The Everlasting Gospel: Salvation from Sin

By Rick M. Streight

This book is about Jesus’s wonderful Everlasting Gospel (Revelation 14:6,7) Rescue mission to save mankind, not in their sins but “from their sins” (Mat. 1:21). Jesus will soon be returning to take his children home. There are preparations we can make. The book you are holding is a story about fighting the good fight of faith and conquering it with Jesus’s help. God’s Word says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). The Bible also says, “The truth shall make you free . . . ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:32,36).
Author Rick Streight speaks heart-to-heart with the reader about the realities of the Christian journey and the reward that is waiting for us. He also speaks about the dangers that surround us, the temptations we often struggle with, and how to overcome sin through Christ. He asks a major question: “Why hasn’t Jesus come yet?” This book answers that important question. Are you spiritually homesick? God has made a plan that we may have “boldness in the day of judgment” (1 John 4:17). Jesus depended totally on his Father for wisdom and power. If we depend on Jesus, we can receive that same power to live the Christian life maturely with no shortcuts—that’s God’s way! This book also provides answers as to how we can hasten Jesus’s Second Coming. May we all: “prepare to meet thy God.” (Amos 4 vs. 12) through in-depth study of his Word with much prayer. Ask God, “How do I apply these things I am learning to my life?”

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: May 9, 2017
• ISBN: 9781512784954

Rick M. Streight

Rick and Theresa Streight have two adult children, Adam and Lysa. They love spending precious time with their five grandchildren: Mickey (Adam Jr.), Juliana, Keira, Crystal, and Alison. The young people in their church call Rick “Rockman” because of his interest in rocks and minerals. The Streights’ heart’s desire is to tell people about Jesus and to encourage themselves and the brethren to keep the faith and be stronger Christians.

Book preview

Copyright © 2017 Rick M. Streight.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

844-714-3454

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

All Scriptures, unless otherwise noted, is taken from the King James Bible.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture quotations marked RSV are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission.

ISBN: 978-1-5127-8496-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-8497-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-8495-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017906737

WestBow Press rev. date: 02/14/2022

A reality we all must face of no fault of our own, we were born into this world with a inherited (from Adam & Eve) Fallen Human Nature, therefore sinning becomes natural to all of us: All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23). This is sooo true; Life may give us Problems but Jesus gives us Solutions. They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick (in bondage and addicted to sin); I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. (Mark 2:17). God does not want us to have a Casual relationship with Him, He says this: And ye shall seek me (sincerely), and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13) K.J. Bible. God’s [Best] thoughts are not about our failures of the past but Forgiveness, Power and Hope Now and for our Future!

Paul wrote this: Awake to righteousness, and sin not (he did not say sin less or not as much): for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. (1 Corinthians 15:34).

This book is Dedicated to God’s faithful preachers and believers and is intended to challenge you to want a better understanding of what it means to be a Christian: fighting the good fight of faith, being Christlike, and hastening Jesus’s Second Coming.

Jesus preached a famous sermon on a mountain that we now call [The Mount of Blessings] among many precious thoughts, He said this: Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6).

For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace [silence], and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth … And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all the Kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name (Isaiah 62:1–2, 7).

One of my favorite Scriptures: Encourage one another and build one another up. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1. Principles in God’s Word To Come to a Correct Understanding of Truth

2. Are We Willing to Accept the Cost of Discipleship?

3. Scripture Explains What It Means to Believe in Jesus

4. My Personal Testimony

5. Knowing Our Enemy to Fight Successfully against Him

6. How Much Does God Know about All of Us?

7. How Does God Feel about Sin? He Hates it!

8. Robots or Our God-Given Power of Choice

9. God Is Sealing (Maturing) His People

10. Trials: Bitter, Then Sweet as Honey

11. The Work of Each Member of the Godhead in Preparing God’s People for Eternity

12. A Very Small Word I

13. Jesus Is Our Example in All Areas of Life

14. We Must Be Born Again

15. Abiding in Christ

16. God Will Fight for Us: If We Listen and Obey the Holy Spirit Speaking To Our Heart

17. The World’s Greatest Need: A True Witness!

18. Prayer: How It Relates to Our Salvation from Sin

19. Distractions and Other Gods

20. Time: A Precious Gift from God

21. God Cannot Lie – Because He Said So!

22. Learning from Children about Trusting God

23. Righteousness by Faith

24. Lacking Faith and Obtaining More

25. Our Worst Enemy Is Not Satan!

26. God Loves Us – Because He Says So!

27. God Forgives Us – Because He Says So!

28. God Empowers Us – Because He Says So!

29. Calvary Conquered My Soul

30. The Church

31. Letting Our Light Shine

32. Revival and Reformation

33. The Humanity of Christ

34. Being a Christian

35. Character Decides Our Destiny

36. Faith Versus Presumption

37. Now Is the Time of Preparation

38. An Appeal to God’s People

39. The Reality of Jesus’s Second Coming

40. Life in the New Heaven and New Earth

41. Thoughts Considered, Questions Answered

Other Books by Rick M. Streight

PREFACE

Over forty years ago, Mr. Bill Hoover, a co-worker at Perry Point VA Medical Center, gave me some very good advice. Now I am excited to share it with you: Spend as much time as you can with Jesus. He is not only your Best friend (Proverbs 18:24), but He brings out the Best in all of us! Please read (Jeremiah 29:11–15) NIV to find out why.

