tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194426900803417202024-03-16T16:17:43.451-04:00COME LET US REASON TOGETHER.......................................................................... junesanity
sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-23410517636779213082015-07-05T11:39:00.001-04:002015-07-05T12:08:24.527-04:00DEAR HOMOSEXUAL AMERICA, I'M SORRY <div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://kaitlinebeling.wordpress.com/2015/06/27/dear-homosexual-america-im-sorry-an-open-letter-from-a-christian/" target="_blank">(AN OPEN LETTER FROM A CHRISTIAN)</a></span></div>
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<b>Words of apology and grace from a 20 year old woman. </b></div>
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<b>May they be read with a willingness to comprehend.</b></div>
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America, in light of the SCOTUS ruling yesterday legalizing gay marriage, I wrote you a letter.<br />
Before I begin, I want to share a little bit about myself so you know exactly who it is writing this letter. My name is Kaitlin. I am a 20 year old college grad with a degree in Business. I am a social entrepreneur. I am a fighter for ethical clothing. I am a braker for birds, thrift store aficionado, travel junkie, and outdoor enthusiast. I am a twin. I am a daughter. I am a friend. I am a people lover. But even that doesn’t tell you much about me.<br />
My core, my very identity is this: I am a sinner, saved by grace. I am the daughter of the King of kings, Lord of the nations, Creator of the earth and Lover of souls. I am fearfully and wonderfully made by God’s hands and I am precious in His eyes. In Him I’m made perfect and complete, and through Him I am a vessel of mercy and grace. In Him I find purpose, love, guidance and peace. I have laid down my life at the feet of Jesus and surrendered all I am for all of Him. I am His. His servant, His slave, His daughter, His beloved. Any good thing in me comes from Him.<br />
Lastly, before I get started I would like to clearly explain my view on homosexuality so there is no confusion and you aren’t left to wonder. But promise me this, if you have read this far, don’t stop now. Don’t stop if my view differs from yours. Just hear me out.<br />
I believe that homosexuality is a sin (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans+1%3A26-28&version=ESV" target="_blank">Romans 1:26-28</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+10%3A6-9&version=ESV" target="_blank">Mark 10:6-9</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+6%3A9-11&version=ESV" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 6:9-11</a>, <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+6%3A17-20&version=ESV" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 6:17-20</a>). As I already stated earlier, I believe in the Bible, and I believe it in it’s entirety. There are many things the Bible does not take a clear stance on, but homosexuality is not one of them. One cannot read the Bible and yet walk away thinking it supports gay marriage. I will not argue with or try to persuade you into believing the same thing. That is not the purpose of this post. (However, if you do have questions or would like to have a pleasant, civil conversation regarding this topic, feel free to get in touch — I’ll even buy the coffee!)<br />
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So now that you know exactly who is writing this letter and what I believe, let me get started…<br />
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Dear LGBT community,<br />
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I am so sorry. After scrolling through social media feeds and talking to different people, I am completely and totally heartbroken, I sit here having shed plenty of tears. But not for the reason you might think. I am heartbroken because I cannot get on Facebook or Twitter without reading posts by self-identifying Christians initiating gross arguments with your community or disgustingly apathetic posts regarding how “we win” in the end. I am so disappointed. These reactions are not Christ-like and they are a very, very poor representation of what it is we believe. I am begging God that you do not judge Christ and His church based on the way some “Christians” have so badly handled this situation.<br />
They have forgotten that they, we, are sinners too. Our nature is wicked disobedience. On our own we followed the ways of this world, worshipping the ruler of the kingdom of the air. We gratified the nature of our flesh, following its desires and thoughts, and were deserving of wrath. But God, being so rich in grace and mercy, when we were dead in our sins and could not help ourselves, made us alive in Christ Jesus. It is by grace we have been saved. (Ephesians 2). Clearly they have forgotten their own depravity, as one cannot understand Christ’s grace and mercy and still respond to sin with judgement and condemnation. I am sorry.<br />
So many of them are up in arms and even surprised because the Supreme Court’s decision does not align with the Bible. They argue that homosexual marriage should not have been legalized because it does not agree with God’s purpose for marriage. In doing so, they are arguing for a Christian state and a Christian country. Dare I suggest that that does not align with the Bible? Jesus did not come to establish a Christian state. As Jesus says in John 18:36, ““My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” Jesus never planned to establish an earthly, Christian Kingdom on this earth. He did not care for a christian state, but for the state of our souls. Yet they have become so wrapped up in having a Christian country that they have forsaken your souls in showing hate and condemnation to you. I am so sorry.<br />
They argue against homosexual marriage on the grounds that it does not honor God, but they completely ignore the fact that for years, many heterosexual marriages have not honored Him either. In the last 30 years, the divorce rate has been the highest ever, with the peak reaching half of all marriages ending in divorce. Heterosexual marriages are filled with adultery and pornography, with husband and wife cohabiting a space but rarely ever acknowledging each other’s presence. I am sorry that rather than addressing the issue as a whole, they address only homosexual marriages. I’m sorry that Christians as a whole have done a poor job of modeling godly marriages, or that if they have one, they do a poor job of inviting others to be a part of their lives, to witness their God-honoring marriage. We have become so complacent with living our christian lives, in christian communities, with christian friends and have completely shut out the outside world. Jesus came not for the healthy but the sick (Mark 2:17). He spent his time not with the religious but the sinners. I am sorry that we have become content with attending church or church related activities 4 and 5 times a week, and don’t even know the names of our neighbors. I am sorry we do not spend time with the sick.<br />
Lastly, I’m sorry for all the posts you read regarding how “we win in the end.” I am disgusted by the apathy. Yes, Jesus will return one day and sin will be defeated once and for all. Yes, there is a battle against Good and Evil, and yes, Jesus has already won that battle, but that should not be their response. I’ve read posts where people are begging Jesus to come quickly, so that once and for all, sin no longer reins and it is no longer celebrated. I am begging Jesus to wait. If He returns this afternoon I will fall on my face in adoration, and I don’t dare wish to tell Him the right and proper time that He should return. But I beg him to have mercy and compassion and to wait. There are millions of people that do not know the love of our Father, that have not surrendered their lives to Him, and if Jesus returned today all of those people would be separated from God for eternity. I want each and every one of you standing beside me in Heaven worshipping our Good Father. Therefore, I beg Jesus to wait. I am so sorry that their response is otherwise.<br />
Homosexual America, please forgive us. Forgive us for the bigotry and hatred we have shown, for the many instances that we have failed to display Christ. I love you. Oh how I love. I do not agree with your lifestyle, but I love you nonetheless. That’s the beauty of the gospel…even when Christ did not agree with my sinful lifestyle, He loved me anyway and died for me.<br />
I am praying that as Christians, we would allow Christ’s love, grace, mercy and compassion to flow through us and into your lives. That through our response to this issue, and every other issue out there, you would see Jesus. As you have already discovered, we will fail. When we do, I’m praying we have the humility to admit that we were wrong, to apologize and to seek reconciliation.<br />
I believe that love from your partner will never satisfy the love you are looking for, just like love from a man will never satisfy the love my heart craves. Only Jesus does that. But I pray that my life, more than my mouth, will gloriously display that beautiful truth to you and all I come into contact with. And if you don’t know me, I’m asking the Lord to put someone in your life to display that truth to you.<br />
I love you, regardless of whether or not I know you. And there is always room at my dinner table for you, regardless of who you’re married to (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+2%3A13-17&version=ESV" target="_blank">Mark 2:13-17</a>).<br />
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In Christ,<br />
Kaitlin<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=119442690080341720" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=119442690080341720" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-68576056227892880752015-07-05T11:25:00.005-04:002015-07-05T11:49:24.663-04:0040 QUESTIONS FOR CHRISTIANS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2015/07/01/40-questions-for-christians-now-waving-rainbow-flags/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">40 QUESTIONS FOR CHRISTIANS </span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2015/07/01/40-questions-for-christians-now-waving-rainbow-flags/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">NOW WAVING RAINBOW FLAGS</span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">The following series of questions by Kevin DeYoung</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"> are not meant to be mean-spirited or snarky, but are meant to provoke thought and introspection on the part of Bible-believing followers of Christ on all sides of the same-sex marriage issue.</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>For evangelicals who lament last Friday’s Supreme Court decision, it’s been a hard few days. We aren’t asking for emotional pity, nor do I suspect many people are eager to give us any. Our pain is not sacred. Making legal and theological decisions based on what makes people feel better is part of what got us into this mess in the first place. Nevertheless, it still hurts.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>There are many reasons for our lamentation, from fear that religious liberties will be taken away to worries about social ostracism and cultural marginalization. But of all the things that grieve us, perhaps what’s been most difficult is seeing some of our friends, some of our family members, and some of the folks we’ve sat next to in church giving their hearty “Amen” to a practice we still think is a sin and a decision we think is bad for our country. It’s one thing for the whole nation to throw a party we can’t in good conscience attend. It’s quite another to look around for friendly faces to remind us we’re not alone and then find that they are out there jamming on the dance floor. We thought the rainbow was God’s sign (<a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Gen. 9.8-17" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Gen.%209.8-17" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #78b147; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Gen. 9:8-17</a>).</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>If you consider yourself a Bible-believing Christian, a follower of Jesus whose chief aim is to glorify God and enjoy him forever, there are important questions I hope you will consider before picking up your flag and cheering on the sexual revolution. These questions aren’t meant to be snarky or merely rhetorical. They are sincere, if pointed, questions that I hope will cause my brothers and sisters with the new rainbow themed avatars to slow down and think about the flag you’re flying.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>1. How long have you believed that gay marriage is something to be celebrated?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>2. What Bible verses led you to change your mind?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>3. How would you make a positive case from Scripture that sexual activity between two persons of the same sex is a blessing to be celebrated?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>4. What verses would you use to show that a marriage between two persons of the same sex can adequately depict Christ and the church?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>5. Do you think Jesus would have been okay with homosexual behavior between consenting adults in a committed relationship?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>6. If so, why did he reassert the Genesis definition of marriage as being one man and one woman?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>7. When Jesus spoke against <span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">porneia</span> what sins do you think he was forbidding?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>8. If some homosexual behavior is acceptable, how do you understand the sinful “exchange” Paul highlights in Romans 1?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>9. Do you believe that passages like <a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="1 Cor 6.9" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Cor%206.9" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #78b147; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 6:9</a> and <a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Rev 21.8" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Rev%2021.8" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #78b147; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Revelation 21:8</a> teach that sexual immorality can keep you out of heaven?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>10. What sexual sins do you think they were referring to?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>11. As you think about the long history of the church and the near universal disapproval of same-sex sexual activity, what do you think you understand about the Bible that Augustine, Aquinas, Calvin, and Luther failed to grasp?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>12. What arguments would you use to explain to Christians in Africa, Asia, and South America that their understanding of homosexuality is biblically incorrect and your new understanding of homosexuality is not culturally conditioned?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>13. Do you think Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were motivated by personal animus and bigotry when they, for almost all of their lives, defined marriage as a covenant relationship between one man and one woman?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>14. Do you think children do best with a mother and a father?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>15. If not, what research would you point to in support of that conclusion?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>16. If yes, does the church or the state have any role to play in promoting or privileging the arrangement that puts children with a mom and a dad?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>17. Does the end and purpose of marriage point to something more than an adult’s emotional and sexual fulfillment?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>18. How would you define marriage?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>19. Do you think close family members should be allowed to get married?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>20. Should marriage be limited to only two people?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>21. On what basis, if any, would you prevent consenting adults of any relation and of any number from getting married?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>22. Should there be an age requirement in this country for obtaining a marriage license?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>23. Does equality entail that anyone wanting to be married should be able to have any meaningful relationship defined as marriage?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>24. If not, why not?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>25. Should your brothers and sisters in Christ who disagree with homosexual practice be allowed to exercise their religious beliefs without fear of punishment, retribution, or coercion?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>26. Will you speak up for your fellow Christians when their jobs, their accreditation, their reputation, and their freedoms are threatened because of this issue?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>27. Will you speak out against shaming and bullying of all kinds, whether against gays and lesbians or against Evangelicals and Catholics?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>28. Since the evangelical church has often failed to take unbiblical divorces and other sexual sins seriously, what steps will you take to ensure that gay marriages are healthy and accord with Scriptural principles?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>29. Should gay couples in open relationships be subject to church discipline?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>30. Is it a sin for LGBT persons to engage in sexual activity outside of marriage?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>31. What will open and affirming churches do to speak prophetically against divorce, fornication, pornography, and adultery wherever they are found?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>32. If “love wins,” how would you define love?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>33. What verses would you use to establish that definition?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>34. How should obedience to God’s commands shape our understanding of love?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>35. Do you believe it is possible to love someone and disagree with important decisions they make?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>36. If supporting gay marriage is a change for you, has anything else changed in your understanding of faith?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>37. As an evangelical, how has your support for gay marriage helped you become more passionate about traditional evangelical distinctives like a focus on being born again, the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ on the cross, the total trustworthiness of the Bible, and the urgent need to evangelize the lost?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>38. What open and affirming churches would you point to where people are being converted to orthodox Christianity, sinners are being warned of judgment and called to repentance, and missionaries are being sent out to plant churches among unreached peoples?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>39. Do you hope to be more committed to the church, more committed to Christ, and more committed to the Scriptures in the years ahead?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>40. When Paul at the end of Romans 1 rebukes “those who practice such things” and those who “give approval to those who practice them,” what sins do you think he has in mind?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Food for thought, I hope. At the very least, something to chew on before swallowing everything the world and Facebook put on our plate.</i></span></div>
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sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-20146364839529671002015-05-30T18:07:00.000-04:002015-05-30T18:09:29.493-04:00ARE YOU BLESSED OR CURSED?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqaNRUgg_pB7kab7RsWDuZcSMxgySp1k5_qVNmy8TDTaIzBLIlDD6E_tWfzbu9Wk1IebP35LMzzoZ4zi63CDa9WOLxmuH3jBapZmwhOfkUVYtnP8duo5vWHdbj5YWTmoWhD2BX36p_60/s1600/fork+in+the+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqaNRUgg_pB7kab7RsWDuZcSMxgySp1k5_qVNmy8TDTaIzBLIlDD6E_tWfzbu9Wk1IebP35LMzzoZ4zi63CDa9WOLxmuH3jBapZmwhOfkUVYtnP8duo5vWHdbj5YWTmoWhD2BX36p_60/s1600/fork+in+the+road.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD'S GRACE OVERCOMES THE CURSE</b></h2>
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<b>Galatians 3:11-14</b></h2>
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I am convinced, along with a growing number of Christian theologians and pastors that the most unhelpful thing you can say to the average person living in the U.S. is “God loves you.” D.A. Carson, in his little book, “The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God” says this, “…the love of God in our culture has been purged of anything the culture finds uncomfortable. The love of God has been sanitized, democratized and above all sentimentalized… In (past) generations when everyone believed in the justice of God, people sometimes found it difficult to believe in the love of God. The preaching of the love of God came as wonderful good news. Nowadays if you tell people that God loves them, they are unlikely to be surprised. Of course God loves me; he’s like that, isn’t he? Besides why shouldn’t he love me? I’m kind of cute, or at least as nice as the next person. I’m okay, you’re okay, and God loves you and me.”</div>
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John Stott says in his book, “The Cross of Christ,” “The kind of God who appeals to most people today would be easygoing in his tolerance of our offences. He would be gentle, kind, accommodating, and would have no violent reactions. Unhappily, even in the church we seem to have lost the vision of the majesty of God. There is much shallowness and levity among us. Prophets and psalmists would probably say of us that ‘there is no fear of God before their eyes.’ In public worship our habit is to slouch or squat; we do not kneel nowadays, let alone prostrate ourselves in humility before God. It is more characteristic of us to clap our hands with joy than to blush with shame or tears. We saunter up to God to claim his patronage and friendship; it does not occur to us that he might send us away… It must even be said that our evangelical emphasis on the atonement is dangerous if we come to it too quickly. We learn to appreciate the access to God, which Christ has won for us only after we have first seen God’s inaccessibility to sinners. We can cry ‘Hallelujah’ with authenticity only after we have first cried ‘Woe is me, for I am lost.’ In Dale’s words, ‘it is partly because sin does not provoke our own wrath, that we do not believe that sin provokes the wrath of God.’… (And as Emil Brunner says,) ‘only he who knows the greatness of wrath will be mastered by the greatness of mercy.’”</div>
