November 5, 2016 | www.GospelofJesusChrist.blog | River Wilde
I believe that I can make a very broad statement of truth right now, even though I do not know the details of all of your life.
Life has become difficult, in many different aspects. For the past several years, life is not going “your way,” in fact, it is far from the happily ever after plan that we’ve had for our life.
Finances are strained; our employment has become more responsibilities and less recognition or reward; relationships with others have changed dramatically; family members have become distant; political leadership is in question; country division in many different aspects; and the hope for a brighter future is all but gone.
We are living in a time that makes us feel that our “flicker of light” is about to be extinguished, and this is troublesome for many people.
For just a moment, I’d like for you to take a look at the following list. Can you relate to any of these emotions in your life right now?
Despair
Hopelessness
Disillusionment
Discouragement
Despondency
Disheartenment
Defeat
Resignation
Disappointment
Frustration
Disillusion
Demoralization
Anguish
Forlornness
My point here is that we as a country…we as a world, are experiencing a very difficult period of world history… TOGETHER. The emotions that you are feeling are not just individual, they are worldwide.
I would like to interject something VERY important here. Prophecy is not just to tell us the sequence of end times events, more importantly, it is for us to identify what is happening all around us.
Let me share some interesting things with you about our day.
Written in the bible, scripture states that the last days will be an exceptionally difficult period in human history. Jesus Christ and His apostles warned of increasing wickedness, deception, violence, fear, betrayal, persecution, and a dramatic decline in compassion and love.
One of the clearest descriptions comes from the Apostle Paul.
The Last Days Will Be Perilous Times
2 Timothy 3:1–5 (KJV)
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
Paul describes a society increasingly dominated by selfishness, greed, arrogance, broken families, dishonesty, cruelty, and a rejection of godliness.
So, you tell me… Dos this describe what you personally are seeing in “your world” and from those around you? Is this scripture “relatable” for you? Can you identify with this forewarning?
Let’s continue…
Love and Compassion Will Grow Cold
Matthew 24:12 (KJV)
“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”
Jesus warned that as wickedness increases, genuine love and compassion will diminish. People will become increasingly indifferent to the suffering of others.
Fear and Anxiety Will Overwhelm Many People
Luke 21:25–26 (KJV)
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”
Jesus describes nations experiencing distress and confusion, with people becoming fearful about what the future holds.
Wars, Famines, Disease, and Earthquakes
Matthew 24:6–8 (KJV)
“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
Jesus specifically cautioned that these events would not, by themselves, mean the end had arrived.
Families and Friends Will Turn Against One Another
Luke 21:16 (KJV)
“And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.”
Even relationships traditionally built on love and trust will experience betrayal and division.
Are these words speaking to your heart? Do they sound familiar? If so, perhaps it is because they describe so much of what we are witnessing in the world around us today.
What I find especially remarkable is that these scriptures no longer seem to be describing events in some distant future. Instead, the conditions they warn about are unfolding before our very eyes! What was written centuries ago about the difficulties of the last days now sounds remarkably like a description of the world we are living in today.
Deception and False Teaching Will Increase
Matthew 24:11 (KJV)
“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.”
2 Timothy 4:3–4 (KJV)
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
Scripture warns that people will increasingly seek teachings that satisfy their desires rather than accept uncomfortable truths.
Sadly, many megachurch pastors and religious leaders have allowed the desire for popularity, wealth, large congregations, and financial success to overshadow their responsibility to preach the uncompromising truth of God’s Word.
Rather than teaching the importance of repentance, sin, righteousness, obedience, and the necessity of becoming born again through Jesus Christ, some have chosen to deliver comforting messages of prosperity, personal happiness, worldly success, and unconditional acceptance without addressing the need for spiritual transformation.
They have turned the pulpit into a platform for motivational speaking rather than a place where souls are confronted with the truth of salvation.
I’ve mentioned this before, but the church that I belonged to my entire life never taught me, nor even teaches today, how a person becomes spiritually Born Again!
Their focus is on our works, tithing, and temple ordinances that exist nowhere in any biblical teaching. I feel their interest was to establish the importance of the “church” rather than the importance of the “gift” of the atonement, and the process of how a person receives this new spiritual rebirth.
Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV)
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
John 3:3 (KJV)
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
The tragedy is not simply that some prophets and pastors have compromised their message, but that countless people may leave their churches feeling encouraged, entertained, and spiritually secure without ever hearing the very truths of the Gospel that lead to genuine repentance and eternal salvation. A church filled with people is not necessarily a church filled with people who have been born again.
