tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44527482989689165782024-03-12T21:42:03.110-07:00SCRIPTURES WEEKLYScripture lessons for the increase of knowledge and faith in the Lord Jesus ChristUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger212125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-32004638855042012902023-05-07T16:32:00.003-07:002023-05-07T16:42:24.196-07:00Baptism in water isn’t a work of man.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuv0W8tE_oQGbD_hI7iC60aRJLQXFOWEO-hyjqZxwvkcW0lFlaR4GcPQYYUqDEWRxG0e_Hopud2A2ZmvqlGuePklF6M-BnKfiibLKaLGMw6ZMeDJA5jasYANvw60pt3esb9sDszHb6uIesnU7v6rXzSE6ROxSyoshCv9f9eJCPCeyVLL8HOFTbk-p1/s1125/6D954C6F-B9E5-4AF6-9E33-51E928DB096D.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="1125" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuv0W8tE_oQGbD_hI7iC60aRJLQXFOWEO-hyjqZxwvkcW0lFlaR4GcPQYYUqDEWRxG0e_Hopud2A2ZmvqlGuePklF6M-BnKfiibLKaLGMw6ZMeDJA5jasYANvw60pt3esb9sDszHb6uIesnU7v6rXzSE6ROxSyoshCv9f9eJCPCeyVLL8HOFTbk-p1/w200-h133/6D954C6F-B9E5-4AF6-9E33-51E928DB096D.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>OK, IT’S SETTLED, BAPTISM FOR THE CLEANSING OF SINS IS NOT A WORK OF MAN. IT'S THE WORK OF GOD!<p></p><p>YOU’RE NOT DOING IT; IT’S DONE TO YOU.</p><p><br /></p><p>Key scriptures from Heaven: Not my words.</p><p>Matthew 28:19</p><p>Mark 16:15-16</p><p>Acts 2:38</p><p>Acts 8:36-39</p><p>Acts 22:16</p><p>Romans 6:3-5</p><p>1 Peter 3:21</p><p>Galatians 3:27</p><p>Colossians 2:11-12 ***</p><p>Revelation 22:14</p><p> </p><p>Being baptized in water for the forgiveness of sins is not an attempt to be saved by a system of works; water baptism does not require any physical effort on the part of the one being baptized. One who is being baptized is physically passive, allowing himself to be lowered into the water and brought up out of the water by the physical effort of another. The baptizer is doing all the physical work. However, while one who is scripturally baptized is physically passive, he or she is actively trusting in “the powerful working of God” at this moment. Notice what apostle Paul wrote to the church at Colossae on this matter.</p><p>"In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross." (Colossians 2:11-14)</p><p>God Operates In Baptism:</p><p>Thus, what Paul by the Holy Spirit is saying, what spiritually occurs in water baptism in the name of Jesus is not the weak working of a man seeking to save himself by his own effort but “the powerful working of God”, who in that moment in time is saving the individual forgiving his or her sins by grace through one’s faith.</p><p>We all agree that God must operate, act, or work for a sinner in order to be saved. If God acts or works for our salvation, we must recognize this as his grace; we contend salvation is the result of his unmerited favor. The question is: Is this salvation wholly his work without our submission to his name in baptism? Paul here says that God operates or works! But he tells us that God operates on the sinner “in baptism.” If God’s operation on sinners is necessary for salvation, so is baptism! The passage says this work of God, not man takes place in water baptism by faith! </p><p>One cannot eliminate baptism and still have the operation of God. And if baptism is necessary for God to operate in the salvation of sinners, so is baptism essential for the sinner to become a receiver of God’s grace. Salvation is offered by grace; but initial salvation offered by grace is given in the working of God in baptism to cleanse sins; therefore, the grace of God is not invalidated by baptism but accomplishes its design from heaven. One is “made alive together with Christ” when he or she is scripturally baptized into Christ by “faith” in the working of God.</p><p>Have you been properly baptized into Christ? Have a blessed day, Eric Johnson.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-26532286878212638092023-04-05T15:15:00.006-07:002023-04-05T15:15:44.495-07:00Called by God<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2i6dKeGZtbIsC9ws62xLWQ3rSPXmlWLqOON5xpRJLx_2fDQMkCOWAp6k4zIP8ItpW5Aef3kIO5vIuMxptMrXhdpkX1Sn_O_gtyvQ-rsJgBHiGweFjTUVFEPgcLiKC7UhcuhHLDXs19lbXemboBmvotAxl6Bg-A9KpX-Siv7LIO409doN_1brdmMjh/s1125/9961DA8E-79F8-4997-8D17-5A3ACEE81299.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="1125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2i6dKeGZtbIsC9ws62xLWQ3rSPXmlWLqOON5xpRJLx_2fDQMkCOWAp6k4zIP8ItpW5Aef3kIO5vIuMxptMrXhdpkX1Sn_O_gtyvQ-rsJgBHiGweFjTUVFEPgcLiKC7UhcuhHLDXs19lbXemboBmvotAxl6Bg-A9KpX-Siv7LIO409doN_1brdmMjh/s400/9961DA8E-79F8-4997-8D17-5A3ACEE81299.jpeg" width="400" /></a>
</div><p>
During the feast the king noticed a man “who was not wearing wedding clothes”
(verse 11). When asked how he came to be there without the furnished attire, the
man had no answer and was promptly ejected from the feast “outside, into the
darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (verses 12-13).
Jesus then ends the parable with this statement: “<i>For many are called, but few
are chosen</i>” (verse 14).</p><p>The king is God the Father, and the son who is being
honored at the banquet is Jesus Christ, who “<i>came to that which was his own, but
his own did not receive him</i>” (John 1:11). Israel held the invitation to the
kingdom, but when the time actually came for the kingdom to appear (see Matthew
3:1), they refused to believe it. Many prophets, including John the Baptist, had
been murdered (Matthew 14:10). The king’s reprisal against the murderers can be
interpreted as a prophecy of Jerusalem’s destruction in A.D. 70 at the hands of
the Romans (cf. Luke 21:5). More broadly, the king’s vengeance speaks of the
desolation mentioned in the book of Revelation. God is patient, but He will not
tolerate wickedness forever (Obadiah 1:15). His judgment will come upon those
who reject His offer of salvation. Considering what that salvation cost Jesus,
is not this judgment well deserved? (see Hebrews 10:29-31)</p><p>Note that it is not
because the invited guests could not come to the wedding feast, but that they
would not come (see Luke 13:34). Everyone had an excuse. How tragic, and how
indicative of human nature, to be offered the blessings of God and to refuse
them because of the draw of mundane worldly things!</p><p><b>How is one called by God?</b> A person
is drawn and surrenders to the invitation of salvation through Jesus
instructions in the written word, the Bible.</p><p><b>How is one initially chosen after
being called?</b> He or she repents and believes in Jesus as God in the flesh while
He was on earth, and the risen Lord and Christ, then obeys the gospel clothing
oneself with Christ through water baptism by faith (Galatians 3:27). One then
begins walking in newness of life (Romans 6:4).</p><p>Those that accept His invitation
today and in the future will go on doing so until the end of time having the
Church “filled with guests". Then God the Father puts an end to all that we see
and know at His appointed time.</p><p><i>He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I
am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. </i>(Revelation 22.20)</p><p> <br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-10591084415961936082023-04-01T10:35:00.006-07:002023-04-04T12:25:13.223-07:009 Questions<p><span face="HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 16px;">9 questions for those that still want to insist salvation occurs before baptism:</span></p><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6366" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6367" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> ACTS 2:36-41</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6368" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6369" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">1.) When the crowd asked what they must do, did Peter say, “Repent and BELIEVE!” or did he say, “Repent and be BAPTIZED!”?</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6370" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6371" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">2.) When the crowd asked what they must do, did Peter say, “Ask Jesus to come into your heart! Pray and ask God to forgive you!” or did he say, “Repent and be BAPTIZED!”?</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6372" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6373" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">3.) When the crowd asked what they must do, did Peter lead them in the “sinner’s prayer” or did he tell them to “Repent and be BAPTIZED!”?</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6374" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6375" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">4.) If they were already saved before they were baptized, then why did Peter tell them to “Repent!”? (Verse 38)</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6376" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6377" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">5.) If they were already saved before they were baptized, why did Peter tell them, “SAVE yourselves…!”? (Verse 40)</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6378" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6379" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">6.) If “eis” means “because of”, where is there even one single credible version of the Bible where the translators translated this phrase “because of” and not “for”, or “so that”?</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6380" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6381" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">7.) Forgiveness only comes after repentance (Luke 13:3,5). So if “eis” means “because of”, why would Peter tell them to “Repent because your sins have already been forgiven!”?</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6382" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6383" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">8.) If baptism is not when our souls become saved, then why does it say, in verse 41, “Then they that gladly received his word were BAPTIZED: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand SOULS.”?</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6384" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6385" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">9.) If baptism is not for today, then why did Peter tell them, “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.”? (Verse 39)</div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6385" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6385" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1486082848041_6385" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light, "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Though He doesn't need to, GOD rests His case...<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-14646750188639436502022-07-27T12:40:00.007-07:002022-10-14T16:02:05.486-07:00Is ROMANS 10:9 all there is to it?<p>GOD doesn't give us all He requires of us in single scriptures. He harmonizes many scriptures for a given requirement of His holy commands.<br /></p><p></p><p></p><p>Click go button below to listen to lesson.</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="1" height="180px" marginheight="0px" marginwidth="0px" name="myiFrame" scrolling="no" src="https://record.reverb.chat/embed/Mo3aBsDZDvmZXbA7bYFk" style="border: 0px #ffffff none;" width="550"></iframe></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-32218959435692048972022-01-31T19:04:00.027-08:002022-10-15T21:31:54.922-07:00Are You a Christian and what did You Do to be one?<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="1" height="180px" marginheight="0px" marginwidth="0px" name="myiFrame" scrolling="no" src="https://record.reverb.chat/embed/iCTvvBFcqiInyJ9JLUOO" style="border: 0px #ffffff none;" width="550"></iframe> </div><div><br /></div><div><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Click go button above to listen to lesson.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">First of all, a word about the so called <i>sinners prayer</i> you may have heard of.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The Sinner’s Prayer is a Christian name for any prayer of repentance, prayed by individuals who believe convicted of the presence of sin in their lives and have the desire to establish a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Romans 10:9-10 is often cited as Gods will and authorization for the use of a sinners prayer to be saved. It says, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” This is not the case because it short circuits Gods will for us to be obedient to his instructions I will mention shortly.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The basic version of the prayer goes like this: “Lord Jesus, I’m a sinner. I believe You died for my sins so I could be forgiven. I receive You as my Lord and Savior. Thank You for coming into my life. Amen.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">This mode is not the way one becomes a Christian. Nowhere in the Bible does Gods word teach a simple prayer and mentally receiving Jesus in ones heart to be saved and have the gift of salvation. In fact this unbiblical practice bypasses obedience to Gods will in a gross way and will make it very difficult to renounce and correct because one will have disobeyed the gospel (2 Thes 1:8-10). The sinners prayer in any form is probably the number #1 reason millions will end up somewhere else other than heaven on the day of judgment by Jesus Christ. We emplore you not to do it!</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Now, Gods word teaches that we need to test the spirits, and that responsibility falls on our personal spiritual inventory as well.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><i><br /></i></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.”</span></i></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">1 John 4:1-3</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">If asked, how do you explain you are a Christian? It’s kind of egotistical to talk about ones self and I understand the person asking may be a Christian desiring to test your spirit. This is perfectly biblical and there should be no angst on the questioner’s part if he or she is asked the same question in this conversation. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Here is the biblical response to the questioner with scripture references God has left both parties to learn from.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">First, we must inform them we have within our heart, mind and spirit that Jesus Christ came to earth by the Holy Spirit from his heavenly home in the flesh. That He was God in the flesh here 2,000 years ago. Then tell them you believed and obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ in the Bible. Then we need to inform them we had to be obedient to the gospel by faith making our salvation actual by the following biblical teachings.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Tell them you read and heard the word from teaching or preaching. Romans 10:17</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">You believed the word of God the Bible. Ephesians 1:13. And the gospel of Jesus Christ which is, “Christ died for my sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day defeating death according to the Scriptures” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Then you repented or turned away from your sinful life walking towards God now. Acts 3:19, 2 Corinthians 7:10-11, 2 Peter 3:9, Revelation 2:5-6</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Then tell them you verbally confessed Jesus as Lord, King and your Savior in front of witnesses acknowledging he was God in the flesh on earth. And that he is the only way to God the Father now. John 14:6, Acts 8:36,37, Romans 10:10, John 8:56-59, Heb 1:8-12, 1 John 4:1-2</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Then you by obedient faith in the working of God was baptized in water by another for the remission of your past sins in the name of Jesus Christ as commanded by Jesus, apostle Peter and the Holy Spirit who inspired the written word. Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, 22:16, Galatians 3:26-27, Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:11-12.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Finally you began walking in newness of life everyday a new creation exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit in your life the best you can as a new citizen in the kingdom of God, the church. All the while Loving God with all your heart, all your strength and with all your mind, and loving your neighbors as yourself, even those who persecute you for your faith. Matt 22:37-40, Galatians 5:22-23, 2 Corinthians 5:17.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px; text-align: justify;"><i><span class="s1">“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”</span></i><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px; text-align: justify;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px; text-align: justify;">Matthew 7:13-14</p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px; text-align: justify;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px; text-align: justify;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px; text-align: justify;"><span class="s1"></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px; text-align: justify;"><span class="s1"></span></p></div><p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-65081432458713095432021-09-29T22:47:00.008-07:002021-09-29T22:52:05.052-07:00Resurrection Evidence.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_MjcJ-VJoftaEeaAIWre18_dSLYYN4L0YMR8pfo9xpuG3m1a5MgnD_8F-hoWAF9luUoYwLe_QgBYkHRXu9PKQlSZyF1I-pzhUi9gj13pwkOpGPHF13SyNXCmkRiWfP6O6oRg70YTsjQ/s713/7320CAC8-5471-49CB-8552-88458180852A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="713" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_MjcJ-VJoftaEeaAIWre18_dSLYYN4L0YMR8pfo9xpuG3m1a5MgnD_8F-hoWAF9luUoYwLe_QgBYkHRXu9PKQlSZyF1I-pzhUi9gj13pwkOpGPHF13SyNXCmkRiWfP6O6oRg70YTsjQ/w200-h143/7320CAC8-5471-49CB-8552-88458180852A.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>7 proofs of the Resurrection:</p><p>1. Jesus really existed and died in history.</p><p>2. The empty tomb was verified by the guards who reported to the chief Jewish priests of such, and without proof the priests offered them large sums of money to keep quiet, and if asked to tell people Jesus disciples stole the body. If the body was stolen, how long do you think this lie would take to be revealed? A huge lie especially one like this would eventually be revealed by somebody with or around the disciples. No body has been unearthed for nearly 2000 years!</p><p>3. The disciples saw Jesus after his resurrection and were willing to die for the fact. And they changed their centuries old prior beliefs worshipping on the sabbath Saturday to worshipping on the first day of the week Sunday, the day Jesus rose from the dead. They celebrated the Lords supper on the first day of the week as we do today until he comes again. And they taught baptism for the remission of sins in place of sacrificial circumcision. The disciples would never have manufactured the resurrection account.</p><p>4. The doubting disciple Thomas needed physical proof of seeing the imprint of the nails in Jesus hands and the scar in his side to believe. After he touched the risen Jesus in these areas of his body he called him my Lord and my God! And over 500 other witnesses saw the risen Jesus for 40 days.</p><p>5. Most all modern day non believing New Testament scholars agree the resurrection of Jesus occurred in history. It cannot be refuted.</p><p>6. Early first century historians attest to the fact of the resurrection of Jesus.</p><p>7. Apostle Paul’s reporting of the resurrection to the Corinthians, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, our earliest historical writing within months of Jesus ascension to Heaven.</p><p>Why do we believe? Because we believe in the record of scripture. Why do we believe the Bible? Because the Spirit of God has not only given us faith in Christ, but faith in scripture. We haven’t seen the risen Christ, but we have experienced the risen Christ by his power and his presence. We weren’t argued into believing the Bible, we were led by divine power into believing the Bible. We walk by faith, not by sight. He is risen and reigns at the right hand of the Father today and forever.</p><p>ERJ</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-4127289935259311072021-05-17T22:57:00.010-07:002021-09-19T13:46:36.335-07:00The Heart of God - Holy Spirit Studies<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span class="caption" style="font-size: medium;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2ke3zc3xm6Mw8It8bm5bU5VDD6A5VJgTgOwWJQYzJwW11gQx3Sd925pCLJn-xGM7J1UQgAWXIUOC4vXiHPtw1bzjiaGw4886pNTywGcjea0mb7IeTZpKMJifEhUu4kRF_TXpZzlMzYU/s900/Knowing-the-Heart-of-God.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="900" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2ke3zc3xm6Mw8It8bm5bU5VDD6A5VJgTgOwWJQYzJwW11gQx3Sd925pCLJn-xGM7J1UQgAWXIUOC4vXiHPtw1bzjiaGw4886pNTywGcjea0mb7IeTZpKMJifEhUu4kRF_TXpZzlMzYU/w320-h181/Knowing-the-Heart-of-God.png" width="320" /></a></div>The
Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead we read about in the
Bible. Some call the Holy Spirit an "it" when in fact He is a person. A
personality of God and the "Helper" of God given to those who have by
faith put Jesus Christ on in water baptism (Acts 2:38, Rom 6:3-4, Gal
3:27). The Holy Spirit actually takes residence in the disciples soul
here on Earth...</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our Lord Jesus condemned the
leaders of Israel for attributing the works of the Holy Spirit to Satan, and in
the modern Pentecostal movement of today, the reverse is occurring where works
of the devil are being attributed to the Holy Spirit. It’s a very sad
insult, a grief to the Holy Spirit and in some cases even a blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.</span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">When we worship God, we
worship the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Somehow, the Holy
Spirit has been trailing behind in terms of emphasis when, the Holy Spirit is the
member of the Godhead most personally, and intimately involved in the life of a disciple.</span> </i></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">The Holy Spirit is responsible
for three marvelous ministries in the disciples life:</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">First, the ministry of
regeneration. He gave us life.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Secondly, the ministry of
sanctification. It is He who increasingly conforms us to the image of
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Thirdly, the ministry of
security. He secures us until that final ministry of
glorification when as the Spirit raised Christ from the dead (Rom 8:11), He raises the saints up into glory.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">The Holy Spirit understands
our flesh, understands our weakness, understands temptation. When they
came to arrest Jesus, He wouldn’t let them arrest the disciples because the
Scripture needed to be fulfilled that none of them would defect, and so they
were never going to be in a position where defection would happen. It’s a
securing that is not simply a stated fact. It is a securing fact that is a constant
work by the intercession of the Son and the Spirit. The Holy Spirit yearns
and waits for our final glory. This is the heart of God.</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">We hope you can spend some
time reacquainting with the Holy Spirit, learning of His character and His
ministry to the Saints today through the word. We have offered these video lessons for your consideration.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-29064915934855323502020-07-13T16:43:00.004-07:002022-01-31T21:46:19.977-08:00God does the work of Salvation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The gospel of Jesus Christ is not just for non-believers, but for Christians by name only also.</div>
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Saved by grace alone, Faith alone, in Christ alone according to Scripture alone. Not by works. This statement by evangelical Christian movements and their leaders is what they say is the true doctrine of salvation. It’s history did not begin with God, but began with the theologian Martin Luther’s adjustment in the passage Romans 3:28 which originally says,</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.”</i></span></div>
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Having problems with apostle James letter in the New Testament, in 1522 Luther added the word “alone” after faith in the blessed Greek text of Romans 3:28 in his German translation of the Bible, thus adding to Gods word (Rev 22:18). He claimed it was necessary in the Germanic language to fully understand apostle Paul’s writing in the Romans 3 passage. This set in motion the false doctrine that one is saved by faith alone neglecting the full obedient gospel message from heaven, and has permeated the religious world to this day not running its course anytime soon!</div>
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The passage Luther wrestled and had great consternation with in connection with Rom 3:28 was this,</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.”</i></span> James 2:24</div>
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This is the only place “faith alone” is written in the original 66 books of the Bible. When Luther added “faith alone” in Rom 3:28, preachers and teachers the last five centuries have chosen this soft half-gospel to stake ones eternity on without understanding the actual “workings of God” during the conversion process. They traded Gods truth for their human truth. Now there are millions of evangelicals propagating this incomplete gospel from the meek to the most well known teachers of today.</div>
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We can only put the deeds of the body to death by the Spirit which we received as our helper/teacher at the point when biblically baptized. We do not have the power otherwise. But the choice to live by the Spirit is ours once gifted with Him, and we are commanded repeatedly (especially in Rom. 8 and Gal. 5) to do so.</div>
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As Paul says, “if by the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the body, then (and only then) we will live.” We cannot live without the Spirit. And we cannot be blessed of the Spirit until He indwells the new convert. When does this occur? Read on and be sure to watch the video.</div>
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Jesus' death and blood are tied to our justification and our reconciliation to God. These words are used to refer to our salvation experience in the past. We die to our old life, and in baptism we are by faith buried with Christ for the cleansing of our sins by his blood (Acts 2:38) in that heavenly process, and clothed with Christ (Gal 3:27). Our salvation, in the sense of our entrance into Christ, happens purely by faith, apart from works of man. Baptism by faith is not a human work! We can never work ourselves into being born again or into becoming new creatures. But God himself can by His blessed work.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-75504946125580365302020-06-06T17:01:00.004-07:002021-09-07T12:34:48.542-07:00Free Power For Change<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="yiv3185873756s1">If you could wave a magic wand over humanity and cure it of hate and worldly
ambition, would you do it? Of course you would. This is wishful thinking,
nothing to do with reality. But, there actually is a way to re-steer humanity
and individuals onto a path towards changing mans will to destroy itself, and it
doesn’t cost a thin dime to do so, and its guaranteed.</span></div>
<div class="yiv3185873756p2" style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; min-height: 20.3px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv3185873756p3" style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="yiv3185873756s2">The Holy Spirit of God is the beautifier and teacher (1 Corinthians 2:13) that can help all individuals of mankind if we let Him. We already know this because He is transforming lives daily as you are reading this. City’s wouldn’t need to abolish police departments. People wouldn’t have to gather by the
thousands to force their point across in pursuit of justice. The unlawful ones
could be empowered to cease continuing more law braking. And believe it or not, even politics and
politicians could reform into truly having their constituents at heart.</span></div>
<div class="yiv3185873756p2" style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; min-height: 20.3px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv3185873756p3" style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="yiv3185873756s2">How can the Holy Spirit do this? It just takes a decision
for Jesus Christ by people of all colors for the Spirit of God to transform societies with the fruits of the Spirit. You see, once one makes this good decision and is baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38, Galatians 3:26-27), the Holy Spirit will be given you to heartfelt change (John 14:16-18), and the free gift of eternal life. You will be transformed as you walk and live in the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25). Its that simple. The Holy Spirit will then help all the more who allow Him to
formulate ways of change society has rejected throughout mankind’s ugly side of
history.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="yiv3185873756s2">We hope you take some time to consider the opportunity laid before
you because God gives us choices, even the bad and good ones. Enjoy these lessons on what and who the Holy Spirit is, and how He ministers in the life of the new and experienced disciple.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="yiv3185873756s2">God bless...</span><br />
</div>
<div class="yiv3185873756p3" style="font-stretch: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-heart-of-god-holy-spirit-studies.html?m=0"><span style="font-size: large;">Click Here for our series on the Holy Spirit</span></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-34620663153686069002020-05-13T22:02:00.000-07:002020-05-13T22:04:49.631-07:00Christianity Requires Thinking<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRHZKz-Ll2kkdSBzZoWAmpGl9oyemuCdB9qiISmSZFVGh8ki-fZdfb882o8AyHz2tDbTWI6XorzLHEtm8Na5c9uD3xsaL8SZUoLwB7MEaNgkuPMniPian9FTbnWk-14XElzmVFIcEAa9g/s1600/thinking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="450" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRHZKz-Ll2kkdSBzZoWAmpGl9oyemuCdB9qiISmSZFVGh8ki-fZdfb882o8AyHz2tDbTWI6XorzLHEtm8Na5c9uD3xsaL8SZUoLwB7MEaNgkuPMniPian9FTbnWk-14XElzmVFIcEAa9g/s200/thinking.jpg" width="200" /></a>Contrary to the belief
Christianity is a crutch or a belief system of “blind faith,” little do our accusers realize, Christianity is a
thinking person’s religion. It requires us to use thought and reason for
dedicating our time of service to others. It requires we think about our
willingness to use gifts God gives each individual Christian according to his
or her faith. Our money, our daily walk in life away from our church home
during the week. How we treat others requires much thinking in light of
teachings in the bible. Christianity requires us to read and think about how
Jesus would want us to decide on a matter other than our personal opinion.
