There are a lot of factors in relationships, but one factor I want to highlight is that the more sacrifices and accommodations we make for another person, the more we invest in that person and, thus, the more that person/relationship means to us.
Yes, the other person appreciates it. Yes, the other person thanks you. BUT the other person does not end up loving you more for it – you end up loving them more. For them to love you more (in the sense of binding to you more), they need to be investing their energy, efforts and attention in you.
I believe in a relationship acts of love should be given freely without conditions of a return. Love should never be a bargaining chip.
- from Eric
Subscribe To
Posts
All Comments
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Success for the future
Success can mean different things to different people. Some may equate success with making a lot of money. Others may equate it with being happy. Others see it as having strong and meaningful familial relationships and friendships. And finally, to some, it means ALL of these things. No matter how success is defined, many people often attribute success to luck. Regardless of your definition of success, these characteristics are paramount in ensuring that success is achievable.
Know yourself. The first important thing to success is knowing yourself. How many times have you heard the story of an “ultra-successful” man or woman who had a life-changing experience causing them to fully shift gears and change their lives? This happens when an individual doesn’t stay true to who they really are and what is important to them. Understanding what makes you tick and having passion in your life underpins the ability to be successful. Passion drives people in ways that a paycheck can’t. And, if you have passion in what you do and in your life, success will follow. Get to know yourself intimately. Listen to your inner most feelings, thoughts and desires. Put stock into your intuition. Journal if you have to. The more you know about yourself, the more you’ll know how you personally define success.
Be Small AND Big Goal Oriented. Although you might have big goals for your future, realize that it takes steps to get there. You can’t be a successful CEO for a large company right out of college. You can’t have a successful marriage without work. Remind yourself that small steps are required along the way. Achieving small goals allows one to feel a sense of accomplishment, and gives you the motivation to continue towards the bigger goal. The more small goals you achieve, the more confident you’ll become in making larger steps towards ultimate success.
Patience And Perseverance. The old adage “good things come to those who wait” can seem strange in a day like today when instant gratification is so prevalent. Yet, it is very unusual for a person to become successful overnight. Many successful people have failed at least once before they succeeded, and have had to work very hard to get where they are. Even for those who seem “lucky” had to work for what they’ve gotten out of life. Those who are successful realize that they have to pay their dues, have to have patience, and have to persevere when the chips are down.
Speak up. Those who are successful do not shy away from expression. You don’t have to be the most conversant person in the room, or the loudest. You do, however, have to believe in yourself and take a stand for what you believe. As long as you are respectful to others in the process, you should feel comfortable saying what you feel, and expressing your needs and wants. This will demonstrate a level of self confidence that is important in garnering others’ confidence in you.
Get Smart. If you want to achieve something, you need to understand what it will take. Do you need a degree for a dream job? Do you need to save money for a dream house? Do you need to work through past relationship issues to have a relationship that is healthy? Be realistic and aware of what is required to be successful in your personal goals, and make sure that you are equipped with all that you need to make your dreams a reality.
Find Solutions, Not Problems. Those who are extremely successful turn problems into opportunities. They see things through a positive lens. Instead of complaining, they find a way to change the situation to make it better.
Dare to Dream. We would never see progress or change without dreamers. Dream as big as you want. Be creative with what you want out of life. Don’t sell yourself short or discount what is possible. If you follow all of the six secrets above, you will have the power to make your dreams a reality.
Know yourself. The first important thing to success is knowing yourself. How many times have you heard the story of an “ultra-successful” man or woman who had a life-changing experience causing them to fully shift gears and change their lives? This happens when an individual doesn’t stay true to who they really are and what is important to them. Understanding what makes you tick and having passion in your life underpins the ability to be successful. Passion drives people in ways that a paycheck can’t. And, if you have passion in what you do and in your life, success will follow. Get to know yourself intimately. Listen to your inner most feelings, thoughts and desires. Put stock into your intuition. Journal if you have to. The more you know about yourself, the more you’ll know how you personally define success.
Be Small AND Big Goal Oriented. Although you might have big goals for your future, realize that it takes steps to get there. You can’t be a successful CEO for a large company right out of college. You can’t have a successful marriage without work. Remind yourself that small steps are required along the way. Achieving small goals allows one to feel a sense of accomplishment, and gives you the motivation to continue towards the bigger goal. The more small goals you achieve, the more confident you’ll become in making larger steps towards ultimate success.
Patience And Perseverance. The old adage “good things come to those who wait” can seem strange in a day like today when instant gratification is so prevalent. Yet, it is very unusual for a person to become successful overnight. Many successful people have failed at least once before they succeeded, and have had to work very hard to get where they are. Even for those who seem “lucky” had to work for what they’ve gotten out of life. Those who are successful realize that they have to pay their dues, have to have patience, and have to persevere when the chips are down.
Speak up. Those who are successful do not shy away from expression. You don’t have to be the most conversant person in the room, or the loudest. You do, however, have to believe in yourself and take a stand for what you believe. As long as you are respectful to others in the process, you should feel comfortable saying what you feel, and expressing your needs and wants. This will demonstrate a level of self confidence that is important in garnering others’ confidence in you.
Get Smart. If you want to achieve something, you need to understand what it will take. Do you need a degree for a dream job? Do you need to save money for a dream house? Do you need to work through past relationship issues to have a relationship that is healthy? Be realistic and aware of what is required to be successful in your personal goals, and make sure that you are equipped with all that you need to make your dreams a reality.
Find Solutions, Not Problems. Those who are extremely successful turn problems into opportunities. They see things through a positive lens. Instead of complaining, they find a way to change the situation to make it better.
Dare to Dream. We would never see progress or change without dreamers. Dream as big as you want. Be creative with what you want out of life. Don’t sell yourself short or discount what is possible. If you follow all of the six secrets above, you will have the power to make your dreams a reality.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Morning Blessings
Morning Blessings
Blessing #14: Israel’s Glory
Every morning, a set of 15 blessings is recited to express our thanks to God for all the things that we, as healthy human beings, are capable of doing.
Ba’ruch Ah’tah Ah’doh’nai Eh’lo’hay’nu Melech ha’o’lam oh’tayr Yisrael b’tif’arah.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who crowns Israel with glory.
This blessing addresses the unique situation of the Children of Israel. From a religious perspective, the Children of Israel are crowned by the Torah, by our choice to accept the yoke of Heaven and to try and live up to this higher ideal, which brings us glory. From a more down-to-earth perspective, one might note the great achievements of many Jews in the areas of science, literature, art and more, as symbolized by the out-of-proportion numbers of Jewish Nobel Prize winners.
--Translation reproduced with permission from The Koren Sacks Siddur,
© Koren Publishers Jerusalem Ltd.
Blessing #14: Israel’s Glory
Every morning, a set of 15 blessings is recited to express our thanks to God for all the things that we, as healthy human beings, are capable of doing.
Ba’ruch Ah’tah Ah’doh’nai Eh’lo’hay’nu Melech ha’o’lam oh’tayr Yisrael b’tif’arah.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who crowns Israel with glory.
This blessing addresses the unique situation of the Children of Israel. From a religious perspective, the Children of Israel are crowned by the Torah, by our choice to accept the yoke of Heaven and to try and live up to this higher ideal, which brings us glory. From a more down-to-earth perspective, one might note the great achievements of many Jews in the areas of science, literature, art and more, as symbolized by the out-of-proportion numbers of Jewish Nobel Prize winners.
--Translation reproduced with permission from The Koren Sacks Siddur,
© Koren Publishers Jerusalem Ltd.
Fruits of the Spirit?
Selflessness: In a world where many people don’t have the time or the interest in others, selflessness is a quality that seems to be less and less common. People can be selfless in the time they give, the ability to listen, their level of patience and the love that they give. Those who are giving and generous in nature have the power to make others feel loved, appreciated and special. While those who are self-absorbed tend to do the exact opposite.
Tolerance: Those people who are tolerant make us feel comfortable with who we are and special as individuals. All of us are different, and many of us have quirks and idiosyncrasies. After all, these differences make the world go round. Having the ability to accept people for who they are and not expect them to be who we want them to be is important in life, happiness and in the health of our relationships.
Genuineness: Having the ability to be real, authentic and honest is unique in a world where we put so much emphasis on the superficial. Feeling comfortable in one’s skin and being true to one’s self is one of the most beautiful traits one can possess. To have a REAL relationship with someone requires honesty…it requires hearing and giving input or feedback that may not always be popular…it means having the strength to tell it like it is and to not be afraid to face the consequences for doing so…it means loving people for who they really are…deep down…and not for what they appear to be.
Sensitivity: So often we are focused on what is important to ourselves that we can forget about those around us. Those who are sensitive are often thoughtful, appreciative and loving, in a way that makes you feel understood, valued and respected. Often, sensitive people are also self-aware, making them mindful of how they impact others with what they do and say.
Integrity: Call me cynical, but I think this characteristic is especially difficult to find. In a time when people will do things that are underhanded to make an extra buck, integrity is a characteristic that is especially unique today.
Humility: Whether someone is super-smart, extremely talented or drop-dead gorgeous, there is something extra special about them if they don’t come across as though they know it all the time. Humility in those that possess extraordinary traits make others feel special too.
Tolerance: Those people who are tolerant make us feel comfortable with who we are and special as individuals. All of us are different, and many of us have quirks and idiosyncrasies. After all, these differences make the world go round. Having the ability to accept people for who they are and not expect them to be who we want them to be is important in life, happiness and in the health of our relationships.
Genuineness: Having the ability to be real, authentic and honest is unique in a world where we put so much emphasis on the superficial. Feeling comfortable in one’s skin and being true to one’s self is one of the most beautiful traits one can possess. To have a REAL relationship with someone requires honesty…it requires hearing and giving input or feedback that may not always be popular…it means having the strength to tell it like it is and to not be afraid to face the consequences for doing so…it means loving people for who they really are…deep down…and not for what they appear to be.
Sensitivity: So often we are focused on what is important to ourselves that we can forget about those around us. Those who are sensitive are often thoughtful, appreciative and loving, in a way that makes you feel understood, valued and respected. Often, sensitive people are also self-aware, making them mindful of how they impact others with what they do and say.
Integrity: Call me cynical, but I think this characteristic is especially difficult to find. In a time when people will do things that are underhanded to make an extra buck, integrity is a characteristic that is especially unique today.
Humility: Whether someone is super-smart, extremely talented or drop-dead gorgeous, there is something extra special about them if they don’t come across as though they know it all the time. Humility in those that possess extraordinary traits make others feel special too.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Moral Compass
Being lonely on the planet is my reason.
I know that I am not alone, I have Yeshua & G-d, the bible, real church friends and prayer. Now with that being said.
I am still making bad choices and I am struggling with picking the right choice.
"I" is my focus and it should not be.
I know that I am not alone, I have Yeshua & G-d, the bible, real church friends and prayer. Now with that being said.
I am still making bad choices and I am struggling with picking the right choice.
"I" is my focus and it should not be.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
It's Almost Shavuot
"Sh-ma Yis-ra-el A-doh-nai Eh-lo-hay-nu A-doh-nai Echad "
"Hear O Israel, the Lord is Our G-d, the Lord is One"
(Deuteronomy 6:4)
*******Early To Bed
Go to sleep early tonight to prepare for tomorrow's late night study session!
It's Almost Shavuot
"Hear O Israel, the Lord is Our G-d, the Lord is One"
(Deuteronomy 6:4)
*******Early To Bed
Go to sleep early tonight to prepare for tomorrow's late night study session!
It's Almost Shavuot
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Give unto the Lord the glory!!!
Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name (Psalm 29:2).
It's Sunday around noonish. As the congregation files out of the sanctuary heading toward the parking lot, listen closely and you will hear it.
