Showing posts with label Encouragement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Encouragement. Show all posts

Sunday, April 20, 2025

He Rose For Our Justification

 He Rose For Our Justification

 We are justified in Christ

 

 


There was only one law in the beginning.

Just one.

“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”–Gen. 2:17

People want to act like God is some eternal killjoy, who is just hovering about ready to strike you down with furious wrath and bolts of lightning.

But, in the beginning there was only ONE law.

And Satan in his rebellion used a serpent, which by the way, was not a snake. It was a dragon, or as we like to call them, a dinosaur. (Rev. 12:9)

He used it to tempt the first couple, in order to get them to fall.

He tricked Eve into breaking the one law. But, Adam was not tricked. He knew exactly what he was doing. (1 Tim. 2:14)

He knew it was wrong and chose to listen to his wife instead of listening to God. (Gen. 3:17)

Adam was Satan’s target. Adam had the dominion of the Earth. He was the one who needed to fall. (Gen. 1: 26-28)

Why Adam chose to ignore God’s Law is not given to us. Adam probably explained it away, some how. I tend to think He loved Eve and did not want her to die alone. Or perhaps he did not want to be alone again, if she died after eating the fruit.

It’s hard to say, but when the first couple ate of the fruit they quickly discovered why God had warned them. God’s laws are typically designed to protect us.

Something changed in them. Their eyes were opened. God had created everything good. There was no death. But, now there was evil present. Death and evil, flooded into the world. (Gen 3:6-10)

Adam and Eve had fear, where none had existed before.

Evil was contained somewhere else, and now came upon the humans. It corrupted them and now corrupts all of humanity ever since.

This brought death. Death is separation. Remember, we are eternal beings. Death is not an end. We have no end. We are made in God’s image. We are eternal spirits. Death means separation. We die physically and are separated from our loved ones on Earth. We then die spiritually and are separated from God and our loved ones who are saved, forever.

Why?

In order to contain the evil. Hell/The Lake of Fire is a quarantine. It exists in order to keep evil from destroying all of eternity. It was created for Satan and his angels. It is a garbage dump outside the city of God, where all filthy things are thrown, in order to not corrupt Paradise. (Matt. 25:41, Rev.22:14-15)

Since Adam chose to follow Satan instead of God, He gave up the dominion. That is why Satan is the god of this world. You go into bondage under whoever overcomes you. If you give your authority to another, they own you. (2 Cor 4:4, 2 Pet. 2:19)

And that is the state we live in.

We are born into this world, totally corrupted. Filled with fear and evil, facing eternal separation from God and all things good.

We cannot do right. No matter how hard we try. We are under the control of Satan and his demonic hordes who whisper into our minds and get us to do whatever evil deeds they want. Seeking to rob us, kill us and destroy us, because God loves us, and the demons hate God. They seek to hurt God by hurting us.

And Satan sits and accuses us, day and night (Rev. 12:10)

He accuses us to God.

“Look at these creatures you created. They are filthy. They don’t love you. If they loved you they would have stayed with you. They are scum. Destroy them. Kill them. Punish them. They do all manner of evil, and mock you. Destroy them.”

But God loves us, and He had a plan.

It was a plan started at the foundation of the world.

A plan that grew and spread and remained hidden from the enemy.

It started with Faith, in Abraham.

A way to be righteous. (Gen. 15:6, Rom. 4:3, Gal . 3:6, Jas 2:23)

Then, it moved to the Law, in Moses

In order to show us that we are sinners and cannot obey God. (Rom. 7)

A law that so happened to also allow for cleansing our disobedience through sacrifice.

Then, finally God himself came to Earth in the form of Jesus Christ to save His creation from Satan and the sins that keep us in bondage.

Satan thought that Jesus was here to teach us to obey. He thought Jesus was teaching us to follow the Law, which the enemy had already corrupted with human philosophy, traditions of men and doctrines of devils.

It would be a failed mission. Humans cannot obey. No matter how hard they try. Satan had made sure of that by corrupting us in the Garden. We are totally depraved.

Then, Satan and his demon princes killed Jesus. They used their human slaves in government and religion to do it.

He thought he won. He thought he had finally won.

He might have even accused us before God again. Just like he accused Job. (Job chapter 1 and 2))

“Look at those creatures. They murdered your Son. They obeyed me, not you and killed you. Why do you love them? They spit in your face.”

And God smiled.

Because through His death, He had saved us.

So, that anyone who desires it can be free from the bondage of Sin, Satan and Death.

All they have to do is turn to God and ask Him to save them in Jesus name. (Acts 2:21)

But, that wasn’t the end.

God was not finished.

Because Jesus, was the lamb without blemish. He was not tarnished by evil or sin. He was not worthy of death or separation. He was the perfect sacrifice.

And death could not hold Him.

God Himself died for us and rose from the dead to prove that we are saved and justified. (Rom. 4)

We do not have to answer to the accuser. We do not have to fear death or evil. We do not have to face wrath. We do not have to face Hell or The Lake of Fire or separation from God. We are clean, righteous and justified in Christ.

We are saved by God’s grace, through faith.

Because He, Himself came and set us free in His death and rose to prove it.

All we have to do is turn to Him by faith and ask.

And we are made righteous and justified forever.

We will be with Him in Paradise.

Where “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Cor 2:9)

He has restored that which was lost. And He will continue to restore all of it, back to what He originally created. (Matt. 18:11, Rev. 21, Rev. 22)

Praise Jesus


Cover photo by pexels/Guillaume Hankenne

Friday, April 18, 2025

They Chose The Devil

 They Chose The Devil

Barabbas is a picture of Satan 

 

 

God came to Earth, in the form of Jesus Christ. He lived a sinless life, because we cannot.

He came to set us free from the bondage of Sin and Satan.

The devil found out the plan; hidden since the dawn of time. He and his demonic hordes worked to oppose God’s design. They would not let humans go. The Fallen Angels rule the Earth. Satan is the god of this world. (2 Cor. 4:4)

They used their human slaves to harass, and falsely accuse Jesus in order to murder Him.

