Are You of the Truth?

1 John 3:19-22, New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

¹⁹ And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. ²⁰ For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.²¹ Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. ²² And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

1 John 3:19-22, New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 byThe Lockman Foundation

¹⁹ We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him ²⁰ in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. ²¹ Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; ²² and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

1 John 1:9, New King James Version (NKJV)

⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9, New American Standard Bible (NASB)

⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

(Thought you might like to see how two of the Translations I use compare. I also like the New English Standard Bible as well).
My Comments: This week, in fact in just the last couple of days I have wrestled with my conscience. My sin nature wanted me to take a plant snip growing at the bank so I could either find out what it was or just plant it in my yard and have one. Some would say, "It is a small thing, no one will care or even know." This in fact is what my sin nature kept telling me every time I went to the bank and saw it. I would forget while in the bank to ask if I could take a snip and then go back out and argue with my sin nature. This happened at least three times over the last few days. I really wanted that plant snip. I have seen it growing in other places over the years and like it and I wanted it. Satan played on that desire. God kept me faithful and true. Today when I went in I remembered to ask. They allowed me a snip and I took it to the plant store and now know what it is and have a snip that is planted in my planter. And I was true to God's command to Love. Love does not let me steal.

Asking was what God wanted me to do. It was the right thing to wait. It was the right thing to not give into temptation or the desire of the flesh. My conscience prodded me to do the right thing. I would have felt and been untrue to my faith in Jesus the Christ if I had given in. I praise God for the strength to be faithful. This was not always the way it was for me growing up.  Yet with God’s grace it is the way I choose to be now. I choose to be true to the Commands of God and to take that would not be loving God or my neighbor.

I find God is working on me in other areas of my life as well. One is how I view others even those of my own family. How my love for others is growing, Less and less I say things or even think things that are unkind and do not build up or help others. When my husband was alive (he passed in 2012) he would caution me if I said something about another person that was not kind. He was a gentle man who loved greatly and in 36 years I hardly ever heard him say anything unkind about another human being. Now because of him I hear my conscience faster and louder when it comes to interactions and reactions. I bless God I had the pleasure of David in my life. I bless God I have the Holy Spirit who encourages, teaches and inspires me to try harder and to do better.

When I fall short of the goal I know the Holy Spirit will comfort me and in His understanding of me, He will help me to do better each time. I also know those lessons will continue, get harder and repeat until I get strong enough and have understanding. Then when I am tempted because I have been trained in the truth of the Word of God, I will attain the goal. When I make the wrong choice and choose sin over being true to God I know because I am His and have accepted Jesus as my Savior that I am forgiven as soon as I repent and turn away sin. Jesus in the desert for 40 days is my inspiration. He strengthens me to overcome my sin nature yet is there to pick me up when I fail. I praise God for His eternal love and kindness to me a sinner. I praise Him for leading me to the truth.

Abba, we raise ourselves up to You in all humility and faith. We want to do what is right yet we fall short. Give us the strength to walk away from temptation. Give us, Lord; Your strength to stay in Your light, on Your path and be filled with Your Living Water. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit continually teaching us and helping us to be more like You. Forgive us Father when we fall and know we are broken inside when we hurt our relationship with You who loved us so much You sent Your only begotten Son so we would be forgiven and able to be in heaven with You. So we may be adopted into Your family Abba.

Thank You Abba for all that we have and especially for our relationship with You, for the truth of Your Word, for Your Son Jesus the Christ, for filling us with Your Holy Spirit and for forgiveness. In Jesus name I pray with the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Rebishka

Faith in Jesus is seen by how we live.

When you're feeling down and discouraged, where is your focus? When I feel that way, I'm usually focused on me--my problems, my worries, my pain--and I really can't see anything else (did you know this is idol worship?)--including God. But as long as we stay self-focused, we can't receive any help. Help comes only when we set our eyes, our hearts and our hope on our Heavenly Father and not on ourselves, others or things.

Receive

In Psalm 42, the psalmist speaks to his troubled heart:

"Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?"
Then he offers a solution:
"Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God" (42:5-6, English Standard Version, ESV).

