V Rapture Christ Newsletter
November 1, 2017

I  recently watched a Baptist preacher on TV deliver a sermon on what we need to repent of before we are baptized as Christians.  

He stated that all you need to do is repent of your unbelief.  That day he baptized several people and each one of them said as he/she was being baptized "I believe."

Immediately it came to my mind the words of the bible, and the warning it gives us.  

James 2:19
You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe--and they shudder.

If there is anyone who believes is the Devil.  He was present at the time God created man; he was present when Jesus was born; he was present when he tempted Jesus; he was present at Jesus' crucifixion, and he was present at Jesus resurrection.  Yes, if there is anyone who believes... is the Devil.  So you see, believing does not save you.  You need to obey, and that is what the Devil does not want to do.  He wants to destroy God's creation and to deceive all of humankind into disobeying God.

Look at the words of Jesus.

Luke 6:46
"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?"

Look at the words of the apostle John.

1 John 3:22
and whatever we might ask we receive from him because the commandments of him we keep and the things pleasing before him we practice

Jesus says:

John 15
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 

When Jesus healed a man who was a paralytic, he warned him not to sin again.

John 5:14
Afterward, Jesus found the man in the temple and said to him, “See, you have been restored. Stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you.”

It is important that we stop sinning.

Matthew 6:10 
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Therefore, we have to repent of our sins.

To say that we only need to repent of our unbelief is just not what the bible teaches us.  We have to repent of breaking God's commandments, and commit ourselves to obeying Him.

Christ tells us how to obtain eternal life.

Matthew 19:16-22
And behold, one came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

The key is to keep the commandments. After all, Jesus did not tell him -- believe in me.

Notice that Christ told the young man about treasure in heaven. What does that mean?

Revelation 2:7
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.

Spirit beings do not need to eat of the tree of life and do not need "treasure" as they are not flesh and blood. Treasures in heaven would be in Paradise, but most people think that they go to heaven when they die, but that is not the case.

Please observe that Christ does not tell the young man about a resurrection after death or the need to die, but instead He tells us - about a better place for us.

God will give us treasure in Paradise. Also, we can eat of the tree of life if we overcome.

John 8:51
Truly, truly, I tell you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.
The Jews of his day went crazy. They did not believe what Jesus was saying.

In fact, Jesus tell us that we can live forever and never see death if we keep his word.

John 8:52-53
Now we know that You have a demon! declared the Jews. “Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet You say that anyone who keeps Your word will never taste’ death. Are You greater than our father Abraham? He died, as did the prophets. Who do You claim to be?”

Christ was alive before Abraham even was.

John 8:57-59
Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?” “Truly, truly, I tell you, Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus hid Himself and slipped away from the temple area. What? 

Jesus was saying that if we keep his word we do not have to die. Also, that we can have treasure in heaven.

Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Let us hope to live in Paradise where Christ reigns.