It's a common refrain voiced near the exit doors of churches all across this land.
"I didn't get anything out of that today." "I didn't get anything out of the sermon." "I didn't get anything out of that service." "I guess her song was all right, but I didn't get anything out of it."
Sound familiar? Not only have I heard it countless times over these near-fifty years in the ministry, I probably have said it a few times myself.
This is like dry rot in a congregation. Like a termite infestation in the building. Like an epidemic afflicting the people of the Lord, one which we seem helpless to stop.
But let's try. Let's see if we can make a little difference where you and I live, in the churches where we serve and worship. We might not be able to help all of them, but if we bless one or two, it will have been time well spent.
1. You are Not Supposed to 'Get Anything Out of the Service'
Worship is not about you and me. Not about "getting our needs met." Not about a performance from the pastor and singer and choir and musicians. Not in the least.
2. Worship is About the Lord
"Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name." That Psalm 29:2 verse atop our article today is found also in I Chronicles 16:29 and Psalm 96:8. It deserves being looked at closely.
a) We are in church to give. Not to get.
Now, if I am going somewhere to "get," but find out on arriving, I am expected to "give," I am one frustrated fellow. And that is what is happening in the typical church service. People walk out the door frustrated because they didn't "get." The reason they didn't is that they were not there to "get," but to "give."
Someone should have told them.
b) We are giving glory to G-d. Not to man.
We know that. At least we say we do. How many times have we recited, "...for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory"? And how often have we sung, "Praise G-d from whom all blessings flow..."?
c) We do so because glory is His right. He is "worthy of worship."
This is the theme of the final book of the Bible.
"Who is worthy?" (Rev. 5:2)
"You are worthy...for you were slain, and have redeemed us" (Rev. 5:9).
"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain" (Rev. 5:12).
3. Self-centeredness Destroys All Worship
If my focus is on myself when I enter the church--getting my needs met, learning something, hearing a lesson that blesses me, being lifted by the singing--then Christ has no part in it. He becomes my servant, and the pastor (and all the other so-called performers) are there only for me. It's all about me.
We have strayed so far from the biblical concept of worship--giving G-d His due in all the ways He has commanded--it's a wonder we keep going to church. And it's an even greater wonder that our leaders keep trying to get us to worship.
The poor preacher! Trying to cater to the insatiable hungers of his people, even the best and most godly among them, is an impossible task. One week he gets it right and eats up the accolades. Then, about the time he thinks he has it figured out, the congregation walks out grumbling that they got nothing out of the meal he served today.
The typical congregation in the average church today really does think the service is all about them--getting people saved, learning the Word, receiving inspiration to last another week, having their sins forgiven, taking an offering to provision the Lord's work throughout the world.
Anything wrong with those things? Absolutely not. But if we go to church to do those things, we can do them. But we will not have worshiped.
Warren Wiersbe says, "If you worship because it pays, it will not pay."
4. Evangelism & Discipleship, Giving & Praying, Grow Out of Worship; Not the Other Way Around
The disciples were worshiping on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit filled them and drove them into the streets to bear a witness to the living Christ (Acts 2).
Isaiah was in the Temple worshiping when G-d appeared to him, forgave his sins, and called him as a prophet to the people (Isaiah 6).
It was in the act of worship that the two distraught disciples had their eyes opened to recognize Jesus at their table (Luke 24).
5. We are to Give Him Worship and Glory in the Ways Scripture Commands
"Give to the Lord the glory due His name and bring an offering." So commands I Chronicles 16:29 and Psalm 96:8.
"The sacrifices of G-d are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart--these, O G-d, you will not despise." (Psalm 51:17)
Singing, praise, rejoicing. Praying, offering, humbling, loving. All these are commanded in worship at various places in Scripture.
The Lord Jesus told the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, "Those who worship G-d must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). That is, with their inner being, the totality of themselves, their spirit, not just their lips or their bodies going through the motions. And in truth--the revealed truth of how G-d has prescribed worship to take place. He is not pleased with "just anything" that we claim as worship.
We must balance our worship between spirit (the subjective part: body, soul, emotions) and truth (the objective aspect: all that G-d has revealed in His word).
6. We Are the Ones Who Decide Whether We Worship upon Entering the House of the Lord
Don't blame the preacher if you don't worship. He can't do it for you.
No one else can eat my food for me, love my cherished ones in my place, or do my worshiping for me.
No pastor can decide or dictate whether we will worship by the quality of his leadership or the power of his sermon. Whether I worship in today's service has absolutely nothing to do with how well he does his job.
I am in charge of this decision. I decide whether I will worship.
When Mary sat before the Lord Jesus, clearly worshiping, He informed a disgruntled Martha that her sister had "chosen the good part," something that "will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:42). That something special was time spent in worship. Such moments or hours are eternal.
Lest someone point out that Martha could have worshiped in her kitchen by her service for Christ, we do not argue, but simply point out that she was not doing so that day.
7. Remember: Worship is a Verb
And it's an active verb at that.
Worship is something we do, not something done to us.
In the worst of circumstances, I can still worship my G-d. In the Philippians prison, while their backs were still oozing blood from the beating they'd received, Paul and Silas worshiped (Acts 16:25).
Even if a church has no pastor and has to make do with a stuttering layman or some inept fill-in, I can still bow before the Lord, offer Him my praise, and give Him my all. I can humble before Him and I can bring my offering.
What I cannot do is leave church blaming my failure to worship on the poor singing, the boring sermon, or the noise from the children in the next pew. I am in charge of the decision whether I will worship, and no one else.
Someone has pointed out that ours is the only nation on earth where church members feel they have to have "worshipful architecture" before they can adequately honor the Lord. Millions of Christians across the world seem to worship just fine without any kind of building. Believers in Malawi meet under mango trees, according to retired missionary Mike Canady, and their worship is as anointed as anyone's anywhere. (What? No stained glass!)
Our insistence on worshipful music, worship settings, and worshipful everything are all signs of our disgusting self-centeredness.
It's disgusting because I see it in myself, and do not like it.
No one enjoys a great choir more than I. I love to hear a soloist transport us all into the Throne room by his/her vocal offering in the service. A great testimony of G-d's grace and power thrills me. And of course, being a preacher, I delight in hearing a sermon that you feel is direct from the heart of God.
But if I require any one or all of those before I can worship, something is vastly wrong with me.
My friends, something is vastly wrong with us today.
Dr. Joe McKeever is a Preacher, Cartoonist, and the Director of Missions for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. Visit him at joemckeever.com/mt. Used with permission.
It's Sunday around noonish. As the congregation files out of the sanctuary heading toward the parking lot, listen closely and you will hear it.
It's a common refrain voiced near the exit doors of churches all across this land.
"I didn't get anything out of that today." "I didn't get anything out of the sermon." "I didn't get anything out of that service." "I guess her song was all right, but I didn't get anything out of it."
Sound familiar? Not only have I heard it countless times over these near-fifty years in the ministry, I probably have said it a few times myself.
This is like dry rot in a congregation. Like a termite infestation in the building. Like an epidemic afflicting the people of the Lord, one which we seem helpless to stop.
But let's try. Let's see if we can make a little difference where you and I live, in the churches where we serve and worship. We might not be able to help all of them, but if we bless one or two, it will have been time well spent.
1. You are Not Supposed to 'Get Anything Out of the Service'
Worship is not about you and me. Not about "getting our needs met." Not about a performance from the pastor and singer and choir and musicians. Not in the least.
2. Worship is About the Lord
"Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name." That Psalm 29:2 verse atop our article today is found also in I Chronicles 16:29 and Psalm 96:8. It deserves being looked at closely.
a) We are in church to give. Not to get.
Now, if I am going somewhere to "get," but find out on arriving, I am expected to "give," I am one frustrated fellow. And that is what is happening in the typical church service. People walk out the door frustrated because they didn't "get." The reason they didn't is that they were not there to "get," but to "give."
Someone should have told them.
b) We are giving glory to G-d. Not to man.
We know that. At least we say we do. How many times have we recited, "...for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory"? And how often have we sung, "Praise G-d from whom all blessings flow..."?
c) We do so because glory is His right. He is "worthy of worship."
This is the theme of the final book of the Bible.
"Who is worthy?" (Rev. 5:2)
"You are worthy...for you were slain, and have redeemed us" (Rev. 5:9).
"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain" (Rev. 5:12).
3. Self-centeredness Destroys All Worship
If my focus is on myself when I enter the church--getting my needs met, learning something, hearing a lesson that blesses me, being lifted by the singing--then Christ has no part in it. He becomes my servant, and the pastor (and all the other so-called performers) are there only for me. It's all about me.
We have strayed so far from the biblical concept of worship--giving G-d His due in all the ways He has commanded--it's a wonder we keep going to church. And it's an even greater wonder that our leaders keep trying to get us to worship.
The poor preacher! Trying to cater to the insatiable hungers of his people, even the best and most godly among them, is an impossible task. One week he gets it right and eats up the accolades. Then, about the time he thinks he has it figured out, the congregation walks out grumbling that they got nothing out of the meal he served today.
The typical congregation in the average church today really does think the service is all about them--getting people saved, learning the Word, receiving inspiration to last another week, having their sins forgiven, taking an offering to provision the Lord's work throughout the world.
Anything wrong with those things? Absolutely not. But if we go to church to do those things, we can do them. But we will not have worshiped.
Warren Wiersbe says, "If you worship because it pays, it will not pay."
4. Evangelism & Discipleship, Giving & Praying, Grow Out of Worship; Not the Other Way Around
The disciples were worshiping on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit filled them and drove them into the streets to bear a witness to the living Christ (Acts 2).
Isaiah was in the Temple worshiping when G-d appeared to him, forgave his sins, and called him as a prophet to the people (Isaiah 6).
It was in the act of worship that the two distraught disciples had their eyes opened to recognize Jesus at their table (Luke 24).
5. We are to Give Him Worship and Glory in the Ways Scripture Commands
"Give to the Lord the glory due His name and bring an offering." So commands I Chronicles 16:29 and Psalm 96:8.
"The sacrifices of G-d are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart--these, O G-d, you will not despise." (Psalm 51:17)
Singing, praise, rejoicing. Praying, offering, humbling, loving. All these are commanded in worship at various places in Scripture.
The Lord Jesus told the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, "Those who worship G-d must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). That is, with their inner being, the totality of themselves, their spirit, not just their lips or their bodies going through the motions. And in truth--the revealed truth of how G-d has prescribed worship to take place. He is not pleased with "just anything" that we claim as worship.
We must balance our worship between spirit (the subjective part: body, soul, emotions) and truth (the objective aspect: all that G-d has revealed in His word).
6. We Are the Ones Who Decide Whether We Worship upon Entering the House of the Lord
Don't blame the preacher if you don't worship. He can't do it for you.
No one else can eat my food for me, love my cherished ones in my place, or do my worshiping for me.
No pastor can decide or dictate whether we will worship by the quality of his leadership or the power of his sermon. Whether I worship in today's service has absolutely nothing to do with how well he does his job.
I am in charge of this decision. I decide whether I will worship.
When Mary sat before the Lord Jesus, clearly worshiping, He informed a disgruntled Martha that her sister had "chosen the good part," something that "will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:42). That something special was time spent in worship. Such moments or hours are eternal.
Lest someone point out that Martha could have worshiped in her kitchen by her service for Christ, we do not argue, but simply point out that she was not doing so that day.
7. Remember: Worship is a Verb
And it's an active verb at that.
Worship is something we do, not something done to us.
In the worst of circumstances, I can still worship my G-d. In the Philippians prison, while their backs were still oozing blood from the beating they'd received, Paul and Silas worshiped (Acts 16:25).
