Deceive the government? I think it not deception to not honor a government that kills babies by the millions through their support of Planned Parenthood.
Thank you for your thoughtful post, Chris. Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the SIN of the world, is able to save to the UTTERMOST those who come unto God by Him, for He ever lives to make intercession for them. Salvation is all about a PERSONAL relationship with the Savior. He has even provided for us, by His FINISHED work on the Cross, the works for us to enter into. ( Ephesians 2:8-10). Many will say "Lord, Lord" to Jesus on the last day, and point to THEIR works as proof of a relationship (which was non-existent) with Him, when there is only ONE work God will accept for our Salvation and redemption: the BLOOD of a sinless, spotless Lamb offered at Calvary. The Apostle Paul knew there is ONE way to KNOW Christ: thru His Cross, His death, and His sufferings ( Philippians 3:7-11). There is a world-loving, sensual church today that has completely walked away from the meaning of the Cross: which is DIE to self, and become united with Christ in His Cross and partake of the Power of His Resurrection that flows from His Cross, which is the power of God and the Wisdom of God ( 1st Corinthians 1:23-24).
Dear Bendito, please be respectful to others who interpret scripture different than you. You projected an assumption on someone you don't know by claiming that person has a 'low opinion' of Jesus. That's false and not very nice to say that to a Christian.
People could use the same logical fallacy against such an argument. For example: Matthew 7:21 clearly says not everyone who claims they are a follower of Jesus (a Christian) will enter heaven. So, for one who doesn't believe this verse, another could possibly assume such a person is calling Jesus a liar. That would probably seem unfair, wouldn't it?
There's many other places where Jesus warns Christians to obey and avoid sin. Some find this quite inconvenient and are quite motivated to make the verses say and mean something else. Why not dig deeper in the Bible and pray to God for understanding. God bless.
Thank you Andy - well written. However, as Christians & by virtue that that title implies, we're no longer under the Old Covenant but under the New, that which Christ has instigated for us. So many believers place themselves under the Old when claiming to be obedient to the Spirit's Law written on their hearts. I can't fathom how that can possibly work as the annulment of the Old was necessary before the New could take effect ( Hebrews 7:18,19). So the great question is: can a believer depend entirely on the Spirit's Voice to his heart, or His reminders of the 'higher' Law that exceeded that which was written on stone, and also have spiritual discernment to what is sin for him that may not be sin for another?
And then another question that comes to mind: can a believer who has truly been saved through Christ's Blood & have the indwelling Spirit to be his constant Guide & Strengthener, ever fall into such spiritual disrepair, where "the flesh needs be given up for destruction so that the spirit might be saved in the day of Christ?"( 1 Corinthians 5:5). Again, believers are divided on this issue, & we ought not to be, if we understand the saving Grace of God that comes without measure & without flaw. I detect that often the Gospel we preach is done with such zeal for the sinner's soul, that we fail to make it a more serious matter requiring deep introspection & conviction. Without being affected by the depth of our sin & certain everlasting judgement, the sinner's response to receive Christ might well be superficial, resembling the seed that did not fall into 'good ground'.
Many Churches are filled with such, even in the pulpit, & so I valued the time I had with older Sunday School children, teaching them from a very well titled workbook: "So, you think you are a Christian!" Every lesson was a challenge to both teacher & student to maintain great vigilance of the soul, being introspective & knowing the full significance of Christ's great Sacrifice.
Adam, thanks for your comment. Yes, we daily have the choice whom we are going to serve: SIN, expressed thru our carnal nature, or the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ thru the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ, provided by Christ's death and blood sacrifice. There is a world-loving, carnal church imploding all around us today who by their works and teachings have denied Christ and His Cross, and are leading their followers unto the Broad way that leads to destruction. The Doorway to Eternal life is thru the Cross, as we take His Cross, and make it our own. ( Galatians 2:20).
I personally believe that Christianity is an active religion. It literally means a Christ-follower and following is an activity, not a passive or stationary thing. Many are taught that believing in Jesus gives them a get out of jail (hell) free card like Monopoly. That they have zero obligations, don't have to worry about sin, can even enjoy sinning, and can continue their lifestyle following the world with no consequence. I don't believe that. I know they have a few cherrypicked supporting verses which frames that view, but one has to ignore the mountain of other verses that Jesus said himself. So much of what Jesus said was to his followers to avoid sin. So, when all those Bible verses in context are put together I get an understanding that if we're following Jesus actively, like driving on a highway, we can have confidence in grace that we're saved. However, if we metaphorically exit off then turn around and start travelling the opposite direction- the direction of evil, and following the world, then I believe that Christian is no longer saved. I believe Christians still have free will, that they're not forced to be sinless. Even angels in heaven itself still had the freewill to sin and did, so I don't think it's a stretch to think that a Christian still has 100% freewill to sin after becoming a Christian. We must actively try to avoid sin and follow Jesus. God bless...
Thanks for your reply. The law is for sinners. Christ fulfilled ALL the requirements of the Law for believers by His death on the Cross. Believers are justified by GRACE thru Faith in Christ alone. Believers are under a new law: the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.( Romans 8:2). Those who continue to SIN, without repenting, ("workers of iniquity") lose out with God, fall from Grace, and bring themselves back under the authority of the Law of SIN and death. Hope that clears up what I meant in the 1st post.
If indeed the Law of God is still in force & binding upon the Christian, what in your understanding, is the design & objective of the New Covenant which comes through the Blood of Christ? In other words, do you see any conflict arising between the Covenants when a believer tries to syncretize the two?
