The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Heaven

  • The Importance of Obedience

    “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”

    John 6:38

    How difficult is it for you to obey? Whether it is traffic laws, the authority placed over you, or even the Bible, obedience is a choice. Most people justify to themselves all of the reasons why it is OK to stretch the boundaries that have been established all around us. To pick and choose what it is that we are willing to obey. Consider the following.

    God created a beautiful earth, perfect in every way. He created Adam and Eve, placing them in His perfect world. When they disobeyed God’s command by eating of the fruit of that one particular tree, sin entered the world. God immediately initiated His plan of redemption, allowing them to be brought back into His grace. God promised to send One to restore mankind. We understand through Scripture that God gave His only begotten Son, Jesus. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). One need only to believe upon Jesus to be redeemed.

    God sent Jesus as the solution to the problem of human sin. Jesus came to give man the opportunity to be restored from the life of sin into which all have been born. All of God’s Word points to the reasons as to why Jesus came. “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God” (Hebrews 10:7). Jesus came to do what God wanted Him to do. “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). He understood the importance of obeying every Word of God. Why was it so important that Jesus did exactly as God required? “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:40). Our lives depended upon Jesus’ obedience to every command of God. For only those who believe upon Jesus can be saved from eternal separation from God. “17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:17-18).

    Although Jesus was God come in the flesh (“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” John 1:14), He was also a man. Do you think He ever found it difficult to obey every Word of God? Remember part of Jesus’ prayer in the garden shortly before He was arrested. “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39). Confronted with death, Jesus understood the importance of obeying; even the obedience of His death upon the cross. Jesus chose to obey God. (To remember Jesus’ prayer for Himself, His disciples, and even for those of us who would believe in Him, read John 17.)

    Having acknowledged the importance of Jesus obeying God’s Words exactly, do you understand how important God finds obedience? Nothing else is as important as obeying God and His Word. God gave the Bible to us so we would understand His heart, and what it is that He expects of us. We cannot do anything in and of ourselves to appease the wrath of God that is deserved by every human (because we are born into sin). “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). What is the only thing we can do to appease the wrath of God? “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (John 6:29).The only work we can do is to believe upon Jesus – for He fulfilled all of the requirements of God for us.

    Jesus obeyed in every respect, fulfilling all of the requirements God had recorded in the Bible. “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4). Jesus declared He had completed it all before He died upon the cross. “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost” (John 19:30).

    Jesus is our ultimate example of obedience. “But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do…” (John 14:31). We, too, are to obey God’s Word. “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (John 14:21).

    Have you chosen to follow Jesus’ example to obey God and His Word?

  • Through Faith Understand

    “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”
    Hebrews 11:3

    “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). This verse has appeared in prominent places on many plaques or posters. However, have you ever considered what these words actually mean? To what faith is this verse referring?

    Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen means “that persuasion is not the outcome of imagination, but it is based on fact; such as the reality of the resurrection of Christ, and as such it becomes the basis of realistic hope.” Many people who lived in Old Testament times believed that Jesus would come (because God had made that promise). Although they did not live to see the fulfillment of that promise, they lived lives declaring they believed that promise: a life of faith. Consider what Jesus said when He was speaking to the religious leaders in the book of John. “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56). Jesus, Himself, recognized Abraham as one who looked forward to His coming. This kind of faith led to the comment in the next verse: “For by it the elders obtained a good report” (Hebrews 11:2). Not only do we understand these people lived believing the promises God made, by faith, today we know that Jesus came – just as God promised.

     However, the following verse is often overlooked: “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Hebrews 11:3). The fact that God created the heaven and the earth from nothing in six days and rested on the seventh is challenged in our world today. Other theories are taught, yet none of them has been proven. God, Himself, declared that He created all. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). This is the first thing that He declared to us. This is the first step of faith. If one does not believe that God created the heaven and the earth, how will one ever believe the rest of the Bible? It is interesting to note that this fact is reiterated right here in Scripture, helping us understand the importance of believing all of the Word of God. This first step of faith will allow one to begin to understand that God loved His creation (man) so much, that He willingly sent His Son, Jesus, to restore the relationship broken by man’s sin. 

    Those people recorded in the eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews, believed, by faith, that God created the world. This was the first step of faith. They were then able to believe God’s promises by faith. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). We find a great list of people who diligently sought God and lived by faith. Many names listed should be quite familiar: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and many others. While reading that listing of faithful men and women from the Old Testament, there are interjections by the writer, helping understand the importance of faith. Remember that the people of faith from the Old Testament believed the promise that God would send One, Jesus, who would bring reconciliation between man and God.