Even if a church has no pastor and has to make do with a stuttering layman or some inept fill-in, I can still bow before the Lord, offer Him my praise, and give Him my all. I can humble before Him and I can bring my offering.
What I cannot do is leave church blaming my failure to worship on the poor singing, the boring sermon, or the noise from the children in the next pew. I am in charge of the decision whether I will worship, and no one else.
Someone has pointed out that ours is the only nation on earth where church members feel they have to have "worshipful architecture" before they can adequately honor the Lord. Millions of Christians across the world seem to worship just fine without any kind of building. Believers in Malawi meet under mango trees, according to retired missionary Mike Canady, and their worship is as anointed as anyone's anywhere. (What? No stained glass!)
Our insistence on worshipful music, worship settings, and worshipful everything are all signs of our disgusting self-centeredness.
It's disgusting because I see it in myself, and do not like it.
No one enjoys a great choir more than I. I love to hear a soloist transport us all into the Throne room by his/her vocal offering in the service. A great testimony of G-d's grace and power thrills me. And of course, being a preacher, I delight in hearing a sermon that you feel is direct from the heart of God.
But if I require any one or all of those before I can worship, something is vastly wrong with me.
My friends, something is vastly wrong with us today.
Dr. Joe McKeever is a Preacher, Cartoonist, and the Director of Missions for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. Visit him at joemckeever.com/mt. Used with permission.
Thoughts on "the cross"
"...Why the sudden and emotional attachment to the "cross," the emblem of Christ's sufferings and death, on the part of the leadership of the Worldwide Church of God? This distinctive "about-face" in theology to the embracing of the "Christian cross" and commandment to "remember the cross" itself, whenever troubles come, or whenever sins overpower you or threaten you, instead of emphasis on thinking on CHRIST HIMSELF, AND KEEPING OUR EYES FIGURATIVELY ON HIM, smacks of traditional Catholic doctrine and "cross worship" !
Nowhere in the New Testament do the apostles ever tell us, "Remember the cross!" The apostle Paul himself says rather we should be "Looking unto JESUS, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the SHAME, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For CONSIDER HIM [not the "cross"!] that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" Hebrews 12:2-3).
To remember the CROSS, and to think on it, instead of Christ -- is nothing less than the worship of the lifeless item itself -- in other words, NOTHING LESS THAN MODERN IDOLATRY!
What Must We Remember?
In the first and second commandments, Almighty God commands, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee ANY GRAVEN IMAGE, or any LIKENESS OF ANY THING that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not BOW DOWN thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me . . ." (Exodus 20:3-5).
Notice! God condemns the creation of any "graven image" of "anything" as an item of WORSHIP! To use the cross, therefore, as an item of worship, to loving finger it, hold it, to use it in worship, to spend time thinking of it INSTEAD OF JESUS CHRIST OR GOD ALMIGHTY HIMSELF, is an act of blatant IDOLATRY and a clear breaking of the commandments of GOD!
Rather than remember a lifeless object like the "cross," which has no power at all to deliver anybody from anything, but is an act of IDOLATRY, God tells us in His Word the things we should REALLY "remember," and keep in our minds!
Notice! God says,
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of THEM when thou sit test in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a SIGN upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates" (Deu 6:4-9).
God commands us to "REMEMBER all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a WHORING: that ye REMEMBER, and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God" (Numbers 15:39-40).
Instead of "remember the cross," which is a form of idolatry, God commands us to "REMEMBER ALL THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD"! God also commands us to remember how He delivered our ancestors out of Egypt, the first Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread, and how He intervened and rescued and provided for our forefathers in the wilderness (Exodus Exo 13:3; Deu 5:15; 7:18; 8:2).
God warns us not to forget these things -- they are crucial to our salvation and overcoming!
In the book of Deuteronomy, God thunders in warning to each and every one of us :
"And thou shalt REMEMBER the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live" (Deu 8:2-3).
"But thou shalt REMEMBER the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant." (Deu 8:18).
The prophet Malachi, in the last book of the Old Testament, also tells us what we should remember -- and it most certainly is NOT the "cross"! God says through this prophet,
"REMEMBER YE THE LAW of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the STATUTES AND JUDGEMENTS" (Malachi 4:4).
The central theme throughout the Bible of what we are to remember, and keep in mind, is the LAW OF GOD, and GOD HIMSELF and what He has done for us! Nowhere does God tell us to "remember the cross." That is a pagan, heathen idea that has somehow wormed its way into the professing worldwide "Christian" church, including now the Worldwide Church of God!
When the apostle Paul, in the New Testament, tells us what to "remember," he says, further, "REMEMBER THAT JESUS CHRIST of the seed of David was RAISED FROM THE DEAD according to my gospel" (2Ti 2:8).
We should also, therefore, REMEMBER CHRIST, and what He accomplished for us, paying the penalty for our sins, and remember that He now sits at the right hand of God in heaven, as our eternal High Priest who ever lives to make intercession for us! (Hebrews 4:14-16; Heb 7:24-25).
But the cross, on the other hand, has a distinctly pagan origin and history, and certainly is NOTHING that a true Christian and servant of the living God would want to be associated with, love, adore, worship, remember, or keep in mind, as an object! It is an IDOL! It is an object of SHAME, derision, and horror --not something we are to focus our attention on, or "remember" in times of crises, trial, or trouble! In the New Testament, the cross is nowhere regarded as an instrument or emblem of worship or adoration, nor does it have any power in itself to do good or evil. Theologically, the word stauros, "stake," or "cross," simply was used on occasion as a summary description of the gospel of the Kingdom of God, and salvation, made possible by Jesus' death on the stake for us and for all mankind. We don't focus on human words of wisdom, "lest the cross [stauros] of Christ should be made of none effect" (1Co 1:17).
When Paul speaks of "the preaching of the cross" (verse 18), he is referring to the preaching of the entire Gospel, summarized by the "stake," as it is central to the theme of salvation, Christ's death being pivotal in the process. When Paul preached the "cross," he explained what he meant: "But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God" (1Co 1:23-24).
Notice! God says,
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of THEM when thou sit test in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a SIGN upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates" (Deu 6:4-9).
God commands us to "REMEMBER all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a WHORING: that ye REMEMBER, and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God" (Numbers 15:39-40).
Instead of "remember the cross," which is a form of idolatry, God commands us to "REMEMBER ALL THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD"! God also commands us to remember how He delivered our ancestors out of Egypt, the first Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread, and how He intervened and rescued and provided for our forefathers in the wilderness (Exodus Exo 13:3; Deu 5:15; 7:18; 8:2)."
Where did the custom of crucifixes, crosses, and wearing jewellery of crosses originate? Does it trace back to early Christians and the stake upon which Christ was crucified? Or does its origin go much further back into ancient pagan customs of the heathen?
by William F. Dankenbring
Nowhere in the New Testament do the apostles ever tell us, "Remember the cross!" The apostle Paul himself says rather we should be "Looking unto JESUS, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the SHAME, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For CONSIDER HIM [not the "cross"!] that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" Hebrews 12:2-3).
To remember the CROSS, and to think on it, instead of Christ -- is nothing less than the worship of the lifeless item itself -- in other words, NOTHING LESS THAN MODERN IDOLATRY!
What Must We Remember?
In the first and second commandments, Almighty God commands, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee ANY GRAVEN IMAGE, or any LIKENESS OF ANY THING that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not BOW DOWN thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me . . ." (Exodus 20:3-5).
Notice! God condemns the creation of any "graven image" of "anything" as an item of WORSHIP! To use the cross, therefore, as an item of worship, to loving finger it, hold it, to use it in worship, to spend time thinking of it INSTEAD OF JESUS CHRIST OR GOD ALMIGHTY HIMSELF, is an act of blatant IDOLATRY and a clear breaking of the commandments of GOD!
Rather than remember a lifeless object like the "cross," which has no power at all to deliver anybody from anything, but is an act of IDOLATRY, God tells us in His Word the things we should REALLY "remember," and keep in our minds!
Notice! God says,
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of THEM when thou sit test in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a SIGN upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates" (Deu 6:4-9).
God commands us to "REMEMBER all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a WHORING: that ye REMEMBER, and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God" (Numbers 15:39-40).
Instead of "remember the cross," which is a form of idolatry, God commands us to "REMEMBER ALL THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD"! God also commands us to remember how He delivered our ancestors out of Egypt, the first Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread, and how He intervened and rescued and provided for our forefathers in the wilderness (Exodus Exo 13:3; Deu 5:15; 7:18; 8:2).
God warns us not to forget these things -- they are crucial to our salvation and overcoming!
In the book of Deuteronomy, God thunders in warning to each and every one of us :
"And thou shalt REMEMBER the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live" (Deu 8:2-3).
"But thou shalt REMEMBER the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant." (Deu 8:18).
The prophet Malachi, in the last book of the Old Testament, also tells us what we should remember -- and it most certainly is NOT the "cross"! God says through this prophet,
"REMEMBER YE THE LAW of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the STATUTES AND JUDGEMENTS" (Malachi 4:4).
The central theme throughout the Bible of what we are to remember, and keep in mind, is the LAW OF GOD, and GOD HIMSELF and what He has done for us! Nowhere does God tell us to "remember the cross." That is a pagan, heathen idea that has somehow wormed its way into the professing worldwide "Christian" church, including now the Worldwide Church of God!
When the apostle Paul, in the New Testament, tells us what to "remember," he says, further, "REMEMBER THAT JESUS CHRIST of the seed of David was RAISED FROM THE DEAD according to my gospel" (2Ti 2:8).
We should also, therefore, REMEMBER CHRIST, and what He accomplished for us, paying the penalty for our sins, and remember that He now sits at the right hand of God in heaven, as our eternal High Priest who ever lives to make intercession for us! (Hebrews 4:14-16; Heb 7:24-25).
But the cross, on the other hand, has a distinctly pagan origin and history, and certainly is NOTHING that a true Christian and servant of the living God would want to be associated with, love, adore, worship, remember, or keep in mind, as an object! It is an IDOL! It is an object of SHAME, derision, and horror --not something we are to focus our attention on, or "remember" in times of crises, trial, or trouble! In the New Testament, the cross is nowhere regarded as an instrument or emblem of worship or adoration, nor does it have any power in itself to do good or evil. Theologically, the word stauros, "stake," or "cross," simply was used on occasion as a summary description of the gospel of the Kingdom of God, and salvation, made possible by Jesus' death on the stake for us and for all mankind. We don't focus on human words of wisdom, "lest the cross [stauros] of Christ should be made of none effect" (1Co 1:17).
When Paul speaks of "the preaching of the cross" (verse 18), he is referring to the preaching of the entire Gospel, summarized by the "stake," as it is central to the theme of salvation, Christ's death being pivotal in the process. When Paul preached the "cross," he explained what he meant: "But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God" (1Co 1:23-24).
Notice! God says,
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of THEM when thou sit test in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a SIGN upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates" (Deu 6:4-9).
God commands us to "REMEMBER all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a WHORING: that ye REMEMBER, and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God" (Numbers 15:39-40).
Instead of "remember the cross," which is a form of idolatry, God commands us to "REMEMBER ALL THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD"! God also commands us to remember how He delivered our ancestors out of Egypt, the first Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread, and how He intervened and rescued and provided for our forefathers in the wilderness (Exodus Exo 13:3; Deu 5:15; 7:18; 8:2)."
