The Real Reason People Go To Hell

It is often said that people go to hell because they do not put their faith in God and believe in the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. 

Christians say this to non-believers and non-believers use that as an excuse to why Christianity is unfair. They say things like, “I’m a good person and just because I don’t believe in God you tell me I have to go to hell?”

There is major folly in this argument. 

Because while people are saved by faith in Christ Jesus through His sacrifice on the cross. 

People do NOT go to hell for their lack of faith. 

People go to hell because they’re sinners and deserve punishment. 

We must make this clear.

Why?

Because people don’t understand the seriousness of their sin, people don’t understand the weight of their sin.

People don’t understand how pure and holy God is. He is a righteous and fair judge, therefore sin must be atoned for. 

If someone rejects Jesus’ atonement for their sins than they must pay themselves because that is what a good judge does. 

A good judge doesn’t say, “Well even though you committed this crime or wronged this person you seem like a good person therefore I will let you go free without punishment.” 

That would be a bad judge, that would be unjust. A good and just judge must punish those who have done wrong.

Which we all have.

All of us our sinners. 

I am a sinner who deserves hell.

My faith is what saves me but my sin is what condemns me.

If you reject the truth of the Gospel you will go to hell for your sins.

Think of it this way.

If a car thief is offered a deal to plead guilty and avoid jail time but they reject the offer and are found guilty; They’re going to jail not because they turned down the plea deal, they’re going to jail because they’re a car thief.

If you reject Jesus’ payment for your sins you will go to hell for your sins.

Repent and Believe.

-Chris 

So Then Tell Someone

My brain is always going. It never stops, whether I am thinking about my day, problems, theology, sports, some imaginative daydream or anything else. My brain is always going. 

One of my most common things I think about is how I would like to respond in a Christian, biblically based way to issues. Whether about morals, politics, news, religion. I think about what I would like to say, or what I would have said. 

I go into a daydream about encountering someone who is anti-God and anti-Christian and telling them the truth of the Gospel, the truth about who Jesus Christ is. 

I think about it from all different angles, logically, morally, scripturally, etc. I think about what I could say. 

I think and think and think. Often I get emotional about it. Anger at those who mock the faith but also sadness and pity. I have thoughts like, “If they only knew the truth, if they only knew how beautiful Christianity is and how much God loves them”.  

It hurts me to see so many on the path to hell, rejecting their savior. 

Recently in one of my daydreams thinking about what I could say to a person, I heard in my mind, “So Tell Someone”. Since than I have used that sentence as a way to focus my mind away from getting caught up in a daydream fantasy about arguing with someone about Christianity. The reason is I realized that my daydreams are just to comfort me from my pain, rather than allowing God to comfort me and instruct me on how to go about and serve Him, proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom. 

If you struggle with this or something similar. Pray for boldness and go tell someone, anyone about Jesus Christ. Let the Holy Spirit do the main work, you just serve God and share about Jesus. 

Tell someone. 

Tell someone about God, tell someone about Jesus, tell someone about how the Father loves us so much that He gave His Son to die on a cross so that our sins would be atoned for. That He loves, He cares for us, that we have value in His eyes. No one can love us or value us more than the true and living God. 

Tell someone today! 

Have a Blessed Week, 
Chris 

What Does It Mean To Fear God?

We read in scripture that we must fear God. 

We hear Pastors talk about the “fear of God”. Sometimes in angry ways that are designed to scare you. 

We hear those who oppose Christianity use the “fear of God” as an argument against the faith. 

But what does it truly mean to “fear God”? 

I am not a theologian by any means but from Bible studies and listening to different sermons and teachings I think I understand what it means to “fear God”. 

But first I want to talk about the word “fear”. People have changed the meaning of the word fear to make it out to be something only in an abusive, unhealthy way. 

There is a healthy fear and an unhealthy fear. 

We fear all kinds of people. We fear people like police officers, our bosses and when we were kids our parents.

We don’t use the word “fear” anymore to describe it; we just talk about the consequences not the emotion. 

When we don’t speed in front of a police officer we don’t say it is because we fear the officer, we say so we don’t get a ticket. (You shouldn’t speed anyway). 

We obey the rules at work and tell people we do so that way our boss doesn’t reprimand or fire us. 

If someone asked why we did our chores, listened to the rules and obeyed our parents as kids it was so we wouldn’t get in trouble. 

You might focus on the consequences not the emotion but in reality think about it. 

When you get pulled over, or called into your bosses office or told to sit on the couch by your parents when you know you did the wrong thing, what did you feel? (or what should you have felt?)

Fear. 

It’s a healthy fear. 

Think about it some more, do you think it’s healthy for a person to have no fear of police or the law? That produces criminal activity. What kind of awful environment work would be if no one feared their boss and did whatever they wanted. I don’t need to even mention how terrible a child behaves that has no discipline or fear of the consequences of their actions. 