Believers Will Experience Persecution and Hatred
Matthew 24:9 (KJV)
“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.”
Following Jesus Christ may become increasingly costly, requiring courage, perseverance, and unwavering faith.
To my fellow watchmen and women, I don’t need to tell you anything more on this statement. The difficult comments receive from others on social media, even from “Good religious” people, is alarming. Imagine being hated for teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, a peacemaker, and the dove of this earth?
I can tell you that these conflicting people are motivated and fuel by the adversary to try to diminish the work that you are doing for good.
Yet God Promises Hope Through Every Difficulty
John 16:33 (KJV)
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
So, with this understanding, what do we do now?
We should find some matter of solitude by recognizing that these things that are difficult in our life have been foretold to us through prophecy. It is NOT JUST YOU… the entire world is experiencing this.
God LOVES us enough to tell us what is happening!
Starting today, if you have not already begun to do this, I would recommend that we start seeing things in a perspective beyond this “lifetime.” Rather, we should see things in an eternal realm.
Let me be very bold right now. This earth life, as we know it, will come to end for everyone in a matter of 7+ years. Forgive me for using this comparison, but I feel that it is very important…
It’s as if our doctor has just sat us down, and told us that, we have weeks or months to live, and 7 years at the very most. Does this change your perspective on life? IT SHOULD.
Earthly things are no longer priority, and our shift now centers to more important things, like where we will spend eternity.
Can I tell you that what is coming beyond this life is the “happily ever after” that you have been seeking here on earth? Those who have had this spiritual rebirth will live with God forever in the new heaven that He will create. We will have perfect immortal bodies, with no more suffering, pain or sorrow. NO MORE BRAIN FOG!
We will be surrounded by friends, family and loved ones, unrestricted in compassion, love, and even having relationships far beyond what they are today… Perfect!
If your religion has taught you that you cannot know where you will be after you are judged, I share some good news.
God wants you to know, right now, that you will be with Him in heaven. He wants you to stop stressing weather you are good enough; whether you have paid enough tithing; if you have properly repented of all of your sins; attended church or a temple enough times; weather you have done enough good works.
All of these things have nothing to do with salvation; living with God for eternity.
I can help some of you right now in eliminating all of this worry, anxiety, and constant stress.
There are some of you who, when they think of the “eternal picture,” it causes more stress than it does comfort. The reason that this happens is that you have never been taught the TRUTH, regarding the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Forget all of the deceptions that you have been taught from some religions.
Remember the Bible story about the thief on the cross?
Not many good works, in fact he was being killed as a punishment for the crime(s) that he had committed. Unbaptized, not a church attender, he was not a full tithe payer. There really wasn’t much “Positive” in the life of this man.
But, because he had become Born Again, Jesus said to him directly, “Today, ye shall be with me in paradise.”
Now, stay with me for a moment, as I describe someone on the other end of the spectrum… Nicodemus.
Nicodemus was a respected Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews, and a religious teacher who sincerely sought to understand and obey God’s commandments. He was knowledgeable in the Scriptures and devoted to living a righteous life according to the Law of Moses.
Wouldn’t you consider him to be the “very elect”?
Yet, despite his religious standing, good works, and dedication to God, Jesus taught him that his own righteousness was not sufficient to enter the kingdom of God. Even though he had accomplished all of this in his life, he was not yet “heaven bound.”
So, when Jesus came to him, He did not commend Nicodemus for all that he had accomplished, He told them that if he didn’t become “Born Again” that he wasn’t going to heaven. Are you understanding this?
In John 3:3 (KJV), Jesus declared,
“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus demonstrates a powerful truth: No amount of religious devotion, personal goodness, or obedience to religious laws can replace the spiritual rebirth that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.
Perhaps you are confused by this. A thief hanging on the cross was promised by Jesus Himself that He was going to heaven, and yet another: A person seen as the very elect spiritually, was warned that he wasn’t going to go to heaven until he became Born Again.
These two deferring stories are recorded in the Bible for a purpose. It all has to do with one gospel teaching…Being Born Again!
So, how did the thief on the cross become Born Again? The exact way that YOU can be.
The thief on the cross is one of the most beautiful examples in the King James Bible of salvation by grace through faith, and not by works. His encounter with Jesus demonstrates how a sinner could receive eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ, even in the final moments of his life.
Here is how the thief became Born Again, in the final moments of his life:
1. The thief recognized that he was a sinner.
Luke 23:40–41 (KJV)
“But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.”
The thief acknowledged his guilt, recognized that he deserved punishment, and declared that Jesus was innocent.
