Order ofMelchizedek
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The Good Test
So, do you consider yourself a good person? Anybody good enough to get into heaven?
• Have you ever told a lie? What does that make you? A liar. This violates the 9th Commandment, and the Bible tells us that no liar will enter the kingdom of heaven.
• Have you ever stolen anything? A piece of candy as a kid, a pen from work? Anything? What does that make you? A thief and it means that you've violated the 9th Commandment, and probably the 10th as well, because you would have coveted it before you stole it. There will be no thieves in heaven.
• Have you ever used God's Name in vain? Have you ever used it as a curse word, or just cried out His Name as an expletive? That's called blasphemy. It's a transgression of the 3rd Commandment and a very serious offense. Do you realize what you've done? You've used the Creator of the universe's holy Name as a curse word to express disgust instead of a four letter filth word. Hitler's name is not so despised to be used in such a way!
• The 7th Commandment is you shall not commit adultery. But before you answer, hear what Jesus says. He says that if you merely look with lust, you've already committed adultery in your heart. So, have you ever done that?
• You may say, "I've never murdered anyone." But if you've ever hated anyone, God sees it as murder and you're guilty of breaking the 6th Commandment. Yes, even your thoughts will be judged on Judgment Day.
• Have you always honored your parents as they should be honored? That's number 5.
• Have you kept the Sabbath? That's number 4. God gave you your very life, have you ever stopped to consider what He might require of you one day out of seven?
• Have you always put God first in your life? That's the 1st and most important Commandment.
• Or have you created a god for yourself, seeking money power and pleasure, and thus breaking the 2nd Commandment as well?
How did you do? Are you "good enough" to make it to heaven? In light of God's standard, judged by these questions, would you be found innocent or guilty? You'd be guilty! And would you then be destined for heaven or for hell?
Would you go to heaven because God is so forgiving? Check this out: If a man is found guilty in court of some heinous crime, say murder or rape, or both, and he says to the judge, "I know I'm guilty, but I'm really sorry. Would you just forgive me and let me go? I won't ever do it again." Would that judge be just in letting the man go? No! And God is so just, that every murderer, rapist, and thief will be punished, but He doesn't stop there. Every liar, adulterer and fornicator will also be punished for transgressing His Law.
Does it concern you that you are destined for eternal hell? Do you know what God did for us so that we did not have to go to the hell that we deserve? He loves us so much that He doesn't want us to end up in hell. Hell was created for Satan and his demons, but all criminals must be punished, and the wages of sin is death. But God so loved us that He sent His perfect sinless Son to take the punishment for us. He suffered and died taking on the punishment that we deserve. Then He rose from the dead, defeating death forever.
How do you make this gift your own? You not only confess your sins, but repent, turn from your sinful ways and follow Christ. "Go, and sin no more." Make Him the Lord and Savior of your life, read the Bible and obey what you find there.
God bless you.
--- 
"All of Your goodness, the blood You have shed, the cross I now remember, lest I forget" -RSJ |
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2/28/2007, 11:48 pm
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Staybrite
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Re: The Good Test
It's funny (but not in a humours way) that I seem to hear many secular believers in God say the same thing. "I'm a pretty good person, I think God will let me into heaven."
As if we could be good enough to get into heaven on our own merit. If it was up to us to "earn" our salvation, heaven would be a lonely place indeed.
Our pastor is fond of saying that there is one major difference between Christianity and almost all other religions. All other religions bascially say DO this and get into heaven. Christianity says our salvation is DONE through Christ.
---
Peace, that brief period in history when everyone stops to reload.
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3/1/2007, 2:37 pm
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Order ofMelchizedek
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Re: The Good Test
Yeah, I've heard the "Do" vs "Done" before - awesome way of puting it.
I thought I'd resurrect this thread (it was all the way at the bottom).
quoting
many secular believers in God say the same thing. "I'm a pretty good person, I think God will let me into heaven."
This should seriously scare people! Yeah, God knows your every thought - that doesn't bother you? If not, you've probably got a faulty understanding of the nature of sin and of God's holiness.
