January of 2,004 Newsletter



- "COME TO ME!" -

Matt 11:
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

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Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Note: "HE IS ABLE TO SAVE THEM TO THE UTTERMOST THAT COME UNTO GOD BY HIM".

What does it mean to, "COME to God by Him (i.e. "Christ")"?

In your estimation....

1* Have those who have yet to "FORSAKE ALL" (Matt.19:27-29) COME to God yet???

2* Have those who "LOVE THEIR LIFE", unwilling to give it up/lay it down (John 12:25) COME to God yet???

3* Have those who have yet to "SERVE AND FOLLOW HIM" (John 12:26) COME to God yet???

4* Have those who have yet to "DENY THEMSELVES, TAKE UP THEIR CROSS AND FOLLOW HIM" (Matt.16:24) COME to God yet???

5* Have those who have yet to "KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS/WORDS" (John 14:21-23) COME to God yet???

6* Have those who are still serving "MAMMON" (Matt. 6:24) COME to God yet???

7* Have those who are still "DOUBLE MINDED" (James 1:8; 4:8) COME to God yet???

8* Have those who have yet to "REPENT" (turn away from their sins and turn to God) (Acts 26:20, etc.) COME to God yet???

9* Have those who have yet to "OBEY HIM" (Acts 5:32) COME to God yet???

10* Have those who still "HATE" their brother (1 John 2:9; 4:21) COME to God yet???

11* Have those who have yet to "TAKE HIS YOKE UPON THEMSELVES" (Matt. 11:29-30) COME to God yet???

God's Biblical answers to all of the above is... "NO!" (Matt.22:37-40)!

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TAKE NOTE:

Gal 6:
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

THE ONLY CONCLUSION:

I Jn 5:
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

***FAITH*** what EXACTLY is it and what EXACTLY does it do???

ALL of the above 11 Questions and our Answers to them depends on the kind of "FAITH" one has! What is the "FAITH" of a TRUE Believer/Follower of Christ?: simply, "I hear and I obey!" It is NOT hearing and obeying "man" or what man says, but hearing and obeying “God” and what He alone says (and already said according to His word).

Indeed, "Faith" comes by hearing the word of God - and the kind of "Faith" that has "Righteousness" imputed to it (James 2:20-26) is the kind that "Obeys" it as well as when it "Hears" it (ex: "COME to Me"!).

Anything falling SHORT of this "Faith" (unwilling to lay ALL we have and are aside, including our own life; no matter the reason we chose, and so not come to God;) --- falls short of the kind of "Faith" I am describing!

And a lack of understanding and obeying the Truth (the words of God) gives a "double-minded" understanding [letting some foolishly choose to believe they can have their cake (sin) now and eat it (take pleasure in it) too!] that LACKS the "Faith" necessary to "Lay it all down WITH Him - take it all up anew IN Him - and Overcome"!

It lacks this because it has yet to "Hear Him". And if it heard Him it refused to "Obey Him" by forsaking all and COMING TO HIM" and be born of God through being "Crucified" with Christ on ALL the above 11 questions I have presented above...

THAT is what "FAITH" is, what it does, and how it comes about!!!!!

It's time to bow before Him and ask Him to come into your heart... thus coming to Him!

May every blessing in Christ be yours,
Biff