THE BASICS

Greetings. Every once in a while...I have to get back to the BASICS. I need to review and realize my condition... B.C. (Before Christ)...the gap/gulf between me and God because of my sin...my inability to work my way into heaven....my inability to effectively deal with sin...the cause and effect of the sin...and GOD'S SOLUTION.

"As it is written...there is NONE (including Rodney) righteous...NO NOT ONE." (Romans 3:10)

"For ALL have sinned and FALLEN SHORT of the Glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

"For the WAGES of sin is DEATH, but the FREE GIFT OF GOD is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

"And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to DIE ONCE...and after this comes JUDGEMENT." (Hebrews 9:27)

"Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world...and DEATH THROUGH SIN...and so DEATH SPREAD to all men...BECAUSE ALL SINNED." (Romans 5:12)

Once we determine that there is a gap between us and God...we try to determine how to build a bridge across that gap with our good works.

"He saved us...NOT on the BASIS OF DEEDS...which we have DONE in righteousness....but ACCORDING to His mercy...by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit."
(Titus 3:5)

"For by GRACE have you been saved through faith...and that NOT OF YOURSELVES...it is the GIFT OF GOD...NOT AS A RESULT OF WORKS....that no one should bast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for GOOD WORKS...which God prepared beforehand, that we should WALK IN THEM." (Ephesians 2:8-10)

"But God DEMONSTRATES HIS OWN LOVE toward us...in that while we were YET SINNERS...Christ DIED FOR US." (Romans 5:8)

"For God so LOVE the world...that He gave His only begotten Son...that whosoever believes...should NOT PERISH...but have EVERLASTING LIFE." (John 3:16)

This is the most open/closed invitation there is. The provision is for WHOSOEVER...but it is HINGED on WHOSOEVER'S CHOICE...VOLITION...FREE WILL.

"But as many (whosoever) RECEIVED Him...to them He gave the RIGHT to become children of God,...even to those who BELIEVE IN HIS NAME." (John 1:12)

"But what does it say? The WORD is near you...in your MOUTH...and in your HEART...that is THE WORD OF FAITH which we are preaching...that IF you CONFESS with your MOUTH... JESUS AS LORD...and BELIEVE in your HEART that God RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD....you shall be SAVED....for with the HEART man BELIEVES...resulting in RIGHTEOUSNESS...and with the MOUTH he CONFESSES....resulting in SALVATION. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call upon Him...For WHOEVER WILL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." (Romans 10:8-13)

"Truly, truly, I say to you...he who HEARS MY WORD...and BELIEVES HIM who sent Me...HAS ETERNAL LIFE...and does not come into judgment...but has PASSED OUT OF DEATH INTO LIFE." (John 5:24)

This is the basics of Christianity. It is all ROOTED in the D.B.R. That would be Death, Burial, Resurrection...nothing more...nothing less.

"Now I make known to you, brethren...the GOSPEL...which I preached to your...which also you RECEIVED...in which also you stand...by which also you are SAVED..if you HOLD FAST the word which I preached to your...unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also RECEIVED, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures...and that He was buried...and that He was raised on the THIRD DAY...according to the Scriptures...."
(I Corinthians 15:1-4)

This is where I started out in 1970....and in 2008...it has not changed. The simplicity of the GOSPEL...nothing more...nothing less.

Well...wonder no more. Now you KNOW. You don't have to just hope...you can KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.

"These things I have written to you who BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD...in order that you may KNOW...that you have ETERNAL LIFE."
(John 5:13)

FINAL THOUGHTS....FINALLY

Works can't get you in...but you were created unto works (Ephesians 2:8-10). You can spout off all day long about your faith...but if you don't have WORKS...all you have is DEAD FAITH. (James 2:14-26). You can believe facts about the faith all day long...even demons believe...and shudder (James 2:19) "It's not WHAT you know...it's who you know." (Ronnie Meek...my Pastor).

Love and Workless Kisses
Rodney "The Basics" Boyd