Ultimately Christianity requires us to think about what apostle Paul called
<i>“running the race to win the prize”</i>. That living a life based on humanism and
selfishness will not result in winning the prize of heaven on the last day (1
Cor 9:24-27).</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
When asked by an expert in the
Jewish law as to what commandment ranks above all others, Jesus quoted
Deuteronomy 6:1-3, which is the passage that Jews use to distinguish themselves
from their pagan neighbors. Yet, Jesus added something to it. While verse 5 in
the original reads <i>“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and
with all your soul and with all your might,”</i> Jesus added the phrase <i>“and with
all your mind”</i> (Matthew 22:37). Jesus put a huge importance on the use of our
minds.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
Christianity is fact based in
history and eyewitnesses play a huge part in its message. The disciple Luke
(the doctor) tells us that when he began writing his account of Jesus life to
Theophilus, he sought out <i>“those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses”</i> and
that he himself <i>“investigated everything carefully from the beginning” to provide
the exact truth"</i> (Luke 1:1-4). This means Luke collected the data, thought about
his findings and shared them as a fact of history.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
Christianity is a literate
faith, relying on the teachings of the apostles in the scriptures. Apostle Paul
told Timothy to <i>“do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a
worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”</i> (2
Timothy 2:15-16). This required Timothy to work at discerning the text to avoid
“babble and lies” that leads to ungodliness.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
Thinking and meditating about “worship
as a lifestyle” requires daily thought and life decisions utilizing the tool of
the word of God. So how does a Christian “think” about his Christian faith in
real life terms? Again, the inspired Apostle Paul teaches that people need to
<i>“renew their mind”</i> <i>to prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God</i>
(Romans 12:3). Renewing the mind just doesn’t happen by osmosis, forced
feelings or wishing it so. The mind needs to be fed daily with the word of God
given us through His Spirit, and prayer (2 Timothy 3:16). Then taken to heart
translating godly guidance into practical daily decision making in a way that
is right and godly. Here are some examples:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
The wife is working late
tonight. Without asking will I take the initiative and cook dinner?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
If we have ailing relatives
unable to care for themselves, will I offer my home and resources to help them?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
(Matt 25:45)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
My neighbor’s car is broken
down with a burnt-out motor starter and no money. Am I willing to make myself
available and ready to spend $75 or whatever to get him a new part to fix the
car so he can go to work?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
A young man needs some funding
help to finish his last semester of class in order to graduate. Will I step in
and think of his future over mine and help him graduate?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
If I have the gift of
consoling a person who has just lost their loved one, am I willing to put
myself out there and give up my time and emotion to a stranger who is in dire
straits over his or her loss? Including the possibility of becoming a part of
her life to help her get through the difficult time? Phone calls, visits, meals
etc. (1 Pet 4:12-13)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
If I have the gift to teach,
am I willing to make myself available to whomever needs instruction on the
gospel of Jesus Christ when they ask me? Am I willing to defend the gospel to
my adversaries when called?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
Part of the problem even in
some church congregations is, they want to show a big splash, a big bright
shiny billboard of good works in the name of God - in a worldly way. What I
mean by this, are the splashes done in a way that appears like a TV commercial rather
than heart to heart with compassion and understanding? Is it effective, loving
and caring or is it circus like and cold? Have they really “thought” out how
the style they have chosen may miss the mark? Service to others in our walk
with God requires thinking and action in our individual Christian faith from
the heart into the mind. And God gives each one of us the tools to do so in a
way that helps Him increase His church in this world one soul at a time. Remember,
the 12 were discipled one at a time by Jesus, then they set in motion the Lords
church beginning at Jerusalem, then into the world.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
Jesus and the world are
watching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are we by faith thinking?<br />
<b>Philippians 2:1-5</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="280" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fLmsorfTfI8" width="500"></iframe>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8okIYeQ7w6sDBAuXxC8-bc5E3ogb7oomogi0Z8kTpsD_7-lHKcgHSCZrve4mRDM0EotQ_ebUmVTydfJHiVclo46WvgQd_GUHnv-k0m46nO0UmSu47QcYvAwvtd_xhOjV3ulP2dlEQhMc/s1600/sw6.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="85" data-original-width="600" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8okIYeQ7w6sDBAuXxC8-bc5E3ogb7oomogi0Z8kTpsD_7-lHKcgHSCZrve4mRDM0EotQ_ebUmVTydfJHiVclo46WvgQd_GUHnv-k0m46nO0UmSu47QcYvAwvtd_xhOjV3ulP2dlEQhMc/s320/sw6.tif" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-86098114160699857082020-04-08T10:50:00.001-07:002022-08-30T12:44:01.137-07:00Are You Racing to Win?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvM8504wD7nTwuI7gMrlBiKRrrV4GbSn1cutzAbFkgp4hymCT8H_vceqv0hlq03gxQIND0-k8gKjJiWKf3vIhtHfNZuz2gFv5e4rUx0sZA9j48xjLeOAejj3SRVaxRLg8Iv5qBhZBNDxs/s1600/3bfac0ef-f224-45c2-92ee-e5d0dc219965.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvM8504wD7nTwuI7gMrlBiKRrrV4GbSn1cutzAbFkgp4hymCT8H_vceqv0hlq03gxQIND0-k8gKjJiWKf3vIhtHfNZuz2gFv5e4rUx0sZA9j48xjLeOAejj3SRVaxRLg8Iv5qBhZBNDxs/s320/3bfac0ef-f224-45c2-92ee-e5d0dc219965.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
I have had my share of racing motorcycles beginning in my
teenage years, through my 20’s and 30’s. And later in my 50’s without much
winning success as the reflexes lagged, and the old body just wasn’t built up
to withstand the abuse moving along at full throttle. Winning was sweet when it
happened. Mentally though I was always focused and determined to do whatever it
took to win the race even if I didn’t. After all, what is racing? It’s about
winning.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
This reminds me of a recent conversation I had with a fellow
Christian about paying a bit too much attention to matters of the world. How it
can get in the way of our race to win the “imperishable prize” (1 Cor 9:24-25).
If we set our sights on worldly (perishable) matters, they can get a hold of us
and distract us from what the Lord wishes our sights to be fixed upon. Even
Christians being human can be easily swayed. I can tell you this is true from
personal experience!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
The bible teaches us that we are to “Set our mind on
things above, not on things on earth. For you died, and your life is hidden
with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will
appear with Him in glory.” (Col 3:2-4)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
One of the words in this passage is a clue to a
Christians response one way or another to worldly matters thrust before him.
Will he address it, make it important, or turn away from it in the Lord? That
word is “died”. We are constantly reminded by Jesus of having to give up our
worldly ways, carry our cross by being long suffering servants of the Lord. And
by the apostles in establishing the early church through all the near-death
trials and challenges they experienced by faith, apostle Paul even said, “To
live is Christ, To die is gain.” (Phil 1:21)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
Is paying too much attention to the Coronavirus and all its
details, or religious freedoms and the Nations government all that important to
the Christian? Or giving it all you got in making sure ones second amendment
rights aren’t infringed upon, freedom of speech guaranteed and on and on? Some
of these things are precious to us in the United States. But how does being
militant in these worldly matters adding to ones walk in Christ to win the
prize? Is walking in the Lord in this manner dying to yourself? Is it long suffering that glorifies Jesus by the Holy Spirit? Is it Gods will for you
to concentrate much time and resources to try and make a worldly difference? Might
I suggest focusing too much on worldly matters can pull one away from winning
the prize. Some say, “I have freedom in Christ to focus on these matters, I’m
not in danger of losing my salvation.” That’s what the frog said in a warm
frying pan. That’s what the hare said to the tortuous. And that’s what God says
about not focusing on things from above! God gives us choices.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
In motorsports or any other type of racing there is a
saying when you finish in second place. It’s called the “first loser.” Let’s
not walk in a way that causes us to win at the expense of our salvation. Even the
inspired apostle Paul who knew all truth said he could become disqualified (1
Cor 9:27). Let’s walk in a way that glorifies and props Jesus up by the way we serve
and suffer for His sake in all that we do as His disciples, lest we become the
first loser…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
In Christ</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPk3XfLqm_E25kkSmXzn3fLeXE7SLoDjLj6W3MQjPvOkGh3ie0GR6xqtxuZk7nfsa7jIEcQPWGaVcMkdTnu7497ZAqmpzPxrdcKsDDzxdX6PNbZgbn6eW6xvCfPLNB0u0vXTaAIPR7Ovk/s1600/sw5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="1050" height="53" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPk3XfLqm_E25kkSmXzn3fLeXE7SLoDjLj6W3MQjPvOkGh3ie0GR6xqtxuZk7nfsa7jIEcQPWGaVcMkdTnu7497ZAqmpzPxrdcKsDDzxdX6PNbZgbn6eW6xvCfPLNB0u0vXTaAIPR7Ovk/s320/sw5.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-70218021918625966982020-03-09T14:35:00.001-07:002020-03-09T14:35:07.324-07:00Son of Man, Son of God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
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<i>“I was watching
in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the
clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near
before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all
peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an
everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which
shall not be destroyed.”</i> <b>(Daniel 7:13-14)</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Apparently, this vision was quite surprising to Daniel,
but why? When we read this, we know that the “Son of Man” refers to Jesus and
the “Ancient of Days” refers to God. Nothing too alarming. Here’s what’s
strange about Daniel’s observation. Up until this point in the Bible the phrase
“Son of Man” always refers to just that – the son of man, a human. Daniel
doesn’t know he’s seeing Jesus. He’s one that looks like the son of man, a
human, coming in the clouds and receiving a kingdom from God. This was
unexpected. From this point forward through the Bible, that phrase, “Son of Man”
is used as a distinction for Christ. We are all a son of man, but Jesus is the
Son of Man.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
Like the name Son of God indicates his divinity, Son of
Man indicates his humanity. The fact that Jesus is called the Son of Man is not
an arbitrary fact. He’s called the Son of God 45 times in the New Testament but
called the Son of Man 84 times. Why does it matter that Jesus was the Son of
Man? What does his humanity mean to the human race?</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>The Divinity of Christ</b></div>
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Understanding the importance of Jesus’s humanity begins
with proving his divinity. Before Jesus became Jesus, Jesus was God. <b>John 1:1</b>: <i>“In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”</i>
He was more than a heavenly creature. He was more than just like God. <b>Philippians
2:6 </b>explains: <i>“who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery
to be equal with God.”</i> Or like other translations read, Jesus did not
consider equality with God something to be grasped. His status as God was a
matter of fact.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>The Humanity of Christ</b></div>
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When Jesus arrives on Earth in the New Testament,
something changed. What was Jesus while he was on the earth? Completely God?
Completely Man? Was he both? This has been a point of contention from the very
beginning. <b>1 John 4:3</b>: <i>“every spirit that does not confess that Jesus
Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the
Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.”</i>
There’s something a little unbelievable about God becoming a man.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Fortunately, the Bible answers the question for us –
Jesus was both the Son of God and the Son of Man. Jesus was a human being born
in the flesh. God was given a human body built by flesh and blood just like the
rest of us. For us, this is old news, but for people hearing the gospel for the
first time this was an earth-shaking truth that turned their world upside down.
This is a basic piece of the gospel. God became a man. <b>John 1:14</b><i>: “And
the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”</i> Paul says the same in <b>1
Timothy 3:16</b>: <i>“And without controversy great is the mystery of
godliness: God was manifested in the flesh.”</i> God, who had for so long
reached out to his people from a distance, delivered himself in the form of a
man to live and die among men.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Theological Implications</b></div>
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What did Jesus give up just to be human? Everything. He
was the perfect sacrifice. Not just because he was morally and lawfully
perfect, but because he gave everything to be the savior. He was the complete
sacrifice.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>The Perfect Sacrifice</b></div>
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Consider what Jesus sacrificed just to become human. He
left heaven, he left his father, and he gave up his divine nature. Jesus
sacrificed complete power for this mortal, fragile body. He sacrificed absolute
knowledge and all wisdom for the meager mind of a man. He left all his glory
behind and humbled himself as a human. Jesus went from being creator and master
of the universe to live like the simple son of a carpenter. And then while he
was here, we killed him. The Son of God died as a criminal suspended on a cross
among thieves.</div>
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<br /></div>
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We could give the whole universe back to God, and it
wouldn’t amount to a fraction of what God gave to us. There is no greater sacrifice
than when God repressed his divine nature, lived like man, lived under his own
law, and died at the hands of his own people. He was the perfect sacrifice
which makes him the perfect savior.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>The Perfect Savior</b></div>
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Jesus lived the complete human experience: 1) he was made
like us, 2) he suffered like us, and 3) he was tempted like us. This is the
message of <b>Hebrews 2:17-18</b>:</div>
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<i>“Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His
brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining
to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself
has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” </i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Hebrews 4:15-16</b> is even more specific about
Jesus’s experience as a human:</div>
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<i>“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot
sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet
without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Everything we experience, Jesus experienced. Jesus was in
<u>all points tempted</u> as we are. He was prone to pride. He was tempted by material
abundance. Because he was a man, I believe he was also prone to desires of the flesh. Jesus had
to suppress his desires just like all men are called to do. He knew what it was like to feel emotions beginning to boil up inside his human body. Most
importantly, he knew how to restrain himself, even to the point of death.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>There could be no sacrifice more perfect for us, no savior
more sufficient than the Man, our God, Jesus Christ.</b></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZVhaPRYRy_kBweP09kMJAYF3YXWDSFe9zrO0M4YJ42fQnWwoXI0l94rSUaPSe3QWu9Yx0X8Mj3YRNOm1hSySon2cgB-L2wPFoeF_w0jIBIjZQz-8qpGHsof2hU_Fubs2KpNTpXAZVQ0/s1600/sw2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="116" data-original-width="815" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZVhaPRYRy_kBweP09kMJAYF3YXWDSFe9zrO0M4YJ42fQnWwoXI0l94rSUaPSe3QWu9Yx0X8Mj3YRNOm1hSySon2cgB-L2wPFoeF_w0jIBIjZQz-8qpGHsof2hU_Fubs2KpNTpXAZVQ0/s320/sw2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-51195318170333868812019-09-23T10:16:00.001-07:002019-09-23T10:16:17.621-07:00Jesus’ way of Faith for us<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuwypMPud5PmGNw8d5ikR2Xj8CARb5pBJqDUBMImeb8AxmteOO_h97FQlUM0JyZ3NS48EvmqKpK4N2ICfwrsGrGa1ZInP3OlCxT2zT9haOwVWcr8tZHeqaN-u4lFHgErRyi4cNHd3UTc/s1600/A8E6FA07-172B-46FA-B123-543183A26B90.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="1600" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuwypMPud5PmGNw8d5ikR2Xj8CARb5pBJqDUBMImeb8AxmteOO_h97FQlUM0JyZ3NS48EvmqKpK4N2ICfwrsGrGa1ZInP3OlCxT2zT9haOwVWcr8tZHeqaN-u4lFHgErRyi4cNHd3UTc/s400/A8E6FA07-172B-46FA-B123-543183A26B90.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Acts 16:31 connects to other passages of Faith:</span><br />
