An Idea for Christians,
The Talmud states a truth that Christians I believe need to think about. It states,
“An aged man, whom Abraham hospitality invited to his tent, refused to join him in prayer to the one spiritual God. Learning that he was a fire-worshipper. Abraham drove him from his door. That night God appeared to Abraham in a vision and said: ‘I have borne with that ignorant man for seventy years: could you not have patiently suffered him one night?”
The Talmud.
As I look at those claiming to be Christians here in North America I see a lot of protests against things, everything from abortion to gay rights, to speaking out against Muslims and other things these so called Christians disagree with.
I say “so called Christians” because I wonder how committed to the cause of Christ they really are.
Even if they are Christians they definitely it seems, have no time to reach out and show love to those they disagree with.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”
Romans 12:18,19.
Writing to the Corinthians Paul said,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
It is not our job to judge people. We are to love God, our neighbour and even our enemy. We have no right to restrict the rights of anyone who is doing no harm in a secular democracy such as our own.
Jesus said,
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
Matthew 10:16.
If we are acting as doves we are not attacking people or trying to restrict their rights.
Jesus also said,
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:13-16.
All too many people calling themselves Christians these days in North America are protesting against things. They are cementing in the minds of non-believers that Christianity is a religion of “do not’s”.
In protesting against the rights of someone in a secular democracy such as we have in the west these people are at the very least being perceived as bigots. Who are intolerant.
This is not the Christianity I know.
Christianity to me is God reaching down to mankind and saying “I love you. Let me show you the way to heaven.”
I believe a great responsibility rests on the shoulders of Christians. We need to be able to sit down and have an open dialogue with non-Christians. Something we cannot do if we are protesting against them.
Jesus met with people of every strata in every circumstance of the society in which he lived. And even though He was the Christ and had the right to judge, he did not judge anyone while on this earth. Nor should we if we are truly his followers.
Dear Christian
Please think about what I have said carefully.
Tuesday 25 August 2015
Monday 24 August 2015
Your Choice
Your Choice
To my mind as a Christian there is no more important matter in life to consider than who you the individual thinks Jesus is.
The book of John records Jesus speaking to Martha,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
John 11:25,-27
The question is do you believe.
Below are a few quotes from the New Testament regarding Jesus. I put them here for you to consider.
The Apostle John records in his gospel,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of men.”
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:1-4,14
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”.
John 3:16-18
The apostle John records while Jesus was at Solomon’s Colonnade,
“The Jews gathered around him,(Jesus) saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
I and the Father are one.”
John10: 34-30.
Jesus speaking to one of his disciples is recorded as saying,
....“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
The above quotes show three important claims Jesus and His disciples made.
One Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh.
Two, Jesus is God. He was in the beginning when the universe was made and the universe was made by Him.
Thirdly, Jesus is the way to heaven. He makes it clear that He is the resurrection and the life. That no one can come to the Father except through Him.
These claims for their day were radical. Claiming to be God or even the Son of God was under Jewish law at the time a crime punishable by death.
C. S. Lewis states,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
Lewis also made the following statement I leave with you.
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis.
The decision is yours to make.
Please think about i
To my mind as a Christian there is no more important matter in life to consider than who you the individual thinks Jesus is.
The book of John records Jesus speaking to Martha,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
John 11:25,-27
The question is do you believe.
Below are a few quotes from the New Testament regarding Jesus. I put them here for you to consider.
The Apostle John records in his gospel,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of men.”
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:1-4,14
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”.
John 3:16-18
The apostle John records while Jesus was at Solomon’s Colonnade,
“The Jews gathered around him,(Jesus) saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
I and the Father are one.”
John10: 34-30.
Jesus speaking to one of his disciples is recorded as saying,
....“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
The above quotes show three important claims Jesus and His disciples made.
One Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh.
Two, Jesus is God. He was in the beginning when the universe was made and the universe was made by Him.
Thirdly, Jesus is the way to heaven. He makes it clear that He is the resurrection and the life. That no one can come to the Father except through Him.
These claims for their day were radical. Claiming to be God or even the Son of God was under Jewish law at the time a crime punishable by death.