Where did the custom of crucifixes, crosses, and wearing jewellery of crosses originate? Does it trace back to early Christians and the stake upon which Christ was crucified? Or does its origin go much further back into ancient pagan customs of the heathen?
by William F. Dankenbring
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Salvation, Fruit and Works
Salvation, Fruit and Works
Ephesians 2:8-9 says that salvation is not by works, but you still need to seek to obey God, even though we all sin and make mistakes. Salvation will not depend on successful results or works because a sick and incapacitated person can be saved if he or she believes what is true and seeks to obey God. Throughout this ministry I am not saying that salvation results from works. I am saying that we need to obey God and move in his spirit. The below scriptures indicate that you cannot be saved without obvious fruits.
In Gal 5:22 it says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, " In Strong's concordance some of the meanings of fruit are "an effect, result, work, act, deed, creative effort; a product, advantage, profit, utility, and praises which are presented to God as a thank offering."
"Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Ephesians 2:8-9 says that salvation is not by works, but you still need to seek to obey God, even though we all sin and make mistakes. Salvation will not depend on successful results or works because a sick and incapacitated person can be saved if he or she believes what is true and seeks to obey God. Throughout this ministry I am not saying that salvation results from works. I am saying that we need to obey God and move in his spirit. The below scriptures indicate that you cannot be saved without obvious fruits.
In Gal 5:22 it says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, " In Strong's concordance some of the meanings of fruit are "an effect, result, work, act, deed, creative effort; a product, advantage, profit, utility, and praises which are presented to God as a thank offering."
"Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Faith and What is The Gospel?
Romans 3:28: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the Law.
James 2:24: You see then that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Romans 5:9-10. Much more then, having been justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to G0d by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of G-d, not of works, lest any man should boast
Cor. 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the deeds done in the body, whether good or bad.
Rom. 2:6-7: [God] will repay every man according to his works. To those who seek after glory, honor, and immortality by patiently continuing to do good, [he will repay] eternal life.
Gal: 6:8-9: He that sows to the Spirit shall reap everlasting life from the Spirit. Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap [eternal life], if we do not faint.
The above verses are not teaching that is by works and faith that we are saved, but rather that we will be rewarded by the works we do to bring G-d glory.
What Is the Gospel?
by R.C. Sproul
There is no greater message to be heard than that which we call the Gospel. But as important as that is, it is often given to massive distortions or over simplifications. People think they’re preaching the Gospel to you when they tell you, ‘you can have a purpose to your life’, or that ‘you can have meaning to your life’, or that ‘you can have a personal relationship with Jesus.’ All of those things are true, and they’re all important, but they don’t get to the heart of the Gospel.
The Gospel is called the ‘good news’ because it addresses the most serious problem that you and I have as human beings, and that problem is simply this: G-d is holy and He is just, and I’m not. And at the end of my life, I’m going to stand before a just and holy G-d, and I’ll be judged. And I’ll be judged either on the basis of my own righteousness – or lack of it – or the righteousness of another. The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus lived a life of perfect righteousness, of perfect obedience to G-d, not for His own well being but for His people. He has done for me what I couldn’t possibly do for myself. But not only has He lived that life of perfect obedience, He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to satisfy the justice and the righteousness of G-d.
The great misconception in our day is this: that G-d isn’t concerned to protect His own integrity. He’s a kind of wishy-washy deity, who just waves a wand of forgiveness over everybody. No. For G-d to forgive you is a very costly matter. It cost the sacrifice of His own Son. So valuable was that sacrifice that G-d pronounced it valuable by raising Him from the dead – so that Christ died for us, He was raised for our justification. So the Gospel is something objective. It is the message of who Jesus is and what He did. And it also has a subjective dimension. How are the benefits of Jesus subjectively appropriated to us? How do I get it? The Bible makes it clear that we are justified not by our works, not by our efforts, not by our deeds, but by faith – and by faith alone. The only way you can receive the benefit of Christ’s life and death is by putting your trust in Him – and in Him alone. You do that, you’re declared just by G-d, you’re adopted into His family, you’re forgiven of all of your sins, and you have begun your pilgrimage for eternity.
James 2:24: You see then that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Romans 5:9-10. Much more then, having been justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to G0d by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of G-d, not of works, lest any man should boast
Cor. 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the deeds done in the body, whether good or bad.
Rom. 2:6-7: [God] will repay every man according to his works. To those who seek after glory, honor, and immortality by patiently continuing to do good, [he will repay] eternal life.
Gal: 6:8-9: He that sows to the Spirit shall reap everlasting life from the Spirit. Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap [eternal life], if we do not faint.
The above verses are not teaching that is by works and faith that we are saved, but rather that we will be rewarded by the works we do to bring G-d glory.
What Is the Gospel?
by R.C. Sproul
There is no greater message to be heard than that which we call the Gospel. But as important as that is, it is often given to massive distortions or over simplifications. People think they’re preaching the Gospel to you when they tell you, ‘you can have a purpose to your life’, or that ‘you can have meaning to your life’, or that ‘you can have a personal relationship with Jesus.’ All of those things are true, and they’re all important, but they don’t get to the heart of the Gospel.
The Gospel is called the ‘good news’ because it addresses the most serious problem that you and I have as human beings, and that problem is simply this: G-d is holy and He is just, and I’m not. And at the end of my life, I’m going to stand before a just and holy G-d, and I’ll be judged. And I’ll be judged either on the basis of my own righteousness – or lack of it – or the righteousness of another. The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus lived a life of perfect righteousness, of perfect obedience to G-d, not for His own well being but for His people. He has done for me what I couldn’t possibly do for myself. But not only has He lived that life of perfect obedience, He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to satisfy the justice and the righteousness of G-d.
The great misconception in our day is this: that G-d isn’t concerned to protect His own integrity. He’s a kind of wishy-washy deity, who just waves a wand of forgiveness over everybody. No. For G-d to forgive you is a very costly matter. It cost the sacrifice of His own Son. So valuable was that sacrifice that G-d pronounced it valuable by raising Him from the dead – so that Christ died for us, He was raised for our justification. So the Gospel is something objective. It is the message of who Jesus is and what He did. And it also has a subjective dimension. How are the benefits of Jesus subjectively appropriated to us? How do I get it? The Bible makes it clear that we are justified not by our works, not by our efforts, not by our deeds, but by faith – and by faith alone. The only way you can receive the benefit of Christ’s life and death is by putting your trust in Him – and in Him alone. You do that, you’re declared just by G-d, you’re adopted into His family, you’re forgiven of all of your sins, and you have begun your pilgrimage for eternity.
Faith!!
Romans 3:28: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the Law.
James 2:24: You see then that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Romans 5:9-10. Much more then, having been justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to G-d by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of G-d, not of works, lest any man should boast
Cor. 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the deeds done in the body, whether good or bad.
Rom. 2:6-7: [G-d] will repay every man according to his works. To those who seek after glory, honor, and immortality by patiently continuing to do good, [he will repay] eternal life.
Gal: 6:8-9: He that sows to the Spirit shall reap everlasting life from the Spirit. Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap [eternal life], if we do not faint.
The above verses are not teaching that is by works and faith that we are saved, but rather that we will be rewarded by the works we do to bring G-d glory.
James 2:24: You see then that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Romans 5:9-10. Much more then, having been justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to G-d by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of G-d, not of works, lest any man should boast
Cor. 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the deeds done in the body, whether good or bad.
Rom. 2:6-7: [G-d] will repay every man according to his works. To those who seek after glory, honor, and immortality by patiently continuing to do good, [he will repay] eternal life.
Gal: 6:8-9: He that sows to the Spirit shall reap everlasting life from the Spirit. Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap [eternal life], if we do not faint.
The above verses are not teaching that is by works and faith that we are saved, but rather that we will be rewarded by the works we do to bring G-d glory.
What parts of Torah can we still keep today?
Many people have written to The Refiner's Fire to ask about the parts of Torah that apply to them today, and they are especially curious as to whether "being Torah observant" means they have to keep all "613" original commands.
YHWH (Yahweh) gave us many rules/commands/"laws" that can be found scattered throughout the Torah, the first five Books of the Bible, which contains His Divine Instructions in Righteousness. We must understand, however, that the "numbering" of the original commandments was done by man, not by YHWH (Yahweh) Himself, which means there is no reason to worry about trying to keep "all 613 commands." Not to mention that most of those "613" commands were directed at the cohens (priests) of the day; some were only for men; some only for women, and some were only for a certain timeframe.
But some were meant to last FOREVER - and those are the ones that believers must pay attention to.
While YHWH eventually gave us just ten, we must remember, these ten are just part of the larger picture taken from YHWH's Torah which He said would stand forever. Many Christians balk at this idea because they are under the erroneous impression that they don't even have to bother even keeping the TEN Commandments anymore (let alone the "613"); but, rather, just two - and they cite the following as "proof":
Matthew 22: 36. "Teacher, which Commandment in Torah is the greatest?" 37. And Y'shua said to him, that "You should love Master YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might and with all your mind." 38. This is the first and the greatest Commandment. 39. And the second is like it. That "You should love your neighbor as yourself." 40. On these two commandments hang Torah and the prophets. (Aramaic English New Testament)
We would ask those who insist they only need to keep two commandments to please re-read verse 40 with the help of the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit). Does verse 40 imply that all of God's original instructions have been done away with? NO! The Torah and the Prophets HANG/ARE DEPENDENT ON those two commands! There's more to it than just "loving God and loving your neighbor!
Anybody who proclaims to love God should realize there is more to God than what is taught in Christian churches. They should recognize that nobody including Yeshua (whom Christians call "Jesus") had the right to negate any of the Father's original commands or to insist that His Divine Instructions to mankind are a curse! Without Torah, we would have NO blueprint for holy living (1 John 3:4)! (You can read on this page exactly what Yeshua came to do.)
The verse below from Numbers shows that EVERYONE who accepts the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is to be Torah observant:
Numbers 15: 13 "'Everyone who is native-born must do these things in this way when he brings an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD. 14 For the generations to come, whenever an alien or anyone else living among you presents an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD, he must do exactly as you do. 15 The community is to have the same rules for you and for the alien living among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the alien shall be the same before the LORD: 16 The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the alien living among you.'"
The "aliens" included anyone who wasn't a Torah observant "Hebrew" (a word which means "to cross over"...When Abram obeyed YHWH in Genesis 12, he "crossed over" both spiritually and physically when he left his homeland). "Aliens" include anyone who is "grafted-in" through the blood of Messiah Yeshua. Yeshua Himself was Torah observant - as were all of His Apostles and disciples - yet somehow Christians have decided that "the law is a curse"; that Gentiles don't have to bother with Torah, and that God treats His adopted children differently from His natural ones....
So, what parts of Torah can we still keep today? The chart below is by no means a complete list of what we are to observe today, but it will give you a good start and a lot to think about. For a complete list of the "do's" and "don'ts", please see 613 original commandments.
The parts of Torah that apply today
The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20 and 34 - which included several "forever" commandments).
The Seventh Day Sabbath (Exodus 31:13; Exodus 31:16-17; Leviticus 23:3). God told us that the Sabbath would forever be a sign between Him and the children of Israel (which includes every believer, grafted-in or otherwise!) In the end times (which we are in now) the seventh day Sabbath will distinguish TRUE believers from the "lukewarm" - especially when the Antichrist starts putting pressure on people to conform to his rules:
Exodus 31: 13 "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: 'Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you."
Exodus 31: 16 "Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.'"
The Biblical feasts are outlined in Leviticus 23 which states after each feast: "it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations."
Keeping kosher. Yes, eating "clean" foods was a "forever" commandment. You can search the Bible through, but you will never see that command negated. Kosher Law always was, and still is, YHWH's Law. He never said pork, shellfish, etc. were food! People called it food in rebellion against God. The NT passages (which Christians like to use as proof that appear to suggest we can eat whatever we want) deal with animals God gave us to eat and whether they are ceremonially clean and can be eaten at that time. Even in Peter's vision (Acts 11), Peter would never have eaten the kosher animals that had been in contact with treife (non-kosher) animals. Peter's vision was to show that the kosher animals were no longer considered unclean because they were among the treife. This was illustrating that the Gentiles were now to be accepted! The rest of the passage in Acts 11 shows that this is the correct interpretation and what the vision was all about....
