Category Archives: Eternal life

My first funeral (a suicide)

Posted on December 8, 2018 by

There was standing room only at the funeral parlor as I faced some rather austere men and women dressed in the old black garb common to conservative Mennonites. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Counselor, Counseling, Depression, Despair, Eternal life, feeling hopeless, Funeral, Hope?, Life of a pastor, Sadness, Suffering, Suicide, Wisdom | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Meet the citizens of heaven

Posted on March 13, 2018 by

It might surprise some to meet the true citizens of heaven. Many religious leaders “shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces” (Matthew 23:13). Jesus said of them,  “You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. ….You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are” (Matthew 23:14-15). Jesus said to these religious leaders, “religious leaders “shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces” (Matthew 23:13). Jesus said,  “You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. …Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you” (Matthew 21:31). Continue reading →

Posted in Afraid to die, Afterlife, Assurance, Atheism, Atheists, Belief, Blessed by God, Born again?, Christian worldview, Christianity, Cliches, Comfort, Cross of Christ, Cross of Jesus, Crucifixion, Death of Christ, Depravity, Disciple-making, Elentics, Eternal life, Eternal security, Evangelism, Faith, Fear of death, God's Heart, God's Love, Godly sorrow, Gospel, Gospel-centered, Grace, Greatness, Heaven, Human depravity, Humility, Jesus Christ, Justification, Legalism, Main problem, Matthew 7:1-6, Meekness, New Creation, Pharisees, Poor in spirit, Proud, Reconciliation, Regeneration, Religion, Religion-not the answer, Repentance, Salvation, Searching, Security of salvation, Seeker Services, Seeking God, Selfishness, Sin, Spiritual inventory, Teaching of Jesus, The cross of Christ, Unbelief, Walking with God, Witness, Worldly sorrow | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Feeling discouraged?

Posted on November 10, 2017 by

We all know what it is like to feel discouraged. Take a moment and consider four recommendations for times of discouragement. Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, Assurance, Burnout, Christian worldview, Comfort, Defeat?, Depression, Despair, discouraged, Discouragement, Encouragement, Eternal life, Eternal security, Fear, Fear of death, God's Love, Grieving, Hope?, Mercy | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is eternal salvation secure for believers?

Posted on September 30, 2016 by

I once had an encounter with an Amish man who told me he was shunned by the Amish Church for belief in assurance of salvation. I learned that he opposed the teaching of eternal security of salvation but embraced a … Continue reading →

Posted in Amish, Assurance, Christianity, Eternal life, Eternal security, Salvation, Security of salvation | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

How to overcome a condemning heart

Posted on June 6, 2016 by

Assurance of our standing before God is not a static propositional truth to believe. Assurance is experienced in the active transformed life of Christlike love. Following the example of what Jesus did for us through acts of sacrificial love is a strong means for assuring our heart before God. Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, Assurance, Eternal life, Eternal security, Peace, Salvation, Security of salvation, Wisdom | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Reality is earth and heaven

Posted on July 16, 2015 by

Do you live in reality? Do you like to keep it real? Is reality only the world of the five senses? Or, is there an unseen reality that matters enough to affect the way we live in this world? Continue reading →

Posted in Death, Eternal life, Fear of death, God's Will, Heaven | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Essential to your walk with God

Posted on May 14, 2015 by

Salvation is what God did for me by His grace, not what I do to try to keep myself worthy of His grace. Continue reading →

Posted in Afraid to die, Afterlife, Assurance, Christian life, Christian worldview, Christianity, Eternal life, Eternal security, Faith, Heaven, Religion-not the answer, Salvation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment