Matthew 5:13; “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall the saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.” Salt was, and is, used as a preservative for certain foods. When anyone presents the true word of the Gospel (good news), they are considered to be preserving the word of the Lord, and also following the Great Commission by spreading the true word without any false or incorrect messages. (any emphasis mine)

Matthew 24:24; “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” (true believers)

2 Timothy 4:3-4; “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having “itching ears,” they will accumulate for themselves, teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth, and wander off into myths.”

We are seeing a lot of this today in numerous so-called evangelical churches. Entertainment sessions being performed rather than being given the true word.

2 Corinthians 11:12-15; “And what I am doing, I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claims of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission, they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles; deceitful workmen; disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder; for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants [and demons] also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” (In the Lake of Fire)

The other day, I read a message in an article that stated, “The Church cannot be the salt of the earth if we keep sugar-coating the Gospel.” One quick question here: has anyone noticed a shift away from the true word of God and toward messages meant to tickle ears and give listeners a feel-good atmosphere that isn’t biblical, at least not from a true translation of the Bible? People can attend these “church services” all they want, and if they’re convinced that the “feel good” words being given are proper, they may want to read God’s word for themselves.

Each person, at the end of their days here on earth, will give an account of the lives they lived while here. Each person will be responsible for where they spend their eternity. It will either be Heaven, or Hell, and no other option is on the table. There are more concerned about worldly things rather than what lies ahead for them in eternity. Satan is doing his part in drawing away souls from the truth, and leading them to destruction. Jesus said that more would accept Satan’s lies than those who would follow Him on the narrow path (Matthew 7:13-14).

There are those who believe they will end up in Heaven because they were “good” people. Being good doesn’t get anyone into paradise. Receiving and accepting Jesus is the only way. Romans 10:9-13 gives the process in very simple terms. First, confess that Jesus is Lord. Second, believe God raised Him from the dead to conquer sin and death for all of us, and you will be saved. We are all sinners (Romans 3:23) and need the Savior to be kept from being sent into the Lake of Fire as given in Revelation 20:11-15. God is no respecter of persons, and “all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).

Anytime Jesus preached, He gave us hope through truth in a manner such as Peter told us in 1 Peter 3:15; “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as Holy; always prepared to make a defense for the Hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”

Jesus always gave the word in a straightforward manner that showed His patience and love. He would get upset mostly with the pious religious leaders of His day, who thought they were to be worshiped first, and then God. They would never admit they had any sin in their lives.

There are “evangelical” groups that previously gave the true messages from God’s Holy word. Today, we see a shift toward false prophets teaching in these churches that there are many ways to Heaven without Jesus, and all previously condemned relationships are now acceptable. Thing is, the Bible I study doesn’t have these so-called new beliefs in it. God’s word means the same thing today as when He first gave it to us.

In fact, my chosen life verse still says, “Jesus said to him [Philip], I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). And then there is Acts 4:12; “And there is Salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved.” Then Romans 8:1 states, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

God’s word was and is meant to give true and solid instructions for all to be able to have eternal life in Heaven. He didn’t give it in a code that only certain people could understand, and He even sent His own Son, Jesus, to give the only sacrifice for our sins – my sins – that could be accepted (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).

It is fitting and just that God requires each and every one of us to accept the sin-free blood sacrifice that was made willingly on a cruel cross at Calvary. After all, the person on it in fully human form was also one third of the Holy Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

He is fair and just and will force no one to accept Jesus, but for those who do not, they will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire with no chance of repentance there. He allows all persons right up to their last breath here to repent and be saved as given in 2 Peter 3:9, and through the example of the thief on the cross that was crucified with Jesus in Luke 23:40-43.