We need healthy fear. 

Because at the end of the day a truly good, fair and just police officer is someone who will make you feel safe despite you knowing if you break the law they would have to take you to jail. 

A good boss who you respect can make all the difference in a work environment, people grow to love and respect their bosses even though they know that boss may have to discipline them or even fire them. 

And how much does a good child love their parents even after all the discipline the parent had to put them through?

Let’s look at the other side of this. 

If a police officer uses his power to abuse someone and pervert justice you would be afraid of that officer because he instills a different kind of fear. 

If you have to walk around on eggshells at work knowing your boss may lose it or fire you at any moment, that is a different kind of fear. 

If you had to do your chores and follow the rules when you were a kid because a parent or parents would beat you or scream at you that is a different kind of fear. 

That’s not just fear that’s an unhealthy, abusive fear. 

That is not how to “fear God”. 

We are called to fear God in a healthy manner. 

I know what God is capable of, it makes me fear Him but it also makes me love Him. 

Because no one is more loving, good, fair and just then God, this makes me feel safe. 

I love God and I fear God, and my fear of God draws me closer to God, the closer I draw to God makes me love Him all the more. 

Have a Blessed Week, 

Chris 

My Mentality When It Comes To God Healing

There is an ongoing debate for a very long time on the “Gifts of the Spirit”, cessationists believe gifts like tongues, prophecy and healing have ceased while charismatics and continuationists (not always the same as charismatics) believe those gifts are still for today. 

Today I am focusing on healing, specifically my mentality when it comes to someone who says they have been healed by God. 

Now contrary to many charismatics beliefs most cessationists will say God still heals but they say an individual does not have the gift of healing. I am not going to get into that debate or reveal my stance on the Gifts in this entry but I wanted to make that clear before I moved on. 

Back to the topic of the blog, this is my mentality when it comes someone who claims they have been healed. If a person tells me they have had a miraculous healing I just praise God and tell the person how wonderful it is.

I am not saying we shouldn’t use discernment or just blindly believe someone but the last thing I want is my default position to be skepticism. 

Skepticism in the guise of discernment seems to be increasing these days not just when it comes to healing either. 

I want my default position to be praising God and believing in His power.

I’m not trying to build a straw man argument here. I am not saying others who are skeptical don’t believe in God’s power or praise Him, what I am saying is I want my instincts to be praise and belief not skepticism.

Think about it from a risk stand point. We are called to fear God right?

Praising Him and believing in a healing or any other miraculous event has no risk. If the person is lying, you did nothing sinful by believing a miracle and praising God. 

The only person who would be at risk is the person who is lying, they’re the one in sin.

But look at the skeptic position, if God was choosing to show His glory through a miraculous event like healing and you decide to automatically not believe in the position until you have evidence that position worries me. 

Even worse imagine if you publicly denounce a possible miracle from God and you’re wrong. You just interfered with God showcasing His glory, power and might.

To me in my opinion down playing or not believing in a healing or a miracle that happened to a Christian brother or sister without real reason or evidence shows a lack of faith and fear of God.

That may sound harsh but it’s a path of choosing guilt before innocence.

So I praise God and trust in His power to do miracles and trust in His justice to handle those who deceive.

But even better if I’m wrong or your wrong I praise God for His amazing grace.

Have a Blessed Week,

Chris 

Do You Feel Lost?

Do you feel lost? Do you feel like the world doesn’t really have any answers, that the world is confusing? 

Does it feel like the world hates you or doesn’t understand you? 

That they’re so many problems and evil in the world without any explanation or a real light at the end of the tunnel? 

A lot of people struggle with these types of thoughts. 

The media, corporations and people of different walks of life try to offer guidance, ideas and solutions but when you dig deeper a lot of times they’re taking advantage of people’s emotions and trying to sell people their products. 

Tune in all day to Alphabet News where they will show you doom and gloom all day, feed you the solutions and answers you want to hear while making you hate and despise the other side. 

During the commercial you can see advertisements from Mega Corp Inc. for items to really show support to your causes. For the low price of 19.99 you can buy an item with a slogan on it that will line the pockets of the stockholders. 

Then when the news comes back on they will have an author on that wrote a book that solidifies exactly how you feel and you can buy that book also for 19.99 or 9.99 on Kindle. 

Just make sure you tune in, buy the products, consume the correct beliefs that seem to change every few years or so. The only thing they ask is to never think differently. They already have trained people with words and names to call those who think differently. Last thing you want to do is be called one of those names and then none of the people you associate with will want to associate with you anymore. 

When you’re invested in that world it might seem nice at the time and feel good. It might make you feel like you’re right and a part of something. 

But if you stop to think about it, are you really a part of something? 

