GOSPEL NUGGET #648

One time an evangelist was teaching little children a portion of a hymn that says:  "I need no other argument, I want no other plea; It is enough that Jesus died, and rose again for me." 

He then asked the children: "Why do you think that I can say that it is enough that Jesus died?" 

Several unsatisfactory answers were given, but then a little girl said: "It is enough for you because it is enough for God."

Exactly! Spot on! 

My friend, learn and realize that the death of Christ on the cross for you was, is, and will forever be enough for God when it comes to your salvation. Do you have faith in Him and what He did on the cross to find it enough as well? 

GOSPEL NUGGET # 647

 Pr 29:5 A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.

Let's apply this to spiritual deception. The devil is like the man here who flatters you so that you will be entangled and suffer an eternal fall. 

He will make you think that you are a good person, that you are not as bad as the others, that your sins are not as serious as the others, that your good works will somehow cover-up and outweigh the sinful things that you have done. He will make you satisfied with your self so that you will never, ever trust in Christ and what He did on the cross for your salvation. 

Repent! Realize that you are a sinner, helpless, and hopeless in yourself to save yourself. Be roused from the intoxication of having a high opinion of yourself. 

GOSPEL NUGGET #646

Is Your Faith Just an Intellectual Agreement?

One of the reasons why people can't believe that salvation is by faith is because of their misunderstanding of what faith is. To them, faith is an intellectual assent or mental agreement of a certain proposition. Example: Proposition --- Jesus existed

They think that faith is believing in this proposition, that the Lord Jesus did exist. Of course, to just simply believe mentally that He existed and to be told that you are saved by it is unacceptable.

But that's not what saving faith is in the Bible. Saving faith is trust, reliance, dependence, and confidence in what Christ did on the cross for one's salvation.

You are not asked to believe that He existed, rather, you are asked to trust, rely, depend and be confident about what He did on the cross for your sins on the cross of Calvary.

His work/death on the cross was very real. He did do it. God was satisfied with it so much so that He raised Him back to life. God reckons it as efficient for all time.

That's what you are asked to believe or trust in for your salvation. You are asked to entrust your salvation to what He did on the cross for you; that it was sufficient for your salvation and you do nothing extra, on the side, with the intention and motivation of saving yourself.

Can you trust God if He tells you "I have already provided an all-sufficient payment for all your sins on the cross of Calvary in Christ Jesus?"

GOSPEL NUGGET # 645

Many people say: "I feel that I am such a terrible sinner! I can't forgive myself. I can't come to God just like that! I must be made to suffer for what I did before I go to God."

Realize that the Lord Jesus dying for us at the cross of Calvary was infinitely and eternally harsh enough, hard enough, and condemning enough for what you did and what you could ever do. Yes, God was harsh, hard, and condemning on us in Christ at Calvary. There on the cross, He was your substitute who suffered terribly for your sins. 

Come now to God via Christ. Receive forgiveness of sins by trusting Him and what He did on the cross for you.

GOSPEL NUGGET #644

Be In Christ And Share In His History And Destiny

The words "In Christ" is an idea that is repeated again and again in the New Testament. It means to be united to Christ. To be united to Him is to share in His history and destiny.  

Christ's History --- He suffered and died and was raised from the dead
Christ's Destiny --- Among other things, He will reign forever and ever in a New Universe 

You want all that? You want payment for your sins? You want a new life? You want a glorious future? 

Be in Christ and you can have it all! In Christ, you'll have your sins paid up for (He suffered and died for sins). In Christ, you'll have a new life (He was raised from the dead). In Christ, you will have a glorious future (He will reign forever and ever)

His history and His destiny can be yours if you are united to Him! And you can be in Him through the bonds of faith! Trust Him as your history and you will have Him as your destiny! 

GOSPEL NUGGET #643

 Le 9:24 and fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.

After the animal sacrifice (the burnt offering) was offered on the altar, fire came out from God and consumed it. The fire from God was a symbolic demonstration of His acceptance of the sacrifice. Instead of His judgment falling on them, it fell on the symbolic sacrifice. 

All these were symbols pointing to the real efficacious sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. The sacrifice was a symbol of the Lord Jesus Christ on the altar of the cross of Calvary. There, the wrath of God fell on Him. There, on the cross, He was consumed by the wrath of God. God owned Him as Man's sacrifice for his sins.

The question is --- Do we accept Him, trust in Him and what He did on the cross, as the satisfactory sacrifice that could appease the wrath of God against us? 