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In our passage today the apostle Paul is dealing with this difficulty: humans cannot fathom the mercy of God because they do not and cannot comprehend how offensive they are to God. There is probably not a clearer or more powerful statement of the love of God shown in Christ than in v. 13, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” However, the power of that assertion is completely lost upon those who do not view themselves as being under God’s curse. If you believe that God loves you just as you are or that you have the ability to make yourself lovable, then the news that Christ became a curse for you is not good news. It is incomprehensible news. It is offensive news. It is irrelevant news. The presupposition of this passage is that every human being in their natural state is not loved by God but cursed by God. It is only those who know they are cursed who will trust in Christ. Paul’s point is that everyone outside of Christ is under God’s curse while all those who are in Christ are under his blessing.</div>
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Only by faith in Christ can God’s curse be turned into God’s blessing because…</h2>
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<strong>I. The law condemns everyone who does not obey it perfectly (v. 10) </strong></div>
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Verse 10 begins with a “for” which the NIV does not include, unfortunately. Thus v. 10 is a reason for why v. 9 is true. Verse 9 says that all those who have faith in Christ are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. Why is it that the blessing is given to those who trust Christ? Paul answers here because everyone who is seeking to be made right with God by obeying the law is under God’s curse. Here again he sets in contrast faith in Christ with obeying the law. The reason that the blessing is given to those who have faith and not to those who obey the law is because all who obey the law are under God’s curse. In the second half of the verse he gives the reason that is true but first we need to consider what it means to be under God’s curse. To be under God’s curse is the exact opposite of being under his blessing. Everyone is either the object of God’s blessing or of his cursing. You cannot be both cursed by God and blessed by God. So, what does it mean that God curses a person?</div>
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We can begin by thinking about when we place others under our curse. When do we curse others? We declare others to be cursed or invoke a curse against someone when they have offended us, when they have in some way unjustly, in our view, disrespected us or harmed us. We have many different kinds of expletives to pronounce our curses upon others. In addition, some people resort to occult practices like voodoo or magical incantations to invoke curses upon others. Whatever words we may use the intent is always the same. We are declaring that another person deserves to suffer, to be punished for the injustice they have brought to us or those we love. If you will listen to our curses we usually declare that those who offend us deserve to experience eternal suffering for what they have done. I’m not saying it is right for us to curse others. In fact, the Bible is quite clear that it is a sin to curse others (Job 31:29-30, James 3:7-12). Only God has the right to pronounce a curse upon humans because only God is perfectly just and never curses anyone out of petty peevishness. God’s curse is the just condemnation that lawbreakers deserve for their unjust behaviors. He alone is the righteous judge and knows both the motives and the acts of every human being.</div>
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“Cursed” is the OT word that summarizes God’s settled anger against the wicked, those who disobey his laws. In Genesis 2 Adam is told that if he eats from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that he would surely die. Then in Genesis 3, after Adam and Eve disobey by eating the fruit, God pronounces his curse, his judicial sentence, upon the serpent, the woman and the man as the just retribution towards them for their sin, their despising him and his word. The curse of God is ultimately expressed in their being shut out of the Garden of Eden. They are shut out of the blessing of God and thus become subject to death. The curse of God is his justice against the disobedient that ultimately is expressed in that eternal punishment in hell, in the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, where the wicked will be shut out from his presence forever.</div>
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Paul says that everyone who is obeying the law in order to gain God’s favor is subject to God’s eternal curse. The reason he says this is true is because of what Moses says in Deut. 27:26. “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything that is written in the book of the law.” Why is it that obeying the law automatically puts you under God’s curse? It is because the law requires not partial obedience but complete and continuous obedience. Any failure to obey the law immediately subjects you to God’s curse. Every act of disobedience calls forth God’s just fury against you. Therefore everyone who is seeking to be made right before God by obeying the law is under God’s curse because no one is perfectly keeping God’s law.</div>
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Paul emphasizes the universality of God’s curse because there is no one who is perfectly keeping God’s law. All men, both Jew and Gentile are obligated to keep God’s law because there is one God and one law to which all humans must render obedience. If those who are trying to keep the law, the Jews, are under God’s curse because of their failure to keep all of it all the time, then how much more are the Gentiles, who make no attempt to keep God’s law under God’s curse? All human beings are under God’s curse due to our failure to obey God and so those who are seeking to gain God’s blessing by keeping the law merely expose themselves to God’s curse because they do not keep all the law all the time. God doesn’t grade on a curve. He isn’t going to bless those who obeyed 75% of his law. He is like the police officer who gives a ticket for speeding in spite of the fact that you inform him that you obey the speed limit most of the time or because you meant to obey it but accidentally went too fast because you were talking on the cell phone. Neither the police nor God is impressed with good intentions. He does not respond to people who admire his law but who do not keep it. He is determined to punish forever everyone who does not do everything that is written in the book of the law all the time.</div>
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How I want you and I to be terrified by that prospect. How I want us to feel our hopeless and helpless condition, in ourselves. There is no action we can take, no decision we can make, no prayer that we can pray, no act of courage or love that we can perform that can get us out from under God’s curse. Over the years I have had opportunity to know young men who have committed criminal acts and been caught, tried, found guilty and sentenced. Many of them, even though they are out of prison and have not committed additional crimes yet cannot escape the curse of their previous crimes. They are on probation or have fines to pay associated with their previous criminal acts. Their present law keeping does not get them out of the curse of their previous law breaking. Our condition as humans is even worse than these young men because we are not under God’s curse for only a few crimes we have committed in the past but we are daily breaking additional laws and thereby incurring more of God’s just condemnation against us. If you are going to seek to escape God’s curse by keeping the law you will only place yourself more under his curse because every claim you make to have obeyed the law is contradicted by innumerable infractions against the law.</div>
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Proverbs 3:33 says, “The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked...” Psalm 5:5 says, “The Lord hates all who do wrong.” In Ephesians 2:3 Paul says that everyone who is outside of Christ is an object of God’s wrath, not of his love. Listen, if you think that God loves you because of who you are or what you have done, you are completely mistaken and deceived. If you are approaching God apart from Christ or on the basis of your own goodness, he hates you. For all humans in their natural state God is as angry with you as you are with the driver that cut you off in traffic and whom you cursed. You are under his curse and you will remain cursed forever, suffering the just condemnation of an eternal hell. However, there is a way out, but it is not based upon you and your work as Paul continues to make plain.</div>
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<em>Only by faith in Christ can God’s curse be turned into God’s blessing because… </em></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><em>The law condemns everyone who does not do it perfectly </em></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><em>And because… </em></li>
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<strong>II. Either you are working for God or he is working for you (vv. 11-12) </strong></div>
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In vv. 11-12 Paul sets two OT verses in contrast to one another. He is seeking to show with these two verses why what he has said in vv. 9 & 10 is true. God’s blessing rests on those who like Abraham trust him and his promises but his curse rests upon those who are seeking to obey the law. In v. 11 he says it is absolutely as clear as day that no one is being justified before God by means of the law because in Habakkuk 2:4 God says, “The righteous will live by faith.” How does that statement in Habakkuk prove that no one is being declared not guilty but perfectly righteous by means of obeying the law?</div>
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First, let me help you to see the logic of the statement by giving you an expanded translation of the quote from the prophet Habakkuk. “The man who is declared righteous in God’s sight by his faith in God’s promise, he is the one who will live forever.” In this verse the blessing of God is described as having life. Only the righteous will inherit God’s blessing. Only the righteous will be given life. So this verse from Habakkuk says the same thing that Genesis 15:6 says, the only righteous people are those who are declared righteous by their faith in God’s promise. You are not made righteous by keeping the law but by trusting in God’s promise, just as the prophet Habakkuk says. What is very interesting is the context of this verse in Habakkuk. At the beginning of this short book the prophet complains to God that Israel is full of wickedness and injustice and God is doing nothing about it. God is permitting injustice to flourish and wicked people to get away with their wickedness. God answers his prophet and tells him that he is doing something about it. He tells him that he is sending the Babylonians to come to Jerusalem to wipe it out because of all the evil the people of Israel have done. When Habakkuk hears God’s answer he protests. He informs God that the Babylonians are idol-worshipping pagans who are worse than the Israelites. How in the world can he use such evil people to punish Israel? Literally he says, “Why are you silent while the wicked (the Babylonians) swallow up those more righteous than themselves (the Israelites)?”</div>
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God’s answer to his question is simply this. God is not going to let anyone get away with anything. Wicked people, whether Jew or Gentile will be punished for their wickedness. In short, he says that everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is under his curse. He is judging all the nations and every human who does wrong. It is in the midst of his declaring his universal judgment on universal human sin that he says, “the righteous will live by faith.” Do you see what he is saying? “The only people who will escape this universal destruction, the only ones who will live through this judgment are those who are declared righteous through their faith in my promise.” Those who depend upon God to make them righteous will live, will not be destroyed in the universal cataclysm that is coming on all sinners, Jew and Gentile alike.</div>
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Next, in v. 12, Paul says that the law is not of faith. If people are made righteous by faith in his promise and thus they live and the law is not of faith, then the law cannot make you righteous. He then quotes a verse from Leviticus 19 to show how the law is not of faith. “The one who does these things will live by them.” The law promises life to the one who obeys the law. Therefore, the law is all about human effort. It is about humans doing something for God, not humans receiving something from God. The law promises life to those who do what the law says, not to those who trust the promise of God. The reason that law keeping is offensive to God is because when you keep the law as the ground of acceptance with God you are treating God as if he needs something from you. You are the strong one, not God. It is your strength that saves you, not God’s strength. Law-keeping places you in a relationship of superiority to God. There is something that God wants and I have the ability to give him what he wants. Therefore, law-keeping exalts human beings, not God.</div>
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God makes this explicit in a very famous verse, Ephesians 2:8-9. Paul says, “It is by grace that you have been saved through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works so that no one can boast.” The reason that God saves us by faith in his gracious promise and not by our keeping his law is so that he gets the credit for our salvation, not us. God doesn’t need us. We need him. God is out to show off his strength, not our strength. Therefore, he rejects law keeping as the means of salvation because it is all about human effort whereas those who are made righteous by faith in his promise do nothing but receive what God promises to give. There is a sense in which the law is based on faith. However, it is based upon faith in yourself, not faith in God and his promises. Those who rely on law keeping to be made right with God are relying upon, trusting in themselves. If you are made righteous by your obedience then you get the glory, not God. And, as God says in Isaiah 43, he will not give his glory to another. Thus justification, being declared not guilty but perfectly righteous, does not come by doing the law but by trusting the promise.</div>
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<em>Only by faith in Christ can God’s curse be turned into God’s blessing because… </em></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><em>The law condemns everyone who does not do it perfectly </em></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><em>Either you are working for God or he is working for you </em></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><em>And because… </em></li>
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<strong>III. Christ became a curse to gain the blessing for all who believe (vv. 13-14) </strong></div>
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What Paul is doing in v. 13 is describing for us the object of our faith, Christ. He is answering the question, why is faith in Christ the grounds for our being made righteous and thus given life? There is, especially in our culture and within the broader evangelical church an effort to make our faith the cause of our being made righteous. In the broader culture you hear it all the time when people make comments like, “She has such great faith. She certainly is going to heaven. God must really like her because she has such great faith.” In the broader culture, faith is treated as if it is a human accomplishment, a work that we do that God then rewards. Every time the angel on “Touched by an Angel” or “god,” on “Joan of Arcadia” tells someone they must “have faith,” they are treating faith as a work, as a meritorious act. Faith is powerful because of what it is, not because of what it receives. Most of you are not aware of this but there is a growing group of evangelical scholars who are doing something very similar to this. They are trying to say that when Paul quotes Genesis 15:6, “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness,” that he doesn’t mean that God declared Abraham righteous because of what Christ did but he declared Abraham righteous because of what Abraham did, he believed. Abraham’s faithfulness is the grounds for his being counted righteous. It is his faith that has merit, not the object of his faith, Christ.</div>
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The error here can be easily seen in a simple illustration. This summer a group of us are going to get on an airplane and fly around the world to Mongolia. Our getting on the plane is evidence that we believe the promise the airline makes to us that if we will sit on this airplane we will end up in Mongolia. We are trusting the plane, the pilots, the mechanics and the airline that runs the plane to do what they have promised us, take us to Mongolia. Does my faith take me to Mongolia? No, the pilot, the plane, the mechanics, etc. all these are taking me there. My faith merely receives what they provide. The airline does what it promises and thus by faith in the airline I arrive in Mongolia. Let’s say I tell you that in order to save money I’ve asked Warren Sveum to build an airplane from scratch in the next three months and then fly me to Mongolia. I know that Warren is very good at building wagon wheels and he knows a lot about computers. I know that he can drive a car and is a responsible person. Therefore, I am absolutely confident that he will be able to fly me to Mongolia on his homemade aircraft. If I go through with this plan and trust Warren’s airplane and his flying ability, will I arrive safely in Mongolia? No I will not. I have the same faith in Warren and his plane that I have in United Airlines, why will my faith not get me to Mongolia? The reason is that my faith is not in a trustworthy object. Faith does not do anything; it merely receives what another has promised to do. Warren cannot perform what he promises. Faith in Warren Sveum is a vain faith, just like faith in my ability to keep the law or trusting that I am valuable and worth saving or trusting that my prayers to dead saints or ancestors is a vain faith. Your faith is only as good as the object in which you place it.</div>
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In v. 13 Paul shows us why Christ is the only one who will not disappointment our faith. He shows us why, when you trust in Christ you receive the blessing promised to Abraham, the Holy Spirit, as v. 14 says. When your faith is in Christ you will live, you will be justified, you will be blessed with Abraham, you will receive the promise of the Spirit because “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’” The reason we know that Paul is showing us that Christ is the object of our faith is because of the two “us’s” in v. 13 and the “Gentiles” and the “we” in v. 14. This goes all the way back to 2:16 where the “us” is identified as all those who have faith in Christ, both Jew and Gentile. So now Paul, for the first time spells out what it is that Christ has done that makes him the only fit object of our faith. Christ became a curse for everyone who believes in him.</div>
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All of us are by nature under the curse of the law because none of us has obeyed all the law all the time. Christ takes us out from under God’s curse by his becoming a curse on our behalf. What does that mean? Paul tells us that we can be absolutely sure that Christ was under God’s curse because God says in Deut. 21 that everyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse. He tells us this because we know that Jesus never sinned. Jesus is the perfect Son of Man and the Son of God. He is the only person in the universe who does not deserve to be cursed by God because he always did what pleased his Father. He was tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. However, God says that everyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s just condemnation. Christ was hung on the tree, the cross and thus in this historical event we know that he is under God’s curse. How can the perfect Son of Man be under God’s curse when it is only those who do not do all the law all the time who are under God’s curse? Christ did all the law, all the time and so he should not be under God’s curse, so how was it he was hung on the cross? The obvious answer and I believe this is the light bulb that went on for Paul at his conversion on the Damascus road, is that Christ is being cursed not because of his own sins but because of the sins of all who trust in him. I think that the main reason Saul the Pharisee was so angry with Christians and so opposed to Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah is because he died on a cross and Paul knew that “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.” Saul the Pharisee thought this way, “The Messiah, God’s anointed one, cannot be cursed by God and therefore, Jesus, who was hung on a tree, cannot be the Messiah.” However, when Christ was revealed to him as the Messiah he could not deny that God cursed the Messiah because Jesus hung on a tree. Therefore, the curse of God upon him must be due to his taking to himself our sins, not because of his sins. He became a curse on our behalf. He took our sins to himself in such a way that God had to curse him with the curse we deserve. </div>
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Christ was wrapped up in our sins and thus became the object of God’s curse. Therefore, we are no longer under God’s curse because Christ has our sins and has experienced the curse that was due to us for our sins. When we believe the promise that Christ became sin for us then we receive the blessing of Abraham, the promise of the Holy Spirit. We depend upon what Christ has done, not upon what we have done. It is the only way to be free from the curse because Christ is the only perfect man who had no curse upon him and was thus able to take to himself our sins and thus become subject to the curse due us for our sins. God cannot say to the one who trusts in Christ, “damn you to hell,” because he placed your sins on Christ and damned him to hell for your sins. This is why Christ is everything to us because he became a curse for us. He bore God’s infinite displeasure with us by taking our sins to himself. Therefore, Christ is the only trustworthy object for your faith. If you trust in anyone or anything other than Christ to make you right with God, you remain under God’s curse. Only Christ has taken your sins to himself and thus become cursed by God by hanging on the cross. Therefore, only Christ can actually deliver you from God’s curse. He is able to do what he promises because he became a curse for everyone who trusts in him.</div>
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Just as much as I long for us to feel the horror of being under God’s curse, I long for us to feel the wonder of Christ becoming a curse for us. Every sin that you have ever committed or will ever commit deserves God’s curse. However, if you are trusting in Christ as the one who became a curse for you, then every sin you have committed or ever will commit has been placed upon Christ and he has born the curse you deserve for each one. When you sin as a Christian those sins are not counted to your shame but to Christ’s. He became a curse for you, if you are trusting in him, so that you can be blessed along with Abraham, so that you can receive the promise of the Holy Spirit.</div>
