| Vol. IV Number 35 | September 3, 2000 |
If there was a better time to making your election and salvation sure, now is the time. We are living in a day and age where everything is done on the Internet, even the propagation of the gospel. There are many in the Christian community who believe that though they dabble in the pleasures of this world that they will eventually end up in heaven. According to the Bible this cannot be so.
Romans 13:1-14
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
As the Apostle Paul was saying to the church in Rome, ``now it is high time to awake out of sleep.'' There are many Christians today that are asleep, thinking that they can live a life of sin and pleasure while at the same time believe that they are on the road to heaven. This deception comes from the devil who has deceived many into believing that you can continue in sin and be a Christian at the same time. The Bible teaches otherwise!
1 John 2:15-17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Jesus went on to say that you cannot serve two masters. You cannot serve the world of sin and pleasure while at the same time serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 6:24
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Luke 16:13
13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
It is impossible to serve the Lord and the flesh simultaneously. The two are anathema. If you serve the flesh and the world you are a curse to the real Christians. If you lust after the sins of this world, you cannot love Jesus with all of your heart. Only through loving Jesus with all of your mind heart and soul can you be free from the lusts and desires of the flesh.
The Bible tells us to love not the world, neither the things in the world... You cannot be a born again Christian and hold on to the world at the same time. You cannot be on the road to heaven unless you allow the Lord to clean up your life. If you have temptations in your life, Now is the day, now is the hour of asking the Lord into your life and live solely for the Lord. When Paul was writing to the Corinthian church he was calling upon them to renew their faith and repent. These were Christians Paul was writing to. These were people who already went down the path of repentance asking the Lord into their heart, but have fallen from their first love.
2 Corinthians 6:1-2
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
3014 E Street Philadelphia, PA 19134 Church Office Phone: (215) 634-3637 Published by: Rev. LeRoy D. Cressy (215) 535-4037
Services:
Sunday School . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10:30 AM
Sunday Morning Worship . . . . . . . . . . 12 NOON
Sunday Evening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30 PM
Wednesday Evening . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:30 PM
Copyright © 2000 LeRoy D. Cressy
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