Obama takes oath on a million lives to start

I looked close for a picture that would fit this post perfectly. I grew sicker and sicker as I saw the grisly results of abortion displayed in vivid color in images far too grotesque for a decent human being to see. Then I recalled a picture that I found on Google Earth that showed the masses of people gathering for the Inauguration of President Obama. The picture shows a million or more lives standing in awe and pseudo worship of man whose first strokes of the pen legalized the funding of abortions once again.

Two million abortions a year and counting is average for Americans who could afford it. But apprently it was tough on those overseas, and took Obama's initiative to pay them to kill their babies also. So take a look at the image above. Those little ant-like dots on the screen is a human life, standing in front of a very powerful man, assuming his position in a very powerful office, and preparing to step on all of those lives in front of him.

It would be like destroying ants from this height, wouldn't it! When you get so elevated, that you no longer see life in reality, but imagine it to be little specks of tiny insignificance that gets in your way, then it is not a far stretch to imagine life being snuffed out. President Obama holds true to his pattern of a pompous and powerful entity that has made it easy to snuff out the insiginificant that have no voice.

I just wanted to give voice to one of them, today. To make one aborted baby have a voice that can be heard above all of the little ants that are getting in the way of those at the top of the heap.

Shanice Denise Osbourne was born alive at 23 weeks during a botched abortion. Sycloria Williams, her mother, said she had received abortion-inducing medication the previous day. But after waiting hours for Dr. Pierre Jean-Jacque Renelique to arrive for her scheduled abortion, she delivered the baby on her own.

A Florida, unlicensed clinic co-owner, Belkis Gonzalez, then cut the baby's umbilical cord with a pair of scissors and placed the live infant, placenta and afterbirth in a biohazard bag, which she sealed and threw in the trash, the suit said. Williams said clinic staff did not call 911 or seek medical attention for her or the baby.

The autopsy proved that this little insiginicant life was snuffed out after it breathed. The precious baby, formed by God and placed within the womb of the mother, lived and breathed and mattered to Him. Isn't it odd that the LORD God looks upon His creation as we hustle and bustle on our ant hills of life, but yet He sees us each as a significant individual worthy to worship Him. Yet, the most powerful man in the world, President Obama, sees the little with no voices as insignificant and a burden upon society. It doesn't take much to weigh the nature of America's new policy when examined through the righteous example of God.

Don't worry. Shanice is dead now, and her voice will never be heard. She is not going to be a burden on her mother, or the abortion clinic, or her hometown, or her president or her nation. She is in the hands of Jesus, and he is holding her close to him, and growing angrier and angrier as the lives created by Him are destroyed by a rogue and wicked world. One day the footprint of Jesus will light upon the biggest anthill of them all, and this insiginificant world will be utterly destroyed because it failed to care for those without a voice. Then, for an instant, those who posture pompously with manmade power, will know that every life of His mattered significantly to Him.

David "Bucker" Becker

I am your Bible Teacher!

Who am I? I AM YOUR BIBLE TEACHER!


I'm not a friend, a loved one, a peer, an associate, a contact point or a preacher.


I TEACH THE WORD OF GOD TO THOSE HE BRINGS ME!

I don't care whether I know you or not. You can be my friend, my family, my enemy, my casual acquaintance or my intimate wife...it doesn't matter; my teachings never vary. I teach the same thing to everyone that God brings in my path...His Word with the moving of the Spirit.


GOD IS MY BOSS!


You have in your possession a checklist to make sure I do my job perfectly. In fact, I tell you from the start...if I'm not doing my job perfectly, I want you to leave immediately, and don't look behind! Just that fact alone should cause each of you to consider the realities of this situation.

How many of you can conform to a checklist for your workplace, everyday, all day, every hour in view of everyone? Give it a try! It is humanly impossible for a person to meet all of the requirements all of the time for any job, even the most menial. Yet, God demands me to conform to His expectations all of the time, or else.

