Xmas or Christmas?

There has been an ongoing trend for many decades to change the spelling of Christmas to Xmas. Why has this occurred? In reality it is a subterfuge of the Devil, Satan to erase the name of Christ from people’s minds.

The angel that spoke to the shepherds, as recounted in Luke 2:11 did not say, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is X the Lord.” What he did say was, “...a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.”

Now some people might say, “What’s all the fuss about? When we see Xmas we know it means Christmas.”  That may be so for them, but it means the more the word Xmas appears, the less number of times the name Christmas appears.

What is Christmas really about? Surely it is for us all to celebrate and remember the birth of the Saviour, Christ the Lord.

What is Western society turning Christmas into? Billions and billions of dollars are spent at Christmas time. For the majority of retailers in these countries, Christmas shopping brings in the best profits for the year. Manufacturing industries have been set up to cater for the colossal demand by consumers for Christmas presents. The food industries also receive a huge boost from sales at Christmas time.

What does the average child in Western societies think about at Christmas time? They think about getting presents from a stocky, bearded gentleman in a red suit. Many of them could not care less if it is Xmas or Christmas.

For many people it is a time to sing Christmas carols and be entertained. The stocky, bearded fellow in the red suit has become the theme of Xmas. How many movies are out there utilising this theme?

Will the Saviour, Christ the Lord be missing from your Christmas this year? Will it be a “X”mas for you?

I would rather have Christ in my life than a big “X”.

Jon Peasey

Words of Life blog

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version]

[You are welcome to comment on this blog post by clicking on the comment section at the end of the post.]

Broad is the way that leads to destruction

Let’s have a look at the verses that this heading is set in. The words are spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 7:13, 14, “(13) Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. (14) Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few that find it.”

There are two gates; a narrow gate and a wide gate. There are two ways; a way to life [eternal] and a way to destruction.

The way to destruction is broad and spacious, lots of room for lots of people. All these are heading along life’s journey; some are happy, some sad, some careless, some fearful, some high-minded, some low-minded, some rich and many poor.

Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

People of every nation are caught in the throngs heading to destruction. It is a one way street! They entered in through the wide gate. The way ahead looked good and there was plenty of room. If so many people are doing it; surely it must be OK? There are plenty of friends and relatives to keep you company along the way.

The narrow gate on the other hand is hard to find. The way to [eternal] life is difficult. Satan does not want you on this pathway, your unsaved friends and relatives don’t want you on this pathway. Obstacles will be put in your way. But, it is your choice and your decision to choose either life or death. God wants you to enter into life [eternal] via the narrow gate.

God has not made us as robots, or programmable machines. He makes everyone with the ability to make our own decisions; to make our own choices in our own lives. Sure there are often pressures and constraints placed upon us; but ultimately we make our own decisions in each circumstance.

So which will you choose; eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ, or eternal judgement in the lake of fire?

Jon Peasey

www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version]

[You are welcome to comment on this blog post by clicking on the comment section at the end of the post.]

Crucifixion did not kill Jesus Christ!

Does this statement shock you?

Secular history, and the Holy Bible, both reveal that Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of David, the Messiah, the King of the Jews died on a Roman cross outside Jerusalem. This is an established fact. The Scriptures record His birth, His public ministry, His mock trial, His crucifixion, His death, His burial and His resurrection.

Why then make a bold declaration that crucifixion did not kill him? The Scriptures give us the answers.

First we need to establish that death is a result of sin. Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death...” Death is the inevitable consequence of sin, and its fruit sins. The penalty for sin is death!

Now we need to establish the fact that Jesus of Nazareth was not a sinner.

John 8:46, “Which of you convicts me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me.”

1 Peter 2:22, “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth.”

1 John 3:5, “And you know He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.”

Here is another very important fact; because Jesus of Nazareth was not a sinner – He was not subject to death! Therefore, He could not die unless He deliberately chose to die!

John 10:17, 18, (17)”Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. (18) No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

Let us look at the record in John 19:30, “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head He gave up His spirit.” He literally dismissed His spirit and voluntarily died to pay the price of your sins and mine. Crucifixion did not kill Jesus of Nazareth! He chose to die for you and me on a Roman cross to pay the penalty for our sins.

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

The Lord Jesus Christ had power to lay down His life at Calvary! He had power to take it again when He rose from the dead; three days later!

Jon Peasey

www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version]

[You are welcome to comment on this blog post by clicking on the comment section at the end of the post.]

Vessel of Wrath or Vessel of Mercy?

