Christianity is so much more than an 'ism' (Conclusion)

     False prophets did, and do, speak to audiences with itching ears.  Everyone likes to hear that there will be peace and all things are getting progressively better.  False prophets prey on the self righteous and give them false hope.

     A false prophet of today would proclaim that peace is coming to the world; no one should ever be sick; and the American Dream is the ultimate goal attainable by all with personal effort.

     In the New Testament Jesus was totally transparent with His disciples as His Father was with Abraham.

     “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”  John 15:15

     Not only does God declare in advance what He is going to do, He confirms that He will do what He has said.

     History has confirmed the great truth that God’s word is and will be totally fulfilled in His timing.

     “So the LORD gave Israel all the land... and they took possession of it and settled there... just as he had sworn to their forefathers…Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.”  Joshua 21:43-45

    Joshua then warned the Israelites that just as all the good things the LORD had promised came to pass, so would chastisement for disobedience.

     “But just as every good promise of the LORD your God has come true, so the LORD will bring on you all the evil he has threatened, until he has destroyed you from this good land he has given you.”  Joshua 23:15

     And then recall Jesus’ words on the Road to Emmaus:

     “This is what I told you while I was still with you:  Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”  Luke 24:44

     Inasmuch as Christianity has proven through history to be the truth, Christians are hated and persecuted by many ‘isms’ of the world.  Such was forewarned by Jesus.

     Regardless of the hatred and persecution, Christians are admonished not to take vengeance on those who hate and persecute them.  Christians must be willing to die for their faith; not kill in the name of their faith.

     God Himself will avenge His chosen in His timing.

     “…since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you…when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  These shall be punished with everlasting destruction… when He comes, in that Day…”  2 Thessalonians 1:6-10a

     There is, however, good news for those willing to listen.  The blood of Jesus shed on the cross is sufficient to cover the sins of ‘whosoever will.’

     The day will come when confessing Jesus as the Son of God will not be optional.

     “…at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:9-11

     That same Jesus summed up the matter succinctly: 

     “And behold, I am coming quickly…I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”  Revelation 22:12

    

     Therefore, God’s immutable plan is totally transparent to His own; His plan was revealed in advance; God cannot lie; and all of His ‘I will’s’ will surely become ‘I did.’

   

     And lastly, there is a stern warning for anyone who would venture to add or subtract from God’s word in the name of any ‘ism.’

     “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that              are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life.”

Revelation 22:18-19

     “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!  Revelation 22:20b

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