One might say that “reality” is “that which actually is.” In other words, it is “truth.” We, as a society, are not living in reality. Most people glide through life ignoring truth, and especially The Truth that comes from Almighty God. Like the ostrich, we hide our heads in the sand, thinking we can avoid what God says is true.

I have come to the conclusion that we as a society are indulging in one big gigantic party, which reminds me of these verses from the Scriptures:

“1 King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them.

2 While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them.

3 So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them.

4 As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.

5 Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote.

6 His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his legs became weak and his knees were knocking.

13 So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, "Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah?

17 Then Daniel answered the king, "You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.

18 "Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor.

22 "But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this.

23 Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.

24 Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

25 "This is the inscription that was written: mene, mene, tekel, parsin

26 "Here is what these words mean: Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.

27 Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.

28 Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."

30 That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain,

31 and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.”

These verses are taken from the book of Daniel, chapter five. If I didn’t know better, I would think they were written yesterday by just changing a few names.

[Related Article: Barack Obama: The Man Behind the Mask]

The leaders of this once great nation are in party mode and leading us to destruction. Generally speaking, our forefathers feared God and we have been greatly blessed. However our present day leaders have ignored the God of our forefathers and have gone after other gods. The golf courses, beaches, night clubs, and secret hotel rooms are filled with Godless politicians, while we the people are being sucked down the drain of hopelessness for our country’s survival.

Even we lowly citizens, as a whole, who have put these rapscallions in office, are in party mode, going through life like there will never be an accountability.

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The people we call our heroes are usually, not always, degenerate in their thinking and filled with hatred toward God, their Creator. The holy name of God is mocked, while the “stars” of society are worshipped. Our consciences have been seared with the hot iron of sin and we have made Satan our king.

[Related Article: Concerning Richmond, VA]

Reality still has not set in for us as a nation. We still want to party, but sooner or later the party will end and we will be left with nothing but one huge hangover.

[Related Article: Noah's Neighbors]

The reality for us as a nation is judgment. It is coming. The reality for us individually is judgment if we don’t sober up and get our lives right before Almighty God. [Related Article: The Sedgefield Community]

A legalist, biblically speaking, believes that he is saved by works and merits God's favor because of his works. Now, let me make something very clear to you. Legalism is not the presence of rules! While a person who keeps rules may not be spiritual, a spiritual person does live by rules! Rules and standards are necessary for individual Christians to maintain their own testimonies and the testimony of the churches and organizations they represent. Romans 12:1-2: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." The world is constantly trying to squeeze believers into its mold--to put the screws on believers, to pressure believers, to make the individual believer just another person of the world. If you are going to resist being conformed to the world and if you are going to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, there are things you will do and will not do! That is NOT legalism. (See Standards: Liberty or Legalism? by Dr. John Cawood in the appendix)

What about Christian Unity?
Repeatedly biblical separatists are accused of undermining unity within the Christian community. The accusers appeal to our Lords Great Intercessory prayer in John 17. They will take you to John 17:20-23: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."
While Christ is praying for unity within the body of Christ, let me ask you a question. What is the basis of that unity? The answer is found in John 17:17-19: "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth."
True Christian unity can only come when it is based on the truth of the Word of God, the Bible!
Any unity that ignores, neglects or is not based on the Bible is not Biblical unity!

"God is the great Separatist. He is absolutely separated from all evil and error." And, His children are to imitate His example. What I have discovered is this, those who practice sin often portray those who practice righteousness as intolerant legalists. In the face of this slander, we must defend biblical separatism and live out the moral absolutes mandated by God's Word. As Paul wrote to the Roman believers, "let God be true, but every man a liar…" Romans 3:4a

The purpose of this paper is to show that Biblical Separation is to be practiced by all believers. Let's begin with…

The Definition of Biblical Separation:
According to the American Dictionary of the English Language published by Noah Webster in 1828 the general definition of separate is, "To disunite; to divide; to sever; to part; to disconnect; to withdraw from each other; being parted from each other." He goes on to define a separatist as "one that withdraws from a church, or rather from an established church, to which he has belonged; a dissenter…" (Noah Webster; American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828 Edition reprint; p. 68).

While these definitions are certainly true as far as they go, they do not adequately define the doctrines of Biblical Separation.

- A Biblical Separatist will not cooperate and withdraws from organizations, groups and individual unbelievers and their ungodly philosophies and practices.