For a complete outline, See Deuteronomy 14:1-21 and Leviticus 11. Also see Pastor Larry Lasiter's article, Food in the Bible.
Wearing tzit-zit, the "tassels" on the four corners of our garments. Today, we don't have "four-cornered" garments, but we can loop them through our belt loops or wear speak shirts (Google tzit-tzit for more info). Please see our articles on tzit-tzits and tallits.
Numbers 15: 37 ADONAI said to Moshe, 38 "Speak to the people of Isra'el (this includes women!), instructing them to make, through all their generations, tzitziyot on the corners of their garments, and to put with the tzitzit on each corner a blue thread. 39 It is to be a tzitzit for you to look at and thereby remember all of ADONAI's mitzvot and obey them, so that you won't go around wherever your own heart and eyes lead you to prostitute yourselves; 40 but it will help you remember and obey all my mitzvot and be holy for your God. 41 I am ADONAI your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt in order to be your God. I am ADONAI your God."
Christians insist that "Jesus abolished the law" and that all one has to do today is to "believe in Jesus." Hardly any of them realize that, what Yeshua attempted to "do away with" was not the Father's divine instructions, but the rabbinical, man-made "stuff". Even Paul verified this when he said: Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law. (Romans 3:31). You will find Yahweh's original commandments sprinkled throughout Torah in places like Genesis 26:2-5; Exodus 15:25-27, 16, 20:6; Leviticus 22, 26, 27; Numbers 15 and 36; and Deuteronomy 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31.
God said His Torah would stand FOREVER (2 Chronicles 7:14-22), and that's why we are to do our best to try to discern His "do's" and "don't's" because they are all for good reason. Most Christians seem to think Torah was abolished, which is a major misunderstanding because Torah is God's blueprint for moral behavior! Why would that have been abolished on the cross?
Matthew 5: 17 Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. 18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah - not until everything that must happen has happened. 19 So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot (words/commands) and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and P'rushim, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Has everything happened that must happen? Have heaven and earth passed away yet? Yeshua even said He didn't come to abolish but to complete/fulfill. That did not mean "put an end to"...
Rev. 12:17 - "The dragon was infuriated over the woman and went off to fight the rest of her children, those who obey God's commands and bear witness to Yeshua."
Rev. 14:12 - "This is when perseverance is needed on the part of God's people, those who observe his commands and exercise Yeshua's faithfulness."
Some versions use "saint" as opposed to "God's people." But who exactly is a "saint"? Certainly not someone who refuses to be Torah observant! Without Torah we have no blueprint for moral, godly behavior (as is amply evident in our fallen world, including throughout the various churches.) Who are those who obey God's commandments? They are the Jews and Messianic believers. Who are those who hold to the testimony of Jesus and remain faithful to Him? The Messianic Believers! Jews don't believe in Yeshua and Christians don't believe in being Torah observant, and therefore don't adhere to the commandments/Torah.
Both Jews and Christians are missing "the rest of the story"....per this thought provoking website that I found by accident.
YHWH (Yahweh) gave us many rules/commands/"laws" that can be found scattered throughout the Torah, the first five Books of the Bible, which contains His Divine Instructions in Righteousness. We must understand, however, that the "numbering" of the original commandments was done by man, not by YHWH (Yahweh) Himself, which means there is no reason to worry about trying to keep "all 613 commands." Not to mention that most of those "613" commands were directed at the cohens (priests) of the day; some were only for men; some only for women, and some were only for a certain timeframe.
But some were meant to last FOREVER - and those are the ones that believers must pay attention to.
While YHWH eventually gave us just ten, we must remember, these ten are just part of the larger picture taken from YHWH's Torah which He said would stand forever. Many Christians balk at this idea because they are under the erroneous impression that they don't even have to bother even keeping the TEN Commandments anymore (let alone the "613"); but, rather, just two - and they cite the following as "proof":
Matthew 22: 36. "Teacher, which Commandment in Torah is the greatest?" 37. And Y'shua said to him, that "You should love Master YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might and with all your mind." 38. This is the first and the greatest Commandment. 39. And the second is like it. That "You should love your neighbor as yourself." 40. On these two commandments hang Torah and the prophets. (Aramaic English New Testament)
We would ask those who insist they only need to keep two commandments to please re-read verse 40 with the help of the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit). Does verse 40 imply that all of God's original instructions have been done away with? NO! The Torah and the Prophets HANG/ARE DEPENDENT ON those two commands! There's more to it than just "loving God and loving your neighbor!
Anybody who proclaims to love God should realize there is more to God than what is taught in Christian churches. They should recognize that nobody including Yeshua (whom Christians call "Jesus") had the right to negate any of the Father's original commands or to insist that His Divine Instructions to mankind are a curse! Without Torah, we would have NO blueprint for holy living (1 John 3:4)! (You can read on this page exactly what Yeshua came to do.)
The verse below from Numbers shows that EVERYONE who accepts the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is to be Torah observant:
Numbers 15: 13 "'Everyone who is native-born must do these things in this way when he brings an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD. 14 For the generations to come, whenever an alien or anyone else living among you presents an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD, he must do exactly as you do. 15 The community is to have the same rules for you and for the alien living among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the alien shall be the same before the LORD: 16 The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the alien living among you.'"
The "aliens" included anyone who wasn't a Torah observant "Hebrew" (a word which means "to cross over"...When Abram obeyed YHWH in Genesis 12, he "crossed over" both spiritually and physically when he left his homeland). "Aliens" include anyone who is "grafted-in" through the blood of Messiah Yeshua. Yeshua Himself was Torah observant - as were all of His Apostles and disciples - yet somehow Christians have decided that "the law is a curse"; that Gentiles don't have to bother with Torah, and that God treats His adopted children differently from His natural ones....
So, what parts of Torah can we still keep today? The chart below is by no means a complete list of what we are to observe today, but it will give you a good start and a lot to think about. For a complete list of the "do's" and "don'ts", please see 613 original commandments.
The parts of Torah that apply today
The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20 and 34 - which included several "forever" commandments).
The Seventh Day Sabbath (Exodus 31:13; Exodus 31:16-17; Leviticus 23:3). God told us that the Sabbath would forever be a sign between Him and the children of Israel (which includes every believer, grafted-in or otherwise!) In the end times (which we are in now) the seventh day Sabbath will distinguish TRUE believers from the "lukewarm" - especially when the Antichrist starts putting pressure on people to conform to his rules:
Exodus 31: 13 "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: 'Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you."
Exodus 31: 16 "Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.'"
The Biblical feasts are outlined in Leviticus 23 which states after each feast: "it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations."
Keeping kosher. Yes, eating "clean" foods was a "forever" commandment. You can search the Bible through, but you will never see that command negated. Kosher Law always was, and still is, YHWH's Law. He never said pork, shellfish, etc. were food! People called it food in rebellion against God. The NT passages (which Christians like to use as proof that appear to suggest we can eat whatever we want) deal with animals God gave us to eat and whether they are ceremonially clean and can be eaten at that time. Even in Peter's vision (Acts 11), Peter would never have eaten the kosher animals that had been in contact with treife (non-kosher) animals. Peter's vision was to show that the kosher animals were no longer considered unclean because they were among the treife. This was illustrating that the Gentiles were now to be accepted! The rest of the passage in Acts 11 shows that this is the correct interpretation and what the vision was all about....
For a complete outline, See Deuteronomy 14:1-21 and Leviticus 11. Also see Pastor Larry Lasiter's article, Food in the Bible.
Wearing tzit-zit, the "tassels" on the four corners of our garments. Today, we don't have "four-cornered" garments, but we can loop them through our belt loops or wear speak shirts (Google tzit-tzit for more info). Please see our articles on tzit-tzits and tallits.
Numbers 15: 37 ADONAI said to Moshe, 38 "Speak to the people of Isra'el (this includes women!), instructing them to make, through all their generations, tzitziyot on the corners of their garments, and to put with the tzitzit on each corner a blue thread. 39 It is to be a tzitzit for you to look at and thereby remember all of ADONAI's mitzvot and obey them, so that you won't go around wherever your own heart and eyes lead you to prostitute yourselves; 40 but it will help you remember and obey all my mitzvot and be holy for your God. 41 I am ADONAI your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt in order to be your God. I am ADONAI your God."
Christians insist that "Jesus abolished the law" and that all one has to do today is to "believe in Jesus." Hardly any of them realize that, what Yeshua attempted to "do away with" was not the Father's divine instructions, but the rabbinical, man-made "stuff". Even Paul verified this when he said: Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law. (Romans 3:31). You will find Yahweh's original commandments sprinkled throughout Torah in places like Genesis 26:2-5; Exodus 15:25-27, 16, 20:6; Leviticus 22, 26, 27; Numbers 15 and 36; and Deuteronomy 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31.
God said His Torah would stand FOREVER (2 Chronicles 7:14-22), and that's why we are to do our best to try to discern His "do's" and "don't's" because they are all for good reason. Most Christians seem to think Torah was abolished, which is a major misunderstanding because Torah is God's blueprint for moral behavior! Why would that have been abolished on the cross?
Matthew 5: 17 Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. 18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah - not until everything that must happen has happened. 19 So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot (words/commands) and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and P'rushim, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Has everything happened that must happen? Have heaven and earth passed away yet? Yeshua even said He didn't come to abolish but to complete/fulfill. That did not mean "put an end to"...
Rev. 12:17 - "The dragon was infuriated over the woman and went off to fight the rest of her children, those who obey God's commands and bear witness to Yeshua."
Rev. 14:12 - "This is when perseverance is needed on the part of God's people, those who observe his commands and exercise Yeshua's faithfulness."
Some versions use "saint" as opposed to "God's people." But who exactly is a "saint"? Certainly not someone who refuses to be Torah observant! Without Torah we have no blueprint for moral, godly behavior (as is amply evident in our fallen world, including throughout the various churches.) Who are those who obey God's commandments? They are the Jews and Messianic believers. Who are those who hold to the testimony of Jesus and remain faithful to Him? The Messianic Believers! Jews don't believe in Yeshua and Christians don't believe in being Torah observant, and therefore don't adhere to the commandments/Torah.
Both Jews and Christians are missing "the rest of the story"....per this thought provoking website that I found by accident.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Shabbat Shalom on yesterday
I attended a church yesterday that was so full of Love of G-d, Family and The Bible.
I woke up thinking... how did a whole day go by and I did not realize it.
We started sabbath school at 9:30 am... our topic was
"The Case for Faith" Yechezk'el (Ezekiel) chapter 28 versus 11 to 19.
At Sabbath Services started at 11:30 am and our topic was
Parashah 11:Vayigash (Genesis) chapter 44 versus 18 to 47:27
We had lunch and fellowship.... it was 2:30!!
I returned for Youth Vespars at 6:30 pm and we played a game with the males vs the ladies (parents & children) The ladies answered the most questions correctly from our lesson on Parasha 11: Vayigash.
I am refreshed and rejuvenated from spending my Sabbath with ADONAI ELOHIM!!
I woke up thinking... how did a whole day go by and I did not realize it.
We started sabbath school at 9:30 am... our topic was
"The Case for Faith" Yechezk'el (Ezekiel) chapter 28 versus 11 to 19.
At Sabbath Services started at 11:30 am and our topic was
Parashah 11:Vayigash (Genesis) chapter 44 versus 18 to 47:27
We had lunch and fellowship.... it was 2:30!!