C. S. Lewis states,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
Lewis also made the following statement I leave with you.
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis.
The decision is yours to make.
Please think about i
Sunday 23 August 2015
Peters Call
Peters Call
The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Dear friends,
I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’
1 Peter 2:9-12.
Here the apostle Peter tells those in the church both Jew and Gentile they are “a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God,...”
He goes no to say,
“Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Peter tells the early members and through them us that at one time we were not a people of God. Upon receiving Christ as our Saviour however we became a nation.
Look carefully at what he says,
“I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.”
We as believers in Christ are aliens and strangers in this world. There is no Christian nation on earth yet.
As what in Canada is called a Landed Immigrant I understand what it is to be an alien and stranger in a foreign land. I while living in Canada, I am not a citizen even though I enjoy all the freedoms and blessings of Canada. While living here I must obey the laws of the land. I must as Peter puts it “abstain from sinful desires.”
As Christians we need to do the same. We are need to live in harmony in the land. The apostle Paul said,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:18.
Peter saying,
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
1 Peter 2:12
Jesus gave us several teachings that if we follow them, if we bind them on our heart we will not go wrong.
Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40.
Jesus also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?”
Matthew 5:43-46
Also our love cannot be superficial it must be the love the apostle Paul describes,
Dear Christian
Do your actions reflect the teachings of Peter, Paul and Jesus spoken of here?
Please think about it carefully.
The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Dear friends,
I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’
1 Peter 2:9-12.
Here the apostle Peter tells those in the church both Jew and Gentile they are “a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God,...”
He goes no to say,
“Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Peter tells the early members and through them us that at one time we were not a people of God. Upon receiving Christ as our Saviour however we became a nation.
Look carefully at what he says,
“I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.”
We as believers in Christ are aliens and strangers in this world. There is no Christian nation on earth yet.
As what in Canada is called a Landed Immigrant I understand what it is to be an alien and stranger in a foreign land. I while living in Canada, I am not a citizen even though I enjoy all the freedoms and blessings of Canada. While living here I must obey the laws of the land. I must as Peter puts it “abstain from sinful desires.”
As Christians we need to do the same. We are need to live in harmony in the land. The apostle Paul said,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:18.
Peter saying,
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
1 Peter 2:12
Jesus gave us several teachings that if we follow them, if we bind them on our heart we will not go wrong.
Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40.
Jesus also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?”
Matthew 5:43-46
Also our love cannot be superficial it must be the love the apostle Paul describes,
“Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.Dear Christian
Do your actions reflect the teachings of Peter, Paul and Jesus spoken of here?
Please think about it carefully.
Saturday 22 August 2015
Freedom and Christians
Freedom and Christians
Nelson Mandela said,
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
Nelson Mandela.
From the outset let me make things clear I am a Christian. I accepted Christ as my Saviour over forty years ago. I currently teach the adult midweek bible study at my church. Throughout the years I have done everything from ushering in the church to talking to people on the street about Christ and everything in the middle.
I however look with dismay at those calling themselves Christians who are protesting against gay marriage and gay rights in general, as well as anything else it seems they object to. Which lately seems to be a lot of things.
This in a free and democratic society should not be.
Over the years, indeed over the centuries, men and women calling themselves Christians have used the Bible, WRONGLY, to support everything from the crusades, to slavery, to segregation to anti-Semitism.
Now people are using it again wrongly, against homosexuals and those in the transgendered community.
While some of those protesting against Gay rights and other things may be Christians by the slimmest of margins I believe they are wrong in protesting against anything.
The only thing I believe Christians should be protesting in a democracy is when an elected government tries to restrict the rights of Christians or any other group without good reason.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist made a good point when he said,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo
As Christians we are called to love God, our neighbour, and even our enemy. If we attempt to restrict the freedom of even one person simply because we disagree with them it is wrong and not acting in love.
We live in a secular democracy quite similar in some ways to that of the Roman empire Jesus and the apostles lived in. I’m sure Paul and the other apostles saw a great many things they disagreed with in the society in which they lived. Yet they never spoke against the Roman government, laws or Roman society in general. In fact Paul wrote,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.”
