Lifes Facts Known

He Withholds No Good Thing

2011-01-19T20:36:00.000-08:00

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless”
(Psalm 84:11, NIV)

What do you need from the Lord today? Do you need peace, provision or guidance? The Word of God promises that no good thing will He withhold from those who walk blamelessly before Him. Now you may be thinking, “Joel, I’m not perfect. How can I have a blameless walk?” The Good News is, when you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you automatically have a new, blameless walk. The past is erased in God’s eyes. Sure, you may make mistakes from time to time, but 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Understand today that God wants to pour His favor and honor on you. If you feel like there is anything in your life that you need to be cleansed from, go to the Father today and confess it to Him. Let Him make you new so that you can receive the good things He has in store for you!

Press Through

2011-01-19T20:34:00.000-08:00

“Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you”
(Matthew 7:7, AMP)

In Mark chapter five, there was a woman who had been sick for twelve years. The doctors gave her no hope. But she heard that Jesus was passing through her town. Something deep down on the inside was saying, “This is your season. This is your time to get well.” In the natural, when she saw all the people around Him, she thought, “I’ll never get to Him. It’s so crowded and I’m weak.” She almost missed her season. But instead of dwelling on those negative thoughts, instead of looking at her situation, she started reminding herself, “If I can just get to Jesus, I will be whole.” She made the choice to turn her thoughts in the right direction and was empowered to take a leap of faith. She pressed through the crowd until she got just close enough to touch the edge of Jesus’ robe. Instantly, she was made whole.
Jesus said in Mark 5:34, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.” Notice it’s our faith that activates God’s power. We have to press through our thoughts, press through our circumstances, press through the crowd and obstacles until we touch Him.
Today, with every step you take, God is drawing closer to you. He’ll meet your faith with His miraculous power so you can embrace the victory He has waiting for you!

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I come to You today with an open and humble heart. I ask You to fill me with Your strength, peace and joy so that I can press through to victory today. Show me the good plan You have for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Suprise, Suprise!!

2010-03-24T09:42:00.000-07:00

He Wants to Surprise You
If you will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments which I command you...all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you…"
(Deuteronomy 28:1-2, AMP)

A surprise is simply something good that you weren't really expecting. It's something that makes you feel special and lets you know that someone is thinking about you. Surprises bring us joy and lift our hearts. Your Heavenly Father wants to surprise you and overtake you with His goodness. He wants to do things that make your life easier and lets you know how much He loves you.
The word "overtake" can also be translated "to catch by surprise." Your Heavenly Father longs to be good to you—He wants to catch you by surprise! He wants to help you accomplish your dreams and overcome your obstacles. He wants to amaze you with His goodness and mercy. We should wake up every morning with the attitude, "I can't wait to see what God is going to do today."
Make room in your heart and mind for what God wants to do in your life today. Keep an attitude of faith and expectancy. As you do, you'll see His surprises. You'll see His hand of blessing overtake you and bring you to new levels in every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father in heaven, I open my heart and mind to You right now. Fill me with Your goodness and overtake me with Your blessings. I honor You today and invite You to use me to be a blessing to others. In Jesus' Name.
Amen.

Believing Is Receiving

2010-01-23T07:56:00.001-08:00

Mark 5:28–29
28For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” 29Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.

You have heard people of the world say, “I will believe it only when I see it.” Generally, that is the way the world thinks. But God’s ways are not like the ways of the world. The world says, “If I can’t feel it or see it, I cannot believe the miracle is here.” God says, “If you believe it before you feel it or see it, you will see your miracle.”
Believing first before seeing the evidence of what we are believing for is called faith. Faith is like a spark and Jesus is the dynamite powder.
In the story of the healing of the woman with the issue of blood, there were many people who touched Jesus (Mark 5:31), but nothing happened to them. They didn’t touch Him in faith. But when the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years came to Him and touched Him in faith, He felt power leave His body (Mark 5:30), and it sparked off an explosion of healing in the woman’s body!
Hearing about how good, kind and loving Jesus was fired her faith to believe that He could and would heal her. So convinced was she (even when the condition in her body was still evident) that she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Did she experience her healing first before she believed? No, she believed first in Jesus’ goodness and power, acted in faith and only then felt the healing in her body.
In the same way, God wants you to believe in His goodness and love toward you. He wants you to know how willing He is to act on your behalf to bless you, and how, with Christ, He will freely give you every good thing. (Romans 8:32)
He wants you to declare by faith that all is and shall be well with you, and to expect to see just that. And then, no matter how long you have had the problem, no matter how bad the experts say it is, an explosion of healing and restoration will take place, and you will receive what you are believing for!

