COVENANT MINDED MINISTRIES

The Scriptures clearly make our love for God and one another the qualifying factor for inheriting eternal life.  Without sincere love, one is doomed. God knows our hearts, and anyone who hates brother and/or sister does not have eternal life abiding in them.  The heart refers to the mind, which is the source of our thinking, feelings, and actions.

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren.  He who does not love his brother abides in death. (1st John 3:14)

Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. (1st John 3:15)

And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. (1st John 3:22)

And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. (1st John 3:23)

The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah 17:10)

The Most Important Realization and Recognition

The most important realization and recognition in a person's life is that of the passion of Christ as demonstrated in His work on Calvary's Cross that brought about ever believer's forgiveness of sins and reconciliation to God. 

This is the realization and recognition that inites or set afire a sinner's heart to come to Jesus just as he or she is, that he or she may be forgiven of the sins and cleanse from all unrighteousness, and given the gift of eternal life.  In this realization and recognition, a sinner is motivated unto repentance that he or she may receive salvation and all the benefits thereof as a saint of God.

God's salvation through Jesus Christ should process within every believer, a daily  unspeakable joy and internal celebration, that the world and things of the world cannot take away.  Such a realization and recognition should incline the hearts of believers to love Him and to keep His commandments, because He first loved us, while we were still sinners, not yet born-again to saints.

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

Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. (Romans 5:9)

For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5:10)

And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. (Romans 5:11)

And such were some of you.  But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (1st Corinthians 6:11)

His Dying for Us is an Everlasting Presence

Those who are in Christ Jesus constantly face various forms of death, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in their lives.  In a believer's service for Christ, God's deliverance is evidence that Jesus is alive.  For believers, the death and resurrection is the model for each one's ministry of reconciliation.  In our suffering, we participate also in Jesus' suffering and death.

Therefore, our endurance of all types of hardships produce eternal life to those to whom the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached and taught.  In tyhe same way, Jesus' death was merely a precursor (forerunner, predecessor ) to His resurrection to eternal life. 

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. (2nd Corinthians 4:7)

We are har-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; (2nd Corinthians 4:8)

persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed ------- (2nd Corinthians 4:9)

always carring about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. (2nd Corinthians 4:10)

For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (2nd Corinthians 4:11)

The life of Jesus, which is the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) should be manifested in a believer's life, and not the works of the flesh (adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like). 

 The continuous practices of the works of the flesh by one who proclaims to be a believer is reason to question one's faith, as to whether or not Jesus is in him or her.  Unrighteous practices should not be a lifestyle of a believers, no more than righteous practices should be a lifestyle of unbeliever. 

A believer, even though he or she commits sin, repents and takes corrective action to stay on a course of righteous practices.  Ultimately, the practice of the person identifies and/or confirms his or her Christian or non-Christian status, as stipulated in the Scriptures.

Our daily carrying about the dying of the Lord Jesus in our body produces the desire to crucify the flesh and perform those things that are pleasing in the eyes of God, which cannot be accomplished through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and pride.  His presence within us guides us to resist these things and reach for the things that are above in heaven.

Departing from the Living God

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, (2nd Thesalonians 3:1)

and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. (2nd Thesalonians 3:2)

But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. (2nd Thesalonians 3:3)

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12)

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God";for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he Himself tempt anyone. (James 1:13)

But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. (James 1:14)

Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (James 1:15)

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; (James 2:8)

but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (James 2:9)

Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; (Hebrews 3:12)

but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:13)

For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, (Hebrews 3:14)

while it is said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."  (Hebrews 3:15)

Unbelief is sin and disobedience.  For this reason, believers exhorting each other to continue in the faith is very important.  Believers must hold their faith firmly to the end of their lives if they are to be partakers of Christ.

The Israelites who died in the wilderness did not enter God's rest, the Promised Land, because they did not believe in God's promises to the end.  As a result, they failed to possess their inheritance because they did not trust God, but rather, hardened their hearts as in rebellion.

A believer's faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ is to be firmly maintained throughout his or her lifetime, if he or she is to receive the promise of eternal life.  The Scripture encourges believers to place their faith firmly in Christ and not to fall victim to the tragic unbelief of the desert generation of Israelites who failed to possess the promised inheritance.

