The Right Life for the Last Days

Here are some interesting statements by Clarence Larkin from his book “Rightly Dividing The Word.”

1. There are three classes of professing Christians

Those who are saved an KNOW IT
Those who are saved and are NOT SURE OF IT
Those who are NOT saved but THINK THEY ARE (1)

2. The signs of a TRUE believer

A Consciousness of the New Birth
The fruits of the Holy Spirit are in their life
A progressive Sanctification
A consistent walk
A perseverance of the faith(1)

Read these following verses, all from the New Testament.

John 14:15 (KJV) If ye love me, keep my commandments.

John 15:10 (KJV) If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

1 John 2:3 (KJV) And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

1 John 5:3 (KJV) For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Precepts, statutes, commandments, laws, all of these words pretty much mean the same thing to a Christian who is saved by grace; that being guidelines given by God for living an abundant life in His will.

But when you read the following statement “Saved By Grace, Submitting To His Commandments”, how many of you get your hackles up and a rebellious spirit overcomes you?

Let me ask you this…

If you had a child and never instructed them or corrected them, what sort of child would you have?

Basically you would have a wild animal.

Why is it that we feel that “saved by grace” is the finishing point where in reality it is the starting point?

Why is it when one mentions God’s precepts, statutes, commandments and law all of a sudden one is labeled legalistic?

Why does one feel the need to claim the title Christian, but then blatantly rebels when Christ said “if you love me keep my commandments?”

You see, the law and His commandments are instruction and guidelines. If we follow them, they will enrich our lives greatly, but if ignored, they will diminish our lives and lead to the path of rebellion.

Look at the consequences as well as the blessings.

Obey your parents… live a long life

Tithe, giving 10%… God says he will open the windows of heaven, and pour out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Do not murder or steal – live a free life from jail; break the law, go to jail.

Avoid eating pork – no clogged arteries and no heart disease.

God knew what he was doing when he told us to obey His commandments.

Now I know that there are some of you out there saying that all we have to do is love God and love one another.

But how do you love God and love others when you have no basis of what God is? To love God is to know God. You love your husband or wife because you know them in a deeper manner than that of other people, correct? How can you love God when you do not know his statutes, precepts or commandments?

Love is a choice, it is not a feeling. Love is knowledge in action.

1 Peter 1:16 (KJV) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

How many of us are truly living a holy life?

How can one be holy when one does not even know what holiness is?

Now do all 613 of the laws pertain to us? No, but the Lord will impress upon you in loving obedience and submission to Him, His desires.

This is all part of “working out your own salvation” and growing in the knowledge of your heavenly Father.

Here is something else to think about. What blessings are you missing out on when you are not lovingly submitting yourself fully to the Lord and His ways?

It is not an overnight process either; it is a life long process of God working in you.

Philemon 3:12-15(KJV) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

How many of us are making excuses and missing the mark but claiming the title?

God’s law, commandments, precepts, and guidelines are there to enrich our lives not diminish it.

The Purpose of the Law:

1. To teach the believer how to serve, worship and please God [Psalm 19:7-9; Acts 18:13, 14].

2. To instruct the believer how to treat his fellow man and have healthy relationships with him [Leviticus 19:18; Galatians 5:14; Galatians 6:2].

3. To teach believers how to be happy and prosper here on earth by manifesting the power and authority of God’s reign in their lives [Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3; Luke 12:32].

4. The Law was given, not to save, but to measure man’s deeds both toward God and his fellow man, straightening out all matters contrary to sound doctrine [I Timothy 1:8-10; II Timothy 2:5; I Corinthians 6: 1- 12; I Corinthians 3:13; Romans 2:12; Revelation 20:12, 13].

5. The Law is a schoolmaster showing that we are guilty and then leading us to Christ our Messianic justification [Galatians 3:21-24; Romans 3:19].