Why does he "hope" in God? Because he has the sure and certain confidence that God is faithful.
When we're down and discouraged, we need to get our focus back on God where it belongs. That's the perfect time to look to Him for our hope and to trust Him to deliver and take care of us. The rest of Psalm 42:6 says,
"My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you" (ESV).
It's time to remember God who is faithful, good, compassionate, powerful--all the things you need when you're down.
There's a second step included. The first is to look to God and remember who He is and what He can do, but Psalm 42:5 also encourages praise. You see Him as your hope; then you praise Him for that. You remember His faithfulness; then praise Him for that too.
Psalm 20:5 tells us to celebrate:
"May we shout for joy over your salvation,
and in the name of our God set up our banners!" (ESV).

Raise the flags; hang up the banners or set off fireworks; show everybody that you belong to the God who is your salvation. That's what setting up banners is all about. It's how you tell others about God's faithfulness and draw them in to celebrate with you.

Of course, before you can celebrate it, it helps to be familiar with God's faithfulness and the hope He offers. Jot down what you learn about God's faithfulness from these verses:New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Deuteronomy 7:9

9 “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

Psalm 86:15

15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,
Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

Lamentations 3:22-23

22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.

Hebrews 10:23

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

The fact of God's faithfulness is awesome, but you can also find a reason to celebrate when you see examples of when or how He is faithful. How do you see that in these verses?
Psalm 91:1-6
Psalm 143:1-2
1 Corinthians 10:13
2 Thessalonians 3:2-3
1 John 1:9
Lamentations 3:20-24 is an excellent way to adjust your focus. Put it in your own words or memorize it for future need.
What are some examples of God's faithfulness you've seen in your life? When you've found your hope in Him? Put those in writing as a concrete reminder for days when you're feeling low and discouraged. I use a thankful journal to remind me of the things my Lord and Savior has done for me and those in my life. Reread it often as well as His word which more than anything reminds us of His love for us.

Then follow the example of Psalm 20:5 and "raise a banner." Be specific as you tell your spouse, your children or grandchildren how God has been faithful to you. Drop it into an email or a letter. If your family is around, turn dinnertime into a mini-party and give each member an opportunity to share. You can create a poster or maybe an actual banner that reminds you of God's faithfulness and how you find your hope in Him. Use your imagination to find a way to remember and celebrate today. It's a great cure for those times of self-focused discouragement.

*Most of the above was from Back to the Bible. Why reinvent the wheel when Pastor David has done so much hard work putting in verses. I did think of adding them in full yet felt it might be too much for many to want to read through so please if you do not have a way of reading them place a comment or email me and I will place them or send them to you from the Bible.

My Comments (and I welcome yours as well): Today I was thinking of some of my family who are saved. They have asked the Lord Jesus to accept them as His and He has washed them clean in the blood of the Lamb. My heart felt they needed some word of encouragement as we all do from time to time. I sent them a text of Philippians 4:6/7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer, supplication and thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ( ESV)
One has walked with the Lord Jesus for a number of years another is pregnant with my another Grandchild while the other has just come to the Lord and accepted Him as his Savior and Lord (and two more Grands have accepted Jesus a their Lord and Savior, praise the Living God). As you can imagine these words have special meaning for me as well.
Having had so many of my loved ones go on ahead to our home with our King, and God there are times still when I need to think about what my faith means and check to make sure the defenses are strong. These last eight months since my husband (originally written in 2013) was taken home have given me special challenges and strengthened me in ways the Lord knew I needed. I bless Him for loving me so much that He has allowed me to have them and gone through them with me.
Sunday at church (a Calvary Chapel Church in my area where the Bible is taught straight through verse by verse) one of the Elders taught on faith. How appropriate. God knew it was something we needed to hear about and something I could share with others.
I would like to share some of the verses for you to look up and maybe comment back on how God uses them in your life. Using the book of Hebrews chapter 11:11-40 he taught of faith. I hope these strengthen your faith as you come to realize what God has placed in His word to help us in our walk and to strengthen us in our faith.
Romans 5:1/2
Matthews 21:21/22
Matthew 8:26
John 3:6
Isiah 7:9
Matthew 9:22, 27-30
Romans 1:16
Hebrew 10:25
Romans 12:3
1 John 5:1-5, 9-12
John 14:6 ( on belief which is faith)
2 Corinthians 4:8-15
Philippians 4:19
I am sure in your studies of the word of God you will find many more verses you can hold in your arsenal which will strengthen you in the days when hurtful things happen, challenges arise and people question your beliefs and faith in God and when you witness for Jesus the Christ so none will be without the chance to know Jesus and be a part of the Family of God. After all it was the Almighty who sent His only begotten Son to earth to take upon Himself our sins so we may be forgiven and saved so why would we withhold that from others? What an awesome God we serve who fills us with His Holy Spirit and makes us His adopted children and friends of the King. When we are His we have a duty, obligation and privilege to share Him with others.

