5 Dec (1 Peter)

Peter wrote this letter and 2 Peter to the Jewish believers in Asia, which is modern-day Turkey. Most scholars believe Peter wrote this from Rome, and it's addressing the persecution of the Church by Rome itself.

1 Peter 1

(v.12) Angels were created to serve God, and thus, to serve us, since we are made in His image. Angels are not, and that is one of the reasons for the fall of Lucifer, for he was jealous of the relationship between God and mankind.

(v.19) Peter ties in the importance of the Passover lamb, which Jesus is for all believers. The lamb sheds it's blood in order to save us!

(v.23) What is born again? Our bodies? No, our spirit is reborn, for at birth, we were destined to hell in our sinful nature. It takes a conscious decision to accept Christ in our accountable years, to be reborn. Otherwise, our spirit is still dead.

1 Peter 2

(v.4) Jesus compares His Church, His Bride, to the Pearl of Great Price...we are precious to Him! He gave all of Himself so we could be redeemed! Matt 13:46

(v.9) All believers are not from the tribe of Levi, but all believers are from the seed of Abraham, since we are faithful. God will make us kings and priests in heaven. Rev 1:6, 5:10

(v.10) Jew, Gentile, rich, poor, free or slave...we are all one family in Christ!

(v.11) As followers of Christ, we are not tied to this world. The followers of Satan are called earth dwellers many times in the Bible. Our citizenship is in heaven, not on earth! As such, we are to support one another, not fight each other!

(v.15) We are to obey the laws of the land, in order that we can be a light to the lost. No one will listen to us if we break the law all the time!

(v.25) Jesus is our Good Shepherd, and now that He has brought us into the fold, we should obey His commands and follow Him. John 10:11, 14

1 Peter 3

(v.1) Once again, if we step back and see the template that God had placed for the family, and the relationship between Him and His Church, no one will have problems with these verses that tell us to obey and give ourselves over to another. One of the key things that Jesus showed us, was to stop thinking about ourselves, and to put others' needs before our own.

(v.7) I make sure to point out to my daughters the words, being heirs together, for we are all the same in the eyes of God. He just made a design for the family to function best, and when following God, it works best.

(v.15) This is why we need to read and STUDY the Bible...not just casually read it. We will learn more about God's character, and the amazing plan of redemption He created. Also, we will be able to witness better, and to lovingly debate skeptics.

(v.21) Peter shows us that baptism is a good thing to do, but it's not needed for salvation.

1 Peter 4

(v.1) What a wonderful way to think of this! If we follow Christ by enduring in the flesh, then we will one day be glorified in heaven as He was. To be clear, we will not be equated with Christ, but we will be fellow heirs of the kingdom with Him. Eph 3:6

(v.14) If we are persecuted for our faith in Christ, then we are doing His will. That is why James said it's a time to rejoice for our trials, for they are the work of God, and they help to further the kingdom of God. James 1:2

1 Peter 5

(v.2) Pastors and elders of the Church have a great responsibility...give them respect and support them with service and prayer...most of all prayer!

22 Nov (Eph 3-4)

Ephesians 3

(v.6) God first worked with the Jews to reveal Himself to, and to show them how to worship and obey Him. God planned all along to save Gentiles as well, for by faith we are saved, not by culture or ethnicity.

(v.9) God made the universe through His Son...God in the form of flesh. Jesus is God, and a part of the Holy Trinity. John 1:1

(v.12) Once Jesus died for our sins, we had redemption and access to the Father once again! There had to be a price for sin, and that was God Himself...dying on the cross as our perfect Passover Lamb! Thank you Jesus!!!

(v.18) These are the four dimensions we experience in life, but quantum physicists believe there are at least 10 dimensions in the universe. This makes sense, since Jesus lost practically all of those dimensions when He became man, but regained at least some of them when He appeared and disappeared suddenly after His resurrection.

Ephesians 4

(v.5) This is often cited by people that believe we should baptize our kids in water as newborns. If this were true, then Jesus' words to Nicodemus were a lie...we need to be baptized spiritually in order to be born again...that is what allows us to enter the kingdom of heaven. John 3:5

(v.24) When we are born again, we are a new creation of God! We still have our old habits that we need to abandon, but we are focused on the things of God, and not of Satan!

(v.26) You've heard the phrase to not go to sleep mad at your spouse or your friend...this comes from here in the Bible. No matter how upset we are, we need to pause to pray, and talk things out lovingly. Only pride makes us avoid the discussion, and has us push away loved ones.

