A Ministry of Knowing The Way, Inc.

"To Be Or Not To Be?"

We will be found to be a Christian or found not to be one, depending on what kind of response that we have made to the Gospel. If we have truly repented and, in faith, have trusted Jesus to be our Savior and Lord, we are saved! However, if there are no changes in our lives, the response that we made falls short of a genuine conversion experience. The changes may come slowly, there will be failures along life's way but there will be ongoing change in our lives. We do not change to be saved but change because of being saved. No true believer can get away with sin and the longing to be rid of sin grows and intensifies. What God has worked into us will come out in our daily lives. "....work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." (From Philippians 2:12-13). Christians do fail and "mess up" but they confess and move on. The direction is away from the world, the flesh and the devil. Even if we fall into the muck of sin, we don't return to the world's way. If we lean in that direction or start in that direction, we are convicted and the Holy Spirit will bring the necessary measures to bear to turn us back to the right direction. If we are not convicted or disciplined, we are not His children. Hebrews 12:8 makes this clear: "But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons." This is a message that has been toned down in our day and leaves many assuming that they have the real thing when they only have an inadequate substitute. Selah! For those who have been truly saved, there is a wonderful certainty that they have been placed in the keeping Hands of our blessed Lord. Do come back tomorrow. Ron

Aspects of Assurance

I have been surprised to learn that many who claim Jesus as Savior lack any real assurance regarding their future destiny. I've given some thought to this. One explanation for this lack is a person's theology. There is a school of thought that a saved person can go back into a life of sin and be lost after they are saved. (Lord willing, I may speak to this in the next day or so). I suggest that if you embrace this theology that you undertake a long range intense study of this subject in your Bible. Some other folk lack assurance because they have only undergone an intellectual conversion rather than a Spiritual one. Still another reason is neglect of the Scriptures and other supporting helps. This can leave a person wondering if he or she is truly saved. Yet another cause of doubting one's assurance comes from condoning and practicing any sins. Anyone living in a backslidden condition is either not truly saved or is not able to have assurance of being saved. God will not let anyone in a state of disobedience enjoy assurance, even if they have it. Living in sin, they cannot be sure. Cultivating our relationship with the Lord, being directed by and being submissive to His Word, and living to please and honor Him will bring blessed assurance! Selah! Coming to Jesus, receiving Him as Savior and Lord is a radical transaction. It is our lives under new management. One who is saved craves holiness, loves Spiritual things, is hungry and thirsty for Bible Truths and loves the Lord. Life will never again be the same. As Jesus takes up residence in us, works on us, in us and through us, He instills blessed assurance. Ron

"Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the Presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen" (Jude 24-25).

What Am I Missing?

From time to time, we hear things like this: "I don't have peace like the preacher talked about when he spoke of great peace, peace in trials, etc. I certainly don't have 'joy unspeakable and full of glory.' I appreciate grace but what does grace for daily Christian living really mean?" These things that belong to believers seem to be missing from their lives, if not their vocabulary. They want to know, "What am I missing?" If these things and other treasures from God's Word are not being experienced, what's wrong? There are several possible reasons why they may not be enjoyed. I see the number one reason as being either a neglect of Scripture or a failure to study Scripture thoroughly; hence, a lack of correct understanding. The next reason is a faulty evangelism that lulls a lot of unsaved people into believing that they are saved, when they are not. Any claimed experience of salvation that doesn't include a faith that results in a changed life offers no promise of the blessings that accompany the new birth. Sin(s) in the life that is/are not confessed, cleansed and turned from withholds God's blessing. God's blessings are assured for those who are truly saved, read and study their Bibles, apply and obey what they read and deal with any known sins in their lives immediately, and seek God's enabling for victory over these sins. Selah! Truly being saved comes from conviction of sin in our lives causing us to realize and admit our deep need of salvation, and a faith in Jesus that willingly turns over the control of our lives to Him. Out of this comes a desire for Godliness and a determination to follow His leading in our lives. Ron

"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10;10) True heart belief will always move the Christian to grow in righteousness of heart and life.