Recieve His Mercy = Joel Osteen

2010-01-23T07:55:00.001-08:00

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
"…Mercy triumphs over judgment"
(James 2:13, NIV)

We've all made mistakes. We've all made wrong choices; but as believers in Jesus, that doesn't change our heritage. God doesn't kick us out of the kingdom because we're not perfect. Maybe you don't feel like you deserve God's goodness, or you think you're supposed to suffer through life and just endure that problem. But friends, this is what mercy is all about. His mercy will renew and restore you if you receive it by faith today.
No matter what you may have done wrong, you are still the apple of God's eye. You are still His most prized possession. You can still activate God's promises by faith today. Why don't you shake off the guilt and condemnation? Put your shoulders back and say, "I refuse to live below my privileges. I may not be perfect, but I am forgiven. I may have made mistakes, but God knows my heart is to please Him, and I am changing my ways. Even though I may have brought this trouble on myself, I'm going to stay in faith and expect God to turn it around."
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
" Gracious heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy. Thank You for receiving me, loving me, cleansing me, and changing me. I dedicate every area of my life to You and invite You to have Your way in me. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

You, brethren, are not in darkness..... You are all sons of light 1Thessalonians5:4-5

2010-01-23T07:53:00.000-08:00

You, brethren, are not in darkness..... You are all sons of light 1Thessalonians5:4-5

The born again Christian sees life not as a blurred, confused, meaningless mass, but as something planned and purposeful. His eyes have been opened to spiritual truth.
In Christ's first sermon at Nazareth He said that one of the reasons he had come to earth was to preach "recovery of sight to the blind" (Luke4:18). By nature we are all spiritually blind because of sin. But the spirit of God helps us see our sin and helplessness and shows us God's redeeming Grace in Christ. The spirit reveals the truth of Jesus' declaration: "i am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life"(John 8:12)
In the Bible we are called Children of the Light and Children of the day" (1 Thess. 5:5), because it pleased God to share his mysteries and secrets with us. We ware no longer in the dark - we know where we came from, we know why we are here, and we know where we are going. In the midst of the world walking in spiritual darkness, walk as a child of the light!

God Says You Are Valuable - by Rick Warren

2009-08-30T23:47:00.000-07:00

“You have been bought and paid for by Christ, so you belong to him—be free now from all these earthly prides and fears” (1 Corinthians 7:23 LB).

God says not only are you accepted, you’re valuable.
How much do you think you’re worth? I’m not talking about your net worth; I’m talking about your self worth. Don’t ever confuse your valuables with your value as a person. You can be rich or poor but it has nothing to do with your value as a person.
What determines value? There are two things that determine value in life:

1. It depends on what someone is willing to pay for it. How much is your house worth? Not as much as you think it is, and probably not as much as it was a year ago. Your house is worth what somebody is willing to pay for it. No more.

How much is a baseball card worth? To some of you, it’s worth nothing. To Matthew, my son, it’s worth a lot of money. Some people are willing to pay $10,000 for a baseball card.
How much is a piece of art worth? Whatever someone is willing to pay for it.

2. It depends on who owned it in the past. Sometimes something is valuable because of who used to own it. For example, would a car owned by Elvis Presley be more valuable than a car you owned? Probably. Or, would a guitar be more valuable because it was owned by John Lennon? I read about a pair of stinky, smelly, worn out basketball shoes that sold for $7,000 at an auction because they happened to be owned by someone named Michael Jordan.

Based on these two things, what’s your value? Ask yourself, “Who owns me?” “What was paid for me?” The Bible says, “You have been bought and paid for by Christ, so you belong to him—be free now from all these earthly prides and fears” (1 Corinthians 7:23 LB).
You have been bought and paid for by Christ. You belong to Jesus. How much does that make you worth?
Now ask yourself, “Who do I belong to?” The Bible says you belong to God. God exchanged his own Son for you! The cross proves your value. Jesus didn’t die for junk. You are incredibly valuable. Nobody has ever paid a greater price than God paid for you. You are acceptable and you are valuable!

