Who Will Go To Heaven?

Posted on February 13, 2024 by Robert Williford

We often hear the question, “Will a Muslim, Baptist or anyone else get to Heaven?” The best answer might be, “No,” because people can be “good people” but they are excluded from Heaven because they have yet to believe in Jesus Christ as Savior.

Remember these words of Jesus speaking to Nicodemus? “For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.” John 3:16-18 NASB.

John wrote the following on the island of Patmos, “And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.””  Revelation‬ 21‬:6‬-8‬.‬

We share a dark and sinful world where the darkness cannot overcome the Light in which we who know Jesus, the Light, will one day know His peace. And like Paul, I have this question, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God. Some of you once lived this way. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

This is the answer to the question I have had for a very long time, but the answer has always been in the hand of the One with the answer.  “But God, being rich in mercy because of his great love with which he loved us, even though we were dead in offenses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved! – and he raised us up together with him and seated us together with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.” Ephesians 2:4-10.

These things may not answer the question that plagues you and others, but I have no other solution but, “If we accept the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater because this is the testimony of God that he has testified concerning his Son. (The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made him a liar because he has not believed in the testimony that God has testified concerning his Son.) And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. The one who has the Son has this eternal life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have this eternal life. I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:9-13.

And, Jesus remains Lord.

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Obedience to Christ

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Robert Williford
Obedience to Christ
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Obedience to Christ

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Robert Williford

Obedience to the commands of Jesus Christ, His Word, is one of the significant demonstrations of spiritual maturity. To enter into a spiritual battle without His amor attached is spiritual suicide. The following verses are from the statements Jesus made to a large following found in Matthew 5-7. I would strongly suggest the reading of these three chapters as well as pausing here.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its flavor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people! 

You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16 NASB.

“For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven!” Matthew 5:20. 

“Enter through the narrow gate because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it!” Matthew 7:13-14.

“Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves. You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered from thorns or figs from thistles, are they? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will recognize them by their fruit.” Matthew 7:15-20.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven—only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many powerful deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!” Matthew 7:21-23.

I will not hesitate to encourage everyone to read and study the Word of God each and every day. Paul the Apostle writes, “By pointing out such things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, having nourished yourself on the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. But reject those myths fit only for the godless and gullible, and train yourself for godliness.” 1 Timothy 4:6-7.

Jesus is Lord.

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Why Worship on Sunday?

Posted on February 11, 2024 by Robert Williford

The “Lord’s Day” may or may not be John’s indication that Sunday, being the first day of the week, is a day of worship. But he may also be pointing to the future day of the Lord often spoken of in Scripture. The New Testament never indicates that Sunday is the Lord’s day. Traditionally his term became common in the late first century or sometime in the second century.  Because the early Christians rest and worship on the first day this has continued for… two thousand years?

The Lord’s Day is not to be confused with the Day of the Lord. The Lord’s Day is Sunday. The term Lord’s Day is used only once in the Word of God where John writes in Revelation 1:10-11, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day when I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, saying: “Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches—to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” NASB. Indeed, we can say that first-century Christians were using the expression.

God is not interested in our rituals and Isaiah writes, “To you this entire prophetic revelation is like words in a sealed scroll. When they hand it to one who can read and say, “Read this,” he responds, “I can’t, because it is sealed.” Or when they hand the scroll to one who can’t read and say, “Read this,” he says, “I can’t read.” The Lord says, “These people say they are loyal to me; they say wonderful things about me, but they are not really loyal to me. Their worship consists of nothing but man-made ritual.” Isaiah 29:11-13.

We normally think of the Lord’s Day as Sunday, but it is not to be connected to the Jewish Sabbath and not to be seen as the “Christian Sabbath.” Certainly, we should recognize one day for rest to honor the Risen Lord on the first day of the week. As born-again Followers of the Risen Christ, we may worship Him on any day.

My purpose for all of this is simple. Yes, today may be Super Bowl Sunday, but let us not forget that we Christians must remember who we are and Whose we are…this is the day we celebrate the Risen Lord.

Jesus remains Lord.

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Concerning God’s Presence

Posted on February 10, 2024 by Robert Williford

Matthew records these words of Jesus in 18:15-20, “ “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” NASB.

God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are always among us Believers and we are instructed to employ His Word in our daily living. Why? Because Believers ARE of God, born again by His Son and His Spirit occupies our lives.

“This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” 1 John 3:24-25. (Please read the entire book of 1 John for contextual purposes, this will take you 15 minutes…)

Herein we find a reasonable cause and effective relationship with God, essentially abiding or dwelling with God.  The reason God abides in us is that we are abiding in His love.  Please remember that God is love.

By reading the Scriptures, Old and New Testaments one is equipped to understand the omnipresence of Creator God. He walked with and directed the Nation of Israel from Genesis 1:1 stating, “In the Beginning God…” This demonstrates the effectiveness of His  Name and He cannot be affected by the human will.