<br />
“<b>Believe on the Lord Jesus</b>” is consistent with Jesus’ teaching that believing in the Son is the key to having eternal life (John 3:36, 8:24, 20:30,31). Apostle Paul doubtless told the jailer that whoever believes in Jesus should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).<br />
<br />
It is important to use the term “believe” as the Holy Spirit did. What does it mean to believe? In scripture, faith has these characteristics:<br />
<br />
<b>Faith includes the intellect</b>. Sinners must believe in Jesus.<br />
<br />
Believe what? That He is the Lord Jesus Christ, “indicating His deity, humanity, and Messiahship.<br />
<br />
Faith is only as good as its object.<br />
<br />
· A pagan believes an idol will save him.<br />
<br />
· A moralist believes his goodness will save him.<br />
<br />
· A Christian believes Jesus can save him.<br />
<br />
Idolatry, goodness and humanism have no power to save (Isaiah 54:20, Jeremiah 10:23, Romans 3:10), for the One who will judge accepts only those rescued by Jesus’ blood (John 14:6).<br />
<br />
<b>Faith includes the emotions</b> (conscience). We must believe ON Jesus. Faith is not merely believing facts. It is trusting Christ to rescue from sin’s dominion (Romans 6:14, Hebrews 7:25) and relying upon Him to remove the guilt of sin (Romans 8:33).<br />
<br />
<b>Faith includes the will</b>. Faith is consummated by an obedient response (Romans 16:26). It involves a decision. Believers receive “the right” to become sons of God (John 1:2).<br />
<br />
A patient relies on the physician, the accused on the advocate, and a player on a coach. A patient that fails to take medicine the physician prescribed, the accused who disregards the counselor’s advice, and a player who runs a different play than his coach called – all show a lack of faith by disobedience.<br />
<br />
<b>The jailers faith led to actions</b>. He,<br />
<br />
· Brought his household to hear (Acts 16:32).<br />
<br />
· Washed his stripes (Acts 16:33).<br />
<br />
· Was baptized (Acts 16:33).<br />
<br />
· And served food (Acts 16:34).<br />
<br />
If one takes only Saul’s case (Acts 22:16), then he might teach salvation is by baptism alone. If one only takes Pentecost (Acts 2:38), then he might teach only repentance and baptism. If one takes the jailer alone, then he might say salvation is by faith only.<br />
<br />
Some make the mistake by saying things like, the jailer “<i>did not have to move his body an inch to be converted.</i>” Acts 16:31 teaches salvation by faith, but it does not teach salvation by mental faith only. There must be obedience which requires an action to do or go. Immersion in water by faith is such an action (Mark 16:16).<br />
<br />
There is consistency in the conversion cases in the book of Acts. “<i>Many of the Corinthians hearing, believed and were baptized</i>” (Acts 18:8) is a simple summary. Compare the other conversion cases in chapters 2,8,9,10,16 and 19.<br />
<br />
The jailer is a good example of what to do upon learning the gospel of Jesus Christ. When Apostle Paul finished their study, the jailer obeyed the same hour of the night. He did not argue, make excuses or procrastinate.<br />
<br />
Have you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ? If you have not been baptized by faith in Him to do a work in you that you cannot do for yourself, or if you did for the wrong reasons, “why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins.” (Acts 22:16).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlQ1JCquMgm4Gi5bkTbH_1Cs4VTSoRzctMIL7FponmuY3AbOLZea9Io9WdLdDmeHQHxJ97DBTUukIPq3GkrRVPBRBXs5aSx2W3GE-dnDwAe4n2mZEzykIWKLF0-TbEor5kEq1ACWSjd4/s1600/sw+main2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="1100" height="52" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlQ1JCquMgm4Gi5bkTbH_1Cs4VTSoRzctMIL7FponmuY3AbOLZea9Io9WdLdDmeHQHxJ97DBTUukIPq3GkrRVPBRBXs5aSx2W3GE-dnDwAe4n2mZEzykIWKLF0-TbEor5kEq1ACWSjd4/s320/sw+main2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-52748987931092071332019-04-18T08:12:00.002-07:002020-03-10T12:20:33.866-07:00Jesus Cross is Ready for You<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>Dawn awakens on a
perfectly beautiful day the Lord made, birds chirping, livestock is grazing. People are waking up to another day of hard work, the children having hungry stomachs, in Jerusalem. The Sabbath day of rest is tomorrow after this day, April 19th, 33 AD. </i></b></span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>This is a very special day in all history. The </i></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>set-apart day the
earth would quake, the sun be blotted out, and the day </i></b></span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Mary and Joseph’s son, </i></b><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>the God-man Jesus
Christ, would pay it all, just for us! </i></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>(6) "<span style="color: #cc0000;">It is Finished</span>”</b></i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">click to play</span></b></div>
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<i>Please note that some of the content contained within the <b><span style="color: blue;">Reflection Moments</span></b> depicted here is not recorded in the scriptures. They are merely human attempts to relate and ask some questions of certain aspects of the Son of God, which may help you see the Savior’s human side of His divine life on earth.</i><br />
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Pilate's first interview with Jesus at 6 am.<i> "Who are You?"</i></div>
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Pilate said to the priests and elders at 8 am,<i> "What shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?"</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">W</span>ithin this series of Gods
Great Love for Us, we have often referred to Jesus in the wood shop during His formative years at home in Nazareth.
Descriptions such as Mary and Joseph’s son, the Carpenter, God in the flesh and
the God-man are descriptions showing us Gods human nature while simultaneously
possessing the divine nature as God. It is significant Jesus the Christ, God
Himself be described in these human terms for a couple very important reasons.
One, so you and I can relate to God on our level (Phil. 2:5-7). And two, so that
we can know what, who and how God is in order to learn how to grow in Jesus to
become more and more like Him (Rom. 15:5-6). God who is perfect in every way understands
our shortcomings in order to love and discipline us not out of anger, but from
love because He is love (1 Jn. 4:8). He is where love comes from in the human
race. For it is in the bible that we learn to know about
Christ and His ultimate focal point - <b><i>The cross He is about to endure - for us.</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Period replica bust of Pontius Pilate</b></div>
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<i>“When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.”</i> (Matthew 27:1-2)</div>
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Pontius Pilate was the Roman procurator in Judea from 26 to 36 A.D. (Luke 3:1) He will forever go down in history as the man who being persuaded by the Jewish authorities against his will, ordered the crucifixion of Jesus!
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In the New Testament Pontius
Pilate first appears around 6 am Friday morning during the time of the Passover Feast in Jerusalem and is
confronted with the person of Jesus, who is accused of treason and blasphemy by
the Jewish authorities. Pilate must act as Jesus' judge.<br />
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<b>Jerusalem, early Friday morning, April 3rd</b></div>
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So Pilate came out to them
and asked, <i>"What charges are you bringing against this man?"</i> <i>"If
he were not a criminal,"</i> they replied, <i>"we would not have handed him
over to you."</i> Pilate said, <i>"Take him yourselves and judge him by your
own law." "But we have no right to execute anyone,"</i> the Jews
objected. This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind
of death he was going to die would be fulfilled. Pilate then went back inside
the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, <i><b>"Are you the king of the
Jews?</b>" </i>(John 18:33)<br />
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That was not a
question that could be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” No, he was not a
political king who had come to establish earthly Jewish supremacy (a lesson
some religionists could well learn today), but yes, he was the long awaited king
of the Jewish scriptures.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<b><i><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span style="color: red;">"Is that your own idea,"</span></i></b><span style="color: red;"> </span>Jesus asked, <b><i><span style="color: red;">"or did others
talk to you about me?"</span></i></b><span style="color: red;"> </span>"Am
I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests
who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"<br />
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Jesus said, <b><i><span style="color: red;">"My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my
servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is
from another place."</span></i></b><span style="color: red;"> </span>"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, <b><i><span style="color: red;">"You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this
reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.
Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."</span></i></b><br />
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<i>"What is
truth?"</i> Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said,
<i>"I find no basis for a charge against him."</i> (John 18:29-38)</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Reflection Moment<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">The question to Jesus, <i>“Are you the King of the Jews”</i> from
Pilate is curious. According to the gospel account by John, Jesus was asking
for clarification from Pilate through a rhetorical question. That is, Jesus was
clarifying with Pilate as to whether or not the indictment was second-hand
(i.e., is it that others say that I am a King of the Jews?) versus Pilate
himself. In other words, was the indictment because Rome saw Jesus as a king,
or because others said that Jesus was a king? To put it another way, if there
was no threat to Rome (since it was not Pilate accusing Jesus of being a king),
then why is Jesus being charged at the instigation of third-parties?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">When Pilate clarified that it
was the former case (others accusing you of being a king), Jesus then indicated
that this "kingdom" for which he was king had no fighters, and therefore
was non-violent. (There was no threat to Rome) Jesus indicated that the essence
of this kingdom was truth. Pilate responded with <i>"What is truth?"</i> </span>(John 18:38)<span style="color: blue;">, and determined in the same
verse that there was therefore no legal basis for an indictment. Pilate said to
Him, <i>“What is truth?”</i> And when he had
said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, <i>“I find no guilt in Him.”</i> Later we read Apostle Paul confirming to
Timothy</span> (1 Timothy 6:13)<span style="color: blue;">, <i>“I charge you
in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who
testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Of all the innocent people that ever lived on
this planet, Jesus the God-man was the most innocent human there ever was.</i></b></span></div>
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Pilate continued to question Jesus since he knew he was innocent, but he had a roaring crowd that demanded Jesus be killed! Pilate told the Jews that<i> he could find no fault in Jesus at all</i> (John 18:38) but the Jews by now were so incensed Pilate even tried to release Jesus according to the Jewish custom at Passover for the offering of Barabbas in His place, a robber. The Jews wouldn't have it and shouted, "Not this man (Jesus), but Barabbas, release him." (John 18:40)</div>
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Around 7:30 am, the soldiers began flogging the God-man, relentlessly using an instrument that had flesh tearing implements built into it. There is no words to describe this scene. <b>Jesus remained silent!</b><br />
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The <b>Flagrum</b> was a whip with a
short handle and generally two or three long thick thongs, each weighted at
some distance from their extremity with lead balls or mutton bones. In action,
the thongs cut the skin, while the balls or bones created deep contusions. The
result was significant hemorrhage and considerable weakening of the vital
resistance of the victim. In compensation, if one may call it that, this
weakening shortened their agony on the cross.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hebrew law was strict on limiting
the lashes to 40. The Pharisees, in order to make sure that they never broke
the law, gave only 39 lashes. The Romans had no limit, except for the fact that
the victims should be left with just enough strength to carry their crosses to
the place of execution. As the man who condemned Jesus to be flogged was
Pilate, the Roman Proconsul, the number of lashes could be unlimited. The
Gospels report that Jesus could not carry his cross without calling to an
onlooker for help. This suggests a very severe beating.</div>
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Why was Jesus Christ torn and beaten? The Apostle Peter tells us, <i>"Who his own self bare our sins in
his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto
righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going
astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."</i> (1
Peter 2:24-25) Christ had no sins of His own (1 Peter 2:22). He was paying for
our sins. The scourge is a symbol of the awfulness of our sin and the terrible
price Christ personally paid for our sins (Isaiah 52:14).</div>
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Jesus was then mocked by the Roman soldiers and clothed with a purple robe and a crown of thorns smashed upon His head saying,<br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Hail, King of the Jews."</span></b></i><br />
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Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, <i>"Behold the Man!"</i><br />
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Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out,<br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Crucify Him, crucify Him!"</span></b></i><br />
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Pilate said to them, <i>"You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him."</i><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">Reflection Moment</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">We can see Pilate trying to convince the Jews of Jesus innocence a few times up to now, and he's not finished yet. What was his purpose to continue the case for innocence? The scripture says he was <i>"The more afraid" </i>(John 19:8)</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;">All
that he had heard related of the miracles of Jesus, the mysterious character of
His person, of His words and of His conduct, the strange message which he had
just received from his wife - all is suddenly explained by the term "Son
of God." Was this extraordinary man truly a divine being who had appeared
on the earth? The truth naturally presents itself to his mind in the form of
pagan superstitions and mythological legends"</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;">Pilate's conscience fights for
Christ, but it immediately yields, because it is not upheld with the power of God.</span><br />
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Pontius Pilate tried one more time saying, <i>"Do You not know that I have the power to crucify You, and power to release You?" </i>Jesus answered,<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">"You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(John 19:11)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">"I am innocent of the blood of this Person, you see to it."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(Matt 27:24)</span></div>
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Pilate finally said to the Jews, <i>"Behold your King."</i> But they cried out, <i>"Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!</i> Pilate said to them, <i>"Shall I crucify your King?"</i> The Jews answered, <i>"We have no King but Caesar!"</i> Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led Him away. (John 19:14-16)<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Reflection Moment</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Jesus looking to His Father see’s the cross and the fulfillment of all
prophesies about Him in front of Him. This is where he will finish the work His Father sent Him for. After just being severely beaten near
to death, He maintains incredible clarity and purpose in His human form. Though the
scriptures do not state such, as a man in bitter pain and agony with body
fluids secreting, He surely recalled His life as a young boy and His childhood.
As a man He surely remembered working and shaping wood that formed many pieces of furniture, helping
His step father in the business. And surely He remembers that one momentous early dawn when He took that first divine step out of the wood shop 3-1/2 years ago
towards Jerusalem where He is now calling all of mankind to repent, believe and be baptized in His name.
