Romans 6:4 Let God Transform Your Life

 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4

 When we put our faith in Christ Jesus he doesn't just forgive us of our past sins, he transforms our lives!    He give us a new life, with a new heart and new desires.  

Hebrews 8:10  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

God will transform you just like a caterpillar is transformed into a butterfly.  He will take whatever mess your life is in and make it beautiful.  

When you surrender your life to Jesus it isn't about our efforts to change, it is about  his ability to change us, and God is more than able!  He can't change what we don't surrender to him.  

Why Did Jesus Have to Die On the Cross?

 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.  He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,  and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."  Luke 24:45-47

WE cannot go into the Spirit realm without blood being applied.  And God is Spirit, and those who worship him must do so in Spirit and in truth.  All through out the history of the world men have used blood sacrifices as a way to enter into the spiritual realm to make contact with God and find his favor.

People often asked me why did Jesus have to die on the cross?  The answer is because is takes a blood sacrifice for us to enter into a relationship with God.  In the old testament they used the blood of goats and bulls, but, Jesus died once and for all, his blood making atonement for our sins.  Jesus was our blood sacrifice that is required to satisfy the righteousness of God.  Without the shedding of blood their is not forgiveness of sin.  Jesus is our Savior, the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.

Therefore, we cannot work hard enough, or do enough good deeds to make it to heaven, or to find God's favor. Because it takes more than just good efforts and deeds to make it into heaven, it requires a blood sacrifice. And the blood of Jesus is our atonement.   But, why does it require blood?  Because the LIFE is in the blood.  When Jesus applies his blood to your life, he is giving his life in exchange for your life, and his blood fulfills the requirement of God.   But why the blood of Jesus?  Jesus lived a sinless and perfect life, he was the lamb of God without blemish or spot.  God requires a perfect sacrifice, not just any blood will do.  Even when they used blood sacrifices in the old testament it had to be a flawless animal, it had to be healthy and strong, God would not accept a weak or sick animal for sacrifice.    It is through the blood sacrifice of Jesus that we are given the grace and mercy needed to come boldly before the throne of God.  But why doesn't God forgive people without requiring a blood sacrifice?  Because when mankind sinned death entered into the world, so we are spiritually dead when we are born.  That is why we cannot understand spiritual things, and we are not drawn to spiritual practices by nature.   So, the life that is in the blood is given, and that renews the spiritual life within us, the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross pays the debt that we owe in full, and spiritual death no longer has mastery over us.


We have all sinned.  This is not in doubt.  The sins of our past cannot be denied.  And we know that man cannot see Heaven, nor win God's approval, if there is sin in our hearts.  And if you have lived long, you know that no matter how faithfully you follow the law, eventually you will fail, and God demands perfection.

But there is forgiveness for sins. There is a second chance; a way for our sins to be washed away. God paid for our forgiveness with his own blood; the blood of the Messiah; the blood of the Savior.  He required a sacrifice, and he sent his only begotten son to be that sacrifice for us.

The blood of Jesus  cleanses our sins and makes us pure and holy before God. 

Romans 5:12-19 We Have Sinned, But God Forgives.

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—  Romans 5:12-19

The Bible says that all have sinned.  Some people do not see themselves as sinners.  They think of themselves as a 'good person' at least in their heart.  But the truth is that all of us have sinned.  How many lies does it take to make  you a liar?  It only takes one.  So how many sins does it take to make us a sinner?  Only one.  And the Bible says that all liars will be thrown into the lake of fire, so we see that lying is a sin.  So, how many people have never told a lie?  Is there anyone besides Jesus that never told even one lie?  No.  We have all sinned, we are sinners, and we need a Savior!

Sin came into the world through the actions of one man.  The first man, Adam, disobeyed God and so sin entered this world.  Because of this sin, misery and death are also in this world.  What's more, every person is born with sin infecting our hearts.  We are born in sin, and our spirits are dead.

We cannot enter heaven with sinful hearts and dead spirits.  Such a thing is impossible!  We must have pure hearts to enter heaven and please God.  But how can we do this?  We can try to purify our own hearts by obeying God's law and doing right, but the problem is, while we can outwardly try to do what is right, our hearts will still be full of sin.  We cannot cleanse sin out of our heart.

Only God is capable of cleansing our sins and bringing life where there is death.  Only by accepting God's gift of salvation are you capable of pleasing God and entering salvation.  There is nothing we can do to cleanse our own hearts!   But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2 Peter 1:20-21 God's Promises Never Fail

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.  For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.  2 Peter 1:20-21

Our relationships might fail.  Our Government might fail.  Our School might fail.  Our parents, our children might fail.  God never fails.