In Hebrews 13:5b-7 we find that God says “ “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”  so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.
What will man do to me?” Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.” Again, context is most important and this statement is given strength from cc 11 and 12 covering the faithful folks who preceded us.

The 23rd Psalm speaks of God’s protection for His people if they traverse difficulty. He is the Great Shepherd. 

The Savior is always present in every moment of every day, He NEVER is not present. From the moment of salvation that Jesus describes to Nicodemus in John 3:16 and then when He comes to dwell with us for eternity in the New Jerusalem we can rest assured of His presence, 

Revelation 21:1-7 tells us,  “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.”

Jesus is Lord.

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This Is What I Think

Posted on February 9, 2024 by Robert Williford

This is what I think and most probably do not really care what I think, but here goes…The Covid thing is not of God, or is it? The Bible is very clear concerning the approaching time of His return…chaos will reign. Also, those who know the Lord intimately are spiritually discerning and understanding of Him. Solomon writes in Proverbs 28:4-5 NET2, “Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law contend with them. Evil people do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it all.” Unrighteous people are all around us and they are without knowledge of the Savior.

Way back in Exodus 28:23, The Lord passed throughout Egypt and sent an Angel of Death or ‘destroyer,’ but those of faith who followed God’s instructions were redeemed. However, it is important to note the statement, “When the Lord passes through to strike Egypt and sees the blood on the lintel and the two doorposts, He will pass over the door and not let the destroyer enter your houses to strike you.” HCSB. We may not like it, but God is active in the affairs of man, even when death is all around us. 

People consistently disobey God and often He allows bad things to happen to both good and bad people. Remember, however, good people do not always know Him, but what we term as ‘good’ is often the actions of ‘evil-doers’ or ‘unrighteous people.’ Throughout biblical history God’s patience thins, and we find His responses are not in agreement with our own. 

“Certainly you are not a God who approves of evil; evil people cannot dwell with you. Arrogant people cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who behave wickedly. You destroy liars; the Lord despises violent and deceitful people.” Psalm 5:4-6 NET2 or from the KJV, “For thou [art] not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. {in…: Heb. before thine eyes} Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. {bloody…: Heb. man of bloods and deceit}” 

What did David write? Look again at Psalm 5:5, “thou hatest all workers of iniquity.” God responds in ways that many cannot understand and refuse to believe. His judgment upon the wicked is oftentimes deadly now and in eternity. He will punish now with physical death and later with eternal death in the Lake of Fire. He does not punish sin, God punishes the evil-doer, the unrighteous, why? Because He hates them. God in His Word expresses says so..

This is a statement that really needs no comment, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son. That whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:16-18 KJV.

Jesus remains Lord.

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Seeking and Knowing God’s Presence

Posted on February 8, 2024 by Robert Williford

The Bible says we need faith that God exists.

Look at Hebrews 11:1-3, “Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For our ancestors won God’s approval by it. By faith we understand that the universe was created by God’s command, so that what is seen has been made from things that are not visible.”

Continue on….

“By faith Enoch was taken away so he did not experience death, and he was not to be found because God took him away. Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:5-6. Because we can see God in His creation we will find more in God’s Word.

There was a group of Jewish leaders speaking to Jesus, “But He answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah’s proclamation; and look—something greater than Jonah is here!” Matthew 12:39–41. Jesus said this before He was crucified and speaks of the religious leaders who knew about Jonah. Here the Christ is saying that He will die on the cross for our sins, and then arise from the dead on the third day.

Our expectations concerning God shape our perspectives in everyday living. Our world views dictate how we view people and events. Do we expect Him to answer prayer? Does he seem to be silent if we ask Him to do something? When we ask God to do something ‘now’ is this more important than what He wants for us?

Before we can talk about God’s response in a dark world we must first know how we will react to His desire for us. Our perspective will determine what our faith looks like.

Yes, God calms storms, heals, and feeds thousands. Just what should we expect from God? What I know to be true is that my expectations from God now may not be as seen in the Bible.

Does this mean God does not answer our prayers for help? What we know is that our ways are not His ways. God’s interventions are most often His acts of His grace toward us.

Jesus is the story of the Bible and Who you are looking for. God is here … you just need to reach out to Him by faith.

Jesus is Lord.

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Seeking and Knowing God’s Presence

Posted on February 7, 2024 by Robert Williford

The Bible says we need faith that God exists. 

 Look at Hebrews 11:1-3, “Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For our ancestors won God’s approval by it. By faith we understand that the universe was created by God’s command, so that what is seen has been made from things that are not visible.”

Continue on….

By faith Enoch was taken away so he did not experience death, and he was not to be found because God took him away. Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:5-6. Because we are able see God in His creation we will find more in God’s Word.

