Ignoring Death

Why is it that we never speak about death seriously?

There is one connecting fact for every human being on this planet.

Fact: you will die.

The ultimate statistic: 10 out of 10 people DIE.

Ever since conception we are all heading on a pace towards death. This is inevitable. There is no way out. We are all going to die. We are mortals. Why is it that we try to silence death when there is such clear evidence presented towards us of our own mortality? Could it possibly be because we are so afraid of what lies ahead?

A friend I ate lunch with recently alerted my mind to one problem with this culture. She was explaining the difference between the understanding of pain and death when she was little as compared to how the culture understands it today. She told a story of how her cow died and she cried for weeks. Nowadays, she exclaimed kids see death on television and video games all the time. Could it be that this culture has become immune to the reality of death?

I remember at basically every funeral I went to there was little respect paid for the dead. Most of the people outside the funeral home were joking and laughing. Many of them were in conversations that had nothing to do with the dead. Some of them were even talking about such worthless things as football games and television shows. WHY?

Someone had just died! Someone's family was in the funeral home in complete pain and anguish! Yet, the world of friends this man had were outside laughing about a football game! Hopefully, I am not the only one who sees something horribly wrong with this situation!

My father and mother ever since I was young, have basically taught me to ignore death and bad things. I can remember times where I would say something like 'this car could crash into that ditch' and my mother or father would respond 'man, don't say things like that'. I remember other times when I said something about death or people dying and they basically shushed me up again. WHY? Why were even my parents trying to ignore the ultimate fate of every human's life?

Just as their is a serious financial problem for people who live their lives without planning for tomorrow... there is also a serious spiritual problem for people who live their lives without realizing one day they will die.

Prayer: Father, I pray that I will never lose sight of the time I have left on this planet. I pray that I will always use this time you've allotted me wisely and for your glory. I pray that people will recognize their own mortality and run to the cross of Christ. Amen.

+ Jakab +

Testimony - EX Atheist

The Following is a testimony I wrote to one of my atheist friends on Youtube. He didn't understand how I could have once been an atheist and now am a Biblical Christian without some sort of 'Brainwashing' by either my parents or some church. But, somehow without all of that God graciously came and got me... opened my eyes to the truth and made me a new creation in Christ Jesus.

Message Sent: September 1st, 2009.
Sender: BonzaiJakab
Recipient: WWE09FAN

Maybe this won't make much sense to you. Maybe it wont even help you at all. It could be a complete waste of my time. But, hopefully by the end of it, you will recognize that I only do this in the hope that you will come to the truth as well.

My parents are not Christian. I was not raised in a church. I was not raised up as a Christian by anyone. I was not converted by any man. I used to actually believe that there was no god. I was taught evolution in school. I researched a little and seen the lack of evidence and stupidity in it. Thus, I didn't have much faith in that garbage to begin with. But, when I looked at religion, I saw a bunch of people arguing and fighting about which god to serve... I seen so much hypocrisy in the American churches. People would 'love Jesus' on Sunday mornings but get drunk throughout the week and live sinfully in other ways.

I did not want God. I wished that there were no god. I based my belief on the assertion that 'there is no god', because he hasn't shown himself to anyone and there can't be a hell, that's too bad of a place and other assertions.

Clearly, I was athiestic. I even used to research different Bible verses (like you do) about slavery and women and murdering kids and laws about food etc. I had built up a very strong case against god. The other gods were foolish (hinduism over 3 million gods, Allah for muslims some vision in a cave, jehovahs witnesses and mormons only began 150 years ago).

I actually favored buddhism more than any of the others, because it seemed peaceful and knew answers to life. But, then I researched buddhism and realized that while Siddharta Guatama (Buddha) had some good quotes, he eventually died.

Somehow, soon after all of this. I was convinced that atheism was illogical and basically stupid. I looked around at atheists and realized that while it was fun to trick 'christians and muslims' on the internet, it was just a game. And while it was fun to live sinfully (which I was...), it leads to more harm than good and ultimately you die.

I began to look at the stars and the trees and the creation all around me, and I recognized that there was a creator. I didn't have a magical vision. I didn't hear a voice. I just logically thought it out and knew this stuff didn't 'just randomly happen'.

Then, I began to think... If there is a creator... then perhaps finding out who it is would be important. Perhaps the way we live here on earth had a greater purpose than just doing whatever feels right or whatever feels good at the moment (worldy lusts and pleasures).

(For a period of about 2 years, I sort of made up my own god... He allowed me to do what I wanted to... He was kind and loving to all people, especially me. He didn't have a hell. He was good... and didnt even care if I worshipped him).

The problem with this is clear. Hopefully you can see a dramatic problem! Just because I make some junk up and believe it even with all my heart doesn't make IT TRUE! It was a lie! I quickly knew it was a lie... and began to look for evidence for the true God, whoever he or she was or were...

If there is some sort of a god... and if he or she actually did require something from us... I'm sure he or she would have let us know somehow!!!!

So, ultimately... I looked back over the religions... and dismissed the newer one's because they were basically idiotic and based on nothing at all. I dismissed Buddhism, because it doesn't have a god, borrows most of it's junk from Hinduism (because Buddha was once a Hindu) and ultimately has no answers to life's big questions.

I wanted to look at other religions, I looked into cults, old myths, and roman godesses and gods... they are cute stories but basically nothing more. They died with the fall of rome.