The False Teacher and False Prophet checklist is not some abstract piece of writing to entertain you...it is a serious document that requires serious consideration. It sets out the requirements that God has for me as His Bible Teacher that He has revealed in His Word. Where each of my students can casually discuss the merits of an issue, at the end of the day, I must always ensure that His Word is appropriately represented in my presence. If I fail at my job, there is a good chance that He will take my life immediately. That is how serious a matter this commitment is between Him and I. He knows I know, and I know He demands my complete and total focus and allegiance, regardless of how freely His teachings are tossed to the winds.

Who am I? I AM YOUR BIBLE TEACHER! I have dedicated my entire life to being your Bible Teacher. I study and pray and live as deeply as I can, so I can teach and guide you in the things He Wills. While my enemies and the misguided or unknowing can toss about words accusing me of wickedness and cultish behavior and suggest my motives are impure, my students must always stand firm and proclaim that I AM YOUR BIBLE TEACHER! To do any less allows the enemy to move in and create doubts in the midst of the moving of the Holy Spirit.

You cannot receive the deepest food from Him, and then wonder if there is some danger lurking behind our Bible Study. THERE IS NOTHING WITHIN OUR BIBLE STUDY BUT THE WORD OF GOD AND THE MOVING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! There is no hidden agenda or secrets or confusions with our teachings from the Word of God. All of our studies are public and known to be open for review and comment. The closed aspect of our private classroom is done to protect our students, not to hide anything, and we make sure that our teachings are publicly known by putting them on our public classroom.

I am not your husband, wife, brother, sister, daughter, son, preacher, priest, boss, or even your friend. First and foremost, I AM YOUR BIBLE TEACHER! I am proud to be your Bible Teacher, and I am confident that I have represented the teachings of Jesus Christ effectively and fruitfully.

I don't come to any of you with my natural life. I share only my spiritual life, my spirit, through this Internet. I have no physical, mental or spiritual control over any of you. You are free to come, and free to go; free to question, and free to disagree as long as it is not the Holy Spirit you are debating.

I just thought you would like to know how this Bible Teacher accepts responsibility for the things of God that you are taught by me and my Becker Bible Studies Staff!

David "Bucker" Becker

How did a believer become a convert in the Early Church?

Believers who choose and profess to be followers of Jesus Christ have always been baptized. However, in the Early Church, there were some requirements by individual churches before baptism took place.

In most churches, before baptism occurred, the believer would first be instructed in the beliefs and practices of Christianity. These students were called "catechumens," which is a Greek word meaning "oral handing down."

Justin Martyr (A.D. 100-165) wrote this about the procedure of becoming a Christian...

"As many are persuaded and believe that what we teach and say is true, and undertake to be able to live accordingly, are instructed to pray and to entreat God with fasting, for the remission of their sins that are past, we praying and fasting with them. They they are brought by us where there is water, and are regenerated in the in same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated. For, in the name of God, the Father and Lord of the universe, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, they then receive the washing with water."

People didn't just raise their hands quietly in a pew, with everyone's head bowed, nor did they dramatically go to the altar with popular music stirring their souls. How did they become a Christian? THEY PRAYED AND THEY FASTED!

They prayed and they fasted, because it was a serious and life-changing step that they were committing to, and the decision was not taken lightly. As the years of Christianity expanded, the catechisms of the early churches increased.

About AD 215, a Roman writer named Hippolytus wrote about an elaborate process required by an early church to become a Christian. The Christian was first examined for suitability in a detailed process that looked at their background. If they were a slave, their Masters were interviewed. The jobs they held were examined, and many had to give up their jobs or take vows specifically designed to prevent their work from touching their Christianity. For instance, a soldier would have to take an oath that he would not execute anyone, or a scuptor or painter would have to vow never to make a false image.

After the lifestyle was thoroughly investigated, they would spend three years being taught the the things of Jesus Christ. Some churches had formal classes, others informal, but most all of them required study of the Word of God before acceptance into the faith.

After deep study of the Word of God, and thoroughly learned their religion, they would receive baptism and full membership in the Christian Community. Normally, Baptisms would be saved up and done twice a year, on Pentecost or Easter.

Baptisms were often delayed or denied. It was a serious business, and early church leaders did not take baptism lightly. They held a very dim view of those who sinned after baptism, and were allowed sometimes only one major lapse, before they were removed from the congregation.

