2 Timothy
{3:1} This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. {3:2} For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedientto parents, unthankful, unholy, {3:3} Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, {3:4} Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God{3:5} Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.{3:6} For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, {3:7} Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Rare indeed is the society we see which seems to genuinely care for others before themselves.We think of ourselves first.We do.We think of ourselves first because we are lovers of ourselves.You might think you hate yourself, but the next time you say the word *I* who are you thinking of and in what context?
We are lovers of our own selves. Number one comes first, gotta look out for number one, who is number one? Self. Covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy...
We are ALL of these things.
Perilious times.
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof
...from such turn away.
How can we turn away from such when it seems that these are the only people left- including ourselves?
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
So sad...
...ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
We need the truth desperately. Without the truth it's impossible for us to be saved. Impossible.
Ever learning......never able.
May God help us all in these very perilous times.
We'd be fools to think these aren't the last days, and even though each generation believes such, it's the way it has to be or people would become complacent.
Perilous times indeed.
I don't want to ever be one who is 'ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.' The truth is found in Jesus Christ and it is to Him I hold fast, by the grace of God, our Father.
Amen.
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”- Colossians 2:6-7
Monday, November 24, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Recover themselves out of the snare of the devil
2 Timothy {2:22} Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.{2:23} But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. {2:24} And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men,] apt to teach, patient, {2:25} In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; {2:26} And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
**
Flee also youthful lusts- youthful lusts. It's no secret that when you are youthful you do have untempered lusts. Some teenagers let their lusts consume them. Men and women have these lusts as well and often men an women are loathed to let the youthful lusts be tempered and carry them on into adulthood. We're no longer allowing youthful lusts to stay there are we? If we talk sex alone just look at the explosion of erection drugs out there for men who have trouble getting and staying that way. More and more youthful lusts are sought after and encouraged not being turned away from. 'Flee also youthful lust', perhaps there is a reason for this, perhaps dwelling on and encouraging youthful lust is a huge distraction from all that would help a person grow in Christ. Youthful lusts are purely selfish aren't they? Self-gratification, self absorbtion, and we know that selfishness is against all that is God.
Told to flee youthful lust we are also told to... 'follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.'
Further we are admonished, 'But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing they they do gender strifes and the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gently unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgeing of truth and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive by him at his will.'
Wow, so much there.
We are admonished flee youthful lusts, rather follow good. We are told to avoid foolish and unlearned questions, avoid strife. People like to goad other people into arguments don't they? Well sometimes. Debating is something we're encouraged to do, and keeping it civil of course is the best way but often debates can get heated. Some people-- most people-- like to be right about whatever it is they're arguing for and Christians are told not to argue, not to cause strife, but to be gentle, teaching, patiently, meekly.
God does give repentance to those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior who died for them so they could have eternal life, and that is the truth. Without believing in the truth repentance is impossible.
Repentance to the acknowledging of truth and that they my recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive at his will.
Recover themselves ouf of the snare of the devil. Amen!
The devil does take captives as he wills, we might not want to believe it, but it's true. Captive into sin, snared by the devil, no one wants that do they? No one wants to be snared by the devil. How many are snared and don't even know? Recovering themselves out of that snare is done by obtaining repentance by acknowledging the truth. Through Jesus and Jesus alone we can find repentance can we be recovered out of Satan's snares.
Praise God for His love through Jesus!
Amen
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”- Psalm 100:4-5
**
Flee also youthful lusts- youthful lusts. It's no secret that when you are youthful you do have untempered lusts. Some teenagers let their lusts consume them. Men and women have these lusts as well and often men an women are loathed to let the youthful lusts be tempered and carry them on into adulthood. We're no longer allowing youthful lusts to stay there are we? If we talk sex alone just look at the explosion of erection drugs out there for men who have trouble getting and staying that way. More and more youthful lusts are sought after and encouraged not being turned away from. 'Flee also youthful lust', perhaps there is a reason for this, perhaps dwelling on and encouraging youthful lust is a huge distraction from all that would help a person grow in Christ. Youthful lusts are purely selfish aren't they? Self-gratification, self absorbtion, and we know that selfishness is against all that is God.
Told to flee youthful lust we are also told to... 'follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.'
Further we are admonished, 'But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing they they do gender strifes and the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gently unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgeing of truth and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive by him at his will.'
Wow, so much there.
We are admonished flee youthful lusts, rather follow good. We are told to avoid foolish and unlearned questions, avoid strife. People like to goad other people into arguments don't they? Well sometimes. Debating is something we're encouraged to do, and keeping it civil of course is the best way but often debates can get heated. Some people-- most people-- like to be right about whatever it is they're arguing for and Christians are told not to argue, not to cause strife, but to be gentle, teaching, patiently, meekly.
God does give repentance to those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior who died for them so they could have eternal life, and that is the truth. Without believing in the truth repentance is impossible.
Repentance to the acknowledging of truth and that they my recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive at his will.
Recover themselves ouf of the snare of the devil. Amen!
The devil does take captives as he wills, we might not want to believe it, but it's true. Captive into sin, snared by the devil, no one wants that do they? No one wants to be snared by the devil. How many are snared and don't even know? Recovering themselves out of that snare is done by obtaining repentance by acknowledging the truth. Through Jesus and Jesus alone we can find repentance can we be recovered out of Satan's snares.
Praise God for His love through Jesus!
Amen
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”- Psalm 100:4-5
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Who gave himself a ransom for all
Ezk.
{7:5} Thus saith the Lord GOD; An evil, an only evil, behold, is come.
{7:6} An end is come, the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come.
1Tim.
{2:3} For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour
{2:4} Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
{2:5} For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
{2:6} Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
**
God would have ALL men be saved.
God would have ALL men come to the knowledge of truth.
One God.
One mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus.
Christ Jesus who gave himself -
a ransom for all-
to be testified in due time.
A ransom.
Jesus is a ransom for us.
ransom (ràn´sem) noun
1. a. The release of property or a person in return for payment of a demanded price. b. The price or payment demanded or paid for such release.
2. Theology. A redemption from sin and its consequences.
verb, transitive
ransomed, ransoming, ransoms
1. a. To obtain the release of by paying a certain price. b. To release after receiving such a payment.