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<em>Only by faith in Christ can God’s curse be turned into God’s blessing because… </em></div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><em>The law condemns everyone who does not do it perfectly </em></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><em>Either you are working for God or he is working for you </em></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><em>Christ became a curse to gain the blessing for all who believe </em></li>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: x-small;">© Copyright 2005 John Swanson.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-25791427901387224852015-05-23T09:32:00.001-04:002015-05-25T09:28:03.869-04:00HOW TO BE A CHRISTIAN<h4 align="center" style="color: #12471d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<strong>HOW TO BE A CHRISTIAN</strong></h4>
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<u><a href="http://ministerioreforma.com/" style="color: #12471d; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">La salvación es solo por la fe en Jesucristo</a></u></h4>
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<u><a href="http://perspectivesreformees.org/" style="color: #12471d; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Le salut est seulement par la foi en Jésus Christ</a></u></h4>
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<u><a href="http://www.dardasha7.com/" style="color: #12471d; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">الخلاص فقط من خلال الإيمان بيسوع المسيح</a></u></h4>
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<span style="color: #473f35; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be a Christian means to live in fellowship with God. God is a personal being and has made it possible for us to relate to him through Jesus Christ. This short message describes how to begin.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="line-height: 20px;">Discovering how to live in a personal relationship with God is the most important and most exciting joy in life. If you have not made this discovery, let me share with you now how you can become a friend of God through Jesus Christ.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="line-height: 20px;">There are four things you need to know and believe.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">1. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">You were created to live in fellowship with God and to have a meaningful life.</span></h5>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">At the beginning of time people lived in harmony with God. But when Adam and Eve sinned, humanity was separated from God. See <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%203" target="_blank">Genesis 3</a>.</span></h5>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">2. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">You do not have a natural fellowship with God or a naturally meaningful life because of sin.</span></h5>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">The Bible teaches that "everyone has sinned and is far away from God's saving presence" See <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans+3%3A23&version=ESV" target="_blank">Romans 3:23</a>. Sin has broken the relationship between God and people.</span></h5>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">3. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">You can be restored to fellowship with God and have a meaningful life through Jesus Christ.</span></h5>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Jesus Christ is God's eternal Son. He came to earth and became a man because the Father sent him to reconcile people to Himself. Christ restores us to friendship with God by removing the sin which separates us from God and taking the punishment for our sins on Himself. Then Jesus gives us His perfect righteousness that we need to stand before God. The Bible teaches, "Christ died for sins once and for all.. .in order to lead you to God" (1 Peter 3:18). To be restored, you first need to repent of your sins. This means to agree that what God calls sin is wrong and turn away from these things and turn to God (This process will occur again and again in your walk with God). Then you need to trust and receive Christ as Savior and Lord. Receiving him as Savior means believing that he died to remove your sins. Receiving Him as Lord means acknowledging Him as the rightful director of your life. With your sins removed and your life under Christ's direction, you will be back in favor with God and you will begin to live a full and meaningful life. Jesus said, "I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness" (John 10:10).</span></h5>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">4. </span><span style="color: #444444; line-height: 20px;">You must continue to live in fellowship with God, in order to continue to live meaningfully. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;">God wants us to live in a person-to-person relationship with Him. Jesus said "Remain united to Me, and I will remain united to you" (John 15:4). Fruitful Christian living depends on closeness to Christ. Jesus said, "Whoever remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without Me" (John 15:5). God promises the Holy Spirit will lead you and guide you, giving you strength to walk with Him daily.</span></span></h5>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">DO YOU WANT FULLNESS OF JOY AND A MEANINGFUL LIFE?</span></h5>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">You can have it by living in fellowship with God. God has told us these things so that we will experience true joy and happiness in our lives here on earth. If you understand these things and want to have this closeness with God, the first thing to do is to ask God for this.</span></h5>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">There are no magic words in Christianity. You can't just say a few words and think that's all you have to do. This is about a heart change and your life will show your new heart's condition. But to voice your desire to God, the following is a suggested prayer:</span></h5>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">"Dear God, You intended that I live in harmony with You but I am now separated from You because of my sin. I repent and confess my sin to You and ask that You take it away. I want to live in fellowship with You and to have fullness of joy. I believe that Jesus Christ died to remove my sins and to restore me to You. I accept the living Christ as the Lord and Director of my life. Thank You for hearing my prayer and giving me the gift of a joyful, eternal life. Help me now to live my life in a way that pleases You. In Jesus' name. Amen."</span></h5>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">According to scripture, if you repent and believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are a born-again child of God!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What to do as a Christian:</span></h5>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">1. Talk to God daily in prayer.</span></h5>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">2. Read the Bible regularly. The Gospel of Mark is a good place to begin.</span></h5>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">3. Seek the friendship of other Christians in a church which teaches the Bible.</span></h5>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">4. Share what it means to be a Christian with non-Christian friends</span></h5>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please contact me if you need guidance or have questions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h5>
sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-35250335013005187502015-05-23T09:04:00.002-04:002015-05-23T09:04:26.101-04:00ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This scene in the New Testament has aroused a great debate: were Ananias and Sapphira actually born-again, saved believers in Jesus Christ? The bottom-line is that scripture does not tell us. It does not refer to them as "disciples" or "beloved" or any other description that it does for so many others indicating their spiritual status. And we need to remember that God's correction upon believers over their sin is corrective, not punitive. All His wrath was poured out upon Jesus Christ on the cross for a believer's sin. But that stated, here are five things that this scene can teach us:</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"The story of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts%204:34-5:14&version=ESV" target="_blank">Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5</a> lets us know that despite the explosion of growth in the early church, they had moments of weakness, even gross sin. I believe that their deaths serve as a warning to the Church today, and that God has a lot to teach us—if we are willing to hear:</span></div>
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<b style="word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1. In the church, there are two kinds of people, and it’s nearly impossible to distinguish them from the outside.<span id="more-9009" style="word-wrap: break-word;"></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">On the outside, Ananias and Sapphira look just like another church member named Barnabas (introduced in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts%204:32-37&version=ESV" target="_blank">Acts 4</a>). Barnabas had just sold his property and brought the money to the apostles, and to the casual observer, Ananias and Sapphira were doing the same thing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But deep in their heart lingered a love of money and a desire for people’s praise. So they conspired together to present a <i style="word-wrap: break-word;">portion </i>of their money while passing it off as the <i style="word-wrap: break-word;">entire</i> amount. This is worlds apart from the attitude of Barnabas, but <b style="word-wrap: break-word;">looks </b>very similar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We may be able to get away with this sort of duplicity for a while, but if someone looks closely, the lies are there, threatening to undo everything. And even if they don’t . . .</span></div>
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<b style="word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">2. We cannot hide from God.</span></b></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 28.799999237060547px; margin-bottom: 20px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It may be difficult <i style="word-wrap: break-word;">for us </i>to distinguish between a truly repentant heart and a seasoned faker, but nothing is hidden from God. The Holy Spirit knows our thoughts as if they were being played through a loudspeaker or being displayed on a screen.</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 28.799999237060547px; margin-bottom: 20px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">That is why despite fooling everyone else, Ananias and Sapphira were still found out. <b style="word-wrap: break-word;"><i style="word-wrap: break-word;">There are no locked doors or hidden closets for the Holy Spirit.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 28.799999237060547px; margin-bottom: 20px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">A day will come when <i style="word-wrap: break-word;">every secret</i> will be proclaimed from the housetops (Matt 10:27). Do we really believe this? Are we ready for it? Ananias and Sapphira <i style="word-wrap: break-word;">had known </i>this . . . but they forgot it. They became so consumed with the praise of others that they forgot the only One whose praise really matters.</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 28.799999237060547px; margin-bottom: 20px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I can’t see inside of your heart to discern whether you’re a Barnabas or an Ananias. <i style="word-wrap: break-word;">But the secrets of your heart are not secrets to God</i>. When you proclaim with your lips that “Jesus is Lord” and live as if his law doesn’t matter, don’t deceive yourselves into thinking that you’ve successfully tricked God.</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 28.799999237060547px; margin-bottom: 20px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<b style="word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">3. The closer we are to grace, the greater the offense of sin.</span></b></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 28.799999237060547px; margin-bottom: 20px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Not everyone who lies gets struck down immediately for their sin. So why did Ananias and Sapphira? A couple of reasons:</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 28.799999237060547px; margin-bottom: 20px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="word-wrap: break-word;"><i style="word-wrap: break-word;">First</i></b>, their deaths—like much in Acts—serve as a sign. God takes something that is true in the kingdom of God and puts it on physical display. We see this most often through the <a href="http://www.jdgreear.com/my_weblog/2013/11/miracles-show-us-the-mission.html" target="_blank">healing miracles</a>, but it is equally true of this judgment.</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 28.799999237060547px; margin-bottom: 20px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">God doesn’t do this with everyone who lies to the Holy Spirit today. <b style="word-wrap: break-word;">But that should not cover up the fact that this death is a <i style="word-wrap: break-word;">picture </i>of how God feels about it. </b>It is a glimpse of the future judgment for all who share in the heart of Ananias and Sapphira.</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 28.799999237060547px; margin-bottom: 20px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="word-wrap: break-word;"><i style="word-wrap: break-word;">Second</i></b>, Ananias and Sapphira had seen the activity of the Holy Spirit so closely that <i style="word-wrap: break-word;">the seriousness of the sin increased.</i> Think of it like the temple: the closer you are to the holy place, the more significant is every blemish.</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 28.799999237060547px; margin-bottom: 20px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">These people had seen the mercy of God firsthand. Ananias’ name, in fact, means, “God is merciful.” They had likely been witness to the death of Christ itself! <i style="word-wrap: break-word;">And yet despite being recipients of such great grace, they spurned it for the praise of men.</i> <b style="word-wrap: break-word;"><i style="word-wrap: break-word;">Do not take holy things lightly!</i></b></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 28.799999237060547px; margin-bottom: 20px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<b style="word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">4. Fear is a part of worship.</span></b></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 28.799999237060547px; margin-bottom: 20px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Unsurprisingly, these dramatic deaths caused a great deal of fear (Acts 5:5, 11). But we may be shocked to see that even in light of this, “more and more people believed in the Lord” (Acts 5:14). <i style="word-wrap: break-word;">Fear is an integral part of worship.</i></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 28.799999237060547px; margin-bottom: 20px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For those of us familiar with the idea of an infinitely loving God, this is a jarring realization. But God’s love only makes sense when we know the magnificence of his glory and the might of his power. That is why John Newton wrote, “<i style="word-wrap: break-word;">Tis <b style="word-wrap: break-word;">grace</b> that taught my heart to fear.” </i>As the fear of God increases, so does the sense of his love, because we understand more fully what we have been saved from.</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 28.799999237060547px; margin-bottom: 20px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My favorite definition of the fear of God is <b style="word-wrap: break-word;"><i style="word-wrap: break-word;">awe mixed with intimacy.</i></b> We are invited into the closest possible relationship with God, but this intimacy must <i style="word-wrap: break-word;">never </i>overshadow the majesty of who God is.</span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 28.799999237060547px; margin-bottom: 20px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<b style="word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">5. Sin is a deadly serious matter to God.</span></b></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 28.799999237060547px; margin-bottom: 20px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If we’re honest, many of us find God’s actions here offensive—but that merely reveals our ignorance of our sin and God’s holiness. We shouldn’t ask the question, <i style="word-wrap: break-word;">“Why did they die?” </i>Instead we should wonder, <i style="word-wrap: break-word;">“Why do we remain alive?” </i></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 28.799999237060547px; margin-bottom: 20px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes, God is patient with us and slow to anger. But as R.C. Sproul says, we forget that God’s patience is designed to lead us to repentance, not to become bolder in our sin. If Jesus really went through the tormenting hell of the cross to redeem us, and <i style="word-wrap: break-word;">we neglect that </i>in pursuit of our sin, what will it be like to stand before God? <b style="word-wrap: break-word;"><i style="word-wrap: break-word;">“How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” </i></b>(Hebrews 2:3)" --J. D. Grear</span></div>
<a name='more'></a>sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-32542233903232915812015-05-18T18:22:00.001-04:002015-05-18T18:22:54.436-04:00THE WILLS OF GOD<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhvemEQkPXuBo8WFvoeoCe43ns69Y_TGD1-UF8zVueIKXwQXwyBcymd8VqDf1eFjCm5CSDOWgcmkhicEJqNam22OOSNJs2g8yPPNToPc86mcrkzZnStvnpcCM68x_YvxW3E1yyJ8Rkl4/s1600/God+is+the+gardener.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhvemEQkPXuBo8WFvoeoCe43ns69Y_TGD1-UF8zVueIKXwQXwyBcymd8VqDf1eFjCm5CSDOWgcmkhicEJqNam22OOSNJs2g8yPPNToPc86mcrkzZnStvnpcCM68x_YvxW3E1yyJ8Rkl4/s320/God+is+the+gardener.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>DECREED WILL OF GOD:</b> (God’s <i>plan</i>) God’s eternal, foreordained
plan and purpose which will not change and cannot be thwarted. This includes
our salvation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>PRECEPTIVE WILL OF GOD:</b> (The <i>Word</i>) God’s will expressed in
the form of principles or precepts given to men. His written word is the
expression of His will. In this sense, many people are seeking God’s will when
it’s already obvious. (You don’t have to pray about living with your boyfriend,
God’s has spoken in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=heb+13%3A4&version=ESV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Heb 13:4</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Cor+6%3A9-20&version=ESV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">1 Cor 6:9-20</a>)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>PREFERENTIAL WILL OF GOD:</b> (God’s <i>pleasure</i>) What gives God
pleasure and what does not. God loves to show mercy, but will execute
judgement. God takes pleasure in the salvation of sinners, He mostly does not
take pleasure in pouring out His eternal wrath on sinners.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>PERMISSIVE WILL OF GOD: </b>(God’s <i>permission</i>) This is what God permits/allows,
even though it is sin. Example: Joseph’s brothers in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+50:20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gen 50:20</a>. God is in control, His purposes
are being accomplished. His decreed will often allows or permits (His
permissive will) men to violate His preferential will (what gives Him pleasure)
and His prescriptive will (His Word). God’s permissive will is never outside
His decreed will. God “permits” those things which will lead to the
accomplishment of His decretive will.</div>
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<b>DIRECTIVE WILL OF GOD:</b> (God’s <i>guidance</i>) God’s personal
guidance in our lives. It does not violate any of the “wills” above. There are
times when God wants us at a certain place, doing a certain thing. Not as
common as some would think.</div>
