Free Real Estate, No Money Down :: by Britt Gillette

How would you like to have a luxurious mansion with sweeping vistas, great neighbors, and perfect weather? Even more so, how would you like to be given this mansion, free of charge? Believe it or not, such an offer is on the table right now, and it can be yours for a limited time only.

If you’ve ever dreamed of having greater wealth than any person on earth, then you’ve come to the right place. Keep on reading, and you’ll learn the details of the greatest real estate deal in human history.

It’s the offer of a lifetime. Free real estate with no money down, and you don’t even have to pre-qualify or meet any net worth requirements. You don’t need to be part of an exclusive fraternity or an alumnus of an elite college or university. However, there is one catch – you do need to be well connected. In order to close this once in a lifetime deal, you must have an intimate and personal relationship with the man who’s offering it.

The Offer

By now, most of you are skeptical. Nothing’s free, right? But I assure you, this is not a pyramid scheme or a late-night infomercial scam. This offer comes from the most trustworthy person in the entire universe – Jesus of Nazareth. You might better know Him by the name of Jesus Christ.

If you’ve spent most of your life chasing after the pleasures and luxuries of this world, then I ask you to take a moment of your time and consider the following offer from Jesus. After all, it’s a pretty sweet deal. He’s offering you a life of abundant wealth in a luxurious mansion with amenities beyond your wildest dreams, and best of all, the wealth He offers lasts forever!

But don’t take my word for it, this is what Jesus says:

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” John 14:1-4 (NLT)

What is this place that Jesus has prepared for those who trust in Him? And what does it look like? Luckily, the Book of Revelation describes it in detail:

“So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone – like jasper as clear as crystal. The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. There were three gates on each side – east, north, south, and west. The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Revelation 21:10-14 (NLT)

Chapters 21 and 22 of the Book of Revelation provide an in-depth description of the place Christ is preparing for His followers, a place which includes the very presence of God Himself:

“No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there – no need for lamps or sun – for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.” Revelation 22:3-5 (NLT)

To all who wish to live in such a place and consume the water of life, the Lord Jesus Christ issues a freely issues this invitation:

“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ Let anyone who hears this say, ‘Come.’ Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.” Revelation 22:17 (NLT)

The glory of what Christ offers is beyond comprehension, and the Return on Investment you’ll receive if you accept His offer is truly astronomical. Just take a moment to consider the terms of His offer. The real estate component alone makes it the best deal you’ll ever encounter – a luxurious mansion never in need of repair where God is your neighbor and you live forever while never growing hungry or thirsty for anything He can’t readily provide.

Such a place is invaluable. There’s no way to put a value on it, because there are no comparables. This is a neighborhood completely unique unto itself, a truly one of a kind place, and anyone would be a fool to turn down a sweetheart deal like this one.

In fact, this real estate is so valuable, you should be willing to give up everything in order to make certain you close the deal.

Nothing is More Valuable

According to Jesus, nothing is of greater value than the Kingdom of Heaven. You should be more than willing to give up everything you have in order to devote the rest of your life to obtaining it:

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.” Matthew 13:44 (NLT)

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!” Matthew 13:45-46 (NLT)

The Kingdom of Heaven is so valuable, you should forsake everything else in an effort to obtain it. For people of great wealth and high position in this world, an enormous amount of faith and self-discipline is required in order to exhibit a willingness to trade everything in this world for the reward that Christ offers. But the payoff is immense. That’s why Jesus warned us of the dangers presented by love of money and the material and physical pleasures of this world.

The Things Of This World

Because of the pitfalls associated with this world, the followers of Jesus must be careful not to allow their thoughts and ambitions to become captive to the things of this world. The danger inherent in pursuing the wealth of this world lies in a lack of ambition to produce fruit for Christ:

“The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.” Matthew 13:22 (NLT)

We see this danger firsthand in the Gospel of Matthew, when a rich man expresses His desire to follow Christ:

“Jesus told him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.” Matthew 19:21-22 (NLT)

Despite his apparent willingness to follow Christ, and his acceptance of the words and deeds of Jesus as truth, the rich man is unwilling to accept Christ’s deal. He is consciously unwilling to trade His earthly wealth for treasure in heaven. As a result, He can never be a follower of Christ, because a person cannot serve two masters:

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24 (NLT)

The man in question could’ve experienced wealth beyond his wildest imagination. Unfortunately, because of his love for this world, he willingly traded the finest of pearls for a pile of ashes; He traded his buried treasure for a pile of counterfeit coins. Don’t make the same mistake!

Would you place millions of dollars under a mattress instead of inside a bank? Of course not! The danger of fire or theft is too great. Why then, should you treat your heavenly treasures any differently? Too many people spend their lives hoarding earthly wealth, while their heavenly treasures go unclaimed:

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT)

Hoarding earthly treasures is utterly foolish. Christ tells us so:

“A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, ‘My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” Luke 12:16-21 (NLT)

What good is all the wealth in this world, if to attain it, you have to forfeit your soul? Don’t be foolish. A deep and intimate relationship with the Creator and Master of the Universe is far more rewarding than the fleeting comforts of this world.

