Hell Is Not Separation From God

There are many preachers and churches today who say, in their statement of faith or list of beliefs, that hell is separation from God.  They do not say that hell is eternal torment in the lake of fire and brimstone because they don't want to scare people about hell, so they just say that hell is separation from God.  But actually, nothing could be further from the truth.  Even in hell people will not be separated from God and they will be on fire forever as shown in the following scriptures.
Revelation 14:9: And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Revelation 14:10: The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presences of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.
These verses makes it clear that the unsaved will be in torment in the presence of Jesus Christ, the Lamb.

Revelation 14:11: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

Psalm 139:8: If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
So while they are trying to not scare people about hell-fire, they are actually telling a lie about hell being separation from God.

Admittedly, hell is a terrible thought that no one likes to talk about or think about, but as Christians we have to be truthful and honest about it and warn people.  Imagine if your neighbor's house was on fire; you wouldn't just go over there and knock on the door real softly so you wouldn't scare them.  Of course not, you would yell loudly for them to get out of the house; you would try to save them.  In the same manner, we should warn people of hell and try to keep them from going there.  We should always tell them with love and compassion for them and show them that we care, and tell them that we are all sinners and everyone deserves to go to hell to pay for their sin.  We would never say rudely, "you're going to hell."  If it wasn't for God's grace and mercy when he saved us, we would be going there ourselves.

This doctrine of "Hell is separation from God" has infiltrated many baptist churches today because they want to tone down the reality of how bad hell really is.  They try to replace what the bible says about hell being a place with fire and brimstone with the concept of "Hell is just separation from God."  Hell is far worse than that.  It is a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth that lasts forever and  ever.
Matthew 25:30: And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

If hell really was just separation from God, that would not make the unsaved want to get saved because they don't want anything to do with God right now.  They would like to be separated from God, but on the contrary they will be in torment in the presence of the Lamb, Jesus.

The following are bible verses that explain what Hell really is.

Hell is a place of flaming fire. that is not quenched.

Revelation 20:10: "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
Revelation 20:14: "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death."
Revelation 20:15: "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

II Thessalonians 1:8: "In flaming fire Taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ."
II Thessalonians 1:9: "Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power."

Mark 9:43: "And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:"
Mark 9:44: "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."
Mark 9:45: "And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:"
Mark 9:46 "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."
Mark 9:47: "And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:"
Mark 9:48: "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."

Luke 16:23: " And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom."
Luke 16:24: "And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame."

Jude 1:7: "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."

Hell is a place of smothering smoke.

Revelation 14:11: "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."

Hell is a place of black darkness.

Jude 1:13: "Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever."

Hell is a place of weeping and wailing.

Matthew 22:13: "Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Hell is a place of everlasting chains.

Jude 1:6: "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."

Hell is a place of flesh-eating worms.

Isaiah 14:11:"Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee."
Isaiah 66:24: "And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched: and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh."

Hell is a place of no rest day nor night - no sleep.

Revelation 14:11: "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."

So, as I said, Hell is a terrible thought, but the truth is that it is a reality and Jesus spoke much more about hell than he did heaven.  The good news is that anyone who trusts Jesus to be their savior will never have to go there.  God loves people so much that he did everything he could to keep us out of hell by giving his only begotten Son to pay for our sins.  He saves us by his grace and mercy.  If it were not for God's great mercy we would all end up in hell forever.  I am very thankful that Jesus saved me.

God's Simple Plan Of Salvation

The False Doctrine Of Calvinism

Calvinism is a wicked false doctrine that was started by a man named John Calvin in the 1500s, which is a total corruption of the true gospel of Jesus Christ. This false doctrine has crept into many baptist churches in our day.  It teaches basically that God chooses certain people to be saved and go to heaven and he chooses other people to be damned and go to hell, that it is all according to God's choice and there is nothing man can do about it. Their key code words they like to say are "God is sovereign," or "the sovereign grace of God", meaning he is in control of everything, even in controlling who gets saved and who doesn't. But that is totally untrue because if it were God's choice everybody would be saved, but he gives man a free will to choose whether or not to accept Christ or not accept him. In the following verses it shows that he would like all men to be saved.