The religious leaders listened to the demons whispering into their minds. They did not know God. They did not want to lose their positions of power to this Jesus person. They were full of fear, jealousy and envy. (Matt. 27:18)

So, they secretly arrested Jesus by night and held a trial, out of the eyes of the people. Like all those who serve Satan, they work in secret. In small committees out of the questioning eyes of others.

The demon princes of this world worked to get them to convict Jesus and deliver the Lord to the Roman government for execution.

Satan is the accuser of the brethren. He uses the governmental powers he controls to destroy the saints, in order to keep God’s truth from spreading. He did it in Jesus day, He does it around the world today, and he will do it when he is cast down to Earth and infills the Anti-Christ. (Revelation 12:10, Rev. 12, Rev. 13)

The religious leaders delivered Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor at the time.

The religious leaders knew that Pilate would release a prisoner unto them. It was a strange custom, done during the feast. (Matt. 27, Mark 15, Luke 23)

The religious leaders, hearing the whisperings of the demons worked to get the people to reject Jesus and get Barabbas released unto them.

Barabbas, a man who was accused of sedition and murder. Like Satan, a rebel and a murderer from the beginning. (Luke 23, John 8:44)

The people shouted, led by the religious leaders to crucify Jesus, and release unto them Barabbas the murderer.

They said to let the blood of Jesus be upon them and upon their children, cursing themselves in his death. (Matt. 27:25)

And Barabbas who is a picture of Satan was released unto the people, as they rejected the King of Glory. It is even said by scholars that Barabbas's first name was Jesus. This shows a clear picture of Satan offering a replacement Christ, or Anti-Christ.

And they took Jesus to Calvary, also called Golgotha. A place outside the city walls, near where the trash was thrown. Near the dump, which is the picture of hell. Where the lepers lived and the dogs dwelt. Where the fires are not quenched and the worms (maggots) never die. (John 19)

 There they crucified Him between two thieves.

The thief crucified next to Jesus saw the truth. He heard the call of God in his heart. He witnessed to the other thief, and he confessed Jesus as Lord. He asked Jesus to remember him.

And Jesus said, “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

And at that instant that thief was saved, and would be with the Lord forever in Paradise.

He was finally free.

And Jesus died bearing the weight of the sins of the world. The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. The sacrificial Lamb bleeding for anyone who asks to be saved; calling on the name of Jesus. ( Rev. 13: 8, Eph 1:4, Acts 2:21)

And the demons cheered. And Satan thought he had won.

Till he realized that the death of Jesus set humans free if they asked, and was the beginning of the end for the demonic hordes, who rule the earth.

And today, we have a choice to make. Do we choose the devil? Or do we listen to God’s call and choose Jesus? Do we demand His blood? Or do we receive His sacrifice for us? There is no middle ground. We are with the Lord, or with the devil. It is war.

But, the end is not yet, for there will come a future time quickly approaching where we will be given a choice to choose the Devil or the Lord. A time when a man rises up and the whole world runs after him. A man who will be the picture of Satan, a usurper ruling the World. The “instead of” Christ. The Anti-Christ.

He will make war with the saints and over come them. And many will fall way. Those who never really knew the Lord. They will deny Him and help beat the servants of the Lord. They will turn back to the world, because they never really knew Jesus. Remember Lot’s wife. (2 Thess. 2:3, Luke 12:45, 2 Peter 2:1, Luke 17, Rev. 6, Rev. 12, Rev. 13)

But the Lord will come from heaven with a shout and the trump of God, and all the saints will come with Him. ( 1Thess. 4:16-17)

And we will meet Him in the clouds and forever be with Him.

Even so, come Lord Jesus.


(Cover photo by pexels/David Kouakou, Edited by the author

Sunday, March 30, 2025

Confessing Our Sins, Changes Our Life

 Confessing Our Sins, Changes Our Life

Walk in the Spirit 

 

In the book of Genesis, we get an indication that God enjoyed walking with Adam in the coolness of the day. They talked and had a relationship.

We see the same thing with Enoch. He walked with God. (Gen. 5:18-24)

Walking with God, is an indication of spending time with God. Knowing God and being friends with God. It is walking in the Spirit.

Like Paul said about Abraham. He was called a friend of God. Why? Because Abraham believed God. He trusted God. He believed God at His Word. And God declared him righteous. (Gen. 15:6, Rom. 4:3)

These saints trusted God. They believed His Word. They walked with Him and spent time with Him and built a relationship with Him, and God built one with them.

I say this, to get you to see that you can trust God. That building the relationship is important in our salvation and growth in Him.

Confessing our sins to Him is part of that.

It says in First John chapter one, to confess our sins and He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

So what does this mean? 

It means don’t hide anything from God. You sin. It’s a fact. We all sin. ” If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:10)

So, if you cannot admit that you sin, then you do not know Christ. Jesus is the Word.

If we say we do not sin, we make God a liar. Because He says that we do. It’s not just about the ten commandments. Its about not loving people as well. It’s about the sinful thoughts we have. Humans are so utterly depraved we desperately need Jesus.

Advertisement

If you honestly cannot think of any sins, then ask God to show you. But, you better hang on. Because God will let you see how bad you really are. (Not like Satan does. But, to show you so you can confess.)

Confess it all to him. Tell him about your addictions, your adultery, your lust, your hate, your violence. Tell him about all your filth. Your pride, your unkindness, your false beliefs, your rebellion. Sins of commission and sins of omission. Remember that homeless guy God wanted you to help, but you were too busy?

Don’t justify your sin.

Surrender to God and confess it.

Because He will forgive you.

But…think about it.

He already forgave us and washed us in His blood when we were saved. If you know God, and turned to Him asking Him to save you, and confessed Jesus as your Lord. You were forgiven of ALL sin at that moment. You were born again and saved.

God declared you righteous and washed you clean in the Blood of the Lamb. All your sins were forgiven and forgotten. Never to be brought up by God again.

That’s our salvation.

Do we need further washing?

Of course not. He is not referring to that.

He is telling us He will forgive us, because the devil is telling us He won’t. 