Islam is founded by Mohammed someone who basically wrote a book received by an angel in a cave? That basically said, Judaism is somewhat true, Christianity is somewhat true, but This book will show you the real truth which is neither. Why would I believe in a god who inspired scriptures like the Torah and New Testament, but somehow didn't have the power to keep them without error? Because Islam teaches that the basics of the Bible and Torah are true, but they have been corrupted over the years... so basically God has given us a new book called the Quran. Are you kidding me? How can one base it's religion off of other religions?

So, by this same logic I wanted to dismiss Christianity. Because it's based off Judaism somewhat.

But, when I checked out Judaism and Christianity and discovered the relationship... Jews for over 2000 years had been waiting for a messiah to come. Christianity claims the same thing Judaism does except Christianity says Christ is the messiah. Where Judaism is still waiting on theirs... It's now been over 4000 years.

So, I looked into them both. Looked into Biblical Prophecy, Looked into some of the answers posed by intelligent individuals that I once questioned as an atheist, but now I seen that the Christians kinda did have an answer. But, then I kinda brushed them off, because there is no way some guy got all sorts of animals into a boat... theres no way Jesus was raised from the dead... etc.

But, ultimately I came to believe it all. Through logically examining the evidence, looking at the options, and then experiencing the reality by actually reading the Word of God and being changed as a result... I came to be made into a new creation in Christ Jesus.

I went from laughing about him on south park, to not watching south park because they blasphemed his name.

I went from sinning willfully and loving it, to now even hating being in predicaments that might lead to sin.

I went from denying the very existence of God, to recognizing His existence and submitting my life to His truths.

Still, I can not take any credit for my conversion. My heart was a stone rock. I could care less about this Jesus. But, I grew to absolutely be willing to die for Him, because of who He is (God) and what He has done for me (atoning sacrifice on cross). He desires to save you. Repent and Believe the Gospel. Or continue on in your unbelief. Either way, it won't change the truth. Christ will still be God. The evidence is clear.

Prayer: God, I pray that you alone will be glorified. Amen.

+ Jakab +

Bonzai Ministries

In the past couple of months, I have been given a heart for the lost. I have grown much in my own walk with God, through His grace. Thus, I have a greater passion to share the truth of Christ with others. This passion for God, which resulted in a passion for lost souls has made me work to create a compilation disc entitled 'The Bonzai Files - Volume I'.

In the summer of 2007, my friend (Raye) and I (Jakab) decided to create a Christian website. We couldn't come up with a name right away... but I wanted something different yet representative of God. Ultimately, we chose 'Bonzai Ministries'. I chose this because I had always been a fan of the Karate Kid movies and liked Bonsai Trees. But, also because the story of the Bible is related to trees, somewhat. A summary of the website/Ministry is as follows:

Bonzai Ministries is meant to be a beautiful creation of God, just like a ‘Bonsai’ tree.
Sin entered into our world because Adam & Eve disobeyed God and ate from a tree.
Christ died on a tree (cross) to pay the price for all sins,

so that we could be redeemed as children of God.

The ‘Bonsai’ Tree represents the union between the sinner and the Savior.

We pray that people will recognize this message of Salvation and be reconnected with The Father, through Repentance and Faith in the LORD Jesus Christ.

Yes, I know that 'Bonzai' is not the correct spelling of the tree. But, we wanted something different. I've always liked the way 'Bonzai' is spelled, even though the correct spellings are either banzai or bonsai.

Until now, Bonzai Ministries has just been a website. But, now the ministry is taking action. I have put together over the past few months a huge data collection of various items onto Data DVD Discs to hand out freely, entitled 'The Bonzai Files - Volume I'.

Items Included in 'The Bonzai Files - Volume I' are...

01. 22 Audio Sermons

02. 59 Audio Sermon Jams

03. Audio Set - HeartCry Missionary Conference 2005

04. 11 Bonus Audio Files

05. 17 Video Sermon Jams

06. 6 Video Testimonies

07. 16 Video Sermons

08. 24 Other Videos

09. 60+ Christian Website Links

10. 5 Bonus Christian Rap Albums

11. Christian Wallpapers

12. Christian Literature

13. Gospel / Concert Footage

14. Two Witnessing CD's

15. Other Bonus Items

Speakers included on this disc are as follows: John Piper, Paul Washer, Tim Conway, Paris Reidhead, Ravi Zacharias, Carter Conlon, Charles Leiter, Kirk Cameron, Ray Comfort along with some others.

I have gained permission from all of the organizations/churches for the resources provided to make this project happen. I have tried to be as careful as possible with this project.

But, I have a sort of dilemma. You see, many of these resources may help bring the lost to Christ... but many of these resources may also help Christians grow in their faith. What a wonderful dilemma to have! May God get all the glory from this work.

Click Here to see The Bonzai Ministries Website!

Please listen. I don't want any glory out of this. Anyone who follows my blog knows that I never even write about myself or my works. But, I felt the need to write this to show how God is using even me to further His truth. I only pray that God would use this project to save wretched sinners and strengthen the saints all for His Glory Alone.

Prayer: Father, you have granted me the amazing privilege of knowing the gospel of our Gracious Lord. I pray that as I share it with others through this compilation that you would work on the hearts of sinful men, women, and children bringing them to a place of repentance and faith and granting them salvation. I pray for every soul that receives one of these discs that your hand would guide them to use it wisely. You deserve all praise and honor, Lord. Please use this project for Your Glory. Amen.