His next appointment is clear even through all of this. The pain and suffering
will increase, and the world will change in an instant. The Son of God is now
about to fully glorify His Father bringing forth Gods redemption plan to
mankind for all of eternity. Jesus the God-man will not waver, all because of
His Great Love for us!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">There is no way to prove or surmise the origin of the wooden mallet that pounded the nails through Jesus body on His cross. I say "His cross" because no other person can or could bear this singular cross of burden and pain much more the perfect blood for our sin as He is about to commit. But just for a moment, what if that singular mallet somehow in Gods providence was one that Jesus Himself fabricated in the wood shop? The reality of this being the case can only make us wonder. But on the real side of this thought is, Jesus did in fact make the wood, the elements that produced the nails, and the soldier that held the nails and forced the blows! This soldier and his cohorts sin is being paid for right before their eyes! Will they see it?</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The seven sayings of Jesus on the cross before He gave up His breath.</span></b><br />
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<li><span style="color: #252525;">Luke 23:34: </span><i><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.</b></span></i></li>
<li><span style="color: #252525;">Luke 23:43: </span><i><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.</b></span></i></li>
<li><span style="color: #252525;">John 19:26–27: </span><i><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Woman, behold your son. Son Behold your mother.</b></span></i></li>
<li><span style="color: #252525;">Matt. 27:46, Mark 15:34:</span><i><span style="color: #990000;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>My God, My God, have you forsaken me?</b></span></i></li>
<li><span style="color: #252525;">John 19:28: </span><i><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>I thirst.</b></span></i></li>
<li><span style="color: #252525;">John 19:29-30:</span><i><span style="color: #990000;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>It is finished.</b></span></i></li>
<li>Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, <i><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">"</span></b></i><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><i><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Father, into your hands I commit my spirit."</span></b></i></span></li>
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>Item 4 above i</b></span><span style="color: blue;"><b>s probably the most perplexing question</b> from the Savior in all of mankind we may never fully grasp.</span><span style="color: blue;"> W</span><span style="color: blue;">hy as the Son of God did Jesus say – </span><b><i><span style="color: blue;">“</span><span style="color: #cc0000;">My God, My God,
why have you forsaken Me.?</span><span style="color: blue;">”</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">It is hoped you can find the time to watch this most thrilling study into the mind of Christ that will enrich your understanding of Jesus of Nazareth on this question - </span><b><i>"<span style="color: #cc0000;">Why?</span>"</i></b><br />
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Now as they came out, they
found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross. And
when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a
Skull, they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had
tasted it, He would not drink. Then they crucified Him, and divided His
garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the
prophet:<br />
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<i>“They divided My garments among them, </i><i>And for My clothing they cast lots.” </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Psalm 22:18)</span></div>
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Sitting down, they kept watch
over Him there. And they put up over His head the accusation written against
Him:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">THIS IS JESUS THE
KING OF THE JEWS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"The Ninth Hour"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>"Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit."</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Having said this, He breathed His last. (Luke 23:46)</span></div>
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When Jesus died, the temple veil in
front of the Holy of Holy’s was torn, and the earth quaked and many saints resurrected (Matt 27:51-53). God moved out of that place never again
to dwell in a temple made with hands (Acts 17:24). God was through with that
temple and its religious system. The temple and Jerusalem were left “desolate”
(destroyed by the Romans) in A.D. 70, just as Jesus prophesied in Luke 13:35. Hebrews
9:8-9 refers to the age that was passing away as the new covenant was being
established (Hebrews 8:13). As long as the temple stood, it signified the
continuation of the Old Covenant which sadly today, the Orthodox Jews (Hasidim)
are continuing the tradition by undergoing the building of a new temple - but
God will not be there! At the moment of
Jesus death being the perfect sacrifice, Gods justice was satisfied making Him accessible
by all mankind without the need for priesthood representation before Him. Jesus
Christ the Son is now our advocate before the Father forevermore. <i><b>Hallelujah…</b></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Now when evening had come,
there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become
a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the
body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which
he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the
tomb, and departed. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting
opposite the tomb. (Matt. 27:57-61)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Pilate Sets a Guard</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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On the next day, which
followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered
together to Pilate, saying, <i>“Sir, we
remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I
will rise.’ Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day,
lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He
has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.”</i>
Pilate said to them, <i>“You have a guard;
go your way, make it as secure as you know how.”</i> So they went and made the
tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard. (Matt. 27:62-66)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our exploration of the life,
ministry and extremely difficult road Jesus Christ traveled to the cross is
truly the greatest story ever told, and the greatest life ever lived. And He
lived it all because of <b>His Great Love for Us</b>. Have you ever wondered or even
had the nerve to go a little deeper into the truth of Jesus the God-mans sufferings?
This short video from a Medical Doctor reveals to us the physical and mental
anguish that Jesus went through during the final hours that last day beginning
at the garden of Gethsemane. Any bible student owes it to
themselves to listen closely to what the Lord Jesus, that young boy from Galilee
actually went through to try and understand what He endured for us. If you are
a disciple of Christ, it will do you good to increase your faith in God as His
Spirit guides, guards and directs you. If you are a seeker, it may help you to
hear the doctors perspective putting reality to the images and stories you may
have seen and heard.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A medical perspective of Jesus sufferings</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">But wait... The story isn't finished!</span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">~ He Is Risen ~</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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The evidence <b><a href="http://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2014/05/scriptures-weekly-15-resurrection-of.html">here</a></b><br />
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Now after the Sabbath, as the
first day of the week (Sunday April 5th) began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to
see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the
Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door,
and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as
snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.<br />
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<b>But the angel answered and
said to the women, <i><span style="color: purple;">“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was
crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place
where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from
the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see
Him. Behold, I have told you.” </span></i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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So they went out quickly from
the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.<o:p></o:p><br />
(Matt.28:1-8)</div>
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<b>The Women Worship the Risen
Lord</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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And as they went to tell His
disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, <b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">“Rejoice!”</span></i></b> So they came and held Him
by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, <b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">“Do not be afraid. Go
and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Soldiers are Bribed</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Now while they were going,
behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests
all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and
consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying,
<i>“Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ And
if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.”</i>
So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is
commonly reported among the Jews until this day. (Matt.28:1-16)</div>
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<b>The Great Commission</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Then the eleven disciples went
away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When
they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to
them, saying,<br />
<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go
therefore[c] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe
all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the
end of the age.”</span></i></b> Amen.(Matt 28:1-20)</div>
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The Ascension from Jesus view</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">~ Gods Answer to Sin ~</span></b></div>
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There are many events in the Old Testament that
foreshadow the cross: The blood of a lamb placed on lintels and doorposts
during Passover (Exodus 12:23) was the beginning. God now reconciles His people
by delivering us from the consequences of sin, and the means God uses to rescue
us is the cross where Jesus unblemished blood was spilled. Isaiah stated that
the Messiah <i>"poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the
transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the
transgressors"</i> (Isaiah 53:12). The apostle Paul confirmed this prophecy
when he wrote, <i>"For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness
should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether
things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His
cross"</i> (Colossians 1:19-20, 2:13-15). The cross where Jesus blood was
spilled represents God's victory over sin.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Do we see a common thread occurring here? What cleanses
us of sin is the blood. <i><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>“For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is
shed for many for the remission of sins.”</b></span></i> (Matt. 26:28)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Many people think of God only as a God of love, always on
hand to help when things go wrong and bound in the end to forgive every body's
sins and receive them into heaven forever. This idea is fatally misleading.</b> The
Bible certainly tells us that <i>‘God is love'</i> (1 John 1:8), but also that he is
<i>‘majestic in holiness'</i> (Exodus 15:11) and that <i>‘the wrath of God is revealed
from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men'</i> (Romans 1:18).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The cross of Christ tells us that sin is a Curse.</b> When
used as an ornament around the neck, a cross says little about the ugliness of
sin. But when we look at sin through the cross of Christ, we see sin as God
does: ugly, deforming, condemning, separating man from his Creator. Sin is so
terrible that it made God send His only begotten Son to the cross to pay for
its cost. Las Vegas does not present a true picture of sin. In the nightclubs
and on TV, sin is glamorous, gaudy, fun, enticing, exhilarating. But sin causes
death-separation from God (Rom. 6:23, Isa. 59:1-2). Jesus became a curse for
us, hanging on the cross (Gal. 3:13), and I should see this when I see the
cross.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The cross of Christ tells us that Reconciliation was
made.</b> So long as man was in sin, he could not be right with God, but, was in
fact an enemy. With our best intentions and greatest works, we could not bring
about this healing of enmity to reconciliation. Since atonement was made by
Jesus sacrifice on the cross, it was possible for God to invite man back into a
saved relationship. Paul said that this was the great work of the apostles, "<i>appointed by God to be ambassadors, entreating on behalf of God, be ye
reconciled unto God"</i> (2 Cor. 5:18-20). Note that atonement precedes
reconciliation and that God had to initiate them both due to our sinful
condition. I should see this when I see the cross.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The cross of Christ tells us that Substitution was made.
</b><i>"The soul that sins shall die"</i> (Ezek. 18:4). I sinned, therefore I
ought to die. But thanks be to God that His grace permitted it to be different.
As the story of Abraham and Isaac and the substitute ram for sacrifice
foreshadowed it, the cross declares it plainly. Jesus Christ was sent by God to
be a substitute for me. He took my punishment and death. <i>"By his stripes
we are healed"</i> (Isa. 53:5). I should see this when I see the cross.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The cross of Christ shows us the painful payment of Justice served</b>. Propitiation is a two-part act that involves appeasing the
wrath of an offended person and being reconciled to him. It is not an everyday
word, but it is vitally important that we understand it. ‘Propitiation' means
appeasing an offended person (God) by paying the penalty (Jesus sacrifice) he
demands for the offence (our sin). Here is an example.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A young lady appears in court for a traffic ticket. The
judge must asks her – “Guilty or Not Guilty?” She responds, “Guilty your
honor.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After court the judge walks over to the cashier’s window,
pulls out his billfold and pays the young lady’s fine with no questions asked.
He then turns to the young lady and says, “Your debt is paid free and clear my
estranged and beloved daughter.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The lesson is, the judge (God) by His law and justice had
to pronounce his daughters (Gods children) guilt plea, and it was painful. But
he paid the debt (on the cross) of her infraction for breaking the legal code
without question. The judge has removed (cleansed) her debt (sin) from the
ensuing charge (judgment) of guilt.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>‘In this is love,
not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the
propitiation for our sins'</i> (1 John 4:10).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The cross of Christ tells us that fellowship with God is
possible.</b> Now that atonement has been made and reconciliation is possible, I
can be forgiven. While atonement was made for the sins of the world, not all
men will be saved. Not all will obey the call of the gospel through the
apostles, to be reconciled to God by the cross. To some, the word of the cross
is "foolishness;" to others, it is a "stumbling block" (1 Cor. 1). But if we reject
the cross and the word of the cross, we reject reconciliation. If we reject
reconciliation, we reject the peace with God that forgiveness brings. If we
accept the cross, we may enter into a relationship with God reminiscent of that
between Adam and Eve and God in the garden before sin intruded. Fellowship in a
mutual sharing in heavenly matters is found only in Christ. I should see this
when I see the cross.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The cross of Christ tells us that I must become dead to
the world and alive to God. </b><i>"If then ye have been risen with Christ. . .
"</i> (Col. 3: 1) presupposes that we have died with Christ. <i>"For ye are
dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God"</i> (Col. 3:3). But how does
one become dead to sin? <i>"How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any
longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus
Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by
baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the
glory of the Father, so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have
been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the
likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with
him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not
serve sin"</i> (Rom. 6:2-6). Yes, we must crucify the old man of sin. We must
walk in newness of life after having been buried in Christ (Rom. 6:4). How is
all this done? The bible says it is done when we are<i> baptized “into Christ”
</i>(not pray into) for remission of sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16, Col. 2:11-12). I
should see this when I see the cross.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>There is a cross for us to bear</b>. It is not a silver or
gold ornament with no real meaning but that of vanity and false humiliation.
The cross that Jesus bore was that of "obedience unto death, yea, the
death of the cross" (Phil. 2:8). All the ornamental jewelry and
superstitious architecture in the world will not bring us any closer to the
service of God unless we do understand it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Sacrificial Service</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Christ stated on more than one occasion, <i>"<span style="color: red;">And he who
does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds
his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it</span>"
</i>(Matthew 10:38-39, 16:24-25; Mark 8:34-35, Luke 9:23-24, 14:27).</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Are you wearing your cross, or are you bearing it?</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We hope you have been enriched and have learned something new about the mind and life of Christ as He walked this earth He created just for us. May you know <b>Gods Great Love For You</b> is everlasting and without falter no matter your station in life. He has already paid the price for sin by the spilling of His divine blood, <i>just for us</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The question is, will you give your life to Him in faith by obeying the <b><a href="http://cpr-coc.org/hp_wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Bible-Study-Picture-Walk1.pdf">Gospel</a> </b>as He commands (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, 22:16)? Will you find your life by losing it for Him as He did for you? <i>It's a must-do if one wants the hope of going to Heaven</i>. And it's all for free! The blessings we receive when gifted the Holy Spirit by God are innumerable, if we will just take up our cross, and follow Him. (Luke 9:23)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>And we close with...</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>"Let this mind be in you which
was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery
to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a
bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance
as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even
the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him
the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and
that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father." </i>(Philippians 2:5-11)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Many blessing to all in Jesus, the Creator, the Lord, the King...</i></span></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2015/02/gods-great-love-for-us-part-1-of-6.html">1</a> : <a href="http://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2015/03/gods-great-love-among-us-part-2-of-6.html">2</a> : <a href="http://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2015/03/gods-great-love-pursues-us-part-3-of-6.html">3</a> : <a href="http://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2015/03/gods-great-love-fellowships-with-us.html">4</a> : <a href="http://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2015/03/gods-great-love-breaks-bread-with-us.html">5</a> : 6</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Click #1 to begin this study</b></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-52727397522930777092018-03-08T13:15:00.001-08:002018-03-08T13:26:18.644-08:00Faith A Word Of Action<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Faith is the only thing that one can
do without doing anything.”</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This affirmation is a textbook case
of contradiction.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The following examples will clearly
reveal that genuine faith is not a mere attitude; rather, it is a word of
action.</span></div>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus was teaching in the city of Capernaum. The crowds
so pressed around him that some who sought his presence could not gain
access to the Lord. Four enterprising men brought a lame friend, climbed
to the rooftop of the house wherein Christ was teaching, and lowered their
impotent companion through the ceiling. Significantly, the inspired writer
comments: “<i>And Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the
palsy, Son, your sins are forgiven</i>” (Mark
2:5).<br />
<br />
What did Christ see? He literally saw the action of these men (including
the sick man who obviously endorsed the activity). But the action is
called faith. In a similar vein, James challenged: “<i>Show me your faith
apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith</i>” (James 2:18).</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<ol start="2" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">John 3:16</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
is perhaps the best-known verse in the Bible; but it is one of the most
misunderstood: “<i>For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have
eternal life.</i>”<br />
<br />
Does the “belief” of this passage include obedience, or exclude it? A
comparison of this verse with Hebrews 5:9
reveals that the former is the case. In John
3:16, believing results in eternal life. In Hebrews 5:9, eternal salvation is said to
issue from obedience to Christ. It thus should be quite clear that the
belief that saves is one that manifests itself in obeying the Son of God.