 There was a group of Jewish leaders speaking to Jesus, “But He answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah’s proclamation; and look—something greater than Jonah is here!” Matthew 12:39–41. Jesus said this before He was crucified and speaks of the religious leaders who knew about Jonah. Here the Christ is saying that He will die on the cross for our sins , and then arise from the dead on the third day.

Expectations play a key role in shaping our perspective. How do you expect a spouse or child to act toward you? What expectations do you have for your boss or coworkers? Unmet expectations can dramatically impact any relationship.

The same is true with God. How do we expect him to answer prayer or to come to our aid in time of need? We might think that God seems to be silent because we expect that He communicates to us in some dramatic fashion. When we wish for God to act now, what do we really wish for? 

Before we are able to discuss God’s response to a fractured world we must first determine how He might respond. Just how do we expect Him to answer? The answer might determine how strong our faith really is.

There is scriptural evidence that the Creator calms storms, heals and feeds thousands. Just what should Him to be and do? What I know to be true is that dramatic actions from God may not be just as we find them in the Bible. However, this does not change the Truth found therein. And this Truth continues to be true today. God does heal, provides and intervenes unusually so in His world.

Does that mean God does not answer prayer for help? No. Perhaps your and my expectations of God are keeping us from seeing actions that He creates for us. We must not limit His activities because of our unbelief? Anyone’s acts may be His simple acts of grace.

 Jesus is the story of the Bible and Who you are looking for. God is here … you just need to seek Him and reach out to Him by faith. Here is a simple formula: “we must act as if it so in order for it to be so because with God it already is so.” But, better yet,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see. For by it the people of old received God’s commendation. By faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God’s command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible.” Hebrews 11:1-3 HCSB.

Jesus is Lord.

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Biblical Apologetics is For YOU

Posted on December 1, 2022 by Robert Williford

Apologetics is not for the sake of argument, but for you because your calling among God’s people is most important among Bible-believing Christians. The issues you present to those around you may be settled in your heart and mind, but many yet are constructing their beliefs about what is true and what is false. They listen to every word you speak and observe every action you take. You cannot pass your personal faith on to them and you must, therefore, help them to genuinely meet Him and place their faith in Him based on their understanding of the Word you teach to them. For this reason, John states, “You are from God, little children, and have conquered them because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world’s perspective and the world listens to them. We are from God; the person who knows God listens to us, but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.” 1 John 4:4-6 NET2.

I trust your understanding that the Church is increasingly under Satanic attack, and those whom God has given you charge of must learn how to defend their faith against those who will seek, attack, and destroy. Apologetics might not affect your faith because you have constructed your faith upon the Rock, but the manner you present your personal apologetics will most likely affect each one of them. 

God has given us a Compass, may we continue to follow God as He guides us. Do not get caught up in the temptations of Satan so that you will not be able to see the signposts of the Holy Spirit. I pray for everyone as I am able every day.

Jesus is Lord.

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Do NOT Follow Your Heart

Posted on November 30, 2022 by Robert Williford

God tells us in Jeremiah 17:9-10 NET2, “The human mind is more deceitful than anything else. It is incurably bad. Who can understand it? I, the Lord, probe into people’s minds. I examine people’s hearts. I deal with each person according to how he has behaved. I give them what they deserve based on what they have done.” AND in John 3:16-18 we find Jesus’ words to His friend, Nicodemus, “For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.” John writes in Revelation 20:11-15, “Then I saw a large white throne and the one who was seated on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. Then books were opened, and another book was opened—the book of life. So the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire.”

Many over time have said to me, “You do not consider the feelings of others” which is really not surprising because I always have replied to them something like this, “But I am not ashamed because I know the one in whom my faith is set and I am convinced that he is able to protect what has been entrusted to me until that day. Hold to the standard of sound words that you heard from me and do so with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 1:12b-13. I, like Paul, am not ashamed of who I am in Christ and encourage folks NOT to follow the feelings of my heart or theirs nor pay attention to the feelings of others if the heart and their feelings are in opposition to the Word of God. 

Eternity, where you will eventually end up depends upon your response to God Who does not look at your feelings, but rests His judgment concerning you upon whether or not you have decided to follow Jesus.

In John 14:1-4, Jesus is clear, “Do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God; believe also in me. There are many dwelling places in my Father’s house. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you. And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too. And you know the way where I am going.” Faith in Him alone is THE only path to Heaven, but you must trust only in Him. 

John’s inspired words from Revelation 20:11-15 concerning eternal life are instructive: “Then I saw a large white throne and the one who was seated on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. Then books were opened, and another book was opened—the book of life. So the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire.”

Following the feelings of others or even your own are not always in keeping with the Word of God. Oftentimes others have good intentions, but their feelings many times do not reflect the truth of God’s inspired words. Emotions are not the Word of God and reflect human traditions more than not. Therefore, when people point to the feelings of others they should be following God’s Word instead.

Why? For Jesus is Lord.

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