GOSPEL NUGGET #642

 Greek Study Shows That Good Works Died For Our Sins And Was Raised From The Dead

A deep study of the original Greek New Testament reveals that it was actually good works that died for our sins and was raised again from the dead!

"Waw! This is something new to me! I always thought that it was Christ who died for our sins and was raised again that is why I taught and preached that salvation was through faith alone in Christ's work on the cross!" said John MacAlister pastor of a local church.

"This confirms that the cults were right all along! They have always insisted that we are saved by good works!" exclaimed another pastor from another locality.

As of writing time, Evangelical pastors are convening a meeting to change their position about the condition of salvation. Anytime soon, they will announce that a sinner is saved by good works after all.

--- Real Fake News With A Punch

GOSPEL NUGGET #641

 Man Who Did Not Believe In Faith Alone In The Doctor Operated On Himself

He had a heart problem that required immediate surgery. When he went to the surgeon's clinic, he did not like what the doctor told him.

"Trust me. I can save your life. I have been doing this for 30 years. All you have to do is lie down on my table. I will put you to sleep and I will do all the work," the doctor said.

"No! Doc! That would mean salvation by faith alone! I reject that! I believe in salvation by works, by my own efforts! Thanks, but no thanks! Bye! You are just like those false preachers!" the man stormed out of the clinic.

So the man set up his own operating table at home and did an open heart surgery on himself.

After his wake, they buried him a week later.

--- REAL FAKE NEWS WITH A PUNCH

GOSPEL NUGGET #640

 Man Desperately Tries To Find A Place On Earth Where It Is Not Under Heaven

A man who would not want to be saved by the Lord Jesus Christ wanted to find a place on earth where Jesus Christ would not be Savior.

He read in Acts 4:12 the following words:

Ac 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name UNDER HEAVEN given among men by which we must be saved."

"I want to be saved by works. I don't want to be saved through Jesus Christ. 'Under heaven' would mean anywhere on earth because everywhere on earth is under the canopy of heaven. I want to look for a place on earth where there is no heaven above so I can be saved by another method, namely by works and not through Jesus Christ."

He thought he found the place when he went to Antarctica, but, when he looked up, he saw, to his dismay, heaven above.

Right now, he is soliciting funding for his project from people, especially those who are not Christians, who will help him find a place on earth where it is not under heaven.

--- Real Fake News With A Punch

GOSPEL NUGGET #639

A Man During The Flood Of Noah Insisted On Being Saved By Water Baptism --- Drowned

Archaeologists have uncovered an antediluvian journal detailing the confessions of a man who insisted that water baptism will save him if the Flood of Noah comes.

"I defy Noah's preaching that only the ark can save us! That we should all be in the ark and trust in the ark alone. That there is no condemnation in the ark. No! I believe that water baptism will save me from the Flood!" he wrote in his journal.

That was the last entry he wrote. Experts believe that he perished in the Flood.

--- From Real Fake News With A Punch

GOSPEL NUGGET #638

 Man Assisted An Elevator On The Way Up

A man who rode an elevator in a mall shocked everyone when he tried to squeeze his hand out. He said that he wanted to assist the elevator on the way up. The others who were inside with him tried to convince him to just relax and stay put. Trust in the elevator and to let the elevator elevate him.

He saw the whole thing in a spiritual sense. He viewed the 3rd floor as heaven, the basement as hell, the lower ground as the world where he lived, and the elevator as the Savior.

He said that he is just being consistent with his beliefs. He believed in faith plus works. He insisted that he can't just stand there and do nothing. He must contribute to his elevation.

The latest update on the man said that he was rushed to the hospital because he broke his arm when he squeezed it out.

--- From Real Fake News With A Punch

GOSPEL NUGGET #637

 Man Experimented With Faith Plus Works To See If It Works

Mr. Peligroso Matagak did the experiment on the top floor of a tall 100-story building; with one leg standing on the very edge on solid cement while the other on nothing but air. Part of him is relying on solid matter while another is attempting to keep himself up by sheer will power and effort.

To everyone's horror, Mr. Matagak, straddling between solid matter and empty space, fell straight into his death down on the pavement below.

"I told him that it won't work!" said a Christian preacher shaking his head visibly upset about what happened.

He continued: "Over and over again I told him that it was by faith alone, by standing on the reliable solid ground, with both feet firmly planted on it. But he just won't listen! He would always insist on faith plus works."