<o:p></o:p>sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-11015179834967522432012-03-30T09:19:00.006-04:002012-03-30T09:47:24.981-04:00SHINE ON<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1tXqWYd-q63gOvX-sQ11YpyQMknR_4Kg2_wsgE8LKeReikqfVgw-7vrXyatEf5OFw47GLOuTWrpEt1BOzJu3DeXngx2bRbjBMU8vvf7NL4u6Z1W1kmf3KtR8i-GEVJ0Obwr624MIXRK_/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 411px; height: 512px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1tXqWYd-q63gOvX-sQ11YpyQMknR_4Kg2_wsgE8LKeReikqfVgw-7vrXyatEf5OFw47GLOuTWrpEt1BOzJu3DeXngx2bRbjBMU8vvf7NL4u6Z1W1kmf3KtR8i-GEVJ0Obwr624MIXRK_/" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 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font-family:";font-size:11.0pt;color:#262626;"></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="Lucida Grande"; font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;color:#262626;">”Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification. And they came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.’ John answered and said, ‘A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.’” – John 3:25-27</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="Lucida Grande"; font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;color:#262626;">Who do you work for, really? The scripture above tells us that everything we have has been given to us from heaven. John here says that even the job he has been given to do and the people that come to him have been given to him by God. (He is also saying those that are following Jesus have been given to Him by God, but that's for another post!)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="Lucida Grande"; font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;color:#262626;">If we are followers of Christ, we don’t work to please ourselves or impress our peers or superiors. The bible says we work for God. </span></p><blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">“Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.” – Eph 6:5-8</span></blockquote><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="Lucida Grande"; font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;color:#262626;">Our jobs are the mission field that He assigned us to. Everything that happens in our daily grind is what our mighty, omniscient, sovereign God has allowed. (Everything that happens ANYTIME is what our sovereign God allowed!!!) And we are to praise Him for EVERYTHING—bad and good: </span></p><blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">“give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(38, 38, 38); font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">When we are praised, we have an opportunity to thank Him and give Him the glory. But when we are treated unfairly, we have the opportunity to lean on Him and wait for Him to defend us—all the while giving out grace to those that don’t deserve it—just like the grace that we were shown.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="Lucida Grande"; font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;color:#262626;">A difficult concept is that we shouldn’t defend ourselves, but rather wait for God to defend us. Exodus 23:22 says, “I will be an enemy to your enemies, an adversary to your adversaries.” That same chapter says to help those who are our enemies! And all the while, pouring out the radical grace that has been poured out to us. We pour out grace and we wait on the Lord.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><span style="Lucida Grande"; color:#262626;">When there are difficult situations and people, we know that all things that are allowed into a Christian’s life is for a purpose, and Romans 8:28-29 says that purpose is to conform us into the image of Christ! SO BE GLAD AND FILLED WITH JOY -- for in this trial you are being made to look like JESUS!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(38, 38, 38); "> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="Lucida Grande"; font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;color:#262626;">One of the most difficult scriptures to observe is 1 Cor 10:31 that says: “So whatever you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.” --- we all fail miserably at this if we are honest. How do you drink a cup of tea for the glory of God much less “whatever you do”? But this is what we are told to do. In everything that happens to us, we give thanks. In everything we do, we do it for the glory of God. We are BONDSERVANTS of Christ. We have given our lives to Him. We no longer live, but He lives in us. He has work set out from before the foundations of time for you to do. </span></p><blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Eph 2:10</span></blockquote><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none"><span style="Lucida Grande"; font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;color:#262626;"></span></p><blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life…” Phil 2:12-16a</span></blockquote><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="Lucida Grande"; font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;color:#262626;">Remember that as you go about your day, as you walk through this messy, difficult life: YOU SHINE!!! </span><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-894641851695163492012-02-24T13:28:00.000-05:002012-02-24T13:29:10.257-05:00THE COMPLAINING CHRISTIAN<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; "><div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><em>“Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.” -- </em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><i><em>James 5:9</em></i></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><i><em></em></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><p style="margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><img class="imageright" src="http://www.tonycooke.org/images/free_resources/articles_others/steveroll/steveroll_1.jpg" alt="" height="195" width="205" align="right" border="0" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 18px; " /></p><p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">The Early Church was confronted with a relationship hindering, unity busting issue in its congregations: <i>Christians complaining against Christians.</i></p><p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Sad to say, it is no different today.</p><p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><b>Churches are packed with complaining Christians.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Everything from the length of the Pastor’s sermon, his personal style, his family’s lifestyle, the worship team’s performance, ministry workers care for children, to campus décor, to expenditure of God’s funds, and on and on and on….. all are subject to subjective judgment by believers who take upon themselves the mantle of judge and jury.</p><p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><i>The word complain means groan, murmur or bear a grudge</i>. Ouch! Do we really realize what we are doing when we complain against a brother? I think not. For if we did, I think we would think twice before murmuring against our brothers and sisters in Christ.</p><p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">We should be ashamed of ourselves. I have done my share of complaining over the years, and you probably have too. <b>I have come to the conclusion there is no biblical justification for me passing judgment on any Christian brother by complaining about them.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">James had a word from God for the Christians in his day and ours. Complaining was out! “DO NOT COMPLAIN” is the word.</p><p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Brothers, do not complain against your brothers. Why? Because when you do, you will be judged. The Judge, God Almighty, the Judge of all judges, will pass judgment on you for passing judgment on others. Note <i>“the Judge is standing right at the door.”</i> The Judge is Johnny on the spot! Right at the door. Listening to our words.</p><p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Criticizing, complaining, murmuring, gossiping, groaning and moaning against one another. A scourge and curse in the church. Complaining is immature at best, sinful at the worst. James tells us in chapter 3, verse 17 “<i>Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.” </i>We know as Bible-believing Christians to complain against our brothers is not right. So if we do it, according to God’s Word, it is sin. Pure and simple. It is sin because we are judging one another and we are commanded not to judge each other. (Matthew 7:1-5).</p><p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">How many of our brothers and sisters have been hurt and disheartened by complaining? How many churches have been torn apart by strife and division because of complainers? How many pastors have been discouraged and burned out having to deal with constant criticism from the people they serve?</p><p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><i>Criticizing and complaining is not a spiritual gift.</i></p><p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><b>Ten Simple Steps To Stop Complaining</b></p><ol type="1" start="1" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 40px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><li style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Do you like it when others complain against you? Probably not.</li><li style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Take your complaint to God and pray for your brother.</li><li style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Forgive your brother for all offense against you.</li><li style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Control your tongue. Resist the fleshly temptation to murmur against a Christian.</li><li style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Never tear down your fellow Christians. Always build them up.</li><li style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Speak highly of your brother in the presence of others.</li><li style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Check your motivation. Why are you complaining against a brother?</li><li style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Is it Christ-like to complain against fellow Christians?</li><li style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Stop and think. What will my complaining against a brother do to him/her and the body of Christ, and my witness to an unbelieving world?</li><li style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Remember you are accountable to God for your treatment of your brother.</li></ol><p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Think with me for a moment. If Christians stopped complaining against one another:</p><ul type="disc" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 40px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><li style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">The devil would not have opportunity to divide the body of Christ.</li><li style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Strife and disunity in the church would be non-existent.</li><li style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Believers would have clear consciences toward one another.</li><li style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Energy given to complaining would be directed to soul-winning.</li><li style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">The world would be attracted, not repelled, by Christians and the church.</li><li style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">The Lord would be pleased with how we treat one another.</li></ul><p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Are you a complaining Christian? Do you have such a critical spirit toward others that you hardly realize that you complain against your fellow Christians? Would those who know you best say you are infected with a complaining spirit?</p><p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Is there someone you need to go to with a humble heart and ask for forgiveness for complaining against them? If so, go.</p><p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><b>Maybe spiritual revival and renewal would come to the church of the Lord Jesus Christ if we stopped complaining against our brothers and sisters in Christ.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><b>Just a thought.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><i>“And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience<u>; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against another, just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you</u>. And beyond all these things, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”</i></p><p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><i>Colossians 3:12-14</i></p><p style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><i>Jesus said in Matthew 7:1-5</i>,<i> “Do not judge lest you be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye” and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye?</i></p><p style="margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><i></i></p><p style="margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><b>A Word For Your Week:</b> Stop judging other Christians by complaining about them.</p><p style="margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">---- by Steve Roll</p></span></div></span>sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-45661415756181247372011-11-30T09:26:00.007-05:002015-07-05T17:58:18.992-04:00WHAT ARE JESUS' COMMANDMENTS?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://jesusfootprints.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/thewhiterobe.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://jesusfootprints.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/thewhiterobe.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 210px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 319px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;">John 14:15 – The Commands of Jesus </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">If God loves us unconditionally, how do we account for those scriptures that link His love with our obedience, like this one:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (Jn 14:15)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">A legalist reads this backwards: “You will keep my commandments if you love me.” In other words, we must prove our love for God by doing what He commands. Commandment-keeping is our duty, a condition we must meet if we are to enjoy His love. But someone who is walking in grace reads it just as Jesus said it. He understands that keeping His commands is a by-produ</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">ct of love. Paul explains this in Romans 8:3-4, but let me give you an everyday example inspir</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">ed by something I read from Steve McVey:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Here in New Zealand we have a big problem with domestic violence. Consequently, there are many laws governing the responsibilities of fathers. Break any of these laws and you might go to jail or have your kids taken away. It’s a serious business. But to be honest, I couldn’t tell you what these laws are. I’ve never read them. Yet I can confidently declare that I a</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">m keeping every one of these laws. How do I know? Because I love my kids. I don’t keep the laws to show the authorities that I love my kids and I don’t relate to my children on the basis of these laws</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">. I relate to them on the basis of love and keeping the laws of the land flows naturally from that love relationship. I know the laws serve a good purpose, b</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">ut they weren’t written for me. They were written for fathers who don’t love their kids.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Similarly, the laws found in the Bible were not written for those who love Jesus (1 Tim 1:9). Contrary to what the legalist may tell you, keeping the laws to earn what He freely offers is a surefire sign that you <em>don’t</em> know the love of God. A legalist reads the words of Jesus above and sees a threat. Do the commandments or else! But love makes no threats. Jesus is returning for a bride and it won’t be a shotgun wedding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><strong>What are the commands of Jesus?</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">The next time someone tells you that you must keep the commands of Jesus to prove your love, ask them, “what are the commands of Jesus?” They will probably respond with the greatest commandment which is, “love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul” (Mt 22:38). This is fine, I guess. But if you insert that command into the phrase above it becomes, “If you love me, you will love me with all your heart, mind and soul,” which is kind of redundant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">If you read John 14:15 in context, you will see that on this occasion Jesus is referring to two specific commands. Here’s the first:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">“A new command I give you: Love one another….” (Jn 13:34)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">And here’s the second:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me… Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves” (Jn 14:1,11)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">How can we be certain that these are His commandments? Because John – who was there when Jesus spoke these words – says so in one of his letters:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">“And this is His command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesu</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">s Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us.” (1 Jn 3:23)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><strong>What does it mean to keep His commands?</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Lest we dilute His commandments to accommodate our experience, Jesus outlines His expectations of obedience for both. Here’s what He expects from the first:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">“As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (Jn 13:34)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">How did Jesus love us? By laying down His life for us (Jn 15:3). That’s a high standard of love! Indeed, there is no greater love. And what are His expectations reg</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">arding the second commandment:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these…” (Jn 14:12)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Believe in Jesus and you will do the works of Jesus. Put it altogether and Jesus is saying this:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">“If you love me, you will love one another as I have loved you and your faith in me will lead to miracles like I have been doing and greater miracles still.”</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">If you’ve been in any church for at least five years, you will know that Jesus’ first commandment is pretty much humanly impossible to keep, while the second commandment is definitely impossible. So the next time someone tries to lay a heavy burden on you by telling you that you must keep Jesus’ commandments to earn God’s love, just ask them how many peop</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">le they’ve raised from the dead! When they look puzzled, tell them that Jesus commanded us to believe in Him and He said that those who did would do the same works He did and greater works besides!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"> Now that we begin to understand what Jesus <em>wasn’t</em> saying – He wasn’t saying that we need to keep His commandments to prove our love – we’re ready to dig deeper in</span><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">to what He <em>was</em> saying.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">What Happens to Unfruitful Branches?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Jesus said, “if you love me, keep my commandments” (Jn 14:1</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">5). In the hands of a religious person this becomes a conditional statement: You have to keep the comma</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">nds of Jesus to prove your love. The problem with that, however, is the commands of Jesus are impossible to keep. Jesus said anyone who keeps His commands, “will do what I have been doing and even greater things.” Well Jesus healed the sick and raised the dead. Can you? On your own it’s impossible, but that’s okay because you know what? Jesus has a plan. In the very next verse He begins to tell us what it is:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever.” (Jn 14:16)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Who is the Helper? He’s the Holy Spirit, the One who empowers us t</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">o</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> show and tell the gospel of the kingdom. (Romans 15:19). (Note that the Holy Spirit doesn’t come and go. Jesus said He will “be with you forever”!) Jesus then tells the disciples that on the day that the Holy Spirit is given,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">“… you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” (Jn 14:20)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">This is the most awesome, incredible thing in the world! This is the mystery that Paul sought to make known to the Gentiles – Christ is in you! And you’re in Him! </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Do you need a picture to help you see this? Then look at th</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">e picture:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmA6m0_87YN3tpRRmvwZQ04aY-5ardKQfg6tUbBODr-df6CF4-5A_WAl_k6JWdsrrhdaobl4JiHOc2YKU-Gl5a3WMO-lnnRfRLcdv2AjrugNhxzf5RfW0ROQKLu6rDdphlIrvij25p2ubx/s660/Grape+Vine+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmA6m0_87YN3tpRRmvwZQ04aY-5ardKQfg6tUbBODr-df6CF4-5A_WAl_k6JWdsrrhdaobl4JiHOc2YKU-Gl5a3WMO-lnnRfRLcdv2AjrugNhxzf5RfW0ROQKLu6rDdphlIrvij25p2ubx/s660/Grape+Vine+2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 124px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 165px;" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Jesus said He is the true vine and we are the branches. Loo</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">k at the picture and draw a mental circle around the vine. Do you see any branches that are not part of the vine? The vine is bigger than any branch but there’s no branch that is not also vine. Touch any branch and you are touching the vine. This is how Hudson Taylor describes it:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">“Here, I feel, is the secret: not asking how I am to get sap out of the Vine into myself, but remembering that Jesus is the Vine – the root, stem, branches, twigs, leaves, flowers, fruit all indeed… I have not got to make myself a branch. The Lord Jesus tells me I am a branch. I am part of him and I have just to believe it and act upon it.” (Quoted in The Normal Christian Life, pp.56-7)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Now Jesus knows that you can’t bear fruit – “no branch can bear fruit by itself” (Jn 15:4) – but He plans to bear His fruit through us. What’s our part in this? He wants us to abide in Him, which means to dwell or stay put. It means don’t run off and try to do your own thing in your own strength. What’s His part? He plans to live His life through us and go on healing the sick and delivering the oppressed and doing all the other heaven-on-earth things He did when He was here in the flesh (Mk 16:17-18).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><strong>Are you a branch with no fruit?</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">What happens to unfruitful branches? Jesus said the branches that don’t bear fruit are "lifted up" (Jn 15:2). They are not cut off – that is a bad translation that would’ve made no sense to a Mediterranean listener! A viticulturalist would never throw away a branch for that would be like amputating part of the vine. Unfruitful branches are lifted out of the dirt and re-dressed so they can be nourished by the sun. Sticking with that metaphor, the reason why some Christians are barren is that they’re facedown in the dirt and not looking at the Son. They’re busy, distracted, stressed, and have wandered from their <em>protos agape</em>, their primary love. When believers lose sight of Christ's love they tend to become religious, just like the Ephesians. The next thing you know, they’re thinking that they have do stuff like obey His commandments to prove their love or earn His.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">What is the remedy for unfruitful branches? God is. He is the Gardener who does the lifting up. He is not there to slash and burn but to prune and lift. As you begin to bear fruit it will be for His glory, not yours. If you’ve been distracted doing the dead works of religion, just stop and come back to your first love which is His love. His love is like food for us. We are energized by it. I might tell myself that I am writing these posts because of my love for Him, but in truth, it’s His love for me that compels me to tell others the good news. I would not love Him except that He has first loved me (1 Jn 4:19).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">When Jesus said, “if you love me, you will keep my commandments,” He was not making a threat but a promise! He was saying, “If you love me you will do the works and greater works that I have done because I’m the one who’s going to do them through you. Trust me! Believe in me! Abide in me!” Why does Jesus say we will do greater works? Because 2000 years ago there was only one Christ, but now there are millions of "Little Christs." Back then He was just a tender shoot (Is 53:2), but now He’s a mighty vine with branches reaching into every place. Back then God lived in just one man, but now He lives in millions of men, women and children all around the world and <em>He wants out!</em> What are the greater works? They are the works of Jesus done millions of times over, every day, all over the world by ordinary branches like you and me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Aren’t you amazed that God operates this way – through people? Carnal religion says it’s all about you and your faith so you’d better perform, but the gospel of grace declares it’s about Him and His faith so rest! Paul understood this which is why he said, “the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me” (Gal 2:20).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Branches can not bear fruit but vines can and do so naturally, without any effort. As a branch you carry the nature of the True Vine in you and He will bear His fruit through you. He promised! <em>Do you believe Him?</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">At this point you probably want me to tell you what to do. “What’s the takeaway? What must I do?” We Christians are so hung up on working for God that we don’t know what to do with Jesus when He says, “just abide!” Okay, here’s something you can do. Write this down. The next time you’re faced with a problem or trial, take a moment to let Jesus love on you. Allow the Lifter of your head to turn your gaze from the dirt back to Himself and then bask in His love. He is already shining on you. He has already been gracious to you and blessed you and given you His peace. Receive it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” (Jn 15:9)</span></blockquote>
