[Sajjan George]

God is just. And because He is just, He will judge justly and righteously. And God has revealed Himself through creation that is visible to all humans. Additionally, God has put the conscience inside each human, which gives each person the capacity to decide what is right (Romans Chapter 1). There are many examples in the Bible where it talks about many people, outside the Israelites, who knew God and worshiped the true God. But today we have people who completely denies the existence of God, or deceived by Satan into believing false God.

In both these cases, it is our responsibility as children who are called into God’s kingdom, by God’s grace and mercy, also have to see others with mercy and the blindness they are in. So we have look at them with compassion, pray for them. Ask God to open door and provide opportunity for us as individuals and as a whole church (body of Christ). We are obligated to share this good news. This is the great commission given by Jesus to His disciples. Let’s take today’s time and pandemic situation as an example: Thousands of people are dying everyday with this virus disease. But imagine if a person is cured completely from this by a medicine, and keeps that to himself, and does not share with others. How selfish would that be? In a way, wouldn’t that be an unpardonable crime?

Bible says, Gospel sharing is a privilege that God has not given to even the angels, instead God has given it to us. We are to be His disciples and also “make disciples” by teaching everything has Jesus has taught us. It has to be a continuous cycle. We are given the responsibility to expand His kingdom on earth. Once this commission is fulfilled, or in other words, when the gospel is shared or reaches everyone on the earth, then the end will come. That means, even God is waiting for us to complete this mission, so that Jesus can come back to earth literally and establish kingdom forever – the Consummation of the Eschaton!

May God equip and enable each of us to accomplish this great commission and our mission, individually and as a church.

[Sajjan George]

Thank your Bro. Michael, for your sharing your thoughts.
As you mentioned God doesn’t want anyone to perish, but that everyone should come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. And this great responsibility God has given to us, His children who are called bu Him, not even to His angels. So its one of the two main mission share the gospel with other, through word and deeds. Which means, we have to earn the opportunity to share the good news. Our life has to be a model, such that others will ask of the reason of our hope.

Also, as you rightly said, we should not condemn others, thinking ourselves as superior. We have to remember that we are saved by grace. And God’s love is equal for all mankind. Jesus died for all. But I feel the best way to approach a person, is by saying that “everyone has sinned an come short of the glory of God, including myself. But I have found grace, God showed mercy, when I confessed my sins and believed in Him, and you too can do the same”. We should not shy away from telling about the judgement and hell. We should tell the truth, but in love.

[Sajjan George]

Thank you Sis. Dhivya for sharing your thoughts.
As you rightly said, it is unimaginable that God has prepared for eternity. There are only two options. In fact, God never intended Hell for the people he created in His own image. It was for Satan, the devil and his fallen angels. Yes people need to know this. There is only one way, and one salvation. We who are saved by grace have a great responsibility to warn others about the coming judgement, and to share about the good news that Jesus has prepared the way for all mankind for heaven, and He offers is gift of eternal life freely to all those who believe and accept Him.

And yes, we need to first earn their trust and respect to share the gospel, or for them to give importance to what we are saying. That totally depends on our lives. We who are called and chosen as God’s children have two mandates: to live our life in holiness, and then to share the gospel with others. May the Lord help us, and may we depend completely on the Holy Spirit for a successful Christian life.

[Sajjan George]

The assurance that Scripture gives of prophesies yet to be completed is based on the past prophesies already fulfilled, including the birth, life/ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And thus, the many New Testament prophesies yet to be fulfilled gives us great hope in the future, including the triumphant return of Jesus Christ. It does not end there, but instead it begins there, and much more amazing beautiful things in store in the millennium and in the new heaven and new earth, and the eternal life with Jesus forever. The Bible says, ‘But as it is written:”Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”‘ (1 Corin 2:9). This is the hope the New Testament saints also had, and then looked forward this to happen in their lifetime, even when they had to go through extreme persecution, even to death.

The same is true with us as believers, even as we go through various struggles and trials in our life, we have just the eternal hope, that all these pain will be no more one day. Even more for us, as we most of the signs of the end times happening right before our eyes, we have much more to look forward to, that our redemption is near, even at the door.

