Genesis 35:19-20, “And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.”
I often think about the pain of soul Jacob felt. His own uncle Laban tricked him into marrying both of his daughters, when he only wanted Rachel. Laban cheated him at least ten times, lowering his wages. Then while giving birth to his second child by Rachel, Benjamin, she died in labor. And as if that weren't bad enough, then he receives word that Jacob, his firstborn by Rachel, was brutally killed by a savage beast. Jacob cast dust upon himself.
I once heard Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001) say in a sermon that, “Life is a veil of tears.” I've been watching 'The Hulk' Marvel Comic series made for TV from 1977 to 1982. I became curious if Bill Bixby was still alive, so I went to check. For decades now, one of my hobbies is reading the biographies of famous people. I enjoy learning what they believe, and the events of their life, much like reading from the Old Testament, which according to Romans 15:4 was “written for our learning.”
Bill Bixby (1934-1993) was known as a kind and loving man, and a Christian, thankfully. In 1967 Brenda Benet (1945-1982) married her first husband. Just two years later in 1969 she divorced her husband and started dating Bill Bixby. They married in 1971. They had one child together in 1974, Christopher Sean. In September of 1979, after 8 years of marriage, Bixby and Benet divorced. Life is truly a veil of tears.
Benet became a lesbian and at age 33 had a sexual relationship with a 17 year old girl, Tammy Bruce, who is a well known LGBTQ+ celebrity and political figure today. One year later while on a skiing vacation, Christopher died at age 6 of a throat infection in March of 1981. Benet went into a deep depression and commit suicide in 1982, shooting herself in the head with a hand gun in Los Angeles. Life is truly a veil of tears.
In 1990, Bill Bixby married his second wife, Laura Michaels, but when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer shortly thereafter, she divorced him in 1991. Mr. Bixby married his third and final wife Judith Kiliban in October of 1993, but he died just one month later on November 21, 1993. Bill Bixby was only 59 years old, my age. Life is truly a veil of tears.
My heart goes out to Bill Bixby, Brenda Benet, Christopher and Judith Kiliban. I don't know why Laura abandoned her husband during his darkest hours of life. It is not my place to judge anyone. I am the biggest sinner that I know. Life is so short and full of pain, loss and tears.
Life is truly a veil of tears. The important thing is to make sure that you've been born again, so that you are prepared to meet God in the afterlife.
Matthew 7:15-16, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”
1st John 4:1-2, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.”
I read a disturbing comment on YouTube this week in which a man accused Pastor Steven Anderson of not being saved, because of the recent problems with his four oldest children. I felt compelled to weigh in and correct the man for his foolish assumption (typos are his)...
Ronnie Nichols: Just to be clear .... This guy is "not" a Christian, much less, much less, a man of God! .... He will answer to God this this.
Me: One's behavior has nothing to do with whether or not they have faith in Christ to be saved.
Ronnie Nichols: you must read your bible. You need to start with Matthew 7:16 "You can identify them ( "them being, a believer or follower of Jesus Christ ) by their "fruit", that is, by the way they act. " ... Your ACTIONS, prove more than your words. that vdo is proof of his actions.
Me: Well then half the saints in the Bible weren't saved according to your flawed theology. Noah got drunk. Samson chased unholy skirts. Abraham was a liar. Sarah laughed at the promise of God. Solomon was a sex pervert. Jacob was a cheat. David was an adulterer and murderer. Jesus found Peter butt naked in public after He resurrected from the dead. Ananias and Sapphira were killed by the Holy Spirit for fraud. Demas loved this present world and forsook Paul's side on a missionary journey. Kindly, you are the ignorant one.
It is sad that your hypocrisy and hatred is so strong that you want Steven Anderson to burn in Hell. You're no better than he is. Romans 6:1 teaches a Christian falls "in grace" but never "from grace." By all appearances the false prophets in Matthew 7:21-23 were saved, but Jesus denied knowing them as His sheep. You foolishly assume that "fruit" means one's behavior, but the only way to determine if someone is really saved is by a direct testimony from their own mouth concerning Jesus Christ. Pastor Steven Anderson has his faults, as also you and I do too, but he is a born again Christian according to the inspired Word of God, if you believe 1st Corinthians 15:1-4. SOURCE
Salvation is not a reward for the righteous, it is a gift for the guilty.
