What does the Bible say about judgment?  Will God actually judge all of us one day?  If so, what will that be like?  After all, how can a loving God pass judgment on someone else?  Isn't that a contradiction?  Those are the kinds of questions that many people ask about Christianity.  They are extremely important questions, because if all of us will be held accountable for our actions by God someday that has huge implications.  If we are not ever going to be held accountable for our actions on earth, then there is not really anything keeping us from doing whatever we want - or at least whatever we can get away with.  However, if the God of the universe is going to hold us accountable for what we do on earth, then that puts an entirely different spin on things.  But would it be fair for God to judge us like that?     

That is a good question.  After all, why doesn't God just "accept" everyone just the way they are instead of judging them?

Let's explore that for a moment. 

Imagine a society where the law enforcement authorities caught the criminals every single time.  However, after apprehending the criminals, the justice system of that society never punished them and immediately released those criminals back into society.

What kind of society would that be?

Would that be a just society?

Would that be fair?

The truth is that it would be horribly unjust.

The rapists, the child molesters, the murderers and the thieves would run rampant in society not having to worry about any kind of punishment.  After all, if they did get caught they would just be immediately released anyway.

Would you want to live in such a society?

What would you call a justice system that produced those kinds of results?

Of course you would say that such a justice system and such a society are unjust and do not deserve to continue.

But the sad thing is that a very large percentage of Christians believe that God is just like that justice system that never, ever punished the criminals.

It is a fact that many Christians today believe that God would never punish anyone for anything.

But they are completely and totally wrong according to the Bible.

The truth is that God is a God of perfect love AND of perfect justice, and according to the Bible the judgment of God is very real.

In 2 Timothy 4:1, the apostle Paul tells us that God will indeed judge us all....

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead

In 1 Peter 4:5, the apostle Peter also tells us that we will have to give an account of what we have done to God....

But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Romans 14:10 tells us that we will all stand before the judgment seat of God one day....

You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat.

Hebrews 13:4 explains that God will judge all those who have sinned sexually....

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

In Revelation 11:18 we are told that God will judge and destroy those who destroy the earth....

The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great— and for destroying those who destroy the earth.
 
In Hebrews 9:27 we are instructed that we only get one life (no reincarnation) and after this life we will face the judgment of God....

Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment

At this point many would be tempted to argue that the message of Jesus was all about peace and love. 

That is true.

Jesus loves all of us so much that He was willing to die on the cross for us.

But that does not make Him unjust.

The truth is that there was NOBODY in the Scriptures who talked about hell more than Jesus did. Just consider the following examples....

Matthew 10:28

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Luke 12:5

But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

Matthew 5:29

If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

Matthew 23:33

"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?

There is no getting around the fact that the Bible says that we will all face judgment someday.

Are you ready for that day? 

In John 3:36 it tells us this....

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him.

Without Jesus, you will be facing the judgment of God by yourself.

You will be fully accountable for your own unrighteous acts.

In fact, in 2 Peter 2:9, the Scriptures tells us that the unrighteous are experiencing punishment in hell right now as they continue to be held for the day of final judgment....

if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.

The Bible says that without Jesus to pay for our sins, we remain under the wrath of God.

God loves us very much, but he is also completely and perfectly just.

Nothing is going to change that.

In 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10, we see both the perfect love and the perfect justice of God on display....

God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

The truth is that most people do not want to hear about the justice of God.

Most people simply do not want to hear that judgment is coming.

In fact, most people today sound very much like the people that the apostle Paul was describing in Romans 2:5.....

But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.

But we will be held accountable.

If you go out and murder someone and the authorities catch you, what is going to happen?

They are going to hold you accountable.

What will happen if you break God's laws?

He will hold you accountable.

The people who foolishly think that God would never judge them are in for a very rude surprise according to the Bible.

At the very end of the Bible we read about the final judgment of humanity, and it is a very sobering message for us all....

Revelation 20:11-15

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
 
That is a very heavy piece of Scripture, but it is the stone cold truth.

So is there any good news?

Yes - in fact there is some great news.

While it is very true that we have all broken God's laws, the truth is that God loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die on the cross to pay the penalty for OUR sins.

In 1 John 5:11-13, we read that whoever receives Jesus as Savior and Lord will not face an eternity away from God.  God wants to give us eternal life, and it is free for whoever has the Son....

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

The article above does not have to be bad news for you.

Yes, we  are all guilty before God, but the love of God is so great that He willingly paid for our lawbreaking.

Jesus paid for the sins of all mankind when He died on the cross.

Jesus made His sacrifice so that you could be forgiven and could have eternal life.

If you will ask Jesus into your life today, your sins will be forgiven and you will be given eternal life.

To learn much more about this good news, please read our article entitled "What Does The Bible Say About Salvation?"

That article will explain exactly what the Bible says about salvation. 

If you ask Jesus into your life today, then when the day of judgment comes you can have confidence knowing that your sins are forgiven.

Those who do not have Jesus will be held accountable for their own sins.  That is why we must get the message of the gospel to as many people as possible while there is still time.

What does the Bible say about the deity of Christ? The truth is that this is a very complex subject and is often tied into discussions about the Trinity. For a comprehensive look at what the Scriptures say about the Trinity, please see our other article entitled "What Does The Bible Say About The Trinity?"  There are many religious organizations out there today who claim that Jesus was not God and that He never claimed to be God.  As you will see in this article, those claims are completely and totally false.  The Bible is exceedingly clear that Jesus claimed to be God.  The Scriptures are also very clear that the first Christians believed that Jesus was God.  Unfortunately the vast majority of people in the world today (even most Christians) simply do not know their Bibles.  Even many of those who do know their Bibles a little bit would rather have their "ministers" tell them what to believe rather than investigating it for themselves.  Once you learn what the Bible says, there is no getting around the fact that Jesus claimed to be God and that the early Christians believed that He was God.  The question is - are you going to believe it?

The following are some of the places in the Bible where Jesus claimed to be God.....

John 8:58

"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"

In order to get the full picture of what Jesus was saying there, you need to compare that verse with Exodus 3:14....

God said to Moses, "I am who I am . This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' "

Jesus also claimed to be God in John 10:30-33....

"I and the Father are one."

Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?"

"We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."