2. Theology. To deliver from sin and its consequences.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
If salvation could be bought how much would you pay for it? Seriously how much money would you spend to buy eternal life? What if there were a special on eternal life, buy it now in the next twenty-four hours and receive an extra eternal life for a loved one? What if it were a once a lifetime offer that if you passed it up you'd never get another chance to purchase eternal life? What if eternal life was some days offered for 1 penny and other days 1,000,000 dollars, only you never would know in advance when it would be offered for lower or higher? Would you risk missing out on eternal life by *not* buying it as soon as it was offered to you, knowing you could die the moment after and be lost forever?
That's a lot of what if's isn't it?
Salvation can't be bought by us though. It's one of those things you just can't buy no matter how rich you are. Salvation isn't exclusively for those with money, prestige, power, nor for just the middle class, or the poor. There isn't a single person who can buy salvation, not one, it's not for sale. I might say it's like the air you breathe but even that would be a falsehood because some people need extra air- oxygen from tanks to live and those people have to buy their air, so it's not like the air you breathe at all.
It's my believe that salvation is automatic for all children under the age of accountability. A bold statement? Perhaps, but it's my personal belief.
A babe newly born is no more a sinner than Jesus. Seriously, how can that baby be a sinner? You say the babe inherits it through its parents? That because Adam and Eve sinned that automatically everyone is born a sinner? I have to disagree and tell you what I think. I think we're born from parents who are sinners (obviously they're past the age of accountability and they sinned at some point in their life. You know that first- for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.) How can I say that babies haven't sinned if *all* have sinned? I believe babies inherit the tendencies to sinned and once their age of accountability comes around and they begin to know right from wrong and commit wrong knowingly- they've sinned. Their flesh is weak as all human flesh is because we are born from sinful parents all the way back to Adam and Eve.
Sin is the transgression of the law.
1 John {3:4} Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Romans {3:31} Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
There has to be a law in order for there to be a sin, yes? Yes.
There has to be a breaking of the law for there to be a sinner, yes? Yes.
Salvation is guaranteed to babies who have not broken a single law.
You know what I think is one of the first laws to be broken by a child? I could be wrong, but I think it's the one about honoring your mother and father. A child starts to slip into the awareness of that authority in their lives and they learn that they need to obey that authority and yet they defy the authority of the parent- knowingly. Seriously. Think about it. What child doesn't grow up learning that they have to *listen* and *obey* what their parent says? A parent tells a child- 'Go get into your pajamas.' A child tells the parent, 'No. I'm not ready to.' Is that the sin? Not yet. The parent then says, 'Listen to me, I'm your mother/father and I said go get into your pajamas and when I say go get into your pajamas you do it. You have to listen to me, I know what's best for you.' The child then after hearing all that says, 'No. I don't want to.' Is it sin yet? We want to say NOOoooooo! We want to say the child is just being normal with normal defiance, the child is just stretching his wings so to speak, seeking independence a bit. We can come up with all sorts of excuses for what the child is doing, we could, I could. Is it a sin yet? Yes. It's knowing right from wrong and still doing it. Some might say no, it's not sin because the child doesn't realize he/she should obey their parents and why should they do so on the say so of the parent. This parent they're defying has been the same parent who has been in their life since birth, the same parent who has taught them so many things up to this point of defiance. This parent has shown love to the child, they've nurtured him/her, fed them, clothed them, soothed them when they were frightened. This parent has been an authority in their life all along. This parent isn't a stranger ordering the child around, but someone they love and trust. Why shouldn't they listen to the parent is a better question.
Anyway, I'm sure people have all sorts of thoughts on this particular subject but I fully believe that once we learn right from wrong and we choose to do wrong knowingly then we're accountable for that wrong.
Salvation can't be purchased for us sinners, not by us. We cannot buy salvation. We are effectively hostages to sin, yes, hostages and all we can do is accept the fact that another has to pay the ransom for our salvation. Sin will not release us willingly, sin will hold fast to us and keep us captive to it with a desperation we can't even imagine. We think only of *rich* people being kidnapped to ensure *rich* ransoms will be paid for them. But sin isn't a respecter of wealth, we are all a great treasure to Satan and he'll pull out all the stops to keep us from being ransomed, or rather, from accepting the ransom that is being offered to us. Before you think it odd that any kidnapped person would want to stay with their abductor, think again. There is case after case of people who are kidnapped who after time can't imagine not being with their abductor, they even sometimes fall in love with their abductors. Satan is like the most seductive of abductors. He knows everything to do to keep us *happy*, to fulfill our *needs*, he could be touted to be the best, most skilled abductor in all history. His victims include almost everyone. Not only is he skilled in keeping his kidnapped people content, he has the record for being the most prolific kidnapper in all history as well. The thing is, his skill lies in deception. He deceives people in such away they don't even know they've been kidnapped, how's that for skill?! If you don't feel kidnapped, if you don't believe you are kidnapped, then how can you ever want to be ransomed? See, it works great for him, perfect even.
Recognizing that this evil principality, this evil spiritual power does exist and does have the power to keep us captive to him is the first step towards Salvation from being kidnapped. Relying on God, relying on the gift of Salvation through the ransom of the blood of Christ, who died in our place to save us from our kidnapper is necessary. We have a Savior, we have a Redeemer, we have to cling to Him daily because Satan is an insidious kidnapper and just because he might lose you to salvation when you run to your Savior, doesn't mean he's going to stop trying to kidnap you. If anything, he might employ more devious tactics to try and steal you away back to him. He'll never stop trying, and if he can find a way to sneak in and get you, he will.
Truly we need spiritual armor just as the Bible tells us we do.
Ephesians
{6:11} Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
{6:12} For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
{6:13} Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
{6:14} Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
{6:15} And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
{6:16} Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
{6:17} And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
{6:18} Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints
God would have us all saved. That we all would know the truth.
1Tim.
{2:3} For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour
{2:4} Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
{2:5} For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
{2:6} Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Jesus died for us all and wants to save each and everyone of us.
Salvation is free, we don’t have to pay for it, it was paid by the Son of God for us, we just have to claim it, we just have to choose to be saved.
Praise be to God, all glory and power, all honor to our God, to our Father, to the Son Jesus Christ, to the Holy Spirit now and forever.
Amen.
