James 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the Crown of Life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

 

Yesterday, in our study of Jesus’ Letter to the Church in Smyrna, we found a beautiful Promise of God to those who remain faithful until death. It is the Promise of a Crown of Life which we learned is Eternal Life in Heaven. Be faithful until death, and I will give you a Crown of Life. (Revelation 2:10)

 

Jesus’ brother, James, wrote about this as well. Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the Crown of Life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12)

 

There are people in the Church today teaching that it doesn’t matter what you do or how you live your life if you have once professed your faith in Christ. The Scriptures above would prove this teaching to be false.

 

If we love God and are faithful to Him we will live a Righteous life. We will hate our sin and live in a continual state of repentance. The fact is that due to our sin nature, we will fail at times. However, truly saved, born-again believers in Jesus hate the sins they commit and seek Deliverance from these sins.

 

1 John 1:9 reads, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God’s Forgiveness is not a license to sin. Satan tempts us every day. We must learn to discern this temptation and stand strong against it. We can only do this through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Finished Work on the Cross of Calvary.

 

This is WHY Jesus went to the Cross. He did it so we can live Righteous lives here on earth and receive the Crown of Life when our lives here come to an end.

 

My friends, a walk down the aisle of a church or a prayer uttered as a child does not equal Salvation. To be truly saved one must be born again. This will result in change. If there is no change, one is not saved. Don’t buy into false teaching. Place your full faith and trust in the Finished Work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary. Therein lies your true Salvation and born-again experience. You will be changed by the Power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within you. God will give you new desires and He will clean up your actions. This is the Work of the Holy Spirit when a person is truly converted. I pray you are included in this group. If you are, your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life but you must make the choice to remain faithful until death.

 

Remain faithful. Jesus is about to……….turn the tide

 

Remaining faithful,         Doreen

 

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