Abba Father, thank You for loving us that You would send Your Son to be born in a lowly stable, to live in a human body. That He would suffer and die that we might live. May our faith daily grow in knowledge and understanding and may we be filled with Your understanding through Your Holy Spirit that we will shine Your light through us on a darkened and hurting world. Increase our faith through Your word, guide us as we walk through this world of snares. Fill us with Your hope and trust that our lives will be a light lighting the way to our Lord Jesus in a dark and fallen world. In Jesus Holy Name in union with the Holy Spirit I pray, Amen, Amen

Rejoice in the Lord

In October of 2012 my best friend and husband went to live with the Lord Jesus Christ. His final move was from a mortal body to his final home. I have rejoiced daily for him and in Jesus who showered my beloved with much grace and mercy. I wish all had known him and pray all who read this blog, all our loved ones and families and friends and yes even those who could be considered enemies, I pray will one day know and accept Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah who came to earth to take upon Himself the sin of the world so all who wish may live forever through His grace and mercy.
Both of us surrendered our lives and all that is in them to Christ our Lord, were Baptized and we ever were remarried in church as our way of showing the world we had changed our lives to please and glorify God the Father, Jesus the Christ the Son of God and accepted the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; God three in One. It was a blessed day when the Lord chose to show Himself to us and bring us into His family. What joy, unending joy even in sorrow and pain there is joy unending. David was very ill and suffered yet always gave glory to his friend, brother, Abba, Savior for His gift of Love and Salvation.
Now he rejoices with all those who have gone before. He had a beautiful voice here and I know he is singing praises continually to the God who saved him, the one who befriended him, the one who gave up heaven to be born a babe in a stable, lived life fully man, fully God but chose to be a man and take all mankind sin, suffer and die for all mankind so all could be with Him forever. What a beautiful Love. I have many children, Grandchildren, and Great grand children and yet I know I do not have the love to do for them what He did for all mankind. No greater love (John 1:13)... Yes, we might have love enough to lay down our lives for one or ever many, but not for all mankind and take on us the punishment all merits. We did not nor could we ever merit His love and mercy. He gave it and gives it freely. Oh, that I could love as He!
In John 14:6, Jesus reminds us who He is. He is the way, the truth and the life. Without Him there is no life eternal. If we do not believe all He has said and follow what He taught then there is no life eternal because we will fall by the wayside or brambles will grow up in our life choking off our life with Him (Matthew 13:9-23).
He who finds the Son and goes through Him only will find the Father and life everlasting (John 6:35, 6:44, the Bread of Life John 6:35, John 17:15, John 11:25, John 12:44, John 3:16). If one reads the book of John seeking the will of God then one will know that Jesus is the way the truth the life that leads one to the Father their Abba who loved them so much He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to bring them out of bondage into life eternal.
Abba, to thee be all glory, praise and honor. Thank You Abba for loving us so much You sent Your only begotten Son, Jesus the Messiah to die in our place so we may live life eternally with You. There is nothing we could do to earn this grace. It is free and Your love is free. Thank You Abba for loving us so much You would sacrifice Your Son for us. Thank You Lord Jesus for loving us so much You would willingly go to Calvary in our place and take on all our sin so we can one day stand before the Throne of God pure and forgiven. Help us to live our days for Your glory, in Your truth and light and may we bring Your truth and light wherever You send us. Place Your word in our minds, hearts and on our lips. Strengthen us with Your word and the full armor of God. May we love as You love. In Jesus name, Amen

God says, "Be Holy"

God says, "Be Holy". 1 Peter 1:13-16, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 5:26, Phillipians 4:8,

The word holiness means to be "separate" or "distinctive." In other words, our lifestyle should be different from those around us who have not trusted Christ as their Savior.