II Peter 3:9: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 
I Timothy 2:4: Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.  
The word sovereign is not mentioned in the bible even one time, but that is what Calvinists like to say all the time.  In reality, God has done everything he could do to keep people out of hell by giving his only begotten son to die on the cross and rise again, but it is up to man to either accept or reject the free gift of salvation that God offers.  God will not force anyone to accept it because man has a free will.  That is why the bible says "whosoever" may be saved.  Whosoever means anybody can be saved. John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 
Revelation 22:17: And the Spirit and the bride say, Come, And let him that heareth say, Come, And let him that is athirst come, And Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

If you ask any child what whosoever means, they would say that it means "anybody." It is as plain as day from scripture that anybody can be saved, whoever wants to.

The bible is clear that Jesus did die for everyone in the following verses.  
I John 2:2: And he is the propitiation for our wins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Hebrews 2:9: But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Even in the old testament God tells people to choose because it is always up to man to choose.  
Deuteronomy 30:19: I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 
You see God has already done his part in providing a savior for us, but it is up to man to choose Jesus as savior or not choose him. The two necessary parts to salvation are 1) Man's part is faith, and 2) God's part is grace.)
Ephesians 2:8: For by grace are ye saved through faith.

The Calvinists have an outline of five points for their belief system that is called TULIP.
T is for total depravity of man, U is unconditional election, L is limited atonement, I is irresistible grace, and P is perseverance of the saints.  These listed below explain this false teaching.

T - Total depravity of man.  This is the teaching that man is so bad and so depraved, meaning morally corrupt and wicked, that he cannot get saved by his own choice, but that God has to provide the faith for him, but only to certain people that he chooses.  But over and over in the bible Jesus says to people "thy faith hath saved thee". A couple examples are:
Luke 7:50: And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
Luke 18:42: And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
It is our faith that saves us.  God doesn't force us to have faith or it wouldn't even be faith.

U - Unconditional grace.  This false teaching says that if God chooses you to be saved, you don't have to do anything, that God just does it all, but this is untrue because there is something you have to do to be saved and that is found in Acts 16:30-31: And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved: 31: And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 
So there is something you need to do to be saved, you have to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, put your faith in him to give you the gift of eternal life.

L - Limited atonement.  The teaching that Jesus didn't die for everyone, but only for the people that he chooses.  I already mentioned above the verses that show that Jesus did die for everyone.

I - Irresistible grace.  They say that God draws you so much with his drawing power, that you cannot resist, but only to certain people.  John 12:32: And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.  So by the word of God and the gospel, Jesus is drawing all men to him, but only those who believe on him will be saved.

P - Perseverance of the saints.  The teaching that people who are really saved will persevere to the end, meaning they will keep walking on the straight and narrow way til the end. But the truth is that God is hanging onto us and we cannot ever be lost. Even if we backslide or wander off into sinful practices, we will still be saved.  If you have to keep doing good things to keep your salvation, then that is the same thing as having to do works to get saved.  Salvation is not by works, but by faith. John 10:28: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Calvinism is clearly a wicked and dangerous doctrine because it is damning souls to hell.  People will not go soul winning because they think if a person is chosen by God they will get saved no matter what they do, but the great commission is to go into all the world and preach the gospel to everyone.  This is God's plan to get people saved.
Mark 16:15: And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  
Also in the book of Acts it says the disciples went from house to house preaching the gospel and getting people saved.
Acts 5:42: And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
It is just like what the missionary that preached at church last week said about some people who went door to door soul winning and evangelizing and 200 people got saved.  They were obeying the great commission, and that is what God wants us to do.