---Paul Ellis<strong></strong>sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-10626121974280275182011-11-22T22:01:00.002-05:002011-11-22T22:06:43.455-05:00CHRISTIAN KVETCHING?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://wantstolovelife.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/cartoons20complain202.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 345px; height: 400px;" src="http://wantstolovelife.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/cartoons20complain202.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We may know it by different terms -- such as griping, grumbling, whining, or belly-aching. In the King James version of the Bible, the common term used was “murmuring.” But regardless of the word we use to describe it, complaining always has the has the same syptoms. The dictionary defines it as “an expression of unhappiness, dissatisfaction, or discontent.” Complaining is the outward expression of discontent from within. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">As we look back into the Old Testament and see how God dealt with the Children of Israel, we discover that the Lord always considered their complaints as an act of unbelief directed toward Him. When they complained about their circumstances, their type of food, and even at Moses, God was displeased because they weren’t thankful for what He had provided them. He was disappointed that they refused to trust in Him to provide, protect, and direct the order of their lives. “Now when the people complained, it displeased the LORD; for the LORD heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the LORD burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp” (Numbers 11:1).<br /> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#31639C;"><b>Complaining is Evidence of Unbelief</b></span><br /> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Regardless of whatever circumstances may cause discontent or dissatisfaction, complaining is always an expression of unbelief toward God’s order in our life. You see, the whole premise of Christianity is that Jesus becomes the Lord (boss) of our life and our circumstances. They are in his hands. Thus, if believers complain, it really becomes an accusation against our Lord, in whom we’ve trusted our lives. “...for the LORD hears your complaints which you make against Him. And what are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the LORD” (Ex. 16:8). (See also Psm. 106:24-26)<br /> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Complaining is unbelief in God’s Word which says “...all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). If the Christian really believes that the Lord is in control of their life, and is working “ALL THINGS together for our good,” he will stop complaining and start thanking the Lord for the plan He is working together for us.<br /> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Even when the Devil comes against our faith with trials that are “not so good,” God will even turn these situations around and “work them together for good” as we remain steadfast in faith. Don’t become bitter and start complaining, but continue to praise God and give thanks to God “in spite” of all things. This will prevent the Devil from overcoming you with discouragement and will send him fleeing. “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:18).<br /> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Thanksgiving is the expression of gratefulness and faith in God, and is the very opposite of complaining. Giving of thanks expresses appreciation for what God has done, what He has promised, and the confidence that He is directing our life with His order and provision. God will answer prayers and work in the behalf of the thankful (Psm. 50:14-15).<br /> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#31639C;"><b>Complaining gives Place to the Devil</b></span><br /> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The Apostle Paul warned Christians to avoid the danger of complaining. “...nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer” (1 Cor. 10:10). In this Paul indicated that complaining actually gives place to the Devil in our lives and opens the door to destruction by Satan (the destroyer). The Devil thrives in an atmosphere of complaining. Complaining can literally invoke a curse of destruction as it did in the lives of the Israelites who were destroyed in the wilderness.<br /> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The Israelites kept complaining that they were going to die in the wilderness (Num. 14:2-3), so the Lord finally got fed up with their whining and actually allowed their complaints to come upon them. He said, “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. Say to them, As I live, says the LORD, just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above” (Num. 14:27-29). The Lord allowed the Destroyer to answer their complaints with the very destruction that they confessed and predicted.<br /> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#31639C;"><b>Complaining is Not for Christians</b></span><br /> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The Apostle Paul tells Christians to do all things without complaining (Phil. 2:14), and the epistle of Jude places complainers in the same category as ungodly sinners who will inherit judgment: “...to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds... These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts...” (Jude 1:15-16). Complaining is common-place in the lives of unbelievers who have no trust in God, but Christians should be people of faith, filled with gratefulness and thanksgiving.<br /> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Besides this, the Bible teaches all believers to dwell upon the “good and virtuous” things (Phil. 4:8). So if all Christians obeyed this scripture, what would they find to complain about? Complaining is evidence of not obeying God’s Word.<br /> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">What about the root of complaining? As said previously, “complaining” is an expression of discontent. Therefore, if Christians were “content” in Christ Jesus as Paul said we should be, they wouldn’t have anything to complain about. “...for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Phil. 4:11). (See also 1 Tim. 6:8, Heb. 13:5)<br /> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I use to think people complained because they had a lot of problems. But I have come to realize that they have problems because they complain. Complaining doesn’t change anything or make situations better. It amplifies frustration, spreads discontent and discord (which God hates - Prov 6:16-19), and can invoke an invitation for the destroyer to cause havoc with our lives.<br /> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">How important it is that believers guard the words of their mouth! The scriptures tell us that our words are literally the basis for whether we are justified or condemned. Realizing this, we should eradicate negative words, griping, or grumbling, and fill our mouth with praise and thanksgiving!<br /> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matt. 12:36-37). --from Dr. Dale A. Robbins<br /></span></p>sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-90441897375472591122011-11-05T15:42:00.006-04:002011-11-05T16:35:34.630-04:00TIME WITH DADDY<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://aminus3.s3.amazonaws.com/image/g0017/u00016561/i00743217/e6c6dfc06b475869dc3e63d980b3f8e1_large.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 272px; height: 181px;" src="http://aminus3.s3.amazonaws.com/image/g0017/u00016561/i00743217/e6c6dfc06b475869dc3e63d980b3f8e1_large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"> My daughter is a college sophomore and for the last fourteen months I've noticed her need for regular "Mommy time" is not as imperative as it once was, much to my dismay. I have raised her to live her own life and when I begin to feel neglected I recall my primary function in her life: to raise her to become an upstanding member of our community, give her principles to live by, and offer advice when needed and wanted. But still, those heart-pang moments are difficult. And when all of our communications are while she is running between classes or when she is among others chatting in her dorm, it is easy to feel less like a priority to her and more like a duty, an obligation, an after-thought. While I know this is not the case and it is just her busy life right now, still the feelings come.<br /><br />I recently realized it is quite like that with our Father God. We live such busy lives and, much like my daughter, we can forget to sit down and spend time with the One Who loves us. I was reminded of that as I lay awake in my bed in the wee hours two nights ago, thinking about how much I missed my daughter filling me in on her thoughts, her plans, her day. How she was developing into this amazing young woman and I was missing out on the little steps getting her there. And during that early morning hour He gently whispered, "I miss you, too. It's just like that for Me."<br /><br />Now, we know God is omnipotent and knows us, our lives and everything in them. But even Jesus made time to be alone with God. Earlier that very day I had asked God how to find time to "Be still and know that I am God" in our crazy busy world. Granted, I talk to Him constantly-- while driving, doing the dishes, taking a walk, studying the bible, shopping, even while showering! Multi-tasking. But months ago the practice of sitting down with Him regularly gave way to the busyness in my life.<br /><br />And now God was showing me through a glaring example: just like I crave time where the ones I love actually want to visit with me, want to share their lives with me, and want to find out what I'm doing these days; so does God. As this revelation cast it's bright light into my brain, I realized that God was showing me how to "be still and know" in the way He does best: through a life-application demonstration. God desires what any parent desires: for their child to want to include them, seek them, love them.<br /><br />The message was received. And when I rose that morning and began to make my way with a cup of tea and journal to visit with my Heavenly Father for a bit, I checked my text messages first. There, in tiny font, posted some time late in the night, was a note from my daughter that made my heart burst open with happiness. It read: "I'm gonna call tomorrow morning at like 10! Is that okay?" And I felt my Daddy quietly say, "Yes, it feels just like that for Me, too!"<br /></div>sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-67183577536358675712011-10-24T09:36:00.006-04:002015-07-05T18:06:11.779-04:00ONE<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://pathfromtheheadtotheheart.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/one.png?w=300&h=225" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a>One of the most heart-wrenching discussions for Christians is</div>
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"Can Christians divorce or remarry?"</div>
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<span style="font-family: courier new;">Particularly for those in an awful marriage.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: courier new;"> Particularly for those already divorced.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: courier new;"> Particularly for those who have already remarried!</span></div>
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I believe the church started -- out of the compassion of their hearts -- to try to find a way around the 'rules.' Here are some things I've been told from loving, well meaning Christians:</div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"God's grace covers it all."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 130%;">"You are a 'new man' in Christ."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 130%; font-style: italic;">"You became new in Christ when you got saved so it is like you were never</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 130%; font-style: italic;"> married the first time."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: courier new;">"God forgives all."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: lucida grande; font-size: 130%;">"If your spouse cheated on you, it's okay to divorce and remarry."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">"If your unbelieving spouse left you, you are no longer bound."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 180%; font-style: italic;">"It is under the blood of Christ."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana;">"How you come into the church is how you stay."</span></div>
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But what does the BIBLE, our authority, the Word of the Living God, have to say about it? Do the scriptures those well meaning friends use in their consoling words apply to divorce and remarriage? Does anyone really want to take what our compassionate brothers and sisters in the Lord say about marriage and adopt that as our standard? Or do we want to know what God has to say about it? Do we want to walk in the will of Almighty God or do we want to make our lives easy? Do we want to walk in the will of Almighty God or do we want to twist the scriptures into saying what we want them to say in our situation?</div>
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So here are the hard facts:<span style="font-weight: bold;"> There is no divorce for Christians.</span> As Jesus said "From the beginning, this was not so." Since there is no divorce, there cannot be remarriage. The only way someone can marry a second time is if their spouse dies.<br />
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This is not easy to hear. Especially for those who are in relationships at this very moment. And our compassion MUST be extended to these individuals. They want to believe the easier teachings. Some will find teachers who say that there are exceptions --- but are they just finding someone to scratch their itchy ears? And those that are comfortable in their existing relationships: do they need to seek repentance from God?</div>
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Many feel that this too harsh. How can we expect people to go for the rest of their natural lives without the companionship of a spouse? What about love? But let's face it -- There are people right now who are giving up their<span style="font-family: courier new; font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;"> actual<span style="font-family: courier new;"> </span><span style="font-family: courier new;">lives</span></span><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: courier new; font-weight: bold;"> </span></span> for Christ. There are people who are sacrificing their jobs, their friends, their extended families, their comfort, their hobbies... what sacrifice is "too much"? Jesus Christ sacrificed His life for us. Can anyone really say that staying unmarried is too much of a sacrifice?</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">BUT WHAT ABOUT "EXCEPT FOR FORNICATION"?</span></div>
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Upon careful examination of the texts in Matthew 19 and Mark 10, we see "except for fornication" in only one of the discussions written for us.</div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read, that He which made them at the beginning, made them male and female. And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder. " They said unto Him, "Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?" He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, suffered you to put away</span> [apoluo]<span style="font-style: italic;"> your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away </span>[apoluo] <span style="font-style: italic;">his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, commiteth adultery and whoso marrieth her which is put away</span> [apoluo] <span style="font-style: italic;">doth commit adultery.</span>" -Matthew 19:4-9</div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">And he saith unto them, "Whosoever shall put away </span>[apoluo] <span style="font-style: italic;">his wife, and marry another, commits adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away </span>[apoluo]<span style="font-style: italic;"> her husband and be married to another, she commits adultery."</span> --Mark 10:11,12</div>
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So did Jesus contradict Himself? Or in Matthew saying there was an exception to the rule of God? Perish the thoughts. In Matthew 19:9, Jesus is merely stating a fact. That if your spouse commits fornication (or sexual immorality), then they have ALREADY made each of you adulterers. Married people are one flesh. 1 Cor 6:16 states</div>
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"Or do you not know that he who is joined [kollao] a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh."</div>
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Jesus is saying that if you divorce your spouse and marry another you will be an adulterer, UNLESS THAT SPOUSE HAS ALREADY MADE YOU BOTH ADULTERERS WITH THEIR INFIDELITY. Additionally, the poor person who marries the cheating spouse becomes an adulterer because that spouse is STILL MARRIED IN GOD'S EYES! ("Kollao" means "cleaved.")</div>
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It is very hard for us to believe that God would not allow divorce in the case of a wronged spouse. Our society bristles at the thought of the betrayal. How painful a situation to go through! Yet, God had Hosea marry a prostitute. And God has a thing for forgiveness. We are the Bride of Christ and look how many times He has forgiven us our sins! God would prefer that the married individuals work it out with forgiveness at the core. Who are we to say what God will use for good?</div>
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It is a hard teaching. And that is why the disciples bristled at it and commented that if that was the way it was going to be, it is better to never marry.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">WHAT IF THE SPOUSE DIES?</span></div>
Romans 7:1-3 states it very simply:<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Do you not know, brothers -- for I am speaking to men who know the law -- that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? For example, by law a married woman is bound </span>[deo] <span style="font-style: italic;">to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released </span>[katargeo] <span style="font-style: italic;"> from the law of marriage. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released </span>[eleutheros]<span style="font-style: italic;"> from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.</span></div>
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If your spouse dies, you can remarry and you will not be an adulterer. "Until death do us part" is in every marriage vow. "Katargeo" means abolish, cease, loose. The remaining spouse is loosed from the law of marriage. "Eleutheros" also means free, exempt, not bound.</div>
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1 Corinthians 7:27,28 has more to say about this:<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">"Art thou bound</span> [deo]<span style="font-style: italic;"> to a wife? Seek not to be loosed </span>[lusis]<span style="font-style: italic;">. Art thou loosed</span> [lusis]<span style="font-style: italic;"> from a wife? Seek not a wife. But and if thou marries, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she has not sinned. Nevertheless, such shall have trouble in the flesh, but I spare you."</span></div>
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The apostle Paul was saying very simply that if you are bound, ("deo": tied, knitted) to a wife, do not seek to be untied ("lusis": divorced, released, loosed.) If you are untied (and how does that happen <span style="font-weight: bold;">biblically</span>? As we have already stated: only through death) you should not seek a wife. But if you DO marry, it is not a sin. And if you marry someone who previously was not married, you are not causing her to sin. But Paul states that you will have trouble in this union and his advice is merely to spare you from the trouble. What trouble he does not say--- perhaps just the strain the memory of a beloved deceased spouse can have on a marriage? But I do not wish to insert something into the text that is not there--- where the scriptures are silent, we are best to stay silent.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">WHAT ABOUT IN CASES OF ABUSE?</span></div>
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Earlier, in the very same chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul discusses this. In 1 Cor 7:10-11 he states:</div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">"And unto the married I command, YET NOT I, BUT THE LORD, Let not the wife depart </span>[chorizo]<span style="font-style: italic;"> from her husband: But and if she depart</span> [chorizo]<span style="font-style: italic;">, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away</span> [aphiemi]<span style="font-style: italic;"> his wife."</span> (emphasis mine)</div>
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Clearly, Paul is saying, under the authority from the Lord, that the wife is not to depart from her husband, but if (for what reasons we can only imagine) she does, she is to remain unmarried or seek reconciliation with her husband. Scripture here permits a wife to leave a marriage. Again, not to insert into Holy writ, but perhaps in the case of abuse? And the husband is not to divorce his wife if she leaves.</div>
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For clarification: The word used here "depart" in the Greek is "chorizo," which means "separate." Not divorce. The word "put away" in the Greek is "aphiemi," which means leave, send away, divorce. Previously discussed here in Mark and Matthew, the word for divorce was "apolou," meaning "depart, dismiss, divorce." Both apolou and aphiemi come from the same root word that is "apo" which, as a prefix, means a cessation, reversal, departure.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">WHAT ABOUT UNBELIEVING SPOUSES?</span></div>