Or are you just a fish on the hook? 

A fish that they dangle and throw back as soon as they’re done with them. 

A sheep whose shepherd doesn’t really care if they leave unless they have a use for them. 

Truth is the answers the world offer you are false light, false hope, false happiness. The light they offer is a flashlight in the dark, the batteries run out and it’s gone. The hope and happiness they offer is temporary and fleeting. You have to keep going back to the media, you have to keep buying the products, you have to keep surrounding yourself with what feels good because if you don’t you will start to feel bad again. 

But what if there is a different way? 

A different truth? 

A different life? 

I am talking about The Way, The Truth and The Life. 

I am talking about a fisherman who would never dangle you and toss you back but treasure you. 

A Shepherd who would leave the other 99 sheep to go find you the 1 who is astray. A Shepherd who doesn’t need you He wants you! 

The Light of the World. 

Not false hope or happiness. But true hope and joy which is greater than any temporary happiness. 

You may be reading this and rolling your eyes or getting angry at the thought of Jesus Christ and Christianity. 

But the judgmental hate filled Christianity that you often hear portrayed in media is not the real Christianity. 

The world claims it affirms you, forgives you and loves you but that’s not really true. You make a mistake and the world will remind you of it the rest of your life. If an 18 year old in 1983 commited a crime and was convicted this affirming, forgiving, loving world still makes that person inform any potential employer of their conviction on a job application 40 years later. Say something wrong and you’re cancelled, there is no recovery. 

You may think well I didn’t commit any crimes and I don’t say horrible things. 

Okay think of the worst thing you have ever done. Do you really think that everyone in your circle would forgive you for it? Would they still love you? Affirm you still? 

If you say I haven’t done anything really bad or horrible but what if you did, would they still accept you? 

The difference between the world, your friends, family, loved ones is God will forgive you for all of your sins because He truly does love you. He will cast your sins in the sea of forgetfulness and as far as the east is from the west. He will not bring up your past, no resentment, no guilt trip, just real true forgiveness. 

You repent and believe and you will be saved. Your faith is what saves you and if you’re saved there is no need to fear the world because even if they destroy your body you are eternally secured. 

Truth is there may be some who say, “Well my loved ones will affirm me, love me and forgive me no matter what”. 

Even if you say that in confidence you just acknowledged you’re a sinner. The fact is when you die you will have to face God who is the judge and you will be held accountable for your sins. Because He is fair, that is what we all want in a judge. If someone hurt a loved one or yourself you wouldn’t want a judge to say, “Hey this seems like a really good person so I am gonna let it slide”. You would want justice. Well, there will be justice for your sins. 

But if you repent of your sins and put your faith in God you will be saved. Because the Son, Jesus Christ took the penalty for your sins, my sins and all the world’s sin. But you must have faith in the Son in order for His gift to be given to you. Otherwise the penalty still must be paid. 

I want to conclude by making this clear, while the world may change it’s beliefs and words, God’s Word is eternal and has not been altered or changed. Heaven and Earth may pass away but God’s Word is forever. 

Repent and Believe. 

-Chris 

More Resources on the New Age

As some of you know one of my goals of this blog is as I learn new things in my theology studies I like to pass the knowledge along in an entry. 

For example I did a whole series on “How to Evangelize” as I was learning about Evangelism. 

Well, this winter season I have been studying the New Age and its effects on the Christian faith.

I am about halfway through a book called, “The Second Coming of the New Age: The Hidden Dangers of Alternative Spirituality in Contemporary America and Its Churches” by Steven Bancarz and Josh Peck. It is a real eye opener. Hearing their testimonies and experiences while also learning the beliefs of the New Age is truly fascinating and educational. It is also concerning.

The New Age manipulates scripture in order to promote their version of Jesus Christ that does not reflect who the Bible says Jesus is. They also deny the historical figure of Jesus of Nazareth. 

The New Age manipulation of religions does not stop with Christianity but they also do this with other religions as well. It’s an all you can eat buffet of religions. 

There is no truth, everything is subjective. It’s about one person’s particular truth, they’re no absolutes. 

The end goal is to become your own “god”. 

Truly it all comes back to the original sin and the original temptation. Satan asked Eve, “Did God really say that?” And told her she would become like God if she ate the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. 

There is nothing “new” about this, this lie is as old as creation. 

As the title said in the video I will be leaving some resources in this blog, they will be down below. 

In the meantime please be on guard against these New Age practices, I am no expert by any means but I felt it necessary to point people in the direction of those who are. 