Mark 14:72 And when he thought thereon, he wept.

2009-07-30T00:08:00.000-07:00

Mark 14:72 And when he thought thereon, he wept.

It has been thought by some that as long as Peter lived, the fountain of his tears began to flow whenever he remembered his denying his Lord. It is not unlikely that it was so, for his sin was very great, and grace in him had afterwards a perfect work. This same experience is common to all the redeemed family according to the degree in which the Spirit of God has removed the natural heart of stone. We, like Peter, remember our boastful promise: "Though all men shall forsake thee, yet will not I." We eat our own words with the bitter herbs of repentance. When we think of what we vowed we would be, and of what we have been, we may weep whole showers of grief. He thought on his denying his Lord. The place in which he did it, the little cause which led him into such heinous sin, the oaths and blasphemies with which he sought to confirm his falsehood, and the dreadful hardness of heart which drove him to do so again and yet again. Can we, when we are reminded of our sins, and their exceeding sinfulness, remain stolid and stubborn? Will we not make our house a Bochim, and cry unto the Lord for renewed assurances of pardoning love? May we never take a dry-eyed look at sin, lest ere long we have a tongue parched in the flames of hell. Peter also thought upon his Master's look of love. The Lord followed up the cock's warning voice with an admonitory look of sorrow, pity, and love. That glance was never out of Peter's mind so long as he lived. It was far more effectual than ten thousand sermons would have been without the Spirit. The penitent apostle would be sure to weep when he recollected the Saviour's full forgiveness, which restored him to his former place. To think that we have offended so kind and good a Lord is more than sufficient reason for being constant weepers. Lord, smite our rocky hearts, and make the waters flow.

Man’s duty to God

2009-07-27T23:51:00.001-07:00

Man was created by God as the crown of all his creation, in God's image and after His likeness (holy, righteous and good), with a reasonable soul, to rule on God's behalf over all creation.

Man forfeited this high privilege on account of his sin and the breaking of the covenant of works. Thus man became blind and ignorant; God had to speak to him in order to instruct him and bring him back to a right knowledge of God and his will.

The Bible therefore is a redemptive message: it shows man his duty to God, now that he is a sinner in need of redemption.

Naturally, the first and primary duty is for man to repent, to turn to God from idols to serve the living and true God (1 Thessalonians. 1:9). God commands all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17); a repentance that is genuine and credible by having good works. "Bring forth fruit in keeping with your repentance." Repentance is man's duty; he is held responsible to repent, though in his fallen state, he cannot repent or convert himself unless God convert him (Jeremiah 31:18; Lamentations 5:21).

Joined with repentance and inseparable from it is faith, without which it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). "This is his commandment, that we believe in the Name of the Son of God, and love one another, as he gave us commandment" (1 John). Likewise faith is a gift from God, instilled in us by exercise of the Holy Spirit. Where there's faith and repentance a man is in a right relationship with his Maker. He will realise that his duty is to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17), even though it be such "trivial" things as eating and drinking (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Man was created for God's glory, that God might manifest himself and be magnified in, through, and above his creature.

Augustine's sentiment, "Thou has made us for thyself and our hearts are restless unless they find rest in thee," though not a quote from Scripture, is wholly scriptural (cf. Matthew 11:28).

Solomon's search for meaning in life came to this all-embracing conclusion: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

To wrap up man's duty to God, I find no better sentence, more comprehensive and far-reaching, than Paul's statement in Romans 11:36 "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."

Man’s duty to God

2009-07-27T23:51:00.000-07:00

Man was created by God as the crown of all his creation, in God's image and after His likeness (holy, righteous and good), with a reasonable soul, to rule on God's behalf over all creation.

The Bible therefore is a redemptive message: it shows man his duty to God, now that he is a sinner in need of redemption.

Man was created for God's glory, that God might manifest himself and be magnified in, through, and above his creature.

Augustine's sentiment, "Thou has made us for thyself and our hearts are restless unless they find rest in thee," though not a quote from Scripture, is wholly scriptural (cf. Matthew 11:28).

Having begun in the Spirit...

2009-04-18T11:41:00.000-07:00

I was reading this morning in Genesis...

Gen 1:2-3
2 And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.
NASB

I have often seen this as a type of when a man gets saved. His heart is without form and void of God. Then the Spirit of God broods over him and convicts him. Then the Lord speaks "Let there be light" and the man gets saved.

