The scariest prophecy in the Bible? Easy: Jesus' prediction that he will tell "many" sincere believers at the rapture basically to "get lost" instead of welcoming them into the Kingdom. So who are they and what did they miss or do wrong? Find those answers and the one requirement for salvation Jesus taught (that Christianity does not, or you would already have these answers) so that you can make sure you don't hear these dreaded words yourself!
To Read the Full Study...
To read the rest of this 5,700 word study and understand finally how to be sure you are not someone Jesus says "depart from me" to, please join my support team monthly or even for just one month (no monthly financial commitment required). I appreciate your material support in exchange for helping me to continue to bring forth spiritual support (as Paul taught in 1Co 9:11, 14) for the saints to finally learn God's will and to do it (Lk 8:21=Mt 12:49-50=Mk 3:34-35). If you cannot afford to join the Support Team at this time, I understand. Please enjoy the hundreds of other free studies on this site instead!
If you have found a spelling error, please, notify us by selecting that text and pressing Ctrl+Enter.
Receive Tim's Prophecy Updates By Email
Join 30,000 subscribers receiving Tim's new articles and updates by email. Understanding Bible prophecy better will dispel your end time fear and bless you (Rev 1:3).
Tim McHyde
Tim is the author of this site (since 1999) and the book Know the Future that explains Revelation literally at last--including the key event of Wormwood (Rev 6-8). To read more from Tim and not miss a single new article, sign up for his free newsletter above.
125comments
Why does not one you mention Jesus first command as the beginning of the Gospel? Mark 1:1,14, 15 is where to begin. Why has no one said this?
Repent (a command) and believe (a command) the Gospel about the KIngdom.
Unless you start there, how can you be following Jesus?
What is love?
I have spent 26 years (I am 50 y/o) training to kill and being deployed to kill. It was my job. And scary as it sounds I am/was a technical and tactical expert. I loved my job. I am retired now due to multiple injuries.
I have never known peace and love in my adult lifetime, only death and destruction.
Was i/ am I supposed to “love” the man or woman intent on killing myself, my family or my friends? I don’t think so.
I was not able to read Tim’s article due to not having money to subscribe, yet upon reading your comment, I felt a strong urge to comment upon your comment. As a member of the military, you were reprogrammed physically & psychologically to be the most efficient & effective at your duty. There is or was nothing wrong with you experiencing pride & joy for a job well done. David killed Goliath, albeit not with a sword, spear, or a scimitar, a mere stone, but he did kill Goliath after informing Goliath that the birds & beasts would eat of Philistine bodies that day. David didn’t say I love you. Instead, he publically carried Goliath’s decapitated head around & presented it to his former & future boss, King Saul. Afterwards, he wore military dress with sword, bow, & belt. David was a man after the Father’s heart, whose only sin was murdering Uriah the Hittite. David slaying tens of thousands is praised in 1 Samuel. David was offered Michal, Saul’s daughter, in marriage if he slew one hundred Philistines & presented their foreskins to Saul. Instead, David slew two hundred. Be aware, these were considered honorable activities. These were foreshadowing Jesus’ & his teachings. If you are asked to carry 1 mile, cheerfully carry it 2. Loving one’s enemy is not part of the military mindset. It can’t be. David & Joab honorably killed 1,000s of men in the course of battle, yet were only punished for three murders/acts of dishonor. David was punished by God with the death of his 1st biological son with Bathsheba due to the murder of her husband Uriah; Joab was punished for the murders of Abner & Amasa, though David did not enforce the punishment due to having given his personal vow not to kill Joab by the sword. David did, however, still have the duty to ensure that justice be done in respect to the dead men & their families. So David, in his last instructions to Solomon before he died (tying up his loose ends) was to instruct wise Solomon to punish “to send his gray head down to Sheol in blood.” The unwitting taking of life in self-defense as a civilian, or as an active member of the military during the course of honorable duty, or as a penal servant enforcing the edicts of a king or other overarching authority is not looked upon as murder.
You have done nothing wrong in the eyes of the Father or Son. Having enjoyment & taking pride in having performed your duties well are nothing you should be ashamed of or should have anyone here on earth questioning or shaming you about. Israel was punished by God for not indiscriminately slaying every man, woman, child, & animal of certain battles. Having blind mercy in battle is not only dangerous for the individual soldier, but potentially even more dangerous for the citizenry he had already given his word to serve, defend, & protect. As of right now, both Union & Confederate soldiers lay, resting in peace, in Arlington Cemetery. Taking of life by either side was not deemed wrong by either side, all was done in the course of duty. Only the military chaplains are expected to be presenting mercy & love; everyone else & you had your job & your specific assignments.
Without military personnel, the US wouldn’t be here at this time.. The goodie-goodies often want to fingerpoint & critique or even dig up dead bodies where they have no business. Not knowing what the article said, this is not inferring anything about Tim or any other specific person. I just felt the need to share biblical principles & thank you for your service, your honorable service.
Reply
dont; if they want MAMMON then dont read it THEY THEMSELVES are decived if anyone only favors you becayuse MAMMON MONEY DEMON favors you then …… yea trash YOU who charging will BE IN WORSE HELL THAN THOSE YOU DECIVED!
Reply
Yes. I can explain a bit. There is no command against killing in the Bible. ONLY, or murder. Old testament translated in Hebrew says “you shall not murder.” There for killing on the battlefield is not forbidden in time of war.
Reply
David sinned when he lusted after Bathsheba. To say his only sin was to have Uriah murdered is nonsensical. Since Jesus was the only human that led a sinless life, saying David only committed one sin would make him quite close to Jesus in nature. Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, it’s certain that David committed more sins in his lifetime that just weren’t recorded in scripture.
Reply
Like Sheryl said, Thank you so much for your service. But I would like to make one correction. You mention that you believe you aren’t supposed to love the person intent on killing you. I’d say it’s actually the opposite. Take Matthew 5: 43-48 for example =
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers,[a] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Is it easy to love the people who hate you? Hell no (pardon my language). It’s hard. The hardest thing in the world. It seems counter intuitive to do that. Why love someone when they would rather see you dead?
I don’t know you Edward, but I love you.
Reply
Startling lack of self awareness there mate.
Yes, yes you are supposed to love them.
If they want to kill you, your friends and family, then there will be a reason behind that. Put the gun down, and take up a job that helps to solve the issue instead of increasing the bloodshed and further retaliation.
Jesus loved you enough to die for you while you were still his enemy. Follow him or don’t follow him – your choice.
Reply
For one they taught crap and since they taught crap Jesus did not know them for if he had known them they would not have taught crap.
Second it’s not just them but the secular people as well. As in scientist and the ones who make laws to make people more safe than what we are to be as in when they shall say pease and safety as they are doing now with the Mask mandates and possible Vaccine mandates these are the world and the scientists doing things like that. Governors are all saying belive in the facts and the science etc… with this coronavirus. But laws chase away devils which is what some will say…. Devils or bad people or thier actions are what most would call devils.
As in Laws against wife beaters. Those laws chase away many devils as in the perp is thrown into jail plus life around that law gets worse and harder and harder to remain free. As much as god hates a wife beater or the actions of one he loves a sinner wife beating is a sin, and throwing them in jail is playing god and thre is no light within those that say to do that. Nor is there much forgiveness for forgiving says all one has done there will be no punish for as what God says with Grace and what god died for on the Cross. What need in God do we have if we do the punishing and no or very little foregiving?
If your playing god because you believe we came from monkeys so there is no need for forgiveness then. So since you don’t believe in God God/Jesus knew you not. If Jesus knows you not your name is not found in the book of life, so all you did was do iniquity in your secular beliefs. uy also played the whore as in the whore of Babylon and commited fornication with all the world for you taught other nations to have laws like that as well…
But he knew you not for you didn’t know him for they didn’t believe.
Christians will have that done as well for they have also played the whore, by going along and teaching false teachings to the masses. therefore commiting iniquity as well.
csaaphill – Practice much incoherency, do you?
“As much as god hates a wife beater or the actions of one he loves a sinner wife beating is a sin, and throwing them in jail is playing god and thre is no light within those that say to do that. Nor is there much forgiveness for forgiving says all one has done there will be no punish for as what God says with Grace and what god died for on the Cross. What need in God do we have if we do the punishing and no or very little foregiving?”
Mankind’s efforts to mete out justice while we are on this Earth may fall woefully short of perfection, but to forego the prosecution/conviction & incarceration of offenders would lead to anarchy. Even if an offender should repent and confess their sins, they do not avoid the consequences of their unlawful choices on this side of their eternal abode. Only The LORD is able to decide what consequences He may apply to their existence, either in this world and/or in the next.
Reply
Unfortunately Neil Marsh, the law is not always right. Also, when it is wrong, one suffers a life time for something they shouldn’t be guilty of. Justice DOES NOT always prevail. Also, one can suffer a lifetime for a mere mistake. Redemption is something very hard to come by. Justice will only be truly done during the millennial reign, if you believe in that.