The church ministry should be based on this blessed hope – for the congregation themselves, each individuals. To leave all worldly passions and attachment, and instead have the passion for lost souls, should enable the church to reach out to others in spiritual darkness (cut-off and in enmity with God), to tell them the Truth, and lead them to Christ and salvation in Him, so that their eternal destiny is also changed from hell to heaven.

[Sajjan George]

Thank you Bro. Pravinraj, for sharing your thoughts.
As you shared, when we are faced with persecution because of Jesus and the Gospel, we are to take comfort that all these are temporary, our final salvation is going to take place with the triumphant return of our King of kings, and Lord of lords. May people who persecute us, see our hope and joy, may they the turn to Jesus in repentance.

Even when we go through daily struggles and trials, let us also remember that we are being pruned by our maker, that we can bear much fruit; that we are changed into His likeness in our character and attitude; that we prepare ourselves to receive Him in His great power and glory very soon.

[Sajjan George]

Thank you Sis. May, for sharing your thoughts.
As you shared, our only hope is the triumphant Jesus Christ, who reigns with power and glory in Heaven, and
with the same glory He is going to come back, to receive us to Himself. All of us, when we go through various
trials and challenging situations in our life, we have to remember that words of Jesus, “take heart, I have overcome the world”.

Also when we do our job, God’s ministry, or whatever God has entrusted us, in a faithful way, and there is no one to support us or encourage us, we need to remind ourselves that its not in vain. Our Redeemer is going to come back in great power and great glory, and He is going to call us by name, call us good and faithful servant, and reward us publicly. May God inspire us and renew us all in His eternal hope.

[Sajjan George]

Thank you Bro. Arul Sam for sharing your thoughts.
Yes, as your rightly mentioned, God has created human beings as eternal beings. Once we are born in this earth, we are eternal beings. But by default, because we are born in sin, we are destined for eternal death or eternal punishment. But by God’s grace, when we believe in we are born again by accepting Jesus Christ into our life, our destiny is changed to eternal life.

But we need to continue to our earthly journey in the same path of following Jesus, which is always the narrow way. This way has its own trials and tribulations, but we need to hold on to Jesus, and depend of the guidance of the Holy Spirit to complete this part of the earthly journey, so that we do not lose the eternal life we have once received.

[Sajjan George]

Thank you Sis. Hebsibah for sharing your thoughts.
Yes, many of the Christians, and even believers consider Eternal Life as something that starts after our death, or after the coming of Jesus Christ. But the truth is that our route and destiny is changed to Eternal Life, as soon as we are born again by accepting Jesus Christ into our life. According to God’s word, believing in Jesus itself is eternal life.

But we need to continue to our earthly journey in the same path of following Jesus, which is the always the narrow way. This way has its own trials and tribulations, but we need to hold on to Jesus, and depend of the guidance of the Holy Spirit to completely this part of the earthly journey, so that we do not lose the eternal life we have once received.

[Sajjan George]

Thank you Bro. Arul for your post, and sharing your thoughts.
Figuratively speaking, God had began His kingdom here on earth, by creating Adam and Eve, and breathing His Spirit into them. He gave them to rule and reign on this earth. But unfortunately, they lost it to Satan by being deceived. Jesus came to this earth to get back that authority from Satan, and gave it back to His disciples, and gave the authority of His name, and the infilling of His Spirit.

Satan, being the fallen angel he is, is still using the same old trick of deception to deceive God’s people, His bride. But we need truly grow in our faith through His word, and be filled with the Holy Spirit and be led by the Holy Spirit. So that we can live a victorious life, over sin, lies and deception of the devil. At the same time, we need to accomplish God’s purpose in our lives, and share His love and gospel with others around us, in word and in deed.

[Sajjan George]

Thank you Bro. Richard for your post, and sharing your thoughts.
Yes, Jews expected the Messiah, but missed to recognize Jesus and accept Jesus, even though he fulfilled many of the prophesies right before their eyes. Because they were blinded by their self righteousness. It was a stumbling block for them, because Jesus did not come in the package as per what they had perceived and expected. They rejected Jesus and crucified Him. But it opened the door for the Gentiles to receive the salvation of God, as represented in the parable Jesus taught in Matthew 22:1-14.