The enemy whispers into our mind that we have fallen too far. Or that we are not worth it. or that we should be ashamed or fear God. Those are lies.

God loves us and is on our side. The enemy wants us to think we have disappointed God, in order to get us to turn away and run from God. Then, the enemy can attack us easier.

Confessing sins to God in prayer helps us to be washed and grow in Him. It protects us from the attacks of the enemy when we believe God forgives us. When we trust His Word.

Not only that, but God is telling us that He will wash our feet and make us whole; despite the lies the enemy tells us. (John 13:6-10)

But not only that..God will clean up our whole life. The verse in First John says “All unrighteousness” Meaning that as we keep confessing, and praying. He is working to help us overcome these sins that keep us down.

He is helping us to overcome them, as we give them to him to defeat. He doesn’t just forgive the sin, He starts working to change us and change the situation that helps grow the sin.

But, if we are unwilling to confess our sins to Him, or claim we do not sin, can He work?

Keep confessing your sins to God in prayer. He is working to change you and everything about it. This is part of the relationship. This is part of Walking in the Spirit. This is how the Holy Spirit develops fruit in our lives. This is part of the renewing of our mind. (Rom. 12:2, Gal. 5:16-25)

There are things I have prayed over and confessed to Him for years. And I have seen Him molding me, and changing me. My life has changed and the things I once struggled with, have been removed and I no longer desire them.

 Praise Jesus

Trust God. Confessing sins and letting Him grow us takes time. But, this builds patience and trust in Him. It builds faith as we walk with Him.

He does not leave us. He is with us and works in our lives, as we walk in the Spirit, confessing to Him.

It’s about our relationship with Him. It builds our faith as we see Him move. It fills our lamps with oil, and we can shine His light as we tell everyone the great things God has done for us.

——

Cover photo by pexels/Rodolfo Clix

Sunday, March 16, 2025

All Things Work Together

 All Things Work Together

 He is with us in all of it.

 

 


I got “saved” when I was young.

I had no idea what that actually meant. But, God did. And that’s all that matters. I turned to Him and He came running.

No one who gets saved, knows the Bible. They do not know anything. We cannot say “I won’t sin anymore”, because we do not even know what that is.

We just hear His call and turn to Him.

That’s it, and that’s all that’s needed. If we really heard and turned.

It’s all on Him. He takes care of it.

According to some people, when you get saved you instantly become this person who never sins. That was not my experience.

I turned into a violent drunk who destroyed everyone and everything.

But, God was with me. I know He was.

And as I sowed evil into my life and into the world, all of it worked together to break me.

Because God and His promises are not based upon my ability but on His.

I’m a failure. He is not.

When we read in Deuteronomy Chapter 28, we see the blessings that come when we obey God, and the curses that come when we don’t.

This is not about eternal salvation. That’s settled when you turn to Christ.

This is about reaping what we sow in this world. It’s is about being blessed or corrected. It is about being broken.

God designed His creation to respond to reaping and sowing and harvest. Whether physically or spiritually. (Galatians 6:7-9)

He created it this way when we were still in the Garden, before the Fall. So, we were not doing evil. We were not corrupted. We sowed and reaped goodness. But, when we fell, evil came and now we sow and reap evil.

 So as I lived my evil life. The harvest of my evil actions was growing, and God was merciful. He gave me grace and protected me. But, eventually that harvest came upon me.

I was cursed and destroyed in every way. I lost everything.

Just like it says in Deuteronomy Chapter 28. That is “Rock Bottom”. That is reaping what we sow.

Now, I had a choice. I could have gotten mad at God and rejected Him. I could have become bitter. And I would continued to face “Rock Bottom” and correction, in various ways.

Or I could let it break me, and turn to Him, and learn from Him and grow in Him.

I chose Him, because He chose me. (1 John 4:19)

People forget brokenness as a spiritual discipline. The act of utter destruction in order to be rebuilt by God.

So many churches are built on a false belief of perfect obedience, because they have never been broken. They have never experienced God destroying their life, in order to rebuild it. They grew up in church and never left. They have never been corrected, because they have never really known Him. They just obey the rules.

But, ALL things work together for our good, when He calls us, and we love Him. (Romans 8:28)

I can look back at my life and see His movements and know that He was with me in my destruction. His hand was on the temperature gauge of my burning. And it’s ok. I trust Him. I trust Him because He has brought me through.

This is my testimony. It is between Him and me. By our testimony we shall over come the enemy. Because we can see and say the great things God has done for us. (Rev. 12:11, Luke 8:39)

I no longer care about peoples religion or their dead beliefs. I know the Lord. I have a relationship with Him.

It came because of my failure and my brokenness. All things work together. His grace is sufficient for me.

When we sin we turn to Him, and confess to Him and He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we pretend like we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and Jesus is not in us. When we say we don’t sin, we make God out to be a liar. Because He came to die for our sins, not our failures. Not our mistakes. Not our misunderstandings. But, for our sin. (1 John 1)

All things in this life work together for our goodness when we are with Him. Good or bad. If we do good we get blessed. We reap goodness because we sow goodness.

And when we sow evil we reap correction into our lives. We reap destruction and brokenness into our lives. And it works to grow us. It changes us, if we turn to Him. The trouble and brokenness works as fertilizer for growth.

And as we confess our sin and turn to Him, and grow. As we are broken and corrected through our life. As we face tribulation, and sin and failure, and turn to Him over and over and over again.

We change. We grow. We bear fruit.

I have changed.

My mind has been renewed to what God created it to be before it was ruined by my corrupted nature and my own sinful deeds. (Romans 12:2)

Not by my works or efforts but by Him, breaking me and saving me.

That is how the Holy Spirit develops the Fruit in us. Patience comes by a life time of trusting and waiting upon the Lord, as He molds you and shapes you. Love comes by facing the unlovable. Peace comes by facing chaos. Joy comes by misery. Self-control comes through correction and brokenness. That is meekness. All of it comes by constantly turning to Him, confessing, praying, and letting Him work.

 That is the relationship.

I no longer struggle to obey God.

