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Vol. I Issue 3 September 28, 1997
May everyone that reads this study be blessed by the Lord Jesus Christ, and may they all grow in Christ.
2 Peter 3:11-18
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of
persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the
heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with
fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new
earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that
ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our
beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written
unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which
are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and
unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own
destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye
also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own
stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
All of the Apostles including Peter, Paul, and John, tell us of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. They all admonish us that we are to be ready for the Lord. We are to be watching and waiting for the Lord Jesus, for he will come as a thief in the night when he is not expected. All that we have for a sign are the signs of the times. For in the last days there shall be perilous times with men being lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
2 Timothy 3
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers
of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn
away.
Looking around we see the same conditions in our cities that are mentioned as the signs of the last days. We definitely are living in the last days. All around us we are seeing the signs that are proclaiming the soon return of the Lord. Even the tabloids are talking about the soon return of the Lord Jesus, and some erroneously are proclaiming that the Lord is already on the earth.
Since we are living in the last days, it is time to make our calling and election sure. If Jesus were to call his church home today, would you be ready? Would you be able to break free of the bonds of gravity and rise to meet Jesus in the air? Or would you be chained to the earth with the chains of sin holding you down? What condition would Jesus find you in today? Would he say, "Well done thou good and faithful servant?" Or would he say, "Depart from me!"
Matthew 25:21-31
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou
hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:
enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou
deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside
them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast
been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter
thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee
that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering
where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou
hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant,
thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not
strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then
at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten
talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance:
but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he
hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be
weeping and gnashing of teeth.
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with
him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Those who have not grown in the Lord, but have remained stagnant, or have slid backwards, will find themselves in the hands of an very angry God. They will find themselves cast out into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. This is the importance of growing in grace. Peter admonishes us that we are to be cautious and follow the scriptures as they are written. We are not to wrest and twist the scriptures as some, allowing adulterers and other sinners into heaven. For the Bible truly states that there will be no thieves, covetous, adulterers, idolaters and etc. in heaven. Only those who have made their robes white with the blood of Jesus Christ will be prepared to meet the Lord in the air.
2 Peter 3:16-18
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which
are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and
unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own
destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye
also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own
stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
As you can see, that even those who believe in Christ are admonished to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Without this spiritual growth we will find ourselves facing an angry judge who will cast us out into everlasting darkness. The choice is yours. You can choose to study the scriptures and read your Bible. You can choose to adhere to the precepts of the gospel, following the example of the Lord Jesus and the Apostles and be prepared to meet the Lord in the air. Or you can choose to follow the ways of the world and end up like the foolish servant that buried his talent. The choice is yours. What are you going to do? Are you prepared to meet the Lord in the air if He would call the church home tonight, or would you be one of the ones who will be found wanting?
If you are in any doubt of your salvation, or of where you stand with the Lord, NOW is the time to ask for forgiveness. Now is the time to seek the Lord with all of your heart and seek His guidance, direction, and deliverance. Now is the time to get right with the Lord before the rapture of the church. For when the rapture happens, it will be too late to start repenting, and calling upon the Lord Jesus for forgiveness. Come now, and let us reason together, call upon the Lord and seek his righteousness. The day of the Lord is at hand. There is no more time to wait. Seek the lord with your whole heart tonight and prepare to meet the Lord.
If after examining the scriptures and you have found that you need a closer walk with the Lord Jesus, now is the time to seek his grace and repent. Now is the time to wholeheartedly give your life over to Christ and start to truly grow in grace.
3014 E Street Philadelphia, PA 19134 Church Office Phone: (215) 634-3637 Published by: Rev. LeRoy D. Cressy (215) 389-5870
Services:
Sunday School . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10:30 AM
Sunday Morning Worship . . . . . . . . . . 12 NOON
Sunday Evening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30 PM
Wednesday Evening . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:30 PM