2. The thief believed in Jesus Christ.
Luke 23:42 (KJV)
“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”
Notice something remarkable! The thief recognized Jesus as Lord and believed that Jesus had a kingdom beyond death. Even while Jesus was dying beside him, the thief placed his faith in Him.
3. Jesus immediately promised him eternal life.
Luke 23:43 (KJV)
“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Jesus did not require the thief to perform good works, attend church, become baptized, or prove his worthiness.
The thief simply placed his faith in Jesus Christ, and Jesus promised him paradise!
Could it all be this simple? It’s not “simple” it’s “that important”.
A gospel teaching that might be helpful in understanding this concept.
When a person dies, it comes down to something very simple: Has this person become Born Again? Let’s learn more about this:
Those Who Are Born Again:
When a born-again believer dies, their physical body remains on earth, but their soul and spirit immediately enter Heaven to be with Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23 KJV). They are at peace in the presence of their Savior, awaiting the resurrection of their bodies, when they will receive glorified, immortal bodies and enjoy eternal life with God.
Those Who Are Not Born Again:
When an unsaved person dies, their body remains on earth, but according to the traditional interpretation of Luke 16:22–26 (KJV), their soul enters Hades (Hell), a temporary place of conscious suffering. There they await the Great White Throne Judgment, when the dead will be raised and judged. Those whose names are not written in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire, described as the second death (Revelation 20:11–15 KJV).
The eternal difference between these two destinations is salvation through Jesus Christ. As Jesus declared in John 3:3 (KJV), “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Paradise refers to a place of peace, comfort, and fellowship with God, where the righteous are received after death.
4. How does this relate to being born again?
Jesus taught Nicodemus:
John 3:3 (KJV)
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
And Jesus explained how eternal life is received:
John 3:15 (KJV)
“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
Since Jesus promised the thief that he would enter paradise, we have powerful evidence that the thief received the salvation Jesus described to Nicodemus.
5. The thief demonstrates that salvation is God’s gift.
Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV)
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
These verses beautifully explain the principle illustrated by the thief’s salvation.
My favorite lesson from the thief on the cross
The thief had no opportunity to change his past, perform good works, be baptized, or dedicate years of service to God. His hands and feet were nailed to a cross. He had absolutely nothing to offer Jesus except his faith. Yet that was enough for Jesus to promise him paradise.
And this teaches us something extraordinarily important: We are not saved because of what we have accomplished for Jesus Christ. We are saved because of what Jesus Christ accomplished for us!
The thief’s salvation is a wonderful illustration of the difference between religion attempting to earn salvation and faith receiving salvation as a gift.
It is OUR Job to accept this Gift.
Another key teaching in understanding what I am explaining is quite simple when understood.
Jesus Christ performed His atoning sacrifice for all mankind, but that doesn’t mean that all mankind will receive it. Due to our free agency, the atonement of Jesus Christ is not forced upon anyone! In order for it to become effective in our life, we must choose to accept this gift.
According to the teachings of Jesus Christ recorded in the bible, we accept the gift of Jesus Christ’s atonement by placing our faith in Him as our Lord and Savior.
We acknowledge that we are sinners, repent by turning to God, believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, and believe that God raised Him from the dead.
We receive His forgiveness and salvation through faith, not through religious ceremonies, good works, or anything we can do to earn it. When we genuinely place our trust in Jesus Christ, we are born again, receive the gift of eternal life, and become children of God. That’s right! Not everyone is a child of God.
Romans 10:9 (KJV)
“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.“
Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV)
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Romans 5:11 (KJV)
“And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”
The beautiful truth is this: Jesus Christ has already paid the price for our salvation. We do not have to earn His gift. We simply receive it through genuine faith in Him.
Being Born Again Happens IMMEDIATELY!
Being born again happens immediately when a person genuinely places their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It is not a gradual process, something earned through good works, or something that requires years of religious obedience. The very moment a person receives Jesus Christ through faith, they are spiritually born again, forgiven of their sins, and given the gift of eternal life. They can find great comfort and peace knowing that they NOW will be going to Heaven when they die.
John 5:24 (KJV)
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, 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.”
Notice that Jesus says “hath everlasting life” and “is passed from death unto life.” These describe a present reality, not something a believer must wait years to receive.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Ephesians 1:13 (KJV)
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”
The important distinction: Being born again is immediate, but growing spiritually and becoming more Christlike is a lifelong process called sanctification.
Salvation happens in a moment through faith in Jesus Christ. Spiritual growth continues throughout our earthly lives.