I returned for Youth Vespars at 6:30 pm and we played a game with the males vs the ladies (parents & children) The ladies answered the most questions correctly from our lesson on Parasha 11: Vayigash.
I am refreshed and rejuvenated from spending my Sabbath with ADONAI ELOHIM!!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
The New Covenant
God made the New Covenant with Israel (Heb 8:10). And it is the children of promise who are counted as Israel (Rom 9:6-8). Among the children of promise there is now a remnant of those who are Israel according to the flesh and also believe in Christ (Rom 11:5-8). And God has grafted believing Gentiles in with believing Israel (Rom 11:17-18). So God has in Christ made one new man of all believers, Jew and Gentile. They are one in Christ (Eph 2:11-22). And all who are in Christ are Abraham's descendents and heirs according to promise (Gal 3:28-29). In short, God has made his covenant with all who are in Christ.
_________________
Forum Code of Conduct
The Bible NETWork Doctrinal Statement
NET Bible Study Environment
Bible NETwork Blogs
Bible.org Users Site
_________________
Forum Code of Conduct
The Bible NETWork Doctrinal Statement
NET Bible Study Environment
Bible NETwork Blogs
Bible.org Users Site
Sunday, April 3, 2011
How to Be a Christian
A how to manual
Have you felt the tug of the spirit and love of God on your life? If you express the belief in Jesus Christ and love your neighbor, and Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are entering the life of a Christian through faith. Faith is an essential part of your personal life: as when you have faith in people to drive at 70 mph in two-way traffic with perhaps only a stripe separating you from a head on collision. Faith in God is not at all as scary as that example. If you have chosen to become a Christian, but you don't know whether there is more to do or not, this article will shed some light on receiving your new life and living in Christ's love.
Becoming a Christian is easy and does not require any rites or rituals. In most protestant churches Baptism is encouraged as a symbol of your conversion after repenting to God and being thankful for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for payment of your sin debt. In the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, the Sacraments welcoming you into the Church are more involved, and you need to seek formal spiritual guidance (such as confirmation from a priest) in these Churches. Your new beginning in your new birth, however, leads into the personal development of serving each other and living in Christ as discussed below.
Steps
Conversion
1
See your need of Jesus - take a look at the Ten Commandments for a moment. Have you ever lied? Blasphemed? Stolen (even something small)? Looked at someone with adulterous or lustful feelings? In Christianity, we are born with original sin, and act as sinners through our lives, even after accepting Jesus: as Jesus said, "If you look upon a woman to lust, then you are guilty of adultery already" (Matthew 5:27-28). He also said, "If you hate your brother, then you are a murderer" (Matthew 5:21-22). You have to face God on judgment day to give an account of your sins. If you die in your sins, God has to send you away from Himself to hell, called the second death, for transgressing His law.
Realize, however, that He sent Jesus to give himself willingly on the cross and so if you believe, receive the Holy Spirit, and repent of your sins, then if you are saved you will also serve others as if it is to God.
As Son of Man he said "Father, if it is your will, let this pass from me -- nevertheless, 'not my will but thine be done'.") as a sacrifice for you so that you won't have to go to hell if you accept Him, "...Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away..." (Acts 3:19)[1]
2
Believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose again for your sins from the dead to pay the penalty for your sins and make you right with God.
3
Express repentance to God - Simply verbalize your regret for all the ways you have fallen short of his holiness. This is a good time to admit your personal failure and disobedience to God. Believe that Jesus Christ forgives you. Repentance always expresses itself in a changed life; you turn from sin and to Jesus Christ.
4
Express reliance upon God - Specifically, confess your spiritual need and acknowledge for yourself Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
5
Study as many Christian denominations(Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Nondenominational, Methodist, Orthodox, etc) as possible, in order to decide which one is the closest to what Christ Taught.
Growth and Obedience
1
Find a community - We cannot walk alone in life. It is important that as a Christian you find a group of supportive and seasoned Christian believers who can help you and encourage you in your new faith and trust in God.
2
Be baptized - Baptism is about coming into the community of Christ. It is not a kind of work that you have to do to earn salvation; it is a depiction, sign, or symbol of God's work in your life. It may be thought of as a self portrait of your joining with Christ in the death and resurrection in your heart (core of your being) and in the eye of the observer. Baptism was described by the apostle Paul as: "Therefore we are planted together (united) with him by baptism into death: that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."[2]
3
Continue your walk - After you have accepted Christ, fellowship with him in your daily life by praying, reading the Bible, and following Christ's example.
4
Love - Love Jesus and love others with the love that Jesus gives you. These things reflect your changed heart, and love one of the most important aspects of a Christian life.
Lying - Never lie to God or Jesus, but repent and seek, and then accept God's love and His plan and then be saved by His grace. It's really bad for you to not confess, repent and to be saved, but if you are not, you will then die in Hell -- and nobody ever wants that to happen -- if you ever want to see your friends and family in Heaven and to tell them all about your life. Well, isn't that what you want?
5
Be amazed when you understand what Ephesians 2:8--10 says:[3]
""8. For it is "by grace" you have been saved, "through faith"--
and this "not of yourselves", it is the "gift of God"--
9. "not by works", so that no one can boast.
10. For we are God's workmanship
"created" in Christ Jesus "to do good works",
which God prepared in advance for us to do."(Ephesians 2:8--10) So if you are saved live to do good to others, according to God's law of love...
6
Read the holy bible as much as possible: then you will begin to understand what you need to do with your walk with the Lord. In order to become a Christian, you need to grow in Christ:
You need the Gospel: The good news of Jesus Christ, that you broke His Law but Christ took your punishment, paying your sin-fine. It is not earned, it is strictly given by God's grace. He grants us repentance and faith in His Son in order to save us from Hell.
Believe the basic doctrine of Christ's redemptive death and resurrection
Repent of your sins and receiving Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Accept your gift from God in a daily walk with Christ: "By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not by works, so that no one can boast."(Ephesians 2:8-9)
Two Simple Keys
1
Learn about Jesus and believe that He died, rose from the dead as your Savior and then pray and repent to the one, true God saying: "I am sorry for my sin, all my wrong doing; I want to change, and I truly thank you for everything and that I am now forgiven and saved from the penalty for my sins as a free gift. Thank you for your gift of The Holy Spirit in Jesus' name."
2
Tell others that "There is one Christ Jesus, the Son of God, who is Lord and Savior for everyone who believes, repents and follows him:" which should include going to Christian meetings, being baptized as a sign of accepting your new life, praying to God, reading the Bible, and showing God's love by kindness, forgiving others, making peace, having a faithful, loving relationship with believers, and when you sin asking for, and accepting, forgiveness, expecting consequences for some wrongs and going on, all in Christ Jesus' name -- with God as the one, true Judge of all things good or bad.
Tips
The Holy Bible states that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"(Romans 3:23). In other words, each and every person has done wrong.
Romans 6:23 continues, "The wages sin pays is death,but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord."
Because God loves us, He sacrificed His Son, Jesus Christ, as propitiatory sacrifice for our sins, in order for us to be able to approach God in prayer and to come into a personal relationship with Him.
The Holy Bible documents the redemptive works of God in this world.
The Protestant Bible contains 66 books divided into two categories of Old Testament and New Testament. The Catholic Bible contains 73 books, and the different Eastern Orthodox Bibles have varying numbers of books.
The first four books of the New Testament are called the Gospels because they record the "good news" of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
The book of John is generally recognized as a good place to start to understand the teachings of Jesus Christ
When reading the Bible, don't just read pages.
Reading pages just to look good and think you're doing a good thing is not the point. Simply study small portions at a time, or as much as you can mentally "absorb" without being overwhelmed.
You will find it helpful to continue to learn who Jesus says He is and what He has done.
It is extremely helpful to examine the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. You will want to learn how His sinless condition, His unjust execution and His resurrection from the dead transact forgiveness for those who believe in Him.
To all true Christians, Christianity is not just a religion of the adoration of the divine; it's a personal relationship with Jesus as your friend and comforter, the one mediator between God and man.
You may find it helpful to talk to a Christian. Choose someone that you respect for his or her integrity and knowledge as a Christian. Remember that God is always there for you. You can talk to Him any time, through prayer.
Know that when you become a true Christian, you will have a new attitude toward sin.
You should hate the sin that you used to love.
God will give you a new heart with new desires when you repent of your sins and turn to Him.
Remember that God loves you no matter what.
Also, God created you to be joyful in life. Please do not mistake Christianity as some set of moral codes to live by that takes away all the pleasures in life. Accept God as your exceeding joy; may that be the main issue. God is most glorified when you are most satisfied in Him. He created us to know, love, and serve Him, and to enjoy Him in this life and the next. When we fulfill the purpose we were created for, we experience deep fulfillment and joy even through the hard times in life.
Please don't waste this precious life, we only have one shot to make Christ as our purpose in everything.
Warnings
There are branches of Christianity which have differing approaches to doctrines. Seek out a Christian church that teaches from the Bible, not from their denominational writings (traditions of that church). Find books based on Biblical scriptures for doctrines that interest you.
You need to repent of your sins. Without true repentance, you cannot become a Christian.
Although you may have been told that when you become a Christian: things will get better; your marriage will heal; you won't be sick ever again; all problems in life will be absolved, etc.; that is simply untrue. Jesus said that because they hated Him, people will also hate you (Matthew 24:9). You may be mocked, laughed at and persecuted. Don't let this get you down. This life doesn't last very long, and your reward is great in heaven.
Although Christians do experience problems, they also experience amazing healings and miracles. Jesus has promised to help, so never give up hope.
Don't try to do things to earn your way to heaven because being saved is "not by works."(Ephesians 2:9) Your righteous deeds are "no more effective for true reconciliation with God than filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). Visualize trying to clean or purify yourself with dirty rags...
Remember that all human beings are incomplete, sinful people. When you sin, repent of your sins.
There are many non-believers, but that doesn't mean you can't be friends with them. Be an example, your attitude should be like that of Christ. Although Christ sat and ate with sinners, He taught and lead them to become saints. We all stumble in many ways, remember the height from which you've fallen! Forgive as Christ God forgave you.
If you feel the need for change in your life, want to be free from the oppression of your sins, and want to learn to live a better life without the burdens of your past, then visit a Christian church and take a look at the Bible verse John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only son [Jesus], that whoever believes in him shall not die but will have everlasting life." This means that God sent his son Jesus to take on the burden of our sins and free us through our trust and belief in him.
The book of Revelations is the last book in the Bible and is a very interesting book to read, but jumping right in to it can be scary and give the reader the wrong message of mystical thrills, not faith. Be sure you understand the context of the Gospel before reading this complicated book of the Bible.
Be faithful in your witness for Christ. Every Christian is to preach the Gospel in word and deed, but do this with gentleness and respect. Christ did not preach what people wanted to hear, if He had, our Lord wouldn't have been crucified. People will get offended, but make sure if they do get offended it wasn't done unjustly or hypocritically.
You decide if you are a Christian. And not all people who call themselves Christians believe in the things laid out in the Bible or this article. Some do not believe in a Divine Jesus, Hell, or original sin. But they may still call themselves Christian. The most important thing about living as a Christian is believing in the point of life like Jesus taught, and following the Golden Rule. Of course, Jesus taught belief in God as real, all powerful and as the judge, and so to live as Jesus taught as Christian one will believe in God, and believe in Jesus also...
Keep a journal and write about your experiences with God in everyday life. For example, make a prayer journal such as keep a record of your prayer and results.
Things You'll Need
A bible.
Sources and Citations
↑ Acts 3:19 "Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away..."