On the other hand, Calvinists do not go soul winning, but instead they like to sit in their plush fancy offices supposedly studying the deep things in the bible, while letting the world go to hell.  They have all these titles such as Dr. of divinity, or Master of divinity, etc., while they have no concerns about the souls of people and where they are going to go when they die.  These are the preachers who go to seminary (cemetery) and think they are very smart and some kind of great theologian.  They use big words to make themselves look intelligent. When they preach, they go down deep, stay down long, and come up dry.  These are not the kind of people God uses. In the first place the bible says God uses the weak things.
I Corinthians 1:26: For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty:
28: And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are.

In the second place God uses people that will go and be laborers in the harvest fields.
John 4:35: Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
Matthew 9:38: Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into the harvest.

The reason for praying for laborers is because people will not get saved unless they hear the gospel from a Christian soul winner witnessing to them.
Romans 10:13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14: How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15: And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Are you getting the picture of "going" and being "sent," to preach the gospel to lost souls so they can choose whether or not to accept the free gift of salvation or reject it.  It doesn't say go many years to a seminary and get a lot of degrees and then go sit in an office somewhere making people think they need you to understand the bible.  Any saved person can understand the bible on their own because the Holy Spirit teaches it to us.
John 14:26: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
The best way to understand the bible is to just read the bible a lot, you don't need to be a great theologian.  Of course it is right to go to church and listen to sermons and learn a lot of good things that way, because God commands us to go to church and pastors are called to feed the flock.  Hebrews 10:25: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 
Acts 20:28: Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.  
But the point is that we can read the bible by ourselves and understand it.

Calvinism is a doctrine people like to use to justify their laziness  because they don't want to do the labor and work to get people saved.  So instead they say whoever is going to get saved will get saved no matter what we do, which is totally contrary to the great commission of going and being sent.

Another thing about it is that Calvinists do not have a burden for souls.  I remember years ago when my dad was on his deathbed with cancer, and I was so burdened for his soul because I didn't want him to go to hell, that I wept and begged and pleaded with God to save him.  God did answer my prayer and saved him before it was too late.  If I was a Calvinist, I would have just said whatever will be will be.  No, that is not Christianity, that is hardheartedness and a lack of compassion. And I have heard many testimonies of people who got saved because someone was burdened and prayed hard for them.

So sadly, many independent fundamental baptist churches in these days are apostatizing and leaning more and more in the direction of this false doctrine.  They have scaled back on door to door soul winning or even done away with it altogether.  The baptist church that I went to when I first got saved, Columbiaville Baptist Church, had door to door soul winning and now they have done away with it.  Faith Baptist Church of Davison is another example of a church that used to go soul winning, but not anymore.  They are also a big fan of John MacArthur, who is a Calvinist, which would explain why they don't do soul winning anymore.  John MacArthur does not go soul winning.  A lot of churches have what they call "visitation," which is not the same thing as soul winning.  They may visit people and invite them to church or visit people who have come to church, but they still do not give them the gospel, like the bible tells us to do.  People do not get saved by going to church, they have to hear the gospel, that's the only way. Visitation is absolutely worthless; it doesn't get anyone saved period.  Another thing they do to substitute for soul winning is having a wild game dinner, which is another absolutely unbiblical method.  God says "go", and give them the gospel, not invite them to a special dinner.

The good news is that there is a movement going on in America right now called the new IFB (Independent Fundamental Baptist) movement that is getting back to what the old IFB churches used to be in regards to soul winning and spreading the gospel.  These churches are being started by young men of God and are popping up all over the country. They are actually sending out hundreds of soul winners every single week and getting hundreds of thousands of people saved.  These pastors are training other men in their church to be pastors and sending them out to start churches, so it just keeps growing and growing.  God is doing a great work.  Also, many pastors from the old IFB are catching the vision and getting on fire for the Lord too. 

I hope you understand this bible lesson.  My prayer for you is that you will get the vision and go out to the ripe harvest field and wins souls to Christ. 

