OUR GOD IS FAITHFUL:
Numbers 23:19 GW
God is not like people. He tells no lies. He is not like humans. He doesn’t change his mind. When he says something, he does it. When he makes a promise, he keeps it.
Hebrews 10:23 GW
We must continue to hold firmly to our declaration of faith. The one who made the promise is faithful.
2 Timothy 2:11-13 GW
This is a statement that can be trusted: If we have died with him, we will live with him. If we endure, we will rule with him. If we disown him, he will disown us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful because he cannot be untrue to himself.
Joshua 23:14 GW
“Pay attention, because I will soon die like everyone else. You know with all your heart and soul that not one single promise which the Lord your God has given you has ever failed to come true. Every single word has come true.
OUR GOD IS FAITHFUL. HOLD ON TO YOUR FAITH, WE CAN TRUST GOD.
PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES
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Church link:
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“But I Keep Sinning!”
“For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts.” (Mal. 3:6–7)
Have you ever thought something like “I came to Christ because I saw my sin for what it was and I hated it. I was so happy to be forgiven and set free—but now I find myself doing things that I hate and know I’ll regret. How can I be a Christian if I keep falling into the same patterns?”
This is a common trap. You fall into it when you try to prove your justification (the fact that you’ve been set right with God through Christ’s sacrifice) by examining your sanctification (whether you are now living more righteously).
Many Christians understand that justification produces sanctification, but it’s easy to forget that, while justification happens in an instant, sanctification is a lifelong process—one that is often nonlinear as you run into roadblocks and experience setbacks. If you expect to see some evidence of the end result (sinless perfection) while skipping over the process, you will be disappointed—and, worse, you will question how effective your sanctification is. Those questions will then lead you to wonder whether you were ever justified.
Here’s why you can’t prove that you’ve been justified by measuring your sanctification: on this earth, you will never get to a place of sinlessness (see 1 John 1:8). The sin nature still resides inside you, and it strives against the Spirit of God (see Gal. 5:17). And so even the godliest Christians find themselves doing things that they no longer want to do (see Rom. 7:15–20; Gal. 2:11–13).
If sinlessness is a precondition for knowing that we’re saved, then none of us qualify. Our inclination to see things this way is merely another trick of the Evil One to keep us focused on the object of salvation (us) and not on its author (God).
Malachi 3:6–7 offers a different focus. God acknowledges that his people have always had a problem being faithful to him. His response is not to be disgusted with us, to throw his hands up and walk away, to threaten us, to tell us to work harder, or to offer us bribes so we will be good. Instead he offers us an invitation. He invites us to turn back to him, despite having sinned just like our ancestors. He doesn’t base that invitation on the strength of how hard we are trying or how successful we are. He bases it on his unchanging nature. He is the God who made us to know him—to love him and be loved by him. He has never wavered from his desire for us to do so, despite the many reasons we have given and continue to give him.
He still wants you. What you have done has not changed what he already did for you. Nor has it changed his heart for you. He doesn’t want you to wonder if he has turned from you. Rather, he longs for you to turn to him.
I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS TO BE HELPFUL.
PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES
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Church link:
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THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT ETERNITY PAST:
“Before the world was,” Christ was in glory with the Father, John 1:1, 2; 17:5 , 24. A divine purpose was established within the Godhead, by which sin was permitted to be fully manifested in a world of men before being banished forever from the universe, Heb. 9:26. The Son of God agreed to become incarnate so that He could destroy the works of the devil, 1 John 3:8 , in whom iniquity had been found, Isa. 14:12–15; Ezek. 28:14, 15.
Before the foundation of the world, it was ordained that Christ should become the lamb of God and be slain for the ungodly, 1 Pet. 1:18–20; Heb. 10:5–10. The world was then created by Christ, Heb. 1:10 , “to be inhabited,” Isa. 45:18. Man was placed upon it as a stage on which the drama of sin and salvation was to be enacted before the universe, 1 Cor. 4:9 , Gr.
Believers were chosen in Christ before the world was founded, Eph. 1:4. A book was written containing the names of every person who would survive the destruction of the still uncreated world, Phil. 4:3; Rev. 17:8; 20:15. Nothing could disannul this “purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth,” Isa. 14:24–27; 46:10, 11. The Bible closes with its final fulfillment as the devil is destroyed, Rev. 20:10 , and God brings many sons to glory, Heb. 2:10; Rev. 21:1–5.
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS QUICK STUDY. DID YOU FIND IT TO BE HELPFUL?
PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES
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THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT ETERNITY TO COME:
Revealed truth about the ages to come, Eph. 2:7 , matches what has been written about past ages, Eph. 3:5. In bringing many sons to glory, Heb. 2:10 , God has purposes for Israel, Isa. 66:22; for the nations; Rev. 21:23–26; and for the church, 2 Tim. 2:12. Believers are to be adopted as children of God, Eph. 1:5 , and enjoy an eternal inheritance, which will never fade away, 1 Pet. 1:4. It is God’s purpose to make His wisdom and the riches of His grace known by the church, Eph. 2:7; 3:10, 11.