(v.29) One of the best ways for others to see where your heart is, is to stop cussing and saying mean and dirty things. Prov 8:7

(v.30) The Holy Spirit is a person...a part of the Trinity. We can't grieve a thing or a force, if we say and indulge in evil things.

21 Nov (Eph 1-2)

Ephesians 1

Ephesians was the first of the Prison Epistles written by Paul. Ephesus was a major trading city in the Roman Empire, and was located in modern day Turkey.

(v.7) Not the Law, our works, nor our good intentions earns our salvation...it is the blood of God Himself...Jesus, that washes away our sins.

(v.11) Christians have a tough time with predestination and free will. Both are true. God has predestined all of us to be with Him, but it all depends on our free will. If we choose God, then we will be saved. If we choose our pride, then we will die in judgment for our sins. It's that simple, and it's that important.

(v.18) When we are born again, we don't become Albert Einstein...but we do start to see God's plan of redemption. This makes us grateful, and we seek God in prayer and in His Word. God is faithful, and He will open our eyes to His character and plans, but only if we are diligent.

Ephesians 2

(v.2) God gave Adam dominion over the earth...Adam was a son of God, for he was a direct creation from God. Another creation of God, the angel called Lucifer, didn't like that Adam was treated the way he was by God, and wanted to be worshiped himself. When he tricked Adam and Eve, they gave up their dominion of the earth to Satan. He is the prince of the power of the air and has been ruling the world ever since then. Not until Jesus comes back to claim His authority and right to the deed of the earth (paid for by His blood on the cross), will Satan not be in control.

Please remember to tell your kids that there is only one God, but He allows Satan to rule over the earth, so the people can choose good or evil.

(v.8) Our faith makes us righteous in the Father's eyes, for we have the blood of His Son to wash us clean.

(v.14) I have incredible peace knowing that God took care of my salvation...all I have to do is let Him direct my paths, and obey Him when He calls me to witness or love others. All the stress and garbage I allow in my life just clouds that out...I need to keep focused on the cross and the empty tomb...as Jesus said Himself, It is finished! John 19:30

(v.18) Jew and Gentile are alike to God...one body of believers in His Son!

(v.19) I am proud to be an American citizen, but I'm even more happy to be a citizen of heaven!

16 Nov (Acts 20-21)

Acts 20

(v.7) As we can see, the early church had worship and teaching, then they ate together. This is what we would call communion, but as I said before, it wasn't a piece of cracker and some grape juice! They had a meal together, where bread and wine would be the common items served with other things.

My family gives thanks before we eat every meal...remembering what Jesus did for us. Luke 22:19

(v.9) Here is a little humor in the Bible, because the man is made alive! It seems that Paul must have been going on and on, and the man fell asleep, which made him fall out the window! I don't feel so bad when I get a little groggy at church!

In reality, though, if the teaching is good, and the Word of God is being spoken, then I find it hard to fall asleep...it makes me alive!

(v.24) This is what being dead to the world, and alive in Christ is all about! If we are born again, then the things of this world that used to be important, are not anymore. Also, Paul yearned to be with Christ, so if he was killed, he knew he would be in heaven! Not having our grip on this world allows us to think like Paul.

(v.25) Paul knew that he was going to die soon.

(v.25) Give your family and friends the Gospel, and let the LORD do the rest!

Acts 21

(v.11) Paul's fate is revealed in prophecy.

(v.13) Paul was ready to die for Christ. This is a big distinction from Islam, where they MURDER for Satan...er...allah.

(v.14) Here was Paul, preaching the Gospel, and it seemed that the LORD wanted him in heaven. I bet some in the early church were asking, "Why?" We can relate, when a believer is killed or dies young, and it seemed they had so much to do for the LORD. We don't know God's ways, but if we look at the time after Paul, so many took his lead and preached the Gospel covering more ground and reaching more people. It almost looks like God knew what He was doing!

12 Nov (Rom 8-10)

Romans 8

(v.1) This is one of the most reassuring verses in the Bible...if we are truly saved, then we will always be saved! This is true because we didn't save ourselves...Jesus saved us. So if Jesus saved us, then He can't lose us!

(v.2) That is why Jesus said He was making a new covenant with mankind...not of Law, but by faith. Luke 22:20

(v.3) Because we are sinful and can't keep the Law, God had to perform the act of propitiation, and take our place! Thank you Jesus!