Joshua 24:25 gives us the proper answer with, “but for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Satan would love for all of us to listen to his antichrists and false prophets and be drawn away from the Savior. He knows his fate and knows it’s getting very close. There is no pathway to forgiveness for him or the angels that chose to follow him, as Jesus’ sacrifice was for all humans that would accept Him. With all the signs that are present today, and with all the attitudes that are getting more and more negative, the call of all true believers up to meet Jesus in the air (Rapture) is right at the doorstep. This will be to keep God’s promise to keep all of the Savior’s flock from going through the Wrath.

Choose today as Joshua did. Tomorrow, this world could be entering the tribulation/wrath period, which will be the worst and most miserable time this earth has ever seen. All the things taking place today do not come close to being as bad as this will be.

It’s totally your choice, and no one can make it for you. The best decision you can make is to ensure your reservation for eternity with the Savior by calling out for Him to forgive you and accept you as one of His own right now. The rapture will be over in less than a second – the twinkling of an eye – and after that, it will be difficult, to say the least, to come to the Lord. Hope to see you when we get there!

Maranatha!

huebshman46@gmail.com

TWO OR THREE WITNESSES ARE REQUIRED

UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES

The LORD declared: “One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established” (Deuteronomy 19:15; Hebrews 10:28; Matthew 18:16). The two essential and separate witnesses of the three “that bear witness in earth” (1John 5:8-10) in these last days are the word of God and the Spirit of God.

MINISTRY OF JESUS BEFORE THE CROSS

The drawing and revealing of the Father—Jesus declared to the Jews: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44). Even though they had heard the word of God out of the mouth of the Lord Jesus, the revealing witness of the Father was also required! Jesus asked his apostles, “But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:15-17).

MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT AFTER THE CROSS

Command to wait for the Holy Ghost—After being seen of the apostles “forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3), the Lord, “being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me…ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight” (Acts 1:1-9). After the Holy Ghost was sent on the day of Pentecost, Peter preached, and three thousand souls were added to the church (Acts 2—3).

Jesus draws all men—Lord Jesus declared: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die” (John 12:32-33).

The reproof of the Holy Ghost—Before he went to the cross, the Lord Jesus promised the apostles that he would send the Comforter [“the Holy Ghost” (John 14:26)] to them after he returned to heaven. He said unto them, “And when he is come, he will reprove [blame; condemn; charge; convince] the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged” (John 16:7-11).

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The calling of the Spirit—Paul wrote to believers, and said: “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification [setting apart] of the Spirit and belief of the truth [the word of God]: Whereunto he [the Spirit of God] called you by our gospel [the word of God], to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2Thessalonians 2:13-14). On the day of salvation believers “were illuminated [enlightened intellectually with knowledge or grace]” (Hebrews 10:32) by the Spirit of God. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul wrote: “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:4-6).

The teaching of the Spirit

Before the cross—Whether before or after the cross, the natural man cannot understand the word of God without the illumination of the Spirit of God! Under the law the prophet declared:

“Whom shall he [the LORD] teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them [unbelievers] precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken” (Isaiah 28:9-13).

This is the reason why the Holy Spirit of God must teach the truth to natural men!

After the cross—In the following passage the “spiritual things” are the words of God in the Holy Bible: “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1Corinthians 2:12-14).

All born-again believers have the witness of the Spirit—“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16). “This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth” (1John 5:6). The Holy Ghost is our infallible teacher. Writing to born-again believers, who have the Holy Ghost permanently indwelling them, the apostle John declared: “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him” (1John 2:27).

Testing every spirit—Believers are commanded: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1John 4:1). Since the Holy Ghost is the Author of the word of God (2Peter 1:21), the two witnesses of the Holy Ghost and the word of God will always perfectly agree. Furthermore, we know that: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2Timothy 3:16-17).

FINAL WORD TO THE UNBELIEVER

On your “day of visitation” (1Peter 2:12), the Holy Ghost will reprove you of your sin of unbelief (John 16:7-11) and call you to salvation through the glorious gospel, “how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1Corinthians 15:3-4). God’s word promises: “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” (Romans 10:9).

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).