    Each of the people on that list diligently sought God, trusting that God would reward them for their faithfulness to Him, for they looked forward to Jesus’ coming. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13).

    • Persuaded means “to be convinced; to believe.” 
    • Embraced means “to welcome; to receive gladly – referring to the promises.”

    These people lived by faith. Read how we are to understand this active participation of faith in one’s life by the following verses: “6. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7. Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7).

    • faith means “a knowledge of, assent to, and confidence in certain divine truths, especially those of the Gospel, as produces good works.”
    • stablished means “to turn resolutely in a certain direction; strengthen.”

    One must actively become “stablished” in that faith.

    Chapter eleven of Hebrews is often called the “Hall of Faith” because of the many Old Testament men and women who were commended for this faith. They believed God and His Word. These men and women can help one understand the importance of trusting in Christ, who came as God promised, to restore the life that had been lost because of sin. Not only that, but because of their faith, Christians can look back to their perseverance, lending strength in unsure times.

    Have you taken the first step of faith, believing that God created the heaven and earth, enabling you to trust in God’s Son, Jesus?

    Do you remember those who were commended for their faith, allowing them to encourage you in your Christian life?

    http://biblicalpath.com/index.php/how-to-be-saved/

  • The Christian’s Goal

    I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
    Philippians 3:14

    Paul, the Apostle, lived as a mighty example of a Christ-like life. He had once tried serving a religion, but when he met Jesus, he understood the uselessness of it (see Philippians 3:1-10).            

    Although Paul was not perfect, he understood that the goal of his life was to follow Jesus – wherever that may lead him (remember, he wrote this letter to the church at Philippi from prison!). “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12). Paul understood something very important that Christians today should understand, too. “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). John wrote, understanding that without God loving us first, we could never love Him. Do you remember how God revealed His love to us? “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). God sent His only Son, Jesus, to be the “propitiation for our sins.” This means that Jesus became the atoning sacrifice that God demanded for my sin, taking away my penalty of death – for Jesus died for me. Because of that, Paul declared, “I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” When Paul relinquished his will, trusting Christ, Paul had been saved. He then belonged to Jesus. However, living here on earth, he still lived in his physical body, in a world of sin. Nevertheless, Paul understood that by following after the things of Christ, he was becoming more like Christ. Because of that, Paul wanted to “apprehend” a Christ-like life. Moreover, one day Paul would be in heaven with Jesus, perfect in every way.

    Paul used a race to help understand something one cannot physically see. The Christian life is a spiritual one, and you cannot see the spirit. However, one can see the results of living a Christ-like life, and that is what Paul wanted Christians to understand. Just as in a race, one must focus the eyes upon the goal, the finish line, without looking back. “13. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Each Christian is to strive to know God by understanding and living a Christ-like life.    

    How can a Christian who lives in this world possibly reach for and live a Christ-like life? Remember back to what Paul already told them in Philippians 2:5: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” No one can do it unless that Christian has the mind of Christ. Being like Jesus must be the goal in a Christian’s life. “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you” (Philippians 3:15). Perfect means “full-grown in the knowledge of the truth in comparison to the babes in Christ.” Another way to understand it is that there are mature Christians who know and understand God’s Word. Be thus minded means “to think or sense mentally one and the same thing; as in ‘the same mind be in you as in Christ.’” Paul was setting himself up as an example of one who had learned to have the mind of Christ. The Christians were to follow his example, and any other who lived the same – and God would reveal the right Christian lifestyle example to follow. “16. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 17. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample” (Philippians 3:16-17). Paul lived his Christian life becoming more like Christ. He was a great example to follow. Part of their Christian duty was to recognize fellow Christians who were striving to become more Christ-like, because they could be examples as well.

    However, Paul parenthetically gave an important warning. “18. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19. Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)” (Philippians 3:18-19). There are many who do not strive to be Christ-like, and instead become enemies of the cross. They were to recognize true followers of Christ, following them, and remember the enemies Paul warned them to avoid – those who mind earthly things.

    Paul reminded them of something important. “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). Although we live here on this earth now, Paul wanted them to remember that a Christian’s home (the word conversation means “citizenship”) is (and one day will forever be) in heaven with Jesus. We are to look for Jesus, the Saviour, who will return for us one day.