+ Jakab +

The Lordship of Christ

Pastor Tim Conway in this sermon illustrates for us the difference between a true faith and false simple belief. In this blog, I will attempt to refute both false versions of salvation while upholding the truth as found in Scripture.

Easy-Believism - a movement of many religious people to say that salvation is accomplished by a simple belief or acknowledgment of facts.

Works-Righteous Salvation - a movement of many religious people to claim that in order to be saved you must earn your way to Heaven through works and good deeds.

Easy-Believism or Works-Righteous Salvation? Where is true Salvation found? NEITHER!

True Salvation is by faith alone. But, this faith is not just a simple belief or confession that 'Jesus is God'. This faith is a truly repentant faith where one acknowledges his sinfulness and repents of it, running to Christ as his Savior and Lord. Christ said 'Repent and Believe the Gospel'. Those who truly repent and truly believe in Christ Jesus will be saved. This salvation will be evident by the continual repentance and faith and also the fruit that comes forth in keeping with the truth.

For a while now, many people (especially Americans) have tried to make salvation a little business on Sunday mornings. Come hear a good lovey-dovey preaching, good up-tempo music, and receive the free gift of salvation... just make sure you don't forget the offering plate. Many of these churches preach an 'easy-believist' type of doctrine. Basically, if you say a little prayer or a couple of words with the pastor, then salvation is yours forever! One of their favorite scriptures is the following...

Romans 10:9 - if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Many of these churches take Romans 10:9 out of the context of it's surrounding scripture, the context of the time period it was written in and roman church it was written to, and the context of the entire Bible's view of Salvation. People take this verse as the 'one and only Salvation verse'. It's almost like a game show in many churches today... 'Confess Jesus is Lord, Come on Down receive Salvation... Just say these words and walk away with the prize!' This is pitiful and a complete misuse of the scriptures.

So let's look at the ways in which people misuse this scripture.

1. People misuse Romans 10:9 by ignoring it's context through surrounding scripture.

Romans Chapter 4, speaks clearly about justification through faith in Christ Jesus, not a simple recital of words. Romans Chapter 6, speaks of those who truly having faith in this Son, will be new creations who have died to sin and live for Christ and His Glory. You see, the surrounding context of the entire book of Romans gives light unto the fact that this passage is not talking about 'those who say a couple of words with a preacher' are saved. Rather it is saying that those who are truly SAVED by faith (truly believing) will confess 'Jesus is Lord' because they are new creations in Christ Jesus. By ignoring the context in Romans, people tend to misuse this scripture as meaning simply reciting a couple of words.

2. People misuse Romans 10:9 by ignoring that it was written to the Roman church during a time of harsh persecution.

The Church is Rome was persecuted heavily for their faith in Christ Jesus. Many first and second century Christians were killed for their faith. Some were set on fire, others were crucified, others were stoned to death. This was clearly a place and time of heavy persecution. So, by someone standing in public and confessing 'Jesus is Lord' could cost them their life! It wasn't just a 'couple of words' back then. It was in many cases counted as unlawful and even treason. By ignoring the fact that 'confessing Jesus is Lord' meant basically being willing to die for the Christ, people tend to misinterpret this scripture to mean simply reciting a couple of words.

3. People misuse Romans 10:9 by ignoring the context of the entire Bible.

The Bible speaks much on salvation. Jesus mentioned many requirements for salvation. Jesus says 'Unless a man repents, he will likewise perish'. Jesus says 'that whosoever believes in [Me] shall have everlasting life and not perish. Jesus says 'no one will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, unless he be born again'. So, here we have three verses stated by Christ Himself that completely dismiss the idea of salvation by reciting a couple of words. So, why is it that these verses are ignored?

Probably because they aren't as familiar as the others. It could become a problem for seeker-sensitive churches because salvation doesn't quite sell to the public as well if it isn't easy and humanistic. Another reason is because many people are just plain ignorant of Soteriology (the study of Biblical salvation). But, nevertheless Salvation as clearly outlined in scripture is not a simple recital of a couple of words, but rather a truly repentant faith in Jesus Christ of which we are made new creations by the grace of God.

Many easy-believists will not adhere to any kind of actual repentance. They run off into lala-land where repentance is a bad word and offends people. Well, scripture proclaims repentance, whether it offends people or not. Actually, their famous verse Romans 10:9 when accompanied by another verse in scripture makes it perfectly clear that those who truly believe and confess Jesus as Lord, must repent of their sins.

2 Timothy 2:19 - Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

Salvation is not a carnal work of man to say the right words in order to enter Heaven (Easy-believism). Salvation is not a carnal work of man whereby he does the right things and performs good deeds as to earn his way into Heaven (Works-Righteousness). No, Salvation is a supernatural event whereby God graciously grants repentance and faith to the lost sinner in need and makes them a new creation in Christ Jesus (Biblical Salvation). All of the glory in salvation goes to God, not man.

Something is seriously wrong with the way many preachers understand the gospel of Jesus Christ, nowadays. I don't know what caused this horrid time of Christ-less preachers to arise... but I do know what will fix it. We need to run to Christ! We need to study His Word! We need to not desire to be like the world, but rather understand that we are set apart for His work! We need to teach the truth! We need to be Unashamed! We need God's Grace and Mercy.

Let us now go and do the task to which we were called.