So, how do we achieve that? Let's see what God's Word says.

Receive

"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:13-16).

• According to verse 13, where does holiness begin?
• As holy people, what are we to look forward to?
• What should we avoid?
• What is our motivation for holiness?

Reflect

We often think of holiness in terms of what we do, but it begins before we take any sort of action. Peter says it starts with our minds. Verse 13 says we are to "gird up the loins" of our mind. This expression refers to the clothing worn in biblical times. Both men and women wore tunics (the men's tunic usually reached to their knees, the women's to their ankles). A girdle was also worn around the waist to hold the tunic against the body. When working in the fields or needing to move quickly, a man would tuck the hem of his tunic into his girdle to give more freedom of movement. This was called "girding up" the loins.

Peter says we must be prepared in our minds for the work of being holy. The apostle Paul describes it as a "renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). This comes about as we allow our minds to be "washed by the Word" (Ephesians 5:26). Spending time in God's Word creates a renewed mind that is ready for the challenge of holy living.

Respond

This week, take special note of what you are allowing your mind to dwell on. Memorize Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things." Let holiness begin in your mind and work its way out through your actions.

Back to the Bible Study


My Comments: Often when one hears the word Holy they think of some angelic being or person. That is not what God is referring to. Our Lord wants us to be His people set apart to do His works thereby showing the world His face, behaviors and love.
We accomplish this by reflecting on Him, His life and death, His word, all things good and "Holy". When we read His word we understand what it is He wants us to look like or become in our thoughts, words and deeds.
If we met someone and did not talk with them or ask them questions or listen to their ideas then we would never be able to say we really knew them. We could say maybe that we met them yet not that we knew them or understood them. The same is true when we come to know the Lord. We do not really know Him or understand Him or even know what He wants of us if we do not study His word.
In studying His word we become one with Him in knowledge and understanding. He grows in us as we grow in His word in us. We become washed in His word, filled with the understanding of His knowledge, wisdom and love.
Let me put it another way. If one were to fall in love and never talk to or learn about the one they were in love with then we know they are just "in love with an idea." Once we fall in love with someone we study them. We want to please them. We find out everything we can about them, their likes and dislikes, their heart for things and then we do what we can to show them how much we love them. The same is true when we accept Jesus as our Savior. We read and study His word the whole word of God, the Bible, to find out the mind of God. To know the one we come to love more and more as we study His word and how much He loves and always has loved us and always will love us. It is all contained in His word.
When we study His word we grow and the more we grow and become more like Him the more we become "set apart". Set apart from the things of the world that pull us away from Him. No matter where we live on planet earth there are things, ideas, ways of life that try to pull us away from the truth and love of the Lord. Yet the more we stay strong in His word, take it to heart, ponder it and let it become one with us, the more we are "set apart". Set apart to do good works in His name. Set apart to show the world His face. Set apart to be His hands and feet. Set apart to be one with Him, to be Holy as He is Holy.
Abba Father may we all read Your word and ponder the meaning and understanding of Your word so we will become Holy and set apart to do Your good words in Jesus Name, Amen

Update

Update on my new life.
Since my loving husband has gone on to heaven before me I have had to readjust my life as anyone would have to do. I have decided to remain where I am renting for the time being as emotionally it is more than I feel up to though if the Lord made it clear to me that I was to move I would. He has not so I will remain and just try and straighten out other things that are going on in my life at this time.

With the Thanksgiving holiday over and heading into the Christmas holiday I feel I am getting a small handle on how to live again as a single person even though it has been a great many years since I was one and I never was single on my own so it is a very new experience. The last time I was out of my parents home I was not alone because I had been married and my first husband left me with 5 children to raise on my own. So I was not alone and this time I am physically alone yet I have the Lord and I stand on Isiah 54 more and more everyday. The Lord is my husband now and He will take care of His bride. I will rely on Him for everything and everyday teaches me more and more how that looks. The church is His Bride and as a body we have to rely on Him for everything.