- A Biblical Separatist will not cooperate and withdraws from churches, para-church organizations and individuals that are apostate and that propagate apostate teachings and practices.

- A Biblical Separatist will not cooperate and withdraws from churches, para-church organizations and individual believers that Aid and sanction apostates by their alignment & cooperation with them.

- A Biblical Separatist will not cooperate and withdraws from churches, para-church organizations and individuals that profess to be Christian but disobey & compromise clear Bible Teachings and will not repent.

Graft together Noah Webster's definition of a separatist to the above marks of a biblical separatist and you will have a good definition of a Bible-believing Christian who is obedient to God's will regarding his or her separation from the world and apostate or false teachings.

A Biblical Separatist is a Christian who withdraws or will not cooperate with an established church (organization or individual) that 1) includes unbelievers and advocates godless philosophies and practices, and/or 2) is apostate and propagates apostate teachings and practices, or 3) those believers that aid and sanction apostates by their alignment and cooperation with them, and/or 4) individual believers that profess to be Christians but disobey and compromise clear Bible teachings and will not repent.

This definition raises the ire of many of today's Christians who have adopted the contemporary (not biblical) view of grace.

[Related Article: Is God's Grace A Cheap Grace?]

They protest that even to suggest that you should not fellowship with another born-again believer is anathema. They shout second degree separation as if it were not biblical (but it is) and assert we are living under Grace! Yet, they discount what the New Testament says about grace and what grace teaches. For a brief look, turn to Titus 2:11-12: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world."

In order to help you better understand the issue of so called second-degree separation I want to list for you…

The 5 Major Positions On Separation

1.) Evangelical Christians should remain in organizational fellowship with apostates. This has been, and is the position of many new evangelical leaders. Their major argument is that if evangelical Christians abandon the historic denominations, filled as they are with apostates who deny the truth, how will they ever be restored to a Biblical position, and how will a credible witness for the gospel ever be maintained within them?
2.) Evangelical Christians may remain in organic fellowship and cooperate with apostates in their denominations if their ministries are not hindered thereby. Separation should occur only under extreme duress and where effective ministry has been lost.
3.) Evangelical Christians ought to separate from apostates but should not separate from compromising believers.
4.) Evangelical Christians ought to separate from apostates and from some compromising Christians, but should not break fellowship with others who might be compromising in some areas but whose verbal or written ministry is a blessing.
5.) Evangelical Christians ought to remain free of entangling alliances with all apostates and compromising believers while still loving them and seeking to minister to them so as to bring them to a more Scriptural position. This last view is the only one of the five views which fully embraces the Biblical doctrine of the believer's separation from the world and worldly "Christians".

Within contemporary Christianity today, to a major degree, all positions except the first position are maligned as second-degree separation. But I want you to know something Christian friend, "there is no such thing as first-degree, second-degree separation. There is only Scriptural separation." And I believe that true Scriptural Separation teaches the last position -- Christians ought to remain free from entangling alliances with all apostates and compromising believers while still loving them and seeking to minister to them so as to bring them to the Scriptural position.

Let's dig into why I believe this is the only Biblical position. In order to do that we need to look at…

The Doctrine of Biblical Separation

What is the basis for the Biblical Doctrine of Separation? As I noted earlier, "God is the great Separatist. He is absolutely separated from all evil and error." The truth behind this statement and the basis of the Biblical doctrine of separation is the Holiness of God. Charles C. Ryle gives us this definition of the holiness of God -- "In respect to God, holiness means not only that He is separate from all that is unclean and evil, but also that He is positively pure and thus distinct from all others."

Revelation 4:8-11: "And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

The Lord God Almighty is a thrice holy God! God the Father is Holy. God the Son is Holy. God the Holy Spirit is holy! But He is thrice holy in another dimension as well. God is intrinsically holy. That is His nature. "His very being is made up of holiness, as light is the essence of the sun." God is transcendentally holy. "This term conveys the understanding that God is unique in His holiness and is separate and distinct from His Creation". God's holiness is above all others holiness. It surpasses all other holiness. "He is the original and pattern of holiness…He is the cause of all that is holy in others." God is 'immanently' holy. Immanent means to dwell with. "It is overwhelming and almost incomprehensible to see that God who is holy in His nature and transcends man (and all His creation) in His holiness also condescends to dwell with man." A relationship with God is possible when man see his utter sinfulness in light of absolute God's holiness, repents of his sins and turns to Christ, who is God's provision for our salvation. In salvation God gives man justification, redemption, and holiness (or sanctification). 1 Corinthians 1:30: "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."