Matthew 9:36: But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
37: Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38: Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Being Diligent And Living A Productive Life

Being diligent is the opposite of being lazy.  Why is it important to be diligent rather than lazy?  The reason is because God has only given us one life and we should do all we can with that one life to glorify God.  God actually created man to work.  Even before sin entered into the world God told Adam to keep and dress the garden in the Garden of Eden.
Genesis 2:15: And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 
God wants people to be productive with their life and work because it is for their own happiness and wellbeing.  People who work are happier than people who are lazy.  It makes you feel good to produce and accomplish something with your life.  Even in heaven we will be working by serving our Lord and Savior.
Revelation 22:3: And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him. 
So we get to serve the Lord even when we get to heaven.

Ways to be diligent and productive:

1. Strive to be productive every single day:  That means to not be fiddling time away on things that don't even matter, like playing video games for instance.

2. Have goals for your life:  For instance, what you would like to accomplish five years from now.  If you spent a few hours a day every day for five years playing video games that would add up to a lot of hours, and what would you have at the end of five years, absolutely nothing. On the other hand, if you spent that time instead practicing a musical instrument you would have a very good talent that you could use to glorify God.  The purpose is not so that you can say "look at me how great I am", that would be pride.  But the purpose is to say, "look what God has done through  me."  Everyone should want to accomplish something with their life.  That is the way God created us. If you aim at nothing, that is what you will hit every time.

3. Be diligent with your bible reading: Develop a routine of doing it every day at the same time. The bible says the Christian life is a life of striving to win the prize, and we need to be filled with the Word to run the race.
I Corinthians 9:24: Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
Philippians 3:14: I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Acts 17:11: These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

4. To be diligent you must not let difficulties stop you: This is called perseverance.  It means to never give up.  You just keep on striving no matter how hard it is.  I know a person who is an excellent example of someone who was diligent.  She dedicated 2 1/2 years of her life to intense studying and work going through nursing school because she had a goal of becoming a nurse.  Sure it was tough, but she kept on going until she finished.  Many people drop out of nursing school because they say it is just too hard, but a diligent person keeps on going no matter how hard it is.  Determine to finish what you start; with God's help you can do it.  It also takes patience.
Romans 2:7: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality.

5.  Do your very best at everything you do:
Ecclesiastes 9:10: Whatsover thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.  What that means is during your one life here on earth is the only time you have to do any work for God's glory; after you die you will not be able to.  So make good use of your life and do everything you do with all your might.

Christains are  also commanded to diligently keep God's commandments.
Deuteronomy 6:17: Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.

Also if we keep God's commandments he will give us good success in everything we do.  God doesn't make failures, he only makes successes.
Deuteronomy 11:13: And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
14: That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.

Joshua 22:5: But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. 

Psalm 119:4: Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.

The bible also says that in all labor there is reward.
Proverbs 14:23: In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
I Corinthians 3:8: Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
Deuteronomy 11:22: For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD yours God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him:
23: Then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves.

So the most important thing we can do is to diligently keep God's commandments and live every day to be the most productive and useful that we can so that when we come to the end of our life we can say what the apostle Paul said.
II Timothy 4:6: For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7: I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
8: Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them that love his appearing.

Why Seventh Day Adventists Are Not Christians

This is a bible lesson on the subject of why Seventh Day Adventist is a false religion and a cult.  Many people think they are just Christians that go to church on Saturday, but actually that is the least problem there is with them.  They do not agree with any of the most important doctrines in the bible about salvation.  They have many strange doctrines and false teachings. They may sound like Christians in the terms they use like salvation or being born again, but their terms do not mean the same thing that is actually biblical truth.  I looked up their beliefs on their very own website called adventist.org and will go over some of them below.

1.  They don't believe in hell.  If you don't believe in hell what are you being saved from.. You cannot be a Christian if you don't believe in hell. When Jesus died on the cross it was to take our punishment for us so we wouldn't have to pay ourselves and go to hell forever.  The bible clearly states that when someone dies they go immediately to heaven to be with Christ, or they go to hell for all eternity.  What the Adventists teach is that death is an unconscious state for all people, saved or unsaved.  They say that people will be actually nowhere and will be nothingness until the second resurrection when Jesus comes to judge, then the righteous go to heaven and the unsaved will get burned up with fire and be gone and cease to exist, which is called annihilation. But that is not true because the bible says the wicked will be tormented day and night in an everlasting fire, which means for ever and ever.  That is the motivation for winning souls, because we don't want people to go to an eternal fiery hell.  Matthew 25:41: Then shall he say unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.  Another verse also is Matthew 18:8: Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be case into everlasting fire.

