Good analogy of God's love

Here's a good one for you :)

This is a great story. Take a moment to read it; I Pray it will make your day!

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art..

When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

 About a month later, just before Christmas, There was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands..

 He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly... He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.'

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'

 There was silence...

 Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'

But the auctioneer persisted 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'
Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the Real bids!'

But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting...' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

'We have $10, who will bid $20?'
'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'

The crowd was becoming angry They didn't want the picture of the son.

 They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel.. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'

A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'

'What about the paintings?'

'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will... I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.

The man who took the son gets everything!'

God gave His son over 2,000 years ago to die on the Cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The Son, the Son, who'll take the Son?'

Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything!

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...THAT'S LOVE

Please send this to ten people and back to the one who sent it to you.
God Bless.

If I don't get this back, I will know you really didn't read it. I got this from someone and thought the last part was really a good thought..

Too bad that the person who sent it to me did not know 10 people who would admit to knowing the Lord

"Success doesn't change who you are. No, it reveals who you are.”

Can Christians be cursed by God? Accursed in Galatians 1:6-9.

Galatians 1:6-9 NKJV ‭‭“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”

Accursed.—See 1Corinthians 16:22. The original Greek word is retained in the translation, Let him be Anathema. The word exists in two forms, with a long e and a short e respectively; and whereas its original meaning was simply that of being “devoted to God,” the form with the long vowel came by gradual usage to be reserved for the good side of this: “devoted, in the sense of consecration; “while the form with the short vowel was in like manner reserved for the bad sense: “devoted to the curse of God.” Attempts have been made to weaken its significance in this passage by restricting it to “ex-communication by the Church;” but this, though a later ecclesiastical use of the word, was not current at such an early date.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

Those who would establish any other way to heaven than what the gospel of Christ reveals, will find themselves wretchedly mistaken. The apostle presses upon the Galatians a due sense of their guilt in forsaking the gospel way of justification; yet he reproves with tenderness, and represents them as drawn into it by the arts of some that troubled them. In reproving others, we should be faithful, and yet endeavour to restore them in the spirit of meekness. Some would set up the works of the law in the place of Christ's righteousness, and thus they corrupted Christianity. The apostle solemnly denounces, as accursed, every one who attempts to lay so false a foundation. All other gospels than that of the grace of Christ, whether more flattering to self-righteous pride, or more favourable to worldly lusts, are devices of Satan. And while we declare that to reject the moral law as a rule of life, tends to dishonour Christ, and destroy true religion, we must also declare, that all dependence for justification on good works, whether real or supposed, is as fatal to those who persist in it. While we are zealous for good works, let us be careful not to put them in the place of Christ's righteousness, and not to advance any thing which may betray others into so dreadful a delusion

How could one call Jesus Lord, but not a believer

How could one call Jesus Lord, but not a believer?
How could one can Prophesied, cast out demons and perform miracles and wonders in the Name of Jesus, but not a believer?

Matthew 7:21-23 (Jesus Said)
21. Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven
22. Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?"
23. And then I will declare to them,"I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness."

Romans 10:9 NLT (Paul Said)
9. If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved

1 Corin 12:3 NIV
3. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says,"Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit

How could one call Jesus Lord, but not a believer?
How could one can Prophesied, cast out demons and perform miracles and wonders in the Name of Jesus, but not a believer?

Is this referring to Judas? Was Judas saved or not?
Jesus personally chosen Judas to be one of the 12 Apostles. Judas was sent out among the 12 Apostles to preach the gospel and cast out demons and perform many miracles in the Name of Jesus. Judas was baptized together with other Apostles (even it was not specifically mentioned in the bible, but it is a good assumption since Jesus were baptized by John and the Apostles were baptizing those who repent). Judas baptized those who repented. Jesus washed Judas feet. Judas was a partaker of the Lord's supper. Jesus said, if you eat my fresh and drink my blood, you are part of me.

Even though Judas betrayed Jesus, but it was a prophesy that one will have to betray Jesus, Judas was the one. But Judas repented. He said,"I have sinned, I have betrayed innocent blood". He returned the money to the pharisees. Satan enter Judas at the point when it is time for the prophesy to come to pass, at the point where he took the bread from Jesus. But when satan left him, he came back to his senses, he confessed his sin and repented and do restitution by returning the money.