Reply
True fellowship in Christ should not be conditioned upon HOW or how well we understand The Scriptures but that we understand that The Pure Word of God is for us to build our Faith in Him. If I listen to teachers that tell me this or that about a passage, I am short circuiting my connection to The Father through His Word, thus stunting the growth of His Spirit in me. The Word The Word The Word… The Word is The Way, Jesus IS The Word and He told us, no one gets to The Father but BY Him.
I used to listen to a lot of teachers and preachers only to discover none of them have helped me more than The Word Himself.
Dann, true, nothing tops the Bible, but personally I am “standing on the shoulders of giants” (teachers) for much of my understanding of the Bible, especially prophecy.
Reply The Word of God is True, many will say to Him on that day “but Lord, didn’t we blah blah blah” …. their hearts were never right in the first place. 5 foolish virgins and seeds amongst the thorns. Neither Cold or Hot but Lukewarm. Trying to make it on the broadway and not the narrow path. As for those who have never heard, they will not be judged as those that have heard and chose to reject. Most of the people that reject God’s Word do so because of what they witness from those professing to believe while being Lukewarm. That is why Lukewarm makes Him sick (Spue you out of My mouth)
Reply We don’t need to go to church to BE THE CHURCH, we just need to go to THE WORD.
Jesus Christ of Nazareth IS THE WORD.
1 Corinthians 1:10 – Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment….We Need Fellowship and We Meet as HIS Body to Worship Our Creator & ABBA/ Father as Yeshua is One With Our Father…John 4:23-24💝
Reply Using God’s Inspired Word will inspire us to be a conduit for God.
Using a perverted word of god will cause us to be a conduit for Satan.
The Truth can only be known by The Holy Ghost, Who can only be received By The Pure Word of God.
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of The Truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Reply If we want to be used by God, we have to be willing to do what He says, at all times and at any cost. Otherwise we can not be used BY Him.
In order to do what He says, we need to be inspired and the only way to be inspired BY Him is to use His Inspired Text. If we do not believe He inspired the translators of the Authorized version of 1611, just as He inspired the profits of old, we are as lost as everyone else. Get Inspired BY God, get into HIS WORD. KJV for eternity!!!
Try to understand why there are so many perverted translations. One should gasp at the mere thought of someone changing God’s Word.
All of that if we want eternal life.
Get out of the churches and start BEING The Church.
Dann: To get a better understanding of the KJV translation, we need to get our hands on the original Greek text of the New Test. and start learning it from the original. Yes, There are books we can buy and read them about the various New Test. subjects. I have approx. 13,000 of them. That’s a lot! Lots of rich Christians can do what I did, and therefore will be able to read the original Greet text with confidence.
Reply
I so Concur as to your… get out of the Churches and start being the Church…
One thing for certain there is no confusion or divition in the true Church. You only find this in Satan and his deception.
In America we have multitudes of denominations. Denominations are divitions confusion and they are divided in there doctrinal beliefs.
Again there is no divitions or confusion in the word. Or in the true Church. That makes it very clear to me that the denominations are the synagogue of Satan. And if they do not repent and begin to preach full gospel. And prophecy and the hard teachings the real truth true wisdom there going to hear those feared words from the Lord Jesus.
Also I want to make a point. Today we hear so many talk about ” interpretation of the word…. and that’s your interpretation mine is this…. as example….. but the truth is there all liars and deceiver who say such things. As the word is written on a 5 year old level. An average 5 year old who has been home schooled and nurtured properly can read the Bible understand the Bible and what it says. The word says what it means and means what it says and as Tim has explained he only understood truth in prophecy by going back to this very simple truth.
It’s in my opinion only when we strive to twist the word to meet our personal desires that we hear owe you are not interpretation the word correctly or you just don’t understand the word. Or multitude of excuses to manipulate and confuse. People this is Satan the devil the master of lies and deception. And you are sentencing yourself to He’ll when you say these things as they are lies. W
We must become and be the church ourselves individually and then we can be one together in Our Lord Jesus together. The True church.
Luke 6:37 judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
Reply
All these years ive been looking for the Rapture and now i know im not going to make it . Rapture is around the corner and there is no time for me to make the requirements . I might as well prepare for persecution and death . Comfort one another with these words . I have no hope .
Reply Anthony, you sound like the disciples after hearing Jesus say it was nearly impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom. They despaired and doubted their own prospects. Jesus responded, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Mt 19:26). The thief on the cross qualified for the kingdom in a matter of hours on the cross next to Jesus. You can do it. If you don’t, here’s what God has planned for those who say “Our hope is lost” (Eze 37:11): resurrection and salvation in an easier time.
Reply
Anthony, so much i would like to say to you, youtube my name if your so inclined to learn more… i say this not to promote myself, but to answer your call for hope…
the devil wants you hopeless, he perhaps has your faith drowned in habitual sin, i stand here before you & i speak the truth in all that i understand, the devil has no dominion over me, i have been set free IN JESUS GREAT NAME.
a Christians only job is to pray and read the Bible, and hear The Good Shepherd (Jesus our Lords) Voice….
i would suggest you should stay away from everything but your Bible until you are stronger to venture out,, pray through the wall beg the GREAT GOD of Abraham for Mercy in Jesus Great Name..
Do you have ears to hear?,, Repent ( reform) turn from your sin in Jesus Great Name and Direction,, our hope is in the Lord….. all things Christian,, friends, music……. nothing worldly,, put on the Full Armour of The LORD,, ( prayer, Bible, Reformation)
in love & peace
Bruce Gauthier
Thank you for this reply. I’m feeling a bit hopeless as well. I want God to change my heart, but it doesn’t seem like it’s happening as fast as I would like. I’ll keep praying, reading…. Hopefully, I’ll change whilst I’m still alive.
Reply
The ONLY requirement is in
Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Christ, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Romans 10:10 “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Reply Leah, why are you quoting Paul on salvation when Jesus said if you hear his words and don’t do them you are on the sand and not the rock. His words list the requirement to enter the kingdom is to keep God’s law of love (Mt 19:17-19) and that those who work “lawlessness” will be told to depart (Mt 7:21-23). Paul is not the authority on this and as Peter warned, says many difficult things people misunderstand to their destruction (2Pe 3:16) especially on the salvation requirements.
Reply Maybe I’m wrong on this but something that keeps coming to me when I read these comments: James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
The works I believe is spreading the word of the coming kingdom of God. Many do not know the true word written in the Bible so: Mark 4:17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
Reply Paulette, the job of spreading the Good News of the Kingdom is for the evangelist like the 12 apostles. Without the training they had, believers do not have understanding of the gospel to share it let alone equipping to go out and spread it.
Reply If one does not desire Eternal Life, that’s one thing. But to believe men can grant it is our downfall. There is only One Way to have Eternal Life, by The Word of God.
The more time we spend in The Word (with The Word) we are securing our salvation. When we spend time away from The Word, we are loosing our salvation. Look at it like this. A ship that is being tied to a pier with bands and cords that do not last very long and need to be replaced continuously. When we let our ship be gone from the pier because we do not know how to tie up we are cold. When we are continually tying new cords we are hot. When we just tie up occasionally and loosing frequently we are Lukewarm. Thus, depart from me you workers of iniquity, I never knew you.
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Dann, Jesus is the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Him. Period. As for securing our own salvation, we are saved the moment we accept Christ as our savior. We receive God’s Holy Spirit at that moment, Who then for the rest of our lives changes us into the likeness of Christ. We can never lose our salvation once saved, only the rewards we would have received at the believer’s judgement had we been more diligent in our life as a saved child of God. Please don’t spread this unscriptural analogy to others that are new in their understanding of what the Christian life is truly, scripturally about. It will only discourage those who aren’t equipped with the knowledge of their true position in Christ; a saved child of God who will spend eternity with Him when He calls them home. They must understand that none of us can ever do anything that will cause God to save us or to keep our salvation once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. With your boat analogy, the question you must ask yourself is how much must I do, what must I do, how much of God’s Holy word must I study to maintain my salvation? The scriptural answer to this is found in Eph 2:8-10 is nothing, 0, nada. ” For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Blessings to you Dann
Reply
Anthony, you do not need to despair. You can go to Paradise now. You do not need to wait for the rapture. Only believe, that is the only requirement, because if you believe, you will obey Him, and if you slip, and repent, He will forgive you.
Reply
Dear Tim,
Revisiting your articles here, and realise I haven’t thanked you enough. Tim, thank you very much for the wisdom you share here. It is so humbling and a powerful thing to be able to truly and completely see how unfathomably good our Father Yehovah and our King Yeshua are, and how wrongly they have been depicted to and understood by the world. I can’t help but be so overwhelmed by their goodness and cannot stop thinking about all the times I had been overcome with compassion for others, since I was a little kid up to now. Now I recognize it has been my Father speaking to me. I have always been shaken by these verses and words of Yeshua about love and compassion and whenever I expressed these things to people, the common comment I would get would be that these people don’t need helpn, that they will only take advantage, it’s their fault they do not help themselves, and then that leaves me the impression, especially from people who I see as spiritual examples, that these words of Yeshua were not as weighty as they seemed to be to me. It just affirms that to go with your heart instead of looking to people how to live for Father will be more trustworthy, as He is most probably speaking to you.