But though we receive such a great salvation, by grace through faith (justification), yet we are mandated to live and prepare according to the standard as set for a bride by the bridegroom. The bride’s life should be a continuous waiting in expectation and in continued holiness (sanctification), leading to eternal life with Jesus (glorification).

• This reply was modified 5 years, 11 months ago by Sajjan George.

[Sajjan George]

When we look at the fulfillment of expectations on Jesus, He has already fulfilled part of it, by His birth, ministry, death and resurrection. In other words, part the prophesies about Jesus in the Old Testament has already come to pass. Now that gives us the assurance that the rest of the expectations for the last days will also be fulfilled by Jesus in the last days.

The expectations of Jesus in the last days, have two-fold results – one for eternal life with Him in heaven forever, and the other is eternal damnation without Him in hell. This fact should encourage us, first of all, to know Jesus and accept Him; and for believers to live a life faithful to Him, work out our salvation with fear and trembling, fulfill his calling in our life, and prepare in holiness for His coming.

Unfortunately, the church, the body and bride of Christ has forgotten the conditions that Jesus has taught us, and those that His apostles have reminded us. The church has lost the goal and vision of heaven, and fixed its eyes on worldly things, which is temporal. Let’s hope and pray that times like this, this pandemic situation is a wake up call for the church, that they will wake up from their slumber, leave their lukewarm attitude and start preparing themselves for the rapture of the church, the catching up of the bride, as the the wise virgins in the parable that Jesus taught.

[Sajjan George]

Sis. Jeneita:
Thank you for your sharing your thoughts and insights on this topic about false doctrine and false teachings.
Unfortunately, this is a reality. This started from early New Testament churches, and now has exponentially grown. There are so many false teachings. My personal belief is that, false doctrine happens because of false teachers. If Pastors have true calling and passion for God’s kingdom and eternity in mind, then they will always protect them spiritually, like all the Apostles did in the early churches.

The situation has changed now, because Pastor and Priests (Shepherd of the church) have all become selfish and self-indulged and attached to worldly passions, wealth, land, houses, cars, investments, hoarding and greediness.

There is only one way – to be thorough with God’s word, check every teachings we come across, like the Bereans did in the Paul’s time. And be filled with the Holy Spirit continuously.
There is only one way to find the counterfeit – thoroughly know the original!

[Sajjan George]

Bro. Suresh:
Thank you for sharing your insights on this questions. As you rightly said, there were many false doctrines in the early new testament churches, and now in our times, they are exponentially higher! Yes, prosperity gospel is one of them, false prophecy, hyper-grace, etc., there is no end to it. Its so because it has been foretold by Jesus himself and by the Apostles, in last days many will be deceived. In the New Testament, “do not be deceived” is mentioned so many times, as a warning to the body of Christ. Because Satan is using those inside the church, Pastors and Bishops themselves to adulterate and dilute the truth, that the chances of deception is so high.

There is only one way – to be thorough with God’s word, check every teachings we come across, like the Bereans did in the Paul’s time. And be filled with the Holy Spirit continuously.

There is only one way to find the counterfeit – thoroughly know the original!

[Sajjan George]

Bro. Richard:
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Yes, as you rightly said – there are two types of trials – consequential, that is self-inflicted, and then there is test of our faith (something like what Job had to go through). I believe in the first case, we need to repent and turn from our wrongs and turn to God, He is merciful to deliver us. Chastening is a part of it. On the other, we need to trust and have faith in God that He loves us, and nothing happens in our life without His knowledge.

Then there is persecution for the sake of Jesus Christ and the Gospel. The book of Hebrews teaches us hold on to Jesus and persevere and be faithful till the end, so that we get the Crown of Life.

[Sajjan George]

Bro. Lawrence:
Thank you for your thoughts and sharing about your life experiences.
Yes, the we can learn much from the Israelites. They suffered as trials which were out of their control (for example, in Egypt). But they also suffered as consequences to their sins, which were warned and cautioned by God multiple times. But they still sinned by murmering, disbelief, disobedience, idolatry, and so on. And they paid a very high price for it. Sometimes they repented and came back, and sometimes they did not. At the same time there were faith champions all throughout Israel’s history, from whom we can learn a lot (as listed in Hebrews chapter 11).

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