One passage of scripture that points out the thrice holy nature of God is Isaiah 57:15: "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy (Intrinsic Holiness); I dwell in the high and holy place (Transcendent Holiness), with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit (Immanent Holiness), to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."

So then, does God, who is the Great Separatist, separate from all evil and error, expect His children to emulate His example? The answer is YES! Consider what we read in Leviticus 20:7: "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God." Note the context. God is calling for separation from idolatry and occult practices.

I would remind you again that God is the great Separatist. He is absolutely separated from all evil and error and expects His children to practice separation too!

Where does the church fit into all this?
First, remember who the church is. The church is every born-again believer. Therefore it is the churches duty (every believer's duty) to practice separation so that they remain pure and the message of the Christian faith remains pure. When a local church departs from the faith, the believer must separate from that church. Here's why:
The church has been commissioned with a two-fold responsibility for every age—the preservation and propagation of the faith. There is hardly a supremacy of one of these duties over the other, but there is an order of priority in the discharging of the responsibility. Obviously, if the faith is not preserved, it cannot be propagated. Whenever the church, or any segment of it, elevates the propagation of its message, at any cost, to the neglect of the preservation of its message, it is defeating its very purpose for existence. It is then no longer a light penetrating the darkness but has become part of the darkness. If you are not practicing biblical separation personally you are walking in darkness. If you are not attending a separated local New Testament Church, you are contributing to the confusion and darkness of the Age.

The Aspects of Biblical Separation

- A Biblical Separatist Does Not Support, Cooperate With, or Endorse "Churches," Organizations, Groups, or individuals that are made up of unbelievers and promote ungodly philosophies and practices.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

Ephesians 5:11: "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."

There are people who profess to be Christians who justify promoting the beliefs and practices of pagan unbelievers. Here are but a few examples --

Evolution
Planned Parenthood
Psychology
Reincarnation
Homosexuality
Core Values Cooperation -- Colson at PWR
New Age Cooperation & Teachings -- PWR/Course on Miracles
Hollywood & Whitehouse Morality

Biblical separatism instructs us, "and touch not the unclean thing(s)." We are to "come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord."

- A Biblical Separatist will not cooperate and withdraws from churches, para-church organizations and individuals that are apostate and that propagate apostate teachings and practices.

The place to begin here is by defining the word apostate. The noun apostasy is used only twice in the Greek New Testament (Acts 21:21; 2 Thessalonians 2:3). The concept, however is much more prevalent. The word was used often in classical Greek in a political sense, the noun referring to a defection or revolt. Apostasy, however, as spoken of in the New Testament, refers to religious defection. It denotes the removal from or forsaking of a person or a system of thought (as in Acts 21:21). Apostasy was epitomized in Satan who revolted against His Creator and deliberately turned his back upon the truth of which he had been exposed (Ezekiel 28:11-19). Apostasy is a direct repudiation of divine truth to which one has been clearly exposed and which one has professed. The departure is willful as the very word implies and the actions of the apostates display (e.g. 1 Timothy 4:1-3).

What is the Biblical directive concerning apostates?
For the answer, turn to 2 John 1:7-11: "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds."

Another verse that relates to apostasy is 1 Timothy 4:1-2: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;"

The Bible makes it clear that we are to separate ourselves from apostates. We are to expose their error. The word translated reprove in Ephesians 5:11 means to show to be guilty! Apostates are often wolves that dress in sheep's clothing. They claim to be Christians outwardly, but deny Biblical truth (Matthew 7:15). Examples would be those who claim to be "saved", or to "love God", while denying that Jesus Christ the Son is God (denying the Divinity of Christ is a serious heresy). Or denying that Jesus Christ physically and literally rose from the dead. Or denying that Jesus Christ lived a perfect and sinless life....etc.

Examples of Apostates & Apostate Teaching:
Ted Turner
Martin Luther King Jr.
M. Scottt Peck
Robert Shuller
Benny Hinn
Roman Catholicism
Mormons
Jehovah Witnesses
Any religion that does not preach the Biblical Jesus & Biblical Salvation
Mother Teresa

We are to separate from apostates & their teachings!

- A Biblical Separatist will not cooperate and withdraws from churches, para-church organizations and individual believers that Aid and sanction apostates by their alignment & cooperation with them.