Romans 13:1-3.
Here in North America and in western democracies elected secular governments set the laws. They, because they are secular, do their best to cater to everyone from every faith, race and lifestyle. This is the way it should be.
I as a Christian believe God gave man a free will to go his own way and do his own thing. That free will even gives him the right to believe in God or not.
It does not give anyone the right to restrict the rights of others who are living in peace and doing no harm to others.
It is my wish as a Christian that everyone irrespective of who they are or their lifestyle would come to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Still I cannot and will not force my beliefs on them. Like I said, God has given each person the freedom to choose the direction of their life.
As for me I believe the words of Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40.
I believe all men are my neighbours and I have the responsibility to give them the option Jesus gives all men when he said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”.
John 3:16-18
Please think about it.
Nelson Mandela said,
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
Nelson Mandela.
From the outset let me make things clear I am a Christian. I accepted Christ as my Saviour over forty years ago. I currently teach the adult midweek bible study at my church. Throughout the years I have done everything from ushering in the church to talking to people on the street about Christ and everything in the middle.
I however look with dismay at those calling themselves Christians who are protesting against gay marriage and gay rights in general, as well as anything else it seems they object to. Which lately seems to be a lot of things.
This in a free and democratic society should not be.
Over the years, indeed over the centuries, men and women calling themselves Christians have used the Bible, WRONGLY, to support everything from the crusades, to slavery, to segregation to anti-Semitism.
Now people are using it again wrongly, against homosexuals and those in the transgendered community.
While some of those protesting against Gay rights and other things may be Christians by the slimmest of margins I believe they are wrong in protesting against anything.
The only thing I believe Christians should be protesting in a democracy is when an elected government tries to restrict the rights of Christians or any other group without good reason.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist made a good point when he said,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo
As Christians we are called to love God, our neighbour, and even our enemy. If we attempt to restrict the freedom of even one person simply because we disagree with them it is wrong and not acting in love.
We live in a secular democracy quite similar in some ways to that of the Roman empire Jesus and the apostles lived in. I’m sure Paul and the other apostles saw a great many things they disagreed with in the society in which they lived. Yet they never spoke against the Roman government, laws or Roman society in general. In fact Paul wrote,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.”
Romans 13:1-3.
Here in North America and in western democracies elected secular governments set the laws. They, because they are secular, do their best to cater to everyone from every faith, race and lifestyle. This is the way it should be.
I as a Christian believe God gave man a free will to go his own way and do his own thing. That free will even gives him the right to believe in God or not.
It does not give anyone the right to restrict the rights of others who are living in peace and doing no harm to others.
It is my wish as a Christian that everyone irrespective of who they are or their lifestyle would come to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Still I cannot and will not force my beliefs on them. Like I said, God has given each person the freedom to choose the direction of their life.
As for me I believe the words of Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40.
I believe all men are my neighbours and I have the responsibility to give them the option Jesus gives all men when he said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”.
John 3:16-18
Please think about it.
Friday 21 August 2015
The Way to Heaven
The way to heaven
The apostle Paul wrote,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
‘But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”
1 Timothy 1:15,16.
Paul referred to himself as the worst of sinners, but according to the New Testament writers we are all sinners,
The apostle Paul says,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
Romans 3:23.
The apostle John Wrote,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1 John 1:9-10.
We as people fall short everyday of our lives of what God wants for our lives. Falling short of what God wants for us is sinning. Sinning is missing the mark.
We are human we make mistakes. God understands that. That’s why God provided away for us to have our sins forgiven.
God realizing we couldn’t live lives perfect enough for us to be with him so he reached down to us in the form of Jesus. Through Jesus he showed how far in human terms He would go to reconcile each and every person to himself.
The apostle Paul writes,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.”
Romans 5:6.
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16,17.
Ultimately salvation is based on two things.
The first is who you think Jesus is. Jesus asks us to believe the following statements,
“...“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
“....“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25,26
The second is we are asked to act in faith,
The apostle Paul make it clear salvation is not something we can work for. Paul writing to the Ephesians stating,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9.
The writer of Hebrews stating,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”
Hebrews 11:6
Faith defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1.