It is feared that Mr. Matagak's case is not isolated, that thousands, even millions, are doing this deadly experiment with their souls, egged on and encouraged by people who call themselves preachers.

--- From Real Fake News With A Punch

GOSPEL NUGGET #636

 Millions of Filipinos Decided To Swim To The US

In an astounding display of physical prowess, millions of Filipinos have decided to swim from the Philippines all the way to the US.

"I know I can make it. Just believe in yourself!" said one Filipino gasping for air as we caught up with him in the Bohol Channel.

When asked as to why he decided to do it, one Filipino replied: "We Filipinos believe that we can make it to heaven by our own works and efforts, without relying on the Savior and what He did on the cross. So might as well swim the Pacific Ocean to the US without needing to be on a boat." Amid the thousands of floating bodies, many are still undaunted, confident that they could make the impossible 13,208-kilometer distance that spans both countries.

--- From Real Fake News With A Punch

GOSPEL NUGGET #636

Mt 9:2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you."

His condition was that he had a physical defect --- he was paralyzed. He was helpless in doing anything about it. He needed a miracle. 

His course of action was that he came to the right person. He had faith in Him as the promised Messiah of Israel who will come for them and heal them. 

The Lord Jesus did not ask him if he did good works, if he did community service, if he went to church regularly or if he read his Bible consistently. All these have their proper place but they are not the basis and the cause of his eventual healing. What did the Lord see in him that He healed and forgive him? He saw faith in Him in his heart.

His cure was by mercy through faith alone in Christ alone and not of works.

The physical miracles of the Lord were a demonstration and an illustration of what He could do for us in the spiritual realm. Just as it required a miracle for the paralyzed man to be healed so it requires a miracle for a sinner to be saved. 

And when a sinner is saved, he is "saved by grace through faith...not of works." (Eph. 2:8,9). 

 

GOSPEL NUGGET #635

What does it mean for God to not remember the sins of those who trust in the atonement of Christ?

Heb 10:17 then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."

* First of all, what it does not mean?

It does not mean that God will lose memory over it. It's a figure of speech. Not a literal statement that God can actually forget.

God is powerful and almighty, yes. He can do as He please. Nothing is impossible to Him. But God's attributes are never in opposition to each other; they work together in harmony. God would never use His power to cause Him to infringe upon another of His attributes, namely, His omniscience. For God to literally forget is for God to stop being omniscient.

The Corinthians experienced the forgiveness of God but God in inspiring the book of Corinthians clearly remembered the former sinful deeds of the Corinthians:

1Co 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such WERE (past tense) some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

God forgave King David but He clearly remembered the sinful deeds of David. When He caused the book of 2 Samuel to be written, the record of David's sins was written down with it as well, by His inspiration.

* Secondly, what does it mean for God not to remember sins?

It's a figure of speech that God will never hold it against anyone who trusts in Christ because He held it against Christ on the cross on the trusting sinner's behalf. When He sees the trusting sinner's sins, He now sees Christ assuming it, bearing it, taking it upon Himself, with His blood on it.

2Co 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

God now treats the trusting sinner as though he never sinned. He now treats him as righteous before His sight.

GOSPEL NUGGET #634

Salvation by Works and Salvation by Faith Contrasted

Salvation by works is putting your trust in yourself; that you can make it; that you can pass by your own performance. It is being confident in yourself that you can measure up to God's perfect standard.

Salvation by works is salvation by self. 

On the other hand, salvation by faith or reliance in the Savior is the humble acknowledgment that you can't make it; that you could never pass by your own performance. It is being confident in the Savior's work on the cross and of Him being your Substitute who does measure up to God's perfect standard.

Salvation by faith is salvation by a Substitute.    

If you are given an offer to pass muster, make the grade, qualify for salvation, through the perfection of a substitute, would you take it? Would you rely on Christ's work for you and of Him as your substitute? Or would you rather be saved by your own performance? 

Would you take a perfectly righteous Substitute on your behalf? Or would you take your chances in yourself as you are, confident in your own righteousness before God? 

P.S. Salvation by faith plus works won't do. Once you get your imperfect rating involved you will mess it up. Salvation by faith plus works is like agreeing to be graded on both Christ's perfect score along with your imperfect grade. No problem on His side, it's your end that spoils it all.

GOSPEL NUGGET #633

 Conviction Of Sin

* What is it?