Kristine
“It just affirms that to go with your heart instead of looking to people how to live for Father will be more trustworthy, as He is most probably speaking to you.”
Makes me think of something I always say… “If we learn of God from man, God will let us learn all that man wants us to know, which will not get us to Heaven. We need to learn of Him by His Word and His Holy Spirit.”
I write a lot…stuff like this….
It is not good to not want to be Hot especially when we claim to believe. Thou shalt not take The Name of the Lord thy God in vain. I wish you were hot or cold but because you’re lukewarm I will spue you out of My mouth.
Depart from Me you workers of iniquity.
I write a lot…stuff like this….
It is not good to not want to be Hot especially when we claim to believe. Thou shalt not take The Name of the Lord thy God in vain. I wish you were hot or cold but because you’re lukewarm I will spue you out of My mouth.
Depart from Me you workers of iniquity.
Hello Tim, if we have not yet arrived in the 6,000 years, and he will arrive at the end of 1 jubilee, can we consider 2066/67 for his second return, since last year he was jubilee?
Reply David, the Second Coming has no scriptural connection to the Jubilee year. You’re confusing sabbath years (2016, 2024, 2030) with jubilee years (2045).
Reply
If you torture the scriptures long enough, they will confess to anything! I’ve never seen so many verses taken out of context. And the Gospel is of no private interpretation. We all have the Holy Spirit to teach us, if we are born again. You sir, are a thief, and a liar. I hope I’m wrong, but Tim McHyde, go hide yourself in the rocks from Him who will tell you to “depart from me!” because the Gospel isn’t for sale. You are a huckster!
Reply Bob, “free?” That’s not what Jesus said. He expressly told his disciples he sent out preaching the Gospel that they are worthy of their hire/wages whenever they go (Lk 10:7=1Ti 5:18). That means they receive money for gospel preaching! Only their freely received supernatural healing/deliverance was to be given completely without remuneration (Mt 10:8). Paul taught the same thing later about Gospel workers being paid based on the foundational principle taught since the Torah (1Co 9:9,14).
So why is it that after four years on my mailing list reading my articles, you have never sent a dime of support and instead now criticize me for giving bonus teaching to those who do support my work of writing hundreds of free teachings? Twisting Scripture is one thing, subjective at best, but disobeying the principle of what God’s son commanded is something else (Mt 7:1). God bless you as the abuse and cursing I receive from Christians like you I know God promises will come back to me as a blessing (Mt 5:11).
Reply
Thanks for having a real backbone and standing up for the Truth wherever it leads Tim! God bless you for having the stamina to research and provide real pertinent Bible studies all these years for all of us who did not sacrifice careers and comfort like you have and do to this day. My only regret is that you and your family are not yet more richly rewarded as you deserve for your continued effort that I for one do rely on thanking Yehovah for your gift sharing.
YBIY Thomas Burke
Tim,
I agree with supporting what you are doing for the ministry. Elijah even asked the widow NOT only for food but to cook for him when he was so weary from his trip. The widow responded with faith even with scarce resources depleting and great famine on the rise. The widow was so blessed for doing so in trusting that God will always provide abundantly!
Reply Bob, you do not have to support Tim if you don’t want to, but your comment shows what spirit you are of.
Truly, if people would discover their freedom In The Word, we would not need teachers like Tim and as far as I can tell, Tim’s ultimate goal is to get people to read the scripture for ourselves.
One more thing I want to point out. You said the Gospel is of no private interpritatation . The Word of God says “No prophecy of scripture is of private interpritatation”. Everyone should know, God is very clear on the things He needs everyone to know the same, and He has left a lot for our imagination because He knows our thoughts and a lot of scripture is left to see how the creation wants to understand Him. If we diligently seek Him, He will reward us. If we don’t, He won’t.
Dunn, What Peter meant here is that scripture and prophecy did not come from man’s thoughts but by the Holy Spirit so Bob got this wrong – it means ALL scripture is infallible since the Holy Spirit told the writers what to write — it is nothing to do with bible sdudents being forbidden to interpret.
Reply
Thanks Tim for further explanation on this issue of taking certain ‘commands, ‘commissions’ and ‘promises’ personal . I now see that it is the genesis of multiplied ‘ministries’, proselytizations and denominations. I can now see why He will say to many ‘depart from me ye workers of lawlessness, I never knew you.’ You know I used to consider the teaching ministry the least . But the depth of your insight have made it the greatest. Thanks for such a painstaking job. God bless you and your family.
Reply Thanks Tim for your insightful teachings. Each time I reread them it feels new and ever refreshing! Please I have a question, if we take it that the Olivet discuss is for believers of all generations why should we regard the instruction by Yeshua to heal the sick cast out demons be for the apostles only? Thanks again for your wonderful teachings. Obiajulu.
Reply Obiajulu, the entire Bible has wisdom to be gleaned by all readers of all times. But when we read a command therein, such as “be fruitful and multiply,” or “do not eat pork,” or “heal the sick and preach the good news in ALL nations” (which means goodbye property, job, family for every believer who takes this command on!), we have to be careful to never insert ourselves into the very specific audience that the command was delivered to and intended for. Commands recorded in the Bible are not incumbent on the modern reader thousands of years later as the Bible is not a law book given to every human upon birth; the Bible is a record of what God has said to dead people. Only in recent times have we had the privilege of being able to have personal Bibles to study. Glean what you can from it, but don’t mistake it for a book of “promises” or “commissions” to you.
Reply
Hey Tim,
After reading this article, I can’t help but think “this means more people than I thought aren’t receiving salvation”. So, that makes me curious about your thoughts on annihilationism.
Thanks!
Reply “this means more people than I thought aren’t receiving salvation”
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Tim,
After reading this article and the comments, my heart aches for those who are “trying” too hard to understand with their mind instead of having faith in their heart. It reminds me that we live in a lost world that needs God-fearing servants of Yehovah to minister every day and to everyone! My heart cries out to Yehovah for their understanding… prayers are lifted up in His name.
Sherry
Reply
Dear Tim,
Read “Depart from me, I never knew you.” Why? You said it: We need to learn to love others to be worthy to exist in eternity, for the sake of others who live in eternity. Otherwise eternity would be like hell. Mt 22:40 is where I got the idea of “tentpoles in scripture,” “On these two commandments [love God and love thy neighbor as thyself] hang all the law and the prophets.” The fabric of the WOG hangs on these 2 commandments like a tent on tentpoles. Loved it and gained much insight. Thank you, Tim, Ed
Tim, if every Pastor and spiritual teacher/leader spoke the truth of God’s Word in this area as you have, there would be far less believers populating hell. No serious believer should depend on anyone, including their Pastor, to keep them out of hell. What God commands of His people is to study to show themselves approved unto God for themself. That’s a true discipline of Christ, the one who does what God’s Word says. How can we obey it if we don’t know what is in it? It requires studying and rightly dividing the Word of truth, which God commands. If a believer doesn’t understand God’s Word is there really anyone to blame but himself? Anything we may read and don’t understand, we can seek counsel and pray for guidance. If we are truly disciplines of Christ we will desire to grow more each day and that means having the right spiritual priorities and making effort for our own growth. Every adult believer is responsible for ourselves.
Reply
Hello Brinson/Tim, this is a very good topic of which I asked myself the same question over and over, how do I know I am on the right path with what I am doing now. It would be of great help to give us something more concrete and specific that will guide us and give us comfort. This really bothers me and gives me stressful days.
UPDATE: I found the new podcast and it helped!
Reply
Tim, what is your position on the role of the Holy Spirit in the walk of faith? For example, how to know we are being lead by the HS for discernment in walking the narrow path and enabling me to love others that I struggle living in my own power.
Brinson
Reply Brinson, that’s a good topic to keep in mind for a future study: how to look for and know the leading of God in your life.
Reply Brinson (Oct 11,2017) just saw your comment today (Jan 4, 2020
I pray you are well and have been growing in the Faith of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The best way to know if we are listening to The Holy Spirit and not the world is to pay more attention to The Word of God than the world.
I understand about love and forgiveness. But how do you deal with people who treat you bad no matter how hard you try to have a relationship with them. I went through that with my inlaws so now i just keep to myself and don’t go to their family gathering because they dont even talk to me when i talk to them and sit there feeling stupid cause my husband leaves me while he hangs out with his brother so i dont go anymore. And i also had a issue with my sister and some lady doing witchcraft on people who my sister felt mad her mad she told me the stuff the had done to people. Then she tried to do it to me. I don’t communicate with her anymore it not that i hate her but i dont trust her to be around me and my family. But i do not want to let God down by not wanting to deal with her and her children that where doing witchcraft. And she said i was lying on her and i never did she told me the stuff they where doing. I feel like i am gonna go to hell cause i cant deal with her.
Reply Della, If people are unloving or abusive towards you, the wise thing to do is to cut them off or set up other boundaries. God’s law is love, which does not mean you are friends with or in contact with everyone no matter how they treat you. Until it was his time, whenever the Jews were trying to kill him, Jesus went away: http://biblehub.com/luke/4-29.htm Do the same in love and don’t feel guilty.