I just obey, or get corrected and both are fine. Because I trust Him.

He fixes it. He changes me.

I find myself, sinning less.

I’m not perfect in myself. In my flesh.

But, I am perfect in Him. He no longer sees my sin. According to Him, I am in Christ and do not sin at all. (1 John)

I am washed in the Blood. I am clean. I am white as snow. My sins are as far from me as the East is from the West. They are in the deepest sea, and I am hid in the cleft of the Rock of Christ. I am on the Ark. I might be a termite on the Ark. But, I’m there because of what Jesus did, not what I do.

When you hear Him call and turn to Him. His Holy Spirit comes into you and teaches you to love Him and know Him. And you realize that God is with you and will never leave you, nor forsake you. (Heb. 13:5)

And you will see that ALL things work together for your good.

Because of Him and His promises. Not you and your obedience or failure.

He does it because of who He is, not because of who you are, or what you do.

Turn to Him and trust Him.

 (Cover photo by pexels/Gary Barnes)

Sunday, March 9, 2025

He Is With Me

 He Is With Me

Do You Know Him? 

 


“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”— Heb. 13:5-6

When you turn to the Lord, He saves you and is with you always. His Holy Spirit is in you.

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”— 1 John 4:4

We do not need to be concerned with living to gather riches, or desiring to what others have or to be as they are. That is our flesh talking. That is demons whispering.

We can be happy with the things the Lord has provided us, because He is with us and will take care of us. There is nothing anyone can do to us. God will find a way. He will make a way where none exists.

God’s way is perfect, and He has perfect timing. Trust Him.

It’s not about looking good for mankind, with the silly notions of what is valuable.

The streets of Paradise are paved with gold. The true wealth are those things of the spirit. The people you lead to the Lord. The love you show. The people you help. The Kingdom you build, and the time spent with the Lord, learning of His ways.

The rest is chaff, useless waste, burned up in the fire.

God is with us. we have a relationship with Him and have no need to fear. Just “ask, and it shall be given unto you. Seek, and ye shall find. Knock and it shall be opened unto you.”— Matt. 7:7-11

James said “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

God is with us and will never forsake us. He will not help us destroy ourselves. But, we can trust that He hears and will help us with whatever we need.

I have seen God answer so many prayers. He has taken care of me. When I remember the great things He has done in the past it reminds me that He is with me and will take care of me again. It builds faith.

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”— Phil.4:6-7

We thank God in our prayers because our faith leads us to believe He is with us and hears us and is moving. We trust His Word.

He is with me. We have a relationship.

And I am with Him.

I died with Him, and was buried to self, and the flesh, and this world. To be raised into new life with Him. Born again. (Rom. 6:4, John 3)

And I walk with Him in the Spirit, which is the relationship.

To hear on that last day, “Well done thy good and faithful servant.”— Matt. 25


Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois.

Cover photo by pexels/Pixabay

Sunday, February 23, 2025

Fear Not

 Fear Not

God is with us 

 


“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” –Luke 12:32

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”— 2 Tim. 1:7

“So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”— Heb. 13:6

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”— 1 John 4:18

“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”— Rev. 2:10

When we read these verses we can see that we are not supposed to fear anything. God is with us.

If we believe that God is right beside us, and even in us through His Holy Spirit, then why do we have fear? Our God is bigger than anything in this world, and anything the devil can throw at us.

These verses above indicate that there is a spirit of fear. A demonic entity which harasses us. It says in First John that we are tormented by fear.

Therefore battling fear is Spiritual Warfare. It’s something we can overcome.

The first thing needs to be faith and trust in God, His goodness and His Word.

Nothing else matters.

I harp on this idea of a relationship with God. When we know Him, we know where to turn. We can trust Him. Even when everything around us is terrible and we are in our darkest days we can trust Him. Even though the devil tries to get us to turn from God, and curse God, and doubt Him. We can trust Him. And that is power. For in our weakness we are strong when we turn to Him.

 God is not against us. It is His good pleasure to give us the Kingdom. He is for us.

Say it out loud. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

“God is with me! He wants to give me the kingdom, He is not out to get me. He is my helper, I will not fear.”

Believe it.

We can overcome fear in His Power, His Love and His Wisdom.

We can pray and know He hears. He promises that if we ask anything in His name He will do it. —John 14:14

No doubts. Trust Him. He hears and is moving.

Fear be gone! God is with me!

Love casts out fear. Confront the fear in love.

Do the loving thing.

When faced with fear, love others. Do unto others as you would have done to you. Loving others takes your mind off of self, and onto other people. Use the fear to fuel love. Overcome evil with good.

Remember that God loves you. If we are saved, then we are perfect in God’s Love. Remember this. He loves through us. Let Him love you and love others through you.

The devil threw some of them into prison. They were told to fear not. So, what did they do? How did they overcome fear?

They loved. They prayed for the guards and other inmates. They preached the Gospel and spoke faith to the other prisoners. They comforted the sick in prison. They helped each other. They loved, in the midst of fear and hate, and temptations for anger. They turned prison into purpose. That is how you cast out fear.

Love casts out fear.

Praise God. Loving Him and praising Him casts out fear. You cannot hold fear in your mind, while praising God at the same time.

We also overcome fear through a sound mind. We have a sound mind by knowing God’s Word. By seeking Him for wisdom and understanding and truth. By having faith in His Word. By prayer and His guidance.

We can look at how God has brought us through things in the past, and trust that He will again. We can go and seek out the truth. Study, ask, learn, seek answers. Fear thrives in the unknown.

We can ask ourselves, “What is the worst case scenario? Has God let the worst things happen to me? What if He does? He will be with me through it.”

Overcome and drive out fear through Power, Love and a Sound mind. We can drive it out through Him, and His Word, and Faith in Him and His Word. We trust that He is good and He is with us.

 Spirit of Fear be gone in Jesus name.

Say it out loud. Cast the spirit out.

Remember times when God was with you and saw you through. Trust Him.

Dark times are coming, according to prophecy.

We need to be able to wage spiritual warfare and cast out fear.