(v.8) We can only please God if we are acting in His Spirit...if we are acting as the world does, then we are not pleasing God.

(v.14) In the Old Testament, the phrase, sons of God, is referring to angels. That is because they are direct creations of God. Adam was also a direct creation of God. From Eve, to their descendants, we have been reproductions of the creation (Adam).

So what is Paul saying here? He is saying, that by our rebirth in spirit, we are again direct creations of God! Not only that, but as sons (and daughters) of God, we are given His inheritance...heaven!

(v.15) So when we are born again, we are once again direct creations of God and sons and daughters of God. We can call Him Daddy, which is the equivalent to Abba! We are adopted back into His family!

(v.19) All of creation was in harmony before Adam and Eve sinned...it is waiting for everything to be restored in the Millennium.

(v.25) We know that heaven will be wonderful, but for now, we need to work and serve for God, and we will live for eternity with Him.

(v.26) Have you ever been so sad or distressed that words just wouldn't come out? The Holy Spirit knows what you're thinking and feeling, and He prays to the Father for us! That is really cool that God prays for us!

(v.28) This is a verse that all of us need to know when times become hard...He is always with us, and He will work on us so that we are stronger and better off from the trials.

(v.31) If God is for us, who can be against us? I love this verse, since it gives me complete comfort, knowing that God is on my side. Or rather, I'm on His side!

(v.34) Not only do we have the Holy Spirit making intercession for us, but we have the Son...talk about a sure way for the Father to hear our prayers!

(v.38) Nothing can come between us and Christ if we are saved. We can't be unsaved, and He will always be with us!

Romans 9

(v.8) The Promise is the one that God made to Abraham...who is the Father of the Faithful. Not only the Jews, but all who believe in Christ are the seed of Abraham.

(v.15) Notice that God says He will have mercy and compassion on whomever He wishes...those are good things! We should never be jealous of other people's blessings. We should praise God and work to serve God and see what He does with us!

(v.32) The Jews became fixated on the Law, and forgot the righteousness of Abraham by his faith. We have that knowledge, but it's easy to forget.

Romans 10

(v.2) Paul, like Moses before him, offers up his own salvation if God would save the nation of Israel from their religiosity. That is admirable, but everyone must stand before God individually. Our relationship with God is personal...no one can do anything for us, we need to seek God ourselves.

(v.9) Some people say that their faith is "personal" and not to be shared with others. This is against Scripture. If we realize what Christ did for us, then we should be so grateful, that we want others to be saved as well. That can't happen unless we witness and share with others the Gospel.

We can't be ashamed or scared of being a Christian...we will probably be made fun of and perhaps persecuted, but that's a small price to pay for eternity!

11 Nov (Rom 5-7)

Romans 5

(v.3) Do we look forward to problems in our lives? Of course not, but when they come, we should look at them as opportunities to be used by God. We have the honor to be be molded by Him to be more like Christ. And if we look back at our problems we had, and when we let God use us and guide us through them, we are better for it! James 1:2

(v.7) Is there someone you would die for? Probably your kids, your family, and some friends you know. Would you die for a person you just met? Or even someone you never met?

Jesus died for all mankind...that is love! He died for all, but in the end, it will be only the ones who understood that and were grateful for that love, that will it benefit. When we are His, He calls us His friends. John 15:15

Jesus died for His friends...John 15:13

(v.19) This verse summarizes the Bible completely...Since Adam and Eve sinned, mankind was born with a sinful nature. We were doomed to hell in our sins, since none could be holy enough to abide with God in heaven. But that's the reason that God had to provide us the way back to Him...and He did it with Himself...the person named Jesus. By His act of obedience to the Law and the holiness of God, He died sinless, and took on our sin for us. Therefore, we who believe and live in faith with that, are deemed sinless as well by the cleansing blood of His Son.

Romans 6

(v.3) Water baptism does not save us. Baptizing a baby is only a ceremony...it doesn't save that child. All children are saved until they reach an age of accountability...roughly in their early teens. So when we do water baptism, it is a public display of our death to sin, and rebirth in Spirit. The baptism of the Spirit is what counts...and that can only happen when we are older and can readily accept what it means.

(v.7) We who have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior, have died to sin. We no longer are controlled by sin. Because we have God's Spirit in us, we are able to overcome sin and temptation.

(v.12) Men have the hardest time with this one...we are attracted to things with our eyes. For the most part, women love a man who can communicate and tell them his love and share his life with them in discussion.