{7:5} Thus saith the Lord GOD; An evil, an only evil, behold, is come.
{7:6} An end is come, the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come.
1Tim.
{2:3} For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour
{2:4} Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
{2:5} For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
{2:6} Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
**
God would have ALL men be saved.
God would have ALL men come to the knowledge of truth.
One God.
One mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus.
Christ Jesus who gave himself -
a ransom for all-
to be testified in due time.
A ransom.
Jesus is a ransom for us.
ransom (ràn´sem) noun
1. a. The release of property or a person in return for payment of a demanded price. b. The price or payment demanded or paid for such release.
2. Theology. A redemption from sin and its consequences.
verb, transitive
ransomed, ransoming, ransoms
1. a. To obtain the release of by paying a certain price. b. To release after receiving such a payment.
2. Theology. To deliver from sin and its consequences.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
If salvation could be bought how much would you pay for it? Seriously how much money would you spend to buy eternal life? What if there were a special on eternal life, buy it now in the next twenty-four hours and receive an extra eternal life for a loved one? What if it were a once a lifetime offer that if you passed it up you'd never get another chance to purchase eternal life? What if eternal life was some days offered for 1 penny and other days 1,000,000 dollars, only you never would know in advance when it would be offered for lower or higher? Would you risk missing out on eternal life by *not* buying it as soon as it was offered to you, knowing you could die the moment after and be lost forever?
That's a lot of what if's isn't it?
Salvation can't be bought by us though. It's one of those things you just can't buy no matter how rich you are. Salvation isn't exclusively for those with money, prestige, power, nor for just the middle class, or the poor. There isn't a single person who can buy salvation, not one, it's not for sale. I might say it's like the air you breathe but even that would be a falsehood because some people need extra air- oxygen from tanks to live and those people have to buy their air, so it's not like the air you breathe at all.
It's my believe that salvation is automatic for all children under the age of accountability. A bold statement? Perhaps, but it's my personal belief.
A babe newly born is no more a sinner than Jesus. Seriously, how can that baby be a sinner? You say the babe inherits it through its parents? That because Adam and Eve sinned that automatically everyone is born a sinner? I have to disagree and tell you what I think. I think we're born from parents who are sinners (obviously they're past the age of accountability and they sinned at some point in their life. You know that first- for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.) How can I say that babies haven't sinned if *all* have sinned? I believe babies inherit the tendencies to sinned and once their age of accountability comes around and they begin to know right from wrong and commit wrong knowingly- they've sinned. Their flesh is weak as all human flesh is because we are born from sinful parents all the way back to Adam and Eve.
Sin is the transgression of the law.
1 John {3:4} Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Romans {3:31} Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
There has to be a law in order for there to be a sin, yes? Yes.
There has to be a breaking of the law for there to be a sinner, yes? Yes.
Salvation is guaranteed to babies who have not broken a single law.
You know what I think is one of the first laws to be broken by a child? I could be wrong, but I think it's the one about honoring your mother and father. A child starts to slip into the awareness of that authority in their lives and they learn that they need to obey that authority and yet they defy the authority of the parent- knowingly. Seriously. Think about it. What child doesn't grow up learning that they have to *listen* and *obey* what their parent says? A parent tells a child- 'Go get into your pajamas.' A child tells the parent, 'No. I'm not ready to.' Is that the sin? Not yet. The parent then says, 'Listen to me, I'm your mother/father and I said go get into your pajamas and when I say go get into your pajamas you do it. You have to listen to me, I know what's best for you.' The child then after hearing all that says, 'No. I don't want to.' Is it sin yet? We want to say NOOoooooo! We want to say the child is just being normal with normal defiance, the child is just stretching his wings so to speak, seeking independence a bit. We can come up with all sorts of excuses for what the child is doing, we could, I could. Is it a sin yet? Yes. It's knowing right from wrong and still doing it. Some might say no, it's not sin because the child doesn't realize he/she should obey their parents and why should they do so on the say so of the parent. This parent they're defying has been the same parent who has been in their life since birth, the same parent who has taught them so many things up to this point of defiance. This parent has shown love to the child, they've nurtured him/her, fed them, clothed them, soothed them when they were frightened. This parent has been an authority in their life all along. This parent isn't a stranger ordering the child around, but someone they love and trust. Why shouldn't they listen to the parent is a better question.
Anyway, I'm sure people have all sorts of thoughts on this particular subject but I fully believe that once we learn right from wrong and we choose to do wrong knowingly then we're accountable for that wrong.
Salvation can't be purchased for us sinners, not by us. We cannot buy salvation. We are effectively hostages to sin, yes, hostages and all we can do is accept the fact that another has to pay the ransom for our salvation. Sin will not release us willingly, sin will hold fast to us and keep us captive to it with a desperation we can't even imagine. We think only of *rich* people being kidnapped to ensure *rich* ransoms will be paid for them. But sin isn't a respecter of wealth, we are all a great treasure to Satan and he'll pull out all the stops to keep us from being ransomed, or rather, from accepting the ransom that is being offered to us. Before you think it odd that any kidnapped person would want to stay with their abductor, think again. There is case after case of people who are kidnapped who after time can't imagine not being with their abductor, they even sometimes fall in love with their abductors. Satan is like the most seductive of abductors. He knows everything to do to keep us *happy*, to fulfill our *needs*, he could be touted to be the best, most skilled abductor in all history. His victims include almost everyone. Not only is he skilled in keeping his kidnapped people content, he has the record for being the most prolific kidnapper in all history as well. The thing is, his skill lies in deception. He deceives people in such away they don't even know they've been kidnapped, how's that for skill?! If you don't feel kidnapped, if you don't believe you are kidnapped, then how can you ever want to be ransomed? See, it works great for him, perfect even.
Recognizing that this evil principality, this evil spiritual power does exist and does have the power to keep us captive to him is the first step towards Salvation from being kidnapped. Relying on God, relying on the gift of Salvation through the ransom of the blood of Christ, who died in our place to save us from our kidnapper is necessary. We have a Savior, we have a Redeemer, we have to cling to Him daily because Satan is an insidious kidnapper and just because he might lose you to salvation when you run to your Savior, doesn't mean he's going to stop trying to kidnap you. If anything, he might employ more devious tactics to try and steal you away back to him. He'll never stop trying, and if he can find a way to sneak in and get you, he will.
