Saturday Song: The Bee Gees, "Another Cold and Windy Day"

Here's a song you may never have heard before. The Coca-Cola company asked The Bee Gees to record a commercial for them. But none of the Gibb brothers were keen on the idea. They decided to record this song they had handy and add the Coke jingle at the end. The result was perhaps the saddest commercial anybody has heard.

Listen to the song here:

Instead of using this song, Coke hired The Hillside Singers to teach the world to sing. This proves that it is true about those being convinced against their will are of the same opinion still.

We see this happen often with folks who are led to confess Christ without knowing the ramifications of what they're doing.

Jesus gave the example of a seed sower sprinkling seed on four different soil types. Our Lord explained the second type of ground, the one with bedrock under it, in Matthew 13:20 and 21 (BBE). "And that which went on the stones, this is he who, hearing the word, straight away takes it with joy; But having no root in himself, he goes on for a time; and when trouble comes or pain, because of the word, he quickly becomes full of doubts."

Christ also lost many disciples when he taught them that they must spiritually consume him and absorb him into their beings. We read of the crowd's reaction in John 6:66 (BBE). "Because of what he said, a number of the disciples went back and would no longer go with him."

How can it be then that some people seemed saved and then turn away from the Lord? We read the answer to that in 1 John 2:19 (BBE). "They went out from us but they were not of us; if they had been of us they would still be with us: but they went out from us so that it might be made clear that they were not of us."

The way to tell who is saved and who isn't is also given by Jesus in Matthew 7:16 (BBE). "By their fruits you will get knowledge of them. Do men get grapes from thorns or figs from thistles?"

Therefore, the only thing we can do is to wait and see what a person does. Will that one grow in Christ-likeness or quit?

If Christ doesn't return by Monday, I hope to post about the addictive nature of wrong doctrines and illegal drugs.

Saturday Song: Klaatu; Sell Out! Sell Out!

In 1980, Canadian rock band Klaatu took a different artistic direction. Instead of space rock, they "sold out" and recorded an album of American-sounding tracks. The band's producer hoped it would help the band sell more LPs in the United States.

The group members weren't happy about this, hence this song. In it, they expressed their opinion of the band's change of stile to hopefully "crank up that "funk machine." Sadly for them, it didn't work.

Listen to the song here:

Many Christian churches have done the same thing. They've accommodated the world's people with a watered-down version of the gospel. As a result, topics like hell, repentance, and surrender to Christ are omitted from their services.

This is not a new problem as the first-century church had the same issues. We see this in Jude 1:3 (BBE). "My loved ones, while my thoughts were full of a letter which I was going to send you about our common salvation, it was necessary for me to send you one requesting you with all my heart to go on fighting strongly for the faith which has been given to the saints once and for ever."

Furthermore, Satan had his infiltrators join congregations and twist the scriptures to match their carnal desires. We read this example in 2 Peter 3:15 and 16 (BBE). "And be certain that the long waiting of the Lord is for salvation; even as our brother Paul has said in his letters to you, from the wisdom which was given to him; And as he said in all his letters, which had to do with these things; in which are some hard sayings, so that, like the rest of the holy Writings, they are twisted by those who are uncertain and without knowledge, to the destruction of their souls."

A friend of Paul's also sold out. We read in 2 Timothy 4:10 (BBE), "For Demas has gone away from me, for love of this present life, and has gone to Thessalonica: Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia."

Why do seemingly strong Christians sell out? We read in 1 John 2:19 (BBE) that, "They went out from us but they were not of us; if they had been of us they would still be with us: but they went out from us so that it might be made clear that they were not of us."

On Monday, provided Christ hasn't returned, I hope to post about how even we are saints.

Jesus: The Cure for Hatred

Christianity is unique. Every other religion is based on works. Every other belief system has a large set of rules to obey. Many religions also treat apostate members with contempt.

Only in Christianity can a person be saved by God's grace and not by any meritorious works they've done. Ephesians 2:8 and 9 (BBE) explains, "Because by grace you have salvation through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is given by God: Not by works, so that no man may take glory to himself."

Though Israel was given many commandments, they had one thing in common. A certain scribe asked Jesus which is the greatest commandment. Matthew 22:37-40 (BBE) shows his answer. "And he said to him, 'Have love for the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest rule. And a second like it is this, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself. On these two rules all the law and the prophets are based."

Many religions are hostile to other belief systems, Islam being the most obvious example. But Jesus said in Matthew 5:43-45 (BBE), "You have knowledge that it was said, Have love for your neighbour, and hate for him who is against you: But I say to you, Have love for those who are against you, and make prayer for those who are cruel to you; So that you may be the sons of your Father in heaven; for his sun gives light to the evil and to the good, and he sends rain on the upright man and on the sinner."

Another aspect of Christianity's uniqueness is that we are adopted into Christ's family. Paul explained this mystery when contending with those who wanted to go back to observing the law which Moses gave Israel. Galatians 4:4-6 (BBE) explains, "But when the time had come, God sent out his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, That he might make them free who were under the law, and that we might be given the place of sons. And because you are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, saying, 'Abba, Father'".

And as for apostasy, we don't kill those who leave the faith like the Qu'ran orders its adherents to do. As the Apostle John noted in 1 John 2:19 (BBE), "They went out from us but they were not of us; if they had been of us they would still be with us: but they went out from us so that it might be made clear that they were not of us." Therefore, we need not punish them but admonish them to return and repent.

I could write much more on this subject but I'll save it for my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? We need to realize how precious God's gift of salvation is and take what Christ said with all seriousness.

On Saturday, I'll post about the ultimate interstellar alien and his future invasion of planet Earth.

Who Was the World's Biggest Loser?