So the choice is yours.
Please think about it.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
‘But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”
1 Timothy 1:15,16.
Paul referred to himself as the worst of sinners, but according to the New Testament writers we are all sinners,
The apostle Paul says,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
Romans 3:23.
The apostle John Wrote,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1 John 1:9-10.
We as people fall short everyday of our lives of what God wants for our lives. Falling short of what God wants for us is sinning. Sinning is missing the mark.
We are human we make mistakes. God understands that. That’s why God provided away for us to have our sins forgiven.
God realizing we couldn’t live lives perfect enough for us to be with him so he reached down to us in the form of Jesus. Through Jesus he showed how far in human terms He would go to reconcile each and every person to himself.
The apostle Paul writes,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.”
Romans 5:6.
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16,17.
Ultimately salvation is based on two things.
The first is who you think Jesus is. Jesus asks us to believe the following statements,
“...“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
“....“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25,26
The second is we are asked to act in faith,
The apostle Paul make it clear salvation is not something we can work for. Paul writing to the Ephesians stating,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9.
The writer of Hebrews stating,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him”
Hebrews 11:6
Faith defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1.
So the choice is yours.
Please think about it.
Thursday 20 August 2015
Depart “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:34-46. If we know someone in need I believe it is our Christian duty as far as it is possible for us to do so we are to help that person. With one proviso that it should never leave us so short as to be dependent on others. James in his letter to the church said, “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:14-26. Dear Christian is your faith dead? Are you simply having faith in Jesus without backing that faith with actions. As James said, “You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.” James 2:24. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16. Is your light shining for the world to see? Please think about it.art
Depart
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Matthew 25:34-46.
If we know someone in need I believe it is our Christian duty as far as it is possible for us to do so we are to help that person. With one proviso that it should never leave us so short as to be dependent on others.
James in his letter to the church said,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ?
Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.
You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”
James 2:14-26.
Dear Christian is your faith dead? Are you simply having faith in Jesus without backing that faith with actions. As James said,
“You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.”
James 2:24.
Jesus said,
Is your light shining for the world to see?
Please think about it.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Matthew 25:34-46.
If we know someone in need I believe it is our Christian duty as far as it is possible for us to do so we are to help that person. With one proviso that it should never leave us so short as to be dependent on others.
James in his letter to the church said,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ?
Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.
You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”
James 2:14-26.
Dear Christian is your faith dead? Are you simply having faith in Jesus without backing that faith with actions. As James said,
“You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.”
James 2:24.
Jesus said,
“You are the light of the world.
A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.
Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before men,
that they may see your good deeds
and praise your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16.Is your light shining for the world to see?
Please think about it.
Wednesday 19 August 2015
Christian Belief
Christian Belief
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father’” ?
Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” ?
And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.”
But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
Hebrews 1:1-9.
Here is sound Christian belief. The writer of Hebrews telling us several important things about Jesus,
1/“but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.”
2/“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”
3/ The writer notes that the Son (Jesus), provided purification for our sins.
“After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
4/ Jesus is superior to the angels.
“So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.”
5/The writer noting that God said,
“I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”
6/The writer saying,
“And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
7/Then finally the writer says,
“...about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
In conclusion
Jesus is the Son of God, the creator of the universe, the Saviour of the world. The one who died for our sins. And His throne will last for ever and ever.
You cannot be a Christian if you do not believe this.
You cannot enter heaven if you do not believe in Jesus.
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”.
John 3:16-18
Please think about it
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father’” ?
Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” ?
And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.”
But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
Hebrews 1:1-9.
Here is sound Christian belief. The writer of Hebrews telling us several important things about Jesus,
1/“but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.”
2/“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”
3/ The writer notes that the Son (Jesus), provided purification for our sins.
“After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
4/ Jesus is superior to the angels.
“So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.”
5/The writer noting that God said,
“I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”
6/The writer saying,
“And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
7/Then finally the writer says,
“...about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
In conclusion
Jesus is the Son of God, the creator of the universe, the Saviour of the world. The one who died for our sins. And His throne will last for ever and ever.
You cannot be a Christian if you do not believe this.
You cannot enter heaven if you do not believe in Jesus.