Before my husband passed on he and I were learning this marvelous truth more and more yet learning it as a single person is even harder. When he was alive I know now I relied on him alot and then on the Lord. Now I have to rely on the Lord first to get through each day though I am blessed to have a wonderful blessing of a great church family who call and surround me with love and help as needed. Praise God for His provision!

Thank you all for you prayers and if I can pray for you please let me know. rebishka57@gmail.com or comment on this blog. May the Lord bless you all. Amen

Mercy

Mercy. Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV), romans 8:1 (NKJV), Psalms 103:12 (NASB), Jeremiah 31:34 (NLT), Psalms 103:10/11 (NLT)
 
Napoleon was once asked to pardon a woman's son. He responded that the boy had committed an offense and that justice must be served. The woman's son would die.

"But I don't ask for justice," the mother cried. "I beg for mercy."

"Your son doesn't deserve mercy," Napoleon responded.

"Sir," the woman cried, "it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and I ask for mercy."

"Well, then," the emperor said, "I will give mercy." And he spared the woman's son.

"Saved by Mercy" is the title of today's study. So, let's see what the Bible says about God's mercy:

Receive

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:4-5, ESV).

1. We've been saved by what?
2. How does that fit with mercy?
3. Why does God have mercy on His children?
4. What does God's mercy mean to you?

Reflect

Understanding how you are saved by mercy means grasping what it is to be completely and totally forgiven of all your sins--past and present and future. It also means that we will hear God pronounce the following verdict:

"T here is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:1, NKJV).

Check out these Scriptures to understand more about the breadth and depth of saving mercy.

"As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12, NASB).

Did you ever wonder why the Bible does not say "as far as the north is from the south?" Because if you go south at one point you will cross the South Pole and then you will be heading north. North and south meet at the poles. But if you go east, you can travel for a million billion years, and you will never touch west.

"And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins" (Jeremiah 31:34, NLT).

If all your sins and transgressions have been separated as far as the east is from the west, if God remembers them no more, then you have been saved by mercy and your sins are gone, gone, gone--completely, totally and forever. Now, that's the richness of God's mercy in Christ!

Respond

Read the following description of "saved by mercy" and let it guide your heart in expressing your gratitude, praise and awe to your Savior and God.

"He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth" (Psalm 103:10-11 NLT).
Back To the Bible
David McGee

My Comments: There isn't anything I could offer that would add to what Pastor McGee has pointed out. I would only encourage all who have never taken a look at the saving grace of Jesus Christ and His Gospel, that they would read the stories and comments of Jesus Himself. Start with John the read the whole New Testament then when you have accepted the Lord Jesus as your Lord and Savior go to the Old Testament and seek Him in the full word of God because friends He is through out the whole word of God!

After one has received the righteousness and covering of Jesus then we do things to build up our treasures in heaven because treasures here mean noting but treasures in heaven are forever. Not that we can do anything to be anymore saved yet we can lay up treasures in heaven and they are not like what we would think of as treasures here. We find great joy in doing things for others not because of the treasures in heaven but because we become more and more like Jesus and He was about helping others. And is about helping others so the more we become like Him the more we like helping others. Especially helping others to know Jesus so they will be saved as well. It is not a gift we hide but a gift we share so more  and more come to the saving grace of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ the Son of God. If we had not accepted His saving grace we would have chosen hell. That is what it means to not accept His generous loving offer of life eternal.
Often I hear people say, "My relative went to heaven." I say were they Christs? "No." they say. Then that person has chosen to go to hell because they rejected the one who went to the Cross so they might live forever. I find this very sad. there are many who do not understand. Do you? I hope so. I hope all who read this blog will turn to Jesus and ask forgiveness of their sin and accept His saving grace. He has paid the penalty but it is not ours unless we accept it. So easy yet so many are not going to heaven because they do not do it.
Abba, I thank you for Your gift of Your Son Jesus and His sacrifice on the Cross. Jesus, I thank You for Your gift of dieing on the Cross and becoming sin for me. Holy Spirit thank You for giving me understanding and teaching truths, wisdom and discernment. Abba Father make me more like Jesus everyday and help me to understand Your word more fully and especially as it pertains to the Lord Jesus and His coming. Help all who come to this blog to know and understand their need for Your Son Jesus' sacrifice and help them to accept His sacrifice for their sin. In Jesus Name, Amen
Rebishka