(v.14) By the grace of God, we have His Spirit working in us, and we can overcome sin!

(v.18) This is why Paul talked so directly in the first chapter of this book...homosexuals live a lifestyle and life of sin. We all sin, but homosexuals live under the power of sin. Of course, heterosexuals do as well, if we let money or fame have control over us. Any lifestyle or passion that is put above the love for God is sin.

(v.23) Repeat this verse to yourself and your kids...it summarizes this whole chapter!

Romans 7

(v.7) We don't know good unless we know bad first. We can't know if something tastes good, unless we are used to eating bad things. That is why God allowed evil to enter the world...to show us what we don't want, and for us to go to Him to have good.

(v.23) Our flesh keeps fighting our spirit that is trying to be more Christ-like. It is a constant battle that will endure until we are with Jesus in heaven. After we are justified to the Father by the faith in His Son, we go through the rest of our lives being sanctified, or molded, to be more like Christ. This process is an ebb and flow, but it must be a constant one-way journey. If we are born again, then we won't take time out and sin like we did for a season. Sure, we will slip and fall on occasion, but our path must be forward. Matt 7:13-14

30 Oct (1 Cor 4-6)

1 Corinthians 4

(v.1) As born again believers, we understand God's plan of redemption better than the world, and it motivates us to share our faith with others. However, we must never use this knowledge as a way of making ourselves look more important than the world. God loves all mankind, and He wants all to repent and be saved. John 3:16

(v.13) Think about this before you share with your kids...are we being persecuted and reviled by the world? If we are, then we are doing God's work. If we aren't, then we are living worldly lives. It's that simple.

1 Corinthians 5

(v.8) If we live our lives focused on the goodness and purity of Christ, we will follow.

(v.11) It is right to confront another Christian if they are living a lifestyle of sin. We must do it privately, but if they still won't listen, then bring a few other believers to mediate.

1 Corinthians 6

(v.3) What Paul is talking about here is the Millennium. We will rule and reign with Christ during the 1,000 years of His rule from Jerusalem.

We are being trained in sanctification right now, for our work in the Millennium. That is why Jesus spoke of the parables of the talents...to show us that we must work with Him in mind.

27 Oct (1 Thes 5 - 2 Thes 1-3)

1 Thessalonians 5

(v.2) This is important to make clear with our kids...there is a difference between the Rapture and the Day of the Lord.

The Rapture can happen at any moment, and will precede the Tribulation of Israel. The time of the Tribulation is spelled out in Daniel 9:27 where it will last for exactly seven years. Halfway through it, the Antichrist will reveal himself, and the last half of the tribulation will be so bad, that Jesus calls it the Great Tribulation.

The Tribulation is accurate and we are given actual days and things to look for. The Rapture, however, will come suddenly, and catch the whole world by surprise...even the devil. If we are truly followers of Christ, then we will know when the Rapture is near, and act and serve accordingly for there is little time. I believe we are getting real close to the Rapture.

(v.3) The world wants peace, and it will give up anything to attain it. Unfortunately for them, there will NEVER be true peace until the Prince of Peace comes to reign for 1,000 years. Those that don't know God will be fooled by a false peace by the Antichrist.

(v.9) The Day of the LORD is a day of terrible wrath and misery. God has given the world plenty of warning, and wished for them to choose to love and serve Him. But on that fateful day, God will bring His Holy Wrath upon the unbelievers, and us believers will not experience that...for we will be Raptured and in heaven!

2 Thessalonians 1

(v.5) Because we are ambassadors of Christ on earth as His Church, we will undoubtedly experience persecution. This should be a barometer to tell us if we are doing God's work...if we don't experience persecution from the world, then we must be a part of it, and not separated in Spirit by God.

(v.9) I believe this verse supports the theory that hell is the agony of knowing their foolish pride, and being eternally tormented by being separated from God.

2 Thessalonians 2

(v.3) There are some things that have to happen BEFORE Christ returns in wrath:

1. A great falling away...people who called themselves Christian, but were never really born again, will leave the church and follow cults and false prophets. We are seeing this in abundance today.

2. During the tribulation, the Antichrist will reveal himself, by striking the peace treaty between Israel and the Muslim world, and then go back on it in three and one half years.

3. The Holy Spirit (the Restrainer) will be removed. This means that there will be no born again people on earth...they will be raptured.