Prayer:
Thank you Lord for true salvation! God give us the stength to stand up and proclaim your gospel to all who will listen. Equip us with the truth, so that we may proclaim the saving gospel of Christ without error. Empowerer us with the power of the Holy Spirit so that souls will turn to you with a truly repent faith and be made new. Oh God save us from the wickedness around us. We trust in You alone. Amen.

+ Jakab +

The Infinite Love of God

God's Love is completely infinite. His Love for His Son is completely infinite. His Love for us is completely infinite. His Son's Love for us is completely infinite.

John 15:9 - As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Remain in My Love.

Jesus here states an amazingly powerful proclamation! The love that Christ has for us is similar to the love that the Father has for the Son. Look at the Love the Father has for the Son! God's revelation to mankind is all about the Son. The Bible is a book completely about The Son! The Old Testament Prophecies are speaking of The Son. The New Testament is telling the actual works of The Son. The Father chose the Son to be the Lord and Savior of all. The name above all names. Christ Jesus.

The Father's great expression of love is given to the Son. But, just as God infinitely and completely loves Christ; Christ infinitely and completely loves us.

God the Father loved us enough to send His Son to be the sacrifice for our sins. But we must remember this... the Son was not forced into bearing the Cross. The Son's Love for us is So GREAT! Jesus Christ willingly agreed to lay down His life for His people! Jesus Christ Died For You! He satisfied the wrath of God our your account by living a sinless life, yet taking on our sins for us and suffering the punishment.

Can you wrap your mind around God's Love? No. It's too amazing. But does He love you with an undying love? Absolutely.

You don't think that The Father loves you?

He satisfied the eternal justice by sacrificing His own Beloved Son for you! How much more proof do you need?

You don't think that The Son loves you?

He laid aside His royalty and bore your sins and DIED for you! How much more proof do you need?

Romans 5:8 - But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us!

Prayer:
Father, I pray that we would recognize the love you have for us. I pray that we would think of this great and enormous love and let it move us to love others. You loved us even when we were wretched sinners who hated your name. Oh God thank you for loving us, despite our wretchedness. Thank you for being gracious and merciful by providing us lost creatures a way into your Kingdom through your Son. Amen.

+ Jakab +

Death

Why is it that no one ever talks about death? It's almost like our parents have trained us to think of death as some sort of taboo. Death is coming for each and every one of us. You may not have a home; You may not gain status at your place of employment; You may not enjoy a family; You may not ever think about death; You may not ever truly live your life; But, there is one thing that is completely sure... Each and every one of us will die. The Basketball player, The POP singer, The NFL Quarterback, The preacher on the corner, The mother of five children, The television star, The homeless man under the bridge... All of us will die.

And the Bible speaks plainly about death, even to a culture that tries to ignore it. The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27 - "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment". We will all stand before God and be judged according to our lives. We will either be judged according to our own merit and found guilty for our sins and thrown into Hell. Or, we will be judged according to the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ and found righteous before God and be welcomed into Heaven. These are the only two options!

Sometimes, I witness to people through the internet. I have begun to send random messages saying 'Where will you go when you die?'. I receive many messages that say 'Dude, that's personal' or something similar. Why are people so defensive when talking about death? Our eternity is the most important thing in the World! Why would we not want to talk about it? I think I may know the answer. Because they are scared. Many people are completely frightened at the thought of death, because they are unsure of what is coming after. Death is a frightening thing and an enemy to most, but with the hope that we (True believers) have in Christ Jesus, death becomes a friend.

'Oh Death! Where is your sting?'

Many other people respond with 'heaven' or 'I don't know'. This is ironic. Because the Bible plainly tells us that the way to Heaven is narrow, yet most people think they are going to Heaven when they die... these people are simply misled.

Prayer:

Oh Father. I pray that we would not take death lightly. I pray that we would understand the root cause of death and let it show us our wretched sinfulness. I pray that those who are in fear of death would run to you in faith. I pray that they would call upon You 'the one who has power over death' so that they may be SAVED. I ask that only your will be done. In Christ Jesus. Amen.

+ Jakab +

The Narrow Road

What has happened to Christian culture? The culture of Christianity used to override the culture of secularism. Many of the old school scientists were Christians. Michelangelo & Raphael painted and sculpted beautiful pieces of art representing Biblical characters and stories. The writings and books were filled with Christian ideals and morals.

Have you ever read some of the songs written by John Newton or other Christian songwriters from a while back? They are filled with theology! It's like a sermon in every song! When I listen to many of the great hymns of our faith and compare them to the typical songs on Christian radio nowadays... there is no comparison. Many things played on Christian radio stations don't even mention God. But, those hymns are forever theologically accurate and blessed.

But, thanks be to God that there are those out there that still preach the truth through their art. This video is of a song entitled 'The Narrow Road to Heaven'. I enjoy this song very much. I enjoy the singing, rhythm, and theological lyrics. This song is loaded with Biblical truth. There are also many other artists now that are bringing Biblically solid lyrics in their music. One of my personal favorites is Shai Linne.

Please don't settle for sadly weak Christian music. Instead search for the songs that are deeply-rooted in scripture. Let us glorify God in all that we do.

+ Jakab +

Reaching The Lost

I have been to many funerals in my short 20 years on this earth. When I was young I didn't really pay attention to what the preachers at the funerals would say. But now that I am older and more mature in the faith, I listen very attentively to discern whether the preachings are sound. The Bible states that there are two types of people in this world. The Sheep & The Goats. The Wheat & The Tares. The Saved & The Unsaved. However, it seems that if we get our theology from most funeral preachers we may end up thinking that everyone is Saved and on their way to Heaven. Jesus says plainly in Matthew Chapter 7 that the way is broad and wide that leads to destruction (Hell), yet at funerals we all seem to ignore those words. Why is that?