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”.
John 3:16-18
Please think about it
Tuesday 18 August 2015
Christian Belief
Christian belief
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father’” ?
Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” ?
And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.”
But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
Hebrews 1:1-9.
Here is sound Christian belief. The writer of Hebrews telling us several important things about Jesus,
1/“but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.”
2/“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”
3/ The writer notes that the Son (Jesus), provided purification for our sins.
“After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
4/ Jesus is superior to the angels.
“So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.”
5/The writer noting that God said,
“I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”
6/The writer saying,
“And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
7/Then finally the writer says,
“...about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
In conclusion
Jesus is the Son of God, the creator of the universe, the Saviour of the world. The one who died for our sins. And His throne will last for ever and ever.
You cannot be a Christian if you do not believe this.
You cannot enter heaven if you do not believe in Jesus.
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”.
John 3:16-18
Please think about it.
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father’” ?
Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” ?
And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.”
But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
Hebrews 1:1-9.
Here is sound Christian belief. The writer of Hebrews telling us several important things about Jesus,
1/“but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.”
2/“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”
3/ The writer notes that the Son (Jesus), provided purification for our sins.
“After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
4/ Jesus is superior to the angels.
“So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.”
5/The writer noting that God said,
“I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”
6/The writer saying,
“And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
7/Then finally the writer says,
“...about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
In conclusion
Jesus is the Son of God, the creator of the universe, the Saviour of the world. The one who died for our sins. And His throne will last for ever and ever.
You cannot be a Christian if you do not believe this.
You cannot enter heaven if you do not believe in Jesus.
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”.
John 3:16-18
Please think about it.
Monday 17 August 2015
Warning
Warning
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
2 Timothy 4:3,4.
One of the reoccurring themes in the apostle Paul’s letters is that of watching out for false teachers. Men and women who are leading people astray.
Men and women who stray from sound doctrine, turn to if you will “yes men” people who will tell them what they want to hear. They will turn away from truth.
This happens in North America it seems regularly.
Here in North America there are men and women who are interpreting the scriptures to suite their own beliefs. Some are even interpreting scripture in such away as to scam money from people. Both these groups search the scriptures and ‘cherry pick’ verses that seem to support their way of thinking.
Sadly Christians fall for it. Most Christians believe what they are told without question. They hear an evangelist or pastor quote scripture and never check to see if it’s in context. The definitely never consult a commentary to check the theology.
The prominent thing in North America right now seems to be the so called ‘name it claim it’ crowd. Those who espouse the ‘seed faith’ theory. Meaning sow ten dollars to God’s work (quite often they mean sow into their ministry) to get a hundred, sow a hundred to get a thousand.
They treat God like some benevolent banker that gives, a hundred or even a thousand percent interest.
There are others over the years who have written books some best sellers that are nothing more than twisting of scripture. One of the best known being the Y2K prediction. Saying the worlds computers were going to go wild causing all kinds of problems in the year 2000. It didn’t happen.
The latest is the so called ‘Blood Moon’ prediction. Supposedly predicting events that are about to happen to Israel. Yet there have been numerous blood moons since the time of Christ. None have predicted major events. The closest was the Blood moons that occurred ten months after the six day war. Not a very good prediction.
God when he gives a prophesy tells what will happen before the event not after.
Sadly there are many Christians out there that fall for these things.
We as Christians I believe need to be spending more time reading the Bible ourselves. We need to be praying earnestly and asking God to show us the truths in the scriptures.
We need to be holding evangelist and pastors to account. If they are teaching falsely we need to be asking them to admit they made a mistake.
If they don’t admit their mistake we need to be shunning them.
The apostle Paul says,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Dear Christian please think about it.
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
2 Timothy 4:3,4.
One of the reoccurring themes in the apostle Paul’s letters is that of watching out for false teachers. Men and women who are leading people astray.
Men and women who stray from sound doctrine, turn to if you will “yes men” people who will tell them what they want to hear. They will turn away from truth.
This happens in North America it seems regularly.
Here in North America there are men and women who are interpreting the scriptures to suite their own beliefs. Some are even interpreting scripture in such away as to scam money from people. Both these groups search the scriptures and ‘cherry pick’ verses that seem to support their way of thinking.