(v.13) I like to remind my kids that they didn't really choose God...He chose them. He has been planning their birth and rebirth since before the universe was created! That always blows them away!

2 Thessalonians 3

(v.3) If we are His, we will experience persecution, but like Job, we won't be killed by Satan.

(v.10) God is clear about welfare and loafing...if you don't work, you don't eat. Of course, there are people who can't physically work, or are mentally inhibited to work, and it is up to the Church to care for those people. But being lazy and wanting the government to care for us is not godly or Biblical.

21 Sep (John 16:1-15)

The Gospels: The Work of the Holy Spirit

John 16:1-15

(v.2) As is the case with Islam, there are groups out there that believe it's their duty to kill unbelievers. That is not from God, rather, it is from the Father of Lies himself...Satan.

Jesus said we should be willing to die for our friends, not to kill for them. There is a big difference.

(v.7) This is important for our kids to understand...unless Jesus went to heaven to be with the Father, He couldn't indwell our hearts by His Spirit! Jesus showed us how to live. His Spirit moves in us to keep us on course and to prepare us for heaven. And finally, we will be with our Heavenly Father in His glory!

(v.8) It is the Holy Spirit who makes us feel rotten when we sin. Not in a mean way, but now that we are saved, we have a clearer picture of sin and what it does to us. When we sin, it doesn't satisfy like it once did before we were saved. The Spirit is sanctifying us to be more like Christ. We grow to hate sin and seek righteousness more and more!

(v.13) The Holy Spirit moves us to be more like Christ...to the glory of the Father. We have His peace, and we have His power when we are allowing Him to work in us!

19 Sep (John 14:19-31)

The Gospels: The Gift of God's Peace

John 14:19-31

(v.19) We who are saved see God in all that we do during the day...it may be something that God has another say to us...it may be the way someone serves us...or it may be the better understanding of His creation and the appreciation of it.

Sadly, those that don't know God, may love the environment, but they come to worship the creation instead of the Creator!

(v.21) We who are His will love the faithful, minister to the lost and be salt and light. God doesn't want His players to sit on the sideline...He wants us to get into the game!

(v.23) I take notice to my kids that Jesus says We will come to him and make Our home with him...this is the Holy Spirit...which enables us to have a direct connection with God in heaven.

(v.26) One of the things the Holy Spirit does in us, is help us remember and live God's Word. I'm sure we all have had times when we needed a verse to comfort us, and out of the blue, one comes to our mind...that's the Holy Spirit at work!

Also, sometimes when we're witnessing, we say things that we normally would never have said...and it was so wise! That is the Holy Spirit at work in us!

(v.27) The Aramaic word here for peace doesn't mean a life without strife...that is not promised to us. However, with the Holy Spirit in us, we have that sense of peace and comfort with Him. No matter what happens in our lives, we who are saved, we have the comfort of knowing who is working in us, and where we are ultimately going!

(v.29) Don't let anyone tell you that prophesy is not important...it is one of the most effective tools by God to show us that He wrote and inspired the men who wrote the books of the Bible! The prophesies He had them write are living proof that God is outside our time constraints, because they are all 100% accurate and detailed!

18 Sep (John 14:15-18)

The Gospels: The Promise of the Holy Spirit

John 14:15-18

(v.15) We can't just say we are saved, we must show that by truly following Christ and what He teaches. If we are His, then others should see that difference in us.

(v.16) Once we are born again, we are connected with God. We have the Spirit of God in us, and that will last for eternity!

(v.17) Those that aren't saved don't understand that God is with us that follow Him. As Paul says in 1 Cor 1:18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

(v.18) God will never forsake us Heb 13:5 and He will come for us before He judges the world!

30 Aug (John 8)

The Gospels: Jesus is the I AM

John 8

(v.3) One thing I point out to my kids, is that the Pharisees brought this woman (Mary Magdalene) to Jesus. They set her up, and now they are using her to try to set up Jesus!

Of course, Jesus wasn't fooled!!!

(v.8) Scholars believe that Jesus was righting the sins of the Pharisees, from the oldest to the youngest...once they saw that He knew their sins, they dropped their rocks!

(v.11) One thing to keep in mind...no one can go sinless the rest of their lives, but Jesus was talking about the lifestyle Mary Magdalene was in...prostitution. Like other lifestyles of sin (homosexuality, thievery, lying, etc) we must stop letting that be a habit, and let God deliver us from the slavery to sin.