Because of the seriousness of Baptism, many withheld going to the waters, and chose instead to keep sinning until it was all out of them. It was not unusual to wait until just before death before taking baptism.

IT SURE IS DIFFERENT TODAY!

Sadly, I have seen so many lightly enter into baptism and beginning the walk with Jesus Christ, then giving it up for worldly affairs. It seems like baptism and salvation and redemption are just little activities that are necessary to belong to the newest fads, and once the newness wears off, it matters no more.

No one should become a Christian, if the Word of God is not known! No one should become a Christian lightly! No one should become a Christian if rejection of sin and the ways of the world is not upon their lips! No one should become a Christian for any reason other than they choose to follow their Lord Jesus Christ!

Christian leaders have a responsibility to teach the Word of God to those who seek to know Him, and to restrict baptism to those who truly seek Him. How can Christian leaders know for sure of the truth behind the request of a seeking person? We can't! But what we can do is establish a program that requires learning the Word of God, that requires walking the ways of Christ, that takes the time to explain what being a Christian is all about. Then, if the person rejects the things of Christ after receiving them, it is completely their fault, and the leader is blameless!

“21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it], to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:21-22 KJV)

David "Bucker" Becker

Citation: Hill, Jonathan. "Handbook to the History of Christianity." Zondervan. Oxford 2006.

Why do Protestants NOT follow Tradition?

Why do Protestants claim to go by scripture alone when we read in the Bible itself that we are to follow tradition and scripture? For example, in 2 Thessalonian 2:15, St Paul commands us to "stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter." So why not follow St Paul's command?

Protestants often hang their hat on a couple of strong verses of warning in Scripture...

“Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to [his] father or [his] mother, [It is] a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, [he shall be free]. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. [Ye] hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matthew 15:1-9 KJV)

“And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:4-8 KJV)

Most Protestants believe that Catholics have faulty doctrine, and that their traditions emulate that untruth. I don't think most are against tradition, and in fact, many practice their own traditions in their own churches. However, when many Protestant believers criticize the Traditions of Catholicism, I think they are actually addressing the false doctrines that the Tradition hides in its pageantry and beauty.

So, instead of confronting the differences of belief, searching Scripture and finding common ground, some old-fogey Protestants attack the tradition and avoid the real issues that separate our fellowship.

I think that many Protestants attack Catholic Traditions because, underneath the traditions lies doctrine that is false. If Protestants attack Catholic Traditions, then the area of their contention remains unaddressed; specifically, the conflicts concerning the Truth of God and the apparent misinterpretations that these Traditions reflect. On the other hand, many Catholics defend their Traditions, and are completely unaware of the confused doctrines that their traditions represent.

It goes both ways...and that's what is wrong with tradition. When the focus is solely upon Tradition (whether it possesses Roman Catholic nature or Protestant nature), and the Word of God is neglected, misused and misinterpreted, both Protestants and Catholics get it wrong. However, if any Protestant thinks that tradition has no place in the worship of God, I personally believe they are missing out and subverting the expression of the holiness of God. On the other hand again, if any Catholic thinks that tradition is the complete worship of God, I personally believe they also are missing out by subverting His teachings and their ability to grow stronger toward Him. If Tradition is based upon the Truth, IT'S VERY GOOD! If Tradition is based upon false teachings, IT's VERY BAD! Our job, as Christians, is to make sure that everything we do is based and conforms upon His Word and glorifies Him!

Now to the crux of your question and its suggestion that all Protestants arbitrarily deem Catholic traditions as traditions of men, while not addressing the actual difference themselves. The answer is "Yes, sometimes." There are SOME Protestants that do just that. I can only offer you that explanation for those Protestants that attack Tradition without explanation of the real reason for their disdain.

Some Protestants are like some Catholics; yearning to have a growing relationship with the LORD God through Jesus Christ, and experiencing life with as much flavor as God places in their life. Regrettably, others, on both sides of Christian belief, aren't like that at all.

