set up a monument for himself; and he has gone on around, passed by, and gone down to Gilgal.’ Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, ‘Blessed are you of the Lord! I have performed the commandment of the Lord.’ But Samuel said, ‘What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?’ And Saul said, ‘They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the Lord your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.’ Then Samuel said to Saul, ‘Be quiet! And I will tell you what the Lord said to me last night.’ And he said to him, ‘Speak on.’ So Samuel said, ‘When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the Lord anoint you king over Israel? Now the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the Lord?’ And Saul said to Samuel, ‘But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.’ So Samuel said: ‘Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.’ Then Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.’”

Like all things, nothing happens just because. There are always reasons for why things happen. There are motives or intentions that produce actions in each person. And this matter of disobedience is no exception. People don’t disobey just because, and especially when it comes to God's Word. In this passage, we can clearly see the reasons why Saul disobeyed the Word of the Lord through Samuel. Everything we do has a reason, something that produces it. So, this Saul had his reasons.

But before seeing the cause of disobedience, there is something that must be seen first, the reason for why it is important to follow the Word of God, despite the fact that there is a physical messenger or an intermediary. The point is that God speaks to us directly today through His Word which is the Holy Bible. Whenever a person reads or listens to something from the Bible, they are reading or listening to something that comes directly from God for them. It's no coincidence when it comes to that, and even in the most unexpected places. Whether you are sitting in a church (whatever it may be), or see a sign along the highway, or hear a song, or see it or hear it in a movie, or even see it at an American football game (because it's almost inevitable to see the poster of John 3:16 at a game in the stands), it is God who is speaking to you. And also, whoever the messenger is, even a deviant minister, or pastor, or teacher, if they are reading or speaking the Word of God purely (ignoring the deviation they are trying to use it for, of course), it is ultimately God who is talking. The Apostle Paul said this same thing: “Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.” Philippians 1:15-18. So, the Word of God is the Word of God, however it comes, and it is necessary to listen to it in Its purity and do what it says for one’s own good, because ultimately, the Word of God is for our good. Therefore, this Saul should have listened and obeyed Samuel, not because Samuel was giving an opinion, but because God spoke to Saul through Samuel.

Now then, what was the reason why Saul disobeyed? And the Word tells it and it also reveals the greatest cause that can be seen in an action. The first thing we can see is Saul's confession, where he tells Samuel that he broke the Lord's commandment because he feared the people. Saul was more afraid of other human beings equal to him than of the Almighty God who gave him everything, and who even wanted to establish him as king. And the other place that we see the main cause is when he goes back to Carmel and puts up a monument to himself after the battle. What does that say? That instead of giving glory to God, Saul glorified himself. Therefore, we can see that Saul's idol was his own person, and so he did not want to challenge the people, because he ultimately wanted their honor for himself. So, the clearest conclusion that can be reached is that the reason Saul disobeyed God is because he believed himself to be equal to God. And unfortunately, that is the reason why every person finally disobeys God, because they think they are equal to God. Instead of seeking to do God's will, a person seeks to do their will. That is why God Himself asserts that rebellion is like the sin of divination, and obstinacy like idolatry, because a person takes on the traits of the devil himself when they disobey God. And it should be clear, that whoever challenges God will lose eternally, just like the devil. Nothing good comes from rebelling against God and His Word.

So, today's question is a simple one, especially if a person is disobeying God and rebelling against His Word: Do you think you are equal to God? Lord bless! John      

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