Jesus also accepted worship as God from his followers....

John 20:27-28

Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

If you continue reading in that passage in John you will notice that Jesus did nothing to correct Thomas.  The truth is that Jesus had no problem with people worshipping Him as Lord and God.

However, whenever we see an angel worshipped in the Scriptures, the angel quickly corrects whoever is doing it and warns them not to do it again.

But Jesus always accepted worship from others in the Scriptures.

Jesus also forgave sins - which is something only God can do....

Mark 2:3-7

Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

Not only did Jesus claim to be God, but the authors of the New Testament most definitely believed that Jesus was God.  Just check out the following Scriptures....

John 1:1-3

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

So just who was "the Word" that John was referring to? It was Jesus of course....

John 1:14

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

In Philippians 2:5-8, Jesus is described as "being in very nature God"....

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!

In Colossians 1:15-20 the Scriptures tell us that Jesus is the "image of the invisible God" and that "God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him"....

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

The following are some more Scriptures where Jesus is referred to as God....

Titus 2:13

while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ

2 Peter 1:1

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours

Hebrews 1:8

But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom"

Hebrews 1:3

The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

In Colossians 2:9 we are told that all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form in Jesus....

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form

Not only that, but in Romans 9:5 it describes Jesus as "God over all"....

Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised!

The reality is that there is no getting around the fact that the Bible says that Jesus is God.  In fact, according to Colossians 1:16 Jesus Christ is your Creator....

For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

It is undeniable that the Christian message is that Jesus is God.  As we discussed in our previous article, He is the second person of the Trinity.  According to the Bible, Jesus came to earth, was born of a woman, lived a perfect life, died for our sins on the cross and rose again.

The question that remains is this:

Are you going to believe it?

What does the Bible say about the Trinity? The truth is that the word "Trinity" is not in the Bible, but the concept of the Trinity most definitely is. So just what is "the Trinity"? The Trinity is one God existing in three Persons. That is the essence of the Trinity. God the Father is God, God the Son (Jesus) is God, and God the Holy Spirit is God - and yet there is only one God. Advocates of other religions who don't believe in the Trinity will immediately object at this point and say that this is impossible. But the truth is that God is so much greater than us and so far beyond our understanding that it is not for us to say what is or is not possible for God. As we shall see, the Scriptures very clearly tell us that the Father is God, that Jesus is God and that the Holy Spirit is God - and yet that God is one God. Some have tried to compare the Trinity to water. You see, water can be a gas, a liquid or a solid - and yet it is still water. That metaphor is quite imperfect, but it can be helpful to an extent. The reality is that no metaphor is going to be fully able to describe God. But God has revealed Himself in His Word, and when we turn to the Scriptures we find all of the answers that we need.

So what does the Bible say about the Trinity?

Well, a good point to start is to take a look at the Scriptures that tell us that God is one God....

Deuteronomy 6:4

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

1 Corinthians 8:4

So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one.

Galatians 3:20

A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.

As you can see, the Bible is very clear that God is one.  There is simply no getting around that point.

But the Scriptures also speak of God using the word "Elohim" (a term for God that has a plural connotation) to describe Himself, and of using the term "us" instead of "me" when referring to Himself.

In fact, the word "Elohim" is used in the very first verse in the Bible....

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

The word Elohim is also used later in Genesis chapter 1, and in that verse we also see God using the word "us" when referring to actions that He was taking....

Genesis 1:26

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

The following are some more examples of God using the word "us" to refer to Himself....

Genesis 3:22

And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”

Genesis 11:7

Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”

Isaiah 6:8

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

While these Old Testament references do not explicitly mention the Trinity, they do line right up with what the New Testament says about God.

So what does the New Testament say about God?

Well, there are quite a few verses where we see all three members of the Trinity mentioned in the same verse.  Some examples are below....

Matthew 3:16–17

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 28:19

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

2 Corinthians 13:14

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

1 Peter 1:2

who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

In the New Testament, God is clearly identified as one God - and yet the New Testament clearly identifies God the Father as God, God the Son (Jesus) as God and God the Holy Spirit as God.

In Hebrews 1:8–9, we see Jesus called God and yet a distinction is made between Him and God the Father....

But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.  You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy."

In John 14:16–17, we see Jesus make a distinction between Himself, the Father and the Holy Spirit....

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

So what we see in the New Testament is a clear message that there is only one God, but also a clear message that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are distinct entities.

But the core of this discussion always comes back to the deity of Christ.  This is one of the main objections that members of other religions have when it comes to Christianity.

So was Jesus actually God?

In John 1:1 it says this about Jesus....

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

So yes, the Bible does say that Jesus is God.

But this is such an extensive subject that we will cover it in a sequel to this article which will be entitled "What Does The Bible Say About The Deity Of Christ".  If you are wondering if Jesus really is God, then you will definitely not want to miss that one.

What does the Bible say about suicide? Well, the truth is that the answer is fairly simple. The Scriptures tell us that we are never to murder anyone. In fact, one of the Ten Commandments says this: "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13). That includes everyone from the youngest child to the oldest adult and it even includes yourself. Suicide is self-murder, and killing yourself is evil in the eyes of God. Unfortunately, suicide is rampant both in the United States and around the world. According to Wikipedia, in 2005 suicides in the United States outnumbered homicides by nearly 2 to 1. That means there were approximately twice as many suicides as there were murders. That is staggering.  But the United States is not alone.  Wikipedia also reports that worldwide suicide rates have increased 60 percent over the last 50 years.  Something is terribly, terribly wrong.  The truth is that the world is increasingly rejecting God's Word, and when that happens the results are not going to be good.

You see, God places a very high value on all life.  In fact, in the Law of Moses the penalty was death for even accidentally killing an unborn child.  In Exodus 21:22-25 we read this.....

If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman's husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

God holds us accountable for the loss of human life - whether that life is unborn or "too old" or anywhere in between.  He does not approve of the murder of any life.  That includes self-murder.

In the Scriptures we see some of the wickedest men committing suicide.  For example, Judas Iscariot killed himself after he betrayed Jesus as we read in Matthew 27:5.....

So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

Suicide is murder and it is a very serious sin.  In Revelation 21:8, we read about the final destiny of murderers who never repent and give their lives to Jesus Christ.....

