He Thought He Caught Jesus Lying by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2015, all rights reserved. Chapter 1 I had a friend who had been a Christian. We hadn't seen each other for several years. He lived in a different town, in a different state. But he came to town, and we shared a meal at a restaurant. The man told me that he had quit being a Christian because he had caught Jesus in a lie. After he said that, I said, "You're talking like a man on his way to hell." I believe the man was quite mistaken. He didn't catch Jesus in a lie. He and I had once been close friends. I tried to persuade him not to quit Jesus, but he would not be persuaded. The man quoted Jesus, who in John 14:14 said, "If you ask anything in my name, I will do it." And the man pointed to the example of an unsaved man that many had prayed for, for his salvation. But the man didn't get saved, and then died and went to hell. How do I know he went to hell? Because hell is the default destination for everyone. You have to make other arrangements to stay out of hell. When you buy a computer, it has, installed at the factory, many default settings. After you get the computer home, you can start changing the default settings to your preferences. The default destination for everyone is hell. The other arrangement that needs to be made is to become a born again Christian, but the man didn't do that. And since he didn't get born again, when he died, he went to hell. So this fellow said, "You see, many prayed for that man's salvation, but he didn't get saved," so he blamed Jesus. But wait a minute. If you ask the Lord to save someone, the Lord is going to try to do that, if possible. I say "if possible" because there is the definite possibility that the man was already too far into sin, and too far down the wrong road. Notice in 1 John chapt 5-- "If any man sees his brother sin a sin that's not unto death, he shall ask, and he'll give him life for those who don't sin to death. There is a sin unto death, I don't say that he should pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not to death." (1 Jhn 5:16,17) So we see that a person can sin "not unto death," but also, a person can sin "unto death." All of us will experience physical death, except for those who get "raptured," according 1 Thess. 14 "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those also who've died in Jesus, God will bring with him. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain at the coming of the Lord won't go ahead of those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first, 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we always be with the Lord." (1 Thess 4:14-17) This will be the catching away of the believers from the earth. I expect it will happen prior to the Great Tribulation of seven years, when the world will be ruled by the Antichrist, as we see in the book of Revelation, the last book in the Bible. But there is also spiritual death, which is going to a fiery hell, where their worms don't die, and where the fire is never quenched, where there's crying and gnashing of teeth. There are minor sins that people commit, but there are also major sins. In Heb chapt 6-- 4 For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify to themselves the Son of God again, and put him to an open shame. 7 For the earth that drinks in the rain that often comes on it, and produces vegetables appropriate for the farmers, receives blessing from God, 8 But that which produces thorns and briers is rejected, and is near cursing, whose end is to be burned. (Heb 6:4-8) In verse 4, above, "if they've tasted of the heavenly gift..." That means they were once Christians. How do I know it means that? Because in one of his visions, the Lord told Kenneth E. Hagin that Jesus is the heavenly gift. For a good read, see, "I Believe in Visions," by Kenneth E. Hagin. I think you'll find it to be reasonably priced, and well worth the price. He has books at Amazon.com and at Rhema.org Chapter 2 Then in vs. 6, if they fall away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance. Some Christians might do a little backsliding, but return to the Lord. But some Christians, if they backslide far enough, can't be renewed to repentance. Now this Heb chapt 6 passage doesn't apply to the sinner who died, since he had never been a Christian, but I believe it applies to the man who thought he caught Jesus in a lie. But look at this--the Lord will try to get people saved (born-again), however, the Lord will never force a person to become a Christian against their will. In fact, the only way a person can become a Christian is by choosing to say Yes to Jesus' free offer of salvation. "See, I stand at the door, and knock, if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I'll come in to him, and will eat with him, and he with me." (Rev 3:20) You have to say Yes to Jesus. Notice also in Ecclesiastes-- ___Ecclesiastes chapter 12 1 Remember now your creator in the days of your youth, while the evil days haven't come, nor the years come near when you'll say, "I have no pleasure in them," This verse tells us to get straight with God when you're young, because as you get older, it becomes more and more difficult to do so, and you'll be less and less likely to get straight with God. And that is partly due to the "hardening through the deceitfulness of sin," as in Heb 3:13-- 13 But exhort each other daily, while it is called today, so that none of you will be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steady until the end, 15 While it is said, "Today if you'll hear his voice, don't harden your hearts, as in the provocation." 16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke, but not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? Was it not with those who had sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness? (Heb 3:13-17) So we see that there is a hardening through the deceitfulness of sin. If you get into sin, it can deceive you, it can seduce you, and many are now in hell because of that. And somewhat prior to the man thinking that he had caught Jesus in a lie, I believe that man became hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. I believe he got into some things displeasing to the Lord, some sins that deceived his heart, and hardened him against the truth, and thus he came to the wrong conclusion that Jesus had lied. That man also surrounded himself with friends that were mostly unbelievers, and had as his girlfriend an unbeliever. Very dangerous. And because that man had a good income, he probably could have married any one of ten thousand Christian ladies, in his state, or surrounding states, or from the internet, but instead he chose an unbeliever to be his girlfriend. When I was living in Los Angeles, I had a