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Here it is very important to delve into the original language. I suggest <a href="http://www.e-sword.net/">E-Sword.net</a>. You can download a remarkable FREE study source that has a great word-by-word dictionary and Strong's concordance.<br />
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I preface this to say that a professing Christian, a true-believing follower of Jesus Christ, <span style="font-weight: bold;">must never marry an unbeliever. A Christian does not belong even dating an unbeliever. </span>One could argue that a believer does not belong even being close friends with an unbeliever. Yes, we need to preach the Word to the lost but the Word of God is very strong regarding believers not being unevenly yoked. Yoking is when one is linked, joined, united or connected together. Very simply, like when animals are <span style="font-style: italic;">yoked</span> together to plow a field. The yoke is a bar or frame of wood that is put over two animals' necks to keep them together. 2 Corinthians 6:14 is clear:<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">"Do not be unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and lawlessness have in common? What fellowship has light with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?"</span><br />
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We need to be teaching our children this Biblical basic. There should be absolutely no compromise. If you saw your child slipping into any other sin, you would intervene. You would do everything you could to prevent them from taking a path into a sin-filled existence. Dating an unbeliever is just as dangerous as dabbling in any other sin. We need to make that clear to our children. We need to set unmovable standards for the protection of our children's future.<br />
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But what happens if a person comes to the Lord already married and their spouse does not? Should they divorce the unbelieving spouse?<br />
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First, let's note that the word "bound" in the last scripture's examples here is "deo" in the Greek. It means to bind, to tie, to knit. In some marriage ceremonies, the couple has their hands tied together to illustrate this concept. Pretty, right? I love the thought that I am knit together with my husband. Of course, something knit could be unraveled. Something tied could be untied. And the Bible states that the only way it is done is by death. Again, "until death do us part" is in every marriage vow.</div>
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But now, back to 1 Corinthians 7. After the discussion about a woman leaving a spouse, the apostle is now clear that leaving under the reasoning of the spouse's unbelief is not an option for a Christian.</div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother has a wife that believes not, and she is pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away</span> [aphiemi]<span style="font-style: italic;">. And the woman which has a husband that believes not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him </span>[aphiemi]<span style="font-style: italic;">. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband. Else were your children unclean; but now they are holy.</span> (1 Corinthians 7:12-14)</div>
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Here Paul is saying that HIS advice to those with unbelieving spouses is that you should not leave or put away your spouse since because of God's involvement in the believer's life, the unbeliever will be affected positively toward sanctification-- as will your children! Both words translated "leave" and "put away" here are "aphiemi"--- leave, send away, "divorce." And since we do not know what will begin to lead an unbeliever to the throne of Christ, remember 1 Peter 3:1 :<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Likewise, ye wives, be in Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands, so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.</span><br />
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So what if the unbeliever says they want out of the marriage? Tired of the "God stuff." Not wanting to be subjected to prayers at meals or bedtimes. Definitely not wanting to put up with going to church. In fact, probably trying to force the believer to stop with all the nonsense, for crying out loud! What then?</div>
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1 Corinthians 7:15 states:<span style="font-style: italic;"> But if the unbelieving depart [chorizo], let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage </span>[douloo] <span style="font-style: italic;">in such cases: but God has called us to peace.</span><br />
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If the unbeliever departs-- chorizo in the Greek: place room between or separate -- the believer is to allow it. They are not bound to force the unbeliever to stay. God has called us to peace.</div>
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The important distinction here is that the word "bound" is not the word previously used so beautifully in regards to a marriage. This word in the Greek is "douloo" which means bondage, enslaved, servant. It is to indicate that one make a slave of or reduce to bondage. Now, we can do this ourselves, willingly, as we believers do to Christ. But here Paul is showing that being married to an unbeliever is like being enslaved. You are bound as well as any other married person, but this time it is not pretty.<br />
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And it does not mean you are loosed from the marriage and able to remarry as one is when their spouse dies. It only means you are not subjected to the negative influence of your unbelieving spouse. God has called us to peace.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">WHAT IF YOU WERE DIVORCED BEFORE YOU WERE SAVED?<br />CAN YOU REMARRY NOW?</span></div>
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Many people use the argument that you are a "new man" in Christ once you are saved, and that is very true. But in this case, you are a "new but previously divorced man." One does not escape the consequences of our past except in the realm of the eternal. If you are on death row for murdering someone and you get saved, you will still be put to death. God has forgiven you for the sin, the earthly consequences still remain. If one contracts HIV and now has advanced AIDS, yet gets saved, barring a healing miracle from the Lord this person will still most likely die. Salvation alters our eternal destination and begins a sanctification process but does not erase the consequences from our past. The divorced person is still divorced. If they repent of their sin of divorcing their spouse, they will be forgiven-- Hallelujah! But they are still divorced and cannot remarry.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">WHAT IF YOU WERE DIVORCED <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span><br />REMARRIED BEFORE YOU WERE SAVED?</span></div>
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This is a delicate issue. Some denominations would have the couple separate. It is true that you cannot walk in darkness, willingly stay in a lifestyle of sin, and walk with God. 1 John 1:6 puts this very clearly:</div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.</span></div>
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However, being married is not a sin. Marriage is a covenant of God between a man and a wife. If a person has divorced-- this is a sin. If a person has remarried after a divorce-- this is a sin.<br />
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There must be realization of these transgressions and sincere repentance to God for these sins. Then God is just to forgive the sinner. The situation now would be a married person who was forgiven for previously divorcing and remarrying. The person has been forgiven for the transgressions and may walk in grace in the second marriage, since marriage itself is not a sin. Obviously, divorcing a second marriage would be yet another sin!<br />
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There are two passages of scripture that can give comfort to those in this situation. The first is Jesus speaking with the woman at the well in the fourth chapter of the Gospel of John. Jesus is at the well with the Samaritan woman and in verse 18 tells her that He knows the man she is currently living with cannot be called a husband. She is not married to him, yet she's been married five times previously. Jesus illustrates He knows the difference between living together and a marriage by saying this. The second is in all of the synoptic gospels (Mark 10, Luke 16, and Matthew 19): Jesus says if one divorces and marries another, it's adultery. But notice: Jesus says "marries." Jesus Himself calls it a marriage. You are now married -- a union between a man, a woman and God. After asking for forgiveness, walk in the beauty of marriage.</div>
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In conclusion, we must remember that this life is but a fleeting moment in eternity. To tell someone that they must remain celibate is a hard teaching. But better to pluck out one's eye, than have two eyes in hell. To tell someone that they need to work on a terrible marriage and seek God for restoration when it would be easier to just erase the marriage and start over is a hard teaching. But there is nothing impossible for God. To allow God to work and show His glory through these circumstances is what the believer ought to be striving for. Not for easy justifications for the things we desire. Please pour out compassion on those caught in the worldly web. But also pour out truth.</div>
sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-58155634732991708862011-10-13T08:32:00.011-04:002015-07-05T18:04:34.370-04:00WHAT IS A CULT?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Very simply stated, a Christian cult claims to have the truth of Christ and salvation but they deny one or more of the core doctrines of the Christian faith. A doctrine is a belief or set of beliefs that is accepted as authoritative. One cannot call themselves a Christian and twist that to mean whatever they want it to mean. Denial of one or more of the essential truths of doctrine would compromise the religion and would exclude one as a genuine follower of that faith.</div>
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If a religious group does not follow the core doctrinal beliefs of Christianity, they are simply not Christians. Certain Christian doctrines constitute the core of the faith. Central doctrines include the Trinity, the deity of Jesus Christ, the bodily resurrection, the atoning work of Christ on the cross, and salvation by grace through faith. These doctrines so comprise the essence of the Christian faith that to remove any of them is to make the belief system non-Christian. Only in non-essential, peripheral doctrine can there be divergence. Different denominations can legitimately disagree on peripheral issues, such as method of baptism, spiritual gifts, or end times events, and yet still hold to the objectively recognized core of fundamental doctrine which constitutes the Christian faith. One way that early Christians sought to delineate what beliefs are necessary for calling oneself a "Christian" was by establishing "creeds." These state some of the core beliefs of the faith. The Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed listed below are two examples of creeds that lend clarity on the beliefs of those who call themselves Christian.</div>
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Additionally, with most any church or religious organization, you can refer to their "Statements of Belief" for a more exacting representation of what beliefs are held by that particular organization. Be careful to examine these, however, since they vary from organization to organization -- and therein lies the ability to veer from the central beliefs previously established and agreed upon by early church leaders in the faith.</div>
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Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and all Protestant denominations adhere to this central belief system. Although not all denominations chose to be creedal, all Christian denominations hold to these core beliefs. If a group claims to be Christian and does not hold to those doctrines, they are simply not included in Christianity and they are classified as a “Christian cult.”</div>
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Lastly, those in these cults require our prayer and compassion. They need to hear the truth in love in order to bring them to a realization of the error they have placed themselves under. We must always remember: they love God yet are being deceived. Pray for them to be enlightened.</div>
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APOSTLES' CREED</div>
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I believe in God, the Father Almighty,<br />Creator of heaven and earth.</div>
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I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,<br />who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,<br />born of the Virgin Mary,<br />suffered under Pontius Pilate,<br />was crucified, died, and was buried;<br />he descended to the dead.<br />On the third day he rose again;<br />he ascended into heaven,<br />he is seated at the right hand of the Father,<br />and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.</div>
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I believe in the Holy Spirit,<br />the holy catholic church,<br />the communion of saints,<br />the forgiveness of sins,<br />the resurrection of the body,<br />and the life everlasting. A<span style="font-size: 85%;">MEN</span>.</div>
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THE NICENE CREED</div>
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We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.</div>
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We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.</div>
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We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.</div>
<strong>***Note</strong>:<span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;"> 1. The word "catholic" with a lower case 'c' does not mean the Roman Catholic Church, but the universal Christian Church as a whole. 2. The word "baptism" refers to the spiritual baptism since no earthly water could ever wash away sins.</span><br />
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sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-57045446454716444682011-08-13T11:36:00.003-04:002012-04-29T21:02:32.891-04:00GOOD ENOUGH?<a href="http://stelfoxrecruitment.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/good_job_gold_ribbon2.png"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://stelfoxrecruitment.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/good_job_gold_ribbon2.png" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 303px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 219px;" /></a>I spoke with someone last night who told me she believed that all the "good people" go to heaven. This always sends my mind into a flurry of questions:<br />
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-What is "good"?<br />
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-How "good" is good enough?<br />
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-What is the tipping point; the point where you do ONE THING that tips you over into the "good" area (whew!), or the one thing that tips you over into the "not good" area (oh no!)?<br />
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-How could anyone ever live without anxiety wondering if they are one of the "good" or not? Or if they have now done something to cause their rank to change?<br />
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And after thinking a while on that point, my mind goes to Jesus' claims. He claimed that He alone was "the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me." (John 14:16) The Bible says that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) Note, it doesn't say "that whoever is good will have eternal life."<br />
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There are many more examples in scripture where we are told to obey His commands, love others, love God -- but for eternal life the key is to believe in Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation.<br />
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Jesus warned us: "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." (Matt 7:13-14) Perhaps one of the signs on the wide and easy road is "be a good person."<br />
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If you are a Christian, you simply can't cling to the belief that "good" people will go to heaven. In that, you are denying what Christ did for us-- the very thing you are clinging to for your own salvation! To say anything else is to preach another gospel-- one that doesn't have the power to save anyone from destruction. If you love God you are to love your neighbor. Giving them comfort by telling them their wide and easy way is fine is not loving them, but allowing them to continue on that road that leads to their eternal destruction! We need to shout it out to everyone who will hear:<br />
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"God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)<br />
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THIS IS THE MESSAGE THAT SAVES! Christ's work, not ours. His sacrifice and obedience, not our own. His goodness, not our sad attempts at staying within the edges of the shifting boundaries that we declare "good."<br />
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Spread the word, Christian, Jesus is the only way.</div>sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-88797094716086274042011-07-13T12:46:00.004-04:002011-07-26T21:01:35.084-04:00A PLACE OF TRANSFER<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3170/2553069223_50c56ca473.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 266px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3170/2553069223_50c56ca473.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div class="mbl notesBlogText clearfix"><div><p style="text-align: justify;">FROM A FRIEND'S BLOG: </p><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote>"This summer, like I’ve said before, has brought on a lot of change in my life. Right now I don’t know what the future holds. A common saying that’s been floating around my house is that I’m “waiting in the hallway…” I was pushed out of one door, and now I’m waiting for the next one to open. I know that as long as I trust Him that every thing will work out. The only problem is that the wallpaper is starting to get really ugly, the lighting is poor and it smells. However if the lighting wasn’t poor, it didn’t smell, and the wallpaper was pretty, I wouldn’t mind the hallway. If I didn’t mind the hallway, then I wouldn’t have to depend and have faith in God to get me out of." -- Stephen Davalos</blockquote></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Insightful. The hallway isn't an entirely pleasant place to be. Yours may be decorated with Pottery Barn frames around pretty pictures and a gorgeous light with plush carpeting --- but it's still a hallway. A place of transfer. We aren't meant to live there. We need to progress.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">But our reliance on God and His care for us will be nurtured there. We have to keep walking down that hallway, trusting God in each step that a door will be opened by His all-knowing hand. As each step we take requires us to remove our supporting foot from the solid surface it was enjoying to be lifted into the unfirm of air, we breathe "I'm trusting You."</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Be assured: God is in the hallway. But like the Israelites in the dessert, He does not intend for you to live there. If you follow, He will lead, and a door will open when His time is right. He will lead you out.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But have you convinced yourself that it's comfortable in your hallway? Is the hallway your home? Child, Jesus has more for you than that narrow corridor! The manna He supplies for you there is nothing compared to the feast that awaits your arrival. Take the trust step. Lean fully into His capable arms. Don't settle for the hallway.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">God assigned someone from each tribe of Israel to scout out what lie through the doorway. The Israelites did not think the space on the other side of the doorway was better than the hallway. They did not trust in God's ability nor His direction. Caleb and Joshua were the only scouts that insisted they were able to take the land. Though God then refused to allow the remaining Israelites to enter through that door because of their unbelief, God allowed Joshua and Caleb, of whom He called "His servant," because "he has a different spirit and has followed Me fully." Caleb's faith in God's ability and His willingness to follow whole-heartedly set him apart. He was from the tribe of Judah, from whence would come our Lord, Jesus Christ.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Follow God fully. Have a "different Spirit" than others. Have the confidence in God to lead you out of that hallway and into something better than you can imagine. And speak it out. Your time in the hallway has an expiration date.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As Moses said to Joshua in the sight of all Israel : "Be strong and courageous, .... It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." (Deuteronomy 31:7,8)</p></div></div>sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-70150614155803399152011-06-08T10:28:00.006-04:002015-07-05T18:13:41.266-04:00IS GOD ANGRY AT SIN?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIs4edhqi89VBE2ko1KpHdam7u-UmtStsy_noKWHcGpeE5cVfmxyksZRNwdGi60Z5LDBif86HweHdfUFTLMSPRHgMMsrNjbKpoMz_asY_9jk_9UcLivp5nN0hTDcj95b7t9rv5iCF-byk/s1600/harvest_angel_by_sebadorn-d3b74m5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIs4edhqi89VBE2ko1KpHdam7u-UmtStsy_noKWHcGpeE5cVfmxyksZRNwdGi60Z5LDBif86HweHdfUFTLMSPRHgMMsrNjbKpoMz_asY_9jk_9UcLivp5nN0hTDcj95b7t9rv5iCF-byk/s320/harvest_angel_by_sebadorn-d3b74m5.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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(Harvest Angel by sebadorn)</div>
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"So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia." Revelation 14:19-20<br />
"He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords." Revelation 19:15-16</blockquote>
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For those few of you not familiar with him, Rob Bell is one of the leading spokesmen of the emerging (t) church and was featured in a recent Time magazine article. He prides himself on teaching a God of love and not one of condemnation. But his recent “The Gods Are Not Angry” tour, as one blogger pointed out, sounded more like Oprah's god than any semblance of one which represented Christ. Unlike Oprah, whose followers are mostly women over 50, Bells' disciples are predominately young 20-something males.</div>