Reply
Amen to what Tim said! We don’t have to associated with these people or like what they do! We just need to love them in spite of themselves! Just ask the Lord to help you love them and not say anything bad about them. Sometimes staying away from them is the best thing you can do!
Reply
An article I did not read as there is a conditioin to reading it. However I tried to get a sense of what it is about from the comments. Great comments and answers I feel I have learnt a lot from that. To be honest I do not imagine I am entitled to being saved the only way I will be saved is if God, the father has mercy and kindness upon me. I do not believe I will be saved by reading something so I don’t mind I can’t read your article.
Reply Nigel, that’s a pretty bleak theology you shared, but I wonder how many more Christians out there would agree with you? I certainly can’t because by your logic why did Yeshua’s words get written down, if “you will not be saved by reading something?” Further, our salvation is not by God’s choice to have individual mercy and kindness on us (he already did that in general through Jesus), but as a direct result of our free will choice. If it were not so, then God’s instruction to “love your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength” (Dt 6:4=Mt 22:37) to have eternal live/salvation (Mt 19:17-19) is a complete sham because he’s telling you to do what depends on him letting/making you? That makes us robots or puppets…
Reply There is a saying that goes through my mind whenever I feel that God has forsaken me: God gives you what you “need” — not what you want!
Reply Nigel, you said… “To be honest I do not imagine I am entitled to being saved the only way I will be saved is if God, the father has mercy and kindness upon me. I do not believe I will be saved by reading something so I don’t mind I can’t read your article.”
God does have Mercy and Kindness upon all of us equally. We have to learn how to receive His Mercy and Grace. That is by Faith. Without Faith we cannot please God. (Hebrews 11:6)
Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by The Word. (Romans 10:17) (Not hearing about The Word)
Of a truth, you do not need to read anything anyone writes, except The Holy Spirit. You will be safe if you put your ultimate trust in The Holy Spirit and The Word of God. That you must read.
Thank you, Tim, VERY MUCH for this insightful article! I’ll come back to this, after I’ve gotten some rest, with a brief comment and at least one question that immediately comes to mind. This article is such a relief, that I didn’t want to hesitate to THANK YOU, as I don’t know when I’ll have the combination of time and energy to pick up on this!
Reply
Michelle,
In my experience as a 12 year old born again Christian, most of the persecution I have received is from people who say they are Christians but don’t have the indwelling Holy Spirit. I have lost many friends and family that go to church every Sunday (in the Bible belt), but hate me since I have been transformed and listen to God to obey His will. They even told me to stop reading my Bible and that I was a crazy Christian that they didn’t want to see anymore (my parents!)
The answer for me has been to pray, pray, pray for my enemies! Forgive as I have been forgiven. After 8 years of not seeing my parents who live less than a mile from me, I was begging God to save them and the Holy Spirit told me to stop my car at the grocery store. When I walked through the doors, my mother was standing there. I went up and hugged her, told her Merry Christmas, and walked away. I had confirmation that God was going to answer my prayer. A year later, she called and asked to drive together to my son’s college graduation– yes, they had also cut off their grandchildren who were born again before me. I asked God if it was His will for me to do it and He said yes. We had a wonderful day, and I was free to talk about God. My Dad said that he had started reading the Bible in three different translations. Slowly God is restoring the relationship.
As far as Muslims go– my very best friend is a born again Christian that grew up in Iran. We are all about praying for the lost and evangelism. She got saved by watching near death experiences on YouTube and realizing that everyone was not seeing Mohammed but Jesus. She asked God to show her Jesus and she had a vision. Muslims are very likely to see visions or dreams. I does my heart good to watch testimony videos of people becoming Christians from Catholicism, Islam and Judiasm. Also reading 23 Minutes in hell or seeing videos of people who went to hell and came back will make you not want anyone (all made in God’s image) to go there. Even my worst enemy, who did the worst betrayal and left his family (all the while saying he is a Christian who is forgiven no matter how he has treated his family), I pray for God to save him though I don’t think God is going to after all these years. He is not dead yet, but if Jesus returns for His Bride soon (which I believe from my dreams that He is coming), my enemy will be left behind. He is deceived and under the delusion that God doesn’t require obedience. Matthew 7:21-23, Matthew 5:20 and John 3:36 all prove that He does. The Holy Spirit inside us gives us the power to repent and obey. Thank you Jesus!!
Reply
Have been reading this page for the first time from here in Australia, had to send a msg on to you Terry to say how gentle and real your post about your life and family and friends reads to me. I don`t know you but might meet you one day in Gods time. Warm Regards to you and All from Australia Sylvia L….
Reply
Do unto others…. puzzles me, as in the Bible God send Israel to war to fight His enemy, i.e. the Canaanites, etc…
Nowadays, the Muslims (not just the terrorists or Jedadists, as every muslim is a potential terrorist to be, if they follow the Quran properly)are God’s enemies. I found myself say that I hate them with a passion for what they are doing to us and to having replaced God with Allah, the pagan moon god, Satan impersonated, who is temporarily giving himself glory for being worshipped and for wanting to rule the world (until Yeshua comes back). So, I am against Muslims coming in our countries, as we can see not only on the news, but also in our everyday life, with muslims at every corner of our streets. Is it part of loving our neighbour to love Muslims, or is it acceptable, like Yeshua with the Pharisees, to dislike them.
Saying that, when I talk to Muslims, I am polite, and talk about my faith if the opportunity presents itself, and I am always trying to find opportunities. It is difficult, as these people are so anti-Yeshua (anti christ) that I am constantly reminded that they are His enemy and hence, as we learn at Maths + and + is + or the friend of my friend is my friend, whereas – and + is – or the enemy of my friend is my enemy. Other religions are oblivious of our God Yehovah and Yeshua, but muslims have a personal vindictiveness against Them.
What is your opinion and is it acceptable to dislike them?
Reply Michelle, God commanded Israel to wipe out the nations of wicked peoples, most or all of which were giants/nephilim. God is the giver and taker of life and this was his wrath on them, like Sodom. That was God, not us or an example for individual believers.
You really pose a relevant question for today for individual believers. Many Christians unabashedly express their hate towards Muslims online. They justify this by their perception of Islam as a threat to their personal life, way of life, country, values. (There are so many things like this Christians do against Yeshua’s teachings as a direct result of unconscious, reflexive self-justification.)
If you look to Jesus’ example, however, you won’t find justification to hold onto hate or prejudice for unpopular people groups. He healed the Roman’s slave plus ate with his enemies the Pharisees. As far as prejudice, the Samaritan of his day he used as an example in his most famous parable of the Good Samaritan was equivalent to a Muslim for Christians today, hated and despised. He said it’s most meritorious to even pray for your enemies.
When you think about it, not just Muslims but most Christians and everyone else are the “God’s enemies” or “wicked” (in wisdom literature parlance) however sincere they are. That’s why God’s coming wrath killing two thirds is justified. If you are not submitted to God to do his law of love, even if you are religious, you are not righteous and considered wicked. So to be consistent you might just have to become a misanthrope, disliking all humans, taking this to the logical conclusion.
Bottom line, the Muslims are deceived as are Christians (who follow a false easy grace gospel). Most Muslims don’t want to kill Christians. It’s the few extremists who actually follow Muhammad’s words that do jihad. (BTW, only a few extremist Christians do the same and actually follow Jesus’ words.) Even if they all had an agenda to conquer your nation, the highest approach is to forgive, love and pray for them.
To help with your dislike issue why not study the Gospels over and over to absorb Jesus’ example and words towards enemies. And pray for God to help you with your dislike, biases and prejudices much of which may be inherited from Christian and Western culture. Try to inherit “Jesus’ culture” instead?
Reply Tim, thank you for this. At the back of my mind or perhaps my spirit, I was questioning my attitude,but justified myself that I believe muslims are possessed by demons, and you are not kind to the devil.
It will be hard, but I will follow your advise and God willing, (I am sure he will), I will see these people under a different angle.
God bless us all
Michelle
Michelle, it helped me when I heard that they are from Ishmael, Abrahams first born. God gave them a promise too. They have just been deceived like many of us. When I first realized this, it helped me. I hope this helps you too!
Reply I think Jesus said it best in this verse: 1 John 2:15 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.
Reply
Matthew 7:21-23 is the most misused portion of scripture of the Bible. It is very easy to understand though.
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
What is the will of the father WHEN IT COMES TO SALVATION?
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
The will of the father is to believe on the son… meaning trust him for salvation. (Eph. 1:13)
Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
What are these people trusting in? THEIR “MANY WONDERFUL WORKS.”
Eph. 2:8-9. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Salvation is NOT OF WORKS. That is why they are told in verse 23 “I never knew you.” It’s just that simple.
If you say “bringing forth fruit meat for repentance” is how to be saved, you are also trusting in your own works, and are therefore not saved. Because now salvation is not by the blood of Christ but by something YOU are doing.