It is to be convicted and convinced of a spiritual crime (sin). An inward awareness of one's sin and sinnerhood. It is to be convinced that one is a sinner bound for judgment, stripping a sinner of his self-righteousness. It is God humbling us making us realize who we are in His eyes. A preparatory work for salvation.

* Who does it?

Joh 16:8 "And when He has come, He (Holy Spirit) will convict the world of sin...

It is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is not natural in man. It is supernaturally wrought out in him by the Spirit.

* Examples of men being convicted of their sin

- Isaiah's experience

Isa 6:5 Then I said, Woe is me! For I am undone; for I am a man of unclean lips

Isaiah became aware of his woeful (not blessed) sinful and spiritually ruined condition

- Peter's experience

Lu 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"

Peter became aware of his unholiness and sinnerhood.

- The tax collector's experience

Lu 18:13 And standing afar off, the tax-collector would not even lift up his eyes to Heaven, but struck on his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner!

The Tax Collector became sorrowful of his sinful condition and realized that only God's mercy could save him.

- The men of Israel's experience

Ac 2:37 And hearing this, they were stabbed in the heart, and said to Peter and to the other apostles, Men, brothers, what shall we do?

They were pierced with the guilt of their sin and became concerned about what to do with it.

- The Philippian jailer's experience

Ac 16:29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.

30 And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

The Jailer's case was intense (conviction varies in degrees in every case) he trembled about his unsaved condition and asked: "What must he do in order to be saved?" Conviction of sin made him ask this question. Have you been convicted of sin enough to make you concerned about your spiritual condition that you desire salvation? Do you now realize that you are spiritually undone and ruined, that you cannot save yourself? If yes, one more step, come to Christ and what He did on the cross, trust in Him for salvation.

GOSPEL NUGGET #632

 The Sidetracked Debate As To Which Is The True Church Of God

Every single time you hear of people debating and arguing as to which is the true church, the idea behind it all in their thinking is that the church is an external, religious organization.

In their thinking, the Lord Jesus Christ has instituted this one particular religious organization which was imitated by other religious organizations in the process of time. Now, the problem in their thinking is how to pinpoint and prove that such and such is really the organization that He truly built. And you have to be part of it in order to be saved.

The truth of the matter is that Church refers to the condition of people. Church (Eklessia in Greek) means called out ones. God calls through the Gospel that sinners should repent and trust in Christ. Repentance and faith are heart conditions with regard to God's call.

The people who responded positively, by true repentance and faith in Christ, are the people who have been effectively called. Hence, they become the Called Out Ones of God also known as the Church of God.

It is very possible to have your official name as "Church of God" registered in SEC and monopolize it and not truly be the Church of God because the individuals who compose it are not truly repentant and are trusting in Christ for salvation.

It is very possible to call your group as "I Think We Are The Church Of God" in the SEC registration and yet be truly God's Church because the individuals who compose it are truly repentant and are trusting in Christ for salvation.

To debate as to which group is the true Church is to be sidetracked. For the Church refers to people who have truly repented and trusted in Christ for salvation, whatever group you may be involved in.

Notice how cunningly deceptive Satan is. He sidetracks you big time at the same time making you believe that you are still on track.

In this instance, he sidetracks us by making us focus on which is the true church in order to be saved, making us forget our individual responsibility to personally repent and personally trust in Christ and what He did on the cross for salvation.

GOSPEL NUGGET #631

What About Those Who Died In A Wrong Religion, Will They Be Saved?

Answer:

First of all, salvation is not found in religion. Salvation can only be had through the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

When the apostle Paul and company were asked: "What must I do to be saved?" His answer was not "Get yourself involved in the true religion and you will be saved." No religion can take away your sins. It's your sin that brings damnation to your soul. The sin problem must be addressed. And God addressed it through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The thief on the cross did not join a religion. But the Savior beside him was enough. And he was promised Paradise.

Can a dying man in the hospital who has repented of his sins be

saved even without joining himself locally to a church? Yes, the saving grace of God is not confined through the four walls of a religious organization. It's in the Savior.

Second, even if you are a member of a local church with 100% accurate Biblical teachings, if you have not truly repented and trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross, you will never be saved.

Israel had the true religion in the Old Testament. Their religion was revealed and given to them by God through Moses. But if an Israelite did not repent and trust in the coming Savior prophesied in Isaiah 53, he will never be saved.

Ac 16:30 And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

Ac 16:31 So they said, "Believe or trust on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved..."