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.

But are there people out there who are incredibly depressed and who feel that life is no longer worth living? 

Of course.

But they are wrong.

Life is worth living.  In John 10:10, Jesus said that He came in order that we  "may have life, and have it to the full."

Having a relationship with God and living for Him will give a person more meaning and purpose to life than they could have ever imagined that they could have.  When you become a Christian, God can replace your pain and depression with joy and passion.  If you let Him, He will take away your loneliness and fill you up with love.

Once you end your life there is no coming back.  Your life is over.

But if you are considering suicide, the great news is that there is hope for you.

Perhaps that is even why you have stumbled across this article - to find that hope.

The truth is that the God of the universe is real and He loves you.

In fact, He loves you so much that He sent His Son to die on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins.

If you will ask His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into your life, He will forgive your sins and will give you eternal life.

Talk about the ultimate happy ending.

To learn more about how you can ask Jesus Christ into your life right now, we encourage you to read our article entitled "What Does The Bible Say About Salvation?"

What does the Bible say about gambling?  Well, if you run a search for the word "gambling" you are not going to find it in the Bible.  So does that mean that the Bible approves of gambling?  It isn't quite that simple.  You see, the Bible has a whole lot to say about money.  In fact, there are so many Scriptures about money that it would take whole books to go over them all.  God is very concerned about how we make our money, how we view our money and what we do with our money.  It is in the Scriptures about money where we can get an idea of what God thinks when we gamble our money away.  The truth is that gambling is a massive problem in modern society.  Recent research has shown that there are approximately 2.5 million "pathological gamblers" in the United States today and another 3 million U.S. adults who should probably be considered "problem gamblers".  Well over 500 billion dollars is spent gambling each and every year in the United States.  That is a problem.  But it is not just in the United States where gambling is a problem.  Similar problems are found all over the world where gambling is permitted.  So what does the Bible have to say? 

Well, in 1 Timothy 6:9-10 we find perhaps the most frequently quoted Scripture about money in the entire Bible.  It tells us that the "love of money" is a root "of all kinds of evil".....

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

While those who put a dollar into the office football pool may not be doing it for the love of money, the truth is that the vast majority of gambling addicts do it for the money.  Money becomes an overwhelming obsession for them.  Many become convinced that gambling will solve their money problems or will open up the door to a better life.  The truth is that those who become fixated on money fall into a trap.  The Scripture above warns us that the trap can cause us to wander from the faith.

In fact, Hebrews 13:5 warns us to keep our lives free from the love of money and to be content with what we already have.....

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

God is going to provide for those who trust and obey Him.  But for most people that is not enough.  Most people think they know better than God.

But even if someone is able to "hit it big" gambling, the Bible warns that money obtained in such a manner will dwindle quickly away.  Proverbs 13:11 tells us this.....

Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.

In addition, Ecclesiastes 5:10 tells us that those who love money never can get enough of it.  It becomes an endless addiction.  Anyone who has ever known a gambling addict knows that no matter how much money they win, it is never enough for them.  King Solomon was very wise when he wrote the following (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) in the book of Ecclesiastes.....

Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.  This too is meaningless.

What ends up happening to most gamblers?  Most of them end up having massive financial problems.  Why?  Because most gambling games are designed so that the odds are not in your favor.  So gambling addicts usually find themselves hurting very badly financially.  When that happens, they often find themselves not able to provide for their own families.  This is a very serious evil according to 1 Timothy 5:8.....

If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

We are to watch over and take care of the money we make.  We are to use it to further God's kingdom and to take care of our families.  We are instructed to make wise choices.  Gambling our money away is not a wise choice.

We have to ask ourselves who our master is going to be.  According to Matthew 6:24, we cannot have two masters.....

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

So who are you going to serve?  If you are addicted to gambling, you are not serving God.  You are serving someone else. 

But the good news is that if you are addicted to gambling there is hope.  Jesus Christ died on the cross for the sins of all mankind so that we may have our sins forgiven and be granted eternal life.  If you are addicted to gambling there is still time for you to get your life turned around and to have the ultimate happy ending.  We encourage you to read more about it in our article entitled "What Does The Bible Say About Salvation?".

What does the Bible say about drinking? It seems as though the answer you will get depends on what type of church you are asking the question in. Everyone has an opinion about drinking, and it is usually based on their own experiences and preferences. But what does the Bible say? Does it forbid the drinking of alcohol? Actually, no it does not. So does that mean that Christians should run out and get drunk whenever they want? No, the Bible strictly forbids that. But isn't that a contradiction? Not at all. As we shall see, the Bible does not forbid the drinking of alcohol, but it does forbid getting drunk. It is the consumption of alcohol in excessive amounts that the Scripture seems to be concerned about, and it is that same thing that so often gets people in trouble in real life.

Throughout the Bible we see God's people drinking wine, and in fact there are some Scriptures which speak of drinking wine as being a good thing.

In Ecclesiastes 9:7 we are actually encouraged to drink our wine with a joyful heart.....

Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do.

In Psalm 104:14–15, we read that it is actually God who provides the wine that "gladdens the heart of man" - it is a blessing from God that we are to be thankful for.....

He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate— bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart.

In fact, while Jesus was on earth He actually turned water into wine (John 2:1-11). While some Christians try to argue that the wine was just "grape juice", the truth is that a close examination of that passage simply does not bear that out.

With all of that being said, the Scriptures contain multiple warnings not to get drunk and to not let wine be your master.

Proverbs 23:31-32 is a description of just how seductive and just how addictive alcohol can be.....

Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!  In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.

In Proverbs 20:1 the Scriptures tell us that anyone who is led astray by wine is not wise.....

Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

Isaiah 5:11 tells us of the foolishness of drunkards who are completely addicted to getting drunk.....

Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine.

In fact, later on in that same chapter, Isaiah 5:22 tells us that those who are "champions at mixing drinks" are on a bad path.....

Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks

In the New Testament, we see drunkenness included in a list of horrible sins by the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 4:3.....

For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.

As Christians, we are not to be running off to bars and parties and getting drunk.

We are specifically warned against that.

In fact, in Ephesians 5:18, the Apostle Paul tells us that instead of getting drunk on wine, we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit.....