Repent means to change your mind, and in Hebrews 6:1 the repentance that is the foundation of our faith is repentance FROM DEAD WORKS. Not turning from sin…turning from trusting your works like the people in Matthew 7:22 were doing.
Reply Ian, your answer is a good guess that many would make, but it does not address all the passages from Jesus, Paul and James about salvation not existing without “works.”
More importantly, right there in the passage you missed that Jesus contrasted those who “DO the will of the Father” with “you workers of LAWLESSNESS.” This means there is a LAW the Father “wills” us to DO that Christians miss when they choose other things to do in Jesus’ name that he NEVER told them to do. He did tell the apostles to do those supernatural things, but only AFTER he taught them to DO his LAW unto salvation, which saved them, not the supernatural things. This is not “faith by works” but it’s faith in the right thing that produces works. If you don’t have works, you don’t have faith in the right thing, like most Christians. This is why Christians instead of love, have a reputation for hypocrisy, judmentalism, and self-righteousness.
I encourage you and others to consider sending the support I need to access my study so you can understand this confused yet important issue that every Christian needs to know. Your support will enable me to continue on writing my next book teaching all of this, to be released for FREE. It could be years from now since I’m still in the research phase, but there is great benefit to knowing the research I have released now on the Support Team.
Tim
Reply
Awesome answer Tim. Yehovah gave a perfect law. Fariseism destroyed that law. Yeshua came to rectify that was destroyed by them and to be the lamb of God that took away our punishment. Repentance comes though from acnowledgin the Son. But that also comes from the Holy Spirit…
Reply
Hi Tim,
Jesus said, “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:23). It seems strange to hear our all-knowing Lord say there’s something—or someone—He doesn’t know. Jesus refers not to an intellectual knowledge here but to a relational knowledge.
To understand a verse, always start with the context. Jesus is wrapping up His Sermon on the Mount with a final warning about true faith. Jesus predicts that false Christian prophets will be coming as wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15). They may use all the right “God talk” and even make impressive displays of power, but they will not belong to the Lord:
“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. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21–23).
In Jesus’ words on Judgment Day, we see several important truths: it’s not a verbal claim that one follows Jesus that saves (Matthew 7:21). Nominal Christianity cannot save. Also, it’s not a demonstration of spiritual insight or power that saves (verse 22). A person can seem like a Christian in the eyes of other people, yet still be an “evildoer” in God’s sight and sent away from His presence (verse 23). Only those who do the Father’s will and who are known of God will enter heaven.
So, what is the Father’s will? Some men came to Jesus once with a question about what God required of them: “They asked him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’ Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent’” (John 6:28–29). God wants us to have faith in His Son: “This is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 3:23). Those who are born again by faith in Christ will produce good works to the glory of God (Ephesians 2:10).
When Jesus said, “I never knew you,” to the feigned disciples, He meant that He never recognized them as His true disciples or His friends. He never had anything in common with them nor approved of them. They were no relations of His (Mark 3:34–35). Christ did not dwell in their hearts (Ephesians 3:17), nor did they have His mind (1 Corinthians 2:16). In all these ways and more, Jesus never knew them. Note that Jesus is not breaking off the relationship here—there was never a relationship to break off. Despite their high-sounding words and showy displays of religious fervor, they had no intimacy with Christ.
So it turns out that what matters isn’t so much that we know God on some level, but that God knows us. As Paul explained, “Whoever loves God is known by God” (1 Corinthians 8:3; also see Galatians 4:9). The Lord “tends His flock like a shepherd” (Isaiah 40:11), and He knows who are His sheep (John 10:14).
Those somber words “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” in Matthew 7:23 (KJV) show that Jesus is indeed omniscient. He did not “know” them in the sense He would if they were His followers, but He knew their hearts—they were full of iniquity! Isaiah’s condemnation of hypocrisy fits this group well: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Isaiah 29:13). The evildoers whom Jesus does not to know are fake Christians, false teachers, and nominal adherents of religion.
Those who are bid depart from the presence of the Lord will not partake of the blessings of the kingdom: “Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (Revelation 22:15). They will be cast “into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12). Those fake Christians whom Jesus says He never knew will not produce the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23); rather, they will produce the opposite, the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19–21).
Jesus warns that one day He will tell a group of religious practitioners, “I never knew you.” God takes no delight in sending people to hell (2 Peter 3:9). But those who are told to depart have rejected God’s eternal purpose and plan for their lives (Luke 7:30). They have spurned the light of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4), choosing the darkness instead, because their deeds were evil (John 3:19). At the judgment, they try to justify themselves as worthy of heaven on the basis of their works (prophecies, exorcisms, miracles, etc.), but no one will be justified by his own works (Galatians 2:16). While claiming to do all these good works in Christ’s name, they failed to do the only work of God that counts: “to have faith in the one he sent” (John 6:29, CEV). And so Jesus, the Righteous Judge, condemns them to eternal separation from Him.
Reply
Great article Tim, very deep and definitely a different point of view on “Christianity” and salvation. Now I just need to clear me this:
“Unfortunately, Christianity has hijacked much of what was said only to the apostles and made it for all Christians, such as “the Great Commission” which is really the Apostle’s Commission.”
So “the Great Commission” is not every christian purpose in life? This would be very good news, since I am not really doing it, and I have always felt bad for it.
Thanks for the explanation!
Reply Jaime, Please review Part 3 especially Chapter 17 “The Real Great Commission” of one of those Know the Future books I left with you. That’s when I first wrote on the fact that Christianity hijacked the Apostle’s commission.
Reply
AT 61 years of age I will simply state what I FEEL when reading your articles as well as listening to Nehemiah Gordon’s Torah Pearls and Prophet Pearls; I get frustrated, angry, confused, depressed and even find myself wanting to throw my arms up and YELL, “What’s the Deal, God ? ” I have spent most of my life trying to be a “good believer” but the more I learn, the more screwed up my spiritual Bio looks.
What I’m trying to say is that I feel like every time I think I’m gaining ground, another lesson comes along and stomps all over my neatly folded “Binkie.” I FEEL like it has taken me too long to realize how much error my life has been encrusted with as to knowing God’s Will. I’m sharing this because I know that no one else is going through what I am feeling, lol.
Here’s the DEAL, between what God is showing you and what I’m learning through Nehemiah’s ministry is really setting me back. At my age I thought I would or should have a handle on ” All thing’s Bible” but in reality, I feel like a moron. Perhaps the coolest thing about my testimony here is that in the midst of these ranges of emotion, I sense God’s Presence. I want to be polished, astute and in command of MY Life Mission but am learning that for at least 50 years, God has been my Co-Pilot instead of the Pilot.
Thanks for shooting straight, Tim ! Give Katrina my regards.
Sincerely, Stomped On. lol
Reply Thomas, knowing you for years, I think you have made God your pilot but have been fed and found the wrong information on what the right course is, essentially. The good news is you still get credit for all the years off course because your heart was to make God the pilot.
Now that you know the right course (Love God, love neighbor; no Sabbath, feasts, church attendance, rituals, etc. required), you can have the blessings and fruit that come from actually living God’s way that “few find” (Mt 7:14).
Reply
Although I have not read your article on this subject because of the charge … I believe I got the gist of what you are saying. Let me recap and see if I am correct in interpreting the article. We gain entrance to be with God through our acceptance of Christ dying for our sins and asking Him into our spirits, i.e. lives, regeneration, saved etc. . This is the gift of salvation. The second part, which can probably be labeled as sanctification or a second work of the Holy Spirit, or whatever label you want to place on it from a denominational point of view, is works. If this is where you are going, then I agree to a point and that point is that we as believers get to Know God and He gets to Know us. The capital letters are there for a purpose and that is to actually Know a person, not as an acquaintance, but actually Know them as who they really are. There are actually three aspects to salvation and they are spiritual rebirth, salvation of the soul and receiving a glorified body when we die.
Bottom line is that we allow the Holy Spirit to work in out spirit and then move into our souls which allows God to do with us what He wishes. This is what is called fruit in the bible. We do not produce the works through our own work, but by allowing God to permeate our spirits and then souls where there is works done by Him through our lives. Most of what is done in the name of God is merely mans working for God. What God wants is for us to have a relationship with Him so He can work through us to produce good fruit for His cause. Please at least let me know if this is where you are going on this subject.
Thanks
Forrest Chambers
Forrest, your guess as to what my article says on, “Depart from me I never knew you” is unfortunately much closer to a confusing composite of what you’d hear if you asked ten Christians how salvation works than it is to what Yeshua actually taught as explained in my study.
If you really want to know where I’m going on the subject without contributing to my work, then here’s how: throw out everything you think you know from Christianity, start over with a blank slate and then read, meditate and pray on Yeshua’s words in the Gospels over and over for years like I did until God sheds light on it.
Reply I think the idea is to let God lead our every step. Isaiah 58:11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
Reply
Forrest, you missed it; your ego knows no bounds.
________________________Kent Brashear
Reply “My yoke is easy” because intent with faith is enough, any level of performance or fruit is accepted as explained by Tim!