The Wonder of Grace

Grace is often not considered except in relation to salvation which, from the point of view of those that are born again, is its greatest accomplishment. As the acrostic conveys, it is Great Redemption At Christ's Expense. However, it is much more. It is lavished upon us. We pointed out earlier in this short series that it is like grace piled upon grace. We might say, in the vernacular, "heaps" of grace. It has given us His righteousness, credited to us who are saved. It extends forgiveness and cleansing upon genuine confession. It brings comfort and assurance. It gives strength and wisdom. It grants fellowship with our God and Savior and it provides the motivation and ability to live Godly. It reveals the love and mercy of our Lord. These are just a few facets of the manifold grace of God. It is truly amazing! Selah! Use your concordance to look at every verse and passage that mentions "grace" and think about each one carefully and you will be blessed and filled with gratitude. Ron

"All the way my Savior leads me; cheers each winding path I tread; gives me grace for every trial, feeds me with the Living Bread; though my weary steps may falter, and my soul athirst may be, gushing from the Rock before me, lo! a spring of joy I see." (Fanny J. Crosby).

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:11-13).

Don't Settle for Being Happy!

I haven't researched it but I suspect that "happy" has a relationship with "happen." Could that be why "happiness" comes and goes depending on what "happens?" If so, that explains a lot of depression and emptiness. If people disappoint us, if plans and circumstances do not "happen" the way we want them to, our "happiness" disappears quickly. That's not the way that God's joy works. As a part of the abundant quality of life that Jesus came to provide, a joy that rises above all and sustains us in sorrow can be enjoyed day by day. It depends on Him rather than on what "happens." The receiving of that joy is ours, beginning with an involvement in the Scriptures. Here, we learn that He is in control, works all things (even the "bad ones") to our ultimate good and that He can be relied on. This joy is deep seated. It grants us the privilege of casting "....all (y)our care upon Him; for He careth for you" (and all of His children). (From I Peter 5:7). When we gain the long range view, we realize that He grants far better answers to prayer than what we might have sought when we prayed. He gives us purpose, confidence and calmness. He gives blessed assurance. He guarantees our future. He loves us with an everlasting love. He blesses us with His Presence. He provides guidance. He instills, from His Word, wise principles for living. He meets all real needs and not a few wants. He sacrificed His Son to be able to forgive and cleanse us from all sin(s). And the list goes on...! Selah! All of these things are the blessings that come from knowing Him as Savior and Lord. If anyone reading this doesn't have that relationship, he or she can. Read carefully Romans 10:9-10 and receive Him as your Savior and Lord. Ron

"....believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." (From I Peter 1:8).

Undisturbed Peace

As part of the abundant quality of life that Jesus provides, there is a peace that can't be disturbed. In the words of the hymnwriter, "There's a deep settled peace" in the souls of those who know Jesus as Savior and Lord and who have learned that He is utterly trustworthy. The lack of peace comes when we fail to completely trust the trustworthy One. This trusting is not based on "a good feeling." This is a decision to trust Him and the principles and promises of His Word. We trust Him when it looks wrong. We trust Him when it looks impossible. We trust Him when it doesn't seem as though our prayers have been heard. We trust Him when things seem to be falling apart. We trust Him when the answer is not the one that we knew that we needed and wanted. I could go on but I think you get the idea. To sum it up, we decide to trust, no matter what! No matter what our emotions suggest or our natural instincts tell us, we trust! We decide by an act of will to unconditionally trust Him. When we are in harmony with principles of the Bible to the best of our knowledge, there will be peace. This assumes that we don't withdraw our trust, if we don't get the answer we wanted. The answer may be "yes," "no," or "wait." It may be long delayed. It may be a long time before we see His purpose in the answer we receive. However, in the ongoing plans and purposes of God, it will prove to be right for us. Selah! He knows and sees the end from the beginning and His wisdom will be vindicated in His own timing. Ron

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee" (Isaiah 26:3).

"There's a peace in my heart that the world never gave, a peace it cannot take away. Tho' the trials of life may surround like a cloud, I've a peace that has come there to stay." (From "Constantly Abiding" By Mrs. Will L. Murphy).

Great Plenty

Today, I want to share three examples of "great plenty" that belong to a child of God. Then, I'd like to suggest why we might not have this "great plenty." In the next two or three days we can consider how they are realized in our daily lives. First, let's explain the title: "Great Plenty." This is the Dictionary's definition of "abundance." You probably recall Jesus' words in John 10:10, "....I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." Keep in mind that this "abundant life" is speaking more about quality of life than about possessions or prosperity. Here we go... 1). And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). 2). There is a phrase in Psalm 16:11 that gives us the next kind of abundance: "in Thy presence is fulness of joy." This third one is one of the greatest of all. 3). "And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace" (John 1:16). This expression: "grace for grace," has the idea of grace being heaped upon grace. (More on that in the next couple of days). People will say things like, "I wish I could experience these things." " Why don't I have these things in my life?" Let me address this in a general way here and be more specific in the last article of this short series. Two thoughts come to mind: 1). How we read the Bible and 2). acting on its principles. Selah! There are two ways of looking at life: the right way and the wrong way. Which way are we looking at life? Ron

Whose Pleasure?

