How to know children of God

 How to know Children of God

The Apostle John writes,

“This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” 1John 3:10.

Here is a simple test to see who is a Christian. John states, “Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.”

Do you know anyone who claims to be a believer in Christ Jesus and does not do what is right? 

Do any of the pastors, evangelist, politicians that you support fail to do right?

As believers in Christ Jesus. As Christs representatives on this earth we have a moral duty to do right at all times. As well as loving our neighbour the way God does, unconditionally.

Do you and those you support do this?

Please think about it.

This is how

This is how
The apostle John writes,
“Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.  
He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.  
No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.  
This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” 1 John 3:7-10.
As Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus we need to listen to these words of John carefully.
As Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus we need from time to time to evaluate who is a child of God and who is not.
While Jesus told us,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” Matthew 7:1.
We still have an obligation to judge those who claim to be Christians. The apostle Paul writing,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Sadly throughout the centuries that the church has been around many people have arisen claiming to be Christians that are not. Such people are around today. Not only that they are in our churches. Many are even considered by some to be church leaders.
The apostle John gives Christians a bench mark with which to tell if someone is a true believer in Christ Jesus and who is not he states,
“This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” 1 John 3:10.
What John states is black and white. If a person is not doing what is right. If a person is not loving his brother. They are not a child of God.
It is an easy standard to use to determine if a person is a child of God or not. All we have to do is look at a persons words and deeds.
Please think about it.

Do Good, Seek Peace,

Do Good Seek Peace
The Psalmist writes,

"Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 

keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. 

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." 

                                                                             Psalm 34:11-14.

Turn from evil, do good, seek peace and pursue it. This is a not only the call from the psalmist it is a call from God.
The apostle Peter writes,
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:9-12.
So my question to you if you claim to be a true believer in Christ Jesus is; are you living such a good life among the non-believers around you that even though they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your good deeds and glorify God when he returns?
Please think about it.

Just like the Thief

Just like the Thief
Luke’s gospel records this conversation between the two criminals that were crucified with Jesus, and Jesus. Luke records,
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 
“But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” 
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43
The American evangelist Billy Graham once said,

“I'm going to Heaven 

just like the thief on the cross

 who said in that last moment:

 'Lord, remember me.”

                            Billy Graham.

On the day Jesus was crucified we have before us the choice that every individual needs to make.
On that day one of the criminals insulted Jesus and made it clear he didn’t believe who Jesus was. He demanded proof saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!’” 
On the other hand the other criminal said,
“Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’”
The second thief got to heaven.
The Bible makes it clear how we get to heaven,
The apostle John writes,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 1John 1:9-10.
Confession of our sin to God as the second criminal did is the one step in getting to heaven. However in order to do that one must first believe Jesus is who he says he is. The apostle Paul stating,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved Romans 10:9-13.
Thus the question comes down to who do you believe Jesus is?
Please think about it.

It seems right but is it?

It seems right but is it?
The writer of Proverbs states,

“There is a way that seems right to a man 

but in the end it leads to death.” 

                                                                               Proverbs 14:12.

I am writing this directly to Christians with the intent to get them to look at their relationship to Christ.
Jesus said,

“Many will say to me  on that day, 

‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, 

and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  

Then I will tell them plainly, 

‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

                                                                                          Matthew 7:22,23.

If you claim to be Christian will you hear the above words of Jesus? I think many claiming to be Christians be they in the pulpit or in the pew will hear those words.
It is I believe very possible for someone to consider themselves a Christian and are not. I say this because I heard an interesting sermon. It pointed out that Christianity is in danger of becoming part of the culture of the country particularly in the United States and Canada.
Mahatma Gandhi once said,

Jesus is ideal and wonderful,

 but you Christians

 - you are not like him.

                                                             Mahatma Gandhi.