    Do you have the mind of Christ, which enables you to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus?

  • A Wise Man

    “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
    Matthew 7:14

    There are countless people who believe there are “many” ways to get to heaven. We can see this evidenced in numerous religions out there that promise eternal life in heaven. These religions (and personal opinions) give false hope of eternal life because they do not teach there is only One way; Jesus.

    Jesus spent much time teaching, and the most important thing He came to reveal was the truth about eternity. He taught about the Strait Gate. After telling of the importance of entering in at the strait gate, He explained: “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). This Strait Gate leads to life, yet few find it (it is also called the door of the sheep in John 10:7). Jesus is that Gate (Door). This is a picture of Salvation through faith in Jesus. Those who enter by “other” ways, think they are heading to life eternal. When one rejects Jesus, they often choose an easier path than the strait and narrow path that Jesus requires.  

    That is why while continuing in the Christian life, one will find other people who declare they are a Christian, yet who do not hold the truth of God’s Word in their hearts – those who have not gained salvation through Jesus. They may challenge your Christian faith. “5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away … 7. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:5, 7). We are warned to turn away from their “form of godliness.”

    Jesus gave another warning to help us understand this. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Who will enter the kingdom of heaven? We just read, “he that doeth the will of my Father.” What is the will of his Father? It is to “enter ye in at the strait gate,” which is to believe in Jesus for salvation.

    Right after this, we read what Jesus taught about two very different men. One He called a wise man. This man He likened to one who heard the teachings of Jesus and did them. This man built his house upon a rock. A rock is solid and does not move. “And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock” (Matthew 7:25). Whatever opposed the wise man, his house stood, for it was founded upon Jesus, the Rock: “… and that Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4b).

    The other man he called a foolish man. “And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand” (Matthew 7:26). What made him foolish? He heard Jesus’ teachings, yet did not do them. This is building a house upon the sand – for it is constantly shifting or moving. (Religions and man’s opinions continually change.) What happens when one builds their house upon the sand? “And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it” (Matthew 7:27). Not only does the foolish man’s house fall when troubles come, but that fall is great.

    Christians will encounter people who have chosen numerous different paths, by many different men’s teachings (religions/opinions). They all sound much easier and quicker than the One true way that the Bible teaches. The journey may not appear easy, but Christians have the assurance that the Narrow Way is the Only way to life everlasting. In addition, Christians have God’s written Word that was given to read which will help in this Christian life. Christians can learn many things in the Bible that are profitable, enabling them to become stable, building a strong house (life) upon the Rock that is Jesus. One should find comfort in God’s Word that will help in this Christian life, teaching one what to do.

    Have you chosen to be wise and build your house upon the rock?

    How to be Saved

  • Why Not to be Afraid

    “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
    Jeremiah 29:13

    There should be a definite contrast in the hearts and lives of Christians compared with those who have not yet believed in Jesus. Christians have a great confidence (a hope) as we live in this lost world. On the other hand, the lost (those apart from Christ) may be fearful as they live in this world. What makes the difference?

    There are Christians (those who have received Jesus into his heart and life and now live for Him), that have no fear of man or what they can do to him. Why is this? A Christian who is living for Jesus has placed his trust in Him. “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). One who received Jesus into his heart and life, becoming a Christian, had obviously come to the place in his life that he recognized he was a sinner who needed forgiveness that could only be given by Jesus. He feared the wrath of God upon his life (who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell). He understood that by faith, the salvation given by God was forever. Now this Christian spends his life following God’s commands (the Bible), not afraid of man and what they do or say – for he knows their end. “6. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. 7. Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. 8. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation” (Isaiah 51:6-8). A Christian is to live a life set apart and different from the world (the lost). This is appropriating the faith he has in Jesus – for he is living his faith out in his life by following God’s Word and His commands allowing his life to be changed to become more like Jesus. (See also Psalm 37.)

    Some people have not made this decision to seek forgiveness for their sin. Because they do not have the surety of eternal life in heaven, they are still afraid. We are to understand the importance of telling others about Jesus. As we relay the Gospel message of Jesus, we should be cognizant as to when one has heard enough about Jesus for they begin to recognize the need of Him in their heart and life. We are then to be available to them as they begin to desire the answers to the questions that are arising in their own hearts and lives. Because, when they are seeking answers, they will find them as we point them to Jesus. They then can understand. “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

    Are you afraid?