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Rather than being controlled with wine, Christians are to be controlled by the Holy Spirit.  When we are controlled by the Holy Spirit, we will produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit. 

So what is the "fruit" of the Holy Spirit?

Galatians 5:22-23 tells us exactly what the fruit of the Holy Spirit is.....

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

The truth is that it is those qualities that we are supposed to be cultivating in our lives.

Way too often people allow alcohol to become an addiction and to destroy their lives.  Millions of people have had their lives wrecked by drunkenness and millions of families have been torn apart by alcohol.

If you have a conviction to totally stay away from alcohol because you recognize how dangerous it is, there is nothing wrong with that.

If you drink a little alcohol in moderation and you are able to control yourself and keep from getting drunk, there is nothing wrong with that.

But if you are an alcoholic, or if you run out every weekend and get drunk with friends, or if you even get drunk "once in a while", then the Bible says that you are in the wrong.

We are not to get drunk.  We are not to get addicted to alcohol or let it control us.  It is very seductive and it can and will destroy your life if you allow it to.

It is wise to take the warnings of the Bible very seriously.  God knows what He is talking about.

What does the Bible say about marriage? Well, the truth is that what the Scriptures teach us about marriage is far different from what modern society tells us about marriage. In modern society, it is common for a person to sleep with many different people before "settling down", to live with a partner in order to "try them out" before marriage, and to divorce and end the marriage very quickly if it is "not working out". But is that the way God intended for it to work? Of course not. The Scriptures paint a completely different picture of marriage. The Biblical model for marriage is for a man and a women who have kept themselves pure to join themselves together as "one flesh". Sex outside of the marriage is absolutely forbidden and men and women are given specific roles to fulfill within the marriage.

So does this work?

It more than works - when you see a truly Godly marriage in action it is an awesome thing. But let us not get ahead of ourselves. Let us go back to the very beginning in order to understand God's original design for marriage.

In Genesis 2:22-24, God created the institution of marriage.....

And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

God's original design was for a man to leave his father and mother and to take his own wife and to start his own family. Marriage was always meant to be permanent and one of the foundational institutions of society.

In fact, Jesus reinforced this permanence in Matthew 19:4-6.....

"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

So how is a marriage supposed to function according to the Bible? In modern society, to even suggest that men and women may have different roles in marriage is unthinkable to many people.

But what does the Bible say?

In Ephesians 5:22-25 the Scriptures tell us this.....

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

The reality is that the Scriptures do tell us that there are specific gender roles, and one of the things that really jumps out in this passage is the huge responsibility placed on men.

Husbands are given the responsibility to do whatever they have to do in order to protect their families.

In fact, this passage tells us that husbands are required to go as far as dying for their wives and families if that is what it takes.

A godly husband is instructed to provide for and to protect his family in the Scriptures.  The husband is the one who is ultimately responsible before God for the welfare of his family. 

But if you turn on the television today, you are not going to see this kind of husband.

Instead, what you will mostly see on television or in the movies are sex crazed, beer swilling, irresponsible slackers who cower before their more mature, more responsible and more dominant female partners.

But that is NOT the Biblical model.

According to the Scriptures, women are supposed to let men be the strong, responsible and sacrificial leaders of the home.  Men are supposed to be willing to sacrifice their own desires and their own welfare for the overall good of the family.

But in America today most homes are absolutely dominated by the female.

The truth is that there should not be a male dictator or a female dictator in the home.

Rather, the Bible tells us that the husband is to exercise self-sacrificial leadership in the home by putting the needs of his wife and children above his own.

But how many homes do you know where that is happening?

Even in homes where mean are "wearing the pants", they are way too often using that position to make themselves happy instead of serving their wives and children.

There are very, very few truly Biblical marriages out there.

Instead, unhappiness is rampant and many choose to run out and find fulfillment in the arms of another.

But God says that adultery in marriage is absolutely forbidden.

In fact, it is one of the Ten Commandments.  Exodus 20:14 says this.....

"You shall not commit adultery."

Hebrews 13:4 is even more explicit about this.....

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

God takes adultery very, very seriously.  God always intends for marriage to be permanent, but Jesus instructed his followers that adultery is one thing that would justify divorce.  In Matthew 5:32 He said this.....

But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

But God does not approve of all of the "easy divorces" that are taking place today.  In fact, the Scriptures tell us that God hates divorce.

For a more complete examination of what the Bible says about divorce, please see our recent article entitled "What Does The Bible Say About Divorce?"

While many would view what the Bible says about marriage as "old fashioned", the truth is that it works.  If all young men and women stayed pure until marriage and never got divorced, there would be no teen pregnancies, no sexually transmitted disease pandemics, no fear of getting AIDS from your partner and a lot less broken families.  The world would be a far better place.

But instead we felt like we knew better.  We rebelled against God.  We ran around and had sex with everyone we wanted to before and during our marriages.  We promoted easy divorces and watched the consequences.  Now millions of families are a mess.

The truth is that God knows what is best.  As long as we rebel against Him we will continue to suffer the consequences of our rebellion.

What does the Bible say about divorce?  You would be surprised at how often this question comes up in churches, in Christian counseling sessions and on Christian radio programs across the United States.  There are millions of Christians in the U.S. alone who have either been through a divorce or who are in failing marriages where divorce is being looked at as an option.  Sadly, the divorce rate in most Christian denominations is about the same as it is in the rest of society.  In today's world, divorce is often viewed as an easy way to get out of a bad situation.  But is it appropriate for Christians to divorce?  If so, under what circumstances?  What does the Bible have to say?

Well, the truth is that the Scriptures are very clear about how God feels about divorce.  In fact, in Malachi 2:16 God tells us that He hates divorce....

"I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel

But God also knows that man is sinful and that this is an imperfect world.  He knows that husbands and wives are going to cheat.  In Matthew 19:3-9, Jesus explained to the Pharisees why some divorces were allowed under the Law of Moses and under what circumstances divorces are permissible for Christians....

Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?"

"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'?  So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

"Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?"

Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."

In the above passage we see that Jesus does allow for divorce in the case of marital unfaithfulness.  If a husband or a wife commits adultery with someone else, then the other partner can opt for divorce.  We also see this principle reflected in what Jesus had to say in Matthew 5:32....