Probably, because most people don't truly believe the words of Jesus in the first place. If we did truly believe that most people were on their way to hell, then why aren't we all out in the streets screaming for their salvation? Why aren't we on our knees crying out to God for His mercy upon them? A passion for God and His Glory should directly result in a passion for the lost to be Saved, because that pleases God and makes Him look extremely Glorious.

So, what exactly are we doing Church? Are we speaking out like Paul Washer, against those false teachers that only preach on financial blessings and riches? Are we raising up children that will be evangelical for the KING of KINGS? Are we even preaching sound doctrine in our Churches and Sunday School classrooms? Are we doing what we can to reach the lost in our homes, communities and world? Find something to do to SPREAD the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST! We can do so much more than our present circumstance!

Meditate on the words of Jesus to His disciple Simon Peter in John 21:16...

Jesus said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?"
He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."
Jesus said to him, "Shepherd My sheep."

Let us truly shepherd, feed, and take care of God' sheep. Let us preach the gospel to all the nations and all who are in our own nation, such that the number of sheep grow through the working of the Holy Spirit of God.

+ Jakab +

Witnessing - Keith

I was driving from a Bible Study on my way to another Church tonight (Wed March 25), when I met a man named Keith. I think I remember correctly to say that his name was Keith although it could be something similar.

I was stopped at a stop sign on my route, when I heard a 'Hey!'. I rolled down my window and an around 40 year old black male wearing black jeans with oil spots and a t-shirt asked me if I could jump his car off for him. I reluctantly asked 'where is your car?' and he replied 'right up here at my aunt's house'. I thought that 'right up here' would mean the actual neighborhood we were already in; well to my surprise, it wasn't. He got in the car and I asked which way and he said 'Green St.', which is a street about 5 minutes away.

He intoduced himself as 'Keith' and said he was from Miami and in town visiting his family. He was very kind, even though he used coarse language. He then thanked me for agreeing to take him to his car. Next, he started explaining vigorously how 'all day long black people have passed him by, but this white boy picked him up'. I told him 'it ain't about race, man', trying to change the subject. He used many explicatives that I am editing out in these sentences.

Keith then told me that his car was near 'Highway 24-7', which is a highway around 7 minutes from out present location. I asked some questions about where exactly his car was and he gave some shady answers; however, the journey continued. A short while later he began talking on a cell phone to 'his cousin'. We were stopped at a railroad crossing right before the highway, when he explained to me that his cousing told him that 'the car had been towed'.

He then told me that the towing place was somewhere near Smiley's and asked if I could take him there. Smiley's is a giant flea market in Macon (about 12 minutes away). He wasn't begging or harassing, rather he was asking very kindly as if he truly needed for me to take him there. I began to become very suspicious when I found out that he wanted to go to Smiley's, because this is about the third time that our destination had been changed in the past fifteen minutes. Also, the phone conversations that he seemed to be having seemed to be 'one-way' conversations. I had doubts if anyone was even on the other line. Also, for someone from Miami... he sure did know his way around town.

Anyways, I hesitantly agreed on taking him to Smiley's. As we rode down the highway to Macon, he talked some about his car and 'talked on the phone' as well. But, then he asked the strangest question...

'Do You Believe in God, Jeremy?'

I replied 'Yes' very quickly, then there was a pause. I couldn't believe that he asked me that. It seemed like the question flew out of nowhere. Then I asked 'Do you believe in God?'. He replied 'Yes, sir'. I then asked 'what do you think happens after death'? He thought for a while, then said something like 'If your soul is right with God, then you go to heaven.' I then acted if I had no idea whatsoever about God and asked 'How does that all work?', and he replied 'You gotta go through Jesus'. He actually partially quoted John 14:6 by saying 'No one comes to God but through Jesus.'

In an effort to continue the conversation that somehow spontaneously generated (which is a scientific impossibility), I asked something along the lines of 'Why Jesus? How do you go through Him? etc.' He pondered the question for a while and then replied 'You know, I don't really have an answer for that one. But I think I will go to heaven when I die.'

Then I hit him with the big question 'Do you think you are a good person?'

He answered, 'Yes, I am a good person.'

I laughed a little and said 'Aiight, well let me ask you a couple of questions to see..?'

He said 'aiight'.

I asked, 'Have you ever told a lie?'

He smiled and said, 'yeah.'

I said, 'What do you call someone who tells lies?'

He said 'A busta!'

I laughed and then said 'Nawww, more specifically...'

He said 'A liar.'

I then took Keith through four other commandments and he was guilty of 4 out of 5 total. I then asked him, 'what does he think God should do with him on Judgment Day'? Essentially, he replied 'I don't know...' but then he began to think more and said 'but I've done alotta good things in my life.'

I replied, 'But it's like you are in a courtroom and you're guilty of murdering a bunch of people. The Judge isn't going to let you go free because you once helped an old lady across the street or gave to charity.'

He then said 'yeah, but then everybody is guilty.' I replied, 'ABSOLUTELY.'

I then began to give Him the Gospel, 'We are all guilty of sinning and breaking God's Holy Law, but God sent Jesus Christ on our behalf. He lived a perfect sinless life and then bore your sins and mine on that cross. He paid your fine, so now you can go free if...'