    Or

    Are you appropriating your faith, able to share Jesus with others?

    How to be Saved

  • Apply Your Heart unto Wisdom

    “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”
    Psalm 90:12

    Have you ever had an urgency to do something? What drove that urgency?

    For those who belong to the Lord, that urgency should come from Him. We should not act upon our own fears or uncertainties – but we often do. There should be a basis of a relationship with God that we know where He wants us to be, and that we are doing what we should be doing. Sometimes He will place something of importance in front of us that we need to take care of now. Most often, it is just the regular day by day as we follow Him as He leads. There are many things of this world that will affect that day to day consistency if we allow them. That is something of which we must be keenly aware.

    One can’t help but think back to the time right before Jesus was to be crucified. He gave his disciples some much needed final instruction. He knew that it would be different for them – for He would no longer be physically walking with them. They would need to know what was happening and what to do. One very interesting thing we can find is found in John 17. There was so much on Jesus’ mind. He knew the day for which he had come had finally arrived: the day that He would willingly lay down his perfect, sinless life to pay the penalty for all of sinful mankind – if only they would believe.

    He went to the garden to pray. He knew the day was at hand, and He knew there was one final thing He had to complete. At the beginning of His prayer, He recalled why God had sent Him into the world, and he acknowledged that He had completed the things God hand sent Him to do. But that only encompassed the first five verses. The rest of the chapter, through verse twenty-six, Jesus prayed for others. He prayed for His disciples that had walked and talked with Him, for they were about to face the world without Jesus’ physical presence to be with them. All together different than the previous three years had been! But He prayed that God would help them remember the Words that they had been taught, “For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me” (John 17:8). He had told them what they needed to know to continue. He understood that trouble would come, but that God would be with them, encourage them, and help them, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15). The disciples still had work to do. They were to tell the world what Jesus had come to do, establishing the foundation of the church and its doctrines.

    But the one amazing thing that has always encouraged me is that Jesus knew that one day I would believe in Him, giving my life to Him. He knew that I, too, would need encouragement. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word” (John 17:20). He knew that I must understand that He placed me here for a purpose, to fulfill His will for my life, and that I needed to act upon that – not what I want. Jesus was right where God wanted Him. He had done it all, with one final job to compete: He had to lay down His life and take it up again. I will never have such an important job to complete – no one ever will! But each person that belongs to Jesus has a job to fulfill. It is important to be wise enough to understand that. “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Read what else He prayed – for each Believer: “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24). One day I will be with Him in heaven, but until then, I need to be right were Jesus was – right in the midst of the plan God had for His life.

    Are you in the midst of the plan God has for your life?

  • Be Prepared

    “16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

    What amazing words! Jesus promised Christians that He would one day descend from heaven, where we will be caught up together, meeting Him in the air! And we will be with Him forever! The next verse tells us: “Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18). We are to remember that Jesus has not forgotten us, He is coming for us, and we should strongly encourage one another with these words.

    When will this happen? “1. But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2). No one knows. But if we pay attention, we will be able to tell when that day is getting closer! As long as we are cognizant as to what is happening in the world and in the church, that day should not take us by surprise. Even though a thief does not call ahead to warn you when he will break into a home or business, we know the most opportune times for a thief to break into a place. And we prepare. We watch. We make sure that we will not be caught off guard. We take precautions to keep us from an unexpected break-in. Just in the same manner, we should live our lives prepared. We know that day will come suddenly, as a surprise. We need to watch. As Christians, we should be living as if that day could be today. The day the Lord will come, and each Christian will stand before Him to give an accounting of his or her life, and what that person has done with that life to please the Lord. It is important to keep in the forefront of our minds that we represent Jesus in this world — for we are His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). Remember the warning Paul gave to us. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

    Throughout the New Testament Paul encouraged Christians in what they were to do. Each Christian needs to remember that we are to become more like Jesus everyday. We must be aware of the temptations that surround us, that try to prevent us from living right. We must make a conscious effort to live a faithful Christian life, pleasing Jesus all day every day, never becoming tired of the Christian life. We are always to be on guard, awake, and ready for Jesus to come again at any moment! And we are to encourage others with this message! Remember the words of Galatians 6:9: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

    Watch!

    Be prepared!

    Don’t be weary in well doing, remembering that Jesus could come today!