Revelation 14:10: The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of this name.
That is not getting burned up and being gone, it is much worse, it is being on fire forever. I'm definitely so glad that I'm not going there, and it is all because of what Jesus did for me. That is why Jesus suffered and gave his life for me, to keep me out of hell.  There is nothing that horrible about being burned up and being gone as there is about being in an everlasting fire forever.

There is also the story of the rich man and Lazarus and how the rich man went straight to hell and Lazarus went straight to heaven.  Some people think the story of the rich man and Lazarus is a parable, but it is not a parable because parables do not give any names of actual people.  They just say a certain man, etc., but in the rich man and Lazarus story God actually said the name of Lazarus, so it is not a parable, it is a true story. To read the entire account of this read Luke 16:19-31. There is definitely a man named Lazarus in heaven right now, while the rich man is still in torment right now and will be forever.  Hell is horrible and lasts forever; what a chilling thought, but that is what the bible says.

Also the bible is clear that saved people go to be with the Lord the moment they die.  Corinthians 5:8: We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.  

When I die I will be going directly to heaven to be with Jesus.  Philippians 1:21: For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 
23: For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better.

John 11:25: Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.
26: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believeth thou this. When a saved person dies they will go to be with Jesus forever.

2.  One of the Adventists beliefs is called "Experience of salvation": This is what the Adventists say, "When we accept God's grace and salvation, the Holy Spirit reveals our need for Jesus and recreates us. The Spirit builds our faith and helps us leave our broken lives behind."  In another place they say, "we are given the power to live a holy life".
Notice how it says nothing of receiving the gift of eternal life. To them salvation is just being given a heart to live a holy life, no mention at all of John 3:16 or Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. So when they talk about salvation it is not the same thing as what we believe about salvation. (the gift of eternal life).  It is a false teaching. Jesus didn't die to make us live better lives; he died to keep us out of hell.

In another section of their beliefs it goes on to say "Continually committed to Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, we are set free from the burden of our past deeds."  Also they say, "Salvation transforms how we see our world. We no longer fear our past or future, but embrace a present full of hope, love, passion and praise as the Spirit lives in us.  In actuality, when we are committed to Christ he will make us fishers of men to keep people out of hell.  Everything they say about salvation or living for Christ is only pertaining to this life here on earth only.  In truth, though, salvation is eternal life and to live for Christ means to live for things of eternal value.
Colossians 3:1: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  So you see then that their definition of salvation is totally different from our definition of salvation from the bible.

3.  They have the strange doctrine of washing one another's feet.  It is an ordinance that they do in their church.  When Jesus washed his disciples feet in the bible, he did it to show us an example, to be like him and serve others and to have humility. He didn't do it to be an ordinance in the church for people to actually wash each others feet.  Back in Jesus's day people wore sandals and walked for miles in them so their feet really needed washing, but today people wear shoes, etc., so this washing of feet is just a showing off of how spiritual they think they are.  It is ridiculous.

4. They follow the teachings of a woman named Ellen G. White and they actually put her writings on the same level as the bible, which is horribly wicked.  This is what they say about Ellen. G. White. "Her writings speak with prophetic authority and provide comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction to the church.  No writing of a human being should be put on par with the bible.  The KJV bible ONLY is the authority in our life and church, not any writings by a person.  The bible says that Jesus is the head of the church, not some false prophet's writings. All false cults start with a false prophet like Ellen G. Smith.  Christian science was started by Mary Baker Eddy, Mormons by Joseph Smith.  So flee from any religion that teaches a human being's writings are on par with the bible or even above the bible.  The KJV bible is our only authority as the word of God, nothing else.