But this morning, the Lord showed me something else!

Gal 3:3
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
NASB

Often our heart still has dark places in it after we get saved. Often, we try to overcome these dark places through severe treatment of the body, through commands "do not touch, do not taste", etc. We strive before the Lord to become good. When what is really needed is simple trust in Him to speak "Let there be light". Then obedience can enter the picture. For what is there to obey before he has spoken?

Having begun in the Spirit, will I then become perfected by the flesh? Or will I simply trust Him to perfect me just as he saved me?

I hope this encourages you as much as it did me this morning.

A Kiss Is Just A Kiss?

2009-03-14T08:37:00.000-07:00

There are those who would argue that it is not wrong to kiss before marriage. To refute this we could look at statistics of couples who thought they could start the fire and shut it at will, and found they were wrong. We could state the number of pregnancies that started as "innocent" goodnight kisses. We could look at all the practical reasons not to kiss before marriage. But those who defend the activity might still say, "Perhaps it's best to refrain, but I don't see it condemned in the Bible, so it can't be sin." This is a weak argument at best.

First, a definition of the term. Obviously, not every kind of extramarital kiss can be wrong. The apostle Paul expressly commands us, on several occasions, to greet one another with a holy kiss. (It would be a stretch to say that Paul was instructing husbands and wives to do something which normally requires no prompting). But premarital kissing does not fall under the same category as kissing a fellow believer, your sister, your dog or your parakeet. In Genesis 26 we read that God told Isaac to stay with the Philistines in lieu of going to Egypt. When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he told them that Rebekah was his sister, because she was beautiful, and he was afraid that the men would kill him to get at her. In verse 8 we read, "When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from a window and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. So Abimelech summoned Isaac and said, "She is really your wife! Why did you say, 'She is my sister?'" This shows that there is a type of activity which is only appropriate with a wife, and not appropriate with a sister.

What is premarital kissing? For the purpose of my argument, premarital kissing is engaging in that kind of kissing with someone other than one's spouse which is inappropriate with a sibling, in activity and motive. What is the purpose of such kissing? Some would say that it is a legitimate display of affection between a couple who is courting or (horrors) dating. But let's face it, it is not merely an innocent display of affection. It is a display of passion. See definition above. It is rather far-fetched to deny the intimate and emotional nature of a kiss. You would not kiss your mom or dad in the same way you kiss your wife or husband. If you're arguing for that type of kissing before marriage, no argument here. It's ok after marriage, too. But I am speaking of the type which is unique to a husband/wife relationship and imitators thereof. "If you wanna know if he really loves you so, it's in his kiss"?

Kissing in this way outside of the bonds of marriage neither proves nor enhances true love. Rather, it proves, demonstrates, enhances a physical attraction that is Biblically classified as lust when not consecrated in marriage. While the physical aspect is a necessary ingredient in a marriage, it is not necessary for a premarital relationship. Rather, it hinders true communication between the couple. Why is premarital sex wrong? Isn't one reason that we are to keep ourselves pure for the person who will one day be our spouse? We may not have sex with anyone who is not our lawful spouse. Those who are single do not have a lawful spouse. Therefore, singles may not have sex. End of story. Now let me ask you a question. How happy would you be if, after taking wedding vows, your beloved passionately kissed someone other than you on the lips? I daresay you wouldn't like it much. If you would, then you are not being an imitator of God in His jealousy for what is His own, and should repent. Well, what right have we to kiss someone now in a way that is not lawful later? Can we not extend this to say: We may not kiss anyone who isn't our lawful spouse; someone who's single has no lawful spouse; therefore singles may not kiss? Take a moment to look at it this way. Let's assume for the moment that premarital kissing is permissible. For the purposes of the argument, it is fine for you to passionately kiss someone when you're single. Is the person you're kissing your husband or wife? Obviously not. Therefore, we have a premise: It is OK to kiss someone who is not your lawful spouse. Logically extending that idea, what is to prevent a married person from passionately kissing someone she/he isn't married to? What's that you say? "No, they can't"? Why ever not? It must have something to do with the nature of marriage and the nature of a passionate kiss.

