Tag: Bible

Real Talk – Seal of the Holy Spirit

As I said in my previous post, Allentown Part II, I first accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior when I was homeless at the Allentown Rescue Mission. Because I was fretful over not being able to pay my credit card bills. But I didn’t stop there. I accepted every altar call at every service because I felt my sins could not be forgiven.

Was that similar to me dying to myself over and over again? What does the Bible say about dying to oneself? The best search that could come close is “crucifying the flesh”. The results brought Romans 6:6, Romans 8:13, and Colossians 3:5. But one verse in Galatians serves best to prove my point:

Galatians 2:20 NIV

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

So if we accept Christ once, is that sufficient to receive eternal life? My pastor told me each time, but he appreciated the gesture. So if Romans 10:9-10 is a verbal, emotional (it involves the heart) and a spiritual declaration; gaining eternal life, is it the resulting seal of the Holy Spirit that guarantees eternal life?

Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Galatians 2:20 also suggests likewise. The rest is faith (Ephesians 3:17) and hope (Colossians 1:27).

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. http://www.zondervan.com

Real Talk – Eternity Writer

While I was in therapy with a Christian counselor for approximately two years, she told me not to spend time correcting old posts, but to add new ones.

Can you imagine if every decision you made was a win or lose “eternal decision”? Let me explain. An eternal decision is a decision that you make, either with or without thinking it all the way through entirely, that will last for the rest of your life.

Would life be worth living anymore? You may not feel that way after a while. A series of poor eternal decisions and you might look forward to spending eternal life with Jesus.

John 8:36 ESV

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Below are some slavery-related themes in the Word of God:

  • Philemon, a beautiful letter written by fellow prisoner, Paul, on behalf of an escaped slave, Onesimus “Whom I wished to keep with me, that . . . he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel.” (Philemon 1:13 NKJV)

The previous two verses, John 8:34, 35 NKJV read like this:

34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave to sin. “And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.

  • A question was posed in Real Talk – If the Son Sets You Free. A spirit of divination can put us into bondage in various ways (Acts 16: 16-18 NKJV). Maybe placing a meaning on numbers, beyond numerical value. But John 8:36 declares freedom over divination.

Why is divination a sin? Because our God is a jealous God. He loves us so much, he desires us not to worship other gods (Exodus 31:7, 8).

Interesting fact: The Gospel of Mark is the Gospel that is centered around Jesus’ power over demons. It was written by John Mark, Barnabas’ cousin, who was Paul’s first missionary journey companion. John Mark abandoned the first missionary journey after only a short while, which caused Paul to feel he was unreliable. Leading to friction between Paul and Barnabas, and Paul looking for a new missionary journey compadre, Silas. Paul and John Mark reconciled years later.

Just saying . . . .

If every decision you ever made was an eternal decision, wouldn’t you like to know that if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you would find refuge (Colossians 3:3) in Christ?

Is there freedom in Christ? The Bible says that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV) What is the baseline for God’s truth—that the sun will rise at dawn and set at dusk (Genesis 1:1-5). There is freedom in Christ.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Personal Note

This blog aims to be a written life application of what I have studied in my Bible. I pray that you will relate to it and choose to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Disclaimer: I am not an ordained evangelist or teacher (Ephesians 4:11 KJV).

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Thanksgiving

1 Corinthians 1:4 KJV

I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

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Real Talk – For All Have Sinned

Romans 3:23 NIV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

I changed the tagline of this blog to An Imperfect Blog because I realized that some of my recent posts were not Giving the Glory to God.

I am human. It took me seven years to read the New Testament in my Life Application Study Bible. I started when I first joined New Wine Fellowship in 2013, and I stopped around the time I left in 2020. I had a few more books to read in therapy, with Dr. Davis, and so I did. Completing Revelation in about 2021.

I am simply a person who applies what I read to my daily life and try to live by it (I was much better at it then) and now I write about it. That’s why the commitment to walk with the Lord is so difficult. It’s easy to fall off.

But Jesus is not the problem. He promises to be “the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV). The problem is actually us. And the guilt and shame we feel is actually the work of the enemy (Satan). He is the accuser (Revelation 12:10). Religion or its sidekick, legalism, could leave us sidelined from the slightest sin.

God loves all creation. He “sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:45) But God detests sin. Hence, the reason for Jesus our Mediator. My pastor gave me advice as an evangelist. Preaching God’s love will not work with everyone. Some will not take that seriously. God’s love and God’s judgement must be preached evenly in order to communicate the seriousness of sin.

But that is why grace is such a wonderful concept. It’s the Good News! Repentance is all that is needed. Transgressions are blotted out (Psalm. 51:1). If you hang out in really biblical circles, it is said that the consequences of each sin still remain. But forgiveness is guaranteed; through the ultimate debt paid on the cross by Jesus Christ.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. http://www.zondervan.com

Personal Note

This blog aims to be a written life application of what I have studied in my Bible. I pray that you will relate to it and choose to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Disclaimer: I am not an ordained evangelist or teacher (Ephesians 4:11 KJV).

Mobile Menu

Use the hamburger menu (three lines) opposite the logo in any mobile browser to access the menu!

Thanksgiving

1 Corinthians 1:4 KJV

I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

Disclaimer: I am not a nonprofit 501(c)(3)organization.

Your contribution is appreciated.

Donate

Real Talk – Thou Shall Not

Romans 3:28 NIV

28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

Has anyone ever tried to live by the Ten Commandments, earnestly? I heard it is impossible.

Real Talk-Where Sin Abounded, Grace Did Much More Abound will tell you all about it. I was a recent devout nondenominational Christian when I wrote that post, strictly biblical.

The reason for Jesus to come to earth as the Perfect Sacrifice was not to abolish the Law of Moses, but to fulfill it. The Ten Commandments represented the law and justice; and Jesus came to fulfill the grace and truth; of God’s nature and will. Grace by faith. The biblical definition of grace is “unmerited favor”.

Propitiation in Christianity describes the weight of the past, present, and future sins of all humanity being forgiven when Jesus hung on the cross—and died—also with the weight of suffocation that comes with death on a crucifix.

The curtain in the temple was torn into two pieces at that moment. Jesus became the Mediator between us and God—our relationship with God was restored. We can approach God’s throne; the Throne of Grace; in repentance:

Hebrews 4:16 NIV

16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Adam and Eve had set in motion the law of sin and death, which through one perspective, was not intended. But the breath of God is his living Word—the Bible—from start to finish (Genesis 1:1-Revelation 22:21); Alpha to Omega. Holy Spirit inspired writings. Think the Apostle Paul—letter writer of most of the New Testament. Colossians has a subchapter explaining how Jesus was involved in the creation (Genesis 1:1-2:3).

So the question is…does Jesus now live in the hearts of believers? Are the Ten Commandments still relevant to Christian life? Absolutely! Are they our conscience barometers?

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. http://www.zondervan.com

Personal Note

This blog aims to be a written life application of what I have studied in my Bible. I pray that you will relate to it and choose to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Disclaimer: I am not an ordained evangelist or teacher (Ephesians 4:11 KJV).

Mobile Menu

Use the hamburger menu (three lines) opposite the logo in any mobile browser to access the menu!

Thanksgiving

1 Corinthians 1:4 KJV

I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

Disclaimer: I am not a nonprofit 501(c)(3)organization.

Your contribution is appreciated.

Donate