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Actions Speak Louder Than Words :: By Grant Phillips

Published on: by RR7

I heard that saying many, many years ago in Sunday School class. I was about ten years old, and our Sunday School teacher told us boys, “Boys, always remember, your actions will always speak louder than your words.” I can’t say that I’ve always remembered it at the right times, but I have never forgotten those words.

I was reminded of it this morning when I was told of a business organization that sent an employee home one day after the employee had given their two-week notice to leave. The employee had two weeks of vacation that was due and could have taken their vacation first and then given a notice that they were leaving, but they didn’t think that would be the right thing to do. There was no reason for the employer to send the employee home other than the obvious. There have been several other incidents of this nature from this business entity. The head of this organization says he is a Christian and often boasts that they run their business as a Christian organization. I’m sorry, but your actions speak louder than your words.

Have you ever noticed how much our political leaders speak of loving and befriending others? Have you also noticed how much their hatred of any opposing view distorts their faces and almost causes them to froth at the mouth? Actions speak louder than words.

What about the entertainment industry: movie “stars,” sports “heroes,” musical “heartthrobs,” etc.? Again, they love everybody, but their hatred cannot be hidden when speaking against opposing views. Much worse than that, how about all that love talk when mention is made of Jesus? They use His name as a curse word, tossing it around like an old rag. Actions speak louder than words.

And then I listen to those dear folks speaking of loving each other, protecting animals, defending the defenseless. You know who I’m talking about … the tree huggers and save the beetle crusaders. I wonder what they think of the genocide of babies? No … that word isn’t descriptive enough. Murder? No … I know. What do they feel about the slaughter of babies? I know for a fact that most don’t have a problem with it. The mother’s “rights”? Actions still speak louder than words.

The Indians (oh, excuse me, the native Americans) used to call that speaking with a forked tongue. Well, there’s a lot of that going around. It has gotten so bad in today’s world that if someone told me it was raining outside, I’d have to look out the window first to see if it’s true.

My parents were not like that. They were pretty straightforward with what they had to say. If they told one of us youngsters while we were at church to be quiet or get a spanking when we got home, guess what we did? We got real quiet because we knew their words and their actions were in total agreement. Not so with most parents today.

I can actually remember the day when a person’s word was their bond. Contracts were validated by a handshake. Try that today and see how far it gets you. Actions speak louder than words.

Jesus said He came to die for all, and He did.

“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Jesus said He came to save the lost, and all who come to Him will be saved.

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

Jesus said He will save all who come to Him, and He does.

“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37).

Jesus said He will never condemn those who come to Him. He never has, and He will not do so.

“There 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).

Jesus said He will remove His bride (the Church) before He judges the world. He is coming again.

“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17).

Jesus said He will reward His own, and He will.

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Revelation 22:10).

Jesus said He will judge all those who do not call upon Him in belief, and He will.

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

“The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:11-15).

Jesus has backed up everything He has ever said by His own actions. He also said:

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

“But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this” (John 8:40).

“…I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

Jesus saves all who will come to Him, and He has backed up His words with actions … the cross … the empty grave.

Jesus is coming back for His own. His words can be trusted because He backs up everything He says with actions.

Jesus will judge the world during the Tribulation and then at the Great White Throne judgment. Rest assured, it will happen, and it may be much sooner than any of us realize. All who come to Him now will not suffer wrath.

“For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11).

God has shown over and over that He always does what He says. His words and His actions are always true to each other. Can that be said of us?

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com

Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com

Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html

Nowhere in the Bible :: By Candy Austin

Published on: by RR7

Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Back in the Fall of 1998 when my Youngest was an infant and my Oldest was 5 years old, I remember teaching my Oldest ‘to the best of my ability at the time’ about Salvation in our car while leaving the Grocery Store parking lot. The conversation was about going to Heaven one day with Jesus, about Jesus loving us so much that He died on the Cross for us, and about how we need to ‘ask Him into our hearts’ for Salvation. At some point, I asked my Oldest if she would like to ‘ask Jesus into her heart,’ and she said a resounding, “Yes!” After having her recite a prayer ‘asking Jesus into her heart,’ I then told her that her name was now written in the Lamb’s Book of Life in Heaven! She was so happy to hear that, and it was a ‘special smiling moment’ for the both of us as I looked back at her in the rearview mirror as we drove home.