Abruptly, he stopped me and began talking on the phone again. Then he asked me if I could take him to his cousins house on San Juan. San Jaun is a street about 15 minutes away from Smiley's. I said 'alright'. I was thinking to myself, 'I've already brought him this far, I might as well take him where he really wants to go.' As we moved on down towards San Juan, he asked me hesitantly if I could give him some money. I replied no at first, but then he asked if I would buy him some chicken and I said Yes.

We pulled up at a local Church's Chicken. (Ha Ha Ha, I didn't think about it at the time, but it's sort of funny... I was on my way to church, then I got sidetracked and ended up at Church's Chicken. Ha Ha!)

I got him a 3-piece, biscuit and drink. I could tell that Keith really needed the money, so I gave him about eight dollars that I had left over also. He looked shocked and said 'Thanks Jeremy, you are full of surprises'. I then actually took him over to San Juan. Keith directed me to the house where he wished to be dropped off and I pulled up to it and stopped. As Keith got out of the car, he thanked me for doing all that I had done. Before he shut my door, I reached into my arm-rest and pulled out about some million dollar bill 'witnessing tracts'. I gave him about '15' and said 'Give some to your cousin, man.' He smiled and said 'aiight, thank you.' And then he walked around the car and I drove off.

Everything I mentioned in this story in absolutely true. This encounter actually happened to me as I portrayed it here. I did not tell this story so that people will think, 'Oh Jeremy, you are so wonderful. You are such a man of God, blah blah blah...' I don't want any praise or glory for this encounter, even though I did give the man $15,000,008 dollars.

I only wish that God will get all of the glory. I wrote this so that people would be encouraged to stay strong in the Faith. God will provide 'witnessing encounters' for you to be a witness for Christ, if you truly trust in Him. Look at my situation! I had no idea what God was doing, but perhaps God was setting things up with Keith and I so that I could share the Glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ.

My only regret is that I didn't get to finish the Gospel presentation because of the 'phone call'. I never got to tell Keith my two favorite words 'Repent & Believe'. Salvation only comes by repentance and faith in The Lord Jesus Christ. But, I pray sincerely that my new friend, Keith will think about the words we shared and that God will convict his heart of the sin in his life causing him to repent and truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ'.

May God Get All The Glory, All The Time!

+ Jakab +

Biblical Salvation - Part 4

A Christian is a new creation in CHRIST!

Romans 6:1-11 (We died to sin, just as Jesus was crucified. We were resurrected to a newness of life, just as Jesus was resurrected.)

2 Corinthians 5:15-17 - And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Romans 8:9 - You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

Galatians 5:24 - Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

Galatians 5:16 - So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Man cannot serve both God and the world.

Matthew 6:24 - No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. (Jesus)

James 4:4 - You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

Why Should I Be Saved? Because you have a desperate need for Salvation. How Can I Be Saved? Only through repentance and true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Is there a difference between a Christian and a non-Christian? Absolutley, a Christian is a new creation in Christ Jesus!

If You have not truly repented of your sins and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray that you will do that today.

+ Jakab +

Biblical Salvation - Part 3

Repentance + Faith in Jesus Christ

The Bible explains clearly that man must have true faith in Jesus Christ in order to be saved. The Bible also explains that true faith in Jesus Christ is accompanied by a true repentance from sin.

Repentance – a turning away from sin, a hatred for the things that God hates. This includes a genuine sorrow for the sin in one’s own life.

“Evangelical repentance is repentance of sin as sin: not of this sin nor of that, but of the whole mass. We repent of the sin of our nature as well as the sin of our practice. We bemoan sin within us and without us. We repent of sin itself as being an insult to God. Anything short of this is a mere surface repentance, and not a repentance which reaches to the bottom of the mischief.” – Charles Spurgeon

“True repentance will entirely change you; the bias of your souls will be changed, then you will delight in God, in Christ, in His Law, and in His people.” – George Whitefield

Faith – a turning toward God, believing and trusting in His Son and the work of Jesus Christ on the cross as a payment for your sins.

Ray Comfort explains that true faith is like ‘trusting Jesus as you would a parachute’.

“Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.” – Martin Luther

Ernest Reisinger describes ‘saving faith’ and ‘evangelical repentance’ as
‘Siamese twins -- inseparable in their application’.

Peter preached Faith + Repentance

Acts 2:38 - Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Peter)

Acts 3:19 - Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. (Peter)

1 Peter 1:5 - who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (Peter)

Paul preached Faith + Repentance

Paul is speaking to a meeting of the Areopagus, in Acts Chapter 17. In verse 30 He says this, “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent.” Later verse 34 explains that “A few men became followers of Paul and believed.” Here Paul is clearly teaching Repentance + Faith.

Acts 26:20 - First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. (Paul)

Acts 20:21 - I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. (Paul)

Jesus preached Faith + Repentance

Mark 1:15 - "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Jesus)

Mark 16:16 - Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Jesus)

Luke 13:5 - “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Jesus)

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (Jesus)

The thief on the cross was saved by a repentance of sin and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Luke 23:39-43) The thief showed a genuine sorrow for the sin that he committed, He says ‘We deserve this punishment’. The thief also expresses faith in the Lord Jesus by calling Him innocent and saying, ‘Jesus remember me when you come into your Kingdom’. For, why would the thief say this, if he didn’t believe Jesus truly was who He claimed to be.