The most important message is not that life will become difficult, but that Jesus Christ offers hope, peace, and eternal life regardless of how difficult the world becomes.
As Jesus said in Matthew 11:28 (KJV):
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
That is perhaps the greatest encouragement of all: No matter how troubled the world becomes, God’s love and His promises remain unchanged.
In conclusion, when a person becomes Born Again as we have discussed, they can rest assured that they are going to heaven. No more worry, stress or anxiety wondering if we are good enough. This is a matter of fact! We are going to heaven because of what Jesus has done for us, and has nothing to do with us being good enough.
Additionally, those who have become born again, are “in Christ.” And as this scripture teaches, those who are in Christ will soon be rescued from the terrible things that are to come upon this earth in the final 7 years on earth called the 7-year tribulation period. This rescue is called the Rapture.
A person does not need to know the details of the rapture to be included. If you are born again, God will find you, and remove you from this earth, and take you immediately to a place to be with the Lord forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 (KJV)
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
- They meet Jesus Christ in the air. This is the first destination explicitly identified in Scripture.
- Their bodies are instantly transformed. They receive immortal, glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15:51–53).
- They remain forever with Jesus Christ. They will never again be separated from their Savior.
John 14:3 (KJV)
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
Personally, I do not have to worry about what is happening on the earth right now, nor even what is coming. I am aware of God’s plan for me, a born-again believer.
I know that God will be dealing with the evil on this earth, by pouring our His bowls of wrath upon all of the people left on the earth. But I also know that God will be rescuing me before any of this begins, through the rapture that he has promised.
And, most comforting, I KNOW that I will be with God, FOREVER, in Heaven with a new perfected body, to spend eternity in a state of happiness and love that I have been dreaming about all of my life. My “Happily Ever After” is coming very soon.
So, when you become overwhelmed with the challenges of this earth, remember, we have just been told that we only have a short time to endure, and then we will finally be in the place that we have so longed to be… HOME!
Spend less time watching the news, and more time confirming that you have become born again.
Born again is not just being baptized. Baptism should happen AFTER a person has had this new spiritual transformation.
If you haven’t already received this, you can do it RIGHT NOW in the privacy of your own home.
There is not a step-by-step process listed in the Bible as instructions for being born again. But, if after you have read this, you still would like some specific guidance, consider this:
While in prayer with God, recognize that you are a sinner. Know that you NEED God and Jesus Christ in your life, and cannot do it by yourself. (To me, this has taken me a lifetime to realize because of my personality of doing everything by myself. Without going into details, this is how I’ve had to deal with life. However, I’ve learned that I need GOD in my life. Not just occasionally, but always.)
Realize that if it wasn’t for the atonement of Jesus Christ, you would have no chance of living with God in heaven because of your sins. Your mortal sins have made you unclean, and the only way for us to be clean is through the atonement of Jesus Christ.
Accept the GIFT of the atonement of Jesus Christ into your life. You can outwardly ask God to allow you to accept this gift.
Our acceptance is acknowledged by us having faith in this atonement. Know that it is because of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice that our sins can be forgiven.
Declaire that Jesus Christ is LORD, our Savior and Redeemer. “Confess with your mouth” as taught in scripture.
Repent of your sins. This is just between you and God. Confess what you have done wrong to HIM, directly through prayer, and ask for His forgiveness. Don’t get caught up in thinking that you have to do this perfectly; every sin, every detail, everything with clear recollection. Just talk to God as your father. Those things that come to mind that cause you to feel remorseful, tell Him about them. Repentance is not just “one and done” I still repent frequently, because I still make mistakes.
When you do this, and have FAITH in what I have taught, not just going through the “steps,” you will immediately become born again.
The moment you genuinely place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, your sins are forgiven, you receive the gift of eternal life, and the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within you. You become a new creation in Christ, become a child of God and are included into God’s family, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit as belonging to Him.
I cannot begin to express how important this is to me… To be Sealed to God! I belong to Him! Is there anything greater than knowing this?
As usual, I cannot stop my fingers from typing, and apologize for the length of this writing.
It is so important to me to help others eliminate the stress and worry of what they are experiencing, when there is a way for them to be able to let all of this go.
Jesus taught His gospel which is recorded in the New Testament of the Bible. It is indeed the truth that can set you free.
If the emotion of being free is not a part of your life right now, I encourage you to prayerfully consider what I have written today. These are not MY teachings, they are the teachings of Jesus Christ, and all of the Glory belongs to Him. He is the one that will make you free.
May God bless you in your continued search for peace, that you may find it through His teachings, is my prayer for you today.
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