A Ministry of Knowing The Way, Inc.

Supreme Safety

Once we receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, we discover that some amazing things have become ours. First, we receive a gift: "....the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (From Romans 6:23). Next, we discover that, "....the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." (From Romans 11:29). Third, we learn this Truth: "....that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it...." (From Ecclesiastes 3:14). Following that, the next discovery is what Jesus said in John 10:27-28: "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand." If that isn't enough, consider this reality: "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3). Finally, for today, please consider how blessed we are not only to be held tightly in His hands but also to know that, "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms...." (From Deuteronomy 33:27). Selah! It will encourage you, if you go back over the verses and note carefully the underlined portions. He does give us "supreme safety" when we are His. Ron

"Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me, not for the years of time alone, but for eternity." (Norman J. Clayton). May this be the experience of every one reading this!

The Unseen Worker

In successful businesses, there is usuallly one person or a few people working hard behind the scenes to make them succeed. Often, these people are not seen by the employees. In an infinitely greater business, One is working in behalf of all who are reborn. (When I say "One," I have in mind Father, Son, and The Holy Spirit). First, He works to draw us to Christ: "No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:44). Secondly, Jesus, in John 17:4 anticipates His finished work on the cross with these words: "....I have finished the work which thou gavest Me to do." Once a person is truly saved, God works daily in their lives. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). How long does He work in our behalf? Philippians 1:6 tells us the answer to that question. "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Selah! With this marvelous "behind the scenes" work going on, we can confidently say, "....The Lord is my helper...." (From Hebrews 13:6). Therefore, "....If God be for us, who can be against us?" (From Romans 8:31). Ron

A Life-Altering Decision

How anyone can think that accepting certain truths as fact without the changes in their lives that these truths demand is beyond me. Being saved is a miracle of the first order. It begins with facts and truly believing them to the point that we act on them. The decision to believe God's Truth brings a willingness and desire to give Him our hearts and lives. We come to Him to receive the greatest of all gifts, the gift of Himself. We realize that He has paid the penalty due our sin(s). We no longer need to fear Hell. Filled with gratitude and relief, we gladly commit ourselves to His guidance and yield our lives to His control. Learning to yield starts the moment we are born again and grows and develops over the years of our lives. We find His guidance in the Scriptures and we want to know what He wants us to do and be. We want to do and be what He wants us to do and be. The reason for this is because when we were converted (changed), we were given new desires, a new nature (we share His nature), new interests, new understanding and a new behavior. All of these result from the Word of God (the Bible) impacting our lives. First, it shines the light on all our sin(s) and guilt and reveals that we need a Savior. Second, it draws our hearts and minds to all that happened on the cross and what it cost God to rescue us, and on the love that moved Him to pay the "price" in order to deliver us. Then, it draws us to receive Him and the gift of eternal life that He freely offers. So, when we do, we are "....born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." (From I Peter 1:23). This "seed" (the Scriptures) produces righteousness in our lives and provides the motivation and enabling to gain more and more victory over sin(s). This is what the Apostle John meant when he said, "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" (I John 3:9). The tense in these Truths means that sin is not the way we live. We do not go on sinning. We do not practice committing sin. It is not our habitual way of living. Holiness is our habit and it is replacing sinning with living Godly. Selah! This seed (the Word of God) remaineth in the true child of God. The Word of God (i.e; the seed) liveth and abideth forever. This is part of the basis of our blessed assurance! Ron

"To Be Or Not To Be?"

We will be found to be a Christian or found not to be one, depending on what kind of response that we have made to the Gospel. If we have truly repented and, in faith, have trusted Jesus to be our Savior and Lord, we are saved! However, if there are no changes in our lives, the response that we made falls short of a genuine conversion experience. The changes may come slowly, there will be failures along life's way but there will be ongoing change in our lives. We do not change to be saved but change because of being saved. No true believer can get away with sin and the longing to be rid of sin grows and intensifies. What God has worked into us will come out in our daily lives. "....work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." (From Philippians 2:12-13). Christians do fail and "mess up" but they confess and move on. The direction is away from the world, the flesh and the devil. Even if we fall into the muck of sin, we don't return to the world's way. If we lean in that direction or start in that direction, we are convicted and the Holy Spirit will bring the necessary measures to bear to turn us back to the right direction. If we are not convicted or disciplined, we are not His children. Hebrews 12:8 makes this clear: "But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons." This is a message that has been toned down in our day and leaves many assuming that they have the real thing when they only have an inadequate substitute. Selah! For those who have been truly saved, there is a wonderful certainty that they have been placed in the keeping Hands of our blessed Lord. Do come back tomorrow. Ron