Remember during Covid, when the virus was everywhere and fear was running with it? Remember when the vaccine came out and they were forcing people to take it or lose their jobs?

That was a picture of what is coming.

They will say, take the Mark of the Beast or lose your job.

When you see saints being rounded up, and your own pastors turning you in for refusing to bow to the Anti-Christ.

Fear not.

Love not your life unto death. —Rev. 12:11

Fear keeps us down, and keeps us from acting in faith.

Drive out the fear, in Jesus name.


Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Follow Him on Free Life Blog: https://myfreelifeblog.com/

Subscribe on Substack: https://substack.com/@chrisbunton

Read His Bible Studies on Blogger: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

Support the work for the cost of a Coffee

Support the work through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

Cover photo pexels/Мария Кашина

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

What Is Hell?

 What Is Hell?

What do the scriptures say?

 

 

 

When we study the scriptures on a subject, we go by what the entire Word says, based upon the guiding of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will lead us into ALL truth. That’s how it works. (John 16:13, Jas 1:5)

We are surrounded by lots of false teachings, and it is going to get worse as the last days move forward. This is why being taught by the Holy Spirit is most important. (1 John 2:27)

Hell and/or the Lake of Fire according to scripture seems to be two different places. There is a current holding place called Hell, and a final destination which is the Lake of Fire.

Why two? Because after all is said and done there will be a final judgement, and at some point God will create a new Heaven and new Earth. Hell seems to be the containment for this current creation, and the Lake of Fire is the containment for eternity, after the last judgement and new creation.

The current containment of Hell along with death will be cast into the Lake of Fire, so nothing escapes. (Rev. 20:14)

This containment system seems to have been created for Satan and his angels.

At some point in the distant past, when Satan fell and led a rebellion against God, which included angels and all sort of spiritual beings, God created or “prepared” it for them. (Matt. 25:41)

According to scripture, Satan and his angels are not currently bound in Hell. We have verses showing Satan visiting God’s throne room in Heaven and the angels battling each other. We also have verses speaking of the demonic forces ruling and influencing things on Earth. (The book of Job, The book of Zechariah, 2 Cor. 4:4, Eph. 2:2, Rev. 20:1-3, Dan. 10 )

There are also scriptures that show that some fallen angels or beings are bound in other places. We see that there is a place called the Bottomless Pit. So, it seems that the true spiritual cosmology, involves more than Heaven, Hell and Earth. The Bible doesn’t give us a lot of info on these places and on the cosmology. I have my beliefs on them, but let’s stick to Hell. (Rev. 20:1-3, Rev. 9:14)

 Hell is eternal death. Death is separation, not an end as we suppose. Hell/Lake of Fire is a place that is separated from God for all eternity. It is a holding place for all that is filthy, corrupt and wicked. It is a place for those who refuse to be washed clean of Sin and Evil in the Blood of Jesus. Hell exists as a containment for Sin. It is like a plague that corrupts us. God cannot let Sin into Heaven or Paradise, or else death and pain and suffering would contaminate all of eternity. (Rev. 1:5, Rev. 7:14, 1 John 1:7, Eph 2:13, Heb. 10:19)

Hell is best viewed as the garbage dump outside of an ancient walled city. This image gives the best picture.

Hell/The Lake of Fire is the garbage dump outside the City of God. Outside of Paradise.

When you read in the Old Testament about lepers. This is a picture of the unsaved in Hell. They were living corpses rotting away and stinking. They were contagious, and had to stay away from others. They were forced to cover their face and yell “Unclean!” any time an uninfected person approached. (Lev. 13:45) Separation.

They were poor, and no one helped them much. They dwelt in the garbage dump because they could get scraps, and scavenge things thrown away, and people would leave stuff for them.

The dump stinks. It is where the dogs dwelt eating scraps and fighting lepers. It’s the same in Hell/Lake of Fire (Revelation 22:15) (Dogs in the ancient world were vermin and tormentors. They were scavengers and thieves, who roamed in packs and might even attack a child, or solitary person. It is not the view we have of family pets. Course those family pets can turn feral.)

Jesus described Hell as a place where “the fire is not quenched and the worm dieth not.” He was quoting Isaiah. (Isa 66:22-24, Mark 9)

The fires of trash burning with filthy smoke, choking the lungs and blocking the light. A place of darkness and misery, without the love and joy and peace of God. A place where the worms live forever eating the flesh, filth and corruption. (Matt. 25:30)

This is the basic picture of Hell. A garbage dump separated from God and all that is clean.

Jesus gives us a parable of the torment of Hell. He speaks of the poor man Lazarus who basically was a homeless man who lived outside a nameless rich man’s gate. The rich man ignored Lazarus. He could have loved Him and helped Him. If the rich man really knew God, he would have done what He could do to help the homeless man. But, He did not. (Luke 16)

Both of them die.

The rich man is in Hell. Again, not because he could earn His way into heaven by doing good deeds, but because He never knew God. He never had a relationship with God. If He had, then He would have had compassion. He would have felt conviction to help Lazarus.

The rich man is thirsty in Hell and and says “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”

There is no water in Hell, it’s hot. He sees Lazarus in Heaven/Paradise leaning against Abraham’s chest, and makes this request. (There are teachings about Abraham’s Bosom and all of that, which the Bible doesn’t really teach. In this parable it is clear that Lazarus is leaning against Abraham the person, because Abraham speaks. It is not a place. Locations do not speak. Any doctrines on a place called Abraham’s Bosom are actually referring to Paradise or Heaven. The place of the the righteous dead, where the saints go to be with the Lord, and the other members of their family and saints who were saved as well. Abraham and all the saints are there. The phrase “Abraham’s Bosom” is actually poetic language for Heaven/Paradise.)

Abraham tells the rich man that Lazarus cannot give him a drink because there is a gulf between Hell and Paradise. They can see each other, but cannot go there. Again separation and containment. Many ancient cultures had a similar cosmology, because it is true. God told Adam, and the truth went to Noah, and was taught to the people. Then it was confused at the Tower of Babel, when people scattered globally with different languages and different names for past events. But, the basic idea remains. Because it’s true.