Truly we need spiritual armor just as the Bible tells us we do.
Ephesians
{6:11} Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
{6:12} For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
{6:13} Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
{6:14} Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
{6:15} And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
{6:16} Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
{6:17} And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
{6:18} Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints
God would have us all saved. That we all would know the truth.
1Tim.
{2:3} For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour
{2:4} Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
{2:5} For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
{2:6} Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Jesus died for us all and wants to save each and everyone of us.
Salvation is free, we don’t have to pay for it, it was paid by the Son of God for us, we just have to claim it, we just have to choose to be saved.
Praise be to God, all glory and power, all honor to our God, to our Father, to the Son Jesus Christ, to the Holy Spirit now and forever.
Amen.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Bound to give thanks
2 Thess.
{2:13} But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth
From the beginning God knew that should man fall that a way would be made for them to be made holy again. That's was sanctification means, being made holy, in this case 'through sanctification of the Spirit'
Dict.
1. To set apart for sacred use; consecrate.
2. To make holy; purify.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
Salvation through being made holy. Salvation through spiritual sanctification. Believing in the truth and being made holy of the Spirit, this is salvation. The truth is Jesus Christ our Lord is our Savior, He is the truth. Believing in the truth, believing in Jesus, being made holy of the spirit. Our spirit being...in the process of becoming holy. The holy spirit can sanctify us, the holy spirit allowed to work in us can make us acceptable to God.
Romans
{8:12} Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
{8:13} For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
{8:14} For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
{8:15} For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
{8:16} The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
{8:17} And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him,] that we may be also glorified together.
Isn't that wonderful?!
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.
Spirit to spirit, sanctification of the Spirit.
2 Thess.
{2:13} But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth
Giving thanks.
Appropriate again :)
Thanksgiving is right around the corner less than a week away and there are many instances of giving thanks throughout the Bible.
Thanks
Dict.
thank (thàngk) verb, transitive
thanked, thanking, thanks
1. To express gratitude to; give thanks to: He thanked her for the gift.
2. To hold responsible; credit: We can thank the parade for this traffic jam.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
Expressing gratitude.
'Bound to give thanks alway to God for you' Gratitude to God always. Gratitude to God, Thanks to God. It is through God that Salvation is made possible. Through God, through the truth, through the Spirit.
There is no other way to God, to salvation except through the Son.
It is wonderful that we are saved, wonderful that God from the beginning knew that there would be those who would choose salvation through Him.
We should thank God, all the time. Thank Him for His wonder, for His amazing love, for so much.
No, we might not always feel thankful, we might not always want to thank God especially when things are going wrong in our lives and yet He's in control if we allow Him to be. All the trials we go through in life, all the horrors great and small, they all will somehow, someway work out for good if we trust the God is in control. We don't have to like it, we won't like a lot of things, we're not meant to seek a life of ease and smooth-sailing and call any upset a result of God's punishing us, we're not. We can't think that way. We can't *blame* God, Satan would have us blame God, and God would have us trust in Him, trust in God for the ultimate promise through Jesus.
We have to thank God because He is in control of the chaos that is often our lives. He's in control and there is comfort in knowing that while we don't understand a single thing, He sees the huge picture and knows the end from the beginning. He'll guide us, He'll sustain us, He'll give us all we need to believe and trust in the salvation through Jesus and that salvation will lead us to a life we can barely comprehend because we only have tiny glimpses of the glory waiting for us.
Thank you God!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! A million times thank you!
I don't understand it all and I'll never claim to understand it all. I know I don't always give thanks when I should, but I need to try and do so more and more. By the Grace of God, thank you God, now and always.
Amen.
“I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;”- 1 Corinthians 1:4-5
{2:13} But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth
From the beginning God knew that should man fall that a way would be made for them to be made holy again. That's was sanctification means, being made holy, in this case 'through sanctification of the Spirit'
Dict.
1. To set apart for sacred use; consecrate.
2. To make holy; purify.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
Salvation through being made holy. Salvation through spiritual sanctification. Believing in the truth and being made holy of the Spirit, this is salvation. The truth is Jesus Christ our Lord is our Savior, He is the truth. Believing in the truth, believing in Jesus, being made holy of the spirit. Our spirit being...in the process of becoming holy. The holy spirit can sanctify us, the holy spirit allowed to work in us can make us acceptable to God.
Romans
{8:12} Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
{8:13} For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
{8:14} For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
{8:15} For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
{8:16} The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
{8:17} And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him,] that we may be also glorified together.
Isn't that wonderful?!
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.
Spirit to spirit, sanctification of the Spirit.
2 Thess.
{2:13} But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth
Giving thanks.
Appropriate again :)
Thanksgiving is right around the corner less than a week away and there are many instances of giving thanks throughout the Bible.
Thanks
Dict.
thank (thàngk) verb, transitive
thanked, thanking, thanks
1. To express gratitude to; give thanks to: He thanked her for the gift.
2. To hold responsible; credit: We can thank the parade for this traffic jam.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
Expressing gratitude.
'Bound to give thanks alway to God for you' Gratitude to God always. Gratitude to God, Thanks to God. It is through God that Salvation is made possible. Through God, through the truth, through the Spirit.
There is no other way to God, to salvation except through the Son.
It is wonderful that we are saved, wonderful that God from the beginning knew that there would be those who would choose salvation through Him.
We should thank God, all the time. Thank Him for His wonder, for His amazing love, for so much.
No, we might not always feel thankful, we might not always want to thank God especially when things are going wrong in our lives and yet He's in control if we allow Him to be. All the trials we go through in life, all the horrors great and small, they all will somehow, someway work out for good if we trust the God is in control. We don't have to like it, we won't like a lot of things, we're not meant to seek a life of ease and smooth-sailing and call any upset a result of God's punishing us, we're not. We can't think that way. We can't *blame* God, Satan would have us blame God, and God would have us trust in Him, trust in God for the ultimate promise through Jesus.
We have to thank God because He is in control of the chaos that is often our lives. He's in control and there is comfort in knowing that while we don't understand a single thing, He sees the huge picture and knows the end from the beginning. He'll guide us, He'll sustain us, He'll give us all we need to believe and trust in the salvation through Jesus and that salvation will lead us to a life we can barely comprehend because we only have tiny glimpses of the glory waiting for us.
