warning and teaching

Colossians 1:28 "Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ."

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We proclaim Christ.  

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That proclamation has two components: warning and teaching.  Unless you have properly responded to the warning, you aren't ready for the teaching.  People don't start in a good place.  They are all separated from God. From Romans 3:23 " for 

All we like sheep have gone astray;
    we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all. 

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And that separation, which all men start with, leads to eternal death if nothing is done about it.  From Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death".  This is the "default" condition for every person. 

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People need to be warned that their starting position is separation...from birth forward and through life.  And the end result isn't pretty.  The person who remains in this separation at death will not go to Heaven...will not be with the Lord.  Instead, that person will go to Hell and remain in separation from God forever. 2 Thessalonians 1:9 "They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might".

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This is the warning!  And it must be weighed by every person.  What is needed is a truly new beginning...Jesus described it as a 'new birth'.

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John 3:3 "Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

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Natural birth is not enough to reach Heaven.  One must be born a second time!  I hope you have heeded the warning.  Then you will be ready for the teaching!

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blessings,

Rob Smith

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"Death is inevitable.  Life is a choice!"

John 11:25

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live."