Jesus Christ came to FULFILL the Law, not to do away with it. Many will say "Lord, Lord" (the workers of iniquity, or lawlessness) on the last day who will miss that key point.
God desires to be intimately known, i think the reference to both Abraham and Sarah reminds me of the relationship He had with them, especially to call Abraham "friend" but to be reminded to put away sin so we can have fellowship with Him and experience all the blessings He desires to give us! Comfort, joy, gladness, song...
Verse 3~Even though we do not know exactly what the Garden of Eden looked like we can contrast it to the wilderness mentioned here and conclude that it was a beautiful park-like Paradise.
"Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him." Understanding the roots of our existence is fundamental in understanding the greatness and purpose of our salvation
Praise be the name of JESUS. This messenge was sent to me from my lord today Because he needed me to know this, even thou I was looking for other Bible chapter when I was searching. This Word of God made my heart stay firm and increased my faith and gave me rest. All Glory, all praise and all thanksgiving be to the one and only True and almighty God JESUS CHRIST. Amen.
If God be for us, who can be against us? If i have a God that did all those great things that was mentioned in this book of Isaiah chapter 51, why then should i be afraid of a mortal like me.
Thank GOD thank GOD that we as GOD people do not have to be afraid of our enemy or the people that want to take advantage or say bad things to us because vengeance is mine says the LORD I will repay. Thank DOD for JESUS.
Isaiah 51 is letting us as GOD children know that we do not need to be afraid of our enemy because GOD is in control,HE take very good care of us ,when the wicket even my foes come upon me to eat my flesh they will stumble and fall.GOD said it and I believe it.
Isaiah 51 is inspirational and shows how much God cares for His People, despite our lack of faith and fear. It underscores the importance of putting everything in God's hands.
Isaiah 51 shows the supremacy of God over every circumstances of our lives that threathen our existence on daily basis .God in this chapter admonished us not to care about human threats but rather ponder on how awesome are the works of His hands.this chapter also remind us that we should put absolute trust and confidence in the AWESOME ONE-JEHOVAH.
According to the word of the LORD the rock from whence we are hewn is a comet( Psalms 18: 12, 13; Daniel 2: 34, 35; Revelation 8: 11; 9: 1 - too many others to mention) that struck the earth in the previous timeline which will occur again in our generation ( Ecclesiastes 1:9, 10; 3: 15; 12: 1-8) the impact of the comet creates an immense pit in the earth ( Isaiah 5: 14; Psalms 55: 23; 94: 14; Jeremiah 48:44; Matthew 12:11; Revelation 11:7; Revelation 20:1). The 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 14 are the ones who escape the effects of the comet impact that destroys all life on earth ( Isaiah 1:9; Ezekiel 12:16).
Isa 51 taught me a deep ,letting us know that is only God we should fear,by being consciousness of His stands in our life that we are in His hands,and is not possible for our enemy to attack us because before their attack get us it must 1st of all pass through God.
People could use the same logical fallacy against such an argument. For example: Matthew 7:21 clearly says not everyone who claims they are a follower of Jesus (a Christian) will enter heaven. So, for one who doesn't believe this verse, another could possibly assume such a person is calling Jesus a liar. That would probably seem unfair, wouldn't it?
There's many other places where Jesus warns Christians to obey and avoid sin. Some find this quite inconvenient and are quite motivated to make the verses say and mean something else. Why not dig deeper in the Bible and pray to God for understanding. God bless.
And then another question that comes to mind: can a believer who has truly been saved through Christ's Blood & have the indwelling Spirit to be his constant Guide & Strengthener, ever fall into such spiritual disrepair, where "the flesh needs be given up for destruction so that the spirit might be saved in the day of Christ?"( 1 Corinthians 5:5). Again, believers are divided on this issue, & we ought not to be, if we understand the saving Grace of God that comes without measure & without flaw. I detect that often the Gospel we preach is done with such zeal for the sinner's soul, that we fail to make it a more serious matter requiring deep introspection & conviction. Without being affected by the depth of our sin & certain everlasting judgement, the sinner's response to receive Christ might well be superficial, resembling the seed that did not fall into 'good ground'.
Many Churches are filled with such, even in the pulpit, & so I valued the time I had with older Sunday School children, teaching them from a very well titled workbook: "So, you think you are a Christian!" Every lesson was a challenge to both teacher & student to maintain great vigilance of the soul, being introspective & knowing the full significance of Christ's great Sacrifice.
I personally believe that Christianity is an active religion. It literally means a Christ-follower and following is an activity, not a passive or stationary thing. Many are taught that believing in Jesus gives them a get out of jail (hell) free card like Monopoly. That they have zero obligations, don't have to worry about sin, can even enjoy sinning, and can continue their lifestyle following the world with no consequence. I don't believe that. I know they have a few cherrypicked supporting verses which frames that view, but one has to ignore the mountain of other verses that Jesus said himself. So much of what Jesus said was to his followers to avoid sin. So, when all those Bible verses in context are put together I get an understanding that if we're following Jesus actively, like driving on a highway, we can have confidence in grace that we're saved. However, if we metaphorically exit off then turn around and start travelling the opposite direction- the direction of evil, and following the world, then I believe that Christian is no longer saved. I believe Christians still have free will, that they're not forced to be sinless. Even angels in heaven itself still had the freewill to sin and did, so I don't think it's a stretch to think that a Christian still has 100% freewill to sin after becoming a Christian. We must actively try to avoid sin and follow Jesus. God bless...
this understanding on this day just like it was a lpad off of my life my lord thank
you jesus.
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