 The rich man begs Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his family, so they won’t go to Hell. But, Abraham says “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

Abraham basically says, “They have God’s Word.” But, the rich man knows his family won’t read it or learn of it. He assumes his family would be shocked into turning to God if Lazarus rose from the dead.

But, Abraham says, “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

Basically, if they won’t believe the Word, they won’t believe anything, even if someone rose from the dead.

In case you missed it, this is a reference to Jesus rising from the dead; and people still refuse to believe. Just to be clear, a man named Lazarus also rose from the dead, and people still refused to believe. (John 11, John 20)

So, that is Hell. But, what about the Lake of Fire?

In my best understanding, Hell is a current spiritual place in the cosmology. It rests separated by a gulf from Heaven/Paradise. (Luke 23:43, 2 Cor. 12:4, Rev. 2:7)

It is Spiritual. It is out there beyond the veil that separates us from spiritual things.

But, the Lake of Fire is material. It exists in the material world forever.

It seems that at some point, God creates a new heaven and new earth. The city of God, and Paradise itself seems to come to Earth and joins with Earth. There is no more Separation. Sin has been contained. Death has been defeated. Everything is created new and seems to go back to how it was before the fall of man and the rebellion of Satan. (Heb. 11;16, Isa 65:17, Isa 66, Rev. 21, Rev. 22 )

The Lake of Fire is a place on Earth at this future time. A material location, not a spiritual one. It rests outside the City of God. It is the garbage dump, and containment place for everything and everyone who refused to washed in the Blood and be cleansed and healed of the Plague of Sin. Understand that sometime before the final judgement everyone who is dead will be raised into bodies that can never die. The dead currently have spiritual bodies. These future bodies will allow us to either live forever in Paradise, or live forever in Hell/Lake of Fire. (Rev. 20:12)

Why do I say this? Because it’s what God says, “ For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.” (Isa 66:22-24)

After God creates a new heaven and new earth. When His city comes to Earth and Paradise is here. The saints who the Lord has saved, will gather together on a regular basis to worship God. And part of that celebration, or after the worship service; people will be able to go out and look at the Lake of Fire and see Satan, His angels, and those who followed them in the Lake of Fire.

Now, a Lake of Fire implies liquid fire. So, I personally believe that it is like a volcano or magma. The City of God and Paradise Earth is near enough to see it, but there is a separation or gulf. People will come from all over the new Earth to worship, and see it.

So, let me tell you that our words and current understanding cannot really explain this. There are gaps in what the scriptures say and our ability to explain it. We have tried to give a time line. But, from what I can tell, no timeline or explanation of the events to come is totally perfect. 

 We are not supposed to “Intrude into things we have not seen.” (Col. 2:18)

That means that as humans who have never traveled to spiritual realms, or seen glimpses of the future new creation, we can only give limited knowledge and understanding.

I’ve tried to connect some dots. and clear things up in order to get people to understand and get saved or have a hope of the future. I am not going to say I have it all figured out in such a way that I can teach it or prove it. I don’t.

This is a simple explanation of what I have learned so far. I hope it helps you in your studies.


Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Follow Him on Free Life Blog: https://myfreelifeblog.com/

Subscribe on Substack: https://substack.com/@chrisbunton

Read His Bible Studies on Blogger: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

Support the work for the cost of a Coffee

Support the work through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

Photo by Pexels/Eyez Heaven. Edited by Author

Sunday, February 2, 2025

Trust God's Goodness

 Trust God's Goodness

He wants us saved and growing in Him. 

 

We can trust God’s goodness in this fallen world which seeks to destroy us. Everything around us might scream that God has abandoned us or that He doesn’t care. But He is there. He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Even in the Garden. In the midst of Paradise, Satan was able to get the first couple to stop trusting God. He got them to doubt His promises and His goodness. The same thing happens to us.

They were in a perfect place with all of their needs met and no troubles at all, and the enemy was still able to drop a little nugget of doubt into their mind. Just enough to get them to do the one thing God told them not to do.

God’s rules are not to keep us down or to hide things from us. They are designed to protect us, from things we do not understand and the dangers of this world.

We can trust His promises. We can trust His Word. We can trust His goodness.

We no longer live in a Paradise. We live in a fallen world and bad things happen to us. Trouble comes into our lives, whether it’s by our own making or not; we face difficulties. We see the evil around us, and we are again tempted by the devil to say “Where is God?” “Where is His Goodness?”

Like Job. Satan attacked him in order to get Him to doubt and curse God. But, Job said, “Though He slay me, still will I trust in Him.” (Job 13:15a)

He trusted God and refused to be pulled away from the Lord, or caused to doubt Him. Job questioned. But, he never doubted God’s goodness or curse Him.

When we face trouble in life, we are also tempted to reject God. We are tempted to go do things that set us up for failure and more trouble.

Remember, the enemy seeks to steal, kill and destroy. He will use everything to rob us of finances and joy and life and health, he will work to kill us and ruin us.

That’s His plan. It starts with getting us to doubt God’s Word, His promises and His goodness.

If He can get us to ignore God, or doubt Him, He can lead us down dark paths and slay us.

When we look at the terrible things in this world it’s hard to imagine that God is good. We even hear things like “A good God would not allow such and such.” That is the devil. He cause the terrible things, then he points at it and says “Look! God did that!”

 If we do not know God, or trust Him we can be deceived by it.

In these last days it is going to get harder and harder, as deception grows.

But, we can trust Him. He is good. Learn of Him. Study the Word. Confess Jesus as your Lord, and believe that He is THE Lord.

Confessing ‘Jesus is The Lord” is the only thing that separates the Christian from every other belief system on Earth. Remember that.

God is good, He came to Earth to die for us and set us free. He saves us. Do not be pulled away by the deceptions of the enemy.