6. The Law gives us both the knowledge and depth of our sin [Romans 3:20; Romans 4:15; Romans 7:7, 8; Luke 20:47 – greater damnation].

7. The Law reveals the good, holy, just, and perfect nature of God and serves as the visible standard for God’s will [Romans 2:17, 18; Romans 7:12; II Peter 1:4].

8. The Law is to be established or accomplished by our faith, therefore, it is called the Law of faith [Romans 3:27; Romans 3:31].

9. The same Law today is written on our hearts, and through God’s Spirit we can delight and serve the Law of God [Romans 7:6-25] (1)

I remind you of the signs of a TRUE believer…

A Consciousness of the New Birth
The fruits of the Holy Spirit are in their life
A progressive Sanctification
A consistent walk
A perseverance of the faith

Philemon 2:12 (KJV) Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

By submitting to God’s word in loving obedience our lives become enriched. It also separates us from the world.

Romans 12:2 (KJV) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

You see, that is my concern in these last days. So many people claim the title, but do not live by the Spirit. They continue to conform to the ways of the world; all in the excuse of “grace.”

You see there are plenty of baptized, checked a card, parroted a prayer, never opened a bible, hell bound, church members out there.

This troubles me greatly. People need to wake up and smell the coffee. Time is short.

All in all we have lost our saltiness and no longer are we the light.

We are no longer the salt and light because we have forgotten what it means to be holy. We are like the wild child with no guidance; all we know what to do is run around in life sinning by “grace”.

We no longer respect the landmarks of our fathers and have forgotten the laws and precepts God has given us.

Proverbs 22:28 (KJV) Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

Deuteronomy 19:14 (KJV) Thou shalt not remove thy neighbor’s landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.

The question is are you rebellious and claim grace and use it as a license to sin or have you submitted humbly and lovingly to our Lord?

Got rebellion? Miss the Kingdom…

1 Samuel 15:23(KJV) For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee…

Galatians 5:19-21(KJV) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

But if you are truly one of his, be warned…

Psalms 89:30-32 (KJV) If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; 31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; 32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.

Choose you this day whom you will serve…

Joshua 24:15 (KJV) And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

We know that there is no salvation in the law, for we are saved by grace by the shed blood of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Grace is the beginning; it is our duties to Him and our eternal rewards in seeking the kingdom first that now matters. We have a job to do; we need to be about doing it.

We must be sharing the gospel with earnest intent knowing that it might be to our shame that one is burning in hell because we lacked the fortitude to do what is right and boldly stand for Him.

The time is short and we must be about the Father’s business in haste, but in doing that, we must know the Father’s Word, Precepts, Commandments and Laws.

Romans 10: 14 (KJV) – 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?

Romans 10:17 (KJV) – So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Isaiah 6:8 (KJV) Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

John 14:15 (KJV) If ye love me, keep my commandments.

The Time To Stand is Now.

Who Do You Serve?

Jesus stated the following…

John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

If you do not have Christ in your life, you will spend eternity in hell. This is a fact. It does not matter if you believe this or not, it is the truth spoken by Jesus himself. If your name is not written in the Lambs Book of Life you will go to hell for what you have not done and that is accepting Christ as your personal savior. To be placed in the Lamb Book of Life, you need to turn your life completely over to Him. Having “head” knowledge or “just believing in Christ” is not the same as having “heart” knowledge with Christ living in your heart. We know that even the devils believe in Him, where are they spending eternity?

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

We work hard at Prophezine to show that Bible Prophecy is coming to pass. Because of this fact, the Bible is true. Since the Bible is the true and inerrant word of God, there is a heaven and there is a hell.

If you claim the title of “Christian” then take account of yourself this day. Many claim the title, but we read in God’s Word that the title does not get you into heaven.

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Who you serve will determine where you will spend eternity. If you are not serving Christ and a true child of God, then you are serving Satan and a child of the enemy.

If you are not 110% sure, then take account of yourself, your very life depends upon it.