(v.12) Jesus is the light of the world! Psalm 119:105

(v.18) Here again, Jesus declares Himself God!

(v.21) Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees, who were not saved. Jesus was referring to the part of Hades or Sheol, called Abraham's Bosom. Luke 16

(v.28) Jesus is prophesying of His crucifixion and their eventual realization of who He is! You just know they remembered these words when Jesus was on the cross!

(v.32) Becoming a follower of Christ is great, but we do have added pressures and hardships because of it. However, we do have an inner peace that the lost can't understand...the Truth has set us free from the bondage of sin!!!

(v.51) Jesus is speaking of spiritual death here. There is a great saying about being born again:

Born twice, die once...Born once, die twice.

(v.56) Jesus is telling the people that He is God, for Abraham rejoiced to see Jesus conquer sin and death!

(v.58) There is no sugar-coating this one...Jesus says that He was God, for He preceded Abraham!

Also, Jesus uses the words, I AM...that is the name of God...I AM WHO I AM...YHWH. Exo 3:14

15 Aug (John 3)

The Gospels: The Messiah & Being Born Again

John 3

(v.3) Nicodemus was a Pharisee, which were the teachers and authority of the Laws in Israel while the Romans ruled the governmental affairs of the people. Nicodemus was supposed to know the things of God, and teach the people, but here, Jesus confronts him with the fact that he should know what being born again is.

Nicodemus flatters Jesus, yet due to his own pride, comes at night and in secret. Jesus hates pride and hypocrisy, so He doesn't hold back His strong words for Nicodemus. Jesus tells him that he must be born again to enter the kingdom of God. 1 Pet 1:23

(v.5) What is being born again? Some say that this verse speaks of water baptism, and spiritual baptism. Well, I must bring up the fact that the thief on the cross who was pronounced saved by Jesus, wasn't water baptized before he died. So this leaves us with the other option...born again is spiritual.

Being born of water is not water baptism, it is being born of your mother. When a baby is about to be born, the mother's water breaks. However, ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, we all have a sinful nature. We are all doomed to die in our sins and go to hell, to be permanently separated from God.

What Jesus is saying here, is that we must have a spiritual birth, in order to be saved. This spiritual birth is accomplished when we truly accept Christ for what He did for us on the cross, and we let His Spirit into our lives.

(v.13) Jesus is speaking of Himself here, and He hasn't been crucified and resurrected yet! He could be speaking of these future events, or He also could be speaking of the times He appeared to Abraham, Balaam, and all the others in the Old Testament. We call these appearances a theophany, or a Christophany. Jesus is THE Angel of the LORD that is described so many times in the OT, but let's not forget that Jesus is not an actual angel...the term is used for Him only by giving Him the definite article...Jesus is God, not an angel.

(v.14) We discussed this with our kids in Num 21:9 where God had Moses do something that must have seemed crazy, but God tells us here why He had Moses do that.

(v.16) This is one of the most popular and well known verses in the Bible. I believe it's important that our kids understand this verse well, in order to understand God's plan of redemption.

For God so loved the world...God didn't offer His Son for only the Jews or certain Christians...He offered His Son for all of mankind!

...only begotten Son...Jesus was not created, for the word, begotten, means anointed with authority. Jesus is our authority and He created us to live for Him!

...whoever believes in Him...saying a prayer and occasionally praying to God is not what true belief is...we need to include God in ALL parts of our lives, and in all that we do. If we truly recognize Him as our Lord and our Savior, then we must believe He will guide our lives on a daily basis. It's all about a relationship with God, not an acquaintance with Him.

...should not perish...some believe that those who don't accept Christ will not have any consciousness after they die on earth. I don't believe this is biblical. In Luke 16 Jesus Himself tells us what happens to those that reject Him...they spend eternity in torment, knowing their foolish pride has kept them from enjoying God's presence in heaven.

...everlasting life...living with God for eternity is life...living without God for eternity is hell.

(v.17) The purpose of Jesus' First Coming was to make a way for all of us to be saved. When Jesus comes again at the end of the Great Tribulation, He will come as a judge and conqueror over evil and unbelievers.

(v.18) We are condemned in our sins already, so we must be born again in spirit in order to be saved!

(v.36) John the Baptist summarizes all that the prophets before him exclaimed...that if we believe and understand what God did for us in His Son, then we are saved from eternal torment in hell. But for those that reject Christ, they will live forever in torment...make sure your kids know this...we all have to make our choice individually.