But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

So are there any other circumstances in which Christians can get divorced without sinning?  Well, in 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 the apostle Paul instructs believers that if they have a non-Christian husband or wife, they must stay with that husband or wife if they wish to stay.  However, if that non-Christian husband or wife wants to leave, the Christian spouse is supposed to allow the non-Christian spouse to leave....

If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.  And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.  For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.  How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Please note that the passage above gives the non-Christian spouse the option of whether or not to leave.  The Christian spouse must stay married to the non-Christian spouse if the non-Christian spouse wishes to stay.

While the rules for divorce that the Bible sets forth may seem harsh to some, the truth is that God considers a married couple to be "one flesh".  He never intends for them to split up.  The way that many couples divorce and remarry so casually today is an abomination to God.

But it is important to note that at times it may be appropriate for Christian couples to separate (though not divorce) if the circumstances call for it so that problems can be worked out at a safe distance.  In extreme circumstances a separation may need to extend over a long period of time.  However, Christians should not get divorced unless they are in a marriage which fits the specific situations discussed above.

While this may come as extremely disappointing news to those stuck in incredibly unhappy marriages, the truth is that God's ways are higher than our ways.  He knows what is best.  He wants us to work our marriages out. 

The United States is filled with millions of men, women and children who have had their lives devastated by "easy" divorces.  The institution of the family is being destroyed in modern society and it seems like families are generally less happy than they used to be.

If people would just obey God's laws and follow His design for marriage and the family things would work out so much better for them.  God knows what is best, and when we follow His plan we will truly have the best chance to be blessed.

What does the Bible say about homosexuality? That is a hugely controversial subject in this day and age. The truth is that discussions about this question can get quite heated.  There are very few topics these days that can evoke such strong emotions on both sides of the debate as the subject of homosexuality can.  It seems as though virtually everyone has an opinion about the morality of homosexuality.  But what does the Bible say?  Is homosexuality morally right or morally wrong?  How should we feel about people who are homosexual?  Well, it turns out that the Bible has some very straightforward answers to these questions.

The first thing to understand is that the Bible commands us to love those who are gay just like anyone else.  In fact, whenever we meet anyone, our foremost response to that person should be to love them. 

In Matthew 22:34-40, the Lord Jesus Christ commanded us that we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.  This is non-negotiable.....

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

So if you know someone who is a homosexual, you are to love that person as much as you love yourself.

Secondly, it is absolutely vital to understand that the only sex acceptable to God is between a man and a woman inside of marriage.

All other sex is sin.

That means that sex between a man and a woman outside of marriage is sin.

And sex between two members of the same sex is sin.

In fact, the Bible addresses this point head on in the book of Leviticus.....

Leviticus 18:22

Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.

Leviticus 20:13

If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable.

Some will argue that those passages are from the Old Testament and no longer apply.

They will argue that God has changed his mind and is now willing to endorse homosexual sex.

But that is completely and totally false.  The truth is that God does not change as we read in Malachi 3:6.....

For I am the LORD, I do not change

In fact, Hebrews 13:8 tells us that Jesus Christ (who was there when the Law was given to Moses) is the same yesterday, today and forever.....

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The New Testament is very clear that God feels the same way about homosexuality now as He did during Old Testament times.

In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 we read this.....

Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

In addition, Romans 1:26-28 is ever clearer on this point.....

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.

So how should Christians deal with this subject?

The reality is that the number of gay people in society is growing and it is going to continue to become a bigger issue.

Well, as we saw above, the number one thing to do for anyone, including gay people, is to love them.

We are to love them and to keep loving them.

After that, love them some more.

Love has got to permeate everything that we do from the beginning to the end and everything in between.

But love does not mean to endorse what is wrong.

Instead love means helping people turn from self-destructive behaviors to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What those caught in homosexuality need more than anything, just like anyone else, is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We all need to have our sins forgiven and we all need eternal life.

Unfortunately most Christians are much more eager to judge than to love.

We are all sinners.

We all need forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

Let us love all people with a radical love that we may help as many as possible escape whatever sins they find themselves in.

What does the Bible say about tatoos?  The truth is that this is a very controversial question today.  More than ever before, young Christian people are going out and getting tatoos.  Many pastors and priests are getting tatoos.  In fact, some very high profile Christian ministers have gotten a lot of attention for their tatoos.  Tatoos have been a very hot topic on Christian radio and Christian television.  Tatoos have become extremely fashionable both inside and outside the church.  There has never been a time when we have seen more tatoos in the Christian community.  In fact, many Christians have used tatoos as a way to express their faith.  But what does the Bible say?  Is God pleased with these tatoos?  The answer to this question might surprise you. 

In Leviticus 19:28, God gave the people of Israel a direct commandment not to get tatoos.....

Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.

But wasn't that just for Old Testament times?

Is it possible that God has changed His mind?

Unfortunately for those of you who wish to run out and get a tatoo, the truth is that God does not change as we read in Malachi 3:6.....

For I am the LORD, I do not change

In fact, Hebrews 13:8 tells us that Jesus Christ is the same from the very beginning of time until the very end of time.....

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The truth is that God told us that getting a tatoo is a sin and He expects us to continue to follow that commandment today.

In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 we read that the body of a Christian is a temple of the Holy Spirit and that we are to honor God with our bodies.....

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

If you are a Christian, you are to honor God with your body.  God does not want you to damage your body or to pollute it with a message which you might want to get rid of a year from now.  If you insist on getting a tatoo you are in rebellion against God.

While you might not like that fact, that is what the Bible says.

It is your choice whether you will obey God's commandments or not.

What does the Bible say about hell?  Does it actually exist?  Does the Bible say that there are people who will be sent there?  Would it even be fair for anyone to be sent to hell? The truth is that those are some very tough questions.  Hell is not an easy subject to discuss, because if you ever take much time to think about it you soon realize that the very concept of hell is absolutely terrifying.  But considering the fact that Jesus talked about hell more than anyone else in the Bible, we should not be afraid of addressing the subject.  The reality is that the Bible does teach that hell exists and that there are people who are there right now. 