I've written about sanctification but I only touched on what happens when it doesn't happen. The world's biggest loser, as John MacArthur has pointed out, is Judas Iscariot.

From all outward appearances, this disciple seemed to be a good man. But Jesus wasn't fooled. John 6:70 and 71 (BBE) records, "Then Jesus said, 'Did I not make a selection of you, the twelve, and one of you is a son of the Evil One?' He was talking of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. It was he who was to be false to Jesus--one of the twelve."

Even so, he partook in everything Christ did. Any time the disciples went to do something, he never was excluded nor did he excuse himself. The only exception we know of was when he betrayed the Lord.

Judas even feigned outrage when a woman poured expensive perfume on Jesus. John 12:3-6 (BBE)records, "Then Mary, taking a pound of perfumed oil of great value, put it on the feet of Jesus and made them dry with her hair: and the house became full of the smell of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was to give him up), said, 'Why was not this perfume traded for three hundred pence, and the money given to the poor?' (He said this, not because he had any love for the poor; but because he was a thief, and, having the money-bag, took for himself what was put into it.)"

But how could a person be in Christ's presence for so long without becoming truly devoted to him? The answer is in 1 John 2:19 (BBE) which explains, "They went out from us but they were not of us; if they had been of us they would still be with us: but they went out from us so that it might be made clear that they were not of us."

And even though Judas repented of his decision to betray Christ, he never asked forgiveness of the Lord. As we read in Matthew 27:5 (BBE), "And he put down the silver in the Temple and went out, and put himself to death by hanging."

I hope to point out Judas' huge mistake in my next book, You Think You're Going to Heaven? Even the worst of sins can be forgiven, except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. I'll explain what that blasphemy is in my book as well.

The song I'll post about on Saturday is a beautiful portrayal of God's creation and how it renews itself each spring.

The Statistical Proof Error

We certainly live in a world of statistics. It seems like there's a study reported on by newscasters about anything from pandemics to left-handed banjo players who vote Republican. But can we really trust every study whichnews agencies proclaim?

The Pew Research Agency claims that 70.7 percent of Americans are Christians. But when a person looks deep into the numbers, only * percent are evangelical, Bible-believing Christians. On the face of it, the general statistic seems to indicate that America is a Christian nation.

So, what makes a Christian a true believer and follower? Romans 10:8-10 (BBE) states what God has wanted everybody to do since the beginning of creation. "But what does it (the scriptures) say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart: that is, the word of faith of which we are the preachers: Because, if you say with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and have faith in your heart that God has made him come back from the dead, you will have salvation: For with the heart man has faith to get righteousness, and with the mouth he says that Jesus is Lord to get salvation."

The key word in that passage is "heart." Only those who truly want salvation and trust in Jesus' finished work on the cross will be saved.

But, some folks might argue, anybody can claim to say the words but not believe in their heart that it's true. We can tell who is truly saved by the radical change in their lives. Look at what 1 John 4:16 (BBE) says about God's love in Christians. "And we have seen and had faith in the love which God has for us. God is love, and everyone who has love is in God,"

Another indicator of becoming truly born from above, is continuing in the faith. We can read in 1 John 2:19 (BBE) why false Christians don't remain steadfast in the truth. "They went out from us but they were not of us; if they had been of us they would still be with us: but they went out from us so that it might be made clear that they were not of us."

It's obvious from these verses alone that many people profess to be Christians but they have never committed their lives to the King of Kings. They live as they always have done and give atheists ammunition for calling believers hypocrites. Genuine followers of Christ are transformed by his love and it shows in everything they do.

I'll emphasize this in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Without surrendering unconditionally to Christ, it's impossible to be withhim throughout eternity.  As for Thursday's post, I'll be discussing how some non believers perceive God as a condemning grouch.

Jehovah's Witnesses and Works

One mark of a cult is the use of fear to keep members in line. In the case of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, they use the fear of members losing their salvation and being annihilated during Armageddon.

But we can easily find in the Bible that we need not worry about God abandoning us if we don't work hard enough to please him or some human institution. Hebrews 13:5 (KJV) reminds us to, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.'"

But some folks will mention Hebrews 6:4 to 6 which says, "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."?

The writer of Hebrews referred in that passage to those who weren't serious about their faith in Christ. These are those who were mentioned in 1 John 2:19 (KJV) which says, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us."

We need not worry about losing our salvation if we truly repented and yielded our lives to Jesus. Ephesians 1:13 (KJV)reminds us that Christ, "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,"

I could list many more verses which show that we can't be snatched out of Christ's hand but I'll save them for my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Along with those who have a false assurance of eternal life, some live under the burden of fear that they won't be in paradise. I want people to be sure of their place in heaven.

Salvation Assurance in the Bible Vs. the Qu'ran

Since our heavenly Father loves us and sent Christ to die and save us, we can rest assured regarding our eternal home in heaven. Better still, we're sealed for that day with the Holy Spirit.

And though we mustn't grieve him with our rebellious actions and thoughts, we're still guaranteed to be eternally with the Trinity. Ephesians 4:30 (KJV) promises, "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

But this is what the Qu'ran says will happen to the believers of Allah. Sura 39:61 claims, "And Allah will save those who maintained righteousness to their place of salvation. No harm will touch them, nor will they grieve."

Some Christians also believe that we can lose our salvation. They quote Hebrews 6:4-6 (KJV) which reads, " For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."

The people mentioned in this passage aren't born-again believers but those, like Judas, who were mere seekers of the good things Christ offers. We read in 1 John 2:19 (KJV) that, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us."

It truly is a blessed assurance that we are saved forever. We do stray, as sheep are wont to do, but we're still in the Good Shepherd's flock.

I'll emphasize this in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? People need to understand fully that their salvation depends on the finished and irrevocable work of Christ on the cross.