The Seventh Day Adventists are a huge church in America, with tens of millions of followers, but it is a satanic religion that preaches a false gospel and is damning souls to hell.  We have to be on the alert for false religions and be on guard, so we don't get sucked into their false teachings.  Remember just because someone says, "I'm saved, I believe in Jesus", that doesn't mean they are saved. If they believe in a false gospel they will end up in hell unless they get truly saved before it is eternally too late.

Galatians 1:8: But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have received, let him be accursed.
9: As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 

We need to be strong in the Lord and continually in his Word so we won't fall for the devil's tactics or false religions or false prophets.

Ephesians 6:10: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11: Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

God Makes A Difference

There are things that God clearly makes a difference between in the bible and the most important one is that he puts a difference between his children and the unsaved people in the world. In the old testament God's people were the nation of Israel and the Egyptians were the children of the world.
Exodus 11:7: But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. That is why in the new testament it says we are to come out from among them and not touch the unclean thing.
II Corinthians 6:16: And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17; Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 
18: And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

So we are God's people just like the children of Israel were.  God commands us to be separate from sinners and to not touch the unclean thing and when we do he will be very close to us as our father and take care of us because we are separated from the world and separated unto him.  I can remember back when I was young, like in my 20's and I was a new Christian, I was so different than the members of my earthly family, like my mom and dad and sister. I had to come out from among them and not participate in their worldly lifestyle anymore like I used to when I was unsaved, but God was so near and dear to me then and helped me to take a stand for him.  He was very close to me and I could really feel his presence of being my Father when I came out from among them just like II Corinthians 6:17-18 says. Whenever we take a stand for God he will always comfort us and bless us exceedingly, and I can testify that God will help us and lead us all along the way in our walk with him as a loving heavenly father.  Being a child of God is the most wonderful thing there could ever be. The bible even says that God can do exceedingly great things for us.
Ephesians 3:19: And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20: Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

So God wants us to ask for great things from him. He wants us to pray for big things because he is a great and powerful God who can do great things.
Psalm 81:10: I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. Remember that God led the children of Israel out of Egypt with great miracles and divided the Red Sea. That is the same God that we serve today. God is still great and powerful.

Here are some other verses in the old testament that tell us to put a difference between clean and unclean things.
Leviticus 10:10: And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean: 
Leviticus 11:47: To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.
Leviticus: 20:25: Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean.

Ezekiel 44:23: And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

Be Steadfast

What does it mean to be steadfast? The definition of steadfast is faithful, committed, devoted, dedicated, constant, steady, and unwavering, being fixed and unchanging, and that is exactly what God wants us to be in our faith and walk with him.  He wants us to steadfastly serve him always, and to not swerve from it or get off course, but to just keep going in the right direction and continuing in it.

The bible commands us to be steadfast.
I Corinthians 15:57: But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
58: Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

One area we need to be steadfast is in our beliefs. Once you decide in your heart and understand the great doctrines in the bible like salvation by faith alone and not of works, that it is a free gift, don't ever waver from that conviction, just nail it down and don't ever rethink and wonder about it.  Just settle it in your heart and don't ever question it again.  You know that is what the bible says. Just stand on the word of God.
Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 
9: not of works, lest any man should boast. 
There are many false prophets and deceivers in the world who will try to sway you away from the fundamental doctrines in the bible and try to mess with your mind, but if you are grounded and settled in your beliefs, they won't be able to deceive you because you know the truth. That is why it is so important to be steadfast and unmovable in your faith.
Ephesians 4:14: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. If you hear a preacher say you have to do something or anything else besides only trust Christ to be saved, you know that is a false teacher and you shouldn't listen to him, because you are grounded and steadfast in the great fundamentals of the faith.

Another belief to be grounded and steadfast in is the doctrine of eternal security, meaning you can never lose your salvation.
John 27: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29: My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
Therefore if you hear a preacher say you can lose your salvation if you don't live right or that you have to persevere to the end, meaning staying on the straight and narrow way to the end, that preacher is a false teacher and you shouldn't listen to him.
There are many false teachers in the world who we are to avoid and not listen to.
II Peter 2:1:But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  
Heresy means a false teaching that is contrary to the true doctrines in the bible.