+ Jakab +

Biblical Salvation - Part 2

The Gospel of The Lord Jesus Christ

1. The Nature of God

God is Infinite. His very being is infinite.

Revelation 22:13 - “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

He has always existed and will forever exist. God is Immortal.

Revelation 1:8 - "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

1 Timothy 1:17 - Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

God is omniscient (meaning that He knows all things). God is infinitely wise.

Isaiah 40:28 - Do you not know? Have you not heard? Yahweh is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never grows faint or weary; there is no limit to His understanding.

John 3:20 - For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

God is omnipresent (He is everywhere).

1 Kings 8:27 - “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!” (Solomon speaks to God)

Jeremiah 23:23-24 - "Am I only a God nearby," declares the LORD, "and not a God far away? Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD. (God speaks to Jeremiah)

God is omnipotent (He has all power).

Psalm 62:11 - Once God has spoken; Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God;

God is the living and true God.

Jeremiah 10:10a - But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King.

God is the source of all life. Apart from God there is no life.

Colossians 1:16-17 - For by him (God) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Acts 17:25 - And he (God) is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.

God is Immutable. His values and character does not change.

Malachi 3:6a - I the LORD do not change.

God is Holy (He is completely sinless and righteous).

Psalm 99:9 - Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.

Leviticus 11:44a - I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.

Psalm 119:137 - Righteous are you, O LORD, and your laws are right.

God is a Just God who delights in Justice.

Jeremiah 9:24 - but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.

2. The Nature of Man

Man is born in sin. Man is Sinful and Evil since birth.

Psalm 51:5 - Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Ephesians 2:3 states that ‘by nature we were objects of wrath’.

Romans 5:12 - Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.

Genesis 8:21 - The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.”

The heart of man is deceitful and wicked.

Jeremiah 17:9 - The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Ecclesiastes 9:3 - This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead.

Everyone has sinned and broken God’s law! All mankind is unrighteous and sinful.

Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.

Romans 1:28-32 (Man is carnally wicked and hates God).

Romans 3:10-18 (Man does not fear God, but walks in wickedness).

3. The Problem

Everyone on this earth will face God on Judgment Day.

Hebrews 9:27 - Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.

The Bible offers two options at the judgment.
Heaven – an eternity of extremely satisfying peace with God.
Hell – a place of eternal torment where there is gnashing of teeth.

Many people think that God will let them into Heaven because they aren’t as bad as most people. But, the Bible offers absolutely no such judgment where God compares people with other people, to see who is good and who is bad.

If man were to compare himself to Hitler, then man would look pretty good with respect to Hitler’s evil actions. Hitler founded the regime that killed over six million Jews throughout Germany, Poland and other European nations before and during WWII. So, when man compares his so called ‘little sins’ to Hitler’s so called ‘gigantic sins’… man begins to look pretty good.

The problem with that type of thinking is this… God is not going to Judge us by Hitler’s unrighteousness. On Judgment Day, God will judge men by His own standard, not ours.

God’s standard is perfection. (Little/Big sin is still Sin)

Matthew 5:48 - Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

James 2:10 - For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

God will judge humanity by His laws and righteousness.

Romans 3:19-20 (Man can know his unrighteousness by looking at the law).
Romans 7:12-14 (The law is holy and shows us our sinfulness).

When a man compares his life with the Holy and blameless law of God, mankind truly realizes how sinful they are. They understand the wretched sinfulness and evil about themselves that they previously could not comprehend.

Let’s say, there is a sheep in a field of grass. You walk by and say ‘Wow, such a beautiful sheep. It’s so precious and clean and nice and white. Its wool is so vibrant and amazing.’ It’s so nice-looking your daughter even says ‘Mommy, can I have one?’

Let’s say we take that exact same sheep and put it in a field of snow. You walk by and say ‘Uhhh! That is the most disgusting, filthy, piece of garbage I have ever seen in my life’. It’s so dirty your daughter even says ‘Mommy, that sheep needs a bath’.

What changed in this situation? Did the sheep’s cleanliness change? Absolutely not! The sheep did not change at all. Your perception of the sheep and its cleanliness changed. In the same way when you compare yourself to other people, you seem mighty clean. But, when you compare yourself to God’s law, you realize that you are just as disgusting and filthy as the sheep in the snow.

God is a Just Judge. He is Holy and Righteous. He must punish the unrighteous for their sinful acts against Him.

Genesis 18:25 - Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

There is a clear problem between God and man. God is Holy and Righteous, man is carnal and wicked. God has a perfect law and standard. Man has broken God’s perfect law and standard. God hates all sinfulness and evil. Man just so happens to be an evil sinner.

John 3:36 states plainly that God's wrath remains on sinful man.

Psalm 5:5 - The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You (God) hate all workers of iniquity.

2 Thessalonians 1:9 - They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of His Power.

If God is truly a just judge, then God must punish the wicked for their wrongdoing. If God is truly just then it seems God must send mankind to hell where they deserve to be for eternity.

The problem is that a righteous judge will not let a criminal go free. Therefore, it is logical to look at this situation as if you were in a courtroom. You are the criminal that has absolutely broken the law. There is no doubt about it. You are guilty. If the judge is a truly just judge, then He must punish you for your disobedience.