Paul Washer sums this up pretty well like this:
"If we could take every secret thought and desire that you've ever had, and put it up on a video screen and play it for everyone to see, you'd run out of here and never return. Because you've thought things so wicked, so vile, that you'd never even begin to share them with your closest friend. You'd be embarassed to be in our presence, even though you know that we're just like you! Now, how will it feel to watch this with a holy and just God on the day of Judgment?"
Oh yeah, God understands me, He knows my thoughts. That ought to terrify you!
If it doesn't, go back to the first post and take "The Good Test" again.
Only then will you be able to begin to understand the great and undeserved love that God has for you.
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I know who saved my soul and I want this world to know, that I was once blind, once lost, Now I'm blood bought, reconciled to God by the blood He shed on the cross. -Eternal M.o.G.
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8/6/2007, 1:09 pm
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Re: The Good Test
quoting
Order ofMelchizedek ...
This should seriously scare people! Yeah, God knows your every thought - that doesn't bother you? If not, you've probably got a faulty understanding of the nature of sin and of God's holiness.
Funny that you should bring this up, I was just thinking of it the other day.
I have always been very receptive to visual stimulation (as I am sure many people are). So before becoming a Christ follower I would tend to gawk (gape) at the scantily clad females in public. Unfortunately that is lust, and just as sinful as adultry, so as a Christ follower I have spent several years trying to mend my ways.
So Friday I am driving throught a seedier part of Tacoma and I drive past one of those scantily clad females and I caught myself staring at her. So I quickly looked away, but in that instant I got an eye full, and my thoughts quickly started to veer towards things less than wholesome.
Most guys would think nothing of this. But I knew in an instant that God knew exactly what I was thinking, even though I barely thought it (almost as an instinct one might say). I was ashamed, and I had to ask God to forgive me.
I certainly don't think we should tell people how to dress, but now I can understand why the Puratins would have had such regimented rules about dress.
---
Peace, that brief period in history when everyone stops to reload.
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8/6/2007, 1:37 pm
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SoDoneLurking
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Re: The Good Test
I had the same experience in the lying department last week. I run a business where we take in used furniture and sell it second hand. If it doesn't sell, we donate it. The consignors are made aware of this when they drop off items.
I had a VERY upset consignor last week because I had donated her items (she left the country for over a year!)...so when a subsequent consignor called about their items (that I had donated), I lied and said they had sold (but for a VERY small amount).
They were so tickled that their item had sold for a measly 5 bucks, that it was better for me to be out that money than deal with someone's poor attitude.
I am also a bit on the crabby side sometimes. I laugh and say to people "I'm actually GLAD God doesn't judge us on how nice we are to people..."
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~SDL~
'My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it.' -- Barack Obama
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8/7/2007, 1:36 pm
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Re: The Good Test
quoting
SoDoneLurking ...
I am also a bit on the crabby side sometimes. I laugh and say to people "I'm actually GLAD God doesn't judge us on how nice we are to people..."
No kidding! Me too.
But yes your right. I am sure there are quite of few of us who use those "little white lies" on a daily basis, and never stop to think that despite how happy the may make us (or others) it is still a lie. I'm sure I do it sometimes and don't even know it.
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Peace, that brief period in history when everyone stops to reload.
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8/7/2007, 1:48 pm
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Winkks
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Re: The Good Test
quoting
Oh yeah, God understands me, He knows my thoughts. That ought to terrify you!
If it doesn't, go back to the first post and take "The Good Test" again.
Only then will you be able to begin to understand the great and undeserved love that God has for you.
If that aint the truth I don't know what is!!! Amen!
Even though we will never pass the "good" test as long as we live in our flesh... being "trustworthy-having Christian integrity" sets us on a higher ground, by grace through faith. We aint good but praise God we are saved from what we deserve!!
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8/13/2007, 5:30 am
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Order ofMelchizedek
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Re: The Good Test
Yep! There's only one way to perfection.
Colossians 1:28
We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
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I know who saved my soul and I want this world to know, that I was once blind, once lost, Now I'm blood bought, reconciled to God by the blood He shed on the cross. -Eternal M.o.G.
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8/13/2007, 10:56 pm
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