Trust God


Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Follow Him on Free Life Blog: https://myfreelifeblog.com/

Subscribe on Substack: https://substack.com/@chrisbunton

Read His Bible Studies on Blogger: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

Support the work for the cost of a Coffee

Support the work through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

Sunday, December 15, 2024

Serving God

 Serving God

We were created to serve God

 

 


“Seek ye first my kingdom and my righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.”–Matt. 6:33

When we read scripture we need to “Rightly divide” it. (2 Timothy 2:15)

What does that mean?

Well, every word in scripture has meaning. They can often be linked to other parts of scripture. When we want to understand or define something, we need to use scripture to do it.

So, what does it mean to “Seek ye first my kingdom”? It means to put the building of God’s kingdom first in your life. So, how does that look? Well, it means that spreading the Gospel is the most important thing to you. (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18)

You tell people about Jesus personally on a one to one basis. You tell people about Him publicly; and you support ministries and missionaries that actively spread the Gospel. You have a desire for people to get saved, and you step out in faith, to let the Spirit work through you in doing that work.

On top of that, we support and participate in Kingdom building activities, such as loving people, healing people, helping people, protecting people, growing people, serving people and feeding people. All of this is done in His name, and with an eye toward Kingdom building. Not being fake, or having an ulterior motive; but being real in our purposes. We want people to realize that there is a God who loves them and wants them saved, and that process starts now in this world.

Now when I say this, it makes it seem like I’m saying that you need to become a preacher, or go door to door, or become a missionary. I’m not saying that. God has given each of us different personalities, different gifts, and different callings on our lives. Build your relationship with God, and step out to do the small things and you’ll be shown by Him what directions to take. But, be real. You don’t have to take mission trips, or go to seminary. But, when a friend or neighbor falls on tough times are you there? Do you tell them about Jesus? Do you exercise your gifts at work? Not being preachy or holier than thou, but someone that is approachable, helpful, and keeps a confidence? 

 We do this out of our salvation. We do not do it to be saved, but because we want to tell people the great things God has done for us.

What is “My Righteousness”? We are made righteous, because we believe God. We believe what He has told us in His Word. We believe what He has spoken to us in our hearts; and we believe He has called us. We believe what He tells us about Jesus Christ, being the Lord, and we confess Him as our Lord. We agree with God that we are sinners and need Him.

We believe our personal relationship with Him; and the great things He has done in our lives. This causes us to live rightly as He grows us. We study and live by His Word. We seek to grow our faith and our relationship with Him. Not obeying rules, but growth through faith and relationship. Seeking His righteousness, is to seek the relationship with Him, and we grow in faith and spirit through it and Him. We cannot be righteous without Him, and faith in His Word. (Rom. 4:3, Rom. 10:9-10)

“And all these things shall be added unto you.” What things? The things we need, and even in many ways the true desires of our hearts. God knows what all humans really need and want. He also knows us personally. He is more than happy to provide these things. But, always remember that our spiritual condition, our relationship with Him, and His kingdom are paramount. Sometimes that will lead to great hardship.

God is not shocked when you desire success or abundance or any of “these things”. But, as we seek His Kingdom and His Righteousness; our desire for, and our definition of “These Things” starts to change. We become humble. We become meek, like a wild horse broken and trained for battle. We become less needy, because we have all in Him. We succeed, but our success is not apart from Him. He is always at the forefront of our minds and what we do.

Now when I say that, I’m not saying we don’t sin. I’m not saying we don’t forget God. I’m saying that He is a constant fixture in our lives, and grows in it. It’s a growth in Him. If you’re not experiencing this, ask God to give you more of Himself and He will.

John tells us that we will sin and fail, but we turn to God and ask Him to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. (Unbelief) and He will. Then, when we are washed we are as though we never sinned. god remembers it no more. (1 John 1:8-10, 1 John 3:9)

Terrible things happen in this life and in this world. But, even in the midst of these situations or places. “Seek ye first my Kingdom, and my righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” is a promise. It might not manifest the same in everybody or in every situation. You might even be miserable for a while as He works things out in your life. To be honest, there are believers who died serving Him, and being in Him, long before any of “these things” manifested in their lives. But, I can promise you they have “these things” today with Him. I can also bet that the families they left behind were blessed. God is just. He pays His workers.

But, like most of God’s promises it requires faith to get started. Do you trust Him? Step out and start doing the little things and begin to grow. He will lead you and guide you; just go. He will move. It doesn’t matter where you are. Seek His kingdom and His righteousness. Do it from a pure heart, wholeheartedly. If you can’t, then ask Him to give you a clean heart, and help you to be pure in your motivations toward Him and others.

Then watch your views of what “these things” are change and turn to what He wants you to view them as. Your relationship is with Him; no one else. We answer to Him. Build His kingdom, and He will build yours.


Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“  a collection of dystopian short stories.“The Future is Coming” and his latest book “The Latter Days‘ is a book on Bible Prophecy and avoiding the deceptions to come.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Follow Him on Free Life Blog: https://myfreelifeblog.com/

Subscribe on Substack: https://substack.com/@chrisbunton

Read His Bible Studies on Blogger: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

 Support the work for the cost of a Coffee

Support the work through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

God Will Come Running

 

 God Will Come Running

 When we turn to Him

 

 
 
 Jesus tells us a story about a young man who left home and went to make a name for himself. (Luke 15:11-32)

It could be a kid going to college with his parents credit card.

Or a kid chasing a dream with his fathers support and blessing.

We know this guy. We have seen him or her in our families or neighbors. We have seen them in ourselves.

We are free. We don’t have to answer to anyone.

We are trying to make it. We are chasing a dream or forced to take care of ourselves.

But we get pulled off the path.

Like the man in Jesus’ story.

He started riotous living. He started making friends in low places. He was meeting all the best guys or best girls. He was getting drunk and using drugs of all kinds. He was down at the club, or local bar. He woke up next to all kinds of people.

And all the dreams died.

We’ve been there, or seen people there. We can smell the smells, taste the tastes and hear the sound of the music thumping. We’ve done the beer runs, and smoked the things that make us wanna go get some more.

They are living for the party. Living for friends. Maybe living the dream. But, it’s not the real dream. It’s not real hopes and dreams.

Jesus says that trouble comes. A famine in the land.

 And trouble always comes. The party always ends.