Matthew 11:28-30New International Version (NIV)
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
30) Easy.—The Greek has a wider range of meaning—good, helpful, kind, profitable.
My burden is light.—The “burden” of Christ was the commandment that most characterised His teaching—the new commandment that men should love one another; and those who obeyed that commandment would find all to which it bound them light and easy.
http://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/11.htm
Thomas Burke CR
Reply The “camel through the eye of a needle” comment above was intended in response to Kathryn Arnold’s comment on this above as being scary, it shouldn’t be, in other words, entrance is not nigh impossible for the rich, just very difficult.
Reply I read once that “the eye of a needle” referred to a passage in a city wall shaped like that and through which a camel would have to shed all that it was carrying, get down on all four knees and scrape along with great difficulty to pass through this type of passage intended to only let one man through at a time as a defensive measure, to permit but limit the flow of persons entering a city with the gates closed. The point being that we have to shed all our earthly values and humble ourselves to enter the Kingdom of God.
Reply A good answer to the common question about the thief on the cross apparently going straight to paradise…
Reply
After reading this article, I wondered about the thief on the cross – the one Jesus assured would be in Paradise with Him.
Was there more to his words than faith alone?
Despite his own difficult circumstances, did his words provide love and encouragment to our dying saviour?
Enjoying the site, Tim.
Hello Sue,
Rather than be offended towards God by his suffering and painful death as did the other unnamed thief on the cross, he spoke out defending truth, and repented, and did what little he still could do which was ask of whom had promised to answer and to give, for forgiveness…
Reply
It’s messing with my head, as I read the first two Support Group articles, that I can’t share these with anyone without asking them to pay. I can only hope that future articles outside the group will entice them. Goodness knows I’ve shared many of your articles, both privately and on facebook, and have yet to hear from anyone regarding them.
These are certainly convicting articles. Your testimony of God’s provision based on faith (with the absence of non-faith behaviors) rings loudly true, unlike anything I’ve heard before.
Peace and blessings,
Kathryn
I’m glad to hear how convicting my writing is getting! People are led to repentance when they are convicted of sin or the need to change, without judgment and an example of doing the right behavior they need to model. I will share more testimonies to help in that regard, too.
I hear you on wanting to share the content. I keep hearing the support team say this, especially the Good News of the Kingdom one. Therefore, my plan now is to release that one for free as a showcase/sample of the support team content.
Also I’m going to see about gift codes for people to buy access for others, even one article access for cheap.
Finally, don’t forget that one day all this and much more will be in a free novel that will be ten times more “convicting” and compelling. Right now I just need to build the support to get there and this support team concept is doing that, even if it means restricting people for now who we think could be helped but are not willing to be help back.
Reply I disagree about which article from this group to share… People are not asking “What is the sign of the end of good times?” or “What is the kingdom?” but everybody wants to know about why Jesus rejected those who did miracles in His name. The kingdom article would be their immediate reward for subscribing. Just my take on the choice of which to share freely as a sample.
I like the idea of gift codes, too. I was actually asking myself who I’d like to encourage with an element of impetus to read your articles.
Reply My problem is I’m working with a prophecy email list and have to be careful to promote prophecy related articles to it which answering the “this gospel shall be published and then the end shall come”. But you may be able right that the depart from me passage is so universal and scary (and arguably end time prophecy) that it can work too or better. I may have to run a headline split test to see which gets the most clickthroughs to determine which is more appealing. Thanks and stay tuned.
Reply Arguably? I don’t know another that strikes more actual fear, though “a camel through the eye of a needle” probably makes a few squirm. Most are pre-trib and don’t think they’re going to be here for Wormwood, etc. and those who do know that truth are still inclined to self-search at least briefly over those words of Jesus’.
Reply I hear that is the case for you and I agree for me too, but the problem is most Christians reading that passage think it’s about somebody else, sign-seeking Christians or some sad strange minority. For them to be interested in the article they have to entertain the new idea that it could be talking about them which is like thinking the post-trib rapture is possible.
Anyway, thanks for your input and I hope others have some input too, to help us get outside our own perceptions.
Reply
Matthew 7:21–23
The light switch is on… I FINALLY get it!!!
Not sure why I was having such a hard time with this, its so simple.
Thanks, Tim
I don’t always grasp your teachings but your articles really have me going back to my Bible and doing some studying for myself. It’s very rewarding.
Peace to you and your family
Reply1 Corinthians 13 (NIV) — 13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres……. the greatest of these is Love
I’m no longer surprised to hear people have trouble with the concepts I’m teaching because A) they are so foreign from what you have been taught (paradigm blindness) and B) I’m still learning how to understand and communicate them effectively myself. People who come later and read the new book will get the benefit of the interactions here on the Support Team!
Reply
I still have trouble, on principle, with the idea that faith in God be required for entrance to heaven. I always ask the question – how could one from a society that had never read the Bible hope to have heard of God, therefore if they haven’t heard of him, how could they have faith in him, therefore how is it fair that they be excluded from heaven on faith alone? Or what of those from societies before Jesus visited, and the Bible written? Of course if they have not heard of God or his word then they may not be acting in a very moral and loving fashion, which would exclude them, but what if they were? Which leads to this quote from that page: “See, lots of unbelieving people do good things all the time but this cannot make them saved. That’s because their good acts come out of their own goodness or natural abilities. If someone does not first submit to God and love others because he says so, then the Bible calls what they did “dead works.”
I cannot for the life of me understand how someone acting in their own goodwill could be frowned upon anymore than someone acting in God’s goodwill (assuming they are doing the same actions with the same outcomes). If the idea is to do good in order to love and help others, then both may achieve it equally. After all, God gave us free will. If we choose to use it to act in good nature, good grace, good works, then why should the reward be less than someone doing it because God said so? In my opinion, acting in the goodness of your own free will, instead of acting in goodness based on another’s authority, is actually more difficult to do – it is easier to be a follower than a leader, easier to be part of a group than an independent – so why should the reward be less? It does not make any sense to me. To put it another way, if I see someone doing good, I don’t first ask whether or not they have faith in God before passing judgement. So long as they are not a wolf in sheep’s clothing, I respect and admire the good they are doing regardless of their beliefs. To put it yet another way, we live in a world with so much deception, I can perfectly understand those who choose to disregard the Bible or remain faithless. After all, many doing so could be said to be showing ‘discernment’ (even if they are wrong). But if some of these citizens are moral, righteous people acting in goodness, why should their reward be any less? They may have been tricked into rejecting God, but they were not rejecting God on a personal level – it was not because they disagreed with his values, or had anything personally against him. They simply didn’t know better.
Reply The beauty of God’s requirement for salvation is that you don’t need a Bible to a) know that God exists or b) figure out God’s will, what pleases him.
Paul said that the very universe testifies that God exists to the point that people are without excuse when the wrath of God comes and they did not escape it. They don’t need the Bible, they just need some common sense. Evolution takes a lot faith to swallow with its many gaping holes, perhaps greater faith than looking at the world or even just the human body and realizing there is a Designer behind it.
As for what God would have us do, again no Bible needed. The Mother Theresas, Ghandis and Jesus’ of the world are universally admired for their selfless, loving, principled service to others. Most agree that we should act more like them we all know what “the right thing” to do is in most situations: the Golden Rule (Bible name) or Rule of Reciprocity (the generic name). The laws of most lands echo Gods’ prime four or five commandments against murder, theft, adultery, perjury and not honoring parents/elderly (Mt 19:17-19).
Now is this all so patently obvious that everyone will get it? No, but that’s on purpose, too. This is not “One Life To Live” as the soap opera title goes. It’s only one life if you diligently pursue God and truth and overcome. For those who are not so radical to seek God when most of the world does not, they get to come up again in the next resurrection when its easier and better suited to their non-maverick personality type.
On your second question, it’s not just “less reward” but there is no reward for someone not doing the right thing as described above, in faith to God. “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (He 11:6). You can’t have eternal life without faith in God’s word (which means you agree with his authority and do it).
As this article explains, the whole point of this is for all of God’s children to get to the point where they submit to his authority and his law of love–the only way for all to get along. You need both. Anyone who decides to love for now on their own and not because God says so, may later decide to stop on their own authority since it was their own personal law to begin, a god unto themselves still. That won’t work!
For peace in eternity, everyone has to submit to God’s authority first and second do what that authority requires (love) or you have not really satisfied the conditions for having peace in eternity with God and others. Like I said, God just wants all his kids to get along. That only happens if all the kids recognize the authority of Father and do what he says!
Reply
I like reading Hebrews especially concerning the house of Judah (the Jews and Jews in Israel) and the house of Israel (the lost tribes and our descendants,) my belief. “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. NO LONGER WILL A MAN TEACH HIS NEIGHBOR OR A MAN HIS BROTHER, SAYING, KNOW THE LORD, BECAUSE THEY WILL ALL KNOW ME from the least of them to the greatest. ” there is no denying that all of the English speaking world and most Europeans have heard of YHWH or God and Jesus. We all somehow know right from wrong even from a very young age and even then most of us were disciplined when naughty because our parents new right from wrong even though most had never read a bible, ( my parents and grandparents to name a few ) but there it is, the Law of differentiating right from wrong. How did we know? THE LAW IS WRITTEN IN OUR MINDS AND HEARTS.
