Whosoever does not righteousness is not of God

 by David Long

"In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother" (1 John 3:10). How can one tell the difference between a child of God and a child of the devil? If you are not doing righteousness you are a child of the devil. Doing righteousness is keeping God's commandments (Psa. 119:172). So if you are not keeping God's commandments then you are a child of the devil. A child of God will obey God's word. 

Hear ye Him

 by David Long

"And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him" (Matt. 17:1-5). The Father in heaven made it clear, we are to hear Jesus. Jesus is the authority (Matt. 28:19). How do we hear Jesus? By studying His word and obeying His word. His word is the New Testament (John 8:31). Who are you listening to? 

Jesus' church

 by David Long

Jesus has a church (Matt. 16:18). He has only one church (Eph. 4:4; 1:22-23). He purchased His church with His blood (Acts 20:28). He is the head of His church (Col. 1:18). In order to go to heaven one must be a member of Jesus' church (Eph. 5:23). Jesus' church is not made up of all the different denominations (1 Cor. 1:10). Jesus' church does not wear man-made names nor teach man-made doctrines (Rom. 16:16; Matt. 15:9). Jesus' church is the manifold wisdom of God (Eph. 3:10-11). Jesus' church is where true unity is found (Eph. 2:12-22). 

Jesus is the model

 by David Long

"He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" (1 John 2:6).  Jesus set the model on how to live life. If we claim to be living the Christian life then we must follow Jesus' example.

"And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (1 John 3:3). Jesus is the model for purity. If we have the hope of being like Him then we must follow his example of purity. 

"Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous" (1 John 3:7). Jesus is the model for righteousness. If we are going to be righteous like Jesus then we must continue to do what is right in God's sight. Obeying God's commandments is righteousness (Psa. 119:172). That's what Jesus did and that's what we must do! 

Doing righteousness

 by David Long

"Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous" (1 John 3:7).

"In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother" (1 John 3:10). 

"If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him" (1 John 2:29).

Here is the difference between a child of God and a child of the devil, "Doing righteousness." Doing righteousness means keeping the commandments of God (Psa. 119:172). 

Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice?

 by David Long

"And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go" (Exod. 5:1-2). Pharaoh would learn the hard way who the Lord was and why he should obey His voice. He would finally let Israel go but in his hard heart he would pursue after them only to die in the Red Sea. 

Dear reader, do you know who the Lord is and why you should obey His voice? Don't be like Pharaoh and perish in your hardness of heart. 

"open minded"

 by David Long

The phrase "open minded" is used in refers to someone who will believe or accept just about anything that comes down the pike except the truth. The Bereaians were not willing to believe anything without investigation.  "And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:10-11). Are you "opened minded" to the truth of God's word? 

He really knows how to live

 by David Long

The phrase, "He really knows how to live" refers to a person who is wasting his life in self-indulgence and spending his money on personal pleasures. The prodigal son in Luke 15:13 really knew how to live. But look how it turned out for him (Lk. 15:14-16). Don't waste your life in self-indulgence. Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus (Lk. 9:23). 

Old-fashioned

 by David Long

Old fashioned means "no longer current, not up with the times, not modern." Are you old fashioned? I am. I'm not talking about being old fashioned when it comes to the use of modern technology. I'm old fashioned when it comes to the family. I believe the Bible regarding God's pattern for the family. I believe in one man and one woman for life (Matt. 19:4-6). I'm old fashioned when it comes to genders. I believe God created male and female (Gen. 1:27). I believe there are boys and girls and that the boys should not use the girls bathroom. I'm old fashioned when it comes to life. I believe that the baby in the womb is a human being and killing it is murder (Lk. 1:41). There are those who will say that the Bible is old fashioned. Well, I believe the Bible, so I guess I'm old fashioned. 

Sin is committed

 by David Long

Sin is not inherited, it is committed. Read 1 John 3:4. We aren't born sinners or born in sin (Ezek. 18:20). "At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 18:1-4). Is that clear enough? 

Just one way

 by David Long

I've heard people say, "We are all going to heaven just on different roads." Wrong! Read Matthew 7:13-14. All roads don't lead to heaven, only one does. The majority of people are on the road that leads to destruction (hell). 

Moral excellence

 by David Long

"add to your faith virtue" (2 Pet. 1:5). The word "virtue" has to do with moral excellence. We are created in the image of God and therefore are moral beings (Gen. 1:26-27). Our society needs a big dose of what the Bible teaches about morality (Titus 2:11-12). There is universal code of conduct, it's called the Bible! We don't get to decide what's right and what's wrong, God does! Your situation doesn't determine what's right or what's wrong, the Bible does! 

Be like Jesus

 by David Long

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (1 John 3:2-3). Here is motivation to live pure lives. You want to be like Jesus when He comes back then you must keep yourself pure. Get sin out of our lives by obeying the truth (1 Pet. 1:22-23). 

Faithfulness is necessary for salvation

 by David Long

"Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Rev. 2:10).

Faithfulness is necessary in worship (John 4:23-24; Heb. 10:25) and in the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58). 

Faith is necessary for salvation

 by David Long

"I said therefore unto you, that Ye shall die in your sins: for except Ye believe that I am (he), Ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24).

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb. 11:6).

What kind of faith saves? A faith which worketh by love (Gal. 5:6). Faith only does not save (James 2:24).

Repentance is necessary for salvation

 by David Long

"There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners a bove all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Lk. 13:1-5).

"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent" (Acts 17:30).

"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death" (2 Cor. 7:10).