I don't think that Protestants are convinced that the Roman Catholic Church is the established Church of Jesus Christ. Please recognize I am not a spokesman for all Protestants; however, I think this reflects their views somewhat...Protestants believe that the Roman Catholic Church was established to replace the falling Roman Empire; that this group became just as corrupted as the government it replaced, and as a result the spiritual things of God were corrupted within it.

Interestingly, the father of Protestantism, Martin Luther, accepted Roman-ruled religion, and tried to change the corruption from the inside-out. Apparently that was not the Will of God, because, instead, Luther was moved away from the established Roman rule, and started a movement that put Bibles in the people's hand, gave them a right to approach the LORD God through Jesus Christ, and allowed them to walk with Him.

Since then, regrettably, Protestants splintered off into so many different groups, some corrupted, some not. Many Protestant churches are now approaching the same levels of corruption that have been perpetrated upon believers by the powers that lead within the Roman Church. So what do we, as believers, do?

We must first look to our God and our Savior. We must trust that Christ will Shepherd us and lead us through the complicated mess that religion has made. We have one guidebook, and that is His Word. For me personally, life is too complicated and religion too corrupted for me to be led by anyone but Him. I have personally chosen to use the Bible as the final authority on all things that I do, with the moving of the Holy Spirit as my guide.

For instance, I say that Mary, the mother of Jesus, is blessed among all women, because that is in the Bible. In my studies and worship, I have gone further in meeting Mary on a more personal contemplation, through the moving of the Holy Spirit. However, I cannot take it that next step and place her upon a pedestal equal with Christ, and as co-ruler of Heaven, because the Word of God does not reflect this as Truth. Yet, the Roman Catholic Traditions reflect this in their practices.

At some point, every Christian man must decide where their line is. My line is resting firmly on the Word of God, and looking greatly forward to the day when I can participate fully in the pomp and circumstance in celebration of my Lord. But in these times, and in my life, I have no other choice but to draw my line between tradition and the Bible; the Bible is the only thing I know to be Truth completely. If I'm wrong, then when I meet my Lord, I imagine He will point out some of the areas in my life that could have received comfort from the "Tradition" that was given; however, he will not find fault with my belief...it will be True.

Now you didn't write me to hear my personal views, however, I don't think you can understand a Protestant's belief, unless it is personalized. While a Catholic believer practices his faith corporately, Protestant's practice their faith personally. That's why the nature of the arguments always escalate to ugliness among the uneducated and the impassioned. One side is talking from a supposed elevated position representing a big world of believers, while the other side speaks generally of one personal belief that usually becomes offended to just discuss these issues. In the end, we all lose out.

I've enjoyed our conversation. If you have any more Protestant questions, you can find this middle-of-the-road Protestant Catholic right here, ready to figure it out with you. Thanks for sharing.

David "Bucker" Becker

So does Born Again happen in Baptism?

I just read your post on salvation and baptism, and I think I understand. Are you saying that the term born again happens in Baptism, rather than in faith?

Faith saves, Baptism brings death. Those two concepts are completely opposite of each other.

Our faith in Christ’s sacrifice for our sins, and our acceptance of Him as Savior guarantees we will have eternal life.

Baptism is the grave. When we go under the baptismal waters, we are put to death. Our old natures, our original sin, cannot survive without a living host; thus when we go under the baptismal waters, the original sin is released. Because Jesus Christ resurrected from the grave, we are able to resurrect also. As we come out of our baptismal grave, we are born again, born a new man, without original sin attached to us.

Once we have died in baptism, we are born again, without original sin and we can never die again. That’s why baptized Christians go immediately to Heaven upon their death, where they will rest for awhile, until they assume their new lives on the New Earth. The unbaptized believers sleep in their graves, until Jesus awakens them just before His Last Judgment; they too live forever on, and assume their lives on the New Earth. Even the unbaptized only die once!

Salvation and Baptism with Scripture Reference

What does it mean to be saved?

SALVATION MEANS DELIVERANCE!

In all of my travels, in remembering all of the words spoken by Preachers, Teachers and Evangelists of the Word of God, that is the meaning they understood. DELIVERANCE! Every Christian Church, every Christian Leader, every Christian Faithful believes that Salvation means DELIVERANCE!