As believers we are to fight to keep the New Testament faith pure.
Jude 1:3-4: "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."
It is not possible to do that if you cooperate with apostates! So, what should you do when one who is a brother in Christ cooperates with apostates? Should you overlook it? Not according to the Bible. Consider the following two verses:
2 Thessalonians 3:6: "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us."

Romans 16:17: "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."

We are to separate from believers who cooperate with apostates!

Examples:
Billy Graham
David & Karen Mains
Jack VanImpe
Tony Compolo
Bill Hybles
Charles Colson

- A Biblical Separatist will not cooperate and withdraws from churches, para-church organizations and individuals that profess to be Christian but disobey & compromise clear Bible Teachings and will not repent.

To be sure, worldliness is a compromise of the Holy Scriptures.
1 John 2:15-17: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
We are to resist letting the world squeeze us into its mold as I mentioned earlier (Romans 12:1-2). We need to separate ourselves from worldliness so we are not "spoiled" by its philosophies (Colossians 2:8). Christian Rock music, and Christian Psychology are but two examples where worldliness has crept into the Church.

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Then there is disobedience in the area of morality.
We are to separate from immorality or those who are immoral.
1 Corinthians 5:1-7: "It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us."

Finally, separate from Christians who refuse to repent of doctrinal error.
There are many today who are promoting doctrinal error. There are even those who say the grace of God gives the Christian the liberty to sin. This is addressed in Jude 1:4: "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."
When a genuine believer preaches something that is false doctrine this is called heresy and he is an heretic. HERESY or HERETIC refers to false teaching or the false teacher. The word "heretic" - airetikon - is used only one time in the Bible (Tit. 3:9-11), but the term "heresy" is used four more times (Acts.24:14; 1 Cor.11:19; Galatians 5:20; 2 Peter 2:1). Both words refer to a sinful, willful choosing of false doctrine.
"The word `heresy' meant originally a `choice,' then an opinion that is the product of choice or of the will, instead of being drawn from the Divine Word. It is a man-made opinion. Hence the term was given as a name to departure from orthodox teaching which carried in them a breach of church unity"

So, what should our response to an heretic be? Titus 3:10: "A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject;"

I do not think that I am the only one going to heaven. But I do know what Jesus Christ said and is still saying to the Church, the lost, and the feel-good, secular- humanistic and self-serving philosophies of liberals today. There are not many ways to God, there is still only ONE WAY—Jesus Christ. Any other avenue to fulfillment and peace is a way that is opposed to the righteousness and truth of God's will—which is clearly revealed in the Holy Bible. Not the Koran, not the Watchtower Society, not the Book of Mormon/Pearl Of Great Price, not the Roman Catholic perversion of the scriptures (which change the gospel which was originally written by inspiration of God's Holy Spirit and trusted by the New Testament church), not by any Sunday-morning preacher/prostitute and not by any other Denominational creed, theology, writing or sacred book which departs from the eternal and absolute truth of God's Word.

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Christ said in John 14:8, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." What part of this is not crystal clear?
He spoke further in John 15:4-7, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned."

I do not think that I am the only one going to heaven. But the Bible says that only those who follow after God's truth and righteousness will be blessed. The Bible says that those who depart from the truth of God's Word will go to hell. I cannot preach, share, or warn anyone, including my company and fellow coworkers, of anything besides what the Bible teaches.
I will not compromise or depart from the ABSOLUTE TRUTH and eternal unchanging mind of Jesus Christ—you have nothing to offer me that is better than eternity with my Lord and Savior, and you have no threat or attack that is worse than an eternity in Hell with satan and all those who tried to live life on their terms.

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I will not apologize or allow accusations of intolerance and insensitivity to deter me from praying and weeping over your soul. I will not be ashamed of Christ; Romans 1:16-17, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith [Habakkuk 2:4]."

I will not be condemned because I tried to warn others of the foolishness and terrible end that comes from a life of pride, rebellion, and self-satisfying lifestyles. Jesus said, in Matthew 10:27-28, 32-34, "Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the air, preach on the rooftops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell…therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword."