Could an Apostle not saved yet? Or when a person was saved, he could loose his salvation? If one can do so much for God and finally loose his salvation, it would be saver to be like the thief on the cross, to time it at the end of his life then say the sinner's prayer to receive Jesus.

Jesus interceded for those who killed Him, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing"

Is there any difference between betraying Jesus and killing Jesus?

But Jesus condemn him, "it would be better for him not to be born". It was not Jesus ministry to condemn anyone.
John 3:17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world"
Judas committed suicide, an act of self-righteousness and died before Jesus can die for him
He didn't call Jesus "Lord", he called Jesus "Rabbi and Teacher"
He continue to steal as a treasurer even during his time with Jesus and his ministry with Jesus
Matt 7:21-23, even not all who called Jesus "Lord" will not be saved anyway

Matthew 7:21-23 (Jesus Said)
21. Not everyone who calls out to Me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who who actually do the will of My Father in heaven will enter.
22. On judgement day, many will say to Me (in that day), "Lord, Lord, we prophesied in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and perform many miracles in Your name?"
23. And then I will declare to them,"I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness (break God's law)."

Maybe the key word in these verse is Practice Lawlessness (breaking God's law)

What is Jesus' definition of Lawlessness?
Jesus' definition of Lawlessness is sin

What is the bible definition of sin?
The bible definition of sin is anti-Christ. Not believing in Jesus Christ as God

What is the Will of My Father?
The Will of My Father is believe Jesus is God

The key word is "On judgement day" (NLT), other version (in that day)

Was Jesus referring to the Pharisees, Sadducees and Teachers of the Law,?
- who are self-righteous
- who believe in God (the God of Moses), but Anti-Christ (never believe Christ is also God). They might have called God Almighty as "Lord", but never believe that Jesus is also God Almighty. Jesus was warning them that they called God Almighty "Lord", but Jesus as God, never knew them. They called God Almighty as "Master or Lord"

Was Jesus referring to generally the Jews?
- who believe in the Almighty God, but not believe the Jesus is also God. They are not anti-God, but they are anti-Christ.
- who called God Almighty as "Lord" (Who is Jesus), but failed to recognize that Jesus is also God Almighty. So, to this group of people, Jesus said I never knew you, depart from me. The Jews called God Almighty as "Master or Lord"

Was Jesus referring to Judas?
- who cast out demons and performed many miracles in Jesus Name, but never called Jesus as Lord. Judas was also a Jew. He also called God Almighty as "Master or Lord" even though he never recognized the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

So, on Judgement day, when this group of people finally realized that Jesus = Almighty God, then they will starts to be religious about themselves in order to gain salvation. "Didn't I called You Lord? Didn't I cast out demons and performed many miracles in Your Name" even though they did not.

Only Jesus fulfilled all of God's law. So those who believe in Jesus, they ledge on to the righteousness of Jesus, not their own righteousness. But to the unbelieving Jews, the Pharisees, Sadducees and Teachers of the Law, they are self-righteous, they don't have the righteousness of Jesus which had fulfilled all the requirement of the Law, hence, they broken God's law or practice lawlessness.

Matt 7:21-23 is definitely not referring to believe Christians.

Is Once Saved, Forever Saved?

The bible is God's breath. God's inspired book. God is so righteous and honest that even the weakness of all the saints also reflected in the inspired word of God. Some of their errors and their mistakes and their sins are all recorded in the bible.

All the saints are human, they have their own opinion of their believe. God even allow the bible to reveal their weakness in their believe system, their error in their believe system. Hence, when we read the bible, we need to make sure what they write, even though is the inspired word of God, has  to be consistent to God's characters.

Is Once Saved, Forever Saved? Eternal Security
Why are we arguing something that only God can judge? If we judged a Christian whether he is truly saved, are we playing God and putting ourselves equal to God? In the end, is this person's salvation decided by our judgement? When we said he cannot make it means he cannot make it? When we said he can make it means he can make it?
Why bible reading people can argue Yes and No? Did the bible said Yes or No?
Do we interpret the bible with bible verses or use our knowledge, understanding and experience?