Salvation is not doing your best, it is having Christ's best put to your account through receiving Him by faith.
Turning away from sinful ways would be a work. Faith puts all of the merit where it belongs, on the object of our faith, Jesus and His work.
If to “repent” means to forsake our sinful ways TO BE SAVED, but Jesus already paid for our sins by dying on the cross, then what are we repenting from?
The true Gospel always points you to CHRIST; a false gospel always points to YOU.
If salvation is truly by grace, then you don't need to start or stop anything to be saved. Eternal life is a free gift from God (Romans 6:23).
One is saved by God's grace through faith in the finished Work of His Son on the Cross as payment in full as our pardon for sin.
If you have to look at your life to prove that you're saved, it just proves that you're not. The only thing that you and I contribute to our own salvation is the sin that made it necessary.
And once you get saved you are still a horrible sinner, and you will continue to be one until the good LORD calls you to go home to Heaven. That is the great deception behind the entire “repent of your sins” crowd today, because No one has ever repented to turn away from their sins; NO ONE! You may try hard to sin less, but you'll still be a dirty sinner.
There are only two categories:
You are either a saveddirty sinner whose sins have been washed away by the precious blood of Jesus in response to your faith in the Gospel.
Or else you are a lostdirty sinner who is still hellbound in your sins; living dangerously under the condemnation of God's Law.
Either way you and I are still dirty sinners! The only thing that makes you or I any more righteous than Jeffrey Dahmer, Judas Iscariot, Taylor Swift or Adolf Hitler is the blood of Jesus Christ that saves us (Romans 5:9; 1st Peter 1:18-19). I have no righteousness of my own to offer God, and neither do you (Isaiah 64:6). The only reason why I am going to Heaven one future day is because I am trusting in God's imputed righteousness, which is by faith alone in Jesus (Philippians 3:9).
Our POSITION in Christ is forever settled the moment we get saved. Our CONDITION in Christ depends upon our faithfulness day by day, which is discipleship not sonship. Lest we pervert the Gospel of free grace, it is imperative that we always keep salvation (Galatians 3:26) completely separate from service (Romans 12:1). Living in sin doesn't in any way prove that someone is not a born again believer.
It is a dangerous folly to attempt to judge who is saved or lost based upon one's manner of life. What saith the Scripture? 1st John 3:24, “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” It is the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit that confirms our faith in Jesus Christ as taught in the Scripture, giving us the full joy of assurance (1st John 1:4). The test is not how someone behaves; but rather, do you have the Holy Spirit?
If your whole trust is in what Jesus Christ did through Calvary's cross 2,000 years ago to pay for your sins—believing that He died on a cross in your place, and was buried, but then bodily resurrected from the dead three days later, you are saved. Your behavior has absolutely nothing to do with your decision to rely upon the finished work of Jesus Christ. You simply need to believe that Jesus did it all for you.
Matthew 3:10-12, “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
I agree with Evangelist John R. Rice (1895-1980) in his Bible commentary on the Book of Matthew that Jesus baptizing sinners “with fire” refers to eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire. Verse 12 confirms this truth, “but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
I am sometimes asked the question: Can a sinner not believe in Hell and still be saved? I do believe that it is possible for someone to deny the existence of a literal burning Hell and still be saved, but it is weird and difficult to grasp. Someone could argue that if a lost sinner denies a literal burning Hell they are denying the deserved consequences of their sins. However, there are too many variables to just make a blanket statement regarding who is saved or lost.
I would humbly say that a person who denies the existence of Hell could certainly be a truly regenerate person. Christians have all kinds of theological weaknesses, strange ideas and blatant errors. We all struggle with this to some degree. No one has all the answers, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1st Corinthians 13:12). I don't think we should automatically assume that someone is not saved who professes faith in Jesus Christ, like Renee Roland on YouTube, but denies an eternal burning Hell for unbelievers.
To deny the reality of a burning Hell certainly raises the $64,000 question of whether or not a person is in the faith, because it is such a core teaching of inspired Scripture. I have never even questioned if Hell exists because the inspired King James Bible says that it does!
God doesn't require that we become a theologian to be saved; but rather, just to believe that Jesus did it all for us through Calvary's cross 2,000 years ago. I have read some bizarre religious tracts a mile long by religious zealots who demand that to be saved a sinner must believe in Jesus' deity, His virgin birth, sinless life, blood sacrifice applied to the heavenly Mercy Seat, Jesus' Second Coming, et cetera.