Third, those who have truly sought out God by true repentance will eventually be led to the knowledge of the Savior and what He did on the cross. God will see to it. He will never allow them to die out of this world without knowing about Christ and what He did on the cross for them.

GOSPEL NUGGET #630

 God's Approval Rating

Duterte received a high trust and approval rating from the Filipinos. He scored an excellent 91% trust rating and approval. That's way beyond the passing mark for us.

But, you know, in God's rating, He only approves a 100% score. He isn't okay with anything less. Anything less means damnation. The only way for us to get God's approval is to get into the good of Another's excellent approval rating.

* God Highly Approved The Lord Jesus Christ

Mt 3:17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

* God Highly Approves Those Who Are In Christ

Ro 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are IN CHRIST JESUS

Get into the good of Christ's approval rating and you will receive a "No Condemnation" rating from God!

How do we avail of it?

The moment you put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross is the moment you will be in Christ and receive, along with Him, God's "I am well-pleased" and God's no condemnation.

God does not condemn His Son. He is well-pleased with Him. You are in His Son if you trust in Him and so you enjoy God's high rating approval, not in yourself but in Christ!

Come on in! Be in Christ already!

GOSPEL NUGGET #629

In salvation, a sinner is not saved by his own good works. Rather, in salvation, the sinner relies and leans on Another's Good Work, the work of Christ on the cross, for his or her salvation. 

My friend, don't rely on yours, rely on His. He did the work of dying for all your sins at Calvary. He said, "It is finished." And God said: "I am satisfied" by raising Him from the dead. 

GOSPEL NUGGET # 627

Ditching the DIY Salvation: Trusting in Christ Alone

It is through experiencing the futility of attempting to save oneself by leading a perfect life that one can truly understand the importance of having faith in Christ as the only way to attain salvation. One may strive for sinless perfection, but will inevitably realize their helplessness and powerlessness in achieving it. It is not through arguments or statements that one learns this truth, but through personal experience.

This is similar to how God gave Israel the law first, to make them aware through painful experiences that they were unable to follow it perfectly. It shattered their self-confidence and made them realize their need for a savior.

Once one recognizes their inability to save themselves, they can turn to the Bible and immerse themselves in its teachings about the sufficiency of Christ's work on the cross for their salvation. Through this, they can come to trust in Him alone for eternal life.

Those who truly desire salvation and understand their inability to achieve it on their own will find solace in Christ's work on the cross. By God's grace, they will place their trust in Him and be saved.

GOSPEL NUGGET #626

2 Co 1:8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.
9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,|
2Co 1:10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,

Troubled. Burdened. Powerless. Desperate. Sentenced. They realized that they were Zero and so were ready to make Him their Hero. So that they should not trust in themselves but in God. And they experienced a past deliverance ("delivered") a present deliverance ("does deliver") and a prospective deliverance ("He will still deliver us"). 

God's way in dealing with man is to bring man to a desperate situation, beyond himself, above his strength, make him realize that he is zero so that he would fall hard on Him as his hero, trusting in Him alone. 

Applying this to salvation, while Paul was talking about what happened to him in the physical realm, what he said here in this verse could very well be applied to the salvation of our soul.

When God saves a sinner, He troubles him with conviction of sin, burdening his conscience as to his sinful condition before God. He makes him realize that saving himself is above his strength; that the thing is beyond him. He brings him to a desperate condition in realizing that he is helpless and powerless in himself. He becomes painfully aware of the sentence of death on him; that he is a sinner deserving judgment and condemnation. All these is God preparing the sinner to fall hard on the Savior for salvation; that he should never trust in himself for it but in Christ who died on the cross and was raised by God for his justification. 

My friend, with regard to the salvation of your soul, don't trust in yourself but trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. His salvation is three-fold. A saved sinner has a past, present, and prospective salvation:

Past --- Saved or delivered from the penalty of sin
Present --- is being saved or delivered from the power of sin
Prospective --- will be delivered from the presence of sin 

 

GOSPEL NUGGET #625

Ro 7:18 ... I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing...

This is the apostle Paul's description of himself. It states his utter depravity. And what is true of him is also true in all of us. 

If we are allowed to live for a thousand years, apart from the restraining grace of God, we would commit every single sin loathed by God in the Bible.

The only reason why you are outwardly respectable, decent, and moral today is because of God's grace. The blindness and pride of those who believe that they are inherently good in themselves. We don't know ourselves as God knows us. 

