JUSTIFIED UNSANCTIFIED

The question is often asked, "Is it possible for a Christian to die and go to hell?"  The answer that is most often given is, "No, once you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, it is impossible for one to go to hell; just go read; John 3:16, where it says that if you believe in Christ, you will be saved."

Well, what is often missed is that there are other Bible verses that surround that one verse.  We cannot take one verse, and apply that one verse, to everything there is to Salvation. Yes, it is true that if a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior, they will indeed have their name written in the Book of Life. However, understand too, that the title; Christian, is only a demeaning title, given from unbelievers, to those who identified themselves as to being a Christ follower. The title; Christian, itself does not justify or save a person. Anybody can wear the title; Christian, whether they are a full fled faith believer, or one that only believes Christ for entitlements, or one that believes that Christ existed, but for less than what He is to be given entitlements.  Nonetheless, to be really considered; saved, goes beyond just the recognition that Jesus Christ is who He says He is and that He died for the sins of all mankind. There is what is also called; Sanctification.

Sanctification, is defined as: to set apart, or to declare holy, to consecrate. Once a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior, they are added to the Book of Life; however, they are responsible for involving themselves in the sanctification of justification. The believer must live their life according to the commandments of God, just as Jesus lived His life upon the earth in submission to His Father. The act of obedience to God isn't to be taken as a way of "doing works", to get into Heaven, because there is absolutely nothing man can do in works to win God's approval outside of Jesus Christ. The sanctification of the believer shows God that you are serious about your belief in His Son, and that you are completely surrendered to allowing; Jesus Christ, to be the Lord of your life. Jesus Christ has said, "If you love me, then keep my commandments" (John 14:15).  The more a believer keeps God's commandments, the more they become conformed to who; Jesus Christ, is. God is only able to use a believer for His complete and divine purpose, once they acknowledge the fact of sanctification, and begin to seek the Will of God for their lives. Jesus has said, "I am the vine and you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing," (John 15:5). And what He has said to those who have bared no fruit behind accepting Him as Savior, with no sanctification, "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned" (John 15:6). Hebrews, 6:4-6 states, "It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace." The bottom line is, many will come close to the saving grace but fail to complete the full transition through faith simply because they chose to turn back to the ways of the world, denying Jesus Christ. For whatever wave of reason may come: offense, persecution, disappointment, persuasion, influence, self-righteousness, or the lust of the flesh, some will chose to fall away from the truth. Yet, those who stand strong in the faith, enduring all trials, affirming their sincerity through obedience, will be the elect that receive their full reward of eternal life.

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FAMILY TREE

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, I want to share with you the hidden treasure to finding happiness in the midst of grief and difficulties.

Some of the myths that people seem to believe is that happiness is only for a few of God's chosen elects, or that when happiness is found, it is only for a season.  However, that does not seem to be the case. Happiness is within us all, from the man who has lost his job, to the woman who has had a miscarriage, on to the family that has lost their home, to the guilty that stands in the courthouse, to the couple that is heading for a divorce, to the patient that just discovered they have cancer. No one is exempt from God's grace of happiness.

Sharing my personal testimony... many who know me probably thought I would lose my mind behind losing custody of my two children, to their father, through a very challenging divorce in year 2006. Therefore, I will share how God helped me to find peace and happiness within it all. First, I cried out to the Lord, blaming Him for not covering my situation the way I had asked Him to in prayer.  I never thought for one moment that the tables would turn on me. I had all ready gone through two other court hearings where I had won custody of my two children between two states. Yet, on the third hearing, fate would have it, that God would allow what I thought impossible at that point. I questioned God, wondering if He had been angry with me, or moreover, just forgotten about me. I can't begin to explain the details of the pain that radiated and burned through my entire being. My mindset in confusion, my body feeling fatigued, while my bank account set there depleted, at the exhaustion of attorneys and court fees. How could God do this to me?!! I was the primary parent that cared for our children!! I was the one that remained faithful at serving God, even trained our children to fear and serve Him. I am the one in financial need of having them provided for. I am their MOTHER... why would God do this to ME??!! Somehow, when things are set to appear against us, we believe that God is actually trying to punish us, or has turned against us in an act of violence. However, God's way of doing things is to always strengthen our weaknesses. God received more glory out of allowing me to go through something that I thought I could not handle than the glory He would have received had He given me something I expected Him to do that would be comforting. God saw a greater value in helping to me to take the attention off myself, while redirecting my attention unto Him. God's grace surpasses everything. It is not confined to the rules and regulations that we set for Him. His grace takes us deeper in our spiritual walk with Him, opening our eyes to things that we would never see, if He had allowed us to continue to walk with blind faith. I saw a deeper need to trust Him, even if I had to walk through the valley of sorrow.  No amount of  troublesome has any power over His grace. I saw within myself self-centeredness, where I felt things just had to go my way, because I felt that I was too good to experience anything less than God's very best. Job 2:10 says, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"  I saw where I lacked grace in being empathetic to their father's needs despite his past absence and attentiveness in their lives. I saw where God made me financially able where I thought I had a need. I saw how God placed me in a position of teaching at a local private Christian school which allowed me to be surrounded by His Word, and children almost everyday. I saw in my character where the old ways passed away, and the new creation thrived.

There is happiness to be found in Jesus Christ. There is absolutely nothing that we can suffer that Jesus Christ Himself did not suffer. Jesus suffered before we could suffer.  He suffered as an example, that we are able to live life, through our own struggles, abundantly. The grace of God carried; Jesus Christ, and that same grace carries US! I once heard that, "Life is 10% of what happens to us, and 90% of how we respond to it", which I have found to be true. We can either respond to life as life responds to us, or choose to recognize that our hope and peace, are not found in this world, but in Jesus Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Through every trial that comes at us, we can choose to allow God to use us for His purpose through it all; whether it's to sharpen our faith, to refine our character, to be a testimony to others, to see ourselves in front of His grace, where we can learn to extend grace to others, or even to confront Him concerning His promises. There is a greater value behind going through storms, than to hide under the shelter of comfort. There is a dire need for the world to know that true peace and happiness is found in our complete dependence and trust in God to work everything out for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Our circumstances may not look good, but that's okay, because when you are placing your faith in God, everything always turns out for the best in the end.  Remember that our best is not always His best, but everyone will find happiness.


But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknessess, so that Christ's power may rest on me. - 2 Corinthians 12:9

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