Closing The Deal

So now that we’ve established what really matters, how does one go about closing the deal of a lifetime?

To properly close the deal requires humility:

“God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.” Matthew 5:5 (NLT)

Why is humility required? Because to accept Christ’s offer, one must acknowledge His glory. Obtaining the Kingdom of God independently is simply not an option. It’s impossible. Only one person can open the door to the Kingdom of Heaven – Jesus Christ:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (NLT)

To those who are willing to humble themselves and accept Christ’s sacrifice on the cross as payment for their sins, a Kingdom awaits – built on the foundation of Christ’s glory:

“Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.” Matthew 25:34-36 (NLT)

The Kingdom of Heaven is yours to inherit. It’s already yours if you simply lay claim to it, so don’t be worried when the world mocks you as foolish for accepting it. To such people, the things of this world are perceived as valuable, while the rewards of Christ are perceived as worthless. Don’t worry about what such people say. Instead, pray for them. For at one time, we were all as foolish as they are. Pray they recognize the value of true treasure, to the very point of sacrificing their lives in order to obtain it:

“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven.” Matthew 5:11-12 (NLT)

Don’t let their ridicule divert your focus, for you have full knowledge of the reward which is just around the corner:

“God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:10 (NLT)

Remember, our Lord Jesus Christ was Himself persecuted by this world. What, then, makes us think we will encounter anything less?

“You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28 (NLT)

Follow the example of Jesus and serve others. If you do, even the smallest act will be acknowledged by our Lord:

“And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” Matthew 10:42 (NLT)

So don’t worry when others call you foolish. Instead, trust with absolute faith that Jesus Christ will make good on His promise to reward you. The return you will receive from serving Him is far greater than any financial return the world can offer:

“I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property – along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.” Mark 10:29-31 (NLT)

Despite what the world may tell you, you lose nothing of real value by following Christ. In fact, it’s just the opposite – you gain everything!

It’s the deal of a lifetime, and all you have to do is accept it. If you haven’t taken advantage Christ’s offer, I strongly encourage you to do so today. Like all great deals, it’s available for a limited time only. Once your life is over, the deal is no longer on the table. Right now, it’s available free of charge to as many people as are willing to accept it. It could all be yours – an opulent mansion with great neighbors. A personal relationship with God Almighty. Eternal life. Wealth beyond belief. It’s yours for the taking because Christ gave His life. Only a fool would turn down such a sweetheart deal. Don’t be a fool.

“That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.’” 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NLT)

The Law and The Prophets :: by Britt Gillette

Presented below is an email I recently received.  I thought it might be a good idea to post this email because I’ve heard similar thoughts expressed in the past, and therefore, it’s very likely that a lot of people who stumble across this website hold a similar viewpoint, yet don’t take the time to email their thoughts.  Also, the email addresses three very important subjects – the Old Testament Law, the Old Testament Prophets, and the fulfillment of both in the life of Jesus of Nazareth.  As such, this exchange is an important one to share.

My response is posted afterward.

[Received Email]

Hi Britt,

Thought you might like this little compilation I did to help with your work:

The Bible is the infallible word of our Lord. If you are a TRUE Christian, you follow these commands:

Who You Should Kill

-Unruly or rebellious child. Deut 21:20-21
-Those who curse or hit their parents. Lev 20:9, Ex 21:15
-Worshipers of other gods. Deut 13:6-11
-Psychics, witches. Lev 20:27, Deut 13:6-11, Ex 22:18
-Those who do not believe in Jesus (parable). Luke 19:27
-Those who work on the Sabbath. Ex 35:2 (Moses kills a gentile for this. Num 15:32-36.)
-Those who are accused by at least two people of wickedness. Deut 17:6
-The children and babies of enemies. Num 31:17, Deut 20:13, Psalm 137:9, Lev 26:29
-Adulterers. Lev 20:10
-Homosexuals. Lev 20:13
-A woman who is not a virgin when married. Deut 22:13-21
-Those who are careless with murderous livestock. Exodus 21:29

Who You Should Hate

-Those who eat crab or shrimp. Lev 11:10
-Those who sacrifice an animal to God that has a blemish. Deut 17:1
-Those who remarry the same person after divorce. Deut 24:4
-Homosexuals. Lev 18:22
-Those who are proud. Prov 16:5
-A woman who wears pants. Deut 22:5
-A man with long hair (Jesus?). 1 Cor 11:14
-Those who call others fools Mat 5:22

Should we still do this stuff?

-All Old Testament laws still apply in the New Testament. Matt 5:17-19

—————————————

You don’t dare to try and FILTER and pick and choose from the word of God right? You don’t pull that nambie-pampy “out of context” silliness with passages you don’t like, but then wholeheartedly accept those you DO like? That is SIN!

So either you are a TRUE Christian, and you’ll follow those loving commands from God. Or you are doomed to be tortured in hell forever! Oh Glory!

Free With Jesus!