Even though Gandhi said those words decades ago he is right. Many calling themselves Christians today are not anything like Jesus.
When I hear of people calling themselves Christians who go to court for the right not to serve homosexuals in their business, I ask myself are they truly Christians. When I hear people calling themselves Christians and wanting to restrict the rights of any lawful group that is doing no harm, I ask myself are they Christian.
Do Christians in a secular democracy such as the United States and Canada have the right to impose their beliefs and judge those who are not Christians?
The apostle Paul wrote,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
     God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1Corinthians 5:12,13
Should Christians be demanding that same sex marriage be banned? Should Christians try to restrict the rights of other religious groups just because we disagree with them? Should Christians seek to restrict immigration allowing only groups they agree with into the country?
Billy Graham the great American evangelist once said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge 

and my job to love,” 

                                     Billy Graham 

If we claim to be Christians we need to heed what the apostle Paul and indeed Billy Graham said.
Did not Jesus associate with everyone, the Samaritan woman, Roman soldiers even tax collectors.
Matthew’s gospel records,
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.  
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13.
The Pharisees would not sit down with people they thought were sinners. As a result I would imagine as today they would turn people away from God.
I’ve been a Christian in excess of forty years now and the one thing various non-Christians have said to me over the years is, “why should I become a Christian. I live a better life than them. The ‘Christians’ I know are intolerant”
I’ve heard many times Christians being called bigots. Sadly many times they are right. Many calling themselves Christians are intolerant and bigoted.
Jesus and the apostles lived in a society that was far from Christian morally. It was a multicultural mix of people some practising what to them would have been morally reprehensible behaviour. Yet they never spoke against it.
They never spoke against it because they knew, they had the answer to changing the world around and pointing people to heaven.
Billy Graham said,
“The men who followed Him (Christ), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.” Billy Graham.
We as Christian need to be very carful in what we say and do because people are looking at us. The apostle Peter said,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12.
Jesus told us to love God, love our neighbour, and even love our enemy. That to my way of thinking means love everyone.
As true Christians we must be willing to interact with anyone no matter their faith, their lifestyle or there position in life without judging them. This is what Jesus and the apostles did. In doing so they won souls for Christ.
Are you doing this?
Please think about it

Same Message Different Way

Same message different way
Matthew’s Gospel records Jesus as saying,
“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.  
For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.  
And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.  
He who has ears, let him hear. 
“To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:“ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’  
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’  
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.” Matthew 11:12-19.
Here Jesus states that John the Baptist is Elijah the prophet who was to announce the coming of the Messiah. Jesus being the Messiah. This is what Christians believe.
Jesus points out that the people of the time did not accept this. He points out that John and he had the same message presented in quite different ways and still, particularly the religious leaders did not accept this.
Jesus notes,
“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’  
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.”
John the Baptist was calling people to repentance as was Jesus. John however was quite different than Jesus. Matthew says of John,
“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”  
“This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ” 
  John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. John 3:1-4.
Jesus by contrast dressed normally. He moved from city to city calling people to repentance and proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Jesus sat down with anyone who would listen to him irrespective of their station in life.
It seems at the time, no matter which way the salvation message, the need to repent and turn to God, was presented it was rejected by the religious leaders apparently because it was not their way. Both Jesus and John were not part of the religious mainstream at the time.
The same thing happens today. When it comes to how you get to heaven and who Jesus is. It doesn’t matter how you present the salvation message people reject it.
The book of 2 Chronicles states,
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”2 Chronicles  7:14.
The apostle John tells us,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 1John 1:9-10.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans tells us God went one step further to point us to heaven. Saying,
““You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.   Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  
For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  
Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” Romans 5:6-11.
This is a message the religious leaders of the Christ’s day could not accept. It is a message I know many in the world today cannot accept. It however is what Christians believe.
Thus I leave it up to you the reader to decide.
The call of Jesus is to admit you are a sinner. That you fall short of God’s ideals for your life. That you make mistakes and do things that are not right from time to time. Big things or small things.
The call of Jesus is to confess those things to God accept God’s forgiveness and the Salvation and Eternal Life with God that Jesus offers.
Please think about it.