All former things are going to pass away; God will make all things new. There will be no sea, no death, sorrow, crying or pain, no night, no need of the sun, Rev. 21:1–5 , 23. The curse will be lifted, Rev. 22:3. All things in heaven and earth will be gathered together in one, Eph. 1:10. The present creation will be forgotten, Isa. 65:17.
A river of water of life and the tree of life will be seen in a new city which comes from heaven, Rev. 21:9–22:2. The Son of God will rule over an everlasting dominion, Dan. 2:44; 7:13, 14 , 27. He will still be subject to the Father, John 10:29; 1 Cor. 15:28. The everlasting fire which has received the wicked will continue to exist in a visible form, Isa. 66:24. Such revelations as these belong to “the dispensation of the fulness of times,” Eph. 1:9, 10.
DID YOU ENJOY THIS QUICK STUDY? I HOPE YOU FOUND IT TO BE HELPFUL.
PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH 0F GOD MINISTRIES
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ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN
NOT PRACTICING SIN.
1JOHN 3:6 Those who live in Christ don’t go on sinning. Those who go on sinning haven’t seen or known Christ.
KEEPING GOD’S COMMANDMENTS.
1 JOHN 3:24 Those who obey Christ’s commandments live in God, and God lives in them. We know that he lives in us because he has given us the Spirit.
BEARING FRUIT.
JOHN 15:5 “I am the vine. You are the branches. Those who live in me while I live in them will produce a lot of fruit. But you can’t produce anything without me.
WALKING AS CHRIST WALKED.
1JOHN 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
IF YOU SAY YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, LIVE AS A CHRISTIAN.
PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES
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A QUICK REFRESHER:
Titus 3:2 to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people.
1 Corinthians 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Ephesians 4:27 and give no opportunity to the devil.
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.
Matthew 7:12 In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets.
Luke 6:31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
1 Corinthians 10:32 GW
Don’t cause others to stumble, whether they are Jewish, Greek, or members of God’s church.
LIVE GODLY, AND BE BLESSED BY GOD.
I HOPE YOU ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE FROM THIS QUICK REFRESHER.
PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES
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Church link:
Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com
WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT CONFESSION:
The only reference in Scripture to a confession by one person to another is found in Jas. 5:16 , “Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another.” However, believers are to confess Christ before others in testimony that they have received Him as Saviour, Matt. 10:32; Rom. 10:9; 1 John 4:15. This is not in order to be saved, but because they have been saved. It fulfills Acts 1:8 , and it brings assurance, 1 John 3:18,19. On His part, Christ promises to confess before His Father in heaven the names of all who trust Him, Rev. 3:5.
When fellowship with the Father has been lost because of known sin, confession to Him results in the free granting of forgiveness and the restoration of fellowship, 1 John 1:9. This is in contrast with the popular notion that believers must ask God for forgiveness in fervent prayer.
In OT days also, the confession and forsaking of sins brought mercy from God, Prov. 28:13. David was forgiven after he confessed his sins to God, Psa. 32:5. Revival came in Ezra’s time after he had confessed his sins and those of his people, Ezra 9:6; 10:1. While Daniel was confessing his sin and that of the nation Israel, the angel Gabriel came to him with a new revelation from God, Dan. 9:20–27. Confession led to blessing in Luke 15:21–24.
I HOPE YOU RECEIVED FROM THIS VERY POWERFUL QUICK STUDY.
PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES
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Church link:
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THIS IS WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT DISEASES:
OFTEN SENT AS PUNISHMENT.
Deuteronomy 28:21 GW The Lord will send one plague after another on you until he wipes you out of the land you’re about to enter and take possession of.
John 5:14 GW Later, Jesus met the man in the temple courtyard and told him, “You’re well now. Stop sinning so that something worse doesn’t happen to you.”
CHILDREN SUBJECT TO
2 Samuel 12:15 GW Then Nathan went home. The Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife had given birth to for David so that the child became sick.
OFTEN DEVINELY CURED
James 5:15 GW (Prayers offered in faith will save those who are sick, and the Lord will cure them.) If you have sinned, you will be forgiven.
2 Kings 20:5 GW “Go back and say to Hezekiah, leader of my people, ‘This is what the Lord God of your ancestor David says: I’ve heard your prayer. I’ve seen your tears. Now I’m going to heal you. The day after tomorrow you will go to the Lord’s temple.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES
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THINK ABOUT IT
The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Psalm 124:8
Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Philippians 3:20
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 7:21
Philippians 2:9-10
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
EVERLASTING SALVATION CHURCH OF GOD MINISTRIES
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Church link:
Everlastingsalvationchurchofgod.com