What we are is far worse than all the sinful things we have ever done so far. Our potential for evil is deeper and darker than all the evil things that we have actually done in our lives.

My friend, it's about time that we humble ourselves. It's about time to realize that we are sinners. It's about time to open our eyes, see our need of the Savior, and be saved, not just from hell, but saved from ourselves. 

GOSPEL NUGGET #624

Salvation Package Everyone! 

* No Condemnation
Ro 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus

* New Creation

2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. NKJV 

And you can have it all for free! All you have to do is to be IN CHRIST. And you can be in Christ if you trust in Christ alone for salvation. 

GOSPEL NUGGETS #623

Liza Soberano Does Not Believe In Salvation By Good Works

“So a murderer was just released for good conduct. Are we supposed to just forget that he killed Jennifer Laude because he's done some good?” --- Liza Soberano

Joseph Scott Pemberton was convicted back in 2014 in the killing of a homosexual named Mr. Laude. But he was granted pardon in 2020 for his good conduct in prison. President Duterte who granted the pardon received flak from all corners including Filipina celebrity Liza Soberano.

Yes, my friend, our spiritual crimes are heinous crimes and they are punishable with the death penalty and life sentence in the lake of fire. Paying them up with our good works is not just. 

The penalty must be paid. And so, Christ our Substitute and Representative had to die and suffer for our crimes. In the eyes of men, His death took only six hours, but in the eyes of God, He, the Lord Jesus, being eternal, offered an eternal payment and sacrifice for our sins.

In Him, a sinner can pay the eternal penalty of his sins. In Him, a sinner can be saved because God's justice and wrath was satisfied.  

Will you trust in God's payment for your sins at the cross of Calvary? Will you trust in the Savior? 

GOSPEL NUGGET #622

Becoming a Christian is God's supernatural work. No one becomes a Christian by living the Christian life in the same way a dog does not become a human being by living and acting like a human. No, it (the dog) must first be supernaturally transformed into a human being before it can begin to live a human existence.

Many attempt to become a Christian by behaving and acting like a Christian. They attempt to change their being by altering their behavior as if our problem is only external. They think the Christian life is only a matter of reformation. No, the deeper and bigger problem is who we are and not just what we do. More than reformation, we need transformation. 

The moment a sinner trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross is the moment that he becomes a Christian. It is at this point that he is enabled and empowered and given the potential to live the Christian life.

2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

GOSPEL NUGGET #621

Church of God in the New Testament is not the name of an organization. Rather, it refers to the spiritual condition of a particular people. Church of God are the people themselves and their spiritual condition. Church comes from a Greek word Ekklesia which means called out ones.

Notice the CALLED and the OUT in this verse:

1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who CALLED you OUT of darkness into His marvelous light;

Called out of spiritual darkness into God's marvelous light which is Christ Jesus. That's their spiritual condition. That's the Church of God. 

God called through the Gospel. They responded positively. They become God's called-out ones or the church of God. Their spiritual condition is marked by heeding God's call.

Our responsibility is not to look for an organization, rather, our individual responsibility, wherever we are, is to heed God's call to repent and trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation. And once you have done that, it's the Shepherd's responsibility to bring you into His local flock, providentially, by arranging events and through your desires to fellowship with others like you who have heeded His call. "... the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." Ac 2:47

Church of God in the Bible is not the name of a religious organization. It's like the word "believers" in the New Testament. The word "believers" is not a name of an organization in the NT. Rather, it refers to people and their spiritual condition. It refers to a reality in their individual lives; they are believers. They have trusted in Christ for salvation.

GOSPEL NUGGET #620

"Who can say, "I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?"  Pr 20:9

The answer to the question is "No one!" Purifying our hearts is not within our power. No one can claim that he has, by his own efforts, attained moral perfection and is therefore acceptable to God. Only the self-deluded can claim this. This ought to humble us all and cause us to look outside of ourselves for help. 

And that help, that cleansing can only come through faith  in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Ac 15:9 "and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith (in Christ).

1Jo 1:7 ... the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

GOSPEL NUGGET #619

 Biblical Saving Faith is not the mental nodding or mental assent to a proposition. It begins with this but it is not entirely this. If what you call faith stops here then it is not true faith. For Biblical Saving faith is more than this.