It is not the definition of the word Salvation that causes the chasms to develop, to misdirect the focus of the Word of God. We all agree on the meaning of Salvation; the disagreement amongst our faithful brethren lies with the things we are delivered from, what results after we are delivered and why we need deliverance in the first place!

What do we need to be DELIVERED from?

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23 av)

1. Our souls are not condemned because we do great sin. We are condemned because of our sinful state!

2. All unsaved do bad actions because their heart, their core, their complete being is sin that originated from Adam's transgression against the Will of God.

3. Some unsaved do really terrible sins, and some unsaved have no sign of the terrible condition of sin. That does not mean that some are greater sinners than others. Every living human being has the sinful nature inside him. Some may well be able to subdue those basic instincts, while others are controlled by the same sinful natures to do grievous harm to others, both the noble and the derelict have the same nature inside them. If an unsaved person does not sin, self control may be present, but the sinful nature still exists. The actions of the unsaved may well differ in degree, but not in guilt or cause!

4. Unsaved sinners must understand that they have sinful natures, and are unable to save themselves.

5. All human beings begin life with the sinful nature, and fall short of the glory of God. The LORD God is not present in the sinful realm. Sin is offensive to God. It doesn't matter how much good people do in the world, if their works were done while they harbored their sinful natures, the greatest of works in humanity, religion, science, art, medicine, education and government are made null by the presence of sin. Those who come from families of "good stock" in the Midwest, those who are well educated and able to advance the human condition to rightful places, those who do good daily and give all they have to others, and those who struggle daily to live an honest life, are all short of the glory of God, because they have the natures of sin.

SALVATION MEANS DELIVERANCE FROM SINFUL NATURE!

“For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 av)

6. Sinners die, no matter what they do in this lifetime. The wages that come to the unsaved is death. Until death is brought to that sinful nature, then it remains inside the unsaved, leading them toward their promised destiny.

7. It takes more than the death of the sinful natures to give the unsaved hope, however. Unsaved people that die and are placed in their graves, are dead unsaved people. Eventually, the unsaved people will be resurrected to face the Judgment of Jesus Christ to answer for the things they did with their sinful natures, but until then, the unsaved lay dead in their graves.

8. The LORD God gives eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord, to those who seek deliverance from their sinful natures.

SALVATION MEANS DELIVERANCE FROM ETERNAL DEATH!

“And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (Ephesians 2:1-3 av)

9. The unsaved people with their sinful natures walk according to the course of the world. The "course of the world" encapsulates all of the degrading, grotesque, ugly things that have developed and become perilously established within our world today. They include those very things spoken of in 2 Timothy 3:1-7...

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:1-7 av)

...sexual perversion, the sacrifice of our children, the dirty habits of obscene self love and self focus are the ways of the world...these are just of a few of the carnal things of sinful nature that entrap the unsaved in these Last Days.

SALVATION MEANS DELIVERANCE FROM THE WAYS OF THE WORLD!

10. The unsaved who are entrapped by their sinful natures, are led by the prince of the power of air. The prince of the power of air is Lucifer, also known as Satan, the Devil.

SALVATION MEANS DELIVERANCE FROM THE CONTROL OF SATAN!

11. People with the unsaved and sinful nature are children of LORD God's wrath.

SALVATION MEANS DELIVERANCE FROM THE WRATH OF THE LORD GOD!

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 av)

12. Salvation can only be received through FAITH. FAITH is the gift of God, through his wonderful and undeserved Grace.

13. The Unsaved cannot give FAITH to themselves. If they could, they would boast of their godly ability. Only the LORD God gives those He Wills the faith to turn toward Him, reject their own sinful natures, and reach toward the righteous and holy nature of God, through the Lord Jesus Christ.

SALVATION MEANS DELIVERANCE FROM THE LACK OF FAITH AND BELIEF!

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15 av)

14. Everyone will one day stand before the Judgment Seat of the Lord Jesus Christ and be judged according to their works.

15. Those works done by the unsaved are nullified and void. They are vanity. Works are not measured living and righteous when done while the workers had the natures of sin.

16. If the Unsaved maintained their status in their lifetime to their death, then they have no living works that can be measured.