[End of Received Email]

[My Response]

Dear Free With Jesus:

Thank you for taking the time to email me.  I will do my best to answer your questions, and I welcome your feedback if you feel I’ve inadequately addressed your questions.

Your compilation of references to Old Testament laws is very thorough, and I’m afraid I’m guilty of violating many of them.  In fact, all of humanity is sentenced to death as a result of our sin.

Because all of us are born into sin, we are all condemned – banished from the presence of God who, in His infinite justice, can not tolerate the presence of the unholy. But all is not lost – there is great news!

In order to make us holy, blameless in the eyes of God, Jesus Christ (God in the flesh) came to earth and paid the price of humanity’s sin through His blood on the cross:

“For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.”Romans 3:25 (NLT)

The above statement by Paul is in complete agreement with the Law of Moses:

“In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.” Hebrews 9:22 (NLT)

“For the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.” Leviticus 17:11 (NLT)

Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. Therefore, Christ shed His blood in order that we might be forgiven:

“Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18 (NLT)

Christ even paid the penalty for the sins of those who died prior to His First Coming – prior to His ministry, His death, and His resurrection:

“That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead – so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit.” 1 Peter 4:6 (NLT)

“That is why the Scriptures say, ‘When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.’ Notice that it says ‘he ascended.’ This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.” Ephesians 4:8-10 (NLT)

Because of the wonderful sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the door is open for anyone to establish a personal relationship with the Alpha and the Omega – the very Lord of the Universe!

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” Romans 5:8-11 (NLT)

You are correct when you state we are “free with Jesus!”

In answer to your questions:

1)  Should we still do this stuff?

Jesus came not to abolish the Law, but to fulfill the Law and the Prophets.  It is certainly your right to carry out Old Testament punishments in fulfillment of the Law.  However, in doing so, you must be aware of your own violations of the Law, which make you subject to the same condemnation.  (This is why the sacrifice of Christ is the greatest act of love in human history.  He died so that we are saved.)

Here’s what Jesus had to say:

“’Teacher,’ they said to Jesus, ‘this woman was caught in the act of adultery.  The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?’  They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.  They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, ‘All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!’ Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.  When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.  Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, ‘Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?’   ‘No, Lord,’ she said.  And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I. Go and sin no more.’”  John 8:4-11 (NLT)

Since Jesus does not condemn, then how can I?  I choose forgiveness of sinners, and in doing so, I am justified in the eyes of God.  Is this because of my own righteousness?  No.  It’s because the penalty of sin was paid in full on the cross nearly two thousand years ago when God offered His only Son as a sacrifice for human sin.  We have been washed clean and justified in full by the blood of the Lamb in complete fulfillment of Old Testament Law.

2)  You don’t dare to try and FILTER and pick and choose from the word of God right? You don’t pull that nambie-pampy “out of context” silliness with passages you don’t like, but then wholeheartedly accept those you DO like?

You are correct to say that I never “try and filter and pick and choose from the word of God.”  The Old Testament Law is still in full force.  The Word of God never changes.  It is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

The penalty of sin is death.  However, that penalty has been paid by Jesus Christ.  So, as you say – we truly are “free with Jesus!”

May Glory and Honor be given to His name forever and ever.

And may God bless you.

Your friend in Christ,

Britt

[End of Response]

This email exchange is instructive.

Many people have a fundamental misunderstanding of the bible.  They read some of the teachings of the Old Testament and fail to see how they are compatible with the New Testament teachings of Jesus.  Believing the two contradict one another, they simply conclude that the bible is a fraud.  Yet nothing could be further from the truth!

Jesus foresaw this misunderstanding, and in order to avoid confusion, He reiterated His purpose:

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come.  I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets.  No, I came to accomplish their purpose.  I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.”  Matthew 5:17-18(NLT)

By failing to keep God’s law, all of humanity is condemned.  But due to the grace and mercy of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, the door is open for each and every sinner to be reconciled with God.  This is because, in fulfillment of the Old Testament Laws and the Old Testament Prophets, the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross paid our debt in full.

Hundreds of years before the Gospels were written, the Prophet Isaiah foresaw this sacrifice:

“He was despised and rejected – a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.  We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.  He was despised, and we did not care.  Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down.  And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!  But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.  He was beaten so we could be whole.  He was whipped so we could be healed.  All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.  We have left God’s paths to follow our own.  Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.  He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word.  He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.  Unjustly condemned, he was led away.  No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream.  But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people.  He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone.  But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave.  But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief.  Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants.  He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.  When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied.  And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.  I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels.  He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.”  Isaiah 53:3-12 (NLT)

Jesus Christ didn’t come to abolish the Old Testament Law.  On the contrary, He’s the only one who ever adhered to it in full.  And Jesus didn’t come to condemn the Old Testament Prophets, but rather to fulfill to the letter everything they wrote.  For it was His coming they looked forward to with hopeful anticipation – the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

We should never forget this as we also look forward to His coming with hopeful anticipation.  May Glory and Honor be given to His name forever and ever!