Playground Fun Time

Can you KNOW that you KNOW?

Can you KNOW that you are going to Heaven??

This was the topic of this weeks bible study on John 7:25-52.

Matthew 7:21-23 says "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kindgom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord,' did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never KNEW you; depart from me..."

In todays words they will say to Jesus, "Lord, didn't we attend church on a regular basis, give money to good causes when we could, feed the homeless and be nice to others?" Yet his response to these people is, "depart from me, I never KNEW you."

What does this mean? Jesus implies that He has to KNOW you in order for you to enter Heaven. So how do we do that? Many people, when asked if they will get into heaven, respond, 'I hope so." Surely, this is something we want to be sure of and we have a God who loves us enough to want us to have a confident faith that we can KNOW that we will spend eternity in Heaven. Jesus tells us in the Matthew verse that doing good things and practicing religion do not grant entrance into Heaven. That only by KNOWING Him are we granted this. So what does it mean to KNOW Him? The word KNOW comes from the greek word "oida" meaning full or complete knowledge of someone. This is an intimate, personal knowledge. Jesus calls believers friends in scripture. How sweet that the Creator of the universe desires friendship with us!! John 10:14 says, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me." So how can we be sure? In John 7, Jesus gives an invitation to KNOW Him. He stands up in a crowd and cries out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." What does this mean? The key words here are thirsty, come, and drink. We have to seek God, come to Jesus, and receive Him. How simple? Aren't we thankful eternity isn't based on our goodness!!! I know I am because I would be in big trouble if that was the case. In summary, believer: be confident if you have placed your trust in Christ as the only means for your salvation and repented of your sin. Unbeliever: you know what Jesus requires of you. Turning from your sins, and simply trusting in Him as the only way to heaven, because of Him paying for our debts on the cross. I hope this is encouraging, it was to me.

I don't think anyone actually reads this blog so I suppose I wrote this to encourage myself too!!

Rex

Pray for Rex, that he would come to know Jesus through repentance and faith.

Downtown

Yesterday I went to downtown Raleigh to share the Gospel with folks from the inner-city who are either homeless or struggling financially. It was pretty cold, as you can see from the picture. The people are lined up waiting for food, as neighboring churches set up and bring hot meals and blankets for the needy. But, perhaps an even greater need that their physical needs, is their spiritual needs. These people need Jesus. Most of them have no real understanding of what the Gospel is. Most of these folks think that if they go to church, if they are good people, or if they pray a prayer that they are right with God. But, what they fail to understand is that we are each sinners who have fallen desperately short of the mark of perfection that God has laid out for us. Jesus said,"Be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect." And none of us are perfect. That is why God must punish us and send each of us to hell, because we have sinned against Him and violated His holy and righteous law. But, thanks be to God, He sent His Son Jesus to live a perfect life, die a brutal death on the cross, and take upon Himself the wrath of God that each of us deserves. We broke God's laws, and Jesus stepped in and paid our fines. Praise Him! Then, He rose from the dead, showing that He had defeated sin and death, and now sits at the right hand of God the Father. What a great Savior we have in Jesus! What He commands us to do is repent (turn from sin) and place our trust in Jesus and his death on the cross for us. Not our good works. Not going to church. Not any other religion, but in Him alone. Jesus said,"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6)

I had the wonderful privilege of sharing that good news with several folks yesterday. Please be in prayer specifically for Louis, Mike, Damien and his girlfriend, Willie, and Dr. Wolf (don't ask me where that name came from!). I fall in love with these people and realize how much God must really love and care about them. They are hurting, without jobs, without hope, and in need of forgiveness. Pray that they would turn to Him.

Are we this excited over God's Word?

Nothing like receiving your first Bible!

Hilarious Song about Marriage!! Prepare to laugh out loud!

Peytons birthday!

Thanks to the family for coming to visit to celebrate Peytons bday w/ us!

Peeton Weeton turns 1!!

Her real bday was last Sunday but we will celebrate it this Sat. We had to give her a cupcake to celebrate the real day though. Who would have thought that one year ago while we were in the hospital w/ Peyton, we'd be getting ready to do it all over again? Surely, not I (or Zack).

Peytons first Oreo Cookie!!

I think she liked it!