17.Those with dead works, those who chose to go to their grave with their sinful nature and reject the Grace of the Lord God and the salvation through Jesus Christ, will be judged guilty and sentenced to eternal damnation and be cast into the lake of fire.

SALVATION MEANS DELIVERANCE FROM ETERNAL DAMNATION AND SENTENCED TO HELL!

How does Salvation come to the sinners?

“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12 av)

18. Through the belief and acceptance of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and His Resurrection from the dead, the unsaved can receive salvation. Acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the only salvation can come to them, free them from the sinful nature, and make them whole.

SALVATION COMES TO BELIEVERS THROUGH THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST!

How do the Unsaved receive the gift of Salvation from the LORD God?

19. Salvation is a two step process. The first step is one of belief, and the second step is one of action. If the Unsaved believe, but do nothing, they remain unsaved. If the Unsaved do not believe, but go through the action of a repentant sinner, they too remain unsaved.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10 av)

STEPS TO SALVATION

1. Know that you are a sinner, and cannot save yourself.

2. Confess the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior

3. Believe that Jesus Christ's sacrifice was sufficient to atone for your sins.

4. Be confident that Jesus Christ physically rose from the dead.

SALVATION COMES BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST ONLY!

What are the results of Salvation?

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 av)

21. The confessors of Jesus Christ as Savior are crucified with him. (Note...Our Crucifixion is joined to the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ through our Faith. Our Burial is accepting the Baptism of Jesus Christ, which we will speak of in a few more paragraphs)

22. Our crucifixion with Christ allows us to receive more faith and the love of the LORD God.

SALVATION BRINGS MORE FAITH AND THE LOVE OF THE LORD GOD!

“For it pleased [the Father] that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say], whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in [your] mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;” (Colossians 1:19-23 av)

23. Salvation establishes peace with the LORD God.

24. Salvation makes Faithful Believers holy, unblameable and unreproveable in the LORD God's sight.

SALVATION MAKES THE SAVED HOLY, UNBLAMABLE AND UNREPROVEABLE IN THE LORD GOD'S SIGHT

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 av)

25. Everlasting life is given those who believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the LORD God.

SALVATION BRINGS ETERNAL LIFE

“For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:4-5 av)

26. The Power of the LORD God is with all saved Faithful through Jesus Christ.

SALVATION BRINGS THE POWER OF GOD TO YOUR LIFE

What is NOT Salvation?

“For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it].” (Hebrews 4:2 av)

Salvation does not come to the Unsaved by simply the physical act of uttering words in prayer form! Their heart must be in it with a solid faith.

If the Unsaved receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ and hear with their heart and agree, then their confession will be heard. Without the understanding and repentant heart, the prayers of the Unsaved are worthless.

Salvation is NOT the physical act of walking down the church aisle following an invitation from the Pastor. The Unsaved can be anywhere, at any time, and receive salvation through their belief and confession in Jesus Christ. It doesn't take a church, and it doesn't take people. It just takes a sincere and repentant heart to accept Jesus Christ and be saved!

Salvation is not contingent on great emotion (or lack of) during the conversion experience. Some feel great elation, some a quiet piece, and some don't. It is a uniquely individual experience, and varies with the experience surrounding the conversion.

Salvation does not come to a person just because they want to be saved from going to Hell! The question of whether someone would prefer Heaven to Hell is stupid. Anyone would readily choose Heaven if given the ability to discern the differences. Salvation comes to those who accept the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior; it does not come to those just trying to hedge their bets and cover all bases "just in case".

Does Salvation guarantee Heaven?

Your belief in Jesus Christ brings salvation to you, and you are guaranteed eternal life. Your faith alone is all that is necessary for eternal life.

One of the major conflicts among believers is their confusion over Salvation, Heaven and Baptism. Thankfully, the answer lays solidly in the Word of God...

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (Romans 6:1-18 av)

Do you remember a few paragraphs back, in point 21 concerning Galatians 2:20, where we learned that we are crucified with the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ through Faith, and Faith alone, and as a result receive Salvation?