Sadly Christians fall for it. Most Christians believe what they are told without question. They hear an evangelist or pastor quote scripture and never check to see if it’s in context. The definitely never consult a commentary to check the theology.
The prominent thing in North America right now seems to be the so called ‘name it claim it’ crowd. Those who espouse the ‘seed faith’ theory. Meaning sow ten dollars to God’s work (quite often they mean sow into their ministry) to get a hundred, sow a hundred to get a thousand.
They treat God like some benevolent banker that gives, a hundred or even a thousand percent interest.
There are others over the years who have written books some best sellers that are nothing more than twisting of scripture. One of the best known being the Y2K prediction. Saying the worlds computers were going to go wild causing all kinds of problems in the year 2000. It didn’t happen.
The latest is the so called ‘Blood Moon’ prediction. Supposedly predicting events that are about to happen to Israel. Yet there have been numerous blood moons since the time of Christ. None have predicted major events. The closest was the Blood moons that occurred ten months after the six day war. Not a very good prediction.
God when he gives a prophesy tells what will happen before the event not after.
Sadly there are many Christians out there that fall for these things.
We as Christians I believe need to be spending more time reading the Bible ourselves. We need to be praying earnestly and asking God to show us the truths in the scriptures.
We need to be holding evangelist and pastors to account. If they are teaching falsely we need to be asking them to admit they made a mistake.
If they don’t admit their mistake we need to be shunning them.
The apostle Paul says,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Dear Christian please think about it.
Sunday 16 August 2015
Are you willing?
Are you willing?
“Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”
“Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’’”
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:16-26.
Here is a simple story about faith in Christ. It comes down to what you consider the most important thing in life, God or your possessions and lifestyle.
This young man had wealth, the wealth bought him a good lifestyle.
Intellectually he obeyed the law but that it seems is where it ends. He didn’t have the faith to give up all he owned and follow Christ. He lacked the faith that if he followed Christ, God would supply his needs.
Now let me make things clear hear there is nothing wrong with being rich. Paul writing to Timothy says,
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
1 Timothy 6:10.
This I think was part of the problem with the young man who came to Christ. He loved his money, his possessions. His faith was in his possessions.
There are a lot of wealthy people in the church today as there was in the early church. It was the wealthy in the early church that help fund its expansion. The church needs people who are willing to give of their wealth to help with Evangelism and the building up of the church.
Still a true person of faith should not be relying on their material goods. Their faith like everyone else’s should be in God.
The hardest thing a person can do is follow Christ by faith especially if you’re use to having wealth. But if you put your trust truly in God you will not be let down. He will supply all your needs.
So dear Christian where is your faith?
Think about it.
“Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”
“Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’’”
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:16-26.
Here is a simple story about faith in Christ. It comes down to what you consider the most important thing in life, God or your possessions and lifestyle.
This young man had wealth, the wealth bought him a good lifestyle.
Intellectually he obeyed the law but that it seems is where it ends. He didn’t have the faith to give up all he owned and follow Christ. He lacked the faith that if he followed Christ, God would supply his needs.
Now let me make things clear hear there is nothing wrong with being rich. Paul writing to Timothy says,
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
1 Timothy 6:10.
This I think was part of the problem with the young man who came to Christ. He loved his money, his possessions. His faith was in his possessions.
There are a lot of wealthy people in the church today as there was in the early church. It was the wealthy in the early church that help fund its expansion. The church needs people who are willing to give of their wealth to help with Evangelism and the building up of the church.
Still a true person of faith should not be relying on their material goods. Their faith like everyone else’s should be in God.
The hardest thing a person can do is follow Christ by faith especially if you’re use to having wealth. But if you put your trust truly in God you will not be let down. He will supply all your needs.
So dear Christian where is your faith?
Think about it.
Friday 14 August 2015
A Conversation
A Conversation
“Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am he.”
John 4: 21-26.
Here as Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman Jesus breaks several social norms of the day, tells who he is, and what God the Father seeks.