True faith is not just a mental process.</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<ol start="3" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Note this declaration from the Lord: “<i>He that
believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son
shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him</i>” (John 3:36, ASV).<br />
<br />
We have cited the American Standard Version here because it is more
accurate in its rendition of the original language than is the King James
Version. The term in the latter portion of the verse is <i>apeitheo</i>,
which, according to Balz and Schneider, literally means “to disobey”
(1990, 118). In this passage “believing” is set in vivid contrast to
disobedience.<br />
<br />
</span><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is
not Christ suggesting that the one who obeys the Son is promised life, but
the person who disobeys will not receive such?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br />
Observe a similar usage in Acts 14:1-2: “[A] <i>great multitude both of Jews and
of Greeks believed. But the Jews that were disobedient stirred up the
souls of the Gentiles, and made them evil affected against the brethren.</i>”<br />
<br />
In the book of Hebrews we are informed that God was displeased with many
rebellious Israelites who died in the wilderness. They were condemned
because they were “disobedient”—yes, they were not allowed to enter the
promised land due to their “unbelief” (Hebrews
3:18-19). Continuing
that analogy, it will be those who have “believed” who will enter the
final rest (Hebrews 4:3), but those
who are “disobedient” will not (Hebrews 4:6).<br />
<br />
</span><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Bible knows nothing of true faith that is divorced from obedience.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></li>
</ol>
<ol start="4" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When a jailor in the city of Philippi feared for his
life during an earthquake that rocked the prison, he pled with Paul and
Silas: “<i>Sirs, what must I do to be saved?</i>” God’s messengers
proclaimed to him the gospel. Evincing repentance (for having beaten his
prisoners), the jailor washed their stripes. Subsequently, he and his
family were immersed (Acts 16:31-33).</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Significantly, this entire process is summed up in this fashion: “<i>And he . .
. rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God</i>” (Acts 16:34). It is clear that the participle, “<i>having
believed,</i>” includes the jailor’s repentance and his baptism.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: .5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<ol start="5" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The book of Romans demonstrates that faith is an action
term. For example, Paul commends the “faith” of these saints, which, says
he, is “<i>proclaimed throughout the whole world</i>” (Romans 1:8). As he concludes the epistle he
again congratulates them: “<i>For your obedience is come abroad unto all
men</i>” (Romans 16:19). Faith and
obedience are parallel in these verses. In fact, at the beginning and end
of the book the expression, “<i>obedience of faith</i>,” stands like
guardian sentinels, defining the character of biblical faith (Romans 1:5, 16:26).
In Romans 10:16, those who refused
to “obey the gospel” fulfilled Isaiah’s prediction that some would not
“believe” the divine report.</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<ol start="6" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That the “faith” system of the New Testament is not
merely a mental phenomenon is evidenced by Galatians
3:26-27. There Paul
declares: “<i>For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.
For </i>[a conjunction of explanation]<i> as many of you as were baptized
into Christ did put on Christ.</i>”<br />
<br />
Immersion was an integral part of the faith process. Later, to the same
people, the apostle affirmed that the faith that avails is that which is
“working through love” (Galatians 5:6).
The fact of the matter is, believing itself is a work (cf. John 6:27-29; cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:3).</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<ol start="7" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">James shows the connection between faith and obedience
when he writes: “W<i>as not Abraham our father justified by works </i>[obedience]<i>,
in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar? You see that faith
operated with his works </i>[obedience]<i>, and by works </i>[his
obedience]<i> was </i>[his]<i> faith made complete; and the scripture was
fulfilled which says, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto
him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God</i>” (James 2:21-23).<br />
<br />
</span><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If
faith plus obedience constitutes one as a “friend of God,” how would one
be characterized who has faith minus obedience?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<ol start="8" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Those who possessed genuine intellectual-emotional
faith were granted the “right to become” children of God (John 1:12), but they were not, by that
faith, automatically constituted sons of God.</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That
faith alone is invalid as a means of redemption is revealed by a number of
biblical examples.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo7; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There were many Jews who “believed on” Christ (John 8:30-31),
but their faith was not operative, hence, the Lord appropriately described
them as children of the devil (John 8:44).</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<ol start="2" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo7; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There were those among the Hebrew rulers who “believed
on him [Christ],” but because of Pharisaic pressure they would not confess
their faith; they loved the glory of men more than that of God (John 12:42).<br />
<br />
Will anyone contend that these proud egotists were saved simply because
they “believed” (cf. <a href="http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Matthew%2012.32" target="_blank">Matthew 12:32</a>)? What
was the flaw in their theology?</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<ol start="3" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo7; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke records that when Christ was preached, “a great
number that believed turned to the Lord” (Acts
11:21). The construction of the original language indicates
that the “believing” was prior to the “turning,” hence, turning to the
Lord involved something in addition to their faith.</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVarticles/PerversionOfBiblicalFaith.html" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Source </span></i></a><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-10598234463105047962018-01-11T12:28:00.001-08:002018-01-11T13:24:14.335-08:00Carry Your Cross<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Luke 14:27-28</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
Can these thoughts help us ESTIMATE and CARRY our cross
for Christ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
A.R.E.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
A-CCESSIBILITY: Can I reach you?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
This means staying open to your troubled
brother or seeker of Christ even when you have doubts and feel insecure. It
often means being willing to struggle to make sense of your emotions so these
emotions are not so overwhelming. You can then step back from disconnection and
can tune into your brother’s hesitant cues.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
R-ESPONSIVENESS: Can I rely on
you to respond to me emotionally?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
This means tuning into your troubled
brother or seeker of Christ and showing that his or her emotions, especially fellowship
needs and fears have an impact on you. It means accepting and placing a
priority on the emotional signals your brother in Christ conveys and sending
clear signals of comfort and caring when your brother needs them. Sensitive
responsiveness always touches us emotionally and calms us.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
E-NGAGEMENT: Do I know you will
value me and stay near?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
The dictionary defines <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">engaged</i> as being absorbed, attracted,
pulled, pledged, involved. The bible says we don’t lose heart, and we commend
ourselves to everyone (2 Cor 4:3). Engagement here means the very special kind
of attention that we give to those we love. We pay attention to them longer, we
fellowship with them on a deeper level. This is often spoken of as being
emotionally present.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
John 15:7 Christ explicitly
tells us,</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<i>“If you make yourselves at home
with Me and My words are at home with you, you can be sure that whatever you
ask will be listened to and acted upon.”</i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
Our prospective hearers are
watching closely as to whether we are genuinely interested in their life
situation. Are we openly Christlike in action and deed? Will we walk more than
a mile with them? What they see, hear and feel determines if they can trust us
in a relationship that can lead them to salvation.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
A.R.E.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuptIl7hhzq6QKRqHiuGCuksDBGgndRNSbnf5U7gecrUKUfSIizHr4oBa4wSDJM0XNHujoefBo2qQWN6ROykrlyK0RS0exDkDyW3dA1NqWB5XOdzH8P1rqqNNb6k2bQcy5A2NuJ-3G-c/s1600/sw.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="1050" height="57" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuptIl7hhzq6QKRqHiuGCuksDBGgndRNSbnf5U7gecrUKUfSIizHr4oBa4wSDJM0XNHujoefBo2qQWN6ROykrlyK0RS0exDkDyW3dA1NqWB5XOdzH8P1rqqNNb6k2bQcy5A2NuJ-3G-c/s320/sw.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-6307187049411399362017-12-02T11:53:00.001-08:002017-12-02T13:07:41.456-08:0013 Objections To Baptism<div style="text-align: justify;">
Baptism in the Christian faith unfortunately is a much debated topic. There are many reasons and man-made doctrines that have all been debated and fought over for hundreds of years by scholars and bible students alike. Yet God's instructions and commands on baptism are clear and forever. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
< <span style="color: red;">click on billiard ball to read biblical clarity</span> ></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2016/10/objections-to-baptism-pt1.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2016/10/objections-to-baptism-pt1.html" border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiub76_N1DYV9LzI5fOF2jtpXsdnMr41srZPLZ0les4g5w_ThLcyiiNHM-Hw0LVXw83tniT_dje8b7CvWgzKRlMoSBSagEznMiNt87dm5FxIwpWK2WzSjYK9YdmUWnjbhxK49RhD_06Djg/s1600/1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">“JESUS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS
BECAUSE HE WAS SINLESS; THEREFORE, PEOPLE TODAY ARE NOT BAPTIZED IN
ORDER TO BE FORGIVEN. THEY MERELY IMITATE JESUS’ EXAMPLE.”</span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #990000; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2016/11/objections-to-baptism-pt2.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2016/11/objections-to-baptism-pt2.html" border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jZJtpp84A9bIISzBgluMtxLGwUT_4PRKYqFIiIt_WMvE6rAxpds_wu67XgYmABn44dnOpElJenD8W4TowVB2Nszg_d4iYr6LJDHkH-OSJo9bD9x7r6RGxwDy4WBjSOeJCA7hRR51hYs/s1600/2.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">“THE THIEF ON THE CROSS WAS NOT BAPTIZED, AND HE WAS SAVED.”</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2016/11/objections-to-baptism-pt3.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2016/11/objections-to-baptism-pt3.html" border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaXoPBsnQxTFxJs8-ppwtpqv7fMyu8OLc-Y_dZR5G77gpryKPwhIGfBkIL3zyh5zhHZJXtUC9lK3yloYSdwBqLuF0_HEobqa2oOuMtEY5hdqpSUEs-cReBoL4nOSmYMUcj-sLYddaSUc/s1600/3.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"> </span></b><span style="color: #990000;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;">"THE BIBLE SAYS, 'CHRIST STANDS AT THE
DOOR OF YOUR HEART,' AND ALL WE HAVE TO DO TO BE FORGIVEN OF SIN AND
BECOME A CHRISTIAN IS TO INVITE HIM INTO OUR HEARTS."</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2016/11/objections-to-baptism-pt4.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2016/11/objections-to-baptism-pt4.html" border="0" data-original-height="101" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoempLP8AvVYyXCWuDYBmq-qmbAUt5fVX4mnR5ANZftZNw2hnOAdC7PTNEhSIFqGXhHbsrJmC0IGxbHyVXrHVmHVgZzRzYaZZF2i1EQ-MOqnOB7p9Oi9wdsCsXgKxx41YZ4O9eyVwY58/s1600/4.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">“A PERSON IS SAVED THE MOMENT HE ACCEPTS CHRIST AS HIS PERSONAL SAVIOR—WHICH PRECEDES AND THEREFORE EXCLUDES WATER BAPTISM.”</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2016/12/objections-to-baptism-pt5.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2016/12/objections-to-baptism-pt5.html" border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrC9bye8-i7RvAhcdQOxffLcJJjarDwUUA0aGvnMk0jRi5QIhw74x7TLA_jgANfSfB_Cs7xLLcQ5AfEo0pojQ0LFzJPxhBCJxJfJDPgWHOI7Mj3ewzfxmby8Mx6W6ah3a3qptiWmAF4A8/s1600/5.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“WE ARE CLOTHED WITH CHRIST AND BECOME HIS CHILDREN WHEN WE PLACE OUR FAITH
IN HIM.”</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2016/12/objections-to-baptism-pt6_19.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2016/12/objections-to-baptism-pt6_19.html" border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFoJLReurl-ppblmBWLm52gJcPlf7lTF7Fe5CzgVWHAGgZxSr4bt3u1ya-jI9nZ28EcMvIWBVsCQX8rsMwn6_d5R-ASiHUAzDR4vuLhQ1Wt6EGgwhxYrBIlenoZ8mmdqaIj-ykVIAk6Ug/s1600/6.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;"> "BAPTISM IS LIKE A BADGE ON A UNIFORM
THAT MERELY GIVES EVIDENCE THAT THE PERSON IS ALREADY SAVED."</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2016/12/objections-to-baptism-pt7.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2016/12/objections-to-baptism-pt7.html" border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7io9bL60vQu7uGiJQ0oMVYvElkcTnF1L2LXX4M5cMud6u-D4ogIpMEaWPT2ZXVFV0D7c8peCEKcdBPaYSj26yaWyzbv-IlZh_IJyOLKFPSK3cDYnqX6o_SNh1RUNS1qcQlviIHx3GNM/s1600/7.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;">“BAPTISM IS A
MERITORIOUS WORK, WHEREAS WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE, NOT WORKS.”</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2017/02/objections-to-baptism-pt8.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2017/02/objections-to-baptism-pt8.html" border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTO1hgyFfi76l6-ka93hOaDaL3ehJ8Gk_lnV9JnmvyOuEV6ykDvOwyRegp5V9PF9OJBX1HmMKfdqUBOrQedDGLR3vaB8FAgqAG8-vg7A6YPvMQHMK8Bji6mjwO9J4N4jeM9epEC9Xs36E/s1600/8.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;">“NOT ONLY IS BAPTISM NONESSENTIAL TO
SALVATION, EVEN FAITH IS A GIFT FROM GOD TO A PERSON. MAN IS SO DEPRAVED THAT
HE IS INCAPABLE OF BELIEVING.”</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2017/02/objections-to-baptism-pt9.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2017/02/objections-to-baptism-pt9.html" border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6PxoXe_S7yhhA6MSSy_z7lgb8AXo3ZZafQ3mmpyOtt-cf_pmpeqfASh007wj3MV8cU2vBq4wAPFc79uUfCT7wX_BIzpwhsq3_cZ392kOGq9IktxbpaAi0S4lseVSiEh_kPffmEbjtvQ/s1600/9.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“THE
PREPOSITION ‘FOR’ IN THE PHRASE ‘FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS’ IN ACTS
2:38 MEANS ‘BECAUSE OF.’ HENCE, THEY WERE BAPTIZED BECAUSE OF SINS FOR
WHICH THEY WERE FORGIVEN WHEN THEY BELIEVED.”</span></span>
<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2017/02/objections-to-baptism-pt10.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2017/02/objections-to-baptism-pt10.html" border="0" data-original-height="101" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Dg7BG7OOIO-Q7pQdkeqSy-v0K1mVdgDXLjPMG4H6w8R4K7yRi2L3xLea4McP-6XFOVm6ZPjuy2lpp7CkKQ1GZjuVNl-fjLuewB5U1vLy17FXr8REbrAcrdshXS8K4IZES9f9iV_bvyA/s1600/10.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“WHEN THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER ASKED WHAT TO DO TO BE SAVED, HE WAS SIMPLY TOLD TO BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.”</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2017/02/objections-to-baptism-pt11.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2017/02/objections-to-baptism-pt11.html" border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeZz-Q32VlN4MnsDrOdG2XyR7h7vhFXuuKrl0a5GuY0zpjVtXNYStDN_7sUoeaJvjeGaZCTNaTWmF4X4EAvMN310ogre0NIGDO7JaWZ8e1SyVgyK_M3agCfssyk-2Tv5HlWLanZX1yqw/s1600/11.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“SAUL WAS SAVED BEFORE AND WITHOUT BAPTISM WHILE HE WAS ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS WHEN JESUS APPEARED TO HIM.”</span></span>
<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2017/02/objections-to-baptism-pt12.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2017/02/objections-to-baptism-pt12.html" border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDIpt_KnMtd-8VcH3WSzaUYhs7QT7tOIrWzleenGeMoSn2OxDStXqmU3_u_OBsJz0bTY6nmZyfq9sr3zrPCEWSvvh84tXu-3dqrQyHumcYNeDMt1gj5pcHpcNFcg86F2N142kUD36zTc/s1600/12.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“IF
BAPTISM IS NECESSARY TO SALVATION, JESUS WOULD HAVE SAID, ‘BUT HE WHO
DOES NOT BELIEVE AND IS NOT BAPTIZED WILL BE CONDEMNED’ IN MARK 16:16.
