Are We All Children of God?

I saw something was said recently that Preachers (saints) and sinners are all Children of God.

Are they?

That saying sounds good.
It makes for a catchy phrase.
We're all created by God but are we all the Children of God?
What does the Bible say concerning this?

In John 8:42, Jesus made the statement, " If God were your Father, ye would love me...."

One would reason that although they're a sinner, they love God. So, would that then make them a Child of God?

I John 3:8 states, "he that committeth sin is of the devil...."

I John 3:9 states, whosoever is BORN of God doth not commit sin...."

According to I John 3:10, we are either a child of God or a child of the devil...
"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."

So, whose child are you?

Romans 8:9 reads "...now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His."

How do we become Children of God?

Notice I John 3:10 mentioned being born of God.

Jesus said to Nicodemus, "marvel not...ye MUST be BORN AGAIN." (John 3:1-7)

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter gave the instruction to:
Repent
Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
And assured every believer that the Promise of the Holy Ghost is available to them.
(Read Acts 2:38-39)

We see this witnessed throughout the Book of Acts, which is a history of the birth of the Church.
Everywhere the Apostles went, they baptized or rebaptized believers in the name of Jesus Christ.
Then they would pray with them to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost which was evidenced to them when the believer spoke in other tongues.

Acts 2:38-41
Acts 4:12
Acts 8:12-18 (Simon saw tangible undeniable evidence that the believers received the Holy Ghost)
Acts 10:44-48
***heard them speak with tongues
***commanded to be baptized in the NAME of the Lord
Acts 19:1-6
***rebaptized believers
***received Holy Ghost evidenced by speaking in tongues

We are not all the Children of God, but salvation is available to anyone who wants to receive it.

God is not wanting anyone to perish but the choice is up to you.

Which Path Are You On?

Matthew 7:13-14 (KJV)

13 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:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way, 

which leadeth unto life, 

and few there be that find it.

Many today have this backwards.  They think it's a broad path and everyone is on the road to Heaven while only a few will be lost. 

But contrary to popular belief, the Scripture says "NARROW" is the way that leads to life and only a FEW find it. 

This is not a judgmental or condemning post but these Scriptures should really make us stop, think, and examine our hearts to make sure we are ready for Jesus Christ's return.  

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.  Prov 14:12

We've got to make sure of our salvation.  

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, 

and be baptized every one of you 

in the name of Jesus Christ 

for the remission of sins, 

and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38

Real vs Fake

This right here! 👇👇👇👇💯

They say those who learn to detect a counterfeit bill do not spend their time studying counterfeit bills but rather study the real bills. 

In the same way, we do not detect false doctrine by studying about false doctrine but rather by digging into and studying God's Word combined with prayer.

#StayInTheWord

John 21:7

...Now when Simon Peter heard it was the Lord, he girt his Fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. (Jn 21:7)

In my reading for today, I found this to be very interesting.....

After Jesus died and had resurrected, Peter went back to his old profession of fishing.  The Lord wasn't present (or so he thought) so he stripped down so he could more easily work. 

John records him as being naked. This is an important point because Peter wasn't completely unclothed.  He had on his lower garments so he could work without the incumbrance of the outer garment. In that time, that was considered the same as being naked.

But when Jesus....
When Peter heard that Jesus was present, all of a sudden he felt conviction over his immodesty and threw the outer layer of his clothes around him. 

Reminds me of the demoniac whom Jesus delivered.  He was unclothed (immodest) until Jesus came on the scene....then he was found clothed (modest) and in his right mind.

The last part of this verse is even more interesting....
he was fully clothed and kept his clothes on when he went swimming.  He didn't strip back down to the bare minimum to swim....he jumped in the water clothes and all. 

Peter realized the necessity for modesty in Jesus' presence.  Something to think about.

Book of Acts Church

To make an impact in our cities, schools, jobs, families, we've got to get back to being just like the Book of Acts Church.

The world doesn't need us to only look different (they already know how to look different), they need us to BE different.

Let it be said of us (me) that we are: "These that have turned the world upside down...." Acts 17:6


Originally posted to my fb page on Aug 6, 2017

Don't Judge Me

Posted on fb 9-19-15

There is a post going around FB that is really bothering me.  It reads: "Don't judge someone just because they sin differently than you do" and implying that God looks at all sin as the same.  This is incorrect theology.   

1) We should not be continuing in sin.  As Christians, we are to strive to live above sin. If we do sin, we can gain forgiveness through repentance and by not doing it again. 

2) When you read the Bible, God gave different consequences for various sins: 

**The adulterers were to be stoned. 

**Sodom & Gomorrah were destroyed by fire & brimstone.

**a thief was to make restitution plus extra

**etc

Notice the difference in degrees of consequences?  While all unrepented sins have the same end, there are differences in the severity of sin.  A judge is not going to hand the same sentence to a murderer as he would to someone who stole something.  Please do not buy into this incorrect doctrine. God calls some sins sin, others He calls an abomination.

***********************************

This saying has been floating around on Facebook and the internet for a while now. Many are proudly sharing it, and I even heard that a pastor has this saying displayed in his office. I am bothered when I see born again Christians spreading this.  I'm not trying to condemn anyone, but this popular belief is not biblically sound. 

I John 3:8 reads... 

He that committeth sin is of the devil. 

I John 3:9 reads...

Whosoever is born of God 

doth not commit sin;

I John 3:10 reads...

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.

So, if we're sinning, whose child are we? 

If we sin, we're walking in the flesh and not in the Spirit.

The good news is if we do sin, God's Word lets us know... 

If we confess our sins, 

He's faithful and just 

to forgive us our sins, 

and to cleanse us 

from all unrighteousness. 

I John 1:9

Let's not be so easily swayed to follow after popular sayings that sound good and are pleasing to the flesh yet are not doctrinally or Biblically sound. 

I recommend reading Minister Martin Ballestero's blog for a more in depth study concerning  judging. That Scripture has been misused for far too long.  His study is very informative and enlightening. 

https://martynballestero.com/2013/08/19/who-are-you-to-judge-me