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One of the main messages that Bell is communicating to his audience, for which he gets standing ovations, is that 'God is not angry because God is love'. Does this sound familiar to anyone? It should because it is the vision of god which we hear from pop-culture every day. So from all appearances, Bell is essentially saying is that we should abandon the God of the Bible for a more user-friendly version. How is this different than the anti-doctrinal tactic already used by today's mega-churches? Well, not much except that it is dressed in postmodern garb. It avoids doctrine and goes straight for practice (not orthodoxy but orthopraxy). In other words, it is just 19th & 20th century liberalism refashioned for the current age. Jesus without content and thus Jesus without grace.</div>
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It is not Christianity. How do I know? Consider the following question:</div>
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Do you believe you justly deserve the wrath of God save for Christ's mercy alone?</div>
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Can someone even be a Christian if they cannot unhesitatingly affirm this?</div>
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This is and has been a historic confession of the church (based on no small number of Scriptures) for those who come to faith in Christ. Anyone who cannot affirm this, we must boldly affirm, has not even understood the most basic truth about Jesus and the gospel. Fact is, a person cannot truly know themselves unless they have encountered the majesty of God Almighty. If His holiness, sovereignty, and wrath are not preached together with His mercy, and love then the true God has not been preached at all. Bell and others appear to be merely adjusting their idea of god to their their desires and perceived needs.</div>
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Perhaps they are worried that many are preaching in a way that will offend especially if we speak of God's wrath. But if we have a robust gospel which includes ourselves among those who have worshipped false gods and continue to fall short, and if we affirm that we are no better ... and but for the grace of God we would be worse, then there is little to no danger of a message that unnecessarily offends. If we are fellow beggars just pointing the way to bread then it is the opposite of self-righteousness. This means we need to take our cue, not from fundamentalists or from the purpose driven movement, but from the Reformed tradition. Many in the emergent movement are reacting to an Arminian or semi-pelagian fundamentalist preaching of the wrath of God, not a Christ-centered, gospel-driven one. I would agree that they re right to react against what they were taught in legalistic, fundamentalistic churches, but rejecting the plain Text of Scripture is not the answer. A robust understanding of the sovereign grace of God is the answer.</div>
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When we teach the gospel, if we do not point out sin, our idolatry and moral rebellion against a holy God then we are not doing anyone a favor, but are harming them and ourselves. Christ is the remedy for sin, and if we merely preach him as a nice example who teaches us to do nice things to others then we misrepresent him and, in fact, teach legalism again. A true Christian is one who has “no confidence in the flesh”. This means a person who has utterly despaired of themselves. When the Holy Spirit does a work of grace in someone in the hearing of the Law, He convicts them of their sin. Not just sins, but convicts of the fact that they are sinners by nature and can do nothing to save themselves. There is no pride in physical decent or in natural abilities. This means one who is brought to faith, repents of both their good works and their evil works. Both are equally worthless to God. False teaching, on on the other hand, glories in something other than in Christ alone, always pointing to something that we can do; a resumé we can bring before God to curry His favor, not realizing that He has already adopted us as sons. Not unlike the older brother in the Prodigal son who glories that he has worked for his father all his life, not realizing that God does not first ask us to meet conditions to obtain his love. Those who have confidence in the flesh also tend to believe in Christ PLUS this or that. That Christ saved them, but they must maintain their justification before God by doing something. Glorying in Christ is the antithesis of glorying in the flesh. Pharisees boast before God of what they have done for him. The Christian is one who has empty hands every day and can only thank God for His mercy. He thus relies solely on the righteousness of Christ and realized they would be dead but for HIs mercy.</div>
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Again, in light of revelation, can someone even be a Christian if they cannot affirm that they justly deserve the wrath of God save for Christ's mercy alone?<br />
<span style="color: white;">..............................................</span>---www.reformationtheology.com</div>
sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-80209150086265777722011-04-23T08:17:00.004-04:002011-04-30T10:05:14.995-04:00JESUS: GOD AND HIGH PRIEST<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzG24pq5TOKz3YkoLNQy7zJ0lLEqPK-QXGu_qldCM26u_4kTEEw4xRknBhpB_AIqvxqN-Sw6atGauLx1jvGwuOo_0SvfLQiH1eRwJcAlx3o1FVS6qBevyXj1A4iVpWLn7fSiS5LV_0K8/s400/High+priest+jesus+5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzG24pq5TOKz3YkoLNQy7zJ0lLEqPK-QXGu_qldCM26u_4kTEEw4xRknBhpB_AIqvxqN-Sw6atGauLx1jvGwuOo_0SvfLQiH1eRwJcAlx3o1FVS6qBevyXj1A4iVpWLn7fSiS5LV_0K8/s400/High+priest+jesus+5.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mark 14:61-65, Matthew 26:62-67</span><br />"...Therefore, in the evil of his heart, Caiaphas asks, “Are You the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">JESUS' RESPONSE:</span><br />In verse 62 Jesus said, “<span style="font-style: italic;">I am….”</span> Jesus accepts these words, for that is exactly who He is. He is the Messiah sent from God, who is God in the flesh. Jesus was not going to deny who He was. He was not going to deny the role that He had to accomplish. We could rationalize and say that if He simply refuses this title, He could have lived a long life on the earth and think about all the good works and teachings He could have done. But He was not going to resort to deceit. Jesus was not going to deny who He was and the mission He had to accomplish.<br /><br /> But Jesus does not simply give a two-word answer. Jesus has more to say. <span style="font-style: italic;">“I am and all of you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”</span> Jesus not only answered Caiaphas, but went a whole lot further in His declaration.<br /><br />First, Jesus seems to draw an allusion from Psalm 110:1-2. For Him to be seated at the right hand of the Power is to say that He will sit at the right hand of God. This means that He has authority, rule, and power of God. This is the point of Psalm 110:1-2. <span style="font-style: italic;">“The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion ; you will rule in the midst of your enemies.”</span><br /><br />Jesus further establishes His Messianic claim by alluding to Daniel 7:13-14. <span style="font-style: italic;">“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”</span><br /><br />The Son of Man is not simply a Messianic reference, but carries the power of the office. He is God and has rule and authority from God.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">TEARING OF THE ROBE</span><br />The High Priest was consecrated by God via the anointing oil, and if his sacred garments became torn (among other things), he was considered to be defiled. (Leviticus 21:10-12) To prevent this from taking place, the ephod (which the High Priest wore around his neck), had a collar made with mail (tiny bits of metal), so that it wouldn’t fray and tear (Exodus 28: 31-32 and Exodus 39: 22-23):<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue. There shall be an opening for his head in the middle of it. It shall have a woven binding all around its opening, like the opening in a coat of mail, so that <span style="font-weight: bold;">it does not tear</span>.”</span> (emphasis mine)<br /><br />When Caiaphas intentionally ripped his priestly garments, he should have been laid hold of by the Sanhedrin; dragged out of the Temple court to the city gates; and there be put to a slow and very agonizing death by stoning! In fact, not only was Caiaphas worthy of the death penalty, but through his unlawful actions, he actually brought down a curse upon the entire nation of Israel (Leviticus 10: 6-7):<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not show grief by leaving your hair uncombed or by tearing your clothes. If you do, you will die, and the L</span><span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-style: italic;">ord</span><span style="font-style: italic;">’s anger will strike the whole community of Israel. However, the rest of the Israelites, your relatives, may mourn because of the L</span><span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-style: italic;">ord</span><span style="font-style: italic;">’s fiery destruction of Nadab and Abihu. But you must not leave the entrance of the Tabernacle or you will die, for you have been anointed with the L</span><span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-style: italic;">ord</span><span style="font-style: italic;">’s anointing oil.” So they did as Moses commanded."</span><br /><br />In the tearing of his priestly garments - before the Lord Jesus Christ – he was prophetically signifying that the old order of the priesthood was about to change! For according to the Old Covenant Law, the priesthood was to be selected out from the tribe of Levi. But now our new High Priest, Jesus Christ, is not descended from the tribe of Levi, but rather from the tribe of Judah, as we read in Hebrews 7: 11, 14, where Paul writes:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood – and indeed the Law given to the people established that priesthood – why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, and not in the order of Aaron? For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.”</span><br /><br />God the Father allowed Caiaphas to rend his garments. In that simple prophetic act, Caiaphas was tearing up the old order of the priesthood (under Aaron) … because a new order of the priesthood (after Melchizedek), was standing before him! The old order of Aaron is gone. The new order of Melchizedek has come!<br /><br />By the tearing of his ephod – in reaction to Christ declaring himself to be the promised Messiah – Caiaphas was publicly declaring before the entire Sanhedrin - “This One standing here before me is the new and living way! To Him alone belongs the royal priesthood. My time is done. It is finished!”<br /><br />The imperfect Mosaic Law, by which not one single person in all of history had ever been made righteous before God (not even Moses, who gave it), was about to pass away!<br /><br />Surprisingly, many Christians don’t realize that the Mosaic Law was never intended to last forever. God had only designed it to last for a very short period of time (1,400 years); under very limited circumstances (i.e. given only to the nation of Israel); until the One whom the Bible refers to as ’THE SEED‘ (Jesus Christ), finally came (Galatians 3: 19, 21-24):<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"What, then, was the purpose of the Law? It was added because of transgressions, until THE SEED, to whom the promise referred, had come. Is the law therefore opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the Law. But scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law – locked up – until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was put in charge of us until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith.”</span><br /><br />Paul tells his listeners twice … first in verse 19, and then again in verses 23-24, that the Mosaic Law was only given until the arrival of the Messiah (Jesus Christ), by whom we would be made righteous and justified, not by works of the Law, but through faith in His finished work at the cross, alone!<br /><br />Yet again, in Hebrews 7: 12-13, 28-29, Paul tells us that since the order of the priesthood has changed from the order of Aaron (tribe of Levi), to the order of Melchizedek (based on the tribe of Judah), that the Law must also be changed. In fact, he also states that not just for this reason alone must the Law be changed (removed), but because it is useless!<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. He [</span>Jesus Christ<span style="font-style: italic;">] of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe [</span>Judah]<span style="font-style: italic;">, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. The former regulation is set aside, because it was weak and useless. For the law made nothing perfect, and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.”</span><br /><br />We now have a far greater, and more reliable hope, than Israel ever had while under the impossible demands of the Mosaic Law.<br /><br />For you see, Jesus was bound, that we might be free!<br /><br />Jesus was smitten, that we might be healed!<br /><br />Jesus was rejected, that we might then be accepted by God the Father!<br /><br />We are not under the unforgiving law of Moses, but the wonderful grace of God, as plainly shown through Jesus Christ! We are not under the order of Aaron, but the order of Melchizedek, whose very name means: ‘King of Righteousness‘. Jesus is the King of Righteousness!<br /><br />He is our new and better High Priest, whose garments were not torn. Let me prove it to you, by turning to John 19: 23-24, where Jesus is hanging naked on the cross, just moments away from death:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the tunic remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. “Let’s not tear it”, they said one to another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled, which said: ‘They divided my garments among them, and cast lots for my clothing.’ So this is what the soldiers did."</span><br /><br />Note that Caiaphas (prophetically), announced that his role as high priest, was passing away, while the Roman soldiers – through their refusal to tear the tunic – were (prophetically) validating that Jesus Christ was indeed the new and better, eternal High Priest!<br /><br />Finally, we see yet another confirmation that Jesus Christ is our new and better, eternal High Priest, just as He took his last breath on the cross, and died (Matthew 27: 50-52).<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“And when Jesus had cried out again with a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks split. The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.”</span><br /><br />When Jesus cried: 'IT IS FINISHED!' and died, the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom! The veil was in place to separate man from God, who dwelt in the Holy of Holies (the most sacred part of the Temple).<br /><br />The veil represented the barrier standing between God and all of mankind, namely sin. It was precisely because of sin, that man could not enter into the presence of God, and even the high priest could only do so one time per year (the Feast of Atonement), and only under certain conditions.<br /><br />THEREFORE:<br />First we have Caiaphas tearing his priestly garments, prophetically stating that his time was done, now that the new and better High Priest - the new and living way - stood before him, in the person of Jesus Christ.<br /><br />Secondly, there were the Roman soldiers, who, after they crucified Christ, prophetically validated his role as our eternal High Priest, by their refusal to tear his garments.<br /><br />Finally, we now have God the Father, giving his seal of approval to Jesus, by tearing the veil of the Temple – from top to bottom – effectively saying: ‘It indeed has been finished, and that which separated God from mankind (sin), has been permanently removed. Now the entire world, and all of its people may freely come into my presence, without fear of condemnation and judgment.’<br /><br />HALLELUJAH! PRAISE JESUS!<br /></div><br /> <span style="font-size:85%;"> -----excerpts from westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com and evaggelion.org</span>sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-81186746697602281332011-03-22T09:09:00.004-04:002011-11-22T22:42:10.348-05:00Understanding the New Covenant<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.logodesignlove.com/images/awards/freedom-travel-logo.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 324px; height: 194px;" src="http://www.logodesignlove.com/images/awards/freedom-travel-logo.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I believe that without the understanding of sin as a noun you cannot understand why 'sin' is only punished once. You cannot understand why you are no longer a sinner but a child of God. You cannot grasp why chastisement was punishment under the law and instruction and training of a child under the new covenant because you don't know that you really are a child of God.</div><div style="text-align: justify;" class="mbl notesBlogText clearfix"><p>Another reason it is so hard to grasp is because we forget the triune nature of man. Spirit Soul Body. Our Spirit is made completely new when we are born again 2 cor 5:17. Our Soul and Body contend against the Spirit, which is why we don't believe we are new sometimes. We are imputed righteousness (2 Cor 5:21). If we cannot believe we have the righteousness of God then we cannot profess to believe He was the sin of man on that cross. It's a false humility that keeps us saying we ARE sinners saved by grace. We WERE sinners saved by grace, we are now sons and daughters of the King, being sanctified and transformed into His image to rescue those still living in the kingdom of darkness/prisoners of sin noun. When He looks at us, He sees His children, not sinners. As Paul stated in Hebrews, the heroes of the faith, as well as ourselves, are aliens in this world because once we come to the faith of Abraham, we are no longer citizens of the prison of sin(noun) that all are born into, but have a transfer of citizenship.</p><p>When we come to the cross, there is a transfer from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light(Col 1:13) We do not have dual citizenship. Under our birth right, we were born into sin(noun) and therefore 'sinners'. Under our adoption/covenant into Abraham, we are now children of God(John 1:12) . We now belong to the King of the Kingdom of light, as heirs.</p><p> </p><p>Now, to bring that home to chastisement. The word in Hebrew is Yacar, to chasten or admonish; punish. The word in the new Covenant is Paideuo, to train up a child. Since we have become His children(transferred kingdoms), it is no longer punishment, but training for us to become like Him, to rescue the lost, to glorify His name. Since this transfer took place out of Sin(noun) and into His Kingdom, we are children, therefore, we get training, not punishment. (american citizenship = american, zambian citizenship = zambian, sin(noun) citizenship = sinner)</p><p>Another problem we face with understanding this is we don't really know what took place at the cross. Atonement/remission in the Hebrew is to cover, but in the NT the word changes to mean 'to remove'. It's not the same word. And therefore, there is more confusion b/c we think it is just the atonement of sins(covering)as in the OT sacrifices, but it is not, it is the remission of sins - complete removal! Where the word atonement appears in Romans 5:11 is also not the same word as in the OT, in that case it means exchange. AGAIN!! an exchange our sin for His righteousness. So, Jesus did not COVER our sins......HE REMOVED THEM. (are you also seeing why there is so much confusion in the church regarding the greatness of grace?)</p><p> </p><p>So then, if we are the righteousness of God, and the full wrath of God fell upon Jesus, how can there again be punishment? In Rom 3:25 it says He was the propitiation for our sins...........that's AN APPEASEMENT..TO APPEASE THE WRATH OF GOD!</p><p>God cannot punish sin(verb) twice. If Jesus took the sins of the whole world, past, present and future upon himself in that exchange, then for God the Father to punish sin again is to turn His back on the cross and to not accept His Son's sacrifice as sufficient. Most times, the consequence of our sin is chastisement enough. Almost always, hearing the HG say, "What are you doing?" very gently, is enough to stop you dead in your tracks!</p><p>Now, to bring this all home, if I can, without causing confusion, We are justified in Christ. Dikaioo in Acts 13:39, Rom 3:24, Rom 5:1 means to render righteous. We ARE the righteousness of God. BUT...we are being sanctified! Not the same thing. Only our Spirit is righteous. The word sanctification, sanctified, sanctify in the NT is also different in the OT. In the NT it is purification and consecration of the heart and life (#38) and (#37 in reference to rendered(imputed). So, we are not punished for sin, because Christ bore the full wrath of God on the cross. We are sons and daughters of God, fully justified but being sanctified in our hearts and lives to glorify Him.</p><p>So, for God to NOT impute our sin against us is not honoring us as children, it is honoring the CROSS and honoring JESUS and what HE did. God the Father is bound to honor the cross and it's ability to REMIT(remove) sin past, present and future. He is bound to honor the cross in it's making us children to be taught and not sinners to be punished. If He imputes our sin to us, then the justification, propitiation, remission of that precious blood would have to be rejected, and since he cannot reject Jesus (our covenant representative) he cannot reject us.</p><p>sin</p><p>chastise</p><p>remit</p><p>justify</p><p>sanctify</p><p>all of these changed when the high priest changed. </p><p style="text-align: right;">--- Jude Iannone<br /></p></div>sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-64219643058121857682010-12-29T08:51:00.002-05:002011-07-13T12:54:34.089-04:00WELCOME TO THE PERILS OF THE DESERT<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2533/3889645314_eb08a812f0.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 152px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2533/3889645314_eb08a812f0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Taken out of captivity by a savior and now living in the desert on the way to the Promised Land. That describes the Israelites of the Exodus. That also describes us as believers! </div><p style="text-align: justify;">One significant thing that happened in the desert was when God gave Moses the law. Once the law was given, men now had a set of standards in which to judge what was right and what was wrong. Now they knew what God considered sin.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote><p>Certainly sin was in the world before the law was given, but no record of sin is kept when there is no law.- Romans 5:13</p></blockquote> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">And the law caused the sin and rebellion in man to rise. Tell anyone that there is something they can’t do and the immediate reaction is “Oh, yeah? I can do what I want.”</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote><p>For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, <strong>the sinful passions aroused by the law</strong> were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. -Romans 7:5 (emphasis mine)</p></blockquote> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">So the law is what causes our ‘sinful passions’ to arise! Before the law was given, there was sin in the world (Ro 5:13) but God kept no record of it. And people didn’t know it was sin. But once the law came, the sin in us rose to it’s full height. And in that height, in that craving and desire, there is the danger of being over-filled.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">But here’s the good news:</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote><p>The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; <strong>but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more</strong> – Romans 5:20 (emphasis mine)</p></blockquote> <blockquote><p>No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, <strong>along with the temptation he will also provide a way out</strong>, so that you may be able to endure it.- 1 Corinthians 10:13 (emphasis mine)</p></blockquote> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Yes, as we walk in the desert we have the law that was given to those ancient desert-walkers that causes the sin in us to arise. But we also have <strong>GRACE</strong>, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">abounding all the more</span>, and a God-provided way out to <span style="text-decoration: underline;">every</span> temptation! Plus we modern-day desert walkers have something our ancients didn’t have: Jesus Christ and His work on the cross!</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">The International Standard Version best states God’s answer to our problem:</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote><p>Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. -Romans 7:24,25a</p></blockquote></div>sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-70571204258080968782010-11-22T08:52:00.002-05:002012-10-08T08:09:29.770-04:00PRIDE + TIME = JUDGEMENT<strong>"Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, 'Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.' Belteshazzar answered and said, 'My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies! The tree you saw... it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth.' "</strong> - Daniel 4:19, 20, 22<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Pride plus time equals judgment. Always. <strong>"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall"</strong> (Proverbs 16:18). You cannot change that law. Pride is the attitude of heart which exalts itself above others and above God. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"> That's the application of Daniel's words to King Nebuchadnezzar, <strong>"The tree you saw... it is you, O king."</strong> <em>You're the tree about to get chopped down.</em> Daniel goes on to basically tell him, <em>"You're gonna go insane. You're gonna lose your mind and act like an animal, sir."</em> Those who study these things believe that Nebuchadnezzar actually developed a form of mental illness where he believed himself to be an ox. And it was a judgment from God. <br />