That is not an easy reality to face, but the truth is that we have all violated God's laws. That is why Jesus had to come to die on the cross as a payment for our sins. Because we are all guilty. We can all either turn to Christ and have our sins forgiven, or we can pay for our own sins. Those who invite Jesus Christ into their lives go to a place known as heaven when they die as we covered in our previous article entitled "What Does The Bible Say About Heaven?", while those who reject the Lord Jesus go to a place of punishment known as hell when they die.

Those are the only two options.  Everyone on earth has a choice to  make, and the Bible is abundantly clear about the consequences of those choices.  John 3:36 is one example of how incredibly clear the Scriptures are on this point.....

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

Another example of this clarity is found in 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10.....

God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

The truth is that the Bible is super clear on this.  We have the choice of either turning to God and being saved or rejecting Him and going to a place where God offers no protection.  In Matthew 23:33, Jesus even warned the religious leaders of His day that they were in danger of hell.....

"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?"

Perhaps this seems way too harsh to you.

After all, is it really and truly fair that some people are going to hell instead of heaven?

Why does God not just let everyone into heaven and make everyone happy?

Those are fair questions.

So what are the answers?

Well, one principle that is abundantly clear in the Bible is that God seems to really value the idea of meaningful choice.

Apparently God felt that it was very important to create humanity with free will and to hold us responsible for the choices that we make.

After all, what kind of world would it be if mankind did not have free will?

In such a world mankind would be just be a bunch of robots.

Robots are great for getting jobs done, but they have one huge problem.

They cannot love.

In order to have real love, you have to have real choice.

God decided to create us with the ability to love, and therefore also with the capability to make real choices.

Real choices mean being able to choose to do good or to do evil.

So what should God do about that evil?

After all, if there never were any consequences for evil, what would that say about God?

This is a key point.

Take a moment and imagine the following situation in your mind.....

Imagine that someone in your family was just raped and horribly tortured by an incredibly sadistic, twisted and perverted serial killer who had been doing the same thing to other people for decades.

What would you be feeling if that actually happened?

Would you be angry?

Would you be crying out for justice?

Would you want to see that killer punished?

Would you want to see that killer sent to the electric chair or locked away for life?

Well now imagine that the serial killer has been captured by police and will stand trial for his crimes.

You feel (perhaps naively) that at this point you are finally going to get some real justice.

However, at the trial, the judge quickly dismisses all the charges and says the following to the serial killer: "Well, you did make a few little mistakes, but I'm willing to let them slide.  You seem like a good guy.  Let's go hit the bars. I need a drink. Case dismissed!"

Now how would that make you feel?

More importantly, what would your opinion be of that judge?

You would not think highly of that judge at all, would you?

Why?

Because that judge would not be just and would not be worthy of an ounce of respect.

The reality is that evil deserves to be punished, and any judge that refuses to punish evil is a wicked judge.

The same applies to God.

Either he must punish evil, or He is not just.

For example, what if God said the following to Hitler: "I see that you killed 6 million Jews, but overall you seem like a good person.....come and let me show you around your mansion."

Do you think that God would say that?

Of course not!

Anyone who believes that God is like that is totally delusional.

In the Scriptures we read that God is a God of perfect love AND a God of perfect justice.

Wickedness deserves to be punished, and God is most certainly going to punish it.

So where does the leave us?

Well, the reality is every person is going to face the justice of God some day.

Are you prepared for that day?

Most people really do not like to think about that because they do not want to be accountable to God or to anyone else for their actions.

But we are accountable to God.

Most of us prefer to believe that we do not deserve any punishment.

In fact, those who are truly guilty rarely think they deserve their punishment, while those who know what the guitly have done usually feel that they deserve even greater punishment.

Just take a trip to any prison some time and ask the inmates there if they feel that they got what they deserved. What you will find is that the vast majority of the prisoners will not admit that they truly got what they deserved.

But most of them did indeed get what they deserved, and some day each of us will stand before God and He will judge us.

Are you ready?

Does the Bible tell us anything about this coming judgment?

Well, the Scriptures do inform us that not everyone will receive the same judgment:

In Matthew 11:20-24 we read this.....

Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."

So will your judgment be the same as that for Satan or for the person standing next to you?

No, it will not.

Remember, God is perfectly just, and we can trust God that all of His judgments will be completely just.

But the truth is that unless you have accepted God's pardon for your sins, you will face punishment.

In Revelation 20:10-15 we read about that future day when those who do not belong to Jesus Christ will be judged.....

And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gaveup the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

The Bible says that getting thrown into the lake of fire is the final destination for all those who reject God.

The portion of Scripture above even tells us that death and hell (Hades) will be thrown into the lake of fire.

If a person does not want to be cast into the lake of fire is there any way to avoid that?

Yes.

As we mentioned previously in this article, God is a God of perfect love and a God of perfect justice.

The truth is that God loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for you on the cross.

Jesus Christ took your punishment on Himself at the cross.

Jesus paid for all the sins of mankind as He suffered and died on the cross.

Being fully man, Jesus could die for the sins of all men.

Being fully God, Jesus could die for an infinite number of sins.

That is why the cross is so central to the Christian faith.  It was the ultimate sacrifice and it was full payment for our sin.

The sacrifice on the cross satisfied God's justice, so now God can offer you forgiveness of your sins and eternal life as a free gift.

A free gift.

Although it was not free - it cost Jesus dearly.

Will you reject a gift that cost so much?

In our previous article entitled "What Does The Bible Say About Salvation?" we explained how a person can accept that gift of eternal life.

All people need to do is to pray and invite Jesus Christ into the lives and God will forgive their sins and will give them eternal life.

Eternal life!

In fact, I John 5:11-13 tells us that we can know that we are saved and have eternal life.....

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Yes, the Bible does say that hell is very real and that many people are headed there, but you do not have to go there.  God has made forgiveness of your sins and eternal life with Him available as a free gift. 

Please do not take that offer lightly.

What does the Bible say about heaven?  It it a physical place?  An idea?  A state of being? The truth is that the Bible has a ton to say about heaven.  The Scriptures tell us that heaven is an actual physical place and that God was the one who made it.  The Scriptures also tell us that heaven is where God has His throne.  According to the Scriptures, heaven is the destination for Christians when they die.  But what even most Christians do not realize is that heaven is not the final destination for those who believe in Jesus Christ.  In fact, the Bible tells us that God is going to build a new heaven and a new earth.  The highlight of the new earth will be a massive city known as the New Jerusalem that will be the ultimate destination for those who belong to the Lord.  But perhaps we are getting ahead of ourselves.  Let's take a look at what the Bible says about heaven one step at a time..... 