Thank you God!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! A million times thank you!
I don't understand it all and I'll never claim to understand it all. I know I don't always give thanks when I should, but I need to try and do so more and more. By the Grace of God, thank you God, now and always.
Amen.
“I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;”- 1 Corinthians 1:4-5
Thursday, November 20, 2008
That they all might be damned ...
**
We're heading into the flu season and lots of people nowadays get a flu shot. They are inoculating themselves in hopes of warding off the flu. No one likes being sick, at least no one I've ever known. The flu can be so nasty, and in some cases even deadly, it's no wonder people want to inoculate themselves from getting it, or at least if they do get it then it's a much milder form. Who wants to gamble with their lives like that? You might say a lot of people because not all get the flu shot. I have yet to get mine, but I'm hoping to next week. I want to be inoculated against the flu. You know last year I was inoculated and guess what? I still got sick, really sick, like you have to take medicine to get better sick, not just wait it out and it goes away. Anyone that knows me, really knows me, knows I hate taking medicine and don't unless it's a last recourse. Why did I get so sick if I had the shot and paid 25.00 to get it? Because later on it was made known that they guessed the virus strains wrong. That's all it really is, guessing which viruses might appear in a given season and getting a vaccination prepared to fight what you GUESS, even educated-ly guess, might be out there ready to strike you down. Some years you get it right, some years you get it wrong, last year they got it wrong and supposedly this year they've acquired better guessers and it's supposed to be a lot better.
The point I'm making here is we often go to great lengths to protect ourselves, our health, our safety, we want to live healthy and accident free. We place great store on keeping ourselves as up to date on things that will ensure our protection from anything that would harm us, biological or not. Why shouldn't we? Again I reiterate, no one likes to be sick. No one likes to put themselves in such jeopardy they risk death- hold on, daredevils, mountain climbers, race car drivers, foot ball players, motorbike racers, surfboards, the list is endless for those who DO put their lives at risk. These people enjoy the thrill of living on the edge, teetering on the precipice of life and death, they call it a high, the ultimate rush. So I suppose I can't say NO one likes to live dangerously, but I can say MOST people don't like to be sick or live dangerously. Most people don't like to gamble with their well-being in that way.
The very people that take the utmost precautions against becoming ill and getting injured often neglect the very thing that can protect them the most. No, it can't protect you like a science fiction body shield making you a super human being, but this protection offers the greatest protection you'll ever have. Protection for your eternal life. Protection that offers you life everlasting without a day of pain, sickness.
What's the thing that can protect us? How can we inoculate ourselves for eternal life? By daily, sometimes hourly, minutely, secondly injections of the truth.
Stop groaning. It's true.
The only thing that can save us ultimately is the truth. Eternal life isn't guaranteed to you just because you were born. You're not guaranteed a life of happiness after death. There isn't a realm you roam happily automatically. That light people see at the end of the tunnel when they have near death experiences and come back, that light isn't the promised eternal life. Even people that want nothing to do with God whatsoever, who have committed gross sins and only want to commit more of them have had near death experiences and have seen the so-called light, the so-called promise of happy life everlasting. Some might argue that was to change their lives around giving them a second chance, showing them what they have to lose, but no all those people are changed by the experience. Some are thrilled that they know they'll go on to a better life no matter what they do.
Deception.
Make the majority of humanity believe that they go on to a better place upon death. That every little boy or girl whose mommy or daddy die can believe their lost loved one is in heaven watching them.
Deception.
We can be assured of eternal life with Christ alone. We need a love of the truth if we're not to be deceived. LOVE of the truth, one super inoculation coming up. Keep the love of the truth in your life at all times, not some of the time, but at all times and you know that you're protected.
Let's pretend for a moment a wicked disease sweeps over all the earth and millions of people die before scientist come up with a cure. The cure is something you need to take all the time, something like a patch that has to administer low doses of the protection all day long. The guarantee that you'll die if you don't wear the patch is certain. Would the majority of people choose not to wear the patch? No, they want to stay protected, they want to live.
We need a low dose Jesus patch that we wear every day, all day long ministering to us His love, His forgiveness, His Holy Spirit, the truth. We need a love of the truth. A love so great that we never forget it not even for a moment. In all we do, in all we are we have to have Jesus with us, we have to have a love of the truth, a love of God.
Read the following which about why a lot of people will perish and not have eternal life--
2 Thessalonians
{2:8} And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming {2:9} Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders
{2:10} And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. {2:11} And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie
{2:12} That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Read it again. You know how I like you to read things again just to bring the point home.
2 Thessalonians
{2:8} And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming {2:9} Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders
{2:10} And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. {2:11} And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie
{2:12} That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
In them that perish... they are deceived by unrighteousness, deceived by the workings of Satan, deceived by powerful forces, deceived by signs- signs that people will believe are from God, deceived by lying wonders- wonders that are amazing and all lies. Deceived because people will NOT receive a love of the truth that they might be saved. They don't want it! They don't want the patch that'll keep them alive. They don't want the inoculation, they don't want to protect themselves with the truth. They want to draw a nice cloak of deceivability around them and believe lies and wonders, signs that are so close to the real thing, they want to believe all that but they don't want to believe the truth, they don't want to love the truth.
Once dead set (pardon the pun) on believing the pretty lies that are so close to the truth it's hard to tell that they're not, God's going to let people believe that lie. Meaning what?
Meaning the truth is out there for all to see. The love of the truth is available to everyone. Not everyone wants the truth, in fact the majority would much rather be deceived, it feels better on their conscience.
All that choose to be deceived rather than love the truth found in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, will perish, there will be NO eternal life for them, these people will never know true joy, true peace, true love, never. The pleasure they get is in unrighteousness, not from the truth.
People want a special protection bubble to keep them from all of life's many anxieties, heartaches, despairs, but that doesn't exist. Our hope has to be in eternity and the promise of that life to come in Jesus. We can overcome the world and all it's pains, but that doesn't mean we won't suffer. The only way we overcome is with a love of the Truth, a LOVE of the gospel found in Jesus Christ.
Amen.