In Matthew chapter 7 Jesus warns us about false prophets.
Matthew 7:15: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 
16: Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 
17: Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18: A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19: Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20: Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
These false prophets may look like such nice people and may be real smooth talkers while trying to convince you, but Jesus says inwardly they are terrible wolves trying to lead you astray from the truth, so if you are grounded and settled in the truth you won't be deceived by them. To know them by their fruits is not the fruit of the spirit, but the fruit of their lives and ministries, what they are producing, such as are they winning souls for Jesus and being used of God to build a ministry that is keeping souls out of hell by preaching the true gospel, etc. This is talking about true ministers of the gospel versus false prophets.

Furthermore, the bible says we are to be steadfast in resisting the devil.
I Peter 5:8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10: But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, and settle you.

Ephesians 6:10: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11: Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

So far we know we are to be steadfast in our beliefs, steadfast in avoiding false teachers, and steadfast in resisting the devil, but also we are to be steadfast in our labor that we do for the Lord. As already mentioned above in I Corinthians it says this.
I Corinthians 15:58:Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
So it means we should do an abundant amount of labor for our wonderful Lord Jesus, who saved us by his grace, even knowing that he is going to reward us for it and that our labor will bring forth great results for the furtherance of God's kingdom.

One last thought to sum up this lesson are the following verses about being grounded and settled in the faith.
Colossians 1:23: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Colossians 2:7: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Be strong in the faith and God will use you in a mighty way for his glory to bear much fruit for him.
I Corinthians 16: Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

Poetry About Jesus And Salvation

Being Delivered

God delivers his children when they are in any kind of trouble, rescuing them out of it.  Anyone who is a disciple of Jesus will face trouble and will be persecuted.
II Corinthians 4:8: We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9: Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

II Timothy 3:11: Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the LORD delivered me.
12: Yea, and all that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecutions.

So we who serve Jesus will most definitely suffer persecutions and afflictions, but the good news is that God will deliver us out of them all.
Psalms 34:19: Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20: He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

God also delivers us from temptations, which we all have because of our sinful flesh.
II Peter 2:9: The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
Matthew 6:13: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, for ever. Amen.

The bible also says that God will save us and protect us from all our enemies.  Anyone who is following Jesus will have enemies, just like Jesus had enemies and people who hated him.
II Kings 17:39: But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.
Luke 1:74: That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear.

In the old testament there are some examples of people who were delivered by God. Daniel in the lions den is one example.
Daniel 6:16: Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
17: And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
18: Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
19: Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
20: And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions"
21: Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22: My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
23: Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

So God delivered Daniel in the lions den and shut the lions mouth because he trusted in God and obeyed God when he continued praying to God in front of his open window when there was a decree written that he was not allowed to do so. It is always important to obey God first before any other law.
Daniel 6:27:He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

Another example is that of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were cast into the fiery furnace for obeying God instead of man when they would not bow down to the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar made.
Daniel 3:10: Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
11: And whoso falleth now down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
12: There are certain Jews whom thou has set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the gold image which thou hast set up.
13: Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then thy brought these men before the king.

Daniel 3:23: And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down boung into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24: Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
25: He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
So these three men were cast in the fiery furnace and Jesus actually went in there with them and delivered them from being hurt by the fire.

Sometimes a Christian may be in a very bad environment and around much wickedness and people with vile behavior, for instance a godly person in a public school where there are all kinds of queers and reprobates that hate God and even teachers who blaspheme the holy name of Jesus and God. People who are righteous and godly feel vexed, or troubled, in their spirit around such ungodliness, but if they trust in God, God will deliver them and give them a way to escape it.
II Peter 2:7: And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked.
Galations 1:4: Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.

So remember to always keep serving the Lord and living for him and he will deliver you from every evil work all the days of your life.
II Timothy 4:18: And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Poetry About Jesus And Salvation