In sharp contrast, the Apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians 15:1-6 simply defines “the gospel” as Jesus' death on the cross, burial and resurrection from the dead three days later. John 20:31 teaches that to be saved we must believe Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten Son of God.
You also need to know that you are a guilty sinner, otherwise why would you need a Savior? You need to know what you are being saved from. I admit that I have struggled over the years with the question of whether someone must believe in Hell to be saved. If there is no Hell, then why would you need a Savior? Yet, there is no debate that you must be born again if you want to go to Heaven. So, I am not dogmatic in this matter. I certainly could be wrong. I just think that God intentionally made getting saved very easy, free and simple, because there are a lot of stupid people in the world. I say that kindly in love, but truthfully.
It is quite easy for us as humans to try to categorize, standardize and normalize everything to fit into our finite mold of thinking. But I don't think it is that easy. The Bible defines the Gospel for us in 1st Corinthians 5:1-6. When I got saved at age 13, I didn't know Jesus is God. I didn't learn that theological truth until I was 18 years old in Bible college. But when I heard that Jesus is God, the indwelling Holy Spirit confirmed in my soul that it was the truth, and I gladly embraced Jesus' deity. I think I had always known that Jesus is God, but I just needed to hear someone say it for me to nail down that fundamental Bible doctrine.
There is a fine line between faith and foolishness. We must be very careful about adding MORE requirements to God's simple plan of salvation. It is obvious that when Roman Catholics add their Seven Sacraments to faith, they are not true born again believers. Adding even the least bit of work to faith negates God's saving grace, so that a person cannot be saved. This is exactly what the Scripture means in Galatians 5:4, “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” No believer has ever fallen “from grace”; but rather, “in grace” (Romans 5:20, 6:1).
1st Corinthians 15:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
Turning from your sins is not the Gospel. If salvation required you to clean up your life first, then it would be based on your works instead of Christ’s finished work. The Gospel is not, “Stop sinning.” The Gospel is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Salvation is about what Jesus did to pay for your sins, not what you do to earn forgiveness. Salvation is not a reward for the righteous, it is a gift for the guilty.
Salvation is not doing your best, it is having Christ's best put to your account through receiving Him by faith. Turning away from sinful ways would be a work. Faith puts all of the merit where it belongs, on the object of our faith, Jesus and His work. If to “repent” means to forsake our sinful ways TO BE SAVED, but Jesus already paid for our sins by dying on the cross, then what are we repenting from?
The true Gospel always points you to CHRIST; a false gospel always points to YOU.
If salvation is truly by grace, then you don't need to start or stop anything to be saved. Eternal life is a free gift from God (Romans 6:23).
One is saved by God's grace through faith in the finished Work of His Son on the Cross as payment in full as our pardon for sin.
We are justified by faith alone, not by the works of the law (Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9). Don’t put your trust in your ability to turn from sin. Put your trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ alone.
1st John 2:28, “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”
Our text passage of inspired Scripture from the King James Bible is further proof that a believer cannot lose God's free gift of salvation.
If a believer could lose salvation, then why would those saints of God who live wasted lives in sin and selfish pursuits choked by the cares, pleasures and riches of this world be “ashamed” of Jesus at His coming? Clearly, it is because we cannot lose God's free gift of salvation.
John 6:26-29, “Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
Most Baptist churches today are religious cults preaching another gospel that requires more than faith to be saved. In addition, they teach that you must "repent of your sins," meaning that you must first be willing to forsake the sinful bad habits in your life. If you don't want to give up your sinning, then they accuse you of not repenting and say you cannot be saved.
John 14:6-7, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.”
One of m favorite Hollywood actors is Morgan Freeman. He has starred in hundreds of films, from Batman: The Dark Knight to Deep Impact. I am a big fan of movies starring Morgan Freeman!
That being said, one of my hobbies is researching the religious beliefs of famous people. Morgan Freeman has expressed a deep appreciation for Zoroastrianism, which he describes as a belief system that resonates with him through its core tenets of "good thoughts, good words, good deeds" (which beliefs are highlighted in the following video). From the research that I've done, it is clear that Morgan is not a born again Christian.
Morgan Freeman About Zoroastrianism
According to the 'Famous People Today' website:
What religion does he follow, then?