We're heading into the flu season and lots of people nowadays get a flu shot. They are inoculating themselves in hopes of warding off the flu. No one likes being sick, at least no one I've ever known. The flu can be so nasty, and in some cases even deadly, it's no wonder people want to inoculate themselves from getting it, or at least if they do get it then it's a much milder form. Who wants to gamble with their lives like that? You might say a lot of people because not all get the flu shot. I have yet to get mine, but I'm hoping to next week. I want to be inoculated against the flu. You know last year I was inoculated and guess what? I still got sick, really sick, like you have to take medicine to get better sick, not just wait it out and it goes away. Anyone that knows me, really knows me, knows I hate taking medicine and don't unless it's a last recourse. Why did I get so sick if I had the shot and paid 25.00 to get it? Because later on it was made known that they guessed the virus strains wrong. That's all it really is, guessing which viruses might appear in a given season and getting a vaccination prepared to fight what you GUESS, even educated-ly guess, might be out there ready to strike you down. Some years you get it right, some years you get it wrong, last year they got it wrong and supposedly this year they've acquired better guessers and it's supposed to be a lot better.
The point I'm making here is we often go to great lengths to protect ourselves, our health, our safety, we want to live healthy and accident free. We place great store on keeping ourselves as up to date on things that will ensure our protection from anything that would harm us, biological or not. Why shouldn't we? Again I reiterate, no one likes to be sick. No one likes to put themselves in such jeopardy they risk death- hold on, daredevils, mountain climbers, race car drivers, foot ball players, motorbike racers, surfboards, the list is endless for those who DO put their lives at risk. These people enjoy the thrill of living on the edge, teetering on the precipice of life and death, they call it a high, the ultimate rush. So I suppose I can't say NO one likes to live dangerously, but I can say MOST people don't like to be sick or live dangerously. Most people don't like to gamble with their well-being in that way.
The very people that take the utmost precautions against becoming ill and getting injured often neglect the very thing that can protect them the most. No, it can't protect you like a science fiction body shield making you a super human being, but this protection offers the greatest protection you'll ever have. Protection for your eternal life. Protection that offers you life everlasting without a day of pain, sickness.
What's the thing that can protect us? How can we inoculate ourselves for eternal life? By daily, sometimes hourly, minutely, secondly injections of the truth.
Stop groaning. It's true.
The only thing that can save us ultimately is the truth. Eternal life isn't guaranteed to you just because you were born. You're not guaranteed a life of happiness after death. There isn't a realm you roam happily automatically. That light people see at the end of the tunnel when they have near death experiences and come back, that light isn't the promised eternal life. Even people that want nothing to do with God whatsoever, who have committed gross sins and only want to commit more of them have had near death experiences and have seen the so-called light, the so-called promise of happy life everlasting. Some might argue that was to change their lives around giving them a second chance, showing them what they have to lose, but no all those people are changed by the experience. Some are thrilled that they know they'll go on to a better life no matter what they do.
Deception.
Make the majority of humanity believe that they go on to a better place upon death. That every little boy or girl whose mommy or daddy die can believe their lost loved one is in heaven watching them.
Deception.
We can be assured of eternal life with Christ alone. We need a love of the truth if we're not to be deceived. LOVE of the truth, one super inoculation coming up. Keep the love of the truth in your life at all times, not some of the time, but at all times and you know that you're protected.
Let's pretend for a moment a wicked disease sweeps over all the earth and millions of people die before scientist come up with a cure. The cure is something you need to take all the time, something like a patch that has to administer low doses of the protection all day long. The guarantee that you'll die if you don't wear the patch is certain. Would the majority of people choose not to wear the patch? No, they want to stay protected, they want to live.
We need a low dose Jesus patch that we wear every day, all day long ministering to us His love, His forgiveness, His Holy Spirit, the truth. We need a love of the truth. A love so great that we never forget it not even for a moment. In all we do, in all we are we have to have Jesus with us, we have to have a love of the truth, a love of God.
Read the following which about why a lot of people will perish and not have eternal life--
2 Thessalonians
{2:8} And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming {2:9} Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders
{2:10} And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. {2:11} And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie
{2:12} That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Read it again. You know how I like you to read things again just to bring the point home.
2 Thessalonians
{2:8} And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming {2:9} Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders
{2:10} And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. {2:11} And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie
{2:12} That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
In them that perish... they are deceived by unrighteousness, deceived by the workings of Satan, deceived by powerful forces, deceived by signs- signs that people will believe are from God, deceived by lying wonders- wonders that are amazing and all lies. Deceived because people will NOT receive a love of the truth that they might be saved. They don't want it! They don't want the patch that'll keep them alive. They don't want the inoculation, they don't want to protect themselves with the truth. They want to draw a nice cloak of deceivability around them and believe lies and wonders, signs that are so close to the real thing, they want to believe all that but they don't want to believe the truth, they don't want to love the truth.
Once dead set (pardon the pun) on believing the pretty lies that are so close to the truth it's hard to tell that they're not, God's going to let people believe that lie. Meaning what?
Meaning the truth is out there for all to see. The love of the truth is available to everyone. Not everyone wants the truth, in fact the majority would much rather be deceived, it feels better on their conscience.
All that choose to be deceived rather than love the truth found in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, will perish, there will be NO eternal life for them, these people will never know true joy, true peace, true love, never. The pleasure they get is in unrighteousness, not from the truth.
People want a special protection bubble to keep them from all of life's many anxieties, heartaches, despairs, but that doesn't exist. Our hope has to be in eternity and the promise of that life to come in Jesus. We can overcome the world and all it's pains, but that doesn't mean we won't suffer. The only way we overcome is with a love of the Truth, a LOVE of the gospel found in Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
In truth, the word of God
Skeptics. Skeptical. Skepticism.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary.
skeptic also sceptic (skèp´tîk) noun
1. One who instinctively or habitually doubts, questions, or disagrees with assertions or generally accepted conclusions.
2. One inclined to skepticism in religious matters.
3. Philosophy. a. Often Skeptic . An adherent of a school of skepticism. b. Skeptic. A member of an ancient Greek school of skepticism, especially that of Pyrrho of Elis (360?-272? B.C.).
One who instinctively or habitually doubts...questions...or disagrees with assertions or generally accepted conclusions.