Be Vessels of Living Water

John 4:10, New King James Version Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."
NKJV

1 Corinthians 12:13, (NKJV)

13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

Acts 16:30-34, (NKJV)

30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

Matthew 28:19,(NKJV)

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

John 3:1-21New King James Version (NKJV)

3 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

John 7:37-38, (NKJV)

37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

John 4:13-14, (NKJV)

13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

John 6:45-51, (NKJV)

45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

My Comments: All I can say is Amen, Amen, Amen!!! There are so many in my family who do not believe in the saving grace of Jesus nor do they believe He even existed. Do you? One of my sons was hurting so much after his Dad passed in October 2012. He did not have the anchor or steady rock to stand on of Jesus the Christ. In fact even now he is positive I believe in a myth or just believe because I was "raised to believe that way."  Yet I was not raised in a church that knew to accept Jesus by actually saying it out loud (they did believe in confession of sin but not actually asking Jesus to accept them). They unfortunately believed that when a child or person of any age is Baptized that that is their rebirth. That is not what Christ was talking about when He said to Nicodemus that one must be Born Again. To be Born Again, we ask Jesus to be our Savior, confess our sin to Him then He comes into us with His living water and we are Born Again. We are not Born Again in Baptism.  When we are Baptized (when we are old enough to understand the significance of it) it is an outward declaration of an inward change in belief. It is when we share with others we are of the body and will be walking with Jesus to bring honor and glory to the Father. We are not saved by Baptism, we are however saved by Jesus after we accept His free gift of life and we give ourselves to Him. I had thought I knew I was saved all my life because I was Baptized at 40 days old (the tradition of the Church I grew up in). Many believe things like "Infant Baptism," and "Baptism saves," "Baptism for others dead or alive saves them" that just are not in the Bible. They are totally unbiblical and false teachings and beliefs. I had read my Bible yet did not understand what I was reading when I was a young lady and when I grew up I just did not know the importance of reading the word of God. I am so thankful to God He did not allow me to die when danger came into my life. He gave me time so I could learn the truth and receive His forgiveness, righteousness and be filled with His Living water and His Holy Spirit. I feel the quickening in my spirit to share the Good News with people and be a light where the Lord takes me so the Living Water He fills me with will flow freely to those He brings me into contact with. The amazing thing about salvation is it is offered to everyone because Christ died for everyone's sin. He did not just die for the "good people" who have ever lived or are living and will live (because God says "none are good except the Father." He died for all mankind. He died for the homeless, the robber, even the murderer. He died to save the head of companies and the worker. He died for the prostitute and even the pimp. He died for the bully and the adulterer, the fornicator and sexual perverts of all kinds as well as the every day person who thinks of themselves as "good people" but Christ said none but the Father is good so we all need redemption. We all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We all need a Savior. And there is only one Savior and His name is Jesus and He is the Son of God and the second person of the Holy Trinity who willingly went to the cross to die for all mankind's sin. Unfortunately some will choose hell rather than accept the truth of Jesus and accept the salvation He offers them. God does not condemn them to Hell they choose it by rejecting Him. those who believe and are Born Again have chosen to live forever with Him in Heaven. Have you? Will you? If so I will see you there. Abba Father, may all accept Your special and freely given free gift of salvation. Help us to share Your gift with others. Make of us rivers of flowing Living Waters so many will hear and receive Your Word of salvation and be filled with Your Holy Spirit. We praise and glorify your Holy and precious names Father and pray we will bring honor and glory to Your Holy Name. Lord Jesus, may You shine through us to a weary world. Flow through us to a world without true water and without the bread of life. May I be Your servant and have Your servants heart in my thoughts, actions and interactions. Thank You Messiah for giving so freely of Yourself and showing us the way and buying our freedom from sin. Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with the desires of Abba Father and our mouths with the Words of Jesus. Fill us with wisdom and understanding and the Knowledge of the Word of God. In Jesus name in union with the Holy Spirit. Amen. In Jesus Name. Amen Rebishka PS: I would love to hear what you are reading in the Bible or would like to discuss in the Word of God.