AND BESIDES, THE LAST TWELVE VERSES OF MARK 16 ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE
OLDEST AND BEST GREEK MANUSCRIPTS.”</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2017/02/objections-to-baptism-pt13.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="https://scripturesweekly.blogspot.com/2017/02/objections-to-baptism-pt13.html" border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosD-98R9IiqeVjnOvOYLgWGxWmes7vvTLNXt7upzRqQnM2_U8AvS9dJ4Jp3Ltw-fu0Jhg1T83_kUpOltr2E4yUL1T0qIq_4oNIlvKE0nDKV7jXZYKNfVTOV4bmhCA2hXIKz-hV_usMgA/s1600/13.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“ROMANS 10:9-10 INDICATES THAT ALL ONE NEEDS TO DO IS BELIEVE AND CONFESS JESUS.”</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #666666;"><i>Dave Miller, Ph.D</i></span><br />
<div style="font-family: uictfonttextstylebody; font-size: 17px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); color: #666666;"><i><a href="http://www.apologeticspress.org/" target="_blank">Apologetics Press</a></i></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-37637365097085009252017-10-03T14:02:00.001-07:002017-10-03T14:02:16.066-07:00Why Suffer?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNNINBF3zXjL1ePENpbla5eQvMcnLWuzbMwe2i97go-hVwrOhd2bTEI1qZWp-f4V_u35Nt2vNgyxEsuwMg6abGL8ux-BUxDDTaaL9dPuIHUASPU0DKNlf0LNSwLeiIV2XOZ_80ynegmg/s1600/why-suffering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="600" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNNINBF3zXjL1ePENpbla5eQvMcnLWuzbMwe2i97go-hVwrOhd2bTEI1qZWp-f4V_u35Nt2vNgyxEsuwMg6abGL8ux-BUxDDTaaL9dPuIHUASPU0DKNlf0LNSwLeiIV2XOZ_80ynegmg/s320/why-suffering.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>WHY DOES GOD allow us to go through trials and suffering? Here is a poem called, "And God Said If . . ." that helps explain this.</b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
If you never felt pain, Then how would you know that I’m a Healer?<br />
<br />
If you never went through difficulty,<br />
How would you know that I’m a Deliverer?<br />
<br />
If you never had a trial,<br />
How could you call yourself an over comer?<br />
<br />
If you never felt sadness,<br />
How would you know that I’m a Comforter?<br />
<br />
If you never made a mistake,<br />
How would you know that I’m Forgiving?<br />
<br />
If you never were in trouble,<br />
How would you know that I will come to your Rescue?<br />
<br />
If you never were broken,<br />
Then how would you know that I can make you Whole?<br />
<br />
If you never had a problem,<br />
How would you know that I can Solve them?<br />
<br />
If you never had any suffering,<br />
Then how would you know what I went through?<br />
<br />
If you never went through the fire,<br />
Then how would you become Pure?<br />
<br />
If I gave you all things,<br />
How would you appreciate them?<br />
<br />
If I never corrected you,<br />
How would you know that I Love You?<br />
<br />
If you had all power,<br />
Then how would you learn to depend on Me?<br />
<br />
If your life was perfect,<br />
Then what would you need Me for?<br />
<br />
Anonymous.<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-41584784898596477262017-08-01T16:13:00.002-07:002018-05-23T16:20:12.071-07:00Biblical Obedience To Be Saved<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">The Bible is a love story spanning 1,500 years of God's interaction with His greatest creation - us. It's central theme is the gospel of Jesus Christ (death, burial, resurrection), and its
power to save man from Gods judgement to those who believe it (Rom 1:16). But
according to the scriptures, just believing the saving message is not enough to
become a saint of God in His kingdom. God asks us to obey the gospel with
obedient faith in order to make His free gift of grace real in our lives. Below
is the unfolding of the great commission spoken in Matthew 28:19-20 on behalf
of Ms. Caitlin Jones’ and any who desire to be saved.</span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><b>HERE WITNESS A BIBLICAL
BAPTISM INTO CHRIST</b>. This is the work of God (Col 2:11-12) upon her in a
matter of seconds.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small; mso-themecolor: text1;">The sinner has already heard
and read the word of God. Romans 10:14-17.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small; mso-themecolor: text1;">The sinner is already on a
path of repenting of her sins. Acts 3:19, 2 Peter 3:9.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small; mso-themecolor: text1;">The sinner by faith is
obedient confessing Christ as the Son of God before witnesses. Acts 8:36,37,
Romans 10:10.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small; mso-themecolor: text1;">The sinner by faith is then
buried (into death like Jesus) by immersion in water. Acts 2:38, Romans
6:3, 1Pet 3:21. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small; mso-themecolor: text1;">The sinners past sins are
cleansed by The blood of Christ in the burial. Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16,
</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small; mso-themecolor: text1;">Colossians 2:11-12, </span></span>Titus 3:5.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small; mso-themecolor: text1;">The new Saint is raised a
new creature white as snow in the eyes of God. Romans 6:4, 2 Cor 5:17.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small; mso-themecolor: text1;">The new Saint receives the
Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38, Acts 5:32, Ephesians 1:13.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small; mso-themecolor: text1;"> </span></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">The new Saint now begins to
walk a new life clothed with Christ rejoicing. Acts 8:39,
Galatians 3:27, Philippians 4:4, 3 John 1:3,4.</span></span></span>
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/17145335" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="600"></iframe>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://vimeo.com/17145335">Caitlin Jones' Baptism!</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user1213677">James Nored</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi607H2iJa8QFieTxL7vq1MnlWdrV5AFjwQVp-86XMa5bDPEDYL10dw5YEp2zT7WS5-txdyKVNtJ6UTdvJvO3DUcLX8IXvXMx0XtU_b4iBsr9MjSQuCBdlqsSd4ysLs6s0WUlcQNqXfflE/s1600/sw3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="1050" height="57" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi607H2iJa8QFieTxL7vq1MnlWdrV5AFjwQVp-86XMa5bDPEDYL10dw5YEp2zT7WS5-txdyKVNtJ6UTdvJvO3DUcLX8IXvXMx0XtU_b4iBsr9MjSQuCBdlqsSd4ysLs6s0WUlcQNqXfflE/s320/sw3.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-82604946645705238062017-07-25T15:53:00.002-07:002018-06-25T14:19:20.977-07:00Christian's Aren't Sinner's<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfA3a21Va488pGzrj4LrgsQi0YbEFV491ztHWN_eBBNDL7nzD5JRZ8CDqSsBOZfTB1Cek-4k8IAIbm0mHOgyyCIcbOVLnP3yZ8imxXiasDsAUMi9Mi_MhnKMdz-oSOZgRfX0Q8KIEI5U/s1600/IMG_6291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfA3a21Va488pGzrj4LrgsQi0YbEFV491ztHWN_eBBNDL7nzD5JRZ8CDqSsBOZfTB1Cek-4k8IAIbm0mHOgyyCIcbOVLnP3yZ8imxXiasDsAUMi9Mi_MhnKMdz-oSOZgRfX0Q8KIEI5U/s320/IMG_6291.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">SHOCKING! Now wait a minute.</span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: start;">I </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 16px;">believe it's a healthy practice to read and study on religious things penned by writers I don't agree with because they are asking questions I'm not asking. They turn the camera angle in a way I haven't. It's not that I think they are right, I usually don't. But sometimes I don't even know to ask the question. Here is a faith challenging topic I would like to share and I am sure at first, your going to raise some eyebrows by it's title. </span></div>
<br />
A persons identity is changed from a worldly identity when one has obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ transitioning from outside the church to inside the church a new member of the Kingdom. Lets explore.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
Throughout the letters of the New Testament, the people
of God are called lots of things. They are the “elect” (1 Pet 1:1), “faithful
brothers” (Col 1:2), “beloved” (1 John 2:7), “children of God” (1 John 3:2), a
“holy nation” (1 Pet 2:9), and most of all they are called “saints.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
Conspicuously absent from this list is the term
“sinners.” There is no place I am aware
of where the church, the people of God, are collectively called “sinners.” Moreover, an argument can be made that there
is no instance in the New Testament where a believer is referred to as a
“sinner.” The closest is Paul’s
well-known reference to himself as the “foremost” (or “chief”) of sinners in 1
Tim 1:15. But, the context makes it plain
that Paul is using this terminology to refer to his old life as a persecutor of
the church. He says, “formerly I was a
blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent” (1:13).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
Now, of course, this does not mean that Christians do not
sin. Indeed, Christians do sin, and sin
in ways that are much deeper and more serious than we often realize. This is the whole point of Romans 7 where
Paul laments the fact that he often does what he does not want to do. The entire Christian life is a struggle
between the new self and the old self, and the latter often wins out. Paul can even refer to himself as a “wretched
man” (Rom 7:24). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></i>
<i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">"If we instead view ourselves as “saints,” then we will begin to see our sin in a whole new light."</span></b></i><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
But, here is what is interesting. As Paul diagnoses his own law-breaking he
concludes that whenever he sins, it is not the real Paul that is doing it. He declares, “So now it is no longer I who do
it, but sin that dwells within me” (7:17).
And again, “Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it,
but sin that dwells within me” (7:20).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
Do not misunderstand what Paul is doing here. He is not trying to conjure up some excuse
where he is not guilty of these sins by reason of having a schizophrenic, split
personality. No, Paul knows he is
culpable for these sins. But, in the
midst of doing so, <u>Paul is keen to make it plain that it is not the new Paul
that is sinning, but the old Paul</u>. In this
sense, he can say that when he sins, he is not his true self.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
Put another way, Paul’s identity is bound up in the new
man that he has become in Christ. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
If so, then this explains (at least partially) why Paul
is so keen to refer to believers as “saints” (literally “holy ones”) at the
beginning of almost all his letters.
Paul is not naive about the fact that Christians still sin, and sin in
major ways (indeed, his letters are often about their sins!). But, he wants Christians to think of
themselves in regard to their new natures, not their old. They are saints who sometimes sin, not
sinners who sometimes do right.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And when our true identities are understood rightly, it
actually affects the way we view (and respond to) our sins. We might think that the best way to
appreciate the depth of our sin is to think of ourselves primarily in the
category of “sinners.” But, this can
actually have the opposite effect. If we
think of ourselves only as “sinners” then our sins are seen as something rather
ordinary and inevitable. They are just
the result of who we are. Sure, we wish
we didn’t sin. But, that’s just what
“sinners” do.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If we instead view ourselves as “saints,” then we will
begin to see our sin in a whole new light.
If we really are “holy ones” then whatever sins we commit are a deeper,
more profound, and more serious departure from God’s calling than we ever
realized. Our sin, in a sense, is even
more heinous because it is being done by those who now have new natures and a
new identity.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And it is this “cognitive dissonance” between our
identities as saints and our sinful actions that leads us to repentance. We repent because these sins are not ordinary
and expected. They are fundamentally
contrary to who God has made us to be.