Do you fall into this category? Are you a skeptic? Do you or others consider you a skeptic? Is it good to be skeptical? Habitually doubting and disagreeing with generally accepted conclusions? A skeptic might doubt the believability of God, while the majority of people in the world believe that He exists and is in charge of things.
Is it safe to say there are more skeptics when it comes to believing in God, or more when it comes to believing Jesus is God's only son, that He was made man and dwelt among us and died for us, only to rise again and live for us?
I believe there are a lot more skeptics when it comes to Jesus. You've the entire Allah worshipping community that only believe that Jesus was a good prophet, not God's Son as well as the entire Jewish community, not to mention the many religions that worship nature as if it created itself, pagans and such as a religion the majority while accepting the validity of God they reject His Son.
Back when Jesus lived among people before His death He did many, many miracles of the like the world had NEVER seen. He did it taking no glory to himself but giving it all to God, His Father. Jesus didn't come to earth to be an earthly King and to be worshipped in the way man tends to worship their earthly kings. He didn't come seeking accolades and blind worship, worship without knowing who exactly you were worshipping. Earthly kings tended to glory in others worshipping them, showing them obeisance, they took accolade after accolade as something worthy of them, something due to them. Jesus gave all the glory to God, all of it.
Not unsurprising, Jesus was put to death, condemned by important religious and secular leaders of the day, allowed to die even though He boasted nothing of Himself, nothing. He was a quiet threat to them because while He didn't seek the worship, others wanted to give it to Him, others were building Him up because of their witness of Him, because of their belief in Him and their belief in His amazing claim to be the Son of God. If He weren't crazy and ready to be locked up in a room with padded walls (uhm did they even have those sorts of rooms? Probably not.) If He weren't ostracized as a lunatic claiming sonship with God, if He weren't accused of being totally mad and deserving more of the care they gave to lunatic, then they had to believe in His claim enough to be scared of its validity. They had to believe just enough that what Jesus claimed might be true and therefore they had to get rid of Him to prove Him a liar. Crazy people can't admit to their craziness, delusional people under the control of the delusions cannot admit to their craziness, how can they? The very face they believe their delusions makes them crazy. So the only way this crazy man thinking He's God's Son could be a threat is if people BELIEVED Him to be what He said He was. Enough people believed that His followers grew in numbers. As He rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey he was herald befitting a king! If he quieted the crowd honoring Him even the rocks would have cried out. It was time for the revelations to be made fully and while a lot of people believed, a lot in the high places didn't. The realization to those skeptics wasn't that God's Son was truly among them, but that a MAN claiming to be God's Son and FOOLING many people had gained too large a following, so large it was threatening their authority. Oh yes, the authority God placed on them as priests and such. If a Messiah was going to come, if the Son of God really were going to grace earth with His presence He come from the priests themselves, the priests would have a hand in His arrival and in His upbringing, in His existence. They surely wouldn't be left in the dark about a Son of God, what a claim to glory-- for THEM.
Jesus, Son of God, took no glory to Himself but gave it all to God, the Father.
Listen to this...
1 Thess.
{2:13} For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
*
Beautiful isn't it? Read it again.
1 Thess.
{2:13} For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
*
Thanking God without ceasing...why?
Because when the word of God was spoken by them, people heard it and didn't believe it came from man, but of God.
What was that we said earlier-- many people in the world believe Jesus was a good man, a good prophet, but not God's Son, it's true, that's what they believe, really, really believe.
They believed what He said and did was good, but NOT the word of God. They liked what they heard, but gave no power to the words spoken. Powerless words, nice to hear but beyond that they mean little. Good ideas perhaps, a good philosophy but man's philosophy not God's.
Is it any wonder that thanks without ceasing is made when people truly believe? When people believe with their hearts and their minds, truly believe the word they receive is of God how could they not be affected? How could it not be counted towards them as something wonderful. Believing and claiming all the power that God has in the words He's spoken, means claiming the Truth, validating the truth.
In truth the word of God.
Not the word of mere man. Not the word of a very good man. Not the word of the greatest orator, the greatest humanitarian solely a man.
In truth the word of God.
We can take what men say with a grain of salt, but the word of God is something we need to holdfast to, something we need to believe in wholeheartedly.
1 Thess.
{2:13} For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
There is power in the word of God, great power to save, but the power isn't forced on anyone, it must be believed.
Glory be to God! Glory be to the Father and to the Son!
All glory to God and God alone, now and forever. May the power of God in each word of His continue to forever be effective towards those that would believe.
Amen.
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”- Psalm 1:1-2
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages...
Colossians
{1:18} And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
**
Christ, our Lord and Savior, the head of the body. We all know that without a head a person dies. You can lose so much but there are a few vital things you can't lose and still live. You can lose a finger, a hand, an arm, a toe, a foot, a leg, and you can lose a few internal organs as well and still live. Without the head the body is dead, and vice versa, without a body the head is dead.
Christ is the head of the body which is His Church, His people. Christ had no reason to take on the flesh of man, to consign himself to being crucified, he had no reason to die for save He did so for us. Without having a people on earth, without having those who would truly believe and have faith in Him, there was no reason for him to exist in human form. He did what he did for us, out of love.
We as children of God need Christ first and foremost as the head of the body if we're to live.
{1:18} And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
The beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence.
The firstborn from the dead.
People who believe you did and go straight to heaven or to hell as it were, how do they reconcile this statement truly? Christ is the firstborn from the dead. Christ alone lived after the weight of all the sin in existence was placed upon him and he prevailed by faith in His Father to save Him, even when He was totally shut off from the contact He had with His Father. Sin separates us from God and dying not only physically, but dying from taking on sin and separating Himself from God made Christ Jesus the firstborn from the dead. He died sinless for us, willing to take on our sins and die for us. He overcame sin and yet allowed our sins to be placed upon Him. He lost all life and was cut off in death, for three days he lay in the grave, for three days He didn't live again. There was no instantaneous separation that sent Him flying off to heaven. Death isn't like that, not for Jesus the firstborn from the dead, nor for any of us.
{1:19} For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell
**
It pleased God, Jesus' Father that Christ should have all the fulness of humanity, that He should take on human form, that He should live by faith in Him and that He should die sinless to save the sinners. This was God's will.