We grow older with disappointments from all the things that have failed us in life and we begin to get cynical and cold.  Our love for God grows cold.  Our love for others grows cold.  Our love for our nation grows cold.   Only one thing can renew our hope, and that is our faith in God.  WE CANNOT know God apart from the SCRIPTURES.  People say, "How do you know what is true?"   The Word of God is true.  The Word of God will not fail!

All Scripture is inspired by God, and all prophesy in that Scripture is given to us by God.  If the Bible says 'Thus says the Lord,' you can be guaranteed it was God who said it; not a man saying things and falsely claiming them to be of God.

Many of the prophesies in the Bible have already been fulfilled.  Many more have yet to be fulfilled; but all of the prophesies in the Bible will one day be fulfilled.  Prophesies such as Jesus' birth (Isaiah 9:6, Micah 5:2) his death (Isaiah 53:5-9, Isaiah 53:12) and his resurrection. (Psalms 16:10) 

The Bible also prophesies that Jesus will come again and rule the world.  (Dan: 7:13-14, Psalms 2:5-9).  These prophesies are promises of God, not vain imaginings of men. Praise God for his promises!

Jesus will Reign Upon the Earth

  He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares  and their spears into pruning hooks.  Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.  Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken.  Micah 4:3-4 

There is coming a day when Jesus will return to this earth and he will rule and reign in the flesh.  There will be no more war, no more strife.  The prophet Isaiah even states that wolves and lambs will lie down together, and lions will eat straw like an ox!  (Isaiah 11:6-9) 

When that day comes, there will be no more doubt in anyone's mind about who God is, and no doubt about who Jesus is.  God Himself states in Isaiah 45:23, "By myself I have sworn,  my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear."

God will not allow the wicked to rule the earth indefinitely.   The day is coming; he will rule and reign, and those who follow him now, who have faith and believe in him now, will be rewarded.  Those who trust in God will never be put to shame.

We Shall BE Changed!

 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Thessalonians 4:16-17

The Bible says that one day, 'in the twinkling of an eye' the trumpet will sound, and the Lord will call his own up to him. One day, while you are going about your business, God will call his people to heaven. One minute God's people will be there, and the next instant, they will all be gone. 

Jesus describes this rapture in this way:  "For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left."  (Matthew 24:38-41.)

If Jesus is your Savior, then that day will be a day of rejoicing.  There will be no more suffering, or hardships, or trials, or temptation for us. We will be with God!  If you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior, then that is a day of weeping.  It is the first sign that God's Judgment is about to be poured out on this world and those who are left.  Do not shake your fist at God!  Accept his gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Holy Spirit our Helper

John 14:25-27   “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.   But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.   Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

These words were not spoken by one of the disciples who spread the news about Jesus after his ascension.  They were not written by Paul as he wrote to the early churches from a prison cell.  It was not made up by a Christian born five hundred years  after Christ who wanted to justify his beliefs. 

These words were spoken by Jesus Christ himself, to his apostles, the night before he was arrested and crucified.  The Holy Spirit is real, he is relevant, and he is important.  The Spirit is the one who helps us to understand and comprehend the Bible.  You can read the Bible a thousand times, but until the Spirit reveals it to you, you will never be able to understand what you are reading.

The Holy Spirit will also help us remember what God wants us to remember.  He helps us to live holy lives.  In fact, without the help of the Spirit, it is literally impossible to live a holy life!  If you have not received the gift of the Holy Spirit, ask God to give you this gift.

The Prayer of Faith

James 5:14-16   Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Healing is real. It is not something that no longer happens, or something that is irrelevant today.  It is something that God has ordained, something he has decided to do for us.  He wants to heal us; it was his idea, not ours.

It was also his idea that if we want or need something from him, we should ask for it. In Matthew 7:7-8 Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

It's not that God doesn't know what we want or need.  It's not that he doesn't understand if we are sick, or doesn't know what we need help with. He is God.  He knows what we need before we know what we need!  Jesus also said in Matthew 6:7-8:  "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."

God tells us to ask him for what we need in prayer, not because he doesn't know what it is we need, but rather because it takes faith and humility to admit that we have a problem that we cannot handle our self and that we need his help. It is pride and unbelief that keeps people from asking God to heal their body, or intervene in their lives.  The Bible tells us that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.  (James 4:6)