It's not too late to Cast your Vote!

When the polls open on any given election day, every citizen of the United States over the age of 18 is able to cast a vote. This is an absolute fact that everyone believes in. One can proudly say, "I have the right to vote." However, if you don't take the action to actually do so, your vote is not counted. You have given up, or lost your right. Believing in your right alone is not enough to cast your vote. 

The same goes for our salvation. We can truly believe that Jesus died on the cross for all of mankind's sins, but if we don't take the action to accept it for ourselves, it is lost. Jesus told Nicodemus, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) He later says, "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:7) Don't you just love Jesus? I think He's funny sometimes, like here saying, "Marvel not"… or, don't be so flabbergasted. But this is no laughing matter. Jesus goes on to say, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:6) If we do not accept Jesus as our savior, we remain only flesh; flesh that dies. When we accept Him, we receive his Holy Spirit, which lives on forever. 

The apostle Paul tells us, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10)

If you haven't cast your vote for your salvation yet, what could you possibly be waiting for? God has made it very clear that he will close His polls unannounced. "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." (1 Thessalonians 5:2) This very second, read this line out loud: "Jesus, I accept your death on the cross for full payment of my sins, and I look forward to being with you in heaven!" Salvation is indeed God's free and unmerited gift to everyone, as long as we take the action to claim it. 

Please remember, BIBLE BAIT is written by a novice Bible study student, not a Bible scholar. If something doesn't look quite right to you, dig into God's word. The one thing I promise you is that you won't get bored! 

 

Saved by Grace But Judged by Works

It's His Party 

And You Can Bring Gifts 

If You Want To

The invitation to the party of a lifetime reaches your door. The person to whom this party is given is the most amazing and highly respected person you know. Everyone but everyone is invited. It's free; all you need is do is accept the invitation. You get there and see that only a handful of people showed up. Many of them are lined up in great anticipation to give the esteemed guest of honor their gifts that took them their entire existence to cumulate. "Wait!", you exclaim in panic, "I didn't know you could bring gifts!" Ouch. To make matters worse, you found out there was a gift registry.

The Bible tells us that there is nothing you need to do to get into Heaven other than to accept Jesus as your Savior. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Thinking that we have to do anything in addition to believing insults our Lord by telling Him that the cross wasn't enough.

That being said, this does not mean that we cannot do good works for Him. This is great news, as there is nothing we should want to do more than to honor our Savior. Conveniently, we don't even have to guess what He might like; His wish list is scattered throughout the pages of the New Testament. For each wish granted, our King will give us a crown.

1. The Incorruptible Crown (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)
This imperishable crown is given to believers who have answered and successfully completed a call from God, and in doing so have sacrificed the money, possessions and life style they could have had otherwise. The apostle Paul compared it to running an extraordinary race, only the rewards of winning this race are everlasting.
2. The Crown of Rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20. & Daniel 12:3) 

This crown is for God's soul winners, who have faithfully witnessed to others His saving grace. We may doubt our ability to do such a powerful thing, or think we have no time, but our God is omnipotent. He can bend time and events in our favor to fit opportunities for us to witness and work for Him if we allow Him to.
3. The Crown of Righteousness (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
This crown is for those who have lived a good and righteous life for God, and longed and loved for His return. They have lived 'right' by not only talking the talk, but walking the walk even when no one was looking. Only the good…get the crown of righteousness!
4. The Crown of Life (James 1:12 & Revelation 2:10)
Also known as the martyr's crown, this crown is given to those believers who endure trials, tribulations, and severe suffering, even unto death. This is the greatest act of bravery, courage and love that we could possibly show God our Father.
5. The Crown of Glory (1 Peter 5:1-4)
Also known as the pastor's crown, this crown is for all who serve and shepherd God's people. God did not make the Bible easy to understand, but he did place among his people those who have studied and grasped His Word. These teachers will be given the crown of glory!

So, will people be walking around with crowns in Heaven? Weren't we talking about gifts we could give to Him? In Revelation 4:10 it says that when we receive our crowns we will cast them before Him, professing to Him that He should receive the glory and honor and power, that He created all things, and that for His pleasure they were made. Yes, these are the gifts that we can give to our Jesus on Judgement Day!

One of the unexpected joys of adding the Bible to my repertoire is that so many of the songs I have been singing in church all my life now have more substance. I feel sorry for the person who sits in front of me the next time we sing "Crown Him with Many Crowns!" I get all pitchy when I sing too loud.

Please remember, BIBLE BAIT is written by a novice Bible study student, not a Bible scholar. If something doesn't look quite right to you, do some digging. One thing you won't get is bored!

Just say Merry Christmas!

As I write this, we have 07 days, 12 hours, 42 minutes and 05 seconds until Christmas. (Maybe I should get rid of my countdown-to-Christmas ornament!) Regardless, I wonder how many more times someone will wish me a happy holiday rather than a Merry Christmas. People say this to me even when I am wearing my jacket that has 'Jesus Saves' embroidered on the front. Sadly, I admit that many times I just say, "Thanks" and walk away with a lump in my throat. 

I believe the tightness I feel in my throat is telling me something. So is my increased heartbeat. For tugging at my flesh is the very Counselor and Comforter that I deny. The apostle Paul was inspired by God to explain it this way: For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. -Galatians 5:17 It makes perfect sense then that our Savior, who's birth and more importantly death and resurrection it is that we are celebrating during Christmas, would physically remind us not to deny Him! 

As not to grieve my King and Savior when the world attempts to dismiss Him, I have decided to say, "You can say Merry Christmas to me - I celebrate my Savior's birth!" Additionally, if the Lord tarries another year, next Christmas I am going to make buttons that say just that.

God sprinkles all kinds of promises for us throughout His word. Some are lovely, some are not! This one encompasses both, and is quite relevant as well as motivating… Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. -Matthew 10:32-33

Please pray that we all have the courage to boldly proclaim what Christmas, in spite of it's pagan synthesis, means to us as Christians. 

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and leave you with the lyrics of my new favorite Christmas song, "Welcome to our World" by Chris Rice…

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking

How we need to hear from God

You've been promised, we've been waiting

Welcome Holy Child

Welcome Holy Child

Hope that you don't mind our manger

How I wish we would have known

But long-awaited Holy Stranger

Make Yourself at home

Please make Yourself at home

Bring Your peace into our violence

Bid our hungry souls be filled

Word now breaking Heaven's silence

Welcome to our world

Welcome to our world

Fragile finger sent to heal us

Tender brow prepared for thorn

Tiny heart whose blood will save us

Unto us is born

Unto us is born

So wrap our injured flesh around You

Breathe our air and walk our sod

Rob our sin and make us holy

Perfect Son of God

Perfect Son of God

Welcome to our world

Please remember, BIBLE BAIT is written by a novice Bible study student, not a Bible scholar. If something doesn't look quite right to you, dig into God's word. The one thing I promise you is that you won't get bored!