It is this tension between our identities and our actions that is lost
when we cease to think of ourselves as saints. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In the end, I am not suggesting that Christians can never
refer to themselves with the word “sinner.”
If rightly understood, this can be fine.
But, we should also be keen to think of ourselves as saints. After all, when Christ returns that is what
we will be. In glory, there will be no
sinners. <u>Only saints</u>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: #666666;">Dr. Michael Kruger</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Charlotte, NC</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.justchristians.com/" target="_blank">Video lesson by Just Christians </a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="280" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x9rth7wnTmE" width="500"></iframe></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-87338261285085054652017-07-16T15:11:00.000-07:002017-07-16T15:14:58.179-07:00Word study on PRACTICE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmIlK8-AxmiGFntGOSi2nLfzGnAWhp9BTjwXF4VfffSMStXptDovB47qc4i3A8IRuR04H4JaNRmhwd5KOYoh5hownCLCdZ4ZQDAnO78ewAKDcsJu-DQtIDZ0VN27_LRdWp6sv2E1ld_w/s1600/Good-Practices-Bad-Practices.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmIlK8-AxmiGFntGOSi2nLfzGnAWhp9BTjwXF4VfffSMStXptDovB47qc4i3A8IRuR04H4JaNRmhwd5KOYoh5hownCLCdZ4ZQDAnO78ewAKDcsJu-DQtIDZ0VN27_LRdWp6sv2E1ld_w/s200/Good-Practices-Bad-Practices.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>
<span style="color: black;">PRACTICE and its Varying Natures in the Bible.</span></span></b></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Romans 6:1-12, What shall we say then? Shall we continue in
sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to
sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as
were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that
just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life.</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">5 For if we have been united together in the
likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of
His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with
Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no
longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from
sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live
with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead,
dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death
that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He
lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be
dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your
mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not
present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but
present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your
members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not
have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Isaiah 32:6, For the foolish person will speak
foolishness, And his heart will work iniquity: To <span style="color: red;">practice
ungodliness</span>, To utter error against the Lord, To keep the
hungry unsatisfied, And he will cause the drink of the thirsty to
fail.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Matthew 7:23, And then I will declare to them,
‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who <span style="color: red;">practice
lawlessness</span>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Matthew 13:41, The Son of Man will send out His
angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that
offend, and those who <span style="color: red;">practice lawlessness</span>,</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Acts 8:9, But there was a certain man called
Simon, who previously <span style="color: red;">practiced sorcery </span>in
the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was
someone great,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Acts 19:19, Also, many of those who had
<span style="color: red;">practiced magic </span>brought their books
together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the
value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Romans 1:32, who, knowing the righteous judgment
of God, that those who <span style="color: red;">practice</span> such
things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve
of those who practice them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Romans 2:1, Therefore you
are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever
you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice
the same things.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Romans 2:2, But we know that the judgment of God
is according to truth against those who <span style="color: red;">practice</span>
such things.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Romans 3:13, “Their throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have <span style="color: red;">practiced deceit</span>”;
“The poison of asps is under their lips”;</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Romans 7:15, For what I am
doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not
practice; but what I hate, that I do.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">Romans 7:19, For the good
that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I
practice.</span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Romans 13:4, For he is God’s minister to you
for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the
sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute
wrath on him who <span style="color: red;">practices evil</span>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">2 Corinthians 12:21, lest, when I come again, my
God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have
sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication,
and lewdness which they have <span style="color: red;">practiced</span>.</span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Galatians 5:21, envy, murders, drunkenness,
revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I
also told you in time past, that those who<span style="color: red;">
practice </span>such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">2 Peter 2:14, having eyes full of adultery and
that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a
heart trained in <span style="color: red;">covetous practices</span>, and
are accursed children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">1 John 1:6, If we say that
we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not
practice the truth.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">1 John 2:29, If you know
that He is righteous, you know that everyone who </span><span style="color: red;">practices
righteousness </span><span style="color: black;">is born of Him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">1 John 3:7, Little children, let no one deceive
you. He who <span style="color: red;">practices righteousness </span>is
righteous, just as He is righteous.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">1 John 3:10, In this the children of God and the
children of the devil are manifest: Whoever <span style="color: red;">does
not practice righteousness</span> is not of God, nor is he who does
not love his brother.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Revelation 22:15, But outside are dogs and
sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and
whoever loves and </span><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;">practices a lie</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-92137009421258968082017-05-05T15:10:00.002-07:002020-02-19T21:24:41.382-08:00Are Unfaithful Christians Still Christians?<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="280" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6OxpgWUzv-k" width="500"></iframe>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"A gentle reminder to ALL who claim Christ"</span></b><br />
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Do you still belong to Christ, are you honorably representing Him in all that you do and in front of all you come in contact with everyday? Are you proud of wearing the name "Christian"?<br />
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Since it is possible for a child of God to fall from the faith (2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1), drift into error, and so be worthy of dis-fellowship (Romans 16:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; Titus 3:10), when such occurs, is it appropriate to continue referring to such people as “Christians”?</div>
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<i style="line-height: 1.67em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">"Yet if </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;">anyone suffers</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"> as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter." </span></i><span style="line-height: 1.67em;">(1 Peter 4:16).</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-80432052207075332562017-03-02T15:59:00.002-08:002020-02-19T21:25:20.673-08:00Raised To New Life<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Romans 6:4 is where it begins...</b></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="290" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tjSAIaEKuJg" width="500"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.rippleoflight.com/" target="_blank">Ripple Of Light Productions</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-46571393900642218182017-02-17T12:26:00.000-08:002017-02-17T12:26:00.549-08:00Objections To Baptism Pt.13<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgGBU9wuazZufOfzj5SvrfwRzT7b71t3MSqX27JqH6tIZszaMwMjNAtJZjFWZbU1s3kowxE-rrsfJ-F_NRz5zM7qthlocpj-k5ywXlvRIbHdE9jC4NR0M1NZFCqPGpCK_Z4seqM8ZWpc/s1600/slide_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgGBU9wuazZufOfzj5SvrfwRzT7b71t3MSqX27JqH6tIZszaMwMjNAtJZjFWZbU1s3kowxE-rrsfJ-F_NRz5zM7qthlocpj-k5ywXlvRIbHdE9jC4NR0M1NZFCqPGpCK_Z4seqM8ZWpc/s200/slide_8.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>OBJECTION #13: “ROMANS 10:9-10 INDICATES THAT ALL ONE NEEDS TO DO IS BELIEVE AND CONFESS JESUS.”</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The use of eis in Romans 10:10 cannot mean “because of.” Verse nine explicitly says one will be saved “if” he confesses and believes in the heart. Confession and faith are therefore prerequisites to forgiveness. They are God-ordained “responses” to the preached Word (vs. 8) and must occur before salvation is imparted by God. In other words, one’s soul is purified when he obeys the truth (1 Peter 1:22). Jesus provides eternal salvation to those who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9).<o:p></o:p></div>
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But is baptism excluded from salvation since only faith and confession are mentioned in Romans 10:9-10? Notice, four chapters earlier, the order of Romans 6:17-18: (1) slaves to sin; (2) person obeys; (3) made free from sin (righteous). Item (3) cannot occur unless item (2) occurs first. The “whole” of man is to reverence God and keep His commands (Ecclesiastes 12:13). To whom does God give the Holy Spirit?<o:p></o:p></div>
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To those whom He arbitrarily chooses, without any consideration of the individual’s necessitated response? No. Acts 5:32 says God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him. God has always conditioned the bestowal of spiritual blessing upon prior obedient response (Jeremiah 7:23; Genesis 26:4-5). Deuteronomy 5:10 says God shows mercy to those who love Him and keep His commands.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In Romans 10, Paul is not stressing the specific aspects of the conversion process. That is not the context. Rather, the context addresses whether one is acceptable to God in the Christian dispensation due to physical heritage (i.e., race/ethnicity), versus whether one is saved when one complies with God’s instruction. Paul was stressing that their nationality could not bring the Jews into God’s favor. Rather, people are saved when they render obedience to the Gospel. He quoted Joel 2:32, where the emphasis is on the word “whosoever” in contrast to “Jews only.” Verse 12 argues that God does not distinguish on the basis of race. The individual’s response to the preached Word is the deciding factor. However, Romans 10 does not reveal all of the details of that obedient response. One must be willing to search out the whole truth on such a subject.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If repentance is essential to salvation, one must concede that such teaching must come from some passage other than Romans 10. Does Romans 10:10 mean that repentance is unnecessary, just because it is unmentioned in the text? No, since repentance is required in chapter 2:4. If not, then why assume baptism to be nonessential simply because it is not mentioned in this particular text? It is enjoined in chapter 6:3-4. To ascertain the significance of baptism in God’s sight, one must go to passages that discuss that subject, rather than dismiss them in deference to verses on faith. If God says, “faith saves” (Romans 5:1), let us accept that truth. If God says, “baptism saves” (1 Peter 3:21), let us accept that truth, too! Jesus Himself said: belief + baptism = salvation (Mark 16:16), not belief = salvation + baptism.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Notice also, Romans 10:10,13 does not say that salvation can be acquired by mere verbal confession (e.g., “I accept Jesus into my heart as my personal Savior”). Why?<o:p></o:p></div>
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(1) Nowhere is the statement, “Accept Jesus as your personal Savior,” found in Scripture.<o:p></o:p></div>
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(2) Jesus forever dashed the idea of salvation by mental acceptance/verbal profession alone in Matthew 7:21 and Luke 6:46, where He showed that oral confession alone is unacceptable. In every age, there have been specified actions of obedience that God has required before He would count individuals as pleasing or acceptable.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In fact, if faith is not coupled with the appropriate obedient action (like baptism), then such faith is unable to justify. Such faith is imperfect (James 2:17,20,26) and therefore cannot save!<o:p></o:p></div>
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(3) The phrase “call on the name of the Lord” is an idiomatic way to say: “respond with appropriate obedient actions.” It is the figure of speech known as synecdoche (i.e., the part stands for the whole). To “call” on God’s name is equivalent to saying, “Do what He tells you to do.” Isaiah 55:6 told the Jews of Isaiah’s day to call on God. Verse 7 explains how: (1) forsake wicked ways, (2) forsake wicked thoughts,<o:p></o:p></div>
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(4) return to the Lord. To obey these three stipulations constituted “calling on God.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Likewise, those in Jerusalem who “called on the Lord’s name” (Acts 9:14,21) had done so, not solely by verbal confession, but by repentance and baptism for forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Similarly, Paul himself became a Christian, that is, he “called on the name of the Lord”—not by verbally confessing Christ—but by being baptized (Acts 22:16). For Paul, “calling on the Lord’s name” was equivalent to (not precedent to) being baptized. God washed his sins away by the blood of Jesus at the point of his baptism.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4452748298968916578.post-73216755058904648272017-02-17T12:25:00.004-08:002017-02-17T12:25:41.032-08:00Objections To Baptism Pt.12<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAvtDwM94BvZPYkgZsT2hwfkZQyLk3uGhyphenhyphenV23pn6FOh67j_SxAq87XFM33EnoUBl8hG5PCgos9m9cJ2vF7uZ6qA2XhWDWRc1g7m_zbXCB0ci3JZT1YKZvsbMLBilX54-AKtIUuwMQxA4/s1600/slide_22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAvtDwM94BvZPYkgZsT2hwfkZQyLk3uGhyphenhyphenV23pn6FOh67j_SxAq87XFM33EnoUBl8hG5PCgos9m9cJ2vF7uZ6qA2XhWDWRc1g7m_zbXCB0ci3JZT1YKZvsbMLBilX54-AKtIUuwMQxA4/s200/slide_22.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>OBJECTION #12: “IF BAPTISM IS NECESSARY TO SALVATION, JESUS WOULD HAVE SAID, ‘BUT HE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE AND IS NOT BAPTIZED WILL BE CONDEMNED’ IN MARK 16:16. AND BESIDES, THE LAST TWELVE VERSES OF MARK 16 ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE OLDEST AND BEST GREEK MANUSCRIPTS.”</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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The omission of “and is not baptized” in Mark 16:16 is completely logical and necessary. The first phrase (“he who believes and is baptized”) describes man’s complete response necessitated by the preaching of the Gospel: Faith must precede baptism, since obviously one would not submit to baptism if he did not first believe. It is non-essential to ascribe condemnation in the second clause to the individual who is not baptized, since the individual being condemned is the one who does not initially believe. The person who refuses to believe “is condemned already” (John 3:18) and certainly would not be interested in the next item of compliance—baptism. He who does not believe would obviously not be baptized—and even if he would, his failure to first believe disqualifies him from being immersed. Only penitent believers are candidates for baptism. An exact grammatical parallel would be: “He who goes to the store and buys coffee for his father will receive $5.00. He who does not go to the store will be spanked.” Obviously, if the child refuses to go to the store, he would not be in a position to buy coffee, and it would be redundant—even grammatically and linguistically inappropriate—to include the failure to purchase the coffee in the pronouncement of an impending spanking.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Are the last verses of Mark 16 uninspired? The textual evidence supporting the authenticity of Mark 16:9-20 is exceptional in light of the vast sources available for establishing the original text. While it is true that Vaticanusand Sinaiticus omit the last 12 verses, it is positively misleading to assume that “the validity of these verses is weak.” In fact, the vast number of witnesses are in favor of the authenticity of verses 9-20. The rejection of Vaticanus is less weighty in light of its comparable exclusion of the Pastoral Epistles, the last part of Hebrews, and Revelation. The rejection of Sinaiticus is similarly unconvincing, since it includes some of the Apocryphal books.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com