Jesus' Obedient Followeers Focus On Fishing

                 Jesus' Obedient Followers Focus On Fishing

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Yes, we're busy people. Yes, so many demands are made on us--work, family, home chores, relations, but don't we usually give priority and time to those things we feel most important?  One day everyone will bow before Jesus, the King of kings as a believer to receive their degree of reward for service, or unbelievers to receive their degree of punishment for sin. We decide which in the life we are living now. Yes, our every thought, word, and deed now decides what our eternity will be--light and love, or darkness and despair. This is a most serious issue. Now let's see how it all plays out.
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The Bible Clearly teaches we are beings of both dignity and depravity. Unlike animals, God made both man and woman in His rational, moral immortal image (Gen 1:26; 9:6; James 3:9) whereby all persons are to be shown the same respect and dignity. At the same time we are fallen into a depraved state preferring selfish desires over God and His way (Gen. 3; 6:5 ). We are born with a corrupt sinful nature that we struggle with all our lives (Romans 6:6; 7:18-20). Jesus described it thus, "Evil words come from an evil heart and defile the person who says them. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all other sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander" (Matt. 15:18-19). See also Romans 1.The consequences are our spiritual and physical death being corrupt, without love for God, rejecting God, and to be without God and His benefits in eternal darkness and torment. It's each persons choice, although God offers us a love-trust relationship with Him now and forever in the new Heaven and earth.

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We are made right with God by His grace, not our good deeds. Where man's religions and philosophies fail is that they claim we can save ourselves by our own goodness and good deeds.The Bible is unmistakeably clear that it cannot happen anymore than the leopard can change his spots (Jer. 13:23). We sin every day showing our sin nature. "Yes, Adam's one sin brought condemnation upon everyone. But Christ's one act of righteousness makes all people right in God's sight and gives them eternal life. Because one person disobeyed God, many people became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many people will be made right  in God's sight (Romans 5:18-19 NLT). For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ" (2 Cor.5:21 NLT). That's the only hope we sinners have for a better world and and eternal life with God. Jesus said, I Am the way, the truth, the life, No one can come to the Father except through me" (Jn. 14:6 NLT).
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Again, "God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; It is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have don so none of us can boast about it (Eph. 2:8-9 NLT). Repeatedly the Bible affirms God's grace excludes our good works for salvation (Rom. 11:6; 3:21-31; 4:1-11). If our good deeds could save us, Jesus' death on the cross was foolish and useless suffering. (Gal 2:21).

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We must not let theological disputes prevent us from obeying our Lord. Some Christians object to Calvinism saying if God elects who will be saved and it's predestined even before they are born, then it's all fixed in stone so it doesn't matter if we witness or not. Now Evangelism Explosion is a training program used in many churches of many denominations to win people to Christ all over the world. I was made the second level EE teacher for several semesters because I lead teams out to witnesses to more people and had more professions than the other teams. But this EE training used of God to win so many people to Christ around the world was designed and originated at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, a Calvinist Church.
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So, it's really no problem for a couple of reasons. One, God knows who will be saved, we don't, so we must witness to all so that everyone can hear the gospel and have opportunity to be saved. The other, we're told several times in several scriptures to witness. Thus, not to do so is disobedience to God and loss of Heavenly reward. Now let's be gracious and get on with being obedient to God and loving toward all the brethren who trust in the Savior.

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Believers will receive great reward for sharing their faith in Christ. "For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies. (2 Cor. 5:10 LNT). Paul further says to believers no one can build on any other foundation but Jesus Christ. Anything built on the foundation of Christ will be rewarded to varying degrees as gold, silver, jewels have different values. Other things don't do anything to further Christ's kingdom are compared to wood, hay, and straw( See 1 Cor.3:10-15). For example, using our time and talents to play computer games or show pretty pictures won't count for reward while using the www to teach Bible, encourage Christians, and praying for and inviting others to Christ will bring great reward when we see Jesus. The Bible further speaks of rewards as crowns we give credit to Jesus for enabling us to earn them.
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Unbelievers will receive their just degree of punishment for cowardly rejecting Christ. Yes, they claim all kinds of reasons--I can't detect God with my physical senses, we're just evolving soulless animals, God created a terrible world, all religions say the same thing, a  good God would never have let my loved one die, natural law makes miracles impossible, the Bible is just a bunch of contradictions and myths, Jesus was only a good man--their list is unending. But their reasons are only excuses because they are afraid God will want them to give up their sinful desires and lifestyle.
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They aren't willing to believe the all-knowing Creator who designed us knows what's best for us and wants a love-trust relationship with us that will prove better than anything we know or desire. Besides, Christian Bible scholars, and apologists have answered these ignorant and conflicting objections long ago.
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"All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. But COWARDS who turn away from me; and unbelievers, and the corrupt, and murderers, and the immoral, and those who practice witchcraft, and idol worshipers, and all liars--their doom is in the lake of fire that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death."(Revelation 21:7-8 LNT).  
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What does the Bible say about sharing the gospel?  Jesus said "come be my disciples and I will show you how to fish for people.  Jesus said, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciple to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this; I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19-28). We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. Be reconciled to God! (2 Cor. 522 LNT). It is a great honor and privilege for Christians to tell others Jesus is the only Savior from sin and Hell to all who will trust in Him to forgive and cleanse them making them fit for a perfect Heaven.
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The internet gives us the opportunity to reach people for God's grace and glory worldwide. We don't have to learn another language, or go to another country. Just pray and send these gospel articles around the world in many languages. Simply put your pointer on send. You can take thousands with you through the Pearly Gates. Tell your friends about goodnewsmessengers.blogspot.com.This can become your effective ministry to reach many peoples and many nations, to explain the Biblical worldview, and to make a more moral and sane world. God bless.

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The world seems to be getting increasing more violent and sinful.  Jesus warned it would before His return. But let's not lose heart with such great opportunity to do good. "So my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless (1 Cor. 15:58 LNT).
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