Many people and groups seem to be confused about Hell. Some say, “There’s no need to really worry about what awaits you or the others after death.” My response would be that I pity you. I am humbled and in awe of God all the more because I understand what he saved me from. He didn’t save me from a reincarnated earth or a simple cessation of existence. Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior through His blood, and God’s unending grace and mercy, saved me from a place of “outer darkness” (Matthew 25:30), “weeping” (Matthew 8:12), “wailing” (Matthew 13:42), “gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:50), “flame” (Luke 16:24), “eternal punishment” (Matthew 25:46), “fiery furnace” (Matthew 13:42), separation from the righteous (Matthew 25:46), and “torment” (Luke 16:23). Do I just randomly believe these things? Were the words spoken only by mere men?  No. The examples I used are straight from the teaching of Jesus, the Son of God, and our savior. He taught about Hell, Gehenna, and Hades. All are the same place of eternal torment. I’ve heard some folks try to argue that Jesus never taught about hell being eternal torment or even a bad place at all.  This is a false teaching, and the Word must be brought to bare against it.

Jude 1:16

16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage. (ESV)

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1 Timothy 2:8

8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; (ESV)

So if prayer is the goal, let’s examine it a bit.

What is prayer?

Prayer is a privilege.  Prayer is a direct line of communication and communion with our Father, the God of all creation, being facilitated by the perfection of his Trinitarian being.  The Spirit helps us convey our prayers even when all we can let out is a sob and a tear, or we are so confused and scared we don’t know what to say to God.  Our Lord Jesus Christ takes the prayers of an unholy sinner and covers them with his blood and forgiveness making them worthy to present to His Father.  Our Father God receives these prayers as a loving Father who listens to His children in pure and perfect love.  I pray because I want to talk to my Father in Heaven, not only out of Biblical commands, but also out of Joy that I am allowed unlimited audiences with the highest authority in the Universe.

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If one idea could be used to express the idea of how we should live our life as righteous Christians, what would it be?  Some may say to live every day as if it were your last.  Some may say it is the golden rule.  In my personal opinion the singular idea that can express how we should live as Christians is “Coram Deo”. What does it mean?  Well, it is obviously a Latin phrase, let’s take a moment and dissect it.

• Coram (preposition which takes the ablative case) = in the presence of
• Deo (ablative of DEUS, as CORAM takes the ablative) = God

So the combined idea here is “in the presence of God”.  I believe that if we understand and apply this one concept the rest falls into place; the golden rule, the commandments, everything.  We are to live every moment of our life as though we are living in the presence of God (Coram Deo).  Every thought, every action, every word said, every second of our existence must be lived in the presence of, under the authority of, and to the honor and glory of God.  You cannot compartmentalize your life having one portion for the  religious “God stuff”, and one portion for everything else.  If you try to do this you are missing the entire point of being one of His chosen people.  You either live your entire life and existence with God’s will and grace in sight, or you live none of it in His will or grace.  Does this mean you’re not allowed to mess up?  Not at all.  He expects it and always has the exact portion of grace needed to cover it.  You, however, are called to live a righteous and Godly life, period.  You are not called to make everyone happy, have tons of friends, and live in a nice four bedroom in the suburbs.  You are to be aware of the presence of God and also to be acutely aware of His sovereignty.  He alone is God.  Your friends are not God, your job or career is not God, your family and relatives are not God, but He does work through and in all those areas.  Especially when you live your life in a pleasing and glorifying manner to Him.

Coram Deo means that if a person fulfills his or her vocation as a farmer, attorney, or homemaker coram Deo, then that person is acting every bit as righteously as an evangelist or pastor who fulfills his vocation.

To live all of life coram Deo is to live a life of integrity. It is a life of wholeness that finds its unity in the majesty of God. A fragmented life is marked by inconsistency, disharmony, confusion, conflict, contradiction, and chaos.  God is not a God of chaos, but of order (1 Cor 14:33).

We are to consistently live the same life as if we are doing to before God himself (because we are).  You should be the same person out of church that you are in church.  Everything you do should be done as if you are doing it, not just in His presence, but for His glory and honor.  We are to live a life of humility and principle under the constant guidance and teaching of the Holy Spirit.

Living life coram Deo makes all the trifles in our day-to-day life seem very insignificant and helps us rightly realize God’s love and compassion to have a real relationship with us.  Be like Enoch and walk with God Coram Deo (Genesis 5:22,24).

I pray Shalom to you as you strive to live a Righteous Godly life Coram Deo.

What is God’s grace and how does it relate to salvation?
This is such a large topic; I will attempt to begin to scratch the surface of it in a method as worthy to God as I can while gleaning from many resources what I can to present this in an understandable method.

The word translated as grace in the the New Testaments of Scripture comes from the Greek word χάρις (charis [khar'-ece]). The Apostle Paul uses this word to refer to the unmerited and freely given favor and mercy which God bestows upon the sinner in salvation. Through this grace, the sinner is delivered from sin and judgment. Even though it is given freely this grace is very precious and costly since it was bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. A person who is saved by grace has no basis for boasting in his salvation for he has done nothing to earn or merit it. There is no amount of good works or lawful behavior that can earn salvation by this grace.

The gospel of grace is the only true gospel.

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Philippians 4:6-7

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

Why do we pray?  Is it because the Bible says to?  Partly, yes, but it goes much deeper than that to me.  Prayer is a privilege.  Prayer is a direct line of communication and communion with our Father, the God of all creation, being facilitated by the perfection of his Trinitarian being.  The Spirit helps us convey our prayers even when all we can let out is a sob and a tear, or we are so confused and scared we don’t know what to say to God.  Our Lord Jesus Christ takes the prayers of an unholy sinner and covers them with his blood and forgiveness making them worthy to present to His Father.  Our Father God receives these prayers as a loving Father who listens to His children in pure and perfect love.  I pray because I want to talk to my Father in Heaven, not only out of Biblical commands, but also out of Joy that I am allowed unlimited audiences with the highest authority in the Universe.

Is there anything that can hinder our prayers?  There certainly is.  This is not an all-inclusive list, but I will try to list some of the Biblical conditions for prayers to be answered, but remember all things are up to God and his plan, not your wanton desires.

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