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Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him. - Luke 23:32 (NASB95)

Our church holds a men's breakfast monthly, usually on the first Saturday, and last weekend was no exception. Both related to the scripture we were reading (Romans 11), and as a preview of something from Sunday's message, we took a look at a section from the Gospel of Luke:

One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” - Luke 23:39-43 (NASB95)

Jesus didn't say, "You must be baptized to enter Paradise," or, "You have to bow your head and cross your hands to ask Me for forgiveness." Jesus said, "Today you shall be with me in Paradise."

Because salvation is by Faith and not by works. But don't take my word for it:

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. - Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB95)

The criminal on the cross couldn't kneel and pray, couldn't get baptized, couldn't tithe, couldn't serve the poor, couldn't sing in the worship band, and couldn't pay the wages of his own sins. The only thing he could do was to believe in Jesus for the remission of his sins. (That is, Jesus paid the wages of the criminal's sins on his behalf.)

During this men's breakfast, our pastor mentioned that there is at least one denomination that believes that you must be baptized to be saved, and that even if you slip on the wet step of the baptistry, fall, hit your head, and die before being baptized, that you will go to Hell. There is no scriptural basis for this belief, and it directly contradicts previous passages we have looked at, as baptism is a work. Yes, a very symbolic work that is an outward expression of our faith, but nevertheless a work.

Because not only can we not get to heaven by works, we cannot pay for the wages of our sins. Yet Jesus paid the wages for all the sins committed by all of humanity from the beginning to the end of time.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23 (NASB95)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8 (NASB95)

I'm praying that some of you have read this far to read how to accept Jesus into your heart. Amen! This is the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ:

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” - Romans 10:9-13 (NASB95)

You don't need to read a fancy pre-written salvation prayer, be at church, or even be dressed in your best. You just need to come to Jesus as you are, confess that Jesus is Lord, and believe that God raised Him from the dead. That's it. No Works, All Faith.

Do it now, because tomorrow might be too late: "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." - James 4:14 (NASB95)

And now for those who have kept on reading to see if I am going to call out any particular sins... I don't need to.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God - Romans 3:23 (NASB95)

I am a sinner, you are a sinner, we are all sinners. I don't see anywhere in the Bible where it tells us to "go unto all the nations and call their sins out". Instead I see a different call:

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” - Mark 16:15 (NASB95)

Jesus died on the cross so that you could receive the free gift of salvation. That is the Gospel, or Good News, of Jesus Christ - don't let this or any other human get in your way of accepting Christ.

So yes, I am a sinner saved by the grace of Jesus Christ, and I pray that you would open your heart to the Gospel before it is too late. Why? Because I love you. And so does Jesus.

For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. - John 3:16-17 (NET)

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VCF East 2025 was bittersweet in a way that I didn't admit to most attendees, for you passed away the weekend before the show. I know that you would have never wanted me to change my plans on your behalf, so I still exhibited at the show, and my exhibit was enjoyed by many. I also know you didn't want any of us to do anything big to memorialize your death, so this is my small memorial post on my small blog.

There is an appointed time for everything.
And there is a a time for every event under heaven—
A time to give birth and a a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NASB95)

I'll miss our weekly chats and your encouragement. Until we are reunited in Christ, I will remain your little grandson who wanted a computer for Christmas.

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Grandma always says to remember the good times.

I remember the camping and fishing trips like they were yesterday. I'm not sure if I caught anything of any account (I remember catching and releasing lots of Bluegill), but I still had fun.

I remember the woodworking that you did, the things you helped me build, and the things you built for me. I still have my clock (though it needs a new mechanism) and my truck, among others,

I remember the TV shop, where you repaired electronics, and where you got me interested in electronics. I remember the trips where we stopped at Radio Shack, and I eventually had a small collection of Forest Mims books to learn from.

I remember the gadgets you picked up at yard sales, which included an NES and a Texas Instruments TI-99/4A.

I recently learned that the scene of an accident where personal items are strewn about the road is called a yard sale: yeah, not that type...

I remember the day we visited my uncle at work, and got to see the data center. I remember the room was huge but advances in technology had left most of it empty. And I remember they had a plotter that drew the state of West Virginia county-by-county.

I remember many of the trips you took us on as our chauffeur, the "ejection seat" lever on the back of the seats of the Thunderbird, and the propensity of the vehicle to stop at any and all yard sales.

And I remember the times you took us to church, just like you took your children when they were young: "Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6 (NASB95)

But there is an appointed time for everything... - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NASB95)

As dementia slowly took hold of your mind, you had to stop doing the things you enjoyed: the woodworking, the electronics repairs, the driving, the yard sales. But you never lost the hope that is in Christ Jesus, who while we were yet sinners, died for our sins so that we may have everlasting life. (A few verses for the reader: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17)

Though death has separated us for now, you will always be my grandpa.

Until we are reunited in Christ, I will take care of myself.

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What if you wake up one morning to discover that millions of people have disappeared? Or worse, it has already happened when you find this post?

Sounds like science fiction? Well, it's actually (as of the time I am writing this post) future Biblical prophesy: The Rapture. We haven't been taken by aliens, we've been taken by Jesus.

Governments around the world will undoubtedly be trying to convince the world that an alien abduction, or some other non-Biblical cause, has occurred. Information like this post will be labeled as false or misinformation, and could cause this blog and other websites like it to be taken down from the Internet.

If you would like to know more about future history, check out my friend Ken Power's book The End of the Beginning. It's freely available on the Internet for anyone to read or download. I pray that it will show you that you are a sinner in need of Jesus, and that if you find it after The Rapture, that you will know what must come to pass so that you are not deceived.

I've also shadowed a downloadable copy in case his website is taken down before mine...

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Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.

Psalm 127:3 (NASB)

Let this be an exercise to the reader. May the Lord show you the meaning from His word.

  • Children are a gift from God
    • Psalm 127:3-5
  • A warning from Jesus
    • Matthew 18:1-11
    • Mark 9:33-48
    • Luke 9:46-48
  • Do not hinder children from coming to Jesus
    • Matthew 19:13-15
    • Mark 10:13-16
    • Luke 18:15-17
  • The Lord knew Jeremiah before he was born
    • Jeremiah 1:5a

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you...

Jeremiah 1:5a (NASB)