From my years of studying the King James Bible, I am convinced that our Christian churches need to preach [more] than just good sermons. I believe we need to hear present truth (2 Peter 1:12) about the urgency of Being Ready! Read – Early Writings pages 63,124. O how we need sermons that help us patiently endure, be steadfast and hasten Jesus’s Second Coming.

What is present truth? A specific message for a specific period of time.During the universal flood, present truth would have been Repent and get into Noah’s ark. During the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, it would have been Repent and come out of the city. I believe present truth today would be Repent and Prepare Now, not someday, to be right with God and spend Eternity with Him.

Why is there a lot of Scripture in my book? Because only the Word of God has the power to change lives. By the word of the LORD were the heavens made and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. For he spake, and it was done, he commanded, and it stood fast (Psalm 33:6, 9). That same creative power can also re-create you and me through His word: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (2 Corinthians 5:17; Isaiah 55:11).

Since the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden, God has purposed – through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior- to reform mankind according to His divine likeness by bringing him back, again, to live in harmony with the principles of righteousness.

It is God’s Will because of Love, He gives mankind (you and I) Freedom of Choice: And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell in all the face of the earth, and has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation. That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him. (Acts 17:26-28). The Gospel of Jesus Christ will be complete when [we] give God our heart. (Proverbs 23:26) so we can Safely spend Eternity with God, sin will never happen again. Nahum 1:9).

(Genesis Chapter 3) recounts the circumstances surrounding the Devil’s deception and the beginning of mankind’s fallen nature. The following Scripture passages refer to the process of Man’s Reconciliation.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife [God’s true and faithful believers] hath made herself ready (Revelation 19:7).

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his, And, let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity [sin] (2 Timothy 2:19).

O how we need Jesus Our Wonderful Savior! (Colossians 1:27).

Sincerely,

R. M. Str-8

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

There have been many influences that led me to write this book. As I read God’s Word with a heartfelt desire to know Jesus better, the things I learned were so precious to me that I wrote them down; then the Holy Spirit convicted me to share what I had learned with others.

It started at 332 West Potomac Street in Brunswick, Maryland. I thank God for my early growing-up years with my grandma, Wilma Dolly Streight. The memories of her love, unselfishness, and sacrificial willingness to take care of her family and grandchildren—which included my brother Mike, my sister Barbara, and myself—are things I passed on to my family. My grandma was my first impression of what God was like – before I ever opened a Bible.

I was not a Christian yet, but when I joined the US Navy in 1965 and went to military boot camp during wartime, Uncle Sam taught me not my will, but the US government’s will be done—and that when it comes to life or death issues, what you don’t learn can kill you.

Later, as a Christian, I understood more about the meaning of not my will, but God’s will be done.

The Beloved John said this about Jesus: He must increase but I must decrease. (John 3:30). As a Christian, Scriptures tell us Jesus must be on the throne of our heart, David said: The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusteth in him. (Psalms 28:11).

INTRODUCTION

The Importance of Prayerfully reading God’s Word seeking Wisdom and Understanding in the name of Jesus. Scripture says this – A Warning and a Blessing : My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee Why? Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (Hosea 4:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:10 ). Blessings Available while probation is still open And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. ( John 8:32,36). Jesus is The way, the truth and the life. (John 14:6).

We have received an invitation from our Creator: Behold, I [Jesus] stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice [the Holy Spirit speaking to us], and open the door, I will come in to him, I will sup [dine] with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20). O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him (Psalm 34:8). I do not trust [self], I not only Need but Want God in my life!

This is sooo true. Jesus tastes really good, and there is nothing better; Find out for yourself! If you Prayerfully read the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) you will discover, as I did, that Jesus is absolutly irresistible and easy to fall in love with We will want Him not only as our Savior but also as the Lord and King of our life! This Scripture explains it also: Thy words were found and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart. (Jeremiah 15:16).

There are two very important days in our life: the day we are born, and the day we find out why we were born.

How many birthdays does God want us to have every year? 365. Paul said, I die daily (1 Corinthians 15:31). He did not trust his own fallen human nature, and neither should we. Paul knew he had to be born anew daily, and he re-consecrated his life to Jesus Christ every new day. This is good advice to all of us!

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward (Spiritual) man is renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16).

Why were we born into this world? A lot of people don’t know the reason, but God’s Word tells us this: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created [all things], and for thy pleasure they are and were created (Revelation 4:11). Read also 1 John 3:22. There is the answer! We were part of the all things God created. Why? For God’s pleasure! We were created to please God, as were Enoch (Genesis 5:24), Noah (Genesis 6:8–9), Hezekiah (Isaiah 38:2–3), Job (Job 1:8, 22), Zacharias and Elisabeth (Luke 1:5–6), and Paul (Philippians 3:15–16; 2 Timothy 4:7–8). Reading God’s Word tells (you and I) how to please God.

KEY DEFINITIONS OF IMPORTANT WORDS IN THE BIBLE

Religion. Man’s effort to reach God. A lot of religions do not recognize Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Religion alone will not and cannot save us.

Christianity. God’s coming to man in a personal relationship. A Christian is Christ- like, a follower of Jesus (1 John 2:6; 1 Peter 2:21–25).

Grace. The provision made by God for us to receive salvation. Also, it is the power to live the life God requires (Romans 5:20–21; Titus 2:11–14) K.J. Bible. "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the