It could be an accident that causes it. Maybe a divorce or break up. The loss of income and friends. Illness.

But, the party ends.

This causes us to get desperate. These times of trouble can lead us to draw more into the party life, trying to hold on. Drinking and drugging more to try to numb the fear and pain. Chasing things that is not good for us. Trusting people we should not trust. Waking up in places we do not want to wake up in. As our friends abandon us.

And we break. We have no choice. We are ruined.

Jesus said, the man went and got the worst job possible. The lowest of the low, just to keep himself from starving.

But, even that wasn’t working. He wanted to eat the pigs food.

We might end up homeless, digging in the dumpsters. We might even consider a life of crime. Stealing, selling drugs, stripping and prostitution to survive.

We hit rock bottom. We are as low as we think we can go.

Do not be deceived. There are always worst things that can happen. Rock bottom has a basement.

Jesus said, that the man woke up. He was willing to be a slave in His fathers house.

How desperate are you? Are you desperate enough to turn to God and say “I can’t do it! I don’t know what to do! But, I need you! Do whatever you want but please save me and help me.”

Are you so desperate to be free from your troubles and addictions and life, that you just give it all to God, and even if He kills you or throws you in prison or cripples you, it’s ok.

How desperate are you?

Jesus said the man went to see his father. He was desperate. He had ruined his life and was not worthy for anything good.

But, the father saw his child a long way off, and ran to him. And hugged him and held him.

That’s God.

 He sees our broken and desperate heart, long before we even get to Him. And He comes running. He comes running to save us and help us.

He wraps His arms around us and makes us His child. He brings us a robe and a ring and we are with the father forever.

And our life changes. We see things happening. Good or bad, but it’s ok because the Father is with us. He shakes it out and gives us hope. He grows our faith as we draw closer to Him. And we see him move. And more faith grows.

The dreams come back to life and we see them growing in Him. We see good things coming into our life, and it comes even more abundantly.

God himself is working in our life and everything is fine.

He blesses us where we are because we are His. We are His child and we turn to Him and know Him.

And He always comes running when we turn to Him. He always moves to help us, even when we can’t see it. He is working and it will work out. He is with us.

And we will be with Him

Forever.

-----

 Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Follow Him on Free Life Blog: https://myfreelifeblog.com/

Subscribe on Substack: https://substack.com/@chrisbunton

Read His Bible Studies on Blogger: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

Support the work for the cost of a Coffee

Support the work through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

Sunday, December 1, 2024

The Sign Of Christ In You

 The Sign Of Christ In You

Are you sure you know Him?

 


The sign of Christ in you is not that you work to quit sinning.

It’s not that you pretend to be sinless, and go to your church every time the doors are open.

The sign is that you confess that Jesus came in the flesh, and confess Him as Lord. (1 John 4:1-3, 1 Cor. 12:1-3, Rom. 10:9-10)

The sign is that you love God and love others. (Matthew 22:36-40)

The sign is that you believe the Word. And you believe it so much that you become a fool for Christ. You believe things that this world rejects, and that makes us fools. (Rom.4:3, 1 Cor. 3:18-23)

The sign is that you believe so much that you do not want people to suffer or perish. If you really believed you would be telling people about the great things God has done for you and them. You would be getting the Gospel out. (2 Peter 3:9, Matthew 10:32-33, Luke 8:38-39)

The sign is that you want to help people because you love them. You want to go feed the poor, and clothe the naked. You want to visit the prisoner and comfort the sick. You want to set the slaves free. (Matt. 25:31-46)

The sign is that you desire a relationship with Him, and things are removed in your life that distract you from that relationship. You watch for Him and grow in Him and will bear fruit. (John 15)

The sign is that you take all the bad that has happened to you, and you turn it around for good. You use it to grow and to help others overcome. You don’t bury it in the soil. (Matt. 25:1-30)

You use the gift God has given you to save and help others. You don’t wrap it in a napkin and keep it in your pocket. (Matt. 25:1-30, Luke 19:12-27)

 The sign of Christ in you is a focus and an urgency to build the Kingdom. To seek His face. To let Him guide you and abide with Him. (Matt. 6:3, Proverbs 3:5-8)

You endure hardness. Your endure molding as a potter molds clay. You endure refining like a smith removing the dross from the silver and gold. ( 2 Timothy 2:3, Jeremiah 18:1-6, Malachi 3:1-4)

And because of this, you won’t have the desire or time to sin.

But, you will sin. We all sin. If you say you don’t sin, then you lie and Christ is not in you. When we sin we confess it to Him daily, and He washes our feet. He cleanses us of all unrighteousness and works to help us to overcome. And to Him, it is as though we never sinned. Period. (1 John 1:5-10, 1 John 3:9, Psalm 103:12)

We do not sin because He does not hold it against us. When God says something doesn’t exist. It is gone.

He overcame Sin. He overcame Satan. He overcame Death. (John 16:33)

It’s all gone. That’s a fact. We are over comers in Him. (1 John 4:4)

Our faith grows in Him. As we know Him. Our lamps are full of the oil of faith because we have seen Him moving in our lives. (Matt. 25:1-13)

If you spend your life focusing on not sinning, your focus is on yourself. Not Christ.

Just let it go. Let Him remove what He sees fit. Let Him break you and remold you. Trust Him. You will see yourself, sinning less. It will just happen, as you focus on Him and let Him work. Remember, it’s about you and Him. It’s not about what others think. (John 21:21-22)

What is written above is hard. But, its also easy because you cannot do it. You just turn to Him and let Him do it. It’s not a checklist of things you do. It’s a relationship that grows in you and you gradually see yourself doing more of these things. Remember, dead things do not grow. Are you growing in Christ, or are you dead?

This life is but a breath. This world passes away. Just turn your focus to Him.

He has overcome the world. He is eternal. And He is in you.


Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Follow Him on Free Life Blog: https://myfreelifeblog.com/

Subscribe on Substack: https://substack.com/@chrisbunton

Read His Bible Studies on Blogger: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

Support the work for the cost of a Coffee

Support the work through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public