First of all he a Jewish teacher speaks to a Samaritan woman. Jewish teachers hardly ever spoke to women additionally Jews considered Samaritans unclean and thus didn’t associate with them.
Secondly he predicts that the time will come “when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.”
In other words something had to happen to prevent the worship at the temple. Something that occurred with the destruction of the Temple in 70 A. D. shortly after the death of Jesus.
Thirdly Jesus goes on to say,
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”
Here is what the God the Father wants. God doesn’t care where we worship Him. A building is just a building. True believers worship God wherever they are.
We Christians believe each person is a part of the church. Believers in Christ make up the Church it is not a bricks and mortar structure.
The fourth thing Jesus admits to here, Jesus admits to being the Messiah.
The question to those who claim to be Christians is, do you worship God in spirit and in truth.
To those who are not Christians the question is, a question that Jesus asked Martha,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25,26.
Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God the Saviour of the world?
Please think about it.
“Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am he.”
John 4: 21-26.
Here as Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman Jesus breaks several social norms of the day, tells who he is, and what God the Father seeks.
First of all he a Jewish teacher speaks to a Samaritan woman. Jewish teachers hardly ever spoke to women additionally Jews considered Samaritans unclean and thus didn’t associate with them.
Secondly he predicts that the time will come “when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.”
In other words something had to happen to prevent the worship at the temple. Something that occurred with the destruction of the Temple in 70 A. D. shortly after the death of Jesus.
Thirdly Jesus goes on to say,
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”
Here is what the God the Father wants. God doesn’t care where we worship Him. A building is just a building. True believers worship God wherever they are.
We Christians believe each person is a part of the church. Believers in Christ make up the Church it is not a bricks and mortar structure.
The fourth thing Jesus admits to here, Jesus admits to being the Messiah.
The question to those who claim to be Christians is, do you worship God in spirit and in truth.
To those who are not Christians the question is, a question that Jesus asked Martha,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25,26.
Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God the Saviour of the world?
Please think about it.
Mary's Song
Mary’s Song
“And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.”
Luke 1:46-55.
The Song of Mary or the Magnificat is Mary the mother of Christ singing the praises of God because she had been chosen to give birth to God’s anointed.
Mary did not know it at the time but a lot of things would transpire in her life and in the life of the child she was to bear.
At a young age probably when Jesus was around the age of two she and her husband Joseph had to flee with their infant son to Egypt to protect him.
She would watch her son grow to manhood. She would see him become a teacher of the word of God. She would see his fame grow and his enemies plot against him.
And she would see him beaten and placed on a Roman cross to die a horrible death.
Mary however would witness that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. She would witness that he rose from the grave conquering death, walk on this earth again briefly before ascending to heaven to sit at the right hand of God.
Mary if you will was probably the first Christian. She witnessed and believed all that Christians today believe.
She believed the words of her son when he said,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6.
Mary would have believed the words of John who wrote,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of men...
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:1-4,14.
She would have believed because through her God Himself entered into His creation. She had no doubt about that.
She would have also believed the words of her Son who said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”.
John 3:16-18.
The question is do you?
Please think about it.
“And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.”
Luke 1:46-55.
The Song of Mary or the Magnificat is Mary the mother of Christ singing the praises of God because she had been chosen to give birth to God’s anointed.
Mary did not know it at the time but a lot of things would transpire in her life and in the life of the child she was to bear.
At a young age probably when Jesus was around the age of two she and her husband Joseph had to flee with their infant son to Egypt to protect him.
She would watch her son grow to manhood. She would see him become a teacher of the word of God. She would see his fame grow and his enemies plot against him.
And she would see him beaten and placed on a Roman cross to die a horrible death.
Mary however would witness that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. She would witness that he rose from the grave conquering death, walk on this earth again briefly before ascending to heaven to sit at the right hand of God.
Mary if you will was probably the first Christian. She witnessed and believed all that Christians today believe.
She believed the words of her son when he said,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6.
Mary would have believed the words of John who wrote,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of men...
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:1-4,14.
She would have believed because through her God Himself entered into His creation. She had no doubt about that.
She would have also believed the words of her Son who said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”.
John 3:16-18.
The question is do you?
Please think about it.
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