4. The Solution: Jesus Christ

You are still in the courtroom. The judge is about to bring the gavel down and sentence you to jail. Or, in reality God is about to bring the gavel down and sentence you to hell. But, just as He is about to make His judgment known to the public, the doors in the back of the courtroom bust open and a man runs in the court saying “I will take His place”. The officers try to stop Him but He busts through shouting “I will pay His fine”. The bailiff tries to tackle Him but he again makes it through to the judge to say “Punish me, and set Him free.” The man portrayed in this courtroom drama is none other than Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ, God’s only son, was born of the Virgin Mary.

Matthew 1:20-23 - But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

He did not inherit any sin nature at birth and He lived a perfectly righteous life.

Isaiah 53:9 - He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

1 Peter 2:22 - "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."

Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

1 John 3:5 - But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.

“Have you looked at His life and seen the way He (Jesus) treated people?
He stood for what’s right, what’s just, plus He judged evil.
He healed the sick, the lame, plus He fed the poor.
The perfect person! What person could ever ask for more?”
- Marcus Gray (Flame)

The wages of sin is death. Jesus bore our sins and was crucified on our behalf.

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:21 - God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Mark 10:45 - For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

2 Peter 2:24 - "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."

Isaiah 53:4-6 (Jesus Christ paid the punishment for us all, so that if we repent of our sins and believe in Him, we can be saved and granted everlasting life.)

Leonard Ravenhill said that he believed that the three most important words in all of history were declared by Jesus on the cross, saying… “It is Finished.” (John 19:30).

+ Jakab +

Biblical Salvation - Part 1

INTRODUCTION

- Introduction to a sermon I preached on March 15th 2008 entitled Biblical Salvation.

We live in a world that thinks in order to become a Christian all you have to do is have said a prayer once in your life. I’m not saying that praying is wrong, by no means. But, a simple prayer does not ensure one’s salvation. The only way in which a person can be reconciled to God is through repentance and faith in His Precious Son Jesus Christ. Some members of this congregation may have been saved through walking down an aisle and saying a prayer. My friends you were saved, if you were saved, not because of some magic prayer, but because that day you repented of your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ.

You know that we have a serious problem on the teaching of Salvation, when the most carnal wicked people in this world think that they are ‘saved’. You know that we have a serious problem with the understanding of Salvation, when the most popular answer to ‘how do you know that your saved’ is… ‘I said a prayer a long time ago accepting Jesus into my heart.’

Do you want to know what is rare to hear in response to the question ‘how do you know that you are saved’? “I know that I am saved, because I heard the true Gospel of Jesus Christ preached, realized that I was a wretched sinner who broke God’s law and desperately in need of a righteous savior. I shortly after that repented of my sins and put my faith in Jesus Christ, believing that through His death and resurrection, I too died to my sins and was resurrected to a newness of life. At that moment I became a new creation in Christ, and am continuing on in Christ to this very day.”

There are so many people who walk down an aisle, repeat a prayer, walk out the church and live just like the devil the rest of their lives… There is no conversion in many churches because the full truth of Jesus Christ is not proclaimed, rather a watered down version of the gospel and Jesus are presented rarely mentioning words like sin, hell, or repentance. Do you want to know what the worst part about the situation is? These people walking down the aisle think that they are going to heaven when they die because they repeated a ritualistic prayer.

A recent survey stated that around 64% of youth ‘forsake their faith’ after college graduation. Now, some may say that’s because the church doesn’t reach out to college campuses enough. Some may say that it’s because there aren’t enough Sunday Schools teaching scientific facts in the Bible. While the church does need to reach out more to college-age students and perhaps not be as shy at teaching the Historical and Scientific accuracy of God’s Word; neither of those are the reason that 64% of youth graduate from college and never return. The reason that I give to you is much more basic than that. These youth are not saved.

John 10:27-28 - My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

1 John 2:19 - They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

One of the saddest realities in American Christianity today is that Salvation has become simplified into a five minute decision for Christ and a ‘baby step’ into Christianity. My friends, Salvation is not a ‘baby step’ into anything. Salvation is a supernatural event in which God changes the heart of a wicked man with sinful desires into one that loves God and aims to please God with his life…

The issue of Salvation is the most important issue in the universe, yet many churches have treated it as if it were the least important. We live in a day and age where the wheats are mixed in with the tares. Church buildings are filled with carnal unsaved people and many of the church services themselves are designed to appeal to carnally wicked man instead of being designed to please and glorify God. One example of this is the best sellers list on most Christian bookstore shelves…

Have you been to a Christian bookstore lately? I walk down the aisles of most Christian bookstores with fear and trembling of what I might see on the shelves. Most of the books are ‘how to live your best life now’ and ’10 steps to financial prosperity’ and ’35 ways to lose weight in 5 minutes’ ect. Most of the books on the best sellers list are man-centered garbage. The purpose of a Christian’s life is not to please himself; rather it is to glorify God. The purpose of a Christian’s life is not to indulge in blatant sinfulness; rather it is to strive for Holiness. The purpose of a Christian’s life is not to see ‘what can God do for me’; rather it is to see ‘how can I please Him, who has already done so much for me’?

“Whoever is not satisfied with Christ alone, strives after something beyond absolute perfection.” - John Calvin

This is the reason that today; we are going to be discussing three major points.
1. Why Should I Be Saved? – Because you have a desperate need for salvation.
2. How Can I Be Saved? – Only through Repentance & Faith in Jesus Christ.
3. Is there a difference between an unsaved person and a saved person? Absolutely!

+ Jakab +