2 Cor. 12:2-4 - "I know a man in Christ, who was caught up to the third heaven under fourteen years; whether he was caught up with the body, I do not know, whether he was caught up without the body. God only knows that. I know that man. He was caught up to heaven, and he heard the words of the Holy Spirit; and the man heard the words. Do not utter.” As my grandmother lay in a coma for several days, the hospital room was dark, It was quiet. My mother and my daughter were sitting beside her bed when the door of the room opened. Our junior pastor, Adrian Rogers with one of his attendants He came to visit and pray. After sharing the scriptures, they joined hands and prayed that my grandmother would enter heaven peacefully. After they pray she sits on the bed and opens her eyes (like a dove) and makes a mournful cry, Oo, Aha, Amma, Amma. "She'll see daddy!" said one. To that Dr. Rogers Responding “No, she sees Jesus! Everyone agreed. She did not say another word. And soon she went to be with Jesus. but God allowed her to see the glory before she died. In our passage, Paul speaks of one who has received a vision of glory. Then he realized that I was the person in the passage (v. 7). He was taken to paradise. There he heard strange sounds and sights saw That incident changed his life forever. God had to put a thorn in his flesh to keep him from being spiritually proud. From then on, more than ever, he lived completely in touch with Jesus. Once we see the glories of heaven and the glorious face of Jesus, we are lost to worldly charms. Before you die you may not have a vision of the glorious moment of heaven like Paul did, but you can have the certainty that heaven is your home. If you are born again your name is in the book of life. You are a vision of heavenly glory, You will have the joy of seeing the true glory of God and Jesus forever.
Friday, December 2, 2022
Established in Christ
Ephesus. 1:4,5 - "Who adopted us as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, having predestined us for himself, that we should be holy and blameless before him." Before the foundation of the world, he created us in Christ." What does the Bible mean when it says that Christians are created? Before the foundation of the world, God sent some to hell and some to heaven. Some say decided. But is it a biblical doctrine or a myth? These arguments seem to reject the biblical idea that man has a will to decide. Do you have another reliable alternative? When the Bible says that man is chosen or created by God, the word “in Christ” clearly emphasizes that idea. For example in our passage Paul says - God the Father established Christians "in Christ" before the foundation of the world. They were “predestined for adoption. As children of God, “through Jesus Christ”. In other words, God did not choose individuals to be saved before they were born, but He predestined each saved person to be so “in Christ” or “through Christ”. God chose the will to save, but He did not specifically choose whom He would save. On many occasions, Dr. I spoke with Herskel Hubbs, the late Baptist pastor, author, and theologian, about our scriptures. He gives an illustration - what it means is that God has built a fence, and that fence is Christ All who remain and enter through that fence are saved. Because they are "in Christ." Willingly fence (all who are outside of Christ perished The will to be saved is predestined but not who will be saved. God says that some and all must be saved. (1Timothy 2:3,4). He never forces anyone to be saved, but He He chooses those who choose Jesus the Son. Those who have faith in Christ and are converted will go to heaven. why Because we are formed in Him.