I maintain that the reason extramarital kissing is not permissible is that such kissing is sexual in nature. This agrees with both A and B. Working backwards, then, it would be wrong extramaritally, and it would be wrong premaritally. "Show me a verse that says 'No Kissing'", you say. "Scripture doesn't even mention it. You can't make me feel guilty for doing something the Bible doesn't forbid." There are many expressions of passion that are not specifically recognized in Scripture yet which are wrong to engage in outside of marriage. Can you find me a Scripture passage condemning petting, or other practices that don't go "all the way" to include the act of intercourse, yet involve passion and intimacy between unmarried persons? How about a passage that condemns homosexuals kissing? Or one that says you can't smash your neighbor's windshield? You can't, because they don't exist. And yet I hardly expect you to condone those practices. The key is that these actions are subsumed under the broader heading of "sexual immorality." I would submit that premarital kissing, because of its very nature, also falls into this category. The Heidelberg Catechism assures us that some sins are more heinous than others. Just because one sin is less heinous than another doesn't mean that it is not, therefore, sin. Christ himself warns us that if we hate our brother we have already murdered him in our heart. Therefore, hating our brother is sin. It is not punishable here on earth, but such a thought will be judged.(Matthew 5:22)

The Scriptures command us to keep a heart that is clean and free from sin. We should not, we may not seek to go as far as we can without violating the letter of the law. When we so seek, we are already violating the spirit of the law. Cain tried the same trick, and it didn't do him good. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart God will not despise. (Psalm 51:17) Whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. (Matthew 5:28) How much more, then, has someone committed adultery who does not just confine himself to looking, but also touches in an inescapably sexual way?

It is GOOD for a man not to touch a woman.(1 Corinthians 7:1) Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.(Galatians 5:16) Treat younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.(1 Timothy 5:2) Some have said that to them, kissing doesn't mean anything. I have acquaintances who kiss first and ask questions (like "What's your name?") later. This is dangerous, as demonstrated through the experience of one of those acquaintances. She felt that since kisses meant little, she owed something more than that to the boyfriend she "really loved." If such kissing is to mean anything, if it is to convey love and affection, passion and intimacy, as God ordained that it should, it is only properly done by a husband and a wife.

What do you think? Give us your FEEDBACK!

10 Lies Christian Teens Tell Themselves About Sex, Dating,and How Far Is Too Far

2009-01-04T08:08:00.001-08:00

So, how far is too far? Is that a valid question to ask? In a world where sex is seen in every medium and condoms are being handed out in schools, what is a Christian teen to do when confronted with conflicting advice about what constitutes a sexual activity or abstinence? Here are the top 10 lies Christian teens tell themselves when it comes to answering the question, "How far is too far?"

1. Everybody Does It

Everybody? No. Not everybody is having sex. While the media and people in school may make it seem like everyone is having sex, there are just as many Christian teens (and non-Christians, too) waiting until marriage. Doing something just because everyone else is doing it is just giving into peer pressure. It takes a stronger person, or a person backed up by the strength of God, to resist temptation. When you stand up to peer pressure you are actually saving yourself from committing sin while being a good Christian witness to other teens around you.

2. It's No Big Deal

Sex is a big deal. Ask any Christian teen who struggles with having had sex before. There are a lot of emotions and spiritual struggles that come from having had sex outside of marriage. It is one of the reasons God placed such an emphasis on sex and relationships in the Bible. Sex is a beautiful act that comes out of the marriage covenant, and it means more than just an action.

3. Virginity is a State of Mind

Some people use the term "technical virgin" when describing their sexual status. Usually this means that the person has not had a sexual act that involved penetration. Virginity is more than that. Virginity is not a state of mind, but it is the conscious choice to not involve oneself in sexual acts until after marriage. Usually this excuse is used if someone wants to justify participating in sexual activity.

4. Sex and Love are the Same Thing

Sex and love are very different, but they are meant to complement one another. If you are in love it does not mean you should have sex. Sex is an act. Love is an emotion. They are very different, and it can be dangerous to mix them up. You should never feel like you have to have sex with someone just because you want to show them you love them. There are plenty of non-sexual ways to show your love to someone.

5. Sex is a Minor Sin

Pre-marital sex is sin. Sin is sin. However, it is dangerous to think that sex is a minor or equal sin to all others, because it can put you in a frame of mind to make bad choices. Sexual sin is still a defiance of God, and no sin is acceptable to God. Yes, you can be forgiven, but you will have to live with the sin you have committed, which can be difficult if you are not prepared to deal with sex emotionally.