All of the benefits of Salvation are given to a Faithful Believer the moment he accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

But there is one more step a believer must fulfill to see Heaven. A Faithful Christian must also be baptized into the death of Jesus Christ, and be buried with Him also. Our Faith allows us to share His Crucifixion, Our Baptism allows us to experience His Burial.

27. When we are baptized with the Baptism of Jesus Christ, we go to our grave in the baptismal waters. When we rise out of the waters, we are resurrected into the NEW LIFE, with a NEW BIRTH. Baptized Believers will never go to the grave again!

CRUCIFIED ONCE, BURIED ONCE AND RESURRECTED ONCE!

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Revelation 21:1-7 av)

Heaven is a temporary dwelling place, until His chosen Time, when a new Heaven and a New Earth will be established according to His Will.

The unbaptized Believers, who were faithful in the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, but failed to complete the process of going to the grave in Baptism, will go to an earthly grave for a short while. The Unbaptized but Saved Believers will be resurrected from their graves, in His Time, and given Eternal Life through His Grace of Salvation.

Through their belief and confession of Jesus Christ, the UNBAPTIZED, BUT SAVED BELIEVERS will go on to Eternal Life after their resurrection from their graves.

Through their belief and confession of Jesus Christ, the BAPTIZED, SAVED BELIEVERS will go to Heaven for awhile, and then on to Eternal Life on the New Earth, where all Believers will begin a new and blessed life under the rule of their King Jesus Christ.

Note: See preceding blog, "Does Baptism Save You", for a little tighter breakdown of that process.

Hope this has helped increase your understanding in His Things.

David "Bucker" Becker

Does Baptism Save You?

(Another letter received from another Christian confused about my belief and teachings has prompted me to add this post. Examination of my teachings can be found throughout this blog, as well as on our Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians site, especially in our salvation handout. If my teachings are not clear in this simple post, please refer to our main site for deeper learning.)

Absolutely not in the sense that you are probably speaking! Faith in the saving grace through Jesus Christ is all that is necessary for salvation.

I do believe, however, that the word "salvation" is often confused by Christians. Some believe that the word "salvation" means that they get to go to Heaven when they die.

Salvation means that a person is saved from the curse and judgment of sin, and given the opportunity to live on.

You can read my exact teachings with Scripture reference from our "Salvaton" handout download on our home page at http://www.guidedbiblestudies.com

In a very shortened explanation...

1. We can not be in the presence of our LORD God with sin.

2. There is only one way of getting rid of sin, and that is to die.

3. There are two ways to die as a Christian, through the baptism of Jesus Christ and through bodily death.

4. Both deaths are equally able to release the hold of sin that is within you.

5. There are two ways a Christian will resurrect, either through coming out of the baptismal waters in faith of Jesus Christ's resurrection, or on Judgment Day when Jesus Christ raises the dead to answer for their life on this earth.

6. Those Christians who have received baptism in their lifetime will not lie in their grave, but will be immediately taken to Heaven in their sinless state. There they will reside for a while, until the End of Days.

7. Those Christians who were not bapized will sleep in their graves until awakened by Him on that Day, at which time they will stand before Jesus and he will see their faith in Him.

8. Both groups will eventually come together once again to live upon the New Earth and Heavens.

9. Both groups are saved by faith and receive eternal life. However, only those baptized are taken to Heaven for that short time while the things of God unfold. (Remember, eventually, Heaven also comes to an end, and a New Heaven and Earth replace it; Heaven is not the final destination place that Christian folklore has made it to be.)

I hoped this has helped explain my belief and teaching.

I am confident that Scripture supports my teachings. However, there is a place of consideration that might be worthy of examination with regards to the baptism of a Christian. That would be the answer to this question...

"Can a Christian receive the baptism of Jesus Christ without the ceremony of water in which the believer rises from his baptismal grave?"

For serious Bible students, this is the question that really needs to be asked. The Word of God is very specific on the process of dying, salvation, resurrection, faith in Jesus Christ and eternal life. It is not, however, too revealing upon the process of the baptism of Jesus Christ, and that, my dear friends, is really the only focus we can consider and debate.

Any thoughts?

David "Bucker" Becker