So, while Morgan Freeman is no Christian, he is a follower of one of the oldest organized forms of faith on the planet today.
It is based on the ancient teachings of Zoroaster, a prophet from years ago. The religion, based in Iran, is seen as one of the most respected religions in the world. Despite its deep respect among the religious community, Zoroastrianism is quite unknown to many.
Given that it is primarily seen as an Iranian religion, it is not a religious belief that has spread too far into Western culture. As an individual who thrives on curiosity, though, Freeman is one of many Western believers of Zoroastrianism. The primary tenet of Zoroastrianism is about the duality of good and evil and how in Zoroastrianism, it is believed that, eventually, good will triumph over evil.
The ‘God’ of this religion is Ahura Mazda, the Lord of Wisdom. SOURCE
And this from the 'Celebrities Religions' website:
What Religion is Morgan Freeman and Faith
Morgan Freeman’s religious beliefs have remained a subject of speculation, with limited public pronouncements on his faith. However, various sources suggest he identifies as a Zoroastrian. This ancient Persian religion, founded by the prophet Zoroaster, emphasizes ethical living, truthfulness, and the importance of free will.
Zoroastrianism is a monotheistic faith that revolves around the belief in Ahura Mazda, the supreme god. It emphasizes the concept of a cosmic struggle between good and evil, symbolized by Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu, the spirit of darkness. The religion promotes a strong ethical code, encouraging honesty, compassion, and the pursuit of truth.
If indeed it is factual that Morgan Freeman is trusting in Angra Mainyu, the so-called “Lord of wisdom,” the famous actor won't be going to Heaven when he leaves this world someday. I say that very kindly with concern. Born in 1937, now at age 89, Morgan doesn't have much time remaining on earth. My heart goes out to him. I don't want him to spend eternity burning in the fires of Hell. Revelation 20:15, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
The inspired King James Bible is very clear that there is no salvation apart from the precious name of Jesus:
Acts 4:10-12, “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
It all boils down to whether or not you believe that the King James Bible is God's inspired Word. John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” Since the age of 13 when I became born again, my faith has been in Jesus as the Christ, the only begotten Son of God. I am risking my eternal soul, happiness and everything on Jesus Christ! If I go to Hell someday, it will be Jesus' fault alone, because I am 100% relying upon what He did to pay for my sins on Calvary's cross 2,000 years ago.
I am not trying to turn from my sins to get to Heaven. I am not following Christ as part of some misguided effort to get to Heaven. There is absolutely nothing that I am doing, have ever done, nor ever will do that could in any way help secure my place in Heaven. I am relying upon Jesus alone, because of what He has done to pay my debt of sin. The only thing that you or I contribute to our own salvation is the sin that made it necessary.
Only God and Morgan Freeman know where his faith rests, but I can tell you with all Scriptural authority that if he is resting in anything, anyplace or anyone other than the Lord Jesus Christ, Morgan Freeman will spend eternity suffering in the never-ending torments of Hell. I am just the messenger. God is the author of the inspired Holy Bible. Hebrews 10:31, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Tragically, on November 24, 1991, Queen band frontman Freddie Mercury (1946-1991) learned how wrong he was about following the Zoroastrian religion when he woke up in the fires of Hell beneath. Freddie put his trust in the arm of man, not God. Psalms 118:8, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”
Please understand that I did not write this article to attack Mr. Freeman, God forbid. I adore the man! I wrote this article in hope that he might find it and read it, and repent of his Zoroastrian false religion and instead trust Christ to be saved. I also wrote this article dear friend in hope that if you have never trusted Jesus as your personal Savior, that you would do so now.
You don't have to become religious to go to Heaven. In fact, the opposite is true. You need to forsake trusting in your false religion and by faith (taking God at His written Word) accept Christ's sacrificial death on the cross as full payment for your sins, believing that He was buried, but then physically resurrected after three days. This is the Gospel (Good News):
1st Corinthians 15:1-6, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.”
Whosoever believes this Good News is saved instantly, irrevocably and permanently. Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” The gospel, not my eloquent words of speech or cunning human wisdom, is the POWER OF GOD unto salvation to all who BELIEVE IT! Do you believe dear reader? To go to Heaven when you die someday, you simply need to believe that Jesus did it all for you through Calvary's cross.
Thank you for reading my ministry blog. Jesus is precious!!!