This seems a strange question to ask.

Collins Concise Dictionary defines a vessel as:

1.       Any object used as a container, esp. for a liquid.

2.       A passenger or freight carrying ship, boat etc.

3.       (Rare) a person regarded as a vehicle for some purpose or quality.

Where in the Scriptures do we find reference to vessels of wrath and vessels of mercy?

Romans 9: 22, 23 state, (22)”What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, (23) and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for His glory.”

 If we look at the definitions of a vessel above, we can see that a person can be regarded as a vessel for some purpose or quality. If this is the case, in God’s eyes, a person is either a vessel of wrath or a vessel of mercy.

Now I don’t think any of us would want to be a vessel of wrath; for the vessels of wrath are prepared for destruction. Who are they for whom the wrath of God is prepared? Obviously, it would have to be people who have disobeyed God in their lives.

Romans 3:23 tells us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Now you may say to me, "Look at verses 22 and 23 above. God has already made up His mind, so why should I bother?" What a miserable excuse this is! You have the power to decide! You make decisions about matters every day. This shows the true state of your heart.

Jeremiah 17:9, 10 tell us, (9)”The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? (10) I the Lord search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”

If this is your condition before God, you are in need of God’s mercy. In other words you need God’s compassion, pity and clemency. You can’t help yourself – but God offers you mercy through the Lord Jesus Christ, His Son. That’s why He sent Him to pay the penalty for your sins on the cross at Calvary. His life for your life!

By receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord you become a vessel of mercy. Only you can make that decision!

God already knows your answer; but it is you who has made the decision!

Are you a vessel of wrath or a vessel of mercy?

Jon Peasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version]

You are welcome to comment on this blog post by clicking on the comment section at the end of the post.

Salvation - Saved then lost?

There is a belief in some sections of the Christian faith that you can be saved from your sins and then be lost again. This comes about from not “...rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15).

At best it is confusion and at its worst it robs a soul of their assurance of salvation; with a consequent loss of peace in their heart. To put it bluntly it makes salvation dependent on a soul’s good works.

In my last blog post Salvation – By faith or by works? We saw clearly that salvation is by faith and not by works “...lest anyone should boast.”  (Ephesians 3:8, 9). Now to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ can save me and then allow me to be lost again is a lie of the Devil.

Ecclesiastes 3:14 states, “I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it. God does it that men should fear before Him.”

God’s salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ is forever! John 3:16, “...whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

 

Is this true? Yes, it is not only true but a reality in my life and in millions around the world.

How do I know it’s true? Ephesians 1:13 tells me, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”  2 Corinthians 1:21 22 tell me, (21)”Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, (22) who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”

What do these verses reveal to us?

1.       We hear the gospel of salvation, the word of truth.

2.       We trust in Him (the Lord Jesus Christ).

3.       We believe the word of God.

4.       We are sealed (instantly) with the Holy Spirit.

5.       The Holy Spirit in our hearts is God’s guarantee that we are saved for eternity.

6.       We are anointed by the Holy Spirit in our lives, set apart for God.

Now someone may say that is all well and good but what about verse 12 in Philippians chapter 2? “...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Let us be careful not to pull this verse out of the context it is set in.

In verses 1-4 the apostle Paul gives the Philippian believers instructions on how to conduct themselves in their daily lives. In verses 5-11 the supreme example of the Lord Jesus is brought before us. His humility, His obedience – even unto death, His exaltation by God and His supreme authority are brought before us.

The apostle Paul is speaking to believers in Philippi – those who are already saved! So when we get to verse 12 he is talking about their obedience in the things of God; not only when Paul is present with them, but also when he is not with them.

The salvation Paul is referring to here is not their eternal salvation – that is already secure. They are to work out on a daily basis how to keep themselves going on in the ways of God.

Verses 12, 13, (12) “Therefore, my beloved, as you 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; (13) for it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

Can you be saved and then lost again? No, you cannot!

John 10:27-30 [Jesus answered them] (27)”My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (28) And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand. (29) My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. (30) I and My Father are one.”

Here is an anchor for your soul! 

In this parable of the Shepherd and His own sheep the Lord Jesus Christ gives us double assurance.

1.       No one can snatch a believer out of His hand.

2.       No one can snatch a believer out of the Father’s hand.

I like to think of this as two cupped hands; the Father’s hand underneath and the Son’s hand over the top. Resting securely inside are all the believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing or no one can snatch any believer out of God’s almighty hands!

Jon Peasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version]