neighbor man who, wanting to get himself a wife, contacted an organization that found him a wife from Canada. He introduced me to his wife. Pretty lady. But 2 Cor 6:14 tells us that Christians must not marry unbelievers. After the prayers for the salvation of the unsaved man, I believe the Lord did what he could to try to save that man. But long before those prayers for the man's salvation were made, I believe that man who died and went to hell had gone a very long way down the wrong road, scorning Jesus, and claiming to be an Atheist (Atheists say there's no God.) If you say there's no God, you're not likely to seek salvation through Jesus. After you've gone too far down the wrong road, there's just not much chance of saving you. I know this for a fact--that man who died and went to hell said to his Christian wife, "You worship a Jew?" The man hated Jews because he had once had a Jewish employer mistreat him, so he jumped to the wrong conclusion that all Jews are bad. Also, I don't think that it's really accurate to say that Jesus is a Jew. It's true that when Jesus came down to earth from heaven, He was born of a virgin into a Jewish family, because of God's covenant with his friend, Abraham. But for about four thousand years or more prior to that, He resided in heaven with God the Father, at which time neither God the Father, nor His son, Jesus, were Jews. Which carries more weight, Jesus thirty three years of living on earth, or four thousand years or more in heaven? I would say the four thousand. Jesus said, "He that endures to the end shall be saved." (Matt 10:22) Jesus said, "Be faithful until death, and I will give you a crown of life." (Rev 2:10) But if you only go halfway down the road as a Christian, and then quit being a Christian, it is as though you had never been a Christian. In the early chapters of Ezekiel, God told Ezekiel that when a righteous man turns to wickedness, all his righteousness will be forgotten. As far as God lying, the Bible tells us that God can't lie. So, if you think you've found God lying, there must be some misunderstanding. And God doesn't misunderstand. So it must be us who are not understanding. Don't blame God because someone went to hell. God surely made an effort to get that person saved. In Genesis we read, "My spirit shall not always strive with man." So we see that God's spirit does, for a while, strive with man, to try to get that man or woman saved. Another reason that people sometimes don't receive the things they prayed for is that they didn't put much faith with their prayer. Jesus said, 24 "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them. 25 And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive your trespasses. 26 But if you don't forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses." (Mrk 11:24) In verse 24, we're supposed to put our faith with our prayer, and expect to receive what we're asking for. To become a Christian, obey Romans 10:9,10-- "That if you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you're saved. For with the heart man believes for righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made for salvation." ___James chapter 1 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings. 2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations, 3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted, 10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away. 11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man, 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning. 18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, 20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God. 21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror, 24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. ___James chapter 2 1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also, 3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool," 4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have despised the poor. Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats? 7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called? 8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well, 9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill." Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law. 12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment. 14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food, 16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that? 17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works." 19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God." 24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. ___James chapter 3 1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies. 4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants. 5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how great a matter a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind, 8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be. 11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries? Or a vine, figs? So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh. 13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace. ___James chapter 4 1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members? 2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask. 3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts. 4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God. 5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?" 6 But he gives more grace. So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up. 11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers. He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else? 13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit," 14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. 15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that." 16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin. ___James chapter 5 1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You've heaped treasure together for the last days. 4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath. 5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter. 6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you. 7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near. 9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door. 10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 See, we count them happy that endure. You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation. 13 Is anyone among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven. 16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes a lot. 17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. 19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him, 20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.