We seek and expect pleasure about as soon as we are born. All through our years, to a greater or lesser degree, we want the things that bring us pleasure. This is natural and O.K. to a reasonable extent. Most, if not all, of us find ourselves living for pleasure. If this is our all consuming passion, we have made a serious mistake. "He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man...." (From Proverbs 21:17). (This poverty may be Spiritual). Pursuing personal pleasure as our number one goal will bring only short lived pleasure, if any at all. Contrariwise, living to please God brings pleasure now and beyond the grave. "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore" (Psalm 16:11). We were "programmed" to find our fulfillment in God. The irony of this is that when we seek to please Him, we derive the most wonderful pleasure one can experience. It puts an undercurrent of joy under the most difficult trials of life. Selah! God's stamp of approval on our lives is revealed in the benediction on Enoch's life: "....before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." (From Hebrews 11:5).

Extreme Depravity-3

A common misconception is that if one's good deeds and ways outweigh the bad ones, God will cut them some slack and take them into Heaven. This misses the point entirely. Some of the kindest and nicest people, some of the most generous and helpful people share a common problem with those that we too often look down on because of the attitude that "I'm not like him or her, I'm a decent person." While many of us do have high standards, none of us are good enough. You see, the problem is that those of us who have never received Jesus as our Lord and Savior do not have the sufficient righteousness that He alone can credit to us. That is the only righteousness by which we can be and will be received into God's Presence. As long as we rely on our own exercised goodness, we are clutching at a straw. The majority of mankind ignore, neglect and refuse God and the salvation He offers. To do this is the worst of all sin(s). Nothing is as evil as failure to respond to the love of God infinitely expressed on the cross. Nothing could offend the God who made such a sacrifice more than refusing to turn to Him and receive His Son as Savior and Lord. At the heart of assuming that we are good enough for God to allow us into Heaven is pride (the original sin). Only as we are willing to admit to and own our Spiritual bankruptcy, is there any hope of mercy. Being broken by the way we have treated God and put ourselves ahead of Him, and realizing how greatly we deserve His wrath and judgment, makes it possible to throw ourselves on His mercy and grace and receive salvation. Selah! When we understand that we are great sinners and come to the cross for deliverance, we will be received by a great Savior. Have you done that? If so, thank God! If you haven't, why don't you right now? It's the only time that you are guaranteed that you can. Ron

" Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:6-7).

Extreme Depravity-2

If I were to steal a penny, would I be as sinful as someone who stole a thousand dollars? As far as the victims are concerned, I probably wouldn't be as bad in their eyes. That, however, is not the point when it comes to God. The point is that I have sinned. Which is heavier: a pound of lead or a pound of feathers? They both weigh the same. Sins, big ones or small ones, are an offense against the holiness and perfection of God. Any sin, great or small, would necessitate the Cross of Calvary. If God overlooked one sin, His holiness would be imperfect and His law violated. A holy God cannot excuse any sin(s). Since all sin must be judged and punished, God bore the punishment in His Son on a Roman cross. He offers the benefits of that sacrifice to any who are willing to repent and receive the Lord Jesus as Savior and Lord. A penny might not amount to much of anything but stealing is a crime against God and His law. Most would say that they wouldn't steal even a penny. Nevertheless, if they are not willing to give their lives to Him and be born again, they have sinned worse than stealing. If they claim to want His salvation but want to hold on to the ordering of their lives, they are indicating that they count their desires of greater importance than His will for them. This sin is even worse. The point I'm making is that our depravity is still extreme, even if we are nice, kind, generous and morally upright people. Refusing that which cost God everything, in favor of running our own lives our own way is the most glaring evidence of sinful depravity. Selah! Our self produced righteousness that we often take pride in is worthless and rejected. Only the perfect righteousness of Christ credited to us in the new birth will ever cover our depravity and enable us to exist eternally in His Presence. Ron

"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10).