Believers today must understand that God's rest for all who labor and are heavy laden is given to the faithful, who find rest for their weary souls.  His rest is the only true rest that gives life and peace to those who hold firmly their faith.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those wo diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.  In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars. (2nd Chronicles 16:9)

But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith."  (Galatians 3:11)

Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” (Hebrews 10:38)

To cast away one's faith is to lose conviction about the value of one's Christian commitment.  Those who draw back are in danger of destruction.  Those who live by faith invest their physical lives for eternal dividends (salvation, eternal life, and reward). 

A sectarian is one who originates or is an ardent adherent and advocate of a sect, or distinct organization, which separates from the main body of believers.

Godly Character and Faithful Service

Godly character and faithful service in this life by believers will be remember and honored here and in heaven.  Faithful believers will be resoundingly confessed before the saints, the angels, and the Father by the Son.  Having the Lord publicly confess one’s name is to have the Lord’s approval of one’s character and service. 

God’s promises to the faithful believers reach a climax when they share the actual throne with Christ.  Those sharing Christ’s victorious experiences on earth will have a victory similar to His, whereas, the victory of Christ led to His present position at the right hand of God, the victory of believers leads to the privilege of sharing Christ’s own earthly throne.  Godly character and faithful service is a goal very worthy of striving for and obtaining.

Christians are the Lord’s own possession, bought with the blood of His own Son.  As Christians, we have the responsibility to demonstrate godly character and faithful service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, both in speech and actions. 

Our understanding and love for God’s work through Christ, while we were still sinners, should be our motivating factor for engaging in godly character and faithful service.  His mercy and grace preserves our very souls, and that, we should be continuously thankful and grateful.  Only in Christ Jesus can we find true hope and true riches.

Pursuing Peace and Holiness

Pursuing peace and holiness is not about being religious fanticals or those who demonstrate excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion above and beyond was necessary to worship God in Spirit and and truth, but about living a sanctified life that manifests holiness in our normal behavior practices.

Such holiness required of God is not superfluous (exceeding what is sufficient or necessary), but is marked by genuine loving character and behavior practices that's expected of one professing to be a Christian. 

Extreem expression and actions, that gravitate attention to oneself, for the sole purpose of promoting oneself in the eyes of others, that he or she is on a higher level of spirituality, are useless and wasteful energies that amout to nothing.  Such persons seek to deceive and are only interested in themselves.  Seperate yourselves from them!

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: (Hebrews 12:14)

looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by this many become defiled; (Hebrews 12:15)

Being washed (spiritually cleansed by God),  sanctified (set apart to sacred purpose or to religious use), and justified (delcared righteous or vindicated by God because of Christ's work on the Cross) should constitute the daily agenda in Christian throught, so as, to pursue peace and holiness as the Lord wills us to do.

Believers pursuing peace and practicing righteousness should watch for three (3) dangers:

(1) falling short of God's grace (refusing Christ's gracious offer of salvation and His provision for their needs);

(2) allowing a root of bitterness to grow in their assembly (allowing idol worshipers to remain in the church);

(3) becoming sexually immoral or irreligious (committing an act or acts that conflict with generally accepted or traditionally held moral principles; and/or lacking in religious emotions, doctrines, or practices);

Esau lost his inheritance, which included God's gracious promises, by despising it and valuing the pleasure of food over it.  We all must be very careful, that none of us lose our soul by despising it and valuing the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and/or pride over it.  What will a person give in exchange for his or her soul?

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may obtain it. (1st Corinthians 9:24)

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2nd Timothy 4:7)

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1)

I returned and saw under the sun that—The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all. (Ecclesiastes 9:11)

And He said: ‘I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end will be, For they are a perverse generation, Children in whom is no faith. (Deuteronomy 32:20)

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. (1st Timothy 1:15)

Holding on Firmly to Jesus Christ

If it's the Jesus of the Holy Bible, hold on firmly to who you have.  If you do not have the Jesus of the Hloy Bible, get Him as soon as possible, and then hold on firmly to who you have.  Holding on to the right Person and His gospel means everything.  There is nothing more important that you'll experience in a lifetime that meeting up with Jesus and accepting Him as Lord and Savior.  If you have this Jesus, you can be assured of the following:

I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. (Psalm 16:8)

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. (Psalm 16:9)

For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm 16:10)

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)

For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; (Job 19:25)

And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, (Job 19:26)

Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another.  How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:27)

And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (Romans 8:10)

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:11)

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Romans 8:6)

Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice (John 5:28)

and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. (John 5:29)

I can of Myself do nothing.  As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. (John 5:30)

Apostasy and Heresy

Apostasy is defined as the formal religious disaffiliation or abandonment or renunciation of one's religion, which in this case, the Christian faith, and especially, if the motive is deemed unworthy.  