Fast forward to when our Oldest left home at age 18 to join the ‘not so silent majority’ onto the Broad Road to Destruction… *record scratch*… whoa, wait a minute, what just happened? Was it the ‘wholesale rejection’ of our parental authority, the ‘MK Ultra Mind Control’ from the countless hours of Nefarious Disney Cartoons, the ‘infiltration of witchcraft’ through the Harry Potter Movies and Books, the ‘Satanic Secular’ Rap and Rock Music, the ‘Godless Indoctrination’ from attending Public Schools, the teaching of the ‘Theory of Evolution,’ or the ‘influence’ of her ungodly friends? Was it this, that, or the other, or was it ‘all of it combined’? What exactly was it?!

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

Fact is, when one is Truly Born Again, they are a New Creature, old things are passed away, they are now Indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and are thereby Sealed unto the Day of Redemption! Therefore, if one becomes Born Again, they will not turn their back and walk away from God because it is God who keeps them from falling, and it is God who does a work in them to make them blameless and presentable in His Sight! When this ‘Profound Transformation’ happens, one will not listen to the ‘Lies of the Enemy of our Souls,’ who is none other than Satan, to go and do his bidding! Moreover, Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”

What could have been the problem, then? Could it have been in the ‘false sense’ of Salvation by the ‘asking of Jesus into your heart’ message? On the one hand, it is a fact that many churches’ use this message’ as the means of obtaining Salvation. In and of itself, it does not seem to be a wrong thing to do, but when ‘we study God’s Word for ourselves,’ we will find that nowhere in the Bible did any of the Disciples’ preach this message,’ nor does it state anywhere else in the scriptures to ‘ask Jesus into our hearts’ for Salvation!

Guess what? Salvation is not received by reciting a prayer, it is not by walking down an aisle, it is not by joining a church, it is not by tithing or doing good works, it is not by feeding the homeless, and this is a biggie… it is not by getting baptized either!

I had a young Deaf Friend that had cancer, and before having major surgery to get multiple tumors removed, she wanted to quickly find someone to baptize her to give her’ assurance that she would go to Heaven’ if she died on the operating table. At that point, I tried explaining to her that Salvation is not through Baptism but by ‘Saving Faith’ in what Jesus did for us on the Cross, but she still did not seem fully convinced.

James 2:19 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

One can say they Believe (head knowledge or mental consent) in Father God and the Lord Jesus Christ all day long, but if they do not have a ‘True Saving-Faith Belief,’ then their supposed faith is meaningless. Just like the verse that states how even the Demons believe and tremble, but we all know that they are not Saved.

There was also an acquaintance we had, whom we called ‘Pinocchio’ because of his ‘tall tales,’ who told us one time that he ‘supposedly Baptized’ a dying man on the side of the road with a bottle of water to Save him. Again, whether this was true or not, whether he was trying to impress us or not, the bottom line is that Salvation is not through Baptism.

Got Questions: “Is baptism necessary for salvation?”

Answer: The belief that baptism is necessary for salvation is also known as “baptismal regeneration.” It is our contention that baptism is an important step of obedience for a Christian, but we adamantly reject baptism as being required for salvation. We strongly believe that each and every Christian should be water baptized by immersion. Baptism illustrates a believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Romans 6:3-4 declares, “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” The action of being immersed in the water illustrates dying and being buried with Christ. The action of coming out of the water pictures Christ’s resurrection.

Requiring anything in addition to faith in Jesus Christ for salvation is a works-based salvation. To add anything to the gospel is to say that Jesus’ death on the cross was not sufficient to purchase our salvation. To say that baptism is necessary for salvation is to say we must add our own good works and obedience to Christ’s death in order to make it sufficient for salvation. Jesus’ death alone paid for our sins (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus’ payment for our sins is appropriated to our “account” by faith alone (John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-9). Therefore, baptism is an important step of obedience after salvation but cannot be a requirement for salvation.

