How do we know if we are following Jesus?

"Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

Matthew 4:19

 

If we are following Jesus--we will be fishers of men.

If we are not fishers of men--we are not following Jesus

What is Sin?

Sin is anything that is not of love...Romans 13:8-10 and Matthew 22:36-40
Sin is anything that is not of faith...Romans 14:23

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God and works by love so faith and love are always intrinsically connected...Romans 10:17 and Galatians 5:6

The Whole World is Already Saved because Christ Died for the Sins of the World?

It is true. Christ did die for the sins of the whole world. But Jesus told Nicodemas, "You must be born again (John 3:7) with that simple statement He refuted the teaching that everyone is automatically saved just because He died for the sins of the world.

The apostle further elaborated on this when he wrote, in Romans 10:13-14, that all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. He went on to ask, "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher?" 

Indeed, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the good news of God's peace with man and bring glad tidings of good things!

Genesis 3:9 And Yahweh Elohim Called unto Adam...

Genesis 5:1-2 clarifies that in the beginning Adam (pronounced Awdaam) was the name given to both the man and the woman, and the words I, we, them, and they all come from a single Hebrew word determined by context which word the translation should read.

Can anyone show scripturally why Genesis 3:9 cannot read as follows?   

And Yahweh Elohim called unto Adam and said unto them where are you and they said we heard your voice in the garden and we were afraid because we were naked and we hid ourselves

How Can a Man that is a Sinner do such Miracles? John 9:16

When Jesus made clay and healed a blind man on the Sabbath day, there was division within, and opposition from, the religious leadership of his time.[i] All who opposed the works of God, did so simply because they were not of God.[ii] But some were confused and asked how a man that is a sinner could do such miracles?

That’s a good question, and it is one that Jesus addressed in Matthew chapter seven when he spoke of the false prophets who would not be granted entrance into his Kingdom.[iii] Jesus clearly told us that there would be men (and women) who were not of God doing miracles and performing great signs and wonders.

In the book of Acts, we read of a man named Simon who used sorcery to deceive the people. He claimed to be a great power of God and from the least to the greatest, because of the signs and wonders he performed, the people believed him.[iv]

The apostle Paul prophesied concerning the Man of Sin, who would use miracles, signs, and lying wonders to steal the souls of those who, because they chose to follow what they could see with their physical eyes rather than the truth of God’s Word, would follow The Son of Perdition into eternal condemnation.[v]

And finally, in THE REVELATION, the apostle John was shown that spirits of devils could deceive people through the working of miracles and that some wonders are indeed lying wonders.[vi]

How can we tell the difference? Some have been given the gift of Discerning of Spirits. Others have not. But all have been given the gift of the WRITTEN WORD OF GOD—THE BIBLE. We worship God through his risen Son based upon what has already been WRITTEN.[vii] We discern what is of God and what is not of God in the same way. But if we are hearers of the Word and not doers of the Word, if we heap teachers to ourselves simply because what they teach makes us “feel good,” then the scriptures are clear that our discernment will be seriously distorted, and we are headed for a fall.[viii]

The Bible tells us our physical bodies are beneficially or adversely affected by distorted discernment, so it is not advisable to take lightly anything that may interfere with our understanding of the expressed, will of God according to his written Word.[ix]

If someone claims to be a great power of God simply because they perform signs and wonders, examine their doctrine (and lifestyle) against the light of scripture. Does it measure up? If it does not, do not make excuses for them. Flee from them!

Run to Jesus. Run to his Word. And you will be safe.[x]

Is it well with your soul?[xi]

[i] John 9:16, All scripture references in this commentary are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Scriptures
[ii] John 8:47
[iii] Matthew 7:22-23
[iv] Acts 8:9-11
[v] 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
[vi] Revelation 16:14
[vii] Isaiah 8:19-20
[viii] Matthew 7:24-27, 2 Timothy 4:3-4
[ix] Proverbs 4:20-22, Luke 11:34-36
[x] Proverbs 18:10, Proverbs 14:26,
[xi] John 3:14-21, Romans 10:9-10. 13

Link to All Hingry Hearts Revelation Studies

We have done so many Revelation studies, we set up a site dedicated specifically to that book of the Bible. There are written studies as well as audio /video studies on this site

http://the-bookofrevelation.blogspot.com/

Ephesians 4:8-10 The Lower Parts of the Earth: Did Jesus Suffer in Hell?

God promised to send a man, the seed of woman, to strip the serpent of his power over mankind and completely crush him (Genesis 3:15). The phrase, bruise thy head, in Genesis 3:15, means to strip of power or to crush (the head representing rank or authority). But until such time as the serpent would be stripped of his power, the righteous dead were held captive, for their protection, in a place called Abraham’s Bosom located somewhere in the heart of the earth.

This place was beautiful enough to be called paradise, but it was not Heaven (Luke 16:22-25, Ezekiel 31:16, Job 14:13). When Jesus ascended to Heaven after his resurrection he took these “captive” souls with him, but first he had to descend into the “lower parts of the earth” to get them (Ephesians 4:8-10). This is one of the proof scriptures that Jesus never suffered in hell. How could he have suffered in hell for 3 days when he told the thief, who was crucified with him, that they would be together in Paradise on the very day they both died?

According to the words of Christ, the price [for sin] was completely paid while he was still hanging on the cross (John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost). There was no need for him to suffer further in hell.

We see from scripture that Jesus was quite busy during the time his body lay in the tomb, and he didn’t spend any of that time burning in hell fire (Luke 23:43, 1 Peter 3:19-20).

Had Christ failed in his mission and refused to die on the cross during that long ago Passover, possession of those captive souls, in Abraham’s Bosom/Paradise, would have defaulted to Satan and been doomed—forever—along with him. Not only would they have all been without hope, but you and I would be without hope as well. But we are not left without hope. We have a living hope in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ if we will come to him. Jesus said, “He that heareth my word and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life (John 5:24).

Romans 10:8-13
8: But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

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.
10: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11: For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12: For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

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