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We all want peace, and unity-but there is no peace and unity that will endure outside of Jesus. What Christ means is that the only true peace you and I can ever know or have is only obtained by a life lived by a BORN AGAIN faith and regenerated heart in Jesus. Any other way will eventually end in lies and confusion. Anyone who chooses to live for Jesus WILL be hated, mocked, and scorned by the wicked hearts of this present world. Those who profess Christ and are loved and thought popular by the lost are either liars or extremely weak, shallow, and lukewarm in their supposed faith! Think I'm crazy?
Read John 15:18-23 with me, "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master." If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake [established religion is threatened and convicted by true Christianity and excuses its fear and unbelief in Jesus' name!!], because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father [God] also."

[Related Article: Truth, Inclusion, and Intolerance]

Show me a self-professing Christian who is loved and accepted by the world and the wicked, and I'll show you a person who has compromised and forsaken the straight and narrow highway that we must walk if we want to please Christ and make it into the Kingdom-Matthew 7:14.

I do not think I am the only one going to heaven. But I believe what the Bible says when it indicates that there will be more people in hell than in heaven, Matthew 22:2-14, Romans 1:18-32. There are several hundred million Muslims in this world, at conservative estimate. Are they all going to hell? If they repent of sin and dead religious works and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior they won't. Is that fair? There are large numbers of Roman Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and other religious cults in the world today who base their salvation on works, as if they can buy God off by just doing a little bit more...are they going to hell? Not if they repent of their sins and approach Jesus Christ directly on the basis of what He did on the cross; on His sin-atoning death and literal physical resurrection three days later. Is that fair?

[Related Article: Salvation for Richmond, VA!]

Jesus died for our souls, and only asks that we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, as King of Kings, as the only begotten Son of God. He spilled His all-powerful, soul-cleansing blood, dying the torturous death of a convicted and despised criminal, dying a bloody and brutal death, for your pride and hatred and selfish desires.
I'd say your free gift of salvation because of what He did on that heinous cross is more than fair! I'd say that He didn't have to die for any of us—but He did. I'd say that it was extremely lenient, loving, and merciful of God to provide a way for my atonement that doesn't involve my having to do any kind of work to earn His forgiveness! He loves you and me more than we can comprehend.

[Related Article: Is One Way the Only Way?]

So what is your excuse for hating His love? Why would a drowning man or woman spit upon the free life raft that has been sent their way? What can you say to One who would give His life so that you could be free from the guilt and condemnation that you feel deep within your heart during those quiet moments when you wonder if you have done enough "good things" to be a "good person"?

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How much is enough? What do you have to do to earn a place in God's kingdom? You gave a bunch of money to the poor-you're a good socially conscious liberal—but did you give enough to cover the wife that you cheated on, or the lies you told, or the hatred you felt in your heart when you met someone who challenged your worldview? You have been a faithful supporter to your preacher and your church and you may even be a deacon or sing in the choir but is that enough to cover all these years of gossip, slander, and hypocrisy? Have you gotten your praise on with enough gusto to earn some sort of forgiveness for your divorce and remarriage? Have you thought enough proud thoughts of all your years of service to the ministry to erase the false teaching you've been feeding your congregation?

So to the lady who thinks me wrong for preaching about a new life in Jesus Christ, the genuine Christian life of absolute surrender and uncompromising conformity to God's Word and authority over your life, I say to you…..that I love you with all the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. I will pray for you, not to prove a point, but because I don't want you to die in sin. I want to love you more, to weep for you, and with Christ's strength and grace I will. I forgive you, for I know that your reaction is a direct consequence of spiritual blindness and a lack of discernment regarding God's will for your future and what His Word says. I forgive you, because my King and Lord, Jesus Christ, commands me to.

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Simply acknowledge your need. Only admit your inherent wickedness. Just confess and cry out to Jesus. I can't make you believe in Jesus, nor do I want to force anyone to share my beliefs—and no none can ever accuse me of berating or coercing anyone to live for Christ—your freewill is the crucial ingredient to your salvation through Jesus Christ or your eternity in the lake of fire. So please, think of eternity....

There is no karma, there is no (genuine) idealistic "peace, love, and unity" brought about by the efforts of men, there is no nirvana, there is no nothingness, there is no cosmic consciousness or oneness. There is only eternity, either in the presence of Almighty God and His Son, Jesus Christ, or in hell, forever separated from God's unchanging love—separated by your choice and rebellion, separated by a short lifetime of dead religion and your seeking to please your selfish desires.

Your destiny is only a breath away, like a candle flame's flicker. What will you choose? Please, dear heart, choose LIFE!!

Love in Christ,
Sean

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