Yes, there are some verses that seem to indicate baptism as a requirement for salvation. However, since the Bible so clearly tells us that salvation is received by faith alone (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5), there must be a different interpretation of those verses. Scripture does not contradict Scripture. In Bible times, a person who converted from one religion to another was often baptized to identify conversion. Baptism was the means of making a decision public. Those who refused to be baptized were saying they did not truly believe. So, in the minds of the apostles and early disciples, the idea of an un-baptized believer was unheard of. When a person claimed to believe in Christ, yet was ashamed to proclaim his faith in public, it indicated that he did not have true faith.

If baptism is necessary for salvation, why would Paul have said, “I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius” (1 Corinthians 1:14)? Why would he have said, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power” (1 Corinthians 1:17)? Granted, in this passage, Paul is arguing against the divisions that plagued the Corinthian church. However, how could Paul possibly say, “I am thankful that I did not baptize…” or “For Christ did not send me to baptize…” if baptism were necessary for salvation? If baptism is necessary for salvation, Paul would literally be saying, “I am thankful that you were not saved…” and “For Christ did not send me to save…” That would be an unbelievably ridiculous statement for Paul to make. Further, when Paul gives a detailed outline of what he considers the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-8), why does he neglect to mention baptism? If baptism is a requirement for salvation, how could any presentation of the gospel lack a mention of baptism?

Baptism is not necessary for salvation. Baptism does not save from sin but from a bad conscience. In 1 Peter 3:21, Peter clearly taught that baptism was not a ceremonial act of physical purification but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. Baptism is the symbol of what has already occurred in the heart and life of one who has trusted Christ as Savior (Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12). Baptism is an important step of obedience that every Christian should take. Baptism cannot be a requirement for salvation. To make it such is an attack on the sufficiency of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. – Source

Yes, one should get Baptized after becoming Saved, but Baptism in and of itself is not the means to our Salvation. Baptism is the ‘outward act of obedience’ which is evidenced by an inward transformation, regeneration, and change.

Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”

The Biblical Message of Salvation is by Believing in Jesus, in what He did for us on the Cross, in His Death, Burial, and Resurrection! Believing that Jesus Christ’s Blood washes away and atones for all of our sins! Believing and Trusting in Jesus Christ’s Imputed Righteousness to Save us and to Reconcile us to God the Father!

This Believing is not just ‘head knowledge or mental consent’ but a True Saving-Faith Belief to the point that it changes a person from the inside out, and they are no longer the ‘Same Old Sinner’ they used to be! If only I could go back in time and explain all of this until our girls really understood…

KJV Thomas Nelson Study Bible Notes:

Romans 4:20 “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.” (There are six New Testament expressions that trace the decline of faith in an individual. Before a person is saved, he may have: (1) “vain faith” or belief in the wrong doctrine (1Cor. 15:14-17); or (2) “dead faith,” or belief in orthodox doctrine without personal belief in Christ (James 2:19-20). After a person is saved, he can experience the following varieties of faith: (1) a kind of unbelief – experienced by believers who fail to accept the whole work of Christ (Mark 16:11-14); (2) “little faith”- a mixture of faith and unbelief (Mark 7:26); (3) “weak faith”- referring to belief expressed as mere legalism (Rom. 14:1); or (4) “strong faith” – faith that is rooted in the promises of God (v. 20).

Illustration: As Christians mature, they should grow in faith. This was the experience of Abraham. Early in his pilgrimage with God, he could not trust God to protect him in Egypt. This was weak faith (Gen. 12:10-20). He was later able to trust God, in sacrificing his son Isaac. This was strong faith (Heb. 11:17-19). Application: The Christian life is a continual growing adventure in faith.) – end source

Recently, we visited our Local Tax Lady, who has done our taxes for the past decade or so, and who has basically become our friend by now. When we see each other, we usually share stories about our kids (mine are in their mid-20s, and hers are in their late teens and early 20s). It was encouraging to hear how her son went from having a brooding, angry, hostile demeanor (feeling that he was being ‘demonically attacked’ inside and out) for a number of months and years until this past summer of 2020, when he finally became ‘Radically Saved’ through seeing the change that happened in his Stepfather when he became a Christian as well!