Daniel 4:27 records Daniel's counsel. He says, <em>"Dude, if I was you, I'd humble myself before God right now! Maybe God will give you a little bit more time before you lose your mind and start living like an animal."</em> The next verse tells us a year later the dream came due. Nebuchadnezzar didn't do anything with the warning! And twelve months later he’s walking in the palace, talking pride-fully to himself (see v.30–31). <strong>"While the word was in the king’s mouth"</strong> (v.31). How sudden is that? One moment boasting; the next, out of his mind. A voice breaks into the palace declaring all the details of the dream are now a done deal.<br />
Fast-forward seven years. We can laugh about this crazy picture of the king turned ox, but this guy is one of the greatest leaders known in human history. He eventually gets his kingdom back. Verses 34–37 record the king's personal, humbled testimony. The climax comes in v.37: <strong>"And those who walk in pride he is able to humble."</strong> God is able to (and will) humble those who walk in pride. Every person needs to hear this, <em>"God is able to humble those who walk in pride."</em> It's not a problem for Him. He's not stretched in any way. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Why is this crucial? Because as long as we walk in pride, we can't walk with God. We are never commanded to be humble. We're commanded to humble ourselves - the lesson all of us, even a king, need to learn. And we will; one way or another. --- James MacDonald</span><br />
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sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-42449354639563591232010-11-15T08:09:00.006-05:002010-11-15T08:44:16.526-05:00But the Lord's portion is His people - Deut 32:9<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://dwellingintheword.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/32-belong1.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 178px;" src="http://dwellingintheword.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/32-belong1.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>How are they his? By his own sovereign <i style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;">choice</i>. He chose them, and set his love upon them. This he did altogether apart from any goodness in them at the time, or any goodness which he foresaw in them. He had mercy on whom he would have mercy, and ordained a chosen company unto eternal life; thus, therefore, are they his by his unconstrained election. <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="normal" id="d1115am-p4">They are not only his by choice, but by <i style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;">purchase</i>. He has bought and paid for them to the utmost farthing, hence about his title there can be no dispute. Not with corruptible things, as with silver and gold, but with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord’s portion has been fully redeemed. There is no mortgage on his estate; no suits can be raised by opposing claimants, the price was paid in open court, and the Church is the Lord’s freehold forever. See the blood-mark upon all the chosen, invisible to human eye, but known to Christ, for “the Lord knoweth them that are his”; he forgetteth none of those whom he has redeemed from among men; he counts the sheep for whom he laid down his life, and remembers well the Church for which he gave himself.</p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="normal" id="d1115am-p5">They are also his by <i style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;">conquest</i>. What a battle he had in us before we would be won! How long he laid siege to our hearts! How often he sent us terms of capitulation! but we barred our gates, and fenced our walls against him. Do we not remember that glorious hour when he carried our hearts by storm? When he placed his cross against the wall, and scaled our ramparts, planting on our strongholds the blood-red flag of his omnipotent mercy? Yes, we are, indeed, the conquered captives of his omnipotent love. Thus chosen, purchased, and subdued, the rights of our divine possessor are inalienable: we rejoice that we never can be our own; and we desire, day by day, to do <i>his</i> will, and to show forth <i>his</i> glory.</p><p class="normal" id="d1115am-p5">--from Charles Spurgeon's<span style="font-style: italic;"> Morning by Morning</span>.</p>sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-56316049653552604772010-10-07T15:38:00.001-04:002015-07-05T18:17:31.884-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZzFcUgK-MmUaZEaED2jJ8H70z_gSMW87RMKOoAY3GI5paNWmBLyHi-xOwWK-pPEAs6mL9mXVbO3pK25_UdpKn31Vvp7GNkRxxiKofHQW26wN2MJF72-GxtAQKzlAPzvGeKPO11WJGxQ/s1600/stop+and+think+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZzFcUgK-MmUaZEaED2jJ8H70z_gSMW87RMKOoAY3GI5paNWmBLyHi-xOwWK-pPEAs6mL9mXVbO3pK25_UdpKn31Vvp7GNkRxxiKofHQW26wN2MJF72-GxtAQKzlAPzvGeKPO11WJGxQ/s1600/stop+and+think+2.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.juststopandthink.com/images/logo.jpg"><br /></a> Day in and day out, we find ourselves in the monotony of life; self help books, work, family, friends, cars, house, medications. Most of us are simply trying to life a "normal life." Have you ever found yourself wondering whether or not the goal of life should be normalcy?<br />
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Now is the time to<span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="http://www.juststopandthink.com/francis-chan-video-just-stop-think-the-movie/" style="color: red; font-weight: bold;"> Stop and Think. <span style="color: black; font-size: 85%;">(click here)</span></a></span></div>
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sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-5372873344586105182010-10-03T14:38:00.002-04:002010-10-03T14:50:02.690-04:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://fly4change.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/choices2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 150px;" src="http://fly4change.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/choices2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">All humanity will display God's glory:</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">You will either be</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">a trophy of His grace and mercy</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">or</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">an object of His justice</span><br /></div>sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-64625028738748420122010-09-07T17:55:00.004-04:002010-10-07T15:36:42.983-04:005 Classic Bible Twists (And How To Correct Them)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.relevantmagazine.com/images/stories/Article_Misquoted.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 187px;" src="http://www.relevantmagazine.com/images/stories/Article_Misquoted.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong style="font-family: georgia;">Jeremiah 29:11</strong></span> <blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><p>For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.</p></blockquote> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>The Wrong Application:</strong> God loves you and has an adventurous plan for your life. Quit living the same-old boring life of just going to church, and go do something great for God.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>The Problem:</strong> If you zoom out and look at this verse in context, you see the background. Look at verse 4: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, <em>to all the exiles</em> whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon…” These verse are not written about you. They are written about the Jews during the exile in Babylon and thus when God says that he knows the plans he has for “you” he was not speaking about the general reader of the book of Jeremiah.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>The Right Application:</strong> God disciplines his covenant people when they engage in idolatry by delivering them into the hands of their enemies, yet faithfully promises to rescue them according to his predestined plans to bring them to repentance and bless them by grace.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Of course, we are now His covenant people and we know that God is no respecter of persons. If He has plans for one, he has plans for everyone. And the hope is Jesus Christ.<br /></p> <h2 style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>John 10:10</strong></span></h2> <blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><p><span class="woc">The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.</span></p></blockquote> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>The Wrong Application:</strong> Your marriage, your finances, your relationships, your children, your health and everything else in your life may be ok, but couldn’t it all stand to be a lot better? The enemy wants you to give up and give in to just living the normal life, but God doesn’t want you to be mediocre. He wants to give you life <em>abundantly</em>. By applying biblical principles to our lives we can learn from Jesus how to quit being average and live the abundant life God has for us.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>The Problem:</strong> With Jeremiah 29:11 we saw that the context and the audience make a big difference when it comes to biblical interpretation. Based on the wrong application above, who would you guess Jesus is speaking to? His disciples? A blind, lame, or leprous person that Jesus is about to heal? No, at this point Jesus is arguing with the Pharisees. If anyone applied biblical principles to their lives, it was the Pharisees. They also were rich, in places of honor, and seemed to generally maintain decent relationships with people. By most people’s standards, the Pharisees applied biblical principles to their lives and were living the abundant life as a result. Yet Jesus is in the middle of arguing with them.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>The Right Application:</strong> Jesus is the great shepherd of his people. He lays down his life in order to save his sheep, because he knows his sheep, he loves his sheep, he gathers his sheep, and he has received the charge from his Father to lay down his life for his sheep. Jesus wants to give his people abundant, eternal life where he may dwell with all who have entered through the door: faith in himself. Any who enter another way have come to steal people away from the joy of life with Jesus.</p> <h2 style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Revelation 3:20</strong></span></h2> <blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><p><span class="woc">Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.</span></p></blockquote> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="woc"><strong>The Wrong Application:</strong> If you have never accepted Jesus into your heart to be your personal Lord and Savior, know this: Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart, asking you, begging you to let him in. If you have never done that before in your life, I want you to pray this prayer with me. Just repeat after me. “Lord Jesus…”</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="woc"><strong>The Problem:</strong> In chapters 2 and 3 of the book of Revelation, Jesus is dictating letters that are to be sent to the churches of Asia. This particular portion is written to the church in Laodicea, a church with a reputation for well-being. By all appearances Laodicea would be a church where Jesus had been invited in a long time ago. Jesus is not knocking on the door of anyone’s heart, but knocking on the door of the church.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="woc"><strong>The Right Application:</strong> The reason that Jesus is at the door knocking is because the church has effectively removed Jesus. He is no longer present at the church and they are only keeping up appearances. Jesus is highlighting the irony that a church with a reputation of spirituality is a church where he needs to knock on the door and wait for it to be answered. Therefore, today we must recognize that outward growth and spiritual reputation can be present when Jesus is not. We need to bring Jesus back into our church by preaching the gospel and performing works that are worthy of the gospel of God.<br /></span></p> <h2 style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Matthew 22:36-40</strong></span></h2> <blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><p>“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, <span class="woc">“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.</span><span id="v40022038-1" class="verse-num woc"> </span><span class="woc">This is the great and first commandment.</span><span id="v40022039-1" class="verse-num woc"> </span><span class="woc">And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.</span><span id="v40022040-1" class="verse-num woc"> </span><span class="woc">On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”</span></p></blockquote> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="woc"><strong>The Wrong Application:</strong> The Bible is not a book all about rule-following and keeping every “i” dotted or every “t” crossed. The Pharisees were experts with their traditions and kept thousands of man-made laws thinking that this made them right with God. God says this, “You want to know what the whole Bible is about? You want to know how to please God? You want to know how to live a life of meaning and purpose? Love God, love people. That’s it. This is the whole Bible whittled down to 4 verses.” </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="woc"><strong>The Problem:</strong> It is certainly true that the entire law is summarized and fulfilled by the two commandments to love God and love people. In fact, it is even perceptive to notice that the commandment for us to love our neighbor is in fact a commandment to love mankind in general considering that Jesus told the parable of the good Samaritan in response to the question “who is my neighbor” and furthermore Jesus has also said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Having stated this, the problem with the wrong interpretation is that the commands “Love God, Love People” are an adequate summary of the law, but <em>not </em>the gospel! See Romans 3:20 – </span>“For by <span class="search-term-1">works</span> <span class="search-term-2">of</span> <span class="search-term-3">the</span> <span class="search-term-4">law</span> no human being will be justified in his sight, since through <span class="search-term-3">the</span> <span class="search-term-4">law</span> comes knowledge <span class="search-term-2">of</span> sin.” So the incorrect application of this passage actually teaches salvation by works rather that salvation by faith!</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="woc"><strong>The Right Application:</strong> Since the entire law is summarized by the commandments “Love God and Love People,” consider the full scope of how gravely we break this every day. The requirement of this law is absolute, uninterrupted love for God. That is a terrifying thought. With or every action that does not stem from absolute love of God we are guilty of breaking the <em>greatest </em>commandment. The very commandment that seemed to be life-giving has actually condemned us! Yet thanks be to Jesus, who <em>did </em>in fact keep this commandment perfectly! Jesus always loved his Father and neighbor with perfect and unfailing love. Meditate on 1 John 4:10 – “</span>In this is love, <span class="search-term-1">not</span> <span class="search-term-2">that</span> <span class="search-term-3">we</span> have <span class="search-term-4">loved</span> God but <span class="search-term-2">that</span> he <span class="search-term-4">loved</span> us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Through faith in Jesus, we are counted as if we lived Jesus’ life of perfect love. We are counted as if we loved God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and our neighbor as ourselves. From this righteousness that comes from outside of us we can learn to actually obey Jesus. We learn that there is no sin that loves God and there is no good work without loving God.<span class="woc"> </span></p> <h2 style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Proverbs 29:18</strong></span></h2> <blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><p>Where there is no vision the people perish.</p></blockquote> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>The Wrong Application:</strong>Your local mega-church pastor has been reading books by business gurus again and announces the newest topic of a sermon series: Vision-casting. When you totally surrender your life to God he will make a vision for your life to well up within you until you just can’t help but do something about it. This church was born from a vision we had a few years ago and if you’re not on board with the mission and vision of this church then it’s not you who is going to perish, but everybody else. This is a church for the unchurched, and if you’re not on-board with the vision of this church, you need to leave and find another church. Preferably one who doesn’t care about reaching the lost.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>The Problem: </strong>Most fundamentally, the verse itself is quoted wrong. The verse actually says, “Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint,<span class="footnote"> </span>but blessed is he who keeps the law.” The proverb is not talking about a church’s vision or mission statement but about God’s legal revelations.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>The Right Application:</strong> If you are familiar with the Book of Concord’s (Confessions of the Lutheran Church) three primary uses of the law, the correct use for this proverb would be the first: to curb sin in society. When there is no revelation from God concerning his moral law sinful human beings do whatever they consider right in their own eyes causing absolute havoc. When the God of Love reveals a law, it truly is good for society for that the law be kept and enforced.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">---from <a href="http://sk-schultz.blogspot.com/2010/08/5-classic-bible-twists-and-how-to.html">Perpetual Flogulance</a>, by Scott K. Schultz<br /></p>sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119442690080341720.post-34244453027436662032010-09-04T09:28:00.007-04:002010-09-04T10:29:15.936-04:00SERVICE OF PASSIONATE DEVOTION<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.joesart.com/feed_my_sheep_sm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 217px;" src="http://www.joesart.com/feed_my_sheep_sm.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>"Lovest thou Me?....Feed My sheep." (John 21:17)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Jesus did not say, "Make converts to your way of thinking, but look after My sheep, see that they get nourished in the knowledge of Me." We count as service what we do in the way of Christian work; Jesus Christ calls service what we are to Him, not what we do for Him.<br /><br />Discipleship is based on devotion to Jesus Christ, not on adherence to a belief or a creed. "If any man come to Me and hate not, ... he cannot be My disciple." There is no argument and no compulsion, but simply, "If you would be My disciple, you must be devoted to Me." A man touched by the Spirit of God suddenly says, "Now I see Who Jesus is," and that is the source of devotion.<br /><br />Today we have substituted creedal belief for personal belief, and that is why so many are devoted to causes and so few devoted to Jesus, but only to the cause He started. Jesus Christ is a source of deep offense to the educated mind of today that does not want Him in any other way than as a comrade. Our Lord's first obedience was to the will of His Father, not to the needs of men; the saving of men was the natural outcome of His obedience to the Father.<br /><br />If I am devoted to the cause of humanity only, I will soon be exhausted and come to the place where my love will falter; but if I love Jesus Christ personally and passionately, I can serve humanity though men treat me as a doormat. The secret of a disciple's life is devotion to Jesus Christ, and the characteristic of the life is its unobtrusiveness. It is like a kernel of wheat, which falls into the ground and dies, but presently it will sprint up and alter the whole landscape (John 12:24)<br /><br />----- My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)</div>sandrajunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073517420646320057noreply@blogger.com0