by David Long
| “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: |
| Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matt. 7:13-14). Do wrong paths lead to right places? They don’t when it comes to going to heaven. The broad path will never lead to heaven. |
By David Long
Some people are happy to be religiously stupid. They don’t know the Bible and they don’t want to know the Bible. Yes, ignorance is bliss, but spiritual ignorance is eternal damnation (Hosea 4:6).
by David Long
| “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. |
| Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? |
| And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7:21-23). Who will these people be that the Lord will reject? It will be people who claimed to have done many wonderful works in the name of Jesus. |
By David Long
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Rom. 8:1).
Notice the condition placed on “no condemnation”: “them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” There is condemnation to those who walk after the flesh and not after the Spirit, even if one is in Christ (James 5:9, 12).
by David Long
“Jesus said unto him, “I am the way, the truth and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.”
Now that is being narrow minded. But the way to heaven is narrow (Matt. 7:13-14). All roads don’t lead to heaven. Only one does.
by David Long
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| (1 Pet. 3:20-21). How does water save? Acts 22:16 |
By David Long
“And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses ye cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1)
They were trying to bind an Old Testament practice on Christians. We live under the New Testament not the Old Testament. Got it?!
by David Long
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Tim. 4:3-4).
That is so true of many people today. They want to hear messages that please them and they will heap up to themselves such teachers. They turn their ears away from the truth and turn to fables or falsehoods. A lie makes them feel good. The truth hurts.
by David Long
"There is a way that seems right unto man but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Prov. 14:12; 16:25).
How true of of many today, both in and out of religion. Like in the time of the Judges we do that which is right in our own eyes and we think its right with God (Judges 17:6). We better search our ways of life, our opinions and practices by the test of the word of God (Acts 17:11). Make sure what you believe is the truth of God's word and not a lie from the devil.
by David Long
You want to read some unpopular Bible verses with most people? Read 1 Cor. 11:3, 8-9; 14:34; 1 Tim. 2:11-12. The man and woman roles as God has appointed has almost been completely rejected in our modern society and we think we are the better for it.
by David Long
"(Let) marriage (be) had in honor among all, and (let) the bed (be) undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge" (Heb. 13:4). Is that clear enough? Fornicators and adulterers defile the marriage bed. Sex outside marriage is sin and to have sex with any one other than one's spouse is sin.
"The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery" (Matt. 19:3-9).
by David Long
I am told that originally the word "trifle" meant trickery or deceit. To trifle was to say or do something that one did not really mean, pretending to be serious. Today "trifle" means, "to deal with something as if it were of little significance or value; to speak or act with little seriousness or purpose; to play or toy with something." Are we trifling with God? Do we pretend to be serious about Christianity but really aren't? Do we just talk a good "game" of Christianity? Do we really think we are tricking God with our half-heartedness? Do we think God is someone to be trifled with (Rom. 11:22)?
by David Long
Read Hebrews 11:8-10
Abraham lived out his life wandering from one shepherd camp to another. This was a great blessing for him because it made it much easier for him to look beyond this world. He never considered this world his home. Our challenge is not to keep from enjoying this world but to keep from "settling down" in it. When we stop eagerly waiting for Jesus to return and take us home then we will find ourselves in trouble (Phil. 3:20). If you can't let go then maybe you are holding on to tight.
by David Long
Salvation has two parts: God's part and man's part. "For by grace are ye saved through faith and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:8-10).
Grace is God's part and faith is man's part. What kind of faith? "faith which worketh by love" (Gal. 5:6). Faith that obeys God's commandments (James 2:17-26).