{1:20} And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
**
All things in heaven and on earth, all things the human, the angelic, all things would be reconciled to Christ. When sin began it was with an angel, one-third of the angels rebelled and followed Lucifer united against God. It seems only right that Christ would be able to reconcile even angels. Doesn't the Bible say we shall judge angels?
1 Corinthians {6:3} Know ye not that we shall judge angels?
Yes, Christ died for us, Christ died and paved the way for true, everlasting peace to exist. Christ reconciled ALL things to Himself.
{1:21} And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
**
Wicked works separate us from God. People don't seem to understand that fully. Sin separates us from God and a way to be reconciled with God had to be made and that way was and is Christ.
{1:22} In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight
{1:23} If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister
**
Through Christ's sacrifice we alone can be presented blameless and unreprovable- it's something we need to live daily! Live daily renewing the precious promises we have been given by Jesus for salvation.
What is said here? If ye continue... IF ye continue... IF, meaning we have a choice to make and the choice has to be made constantly as we continue in the faith.
If ye continue in the faith.
Grounded and settled.
Be not moved away from the hope of the gospel.
Faith, hope, truth, gospel.
We cannot be moved from this hope of Christ crucified and risen.
It's when the hope is taken from us that we are left in darkness, hopeless.
Everyone has access to the hope found in Christ, everyone.
{1:24} Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
{1:25} Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
{1:26} Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints
{1:27} To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
{1:28} Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus
{1:29} Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
**
Amazing isn't it? The dedication, the importance placed up all things Christ.
The mystery that was hidden now revealed.
The promise for thousands of years hoped for, finally obtained. The wonder that is salvation through Jesus Christ, son of God. Christ in us is our hope of glory.
Preach to others, warn others, teach others these things are so necessary because the mystery is uncovered and a secret no longer. Redemption is through the blood of the Lamb, our Savior Jesus Christ died for us to obtain salvation in Him, through Him we are to be reconciled with God our Heavenly Father.
We seek the truth of life, we seek hope, we strive to find something to make life all meaningful and not a pointless existence. We realize that no matter what achievements we make that they mean nothing without Christ, without being reconciled any victory we claim is hollow, empty, and meaningless. Christ is our hope, our everlasting hope! May we all cling to the hope found only in Jesus.
Amen.
{1:18} And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
**
Christ, our Lord and Savior, the head of the body. We all know that without a head a person dies. You can lose so much but there are a few vital things you can't lose and still live. You can lose a finger, a hand, an arm, a toe, a foot, a leg, and you can lose a few internal organs as well and still live. Without the head the body is dead, and vice versa, without a body the head is dead.
Christ is the head of the body which is His Church, His people. Christ had no reason to take on the flesh of man, to consign himself to being crucified, he had no reason to die for save He did so for us. Without having a people on earth, without having those who would truly believe and have faith in Him, there was no reason for him to exist in human form. He did what he did for us, out of love.
We as children of God need Christ first and foremost as the head of the body if we're to live.
{1:18} And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
The beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence.
The firstborn from the dead.
People who believe you did and go straight to heaven or to hell as it were, how do they reconcile this statement truly? Christ is the firstborn from the dead. Christ alone lived after the weight of all the sin in existence was placed upon him and he prevailed by faith in His Father to save Him, even when He was totally shut off from the contact He had with His Father. Sin separates us from God and dying not only physically, but dying from taking on sin and separating Himself from God made Christ Jesus the firstborn from the dead. He died sinless for us, willing to take on our sins and die for us. He overcame sin and yet allowed our sins to be placed upon Him. He lost all life and was cut off in death, for three days he lay in the grave, for three days He didn't live again. There was no instantaneous separation that sent Him flying off to heaven. Death isn't like that, not for Jesus the firstborn from the dead, nor for any of us.
{1:19} For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell
**
It pleased God, Jesus' Father that Christ should have all the fulness of humanity, that He should take on human form, that He should live by faith in Him and that He should die sinless to save the sinners. This was God's will.
{1:20} And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
**
All things in heaven and on earth, all things the human, the angelic, all things would be reconciled to Christ. When sin began it was with an angel, one-third of the angels rebelled and followed Lucifer united against God. It seems only right that Christ would be able to reconcile even angels. Doesn't the Bible say we shall judge angels?
1 Corinthians {6:3} Know ye not that we shall judge angels?
Yes, Christ died for us, Christ died and paved the way for true, everlasting peace to exist. Christ reconciled ALL things to Himself.
{1:21} And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
**
Wicked works separate us from God. People don't seem to understand that fully. Sin separates us from God and a way to be reconciled with God had to be made and that way was and is Christ.
{1:22} In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight
{1:23} If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister
**
Through Christ's sacrifice we alone can be presented blameless and unreprovable- it's something we need to live daily! Live daily renewing the precious promises we have been given by Jesus for salvation.
What is said here? If ye continue... IF ye continue... IF, meaning we have a choice to make and the choice has to be made constantly as we continue in the faith.
If ye continue in the faith.
Grounded and settled.
Be not moved away from the hope of the gospel.
Faith, hope, truth, gospel.
We cannot be moved from this hope of Christ crucified and risen.
It's when the hope is taken from us that we are left in darkness, hopeless.
Everyone has access to the hope found in Christ, everyone.
{1:24} Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
{1:25} Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
{1:26} Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints
{1:27} To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
{1:28} Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus
{1:29} Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
**
Amazing isn't it? The dedication, the importance placed up all things Christ.
The mystery that was hidden now revealed.
The promise for thousands of years hoped for, finally obtained. The wonder that is salvation through Jesus Christ, son of God. Christ in us is our hope of glory.
Preach to others, warn others, teach others these things are so necessary because the mystery is uncovered and a secret no longer. Redemption is through the blood of the Lamb, our Savior Jesus Christ died for us to obtain salvation in Him, through Him we are to be reconciled with God our Heavenly Father.
We seek the truth of life, we seek hope, we strive to find something to make life all meaningful and not a pointless existence. We realize that no matter what achievements we make that they mean nothing without Christ, without being reconciled any victory we claim is hollow, empty, and meaningless. Christ is our hope, our everlasting hope! May we all cling to the hope found only in Jesus.
Amen.
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