That Lord part...

After observing these two prisoners for days, watching how they remained joy filled in the midst of being tortured and deprived; and now in a moment where his own eternal fate (soul) was in peril...

The jailer asks, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

Paul and Silas replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved..."

- Acts 16:30-31

Have you noticed how a much higher percentage of older people claim to be Christians? Once the vail of immortality (youth) has been broached, people seem much more interested in their eternal destiny (fate) and coming to terms with the obvious Creator of all that we see and know (Romans 1:19).

"Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved... For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." - Romans 10:9,13

How important is that LORD part?

A major distinction between Christianity and competing Faiths, anywhere from Atheism to Zoroastrianism, is actual evidence and substantiation.

Our Creator did not merely demand us to blindly believe something that He claimed was so. But instead, God created within us an INTELLECT and then engaged it with EVIDENCE... even calling us to come REASON with Him.

"Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord. - Isaiah 1:18

ALL other beliefs are classified as "blind faiths", based solely on instinct, emotion, or trust.

Through Science (Law of Causality), we know that information, complexity, and design, require an Intelligent Source. Such things as revealed through microbiology and genetic research cannot be rationally explained in any other way. Design = Intelligence = Creator.

Astronomy reveals an expanding creation without limits, which had a beginning and will have an eventual end. And LOGIC demands that if anything now exists which has a beginning and end, then SOMETHING has had to have ALWAYS existed... because if ever there was NOTHING then NOTHING is all that's possible.

Through Contextual Critique and Mathematical Probability, we KNOW that the Bible cannot be a product of merely human origin. That, along with Scripture's undeniable and unyielding RELEVANCE to humanity throughout history, are also evidences of its supernatural origin.

Even Jesus the Christ proclaims that it is EVIDENCE that bears witness to His identity.

"The very works that I am doing, bear witness about Me." - John 5:36. 10:25.

When John the Baptist becomes confused and has Jesus asked, "Are you the One or should we expect someone else?"

Jesus replies by saying, "Examine the evidence." - Matthew 11:3-5

Evidence, Evidence, Evidence, NOT BLIND FAITH.

God declares, "I AM" and He substantiates this reality with evidence.

Jesus declares, "I AM" and He substantiates this reality with evidence.

So, isn't it reasonable to think that our amazing God of love, mercy, and grace would actually insist that OUR "confession of faith" be GENUINE, substantiated by the evidence of our actions?

But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds." - James 2:18

In fact... "Faith without works (evidence) is dead." - James 2:17

Does Jesus ACTUALLY have to be MY Lord for salvation to occur?

Let's read... "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven..." - Matthew 7:21

Why is it ONLY the ones who DO the will of Jesus's Father?

Obviously, because they were SINCERE in confessing Jesus as Lord of their life, and then attempted to follow His commands.

Some may say, "Dwayne is preaching WORKS!"

That i'm saying, "We need to work out our own salvation!"

Go ahead and say that, but don't forget to finish that last sentence, and ascribe it to the Apostle Paul instead of me...

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good pleasure." - Philippians 2:12

Understanding DISCIPLESHIP : being and making

Welcome to Glory Industries! We are excited to have you show interest in joining our managerial staff. My name is Mr. Sonnyboy, and I will be your Training Supervisor.

You will be managing one of our Owner's, Mr. Fathers, branch locations. Building, equipment, and resources will all be provided through other branches and by our corporate office. Your focus as manager is to do the following with what WE provide for you...

1. G.I. will provide for all your needs; home, furniture, food, clothing, air, body...

2. Maintain your ability to serve.

3. Always look for ways to maximize your ability to serve.

4. Take advantage of every opportunity to meet a customer's NEED.

5. Never forget that you work under ME, and for Glory Industries.

6. Do not hoard corporate profits to lavish your own lifestyle, but instead, REINVEST on behalf of the Company.

7. And be continually mindful during your duties, that we offer an amazing Retirement Plan!

WHO will determine if you are an actual employee of Glory Industries?

You might tell everyone, "Yes I work there, and Mr. Sonnyboy is my supervisor!"

But Mr. Sonnyboy may say, "He/She never showed up, never did anything I instructed them to do... I actually don't know that person."

Which one has the authority to make the True Statement?

Dear friends,

I'm hopeful that you have read previous posts so as to understand my next comment. Our human hearts are desperately wicked as the world entices and the adversary deceives. "Self" may be very much alive and well in our lives, but just hides under what we think is our "get out of hell free" card.

Jesus was perfectly OBEDIENT throughout His life in denying Self, from lowly birth to brutal death.

Jesus received God's loving provision by FAITH, and likewise loved God through loving others. This is the lifestyle Jesus displayed for us; and then as Lord, called those who wanted to follow Him (being His disciple) to do LIKEWISE.

Paul says, for himself and other disciples, "To live is Christ..." - Philippians 1:21

Does Jesus actually need to be our LORD for salvation to occur?

Does my confession of His Lordship over my life need to be SINCERE?

Jesus does ask some deceived individuals, "Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" - Luke 6:46

If you hate the idea of even uttering the word WORKS, then let me ask a different question...

Do we actually need to LOVE Jesus?

Jesus says, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." - John 14:15

And Jesus's New Command was to, "Love one another in the same way He loved us." - John 13:34

Jesus ALONE fulfilled all the requirements of the Law on our behalf. The WORK of atoning for the sins of humanity demanded complete PERFECTION, for which ONLY He could complete.

In the Old Covenant, God demanded PERFECT OBEDIENCE to attain our own righteousness.

In the New Covenant, Christ demands SINCERITY (not perfection) to receive HIS righteousness.