If we can loose our salvation and there is only one chance, after we loose it, we will not gain it back, then why don't we take chance and time it correctly, like what the thief on the cross did?

No point received so early in life, Have so much fear of loosing it. Do so many good works to earn the points and accumulated many points, in the end, loose our salvation and gained nothing.

Is like buying insurance, Pay premium for tens of years, when died, cannot claim, because one has unconfessed sickness when he first bought.

What if we keep on willfully sinning?
What if we have unconfessed sins?
What if we denounce Christ after we have once received Him?
What is the unpardonable sin the bible talks about?

What about Jesus promised that He will not leave us nor will He forsake us?

Are we saved by work or saved by faith
If we are saved by faith, can our work caused us to loose our salvation, including abandening our faith?

Comparing the thief and Judas

Judas:
Did Judas had faith in Jesus? Was He saved?
Jesus called Judas to follow Him. Judas was with Jesus throughout His ministry. Saw many miracles.
John 6:64,71
Was assisting Jesus ministry in many ways.
Was Judas baptized?
Bible was silent about Jesus baptizing people. Jesus He Himself was baptized by John the Baptist. The apostles were baptizing many, here we can assumed that all the apostles were baptized since water baptism is important. Hence, we can assumed that Judas was baptized.
Did Jesus wash Judas' feet?
John 13:4-5 did suggest that Jesus washed ALL His disciples feet, including Judas
Did Judas participate in the Lord's supper?
John 13:26-27 did suggest that Judas part took the Lord's supper. Only John knew that Judas was the betrayer.
Why Jesus called Judas into His ministry when He already knew that Judas would betray Him?
Is it unfair for Judas if He was chosen to betray Him due to prophesy?
John 6:70 did suggest that Jesus chose the 12 disciples.
Any chance that Judas was restored without us knowing?
Was Judas believe in Jesus Christ as God and saved in the first place?
Judas was also called "Apostle", but was he saved?
Judas never called or acknowledge Jesus Lord or Master as the other apostles did. He only called Jesus "Rabbi or Teacher"
Why Jesus still keep him in His ministry, sent him out and perform miracles?

The thief on the cross:
The thief utter simple words
The thief on the cross uttered simple words of faith and he made it. This simple words are sinner's prayer
Luke 23:
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

While Jesus was being tried, tortured and crucified, where were His disciples? Did His disciples abandoned Him? Did Jesus leave and forsake them or come to them to restore them after His resurrection?


The significant of Water Baptism
To born again, must be baptized by water and by the Spirit. Only the Spirit give spiritual life (John 3:1-21
Jesus was baptized with water. Jesus went through water baptism Himself, but He Himself did not baptized anyone in water, why? If water baptism is so important, He would have done it Himself. Jesus did not personally baptized His disciples, it was done by John because John was given the ministry of baptism, not Jesus.
John 3:5
John 3:22-29 does suggest that Jesus or/and His disciples did the water baptism.
John 4:1-2 does suggest that Jesus did not, but His disciples did. Hence, Jesus did not personally baptize His apostles


Jesus said He will not desert us nor will He forsake us. Is He true to His word?
If we desert Jesus and forsake our faith, are we still saved?
What did the bible said? The significant of first mentioned in the bible.
Where were all the disciples and apostles when Jesus was on trial, flogged and crucified? They just had supper at the upper room with Jesus the night before. Jesus washed their feet. Now, all the apostles disappeared from the scene and deserted Jesus.
After Jesus crucifixion, Non continue Jesus' ministry. All went back to their own profession. If Jesus didn't appeared and show His resurrected body, His apostles would seems to have abandoned their faith. If at this point, anyone of them died, do they remained saved and have eternal security and made it to heaven?
If Jesus didn't appear Himself to proved He is indeed resurrected and He is God, do you think they will turn the world upside down?
Jesus would have left it that way. But He is true to His word, He will never desert them nor will He forsake them even when His disciples had already forsaken the Lord.
Jesus appeared to them not to judge them, but to restore them back to their faith and ministry.
This mean that Jesus will appear to those who have renounced their faith or deserted Jesus or forsaken Him and restore to them back to their faith, This could be done during His second coming.

Some said Jesus love is unconditional but salvation is conditional