Saving faith is trust, confidence, and reliance on an effectual work that could truly affect your spiritual position and condition before God. Mental Assent --- You see an elevator and you nod your head that yes it could carry you up. Saving Faith --- You don't just mentally agree that the elevator could carry you up, you take it to the next level --- you step into it. You put yourself in it, trusting and relying on it to actually lift you up. Don't just mentally agree that the Lord Jesus is the Savior, rather, take it to the next level, trust and rely on Him and what He did on the cross that what He did there was sufficient and enough to save you completely.

GOSPEL NUGGET #618

 Church of God is not the name of God's religious organization. It does not refer to a visible and external organization. Rather, it refers to the spiritual condition of certain people. The word "Church" comes from a Greek word which means to be called out. 

1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who CALLED you OUT of darkness into His marvelous light;

It refers to the condition of people who were called out of spiritual darkness into God's marvelous light. 
It's not a visible and external religious organization, no, rather, it's a spiritual experience and condition that one must undergo and be brought to.

Motherhood is not a visible and external organization. No, it's an experience and a condition. So it is with the Church of God, the called-out ones of God. You must personally experience and respond to God's call and then and only then can you be part of the Church of God, the called-out ones of God.

How does God call a sinner?

  2Th 2:14 to which He CALLED YOU BY OUR GOSPEL, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Gospel is the message of salvation about the death of the Lord Jesus for our sins and His subsequent resurrection (see 1 Cor. 15:1-4). The moment we trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross for our salvation, that's the very moment we are called out from spiritual darkness into God's light. That's the moment we can say truly that we have been called out from darkness to light.

GOSPEL NUGGET #616

The Tree Of Life --- Removed, Redeemed and Restored 

* The Tree of Life Removed

Ge 3:23 therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

When man fell into sin, the tree of life was removed from fallen man. God barred it so that man could not get to it.

* The Tree of Life Redeemed

Ga 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree")

1 Pe 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree...

If you think about it, the cross of Christ, which was made from a tree, was in a very real sense a tree of life. Out of it, life could be had. When He died on the cross He, in effect, redeemed the tree of life back to man. This we will see in the new heavens and the new earth to come.

* The Tree of Life Restored

Re 22:2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Here, we see the tree of life restored back to redeemed man. 

Between the tree of life removed and the tree of life restored is the tree of life of redemption. My friend, the way back is through the cross. Trust in it for your redemption! 

GOSPEL NUGGET #617

"Behold My hands..."  Lu 24:39

Behold His hands and see His compassion and redemption

* Behold and see His compassion:  

Isa 49:15 "Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.
16 See, I HAVE INSCRIBED YOU ON THE PALMS OF MY HANDS; Your walls are continually before Me.

Those nail prints on the palms of His hands demonstrate His love and compassion for us sinners. He has regarded our helpless condition. 

* Behold and see His redemption:

 Phm 1:19 I, Paul, am writing WITH MY OWN HAND. I WILL REPAY---not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.

Those nail prints on the palms of His hands guarantee that He has paid the penalty of our sins. 

* What must you do?  "Look to Me, and be saved..." Isa 45:22 

Behold His hands. Behold His compassion and redemption. Behold it in faith, trusting in what He did on the cross for you and be saved. 

GOSPEL NUGGET # 615

The Power Of Soap

One time an evangelist and an atheist were at it. The atheist said: "I don't believe there is power in the blood of Jesus. If Jesus died for the world then why is it that the world today is worse than ever!"

The evangelist replied: "There is also soap in this world and yet many people are still dirty. Let me explain to you how soap works in case you don't know. You can' be clean if you get near a soap. It won't do a thing for you even if you work in a soap factory. You have to reach for it, hold it with your own hand, and apply it on you. Then you will see the power of soap."

It's the same way with the blood of the Lord Jesus my friend. It's availability by the death of the Lord Jesus for you won't do a thing for you. You have to reach out to it in faith and then you will see its power in your life to save you. 

1Ti 4:10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe (that is,  especially of those who trust in the Lord Jesus and what He did on the cross).

GOSPEL NUGGET # 614

How To Save Yourself As A Sinner

Here's how --- You go back in time and undo all your sins and then henceforth live a perfect sinless life.

The first is impossible. You can't go back in time. Time machines are only real in real fantasies.
The second, that is, living a perfectly sinless life, is equally impossible. We are sinners by nature and we can't go against our nature. Sin just flows naturally from us.