Aspects of Assurance

I have been surprised to learn that many who claim Jesus as Savior lack any real assurance regarding their future destiny. I've given some thought to this. One explanation for this lack is a person's theology. There is a school of thought that a saved person can go back into a life of sin and be lost after they are saved. (Lord willing, I may speak to this in the next day or so). I suggest that if you embrace this theology that you undertake a long range intense study of this subject in your Bible. Some other folk lack assurance because they have only undergone an intellectual conversion rather than a Spiritual one. Still another reason is neglect of the Scriptures and other supporting helps. This can leave a person wondering if he or she is truly saved. Yet another cause of doubting one's assurance comes from condoning and practicing any sins. Anyone living in a backslidden condition is either not truly saved or is not able to have assurance of being saved. God will not let anyone in a state of disobedience enjoy assurance, even if they have it. Living in sin, they cannot be sure. Cultivating our relationship with the Lord, being directed by and being submissive to His Word, and living to please and honor Him will bring blessed assurance! Selah! Coming to Jesus, receiving Him as Savior and Lord is a radical transaction. It is our lives under new management. One who is saved craves holiness, loves Spiritual things, is hungry and thirsty for Bible Truths and loves the Lord. Life will never again be the same. As Jesus takes up residence in us, works on us, in us and through us, He instills blessed assurance. Ron

"Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the Presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen" (Jude 24-25).

What Am I Missing?

From time to time, we hear things like this: "I don't have peace like the preacher talked about when he spoke of great peace, peace in trials, etc. I certainly don't have 'joy unspeakable and full of glory.' I appreciate grace but what does grace for daily Christian living really mean?" These things that belong to believers seem to be missing from their lives, if not their vocabulary. They want to know, "What am I missing?" If these things and other treasures from God's Word are not being experienced, what's wrong? There are several possible reasons why they may not be enjoyed. I see the number one reason as being either a neglect of Scripture or a failure to study Scripture thoroughly; hence, a lack of correct understanding. The next reason is a faulty evangelism that lulls a lot of unsaved people into believing that they are saved, when they are not. Any claimed experience of salvation that doesn't include a faith that results in a changed life offers no promise of the blessings that accompany the new birth. Sin(s) in the life that is/are not confessed, cleansed and turned from withholds God's blessing. God's blessings are assured for those who are truly saved, read and study their Bibles, apply and obey what they read and deal with any known sins in their lives immediately, and seek God's enabling for victory over these sins. Selah! Truly being saved comes from conviction of sin in our lives causing us to realize and admit our deep need of salvation, and a faith in Jesus that willingly turns over the control of our lives to Him. Out of this comes a desire for Godliness and a determination to follow His leading in our lives. Ron

"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10;10) True heart belief will always move the Christian to grow in righteousness of heart and life.

The Wonder of Grace

Grace is often not considered except in relation to salvation which, from the point of view of those that are born again, is its greatest accomplishment. As the acrostic conveys, it is Great Redemption At Christ's Expense. However, it is much more. It is lavished upon us. We pointed out earlier in this short series that it is like grace piled upon grace. We might say, in the vernacular, "heaps" of grace. It has given us His righteousness, credited to us who are saved. It extends forgiveness and cleansing upon genuine confession. It brings comfort and assurance. It gives strength and wisdom. It grants fellowship with our God and Savior and it provides the motivation and ability to live Godly. It reveals the love and mercy of our Lord. These are just a few facets of the manifold grace of God. It is truly amazing! Selah! Use your concordance to look at every verse and passage that mentions "grace" and think about each one carefully and you will be blessed and filled with gratitude. Ron

"All the way my Savior leads me; cheers each winding path I tread; gives me grace for every trial, feeds me with the Living Bread; though my weary steps may falter, and my soul athirst may be, gushing from the Rock before me, lo! a spring of joy I see." (Fanny J. Crosby).

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:11-13).