LOVE TO ALL
There is a good example from Watchman Nee’s writings. He preached one evening in Mongolia. After the service, a man came and told this story.
When he was 14, his mother took him to a Buddhist temple. She prayed, meditated and laid out food in front of the idol. He looked at this idol and wondered how this gold image could be a god. It couldn’t do anything. Outside he looked up at the heavens and said to himself “I know there is a God who created all this. Please reveal yourself to me.” Tonight I have met him, Jesus Christ.
This is the standard God expects as stated in Romans 1:18-32. I believe he was saved before he met Jesus. He was honestly seeking the real God.
Reply Tim L November 7th 2016
You said…
I still have trouble, on principle, with the idea that faith in God be required for entrance to heaven. I always ask the question – how could one from a society that had never read the Bible hope to have heard of God, therefore if they haven’t heard of him, how could they have faith in him, therefore how is it fair that they be excluded from heaven on faith alone?
Those who never heard will be judged differently than those that have heard and rejected The Truth.
Thanks for the access!
Article: Why Jesus Will Tell Christians I Never Knew You
You said (pg 11) the saved are never depicted as needing to meet a standard of performance in their obedience, but Jesus did when he said in (Matt 5:48) “be perfect like your father in heaven is perfect.” That is one standard that I believe no natural man can achieve even with a strong will and track record of honorable achievements.
He said (1 Corint 6: 9-10) no fornicators, homosexuals, drunkards, thieves will receive the kingdom. Again, none are good enough. (1 Cor 6:11) goes on to say… “and so were some of you.” But…. you were sanctified, justified (by the blood of Christ) however even though these folks have been sanctified they must now ACT in accordance to God’s law.
Then in (1 Corint 7:1) he says its o.k to have sexual relations since we all commit sex immorality but we have to do that with a wife or husband so as to keep it sanctified.
We are sanctified by Jesus blood…. BUT………………..we must now behave in righteous manner to gain eternal life!
Is this the message? There is a BUT after Blood? We have been sanctified by the blood and are now in position to gain the kingdom BUT we must now ACT in acceptable manner to gain the Kingdom. Jesus did His part and we MUST do ours. Before He died and shed His blood we had no way to get to heaven. Now we have been sanctified through Jesus blood BUT…… now we have a responsibility to behave in an acceptable manner. Of course we will all fail because we are NOT perfect like our Father in heaven is as long as we are human and until we are “changed” we are not always able to be in compliance as Satan influences our world and distracts us from our ultimate goal.
So…. Jesus died for our sins to gain us entrance into the kingdom and it is now up to us (with the help of the Holy spirit) to do our part. (Matt 5:48) Be Perfect Like Your Father In Heaven? seems like an oxymoron
Guess that’s it!
Taking a huge break from Michael Rood Book Mystery Of Iniquity beyond chap 6. Was so into that book till begin of chap 7. I wonder about him. Gifted person but scary. I bought several of his books to give away but honestly to afraid to do so. Think I’ll revisit at some point and finish it. I just hate to feel so condemned.
If I willed myself to move to a monastery that would be the only possible way I personally could ever see possible to gain this kingdom.
I echo that the bible is a most difficult book to comprehend and nearly impossible to digest and comprehend at least for me.
So much mystery so little time.
Mark 10-17-27
So here is how I feel. The rich young ruler wanted to obtain eternal life but was found lacking. At the end of the sermon Jesus said with man it is impossible but with God anything is possible.
Lesson: Man can not gain eternal life of and by himself but man can gain eternal through God but how? Jesus did not expound.
Man can gain eternal life through a belief in Jesus BUT also keeping the commandments.
Belief+Works= Eternal Life
Correct?
Jay
Reply Hi Jay,
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Jesus statement “be thou perfect like your Father in Heaven” is not what you think. It’s no standard of performance for any specific result such as salvation. Many statements of Jesus like this especially in the Sermon on the Mount (SotM) like are easily misunderstood as such. In fact, Martin Luther’s view of the SotM was that it represents an impossible demand like the Law of Moses. That was also my understanding of it all my Christian life until this very year when I made three breakthroughs on the SotM that changed everything. Now it makes sense and is doable and encouraging. (I’ll be sharing these keys here as soon as I can get it done!)
Therefore, joining the monastery is not necessary. You are saved just by your faith decision to seek the kingdom/righteousness, unrelated to your performance. That’s why it’s a gift. You don’t earn it, you change your heart and are given it, Jesus’ blood applied to your sins. Now your performance/works do factor in later for your REWARD in the Kingdom as my teaching will explain. That’s why Revelation 20 says each man was rewarded according to his works in the afterlife. Their faith got them to the afterlife, their works determined their reward there.
What does “be thou perfect” mean, then? Jesus said this to sum up the goal of everything he was talking about. As children of God, we ought to eventually be like him. God is perfect in love and gives rain to the wicked and the just. The more you become like God the greater reward/responsibility you will experience in the kingdom. Look for my “3 keys to the SotM” teaching to understand this.
To answer your final question, faith + works does not equal salvation. Faith in the Word of God/Jesus brings salvation as explained above. That you have faith in the right thing is confirmed by the good works that result. The amount and quality of these good works from your choice for the kingdom (salvation) determines your reward.
Tim
Reply Thank you Tim for explaining. I think I am way too harsh on myself, hence equally critical with my opinion and acceptance of others. Need to work harder on accepting my being human. I also need to work harder on understanding God’s acceptance of me being imperfect as well as of my own imperfect and many times difficult to love neighbors, esp when they are not acting in accordance to the Love Your Neighbor command themselves.
I struggle daily with love, compassion and acceptance of extremely self centered people at my workplace who seem to unknowingly spit in the face of God with their actions and or lack of compassion for others, (i.e those who are always out for themselves at all cost. ) These are those who consider themselves before any other and I do know them by their fruits! This makes it very difficult for me to accept them let alone feel any love or compassion toward them. Working beside this lot of self centered individuals creates an impenetrable drain on my being while delivering health care to those I am employed to serve. However I do continue to work on and struggle within to see them through God’s eyes but I am quite sure I do not see what God see’s or even capable of seeing. It’s tough! I feel totally defeated daily and want to escape but I’m still there for some hopefully higher purpose I can only imagine. If that purpose is to become more compassionate and loving towards them then I am feeling very defeated as I leave with mostly feelings of spiritual despair.
Any words of biblical wisdom is always welcome. So what can you say about knowing people by their fruits and how to deal with them?
I appreciate your time, your understanding and humanitarianism
Reply Over self-criticism is almost universal. It goes away when you realize that God does not agree with that standard of judgment and then make a habit to be aware and mindful when it comes up and rebuke it with the truth that God judges on the heart, not the performance. You are accepted and loved just for the intent based on faith (Gen 15:6). Let go of perfectionistic judgments and you will have great joy and blessings.
Ahh, yes, as is typical, having this judgmental metric for ourselves lends itself even more readily for others. Forgiveness is again the key.
It almost sounds like you work at a church or other Christian org and expect more Christlike behavior than they give. Regardless, for me the key is to remember whatever I see in them, they see collectively 10x more flaws in me that they also deem inexcusable. This is why we can’t judge others as we’re all on the same level, practicing and learning on each other. If you feel like judging and not forgiving someone, then you’re forgetting that you are just as imperfect as them, albeit in different ways probably. (Ways that they would look at and comment, “I would never do that. Jay is despicable!”)
The fruits “to know them by” definitely needs clarification. For now, I can say it’s not about performance or perfection, obviously. We all have bad fruit by that. It’s about an attitude of love and humility and trying to do better at love–along with faith in God, and faith to help us. People like this that you know will overtime get better and find and correct things that were not like love.
Yeah, definitely for me, when people offend and hurt me, remembering that I am also practicing on others and hurting and offending them, too, lets me forgive and move on. Does that make sense and can you try it out and get back to me?
Reply
I came across some people that I name the worship Style lordship salvation. One out of the bunch encourages you too forsake everything and your family as Jesus told the multitude. As I heard this person to say this I went through Big Time depression. Of all the things I was willing and trying to give up I just could not give up my family. All of this started on August 5th two weeks after I tried to quit my job only to put in a receding notice a week after. I call it either divine intervention or the devils intervention that the boss took me around the corner and mentioned that he would not have his conversation with anyone else about letting me back in because of my seniority. After a conversating with my boss about accepting my job back I was comparing myself to Peter and was whimpering that night. Strangely God was revealing himself a different way to me. On the Wednesday after that week I guess my father for a pastry on the weekend and behold Saturday morning I saw a pie on the table and I never asked anybody else but the father above. My mother is now having a different attitude towards life and is looking into living more off the land and Little Bit of Faith. Microsoft Word as if I move across state with these people that gave up everything I would give a self-accusation that I’m falling myself. Most of my life I’ve been in sexual immorality August 5th I was abstinent for 4 weeks. Some of these other lordship salvation people and encourage that others move into mirror isolation away from sinners. I don’t vote for or against them but pray to the wonderful counselor judge and intercessor to plot the railroad for this train of mine. Without a doubt if God wanted a train to come off the rails and go somewhere else who do it
Reply Tim, that was excellent and in line with the Greek text! Bravo, bright Bible teacher! I applaud you and your study!