Your only option? Here it is ---

Have all your sins, past, present, and future atoned and taken away by a Savior. Get yourself a perfect record in the sight of God through Someone who will act as your Substitute and Representative.

And the Lord Jesus is all that. He died for all our sins and He has perfect righteousness that can be ours by imputation if we trust in Him and what He did on the cross. 

Don't save yourself! Have yourself saved by the Savior.

GOSPEL NUGGET #613

The Biggest Mining Scam Of All Time Did You Know That the biggest mining scam of all time was pulled off by a man working in Indonesia. The scam involved 6 billion dollars. He duped Indonesians, Americans, and many other investors. He even bamboozled his way to the US stock market by managing to include his company to be recognized and listed there. The conman's name was Michael De Guzman. In the end, when his fraud was exposed, he jumped off a helicopter to his death. This happened in the 1990s.
But the biggest scam of all is in the area of the salvation of our souls. What profit is it for a man if he gained all the gold in the world but in the end, he loses his soul? My friend, in salvation, be sure that you are searching and looking for it in the right area --- in Calvary where the Savior died for your sins. It's in Him, and not in any other, where you can find the gold of salvation.
Ac 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

GOSPEL NUGGET #612

God's Perfect Standard

Mt 22:37 Jesus said to him," 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'

Ga 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."

Jas 2:10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

God demands total and entire devotion to Him (Mt. 22:37), everyone who does not continue to abide in all the things which are written in the law shall be cursed with judgment (Gal. 3:10), the law is a unit like a chair with its four legs is a unit; break a single leg and you have rendered the chair as practically useless; break a single commandment in the law and you are guilty of all (James 2:10). 

Adam and Eve on the demerit of a single sin were driven out of Paradise. In our society, you only have to commit a single lonely crime in order for you to be viewed as a criminal. It's the same way with God's standard.

God demands perfection.

This is bad news for us sinners. We could not measure up. We are utterly in dire need of a Savior. My friend, come to Christ, the perfect righteousness which you could not give is freely imputed to anyone who trusts in Him for it.

GOSPEL NUGGET #611

Truly, after a long study of human nature during years and years of ministry, it is repentance that prepares a sinner to appreciate and accept the Gospel by faith. Repentance is the heart implementing a No-Sin At All policy. It is this pulsating and throbbing desire to be right with God in every area of one's life. It is this heart-attitude that is willing to be inconvenienced and disrupted in whatever way possible in order to attain its goal of being right with God. * It is marked by diligence. Every effort is made to attain the goal.

* It is characterized by indignation. It is indignant at sin.

* It exhibits fear --- the fear of displeasing God and committing a sin, even a single sin in the mind.

* It palpitates with desire --- the desire to have a right standing with God.

* It is passionate with zeal --- it is intense in obtaining its goal.

* It will eventually realize it bankruptcy, powerlessness, and helplessness in obtaining its goal. It is the humbling realization of one's sinner-hood. Try as he might, he just could not attain the very thing it desires. Desperate, helpless, powerless, yet longing and yearning. You can just imagine what this type of sinner will do when it hears the Gospel offering a right standing with God as a gift through faith in Christ!

GOSPEL NUGGET #610

The reason why many people today are not attracted to the perfect righteousness offered by God in Christ through the Gospel is that they are not thirsting and hungering after righteousness. They are not after righteousness like a basic need. They could live without it.

But those who really hunger and thirst after righteousness are different. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness show it in the way they live. They are so concerned to be perfectly righteous in God's sight. They take stock of themselves and examine themselves to see if there's anything to be righted. Every nook and cranny of their heart attitudes, the motions of their hearts, their desires, actions, and words are aspired to be made right perfectly, if possible.

They are willing to let go of everything and adjust anything that gets in the way of attaining perfect righteousness. But alas! they fail and fail over and over again. They are brought to despair in themselves that they cannot attain what they hunger and thirst for so badly.

The opportune moment is reached. God has got them where He wants them. At this point, the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ with its free offer of perfect righteousness to be imputed to anyone who desires for it is then sounded in their ears.

Then, for the first time, they hear it as Good News indeed. They jump to it. They embrace the free offer of perfect righteousness offered by Christ for dear life. A real experiential spiritual transaction has taken place. Others, who are not genuinely longing for perfect righteousness, could only hear of it coldly and intellectually. They hear with the outer ear but their hearts have no genuine interest in really accepting and receiving it. But they think they are genuine Christians.

Which are you?

GOSPEL NUGGET #609

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