Heresy, is defined as the rejection or corruption of certain doctrines, not the complete abandonment of ones religion, which in this case, the Christian faith. 

Heretics claim to still be following the Christian faith (or to be the "true followers"), whereas apostates reject the Christian faith entirely.

An apostate (defector, dissenter, deserter) aligns himself or herself with an oppositional coalition in an effort to broaden the dispute, and embrace the public claimsmaking attacks against the Christian faith.

A heretic's errors are doctrinal, and usually of a malignant character, tending to subvert the true faith. A heretic is also a schismatic (one who creates a schism, or division in the church, on points of faith, discipline, practice, etc., usually for the sake of personal aggrandizement.

A heretic is like cancer eating away the solid foundation from the inside of the church, whereas, an apostate is like cancer attempting to eat away the solid foundation from the outside of the church. 

Personal or self-aggrandizement is an act or acts taken to increase one's own power and influence or to draw attention to one's own importance, which both heretics and apostates practice.

A sectarian is one who originates or is an ardent adherent and advocate of a sect, or distinct organization, which separates from the main body of believers.  Such a person may also be an apostate.

Conclusion

Nothing eternal can be lost by a believer unless he or she chooses to give it up and to no longer be of the faith.

Those who never actually obtained "salvation by grace through faith" have nothing to lose, because they never actually had it.

He that believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed on the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)

Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. (Matthew 12:31)

Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. (Matthew 12:32)

The sin which will not be forgiven, known as the unpardonable sin, is the stubborn refusal to heed to the Holy Spirit's conviction and accept the forgiveness that Christ offers.

Loss of Salvation

"Salvation by grace through faith, although obtained by some, can be lost in the following ways:

1.  Being a defector;  

2.  Being a heretic;

3.  Having an evil heart of unbelief in  departing from the Lord

4.  Making material things (money, property, lands, ect.) a priority over the faith, wherein, despising the faith and valuing material things above loving God and one's neighbor. This is also defined a practice of covetousness or the lust of the eyes.

5.  Making sinful sensual pleasures (sexual immoralities),a priority over the faith, wherein, despising the faith and valuing sinful sexual pleasures  above loving God and one's neighbor. This is also defined a practice of the lust of the flesh.

6.  Making self-pride (boastfulness about one's position or status in this world) a priority over the faith, wherein, despising the faith and valuing one's position or status above loving God and one's neighbor. This is also defined a practice of the pride of life.

Devaluing the faith, in order to accomplish one's selfish or personal desires generated from the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life can and has lured some from loving and serving God to loving and serving whoever or whatever  they're gone after; wherein, being held captive to do the devil's will.

We all must be very careful, that none of us lose our soul by despising it and valuing the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and/or pride over it.  What will a person give in exchange for his or her soul?

Escaping the Snare of the Devil

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrell but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, (2nd Timothy 2:24)

in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, (2nd Timothy 2:25)

and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (2nd Timothy 2:26)

The devil takes captive believers who teach and practice false doctrines that are leading others astray.  One of Satan's tactics is to cause divisions or schisms (splits or divisions) in the churches of the saints.

Reject a devisive man after the first and second admonition, (Titus 3:10)

knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. (Titus 3:11)

No Turning Back and No Idol Worship

Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” (Hebrews 10:38)

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (2nd Timothy 6:10)

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and depise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon (wealth, money, propety, ect.). (Matthew 6:24)

But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62)

So I swore in My wrath, "They shall not enter My rest." (Hebrews 3:11)

Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; (Hebrews 3:12)

If anyone of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5)

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1:6)

For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:7)

Hypoctites

A hypocrite is a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, especially, a person whose actions belie stated beliefs, in particular, but not limited to, celebrity hypocrites.

Hypocrites!  Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: (Matthew 15:7)

'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. (Matthew 15:8)

And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' " (Matthew 15:9)

Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees (the celebrities of that time) for being so obsessed with traditions that they failed to observe basic commandments.

He chided (voiced His disapproval to) them for being so concerned with exhe of them) for being concerned with external ceremonial washings and dietary regulations that they failed to deal with character.

As a person thinks in his heart, so is he.  How do thoughts get into the heart, the seat of reflection?  Thoughts enter through the eyes, ears, and other senses. 

The raw material of our actions is what we take into our mind and allow to settle in our heart.

As Christians, our resposibility is to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.  Blessed are You, O LORD! (Psalm 119:11)

I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me. (Psalm 101:3)

A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness. (Psalm 101:4)