Our Tax Lady Friend ‘relished’ about how wonderful it was to see such a change in her son’s whole demeanor! She said, “And I mean on his face, in the way he talked, in the way he acted, in his smile; I mean, just everything about him practically ‘glowed’ from the change of God inside of him! Smiling, I told her that I was so happy to hear this about her son and that it gives me hope to continue to pray for this kind of ‘Radical Salvation’ for our girls as well!

Got Questions: “Is it biblical to ask Jesus into your heart?”

Answer: “Do you want to be saved? Then just ask Jesus to come into your heart.” While this statement is not anti-biblical, neither is it expressly biblical. The wording generates a mental image that can easily lead to wrong impressions, especially among children, who tend to take things literally. Plus, the exhortation to “ask Jesus into your heart”—if that’s the whole message—leaves out some important things such as repentance and faith. The Bible does mention the fact that, in some sense, Jesus resides in our hearts: Paul prayed “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Ephesians 3:17). But Paul is writing to believers who had already received Christ. The parallel prayer in verse 16 is that God “may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.”

There is no evangelistic appeal in the context of Ephesians 3. Paul is not telling the Ephesians to “ask Jesus into their hearts”; he is simply elevating their awareness that Jesus is present within them through the Holy Spirit.

The verse from which the “ask Jesus into your heart” concept is usually taken is Revelation 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Notice, however, that the verse does not mention the heart at all. Neither does the individual ask Jesus to do anything; rather, Jesus asks us to do something. In context, Jesus is speaking to the church of Laodicea, who was in desperate need of repentance (verse 19). The Laodiceans had effectively excluded Jesus from their fellowship, and the Lord was seeking to restore that fellowship. The passage does not deal with a person calling on the Lord for salvation.

The idea of Jesus “coming into your heart” is nowhere used in any preaching in the Bible. The gospel is the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection for the forgiveness of our sin (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). Gospel presentations in the Bible exhort a proper response to that message: believe (John 3:16; Acts 16:31), receive (John 1:12), and repent (Acts 3:19). We are to change our minds about our sin and about who Christ is, believe Jesus died and rose again, and receive the gift of eternal life by faith. None of the apostles ever told someone to “ask Jesus into your heart.”

Often, the exhortation to “ask Jesus to come into your heart” is used as a simple way to say, “Ask Jesus to enter your life” or “Allow the Lord to take control.” If this is done in the context of presenting the whole gospel, then there’s no harm done. But before a person is invited to “ask Jesus into your heart,” he or she should understand sin and its penalty, the payment Christ made on the cross, and the reality of Christ’s resurrection. In fact, referring to salvation as Jesus’ “coming into your heart” might even help a person understand that the Spirit of Christ comes to indwell the soul (see John 14:17). Still, it is always best to use the terminology the Bible uses. “Ask Jesus into your heart” does not fully communicate what is actually occurring at salvation.

When sharing the gospel, we should be careful what we say and how we say it. Even the word believe can be misleading if it is presented as mere intellectual assent (agreeing that certain facts are true) instead of as trust (relying on those true facts). Judas Iscariot believed certain facts about Jesus, but he never trusted Jesus for salvation. Salvation is not about believing a list of facts. Salvation is not about asking Jesus to come into your heart. Salvation is about trusting in Jesus as your Savior, receiving the forgiveness He offers by grace through faith. Salvation is about being made new through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). – Source

For those who have been or are praying for our Prodigals, my humble request is to pray for their ‘Radical Salvation’ before it is too late, and not for our girls only, but for all Prodigals as well!

Thank you, and God bless you in advance! I would love nothing more than to be able to write an ‘updated article’ stating that this had finally happened!

May God’s Will be done, In Jesus Christ’s Name, Amen!

Hebrews 11:6 “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.”

Until next time… Maranatha!

JESUS = THE WAY, THE TRUTH, & THE LIFE!

Jesus Will Come!

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Candy Austin is an Ambassador for Christ/Freelance ASL Interpreter/Writer, just passing through on this Narrow Path with her Beloved Husband and Best Friend Doug, along with their 2 fur baby cats Harley (12) and Dallas (9). (Instagram: kingdomofheavenisathand21)