Christ Our Risen Lord

Believing in the risen Lord Jesus Christ saves you from sin and death. The promise of God states, If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9). Yes, Christ our risen Lord saves you as a believer.

Christ our risen Lord saves you, because of God's love, grace and power. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57). Death surrendered to the power of your risen Lord. By the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ is risen to save you by God's love and grace. 

Death had reigned over all people everywhere in every age. Death would not be denied. Death had its way with all mankind. Death had reigned supreme over all without exception. For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Christ is risen to save you from the wages of sin.

The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ one Sunday morning centuries ago was salvation for every believer. The earth quaked, rolling a stone away from the door of a tomb. The tomb was empty. Jesus lives! Jesus died for our sins (1 John 1:7). Jesus Christ our Lord is risen to save you from the condemnation of your sin.

The Battle of Armageddon

In Revelation 19:17-21, the Battle of Armageddon ends with the destruction of the wicked. The beast, known as the Antichrist, and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire. John sees the vision of all the armies who war against God and the true Christ totally and completely defeated. The birds of prey come to feast on the flesh of their dead bodies.

The destruction of the wicked makes way for the Millennium (Rev. 20:4-6). God's Kingdom comes upon earth in all of its fullness. For centuries God's people have prayed, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). Now our King, the Lord Jesus Christ will rule with a rod of iron (Rev. 19:15). His will shall be done.

Armageddon ends abruptly, when the King of Kings speaks the word. Those opposing armies become immediately lifeless. In apocalyptic imagery, John saw the sword come out of His mouth. "And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat upon the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh" (Rev. 19:21).

The destruction of the wicked comes by the word of Jesus our Lord. His word is with absolute authority and power. Those who have enmity against God and His Son meet certain and sure defeat. The Lord God omnipotent reigns. His kingdom rules over all. "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12).

Edwards on Free Will

Jonathan Edwards understood that free will from a biblical standpoint must be distinguished between natural ability and spiritual ability. All people have free will as far as natural ability is concerned. That is to say, God has given all of us the ability of choice in the natural world. Yet, the natural man without Jesus Christ is in bondage to sin and unbelief as far as spiritual ability is concerned.

Edwards understanding of free will was consistent with Scripture, and the teaching of the apostle Paul. The natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 1:18; 2:12-14). He is spiritually dead in sin and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1). His mind is unable to discern and believe what the Holy Spirit teaches (John 3:10-12).

Only when we are born of the Spirit, through faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ, are we able to understand and truly believe what Scripture teaches. The natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God. 

At new birth, the Holy Spirit becomes our teacher through Holy Scripture, guiding us into all truth. And, that truth is found in the one who is the truth, Jesus our Lord (John 14:6). "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36).

Receive God's Love

Anyone may receive God's love. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). That includes every nation, all races, and every ethnic group (Revelation 5:9). 

Sinners receive God's love, and we have all sinned (Romans 3:23). He proves it. God sent His Son to die for sinners like you and me (Romans 5:8). He died for our sins at the cross (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Look at God's love in Christ crucified. This is the greatest love story the world has ever known. Yes, God the Father's love for sinners is forever proven.

Receive God's love in our hearts (Romans 5:5). The Holy Spirit makes God's love real to you. Upon confessing Jesus as Lord, the Holy Spirit does something beyond our ability to completely understand. He pours out the Father's love into our hearts. Our lives are changed by love divine. That's God's love for you in Christ.

Receive God's love as believers in Christ. As a believer in Jesus Christ, nothing can separate us from the infinite love of God. That includes trouble, persecution, suffering, and even death. God loves us now and forever. Everlasting life in Christ is God the Father's everlasting love (Romans 8:37-38).