In Genesis 1:1, the Bible tells us that God is the one who created the heavens and the earth.....

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Not only that, but in 1 Chronicles 29:11 the Scriptures say that everything in heaven and on earth belongs to the Lord.....

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

2 Chronicles 7:14 tells us that God listens to us from heaven.....

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

In Matthew 23:9, the Lord Jesus Christ told us that God the Father lives in heaven.....

And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.

But even though Ecclesiastes 5:2 tells us that God is in heaven and that he listens to us, we are to treat Him with the utmost respect.....

Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

Throughout the Scriptures God is referred to as the "God of heaven".  For example, Nehemiah 1:5 says this.....

Then I said: "O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands

In Ezra 1:2, we read that even the king of Persia knew that God lived in heaven.....

"This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: " 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah.

Psalm 103:19 tells us that God's throne is in heaven.....

The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.

But although God has a throne in heaven, Jeremiah 23:24 tells us that not even all of heaven can contain Him.....

Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD.

God looks down on us from heaven and watches what we are doing as Psalm 14:2 says.....

The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.

Jesus declared that he was setting up "the kingdom of heaven".  Matthew 4:17 is one example.....

From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Matthew 5:19 tells us that those who break God's commandments will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.....

Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:9 to address God the Father as "Our Father in heaven".....

"This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name

Those who are Christians will have rewards waiting for them in heaven according to Matthew 5:11-12.....

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

In fact, the Lord Jesus instructed us to store up treasures in heaven in Matthew 6:19-21.....

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Jesus also said in Matthew 10:32 that those who acknowledge Him on earth will be acknowledged by Jesus in heaven.....

"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.

Luke 15:7 tells us that there is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents and turns to God.....

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Jesus also said that He came from heaven in John 6:38.....

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

After Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead He returned to haven.  In Acts 1:11 we read this.....

"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

In addition, according to Acts 7:55 Jesus is at the right hand of God right now.....

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

2 Corinthians 5:1 tells us that heaven is the destination for those who belong to Christ.....

Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

In fact, Philippians 3:20 tells us that our citizenship is in heaven.....

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ

Revelation 19:11-14 explains that one day the Lord Jesus Christ will return to this earth from heaven and that the armies of heaven will be following Him.....

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

Ultimately, the final destination for believers will be a new heaven and a new earth as 2 Peter 3:13 tells us.....

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

After the new heaven and new earth are created, all mankind will worship the Lord there as it tells us in Isaiah 66:22-23.....

"As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me," declares the LORD, "so will your name and descendants endure. From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me," says the LORD.

Daniel 12:2-3 explains that those who have led many to righteousness will experience a great reward.....

Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

Revelation 21:1-3 tells us the final destination for those that belong to Jesus.  Without a doubt you will want to be there on that day.....

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God."

So how can one get to heaven?  Is there a way to know for sure that one is going to go to heaven?

Well, the truth is that there are some really good answers to those questions.  To learn how you can have your sins forgiven and be assured that you will go to heaven someday, check out our article entitled "What Does The Bible Say About Salvation?".  It will explain how you can have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Heaven is very real and you do not want to miss out on it.  Is there anything more valuable than eternal life in heaven?  Do not take this article or this website lightly.  Now is the time to decide what you are going to do about God.  He is very real and He loves you very much.  Please reach out to Him today.

If you have any questions please let us know.  It is our hope and our prayer that we will see you on the streets of heaven someday.

What does the Bible say about salvation?  That is a question that is on the minds of millions of people around the world even as you read this.  After all, if there is an afterlife and heaven actually exists, who wouldn't want to go there?  In fact, if eternal life is real, there is not a single issue of greater importance to every man, woman and child on earth.  Who would not give up everything that they own to live forever in paradise?  All over the world people perform all kinds of religious acts in hope that they will gain favor with God.  Some religious extremists even blow themselves up during suicide attacks, hoping that their "sacrifice" will enable them to get to paradise.  But are those really ways to get to heaven?  What does the Bible have to say?

The truth is that the plan of salvation described in the Bible is very simple.

It starts with God.

The Bible tells us that God created mankind and that He loves us very much.

In fact, God loves you more than you could ever imagine.  The Scriptures go on and on about how great the love of God is and about how deeply He cares for each one of us individually.

But there is a huge problem.

The problem is that humanity is in deep rebellion against God.

The truth is that humanity has rejected God and His laws.

Most people like to think of themselves as "good" people, but the truth is that we are not good.  Each one of us has broken God's laws over and over.  We are lawbreakers and criminals before God.  The Scriptures call us sinners.

Perhaps you think that you are a "good person" and that God should let you into heaven based on how good you are.

If that is what you believe, ask yourself this question:

Have you ever broken God's laws?

Posted below is a summary of the 10 Commandments.  Have you ever violated any of these?.....

#1) You shall have no other gods before Me. (Have you always loved God above everything else?)

#2) You shall not make yourself an idol. (Have you ever made a god in your mind that you are more comfortable with or ever worshipped anyone other than the God of the Bible?)

#3) You shall not take God's name in vain. (Have you ever used God's holy name as a cuss word?)

#4) Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy. (Is there anyone alive who has kept this commandment perfectly?)

#5) Honor your father and mother. (Have you ever disrespected your father or your mother even one time?  If so, you have broken this commandment.)

#6) You shall not murder. (God considers hatred to be similar to murder).

#7) You shall not commit adultery. (Have you ever looked at a man or woman with lust in your heart?  That makes you guilty of breaking this commandment because in Matthew 5:27-28 Jesus said "Whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart").

#8) You shall not steal. (Have you ever stolen anything? If so, that makes you a thief. The value of whatever you stole is irrelevant).

#9) You shall not lie. (Have you ever lied even once? If so, that makes you a liar).

#10) You shall not covet. (Have you ever jealously desired what belongs to someone else?)

The truth is that we are all guilty of violating the Ten Commandments.

We have all broken God's rules.

In fact, if we took an honest look at how guilty we truly are we would be horrified.

Take a moment and imagine this - one of the biggest television networks wants to do a huge 2 hour prime time special starring you.

Doesn't that sound great?

But instead of a two hour documentary about how wonderful you are, the network has discovered all of the most evil and horrible things that you have ever thought, said or did and they are going to broadcast them to millions of people all over the world for two hours during prime time.

What would you do if that happened?

The reality is that whoever that happened to would want to run away and never show their face to anyone ever again.

Why?

Because we have all done, said and thought things that are unspeakably evil.

We are sinners in the eyes of God, just as the Scriptures tell us.....

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

We were created to have fellowship with God, but we chose to reject God and we all have repeatedly broken His laws.  When we broke God's commandments, our fellowship with God was broken. By breaking God's commandments we decided that our will would be done instead of God's will.  This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is evidence of what the Bible calls sin.

The Scriptures tell us that as a result of that sin we are separated from God.....

"The wages of sin is death" [spiritual separation from God] (Romans 6:23).

So what can be done about this separation from God?

Why doesn't God just forget about it?

Well, the truth is that God cannot just sweep our evil under the rug.  If God did that, He would cease to be just.

There is a penalty for evil, and because God is just, that penalty must be paid.

Fortunately, Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins by dying for us on the cross as the Scriptures say.....

"God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

Jesus Christ died in our place.

Being fully man, Jesus could die for the sins of mankind.

Being fully God, Jesus could die for an infinite amount of sins.

Jesus paid the penalty for your sins and my sins so that fellowship with God could be restored.

Not only that, but Jesus proved that He is the Son of God by rising from the dead.....

"Christ died for our sins...He was buried...He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures...He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred..." (1 Corinthians 15:3-6).

You see, if there was any other way for us to be reconciled to God, Jesus would not have had to die on the cross.  He could have just told us to follow one of the other ways to get to heaven.  But there was no other way.  The death of Jesus on the cross is the only payment for our sins and He is the only way that we are going to get to heaven. In the Scriptures, Jesus put it this way.....

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me'" (John 14:6).

But it is not enough just for you to know these things.

The Scriptures tell us that we must individually RECEIVE Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord - then we can have our sins forgiven and experience eternal life.....

"As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12).

So just how does a person receive Christ?

It is actually very simple.

A person receives Christ through faith just as the Scriptures tell us.....

"By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast" (Ephesians 2:8,9).

The Scriptures also tell us that if we invite Jesus into our lives by faith He will most certainly come in.....

[Christ speaking] "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him" (Revelation 3:20).

Receiving Christ involves turning to God from our sin (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us what He wants us to be.  Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for your sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. You receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of the will.

If you are ready to invite Jesus Christ into your life, you can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer.

The reality is that God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your exact words as He is with the attitude of your heart.

If you are ready to invite Jesus Christ into your life you can do it right now.

The following is a suggested prayer:

"Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be."

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart?

If it does, we invite you to pray this prayer right now and Jesus will come into your life, as He promised.

If you do invite Jesus Christ to come into your life, you can have 100 percent certainty that you have become a Christian and that you will go to heaven when you die.  In 1 John 5:11-13, the Scriptures tell us the following.....

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Do you understand what that means?

You can know that you have eternal life.

The Bible says that if you have invited Jesus Christ into your life, your sins are forgiven and you now have eternal life.

What could be better than that?

But your journey is not done.

In fact, it is just beginning.

The Christian life is not easy - especially if you try to go it alone.

There are four keys to growth for any Christian.....

#1) The Bible - If you do not have a Bible you will need to get one and read it every day.  It is God's instruction book for your life.

#2) Prayer - Prayer is just talking with God.  God wants to hear from you and He will change your life as you pray to Him with humility and sincerity.

#3) Fellowship - The Scriptures tell us that we all need each other.  Find a fellowship of local Christians that believe the Bible and love one another.  They will help you grow.

#4) Witnessing - Tell others about the new life that you have found in Jesus Christ.  Helping even one person find eternal life is of more value than anything else you could accomplish in this world.

If you have any questions about what the Bible says about salvation, please post them below.  We welcome your comments and questions.....

As you browse through this website, perhaps you are wondering what we believe. The truth is that we are Christians who are working hard to serve God and to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. We hold to the faith delivered to the apostles by our Lord Jesus Christ.  Unfortunately, today even most Christians do not know what the fundamental precepts of the Christian faith are.  That is one of the reasons why we started this website.  We hold to the basic truths that Bible-believing Christians have believed for centuries, and it is our desire to share that faith with the world.  The following is our statement of faith.....

We believe that the Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God and declares His design and plan for mankind.

We believe that there is only one true God who is revealed in three persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (commonly known as the Trinity).

We believe in the Trinity - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

We believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. As God's son, Jesus was both fully God and fully man.

We believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah of Israel who became once and for all the perfect sacrifice for our sins as the Lamb of God.

We believe that Jesus died for all of mankind’s sin and that all that receive Him will have eternal life.

We believe that three days after Jesus died He was raised from the dead and now sits at the right hand side of the Father making intercession for all who have received him.

We believe that man was originally created good, but that he willingly fell to sin, thus ushering evil and death, both physical and spiritual, into the world.

We believe that every person on earth can have restored fellowship with God through salvation (trusting Christ, through faith and repentance, to be our personal Savior).

We believe that water baptism by immersion after repenting of one's sins and receiving Christ's gift of salvation is a symbol of our new life in Christ.

We believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a special experience following salvation that empowers believers for witnessing and for effective service - just as it did in New Testament times.

We believe that speaking in tongues and other gifts of the Spirit are still to be practiced today just as they were in New Testament times.

We believe in healing, deliverance, miracles, signs and wonders.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ gave His followers a commission to seek and save all who are lost in sin.

We believe that Jesus meant what He said in Matthew 5:17-19..... 

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will physically return to this earth one day.

We believe in the millennial reign of Christ during which Jesus will rule over earth for 1,000 years following His second coming.

We believe that a final judgment will take place for all those who have rejected Christ. They will be judged for their sin and cast into the lake of fire.

We believe and look forward to a new heaven and a new earth that God will create.  We will live and dwell with Him there forever following the millennial reign of Jesus on Earth.