Reply
Tim,
as promised I have read your second article ‘Depart from me, I never knew you’. I think you may have just saved my life! Or at least shed the light on Yeshua’s life saving truth that I like many others have missed. Thanks to good ole Christianity. Again, the words of truth ring a certain tune that only the God given Spirit in us can hear, and when we hear it, rings true in our hearts. You again have plainly and masterfully written in clear terms with scriptural backed factual evidence, that was always right there in front of our eyes, to challenge our thinking about the true meaning behind this awful statement of why our Master said that Christians (or specifically those who practice the teachings) will be rejected at His coming! I have always seen it and glazed over it as a dismissal to something I maybe thought I didn’t have to understand.
I do think you are correct in saying that there will be a lot of very angry people who will be offended because they cannot get past the perceived accusation that their belief system is being assaulted by you. You made it personal and they won’t like it. Instead they should be thinking that their death and resurrection is a very personal AND serious issue. If we don’t approach Messiahs living Word and law as personal and serious with open hearts and minds we will miss the true meaning. It then becomes a life or death issue.
I pray that the Father continues to bless you, His servant, with insight and knowledge so that fruit is produced for the Father, fulfilling His will. May more lives be saved and more of us are inspired to live with the Law of Love first in our hearts to further the good news of His Kingdom!
Sincerely your brother in the struggle
Leonard Feenan
Hello I was able to get in and read your article, I agree with what you are saying, I understand, it was well written and easy to comprehend, there are a few things have not settled within me yet but I will ponder them and get back with you if I still struggle with them, there is one question and as a follower you would think I should know this but just wondering… what are the fruits we are to produce? thanks again Tim for your insight and taking the time.
Also, I understand what love is and is not from 1 Corinthians 13:5-7 and 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, my question is, can someone love to much, now I know most would roll their eyes and say of course not, look at Jesus, he loved so much that he died for it. but can love become a burden? or better yet can love become something else.
I know a person who has given out of love so much (time, money, work, whatever was requested) that they have become a doormat, terribly used and taken advantage of, and not respected, and when there is no more to give, this person is rejected and treated with anger and loathing, this has caused bitterness and resentment from the giver and from that comes remorse and guilt. so where does one draw the line?
Reply Hi Tina,
For what the fruits are, reread Luke 3:8 where John the Baptist says, “bring forth fruit of repentance” and defines this as changed behaviors in 3 examples. If you truly adopt the law of love you will slowly produce different actions as John said. These are the good fruits.
Compare that to the bad fruits of not adopting love but adopting religious rules like Christians do. Their main fruit is self-righteousness, judgmentalism, and hypocrisy as I’m sure you’ve noticed. Not love. You can also look up Paul’s “fruits of the spirit” in Galatians 5.
Yes, you can over-give and over-serve. There are some who struggle with self-worth or other issues that drive them to do that. I’m reminded of Dorcas who almost seemed to have served herself to death (Acts 9:36). There is a healthy boundary of taking care of yourself and setting an example for others. Pastors who neglect their family is something Paul warned against when he wrote on the standards for elders (“rule their children well”). It goes for all of us to not serve others too much that we develop a bad reputation at home from it.
Also, sometimes you’re not helping someone by giving and serving them, but perhaps are enabling them in their bad behavior or choices. This is rare, but it happens.
With practice you learn where to draw the line and realize it’s not about serving and giving to others all the time whenever they have a need, every need. There is wisdom and balance.
The key is being willing to help others when you don’t feel like it or you don’t feel like they deserve it or feel like you should be the one to bail them out. This is doing unto others as you would have done to you. Helping them because you’d want the help in the same situation you may have gotten yourself into, cheerfully, without judgment.
Hope this helps.
Reply 
So wait. You have the key to make sure you are not left in the dust but the only way to find out is to PAY you? Really?
Reply Austin, If you don’t want to support a teacher for his teaching like Jesus and Paul both instructed (Lk 10:7; Gal 6:6) that’s OK. You are free to work on your own with the “depart from me” passage (Mt 7:21-23). Be prepared to put in years of study and prayer on Jesus’ words and the rest of the Bible. My modest “online school entrance fee” may start to look like a good deal after a few weeks.
Reply Tim,
What I feel this person needs to understand is that God INSTRUCTED you to seek support from the people because it was very needed and it was very scriptural and it was GOD’S CHOICE for you. I realize people complain a lot about ministries asking for support but they shouldn’t take that personally or be offended. It requires money for a Pastor to support himself and family and ministry if he doesn’t have support from another source. People just lack wisdom in such matters. I’m with you all the way and I know that this is the pathway God guided you too. Your teaching is priceless and if people can support you and appreciate your many years of seeking God and His Word for His wisdom, it’s right that they show it and be a doer of the Word. You are extremely good soil and all who support you are obeying God and will be greatly enriched and receive financial harvests besides. All we sow, we will surely reap, if we keep our heart right, since it’s a spiritual principle established by God.
Leviticus 19:13
“‘Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. “‘Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.
Your insights are well worth what you charge, I agree with some disagree with some, but you do make me do my research.
The way to find out is to read your bible, study. Tim does this daily. His insight did not come overnight. I am a christian, yet in my line of work, one must pay to receive the benefits of my labor. in Tim and many teachers case, their work is their study and teachings. It is not wrong to ask for donations at all. It is his work. The time and effort he can save you is priceless. To find someone with a real heart for the Lord and the dedication to do such studies should be a blessing.
Reply Austin, thousands of members rely on Tim’s biblical insights. Seriously! We all paid Tim one way or another (either by buying his well-researched prophecy book) or subscribing to a special (paid) “membership”. Many teachers do this rutinely in America and Europe! I can tell you–from my lawyer’s point of view– that the Bible is so VAST, and it takes decades to STUDY its words and phrases and the history behind it. And still many words and phrases don’t get “coverage” even by best reasearchers from Oxford and Cambridge! I’ll give you one (big) example: Did you know that the much trumpeted word “church” (Greek–kuriakos) doe not exist in the Greek New Testament–this divinely inspired text by the Holy Spirit? Instead it is the word “ekklesia”–written 112 times there! And, there some more than 1000 words “left” untranslated. Another much trumpeted Greek word “baptizio” also was left untranslated. It means to “immerse deep in water”. How about the word “shabbat” (Greek–pausis) which means “a day of rest” (as in Hebrew 4:9). There are some big religious cults that have mushroomed from these 3 words that I have referenced! So you see how hard a job is that of a Bible teacher–like Tim? To STUDY thousands of Greek and Hebrew words and “paint the correct picture abour a certain biblical topic! Yes, these sincere bible teachers, like Tim, deserve to be compensated for thousands of hours they put in in order that they may bring the Words of God uncorrupted and true!
Reply
God (Jesus) never intended us to be doormats…ask for wisdom and follow the Spirits lead. Nowadays many are raised to be professional beggars or enabled….Paul made it clear when he said if you don’t work you don’t eat… Everyone must pull their weight and help with the burdens of others especially the elderly or incapacitated….and cheerfully God’s word is full of encouragement for every situation for the best outcomes.
Reply
When givng is of a true soul and heart there is no end to giving. One receives the Love and energy whence it comes from.
Nothing belongs to us. Dust to dust. So if one trulely
searches the heart for the reason of the giving in the first place, then there will be true love joy and happiness. Now if it is given in love, deep love . Then all the rewards will be given. In Love there is no line to be drawn..
Your words can be misunderstood. My mother gave to charities (many probably fake) and it has caused the mailbox to be stuffed with junk from the way too many organizations of vultures that do nothing but beg for donations.
They are from countries with tons of kids when they cannot even take of themselves. To give to them is to enable. It is not love to keep breeding and then become a ‘mooch’ and plan on letting others give to you. They want anyone who has more to feel guilty. This is not love, and they do not love us for giving, because we have given out of guilt.
Anyone should only give as the Spirit leads. If we give out of any other motive we are at fault. May God’s people grow to be far more discerning of how they manage their decisions and finances. But it’s for sure that whatever we give, for whatever motive, it will return to us as a harvest, if we keep a right spirit before God.
Reply
Pat, Genesis 1:28; “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
This commands all of us to “be fruitful and multiply.”
“Fruitful” meaning something like “be productive/produce good works or results.” I am sure that those who are more disadvantaged than first-world countries are doing the best they can to produce good results (be fruitful).
They are real people. Dying. Because you/we have a 51inch flatscreen, a two story house, 1-2 cars, go to the cinemas, clubbing, themeparks, etc, instead of helping people who are dying from starvation or thirst or disease.
Reply 1 Corinthians 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Mark 14:7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
Reply
God’s ways are much higher then ours .. love is not what the world tells us.. 1John 5:2-3 – By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
Reply