Have a Blessed Week, 
Chris 

Videos: 
Doreen Virtue
Dr. Heiser Video: 

Testimony: 

Site: 
https://doreenvirtue.com/

Melissa Dougherty
Dr. Heiser Video:

Testimony: 

Site: 
https://www.melissadougherty.co/

Steven Bancarz

Dr. Heiser Video: 

Testimony: 

Site: 

Home

Book: 
https://www.amazon.com/Second-Coming-New-Age-Spirituality/dp/1948014114

Tips On Theology

Dealing with head cold this week so I am reposting a blog from 2021. Hope everyone has a good week. -Chris

The Good Word

Theology and biblical study can be overwhelming. I am the furthest thing from an expert but I do want to share with you some tips on how to form your theological opinions.

Truth is a lot of times we can form opinions on scripture prior to even reading scripture. We hear someone take a position and tell us why that is true in the Bible and that version sounds good so we resist anyone else’s take on scripture because our mind is made up already.

Don’t put any theologian on a pedestal no man has it exactly right, only God has full knowledge. You can be a Lutheran or a Calvinist or a part of any other denomination while disagreeing with the person who started the denomination or the person the denomination is named after. As a matter of fact you should disagree with them on occasion as they’re a…

View original post 279 more words

What Does Being Blessed Mean?

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

5 “Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

He said:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

On Sunday my Pastor preached about the scripture above. During his sermon he told a story about a former neighbor of his who made a lot of money and did not mind telling people about it. It wasn’t that this man is a bad person or someone that people disliked, he is a very nice and sociable person in fact when my Pastor asked him how he was doing he said, “Man I am so blessed!” 

My Pastor said after getting in his car he thought is that really what Jesus meant when He said someone is blessed? 

Obviously when you read the Beatitudes you realize it’s the on going flipping of the worldly narrative. 

We see the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, the ones who hunger for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers and the persecuted who are called blessed. 

Compare that to the world. The world’s version of being blessed is money, prosperity and happiness. Who Jesus called blessed would be considered cursed by the standards of the world. 

The world’s standards are so much different than God’s. 

I actually found a wonderful article that I think articulates the meaning of being “Blessed”. I would like to share that with you to close this weeks blog entry: 
https://openthebible.org/article/what-does-it-really-mean-to-be-blessed/

Have a (truly) Blessed Week, 
Chris 

Source: 
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A1-12&version=NIV

The Frivolous Pursuit of Happiness

I hear a lot things like, “I just want to be happy” or “when will it be my turn to be happy?”

Businesses and people market things by telling people to find something or someone to make you happy. 

This mentality leads to people making their entire lives revolve around being happy.

And you know what? That is selfish.

Sounds harsh, I know. But if your entire life is about making yourself happy than the above statement is true.

Not only is it selfish but it is an empty pursuit.

Happiness is incredibly fleeting. 

Think about when you got something that made you incredibly happy. Could be a toy as a kid, a gift as an adult, something you bought. 

How long did that happiness last? How long before the item just became another thing in your life?

How long before you needed something else to make you happy? 

Maybe it’s a fun event you went to or a vacation, at the time it made you happy but then it was over and you needed to do something else to make you happy.

Heck there’s been times where I have gone back to a town I visited that was a lot of fun and made me happy when I was there only to feel depressed because the town no longer gave me the same feeling. I was pursuing a fleeting emotion. 

This leads to people having relationships that are purely built on making themselves happy. Even marriages that are built on the foundation of happiness. What happens in that relationship or marriage when happiness leaves? 

It will collapse.

Which will make you unhappy.

Truly if your goal in life is happiness you will spend most of your life unhappy. 

So what should you pursue?

You should pursue the supplier of all things good.

God.

Pursue God and your life will be filled. Filled with purpose.

It will be a life that is about self sacrifice and serving God and His creation. A life that has true meaning. 

Yes there will be happiness along the way but in addition to that, true joy, peace and love.

A life where you truly enjoy the happy moments and our grateful. Not waiting for the next new person, place or thing. 

A life where you have all you need because you have God. Because in the end what good is it to gain the world and forfeit your soul?

Have a Blessed Week,

Chris 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2021

The past couple of years I have made posts on Dr. Martin Luther King on MLK Day, well this year I have decided to share my blog entry from 2021 as I really like the content in the entry and the online service my church did for that week.

In addition here is a link to last year’s entry as well: https://thegoodword2016.wordpress.com/2022/01/17/martin-luther-king-jr-day-2022/

I hope everyone has a blessed week,
Chris

The Good Word

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was an amazing man. Every time I have heard him speak in videos he gives me goosebumps. I have to admit I do not know enough about this man. But he was a true a hero and treasure to America and to the Kingdom of God.

Here are a few quotes from the great Dr. King I saw on an article (I will post the link to the full list of quotes below)…

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

“Always be sure that you struggle with Christian methods and Christian weapons. Never succumb to the temptation of becoming bitter. As you press on for justice, be sure to move with dignity and discipline, using only the weapon of love.”

“It may well be that we will have to repent in…

View original post 160 more words