↑ Romans 6:4 "new life"
↑ http://bible.cc/ephesians/2-8.htm
How to Be a Christian - wikiHow
Have you felt the tug of the spirit and love of God on your life? If you express the belief in Jesus Christ and love your neighbor, and Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are entering the life of a Christian through faith. Faith is an essential part of your personal life: as when you have faith in people to drive at 70 mph in two-way traffic with perhaps only a stripe separating you from a head on collision. Faith in God is not at all as scary as that example. If you have chosen to become a Christian, but you don't know whether there is more to do or not, this article will shed some light on receiving your new life and living in Christ's love.
Becoming a Christian is easy and does not require any rites or rituals. In most protestant churches Baptism is encouraged as a symbol of your conversion after repenting to God and being thankful for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for payment of your sin debt. In the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, the Sacraments welcoming you into the Church are more involved, and you need to seek formal spiritual guidance (such as confirmation from a priest) in these Churches. Your new beginning in your new birth, however, leads into the personal development of serving each other and living in Christ as discussed below.
Steps
Conversion
1
See your need of Jesus - take a look at the Ten Commandments for a moment. Have you ever lied? Blasphemed? Stolen (even something small)? Looked at someone with adulterous or lustful feelings? In Christianity, we are born with original sin, and act as sinners through our lives, even after accepting Jesus: as Jesus said, "If you look upon a woman to lust, then you are guilty of adultery already" (Matthew 5:27-28). He also said, "If you hate your brother, then you are a murderer" (Matthew 5:21-22). You have to face God on judgment day to give an account of your sins. If you die in your sins, God has to send you away from Himself to hell, called the second death, for transgressing His law.
Realize, however, that He sent Jesus to give himself willingly on the cross and so if you believe, receive the Holy Spirit, and repent of your sins, then if you are saved you will also serve others as if it is to God.
As Son of Man he said "Father, if it is your will, let this pass from me -- nevertheless, 'not my will but thine be done'.") as a sacrifice for you so that you won't have to go to hell if you accept Him, "...Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away..." (Acts 3:19)[1]
2
Believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose again for your sins from the dead to pay the penalty for your sins and make you right with God.
3
Express repentance to God - Simply verbalize your regret for all the ways you have fallen short of his holiness. This is a good time to admit your personal failure and disobedience to God. Believe that Jesus Christ forgives you. Repentance always expresses itself in a changed life; you turn from sin and to Jesus Christ.
4
Express reliance upon God - Specifically, confess your spiritual need and acknowledge for yourself Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
5
Study as many Christian denominations(Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Nondenominational, Methodist, Orthodox, etc) as possible, in order to decide which one is the closest to what Christ Taught.
Growth and Obedience
1
Find a community - We cannot walk alone in life. It is important that as a Christian you find a group of supportive and seasoned Christian believers who can help you and encourage you in your new faith and trust in God.
2
Be baptized - Baptism is about coming into the community of Christ. It is not a kind of work that you have to do to earn salvation; it is a depiction, sign, or symbol of God's work in your life. It may be thought of as a self portrait of your joining with Christ in the death and resurrection in your heart (core of your being) and in the eye of the observer. Baptism was described by the apostle Paul as: "Therefore we are planted together (united) with him by baptism into death: that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."[2]
3
Continue your walk - After you have accepted Christ, fellowship with him in your daily life by praying, reading the Bible, and following Christ's example.
4
Love - Love Jesus and love others with the love that Jesus gives you. These things reflect your changed heart, and love one of the most important aspects of a Christian life.
Lying - Never lie to God or Jesus, but repent and seek, and then accept God's love and His plan and then be saved by His grace. It's really bad for you to not confess, repent and to be saved, but if you are not, you will then die in Hell -- and nobody ever wants that to happen -- if you ever want to see your friends and family in Heaven and to tell them all about your life. Well, isn't that what you want?
5
Be amazed when you understand what Ephesians 2:8--10 says:[3]
""8. For it is "by grace" you have been saved, "through faith"--
and this "not of yourselves", it is the "gift of God"--
9. "not by works", so that no one can boast.
10. For we are God's workmanship
"created" in Christ Jesus "to do good works",
which God prepared in advance for us to do."(Ephesians 2:8--10) So if you are saved live to do good to others, according to God's law of love...
6
Read the holy bible as much as possible: then you will begin to understand what you need to do with your walk with the Lord. In order to become a Christian, you need to grow in Christ:
You need the Gospel: The good news of Jesus Christ, that you broke His Law but Christ took your punishment, paying your sin-fine. It is not earned, it is strictly given by God's grace. He grants us repentance and faith in His Son in order to save us from Hell.
Believe the basic doctrine of Christ's redemptive death and resurrection
Repent of your sins and receiving Christ as your Lord and Savior.
Accept your gift from God in a daily walk with Christ: "By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not by works, so that no one can boast."(Ephesians 2:8-9)
Two Simple Keys
1
Learn about Jesus and believe that He died, rose from the dead as your Savior and then pray and repent to the one, true God saying: "I am sorry for my sin, all my wrong doing; I want to change, and I truly thank you for everything and that I am now forgiven and saved from the penalty for my sins as a free gift. Thank you for your gift of The Holy Spirit in Jesus' name."
2
Tell others that "There is one Christ Jesus, the Son of God, who is Lord and Savior for everyone who believes, repents and follows him:" which should include going to Christian meetings, being baptized as a sign of accepting your new life, praying to God, reading the Bible, and showing God's love by kindness, forgiving others, making peace, having a faithful, loving relationship with believers, and when you sin asking for, and accepting, forgiveness, expecting consequences for some wrongs and going on, all in Christ Jesus' name -- with God as the one, true Judge of all things good or bad.
Tips
The Holy Bible states that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"(Romans 3:23). In other words, each and every person has done wrong.
Romans 6:23 continues, "The wages sin pays is death,but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord."
Because God loves us, He sacrificed His Son, Jesus Christ, as propitiatory sacrifice for our sins, in order for us to be able to approach God in prayer and to come into a personal relationship with Him.
The Holy Bible documents the redemptive works of God in this world.
The Protestant Bible contains 66 books divided into two categories of Old Testament and New Testament. The Catholic Bible contains 73 books, and the different Eastern Orthodox Bibles have varying numbers of books.
The first four books of the New Testament are called the Gospels because they record the "good news" of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
The book of John is generally recognized as a good place to start to understand the teachings of Jesus Christ
When reading the Bible, don't just read pages.
Reading pages just to look good and think you're doing a good thing is not the point. Simply study small portions at a time, or as much as you can mentally "absorb" without being overwhelmed.
You will find it helpful to continue to learn who Jesus says He is and what He has done.
It is extremely helpful to examine the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. You will want to learn how His sinless condition, His unjust execution and His resurrection from the dead transact forgiveness for those who believe in Him.
To all true Christians, Christianity is not just a religion of the adoration of the divine; it's a personal relationship with Jesus as your friend and comforter, the one mediator between God and man.
You may find it helpful to talk to a Christian. Choose someone that you respect for his or her integrity and knowledge as a Christian. Remember that God is always there for you. You can talk to Him any time, through prayer.
Know that when you become a true Christian, you will have a new attitude toward sin.
You should hate the sin that you used to love.
God will give you a new heart with new desires when you repent of your sins and turn to Him.
Remember that God loves you no matter what.
Also, God created you to be joyful in life. Please do not mistake Christianity as some set of moral codes to live by that takes away all the pleasures in life. Accept God as your exceeding joy; may that be the main issue. God is most glorified when you are most satisfied in Him. He created us to know, love, and serve Him, and to enjoy Him in this life and the next. When we fulfill the purpose we were created for, we experience deep fulfillment and joy even through the hard times in life.
Please don't waste this precious life, we only have one shot to make Christ as our purpose in everything.
Warnings
There are branches of Christianity which have differing approaches to doctrines. Seek out a Christian church that teaches from the Bible, not from their denominational writings (traditions of that church). Find books based on Biblical scriptures for doctrines that interest you.
You need to repent of your sins. Without true repentance, you cannot become a Christian.
Although you may have been told that when you become a Christian: things will get better; your marriage will heal; you won't be sick ever again; all problems in life will be absolved, etc.; that is simply untrue. Jesus said that because they hated Him, people will also hate you (Matthew 24:9). You may be mocked, laughed at and persecuted. Don't let this get you down. This life doesn't last very long, and your reward is great in heaven.
Although Christians do experience problems, they also experience amazing healings and miracles. Jesus has promised to help, so never give up hope.
Don't try to do things to earn your way to heaven because being saved is "not by works."(Ephesians 2:9) Your righteous deeds are "no more effective for true reconciliation with God than filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). Visualize trying to clean or purify yourself with dirty rags...
Remember that all human beings are incomplete, sinful people. When you sin, repent of your sins.
There are many non-believers, but that doesn't mean you can't be friends with them. Be an example, your attitude should be like that of Christ. Although Christ sat and ate with sinners, He taught and lead them to become saints. We all stumble in many ways, remember the height from which you've fallen! Forgive as Christ God forgave you.
If you feel the need for change in your life, want to be free from the oppression of your sins, and want to learn to live a better life without the burdens of your past, then visit a Christian church and take a look at the Bible verse John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only son [Jesus], that whoever believes in him shall not die but will have everlasting life." This means that God sent his son Jesus to take on the burden of our sins and free us through our trust and belief in him.
The book of Revelations is the last book in the Bible and is a very interesting book to read, but jumping right in to it can be scary and give the reader the wrong message of mystical thrills, not faith. Be sure you understand the context of the Gospel before reading this complicated book of the Bible.
Be faithful in your witness for Christ. Every Christian is to preach the Gospel in word and deed, but do this with gentleness and respect. Christ did not preach what people wanted to hear, if He had, our Lord wouldn't have been crucified. People will get offended, but make sure if they do get offended it wasn't done unjustly or hypocritically.
You decide if you are a Christian. And not all people who call themselves Christians believe in the things laid out in the Bible or this article. Some do not believe in a Divine Jesus, Hell, or original sin. But they may still call themselves Christian. The most important thing about living as a Christian is believing in the point of life like Jesus taught, and following the Golden Rule. Of course, Jesus taught belief in God as real, all powerful and as the judge, and so to live as Jesus taught as Christian one will believe in God, and believe in Jesus also...
Keep a journal and write about your experiences with God in everyday life. For example, make a prayer journal such as keep a record of your prayer and results.
Things You'll Need
A bible.
Sources and Citations
↑ Acts 3:19 "Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away..."
↑ Romans 6:4 "new life"
↑ http://bible.cc/ephesians/2-8.htm
How to Be a Christian - wikiHow
Monday, March 28, 2011
Messianic Prophecy: Fulfillment by Jesus Christ
Messianic prophecy was fulfilled by the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Although many Jews did not accept Jesus as their Messiah, many did, and they became the Jewish sect later known as the Christians. Christianity, based in dramatic part on the fulfillment of historical prophecy, spread rapidly throughout the Roman Empire of the 1st Century. Examine the prophecies yourself, and calculate the probability of one man fulfilling just a handful of the most specific ones, and you’ll be amazed.
“Jesus said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’” Luke 24:44 (NIV)
The Old Testament verses are the prophecy; the New Testament verses proclaim the fulfillment. Check them all out for yourself!
Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21-23)
A descendant of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; 22:18; Matthew 1:1; Galatians 3:16)
Of the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10; Luke 3:23, 33; Hebrews 7:14)
Of the house of David (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Matthew 1:1)
Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-7)
Taken to Egypt (Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:14-15)
Herod´s killing of the infants (Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:16-18)
Anointed by the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2; Matthew 3:16-17)
Heralded by the messenger of the Lord (John the Baptist) (Isaiah 40:3-5; Malachi 3:1; Matthew 3:1-3)
Would perform miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6; Matthew 9:35)
Would preach good news (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:14-21)
Would minister in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1; Matthew 4:12-16) Would cleanse the Temple (Malachi 3:1; Matthew 21:12-13)
Would first present Himself as King 173,880 days from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25; Matthew 21:4-11)
Would enter Jerusalem as a king on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:4-9)
Would be rejected by Jews (Psalm 118:22; I Peter 2:7)
Die a humiliating death (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53) involving:
rejection (Isaiah 53:3; John 1:10-11; 7:5,48)
betrayal by a friend (Psalm 41:9; Luke 22:3-4; John 13:18)
sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:14-15)
silence before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:12-14)
being mocked (Psalm 22: 7-8; Matthew 27:31)
beaten (Isaiah 52:14; Matthew 27:26)
spit upon (Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 27:30)
piercing His hands and feet (Psalm 22:16; Matthew 27:31)
being crucified with thieves (Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:38)
praying for His persecutors (Isaiah 53:12; Luke 23:34)
piercing His side (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34)
given gall and vinegar to drink (Psalm 69:21, Matthew 27:34, Luke 23:36)
no broken bones (Psalm 34:20; John 19:32-36)
buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60)
casting lots for His garments (Psalm 22:18; John 19:23-24)
Would rise from the dead!! (Psalm 16:10; Mark 16:6; Acts 2:31)
Ascend into Heaven (Psalm 68:18; Acts 1:9)
Would sit down at the right hand of God (Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 1:3)
“Jesus said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’” Luke 24:44 (NIV)
The Old Testament verses are the prophecy; the New Testament verses proclaim the fulfillment. Check them all out for yourself!
Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21-23)
A descendant of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; 22:18; Matthew 1:1; Galatians 3:16)
Of the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10; Luke 3:23, 33; Hebrews 7:14)
Of the house of David (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Matthew 1:1)
Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-7)
Taken to Egypt (Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:14-15)
Herod´s killing of the infants (Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:16-18)
Anointed by the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2; Matthew 3:16-17)
Heralded by the messenger of the Lord (John the Baptist) (Isaiah 40:3-5; Malachi 3:1; Matthew 3:1-3)
Would perform miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6; Matthew 9:35)
Would preach good news (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:14-21)
Would minister in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1; Matthew 4:12-16) Would cleanse the Temple (Malachi 3:1; Matthew 21:12-13)
Would first present Himself as King 173,880 days from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25; Matthew 21:4-11)
Would enter Jerusalem as a king on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:4-9)
Would be rejected by Jews (Psalm 118:22; I Peter 2:7)
Die a humiliating death (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53) involving:
rejection (Isaiah 53:3; John 1:10-11; 7:5,48)
betrayal by a friend (Psalm 41:9; Luke 22:3-4; John 13:18)
sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:14-15)
silence before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:12-14)
being mocked (Psalm 22: 7-8; Matthew 27:31)
beaten (Isaiah 52:14; Matthew 27:26)
spit upon (Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 27:30)
piercing His hands and feet (Psalm 22:16; Matthew 27:31)
being crucified with thieves (Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:38)
praying for His persecutors (Isaiah 53:12; Luke 23:34)
piercing His side (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34)
given gall and vinegar to drink (Psalm 69:21, Matthew 27:34, Luke 23:36)
no broken bones (Psalm 34:20; John 19:32-36)
buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60)
casting lots for His garments (Psalm 22:18; John 19:23-24)
Would rise from the dead!! (Psalm 16:10; Mark 16:6; Acts 2:31)
Ascend into Heaven (Psalm 68:18; Acts 1:9)
Would sit down at the right hand of God (Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 1:3)
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Jewish Roots of Christianity
* The Scriptures have come through the Jewish people.
* The Bible describes their history and their religion.
* Jewish people wrote the entire Old Testament.
* Jewish people wrote the New Testament with the possible exception of the apostle Luke.
* The Preservation of the Scriptures
o The Jewish people protected the Bible against destruction by its enemies.
o They "guaranteed" the accuracy of our existing text by their painstaking copying methods.
The Savior
* Yeshua came from the Jewish people.
* He lived as a Jew and followed Jewish religious practices.
* Yeshua refused to abolish Biblical Judaism
o Matthew 5:17
+ 17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. (NIV)
The Way of Salvation
* Salvation as well came through the Jewish people
o Rom 11:11-24
+ Natural branches - The Jewish believers in Messiah Yeshua
+ Ingrafted - The Gentile believers in Messiah Yeshua
* The promises of salvation are Jewish.
o Gen 22:18
+ 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."(NIV)
* The way of salvation is Jewish
o John 4:22
+ 21 Yeshua declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. (NIV)
The Structure
* The Church
o The origin and existence of the church for the first several years were due to the efforts of the 12 Jewish Apostles.
o The church's first outreach was conducted by Jewish people, following accepted Jewish practices and growth resulted.
The Spiritual Benefits
* Rom 15:25-27
o 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. (NIV)
* Eph 2:11-13, 3:4-6
o 11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)--12 remember that at that time you were separate from Messiah, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.13 But now in Messiah Yeshua you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Messiah. (NIV)
* Eph 3:4-6
o 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Messiah, 5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Messiah Yeshua. (NIV)
* Rom 11:11-18
o 11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring! 13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, (NIV)
* Gal 3:29
o 29 If you belong to Messiah, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (NIV)
Conclusion
* Christians owe much to the Jewish people for:
o The Scriptures
+ For more information see The Jewishness of the New Testament by Al Brickner.
o The Savior
o The Way of Salvation
+ For more information see Was Paul the Founder of Christianity? by Avi Synder. .
o The Structure of the Church
o Spiritual Benefits
+ For more information concerning this topic generally see Our Debt to Israel by Derek Prince.
* It is therefore incumbent upon Gentile Christians to:
o Share their faith responsibly with Jewish people -
+ Rom 11:11-18
# 11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.
+ For more information on sharing go to: Pointers on Witnessing.
o Share their material wealth for the cause of reaching Jewish people with the Good News of Messiah Yeshua
+ Rom 15:27b
# 27b For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.
Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith
Copyright Hear Now!
* The Bible describes their history and their religion.
* Jewish people wrote the entire Old Testament.
* Jewish people wrote the New Testament with the possible exception of the apostle Luke.
* The Preservation of the Scriptures
o The Jewish people protected the Bible against destruction by its enemies.
o They "guaranteed" the accuracy of our existing text by their painstaking copying methods.
The Savior
* Yeshua came from the Jewish people.
* He lived as a Jew and followed Jewish religious practices.
* Yeshua refused to abolish Biblical Judaism
o Matthew 5:17
+ 17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. (NIV)
The Way of Salvation
* Salvation as well came through the Jewish people
o Rom 11:11-24
+ Natural branches - The Jewish believers in Messiah Yeshua
+ Ingrafted - The Gentile believers in Messiah Yeshua
* The promises of salvation are Jewish.
o Gen 22:18
+ 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."(NIV)
* The way of salvation is Jewish
o John 4:22
+ 21 Yeshua declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. (NIV)
The Structure
* The Church
o The origin and existence of the church for the first several years were due to the efforts of the 12 Jewish Apostles.
o The church's first outreach was conducted by Jewish people, following accepted Jewish practices and growth resulted.
The Spiritual Benefits
* Rom 15:25-27
o 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. (NIV)
* Eph 2:11-13, 3:4-6
o 11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)--12 remember that at that time you were separate from Messiah, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.13 But now in Messiah Yeshua you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Messiah. (NIV)
* Eph 3:4-6
o 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Messiah, 5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Messiah Yeshua. (NIV)
* Rom 11:11-18
o 11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring! 13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, (NIV)
* Gal 3:29
o 29 If you belong to Messiah, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (NIV)
Conclusion
* Christians owe much to the Jewish people for:
o The Scriptures
+ For more information see The Jewishness of the New Testament by Al Brickner.
o The Savior
o The Way of Salvation
+ For more information see Was Paul the Founder of Christianity? by Avi Synder. .
o The Structure of the Church
o Spiritual Benefits
+ For more information concerning this topic generally see Our Debt to Israel by Derek Prince.
* It is therefore incumbent upon Gentile Christians to:
o Share their faith responsibly with Jewish people -
+ Rom 11:11-18
# 11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.
+ For more information on sharing go to: Pointers on Witnessing.
o Share their material wealth for the cause of reaching Jewish people with the Good News of Messiah Yeshua
+ Rom 15:27b
# 27b For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.
Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith
Copyright Hear Now!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Your Birth Date in the Bible
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Jeremiah 17:9
Jeremiah 17:9 tells us that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it ? The next verse starts out by answering the question. 'I the Lord ....'.
Sometimes we can actually deceive ourselves into thinking something is right when it is not . Sometimes it may not be the actual ' act' , but the ' motive ' behind it. That is why it is so important to pray this prayer from the 139 Psalm. Only God can give us an honest assessment of our ' motives behind our actions.
Heb. 4 : 12-13 tells us that the Word is' a discernment of the thoughts and intents of the heart' and that ' all things are naked and opened to the eyes of the one we must give account to. If we are truly serious about worshiping and serving in ' spirit and in truth' we must continue to go to God with this prayer from Psalm 139.
Sometimes we can actually deceive ourselves into thinking something is right when it is not . Sometimes it may not be the actual ' act' , but the ' motive ' behind it. That is why it is so important to pray this prayer from the 139 Psalm. Only God can give us an honest assessment of our ' motives behind our actions.
Heb. 4 : 12-13 tells us that the Word is' a discernment of the thoughts and intents of the heart' and that ' all things are naked and opened to the eyes of the one we must give account to. If we are truly serious about worshiping and serving in ' spirit and in truth' we must continue to go to God with this prayer from Psalm 139.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Recognizing A True Church
..."Matthew 25:44 asks, Where is Christ? How we can recognize the true church and, by extension, the followers of Christ?
"....In the true church, the first impulse of leadership is to serve, never to diminish. In the true church, the focus is on serving the Other -- the excluded, the isolated, the disenfranchised. In the true church, children are safe, people in jail are visited and elders are not forgotten and hungry people get fed -- no strings attached. In the true church, labels can be left at the door because the only label that matters is "loved." The true church is devoted to ecumenism and not afraid of the existence of different opinions about the many and varied expressions of faith. The true church serves a God of many names who is big enough to love everyone. The true church is not in the business of policing the moral lives of its members.
The true church doesn't take the Bible "literally" or insist on its infallibility. The true church understands that the Bible is a witness first and foremost to the love of God that is beyond human comprehension. The true church is constantly evolving through the revelation of the Spirit in the lives of its people.
If you are looking for the true church, look for one that is extravagant in its welcome to all people. Look for a church that is out of step with a homophobic, sexist, racist culture where everyone looks and sounds alike. There you will find Christ." by Rev. Dr.Cindi Love, SoulforceLove
"....In the true church, the first impulse of leadership is to serve, never to diminish. In the true church, the focus is on serving the Other -- the excluded, the isolated, the disenfranchised. In the true church, children are safe, people in jail are visited and elders are not forgotten and hungry people get fed -- no strings attached. In the true church, labels can be left at the door because the only label that matters is "loved." The true church is devoted to ecumenism and not afraid of the existence of different opinions about the many and varied expressions of faith. The true church serves a God of many names who is big enough to love everyone. The true church is not in the business of policing the moral lives of its members.
The true church doesn't take the Bible "literally" or insist on its infallibility. The true church understands that the Bible is a witness first and foremost to the love of God that is beyond human comprehension. The true church is constantly evolving through the revelation of the Spirit in the lives of its people.
If you are looking for the true church, look for one that is extravagant in its welcome to all people. Look for a church that is out of step with a homophobic, sexist, racist culture where everyone looks and sounds alike. There you will find Christ." by Rev. Dr.Cindi Love, SoulforceLove
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)