6. Oral Sex Isn't Really Sex

Oral sex is a sexual act. Just because Christian teens are not having sex in the textbook fashion, it is still a sexual act that bonds a man and a woman together.

7. Third Base Isn't a Big Deal

Third base, also known as "heavy petting," is a big deal, because it can lead to other things. Not only is it a form of sexual action, but it can lead to sexual intercourse. It is very easy for Christian teens to get caught up in the moment and forget about any desire to stay abstinent. Sin is very tempting, and it does not always come with warning or stop signs. Going to Third Base can be a danger zone.

8. My Will Can Overcome Any Temptation

God's will can overcome any temptation. If you feel you have the strength alone to conquer any temptation, you are setting yourself up for trouble. Man is known for falling into sin, especially when there is an overconfidence in the self. Christian teens need to keep their eyes on God, and allow God to help set boundaries so they can resist the temptation. The Bible is full of helpful advice when it comes to coping with temptation, and it can be a useful tool.

9. Watching Porn or Masturbating is Less of a Sin Than Having Sex

A lot of people believe that pornography and masturbation are helpful in preventing a person from having sex. However, having sex is not just about the act, but it is about the frame of mind. If you have lust in your heart while you are watching pornographic movies or masturbating, then there is sin there.

10. I've Already Had Sex, So It's Too Late for Me

It is never too late. While the idea of "born-again virgin" may seem a little like "technical virgin," it is not the same thing. Many Christian teens that have already had sex choose to act as if they have never had sex and vow to wait until marriage. Having sex is not the end of the world. God is very forgiving, and He smiles at those who return to Him with a desire to do His will. While the temptation for someone who has had sex can be even stronger than the virgin, it can be overcome with God's help. God is waiting to welcome you with open arms.

All you have is all you need!!

2008-09-03T08:56:00.000-07:00

let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have.......(Hebrews 13:5).

In the scripture above the lord didn't say"Be satisfied with whatever you have, be it little or much," as some folks believe. he wasn't preaching about materialism and the need for contentment in life. though that's a good lesson to learn from our opening scripture, but there is something bigger in there! When he says "Be content with such things as ye have, He's letting you know that all you have is all you need! That means with what you have in your hands (no matter how small) God can produce anything you want!

When Jesus was told the wine was finished at the wedding in Cana, He didn't bat an eyelid. He simply looked around, saw the water pots and instructed the servants to "Fill the water pots with water" and the water became wine (John 2:7). It would interest you to know that it wasn't potable water that Jesus turned into wine - it was dish water! That's what was available, and from it He produced the best wine.

No matter what Jesus faced, the solution was present with Him. That's why am letting you Know today that all you have is all you need! David used just one stone to eliminate Goliath (1 Samuel 17:40); that was all he knew to carry as a weapon, being a shepherd boy. Moses conquered Pharaoh and the entire nation of Egypt, and led 6 million Jews out of bondage with a shepherds rod (Exodus 4:2). It was an ordinary rod until he presented it before the Lord; then it became the rod of God (Exodus 4:20).

Don't look for the answers you seek anywhere else, they are right inside you. My question to you today is the same question the Lord asked Moses in Exodus 4:2: What do you have in your hand? Recognize what you have is all you need, and as you release it to the Lord and speak the word of faith over it, the miracle you require will surely show up!

How young is too young to be in a romantic relationship?

2008-07-02T09:19:00.000-07:00

Question: "How young is too young to be in a romantic relationship?"

Answer: How young is “too young” to start a relationship depends on the individual’s level of maturity, goals, and beliefs. The younger we are, the less mature we are, due to lack of life experience. When we are just beginning to figure out who we are, we may not be firmly grounded enough spiritually to form romantic attachments and may be more prone to making unwise decisions that can leave us with emotional, physical, psychological, and spiritual damage.

Being in a relationship puts one in almost constant temptation, especially as emotions begin to develop and the attraction to the other person deepens. Young teens—even older teens—are besieged by hormonal and societal pressures that seem at times almost unbearable. Each day brings new feelings—doubts, fears, and confusion coupled with joys and exhilaration—which can be very confusing. Young people spend much of their time just figuring out who they are and how they relate to the world and the people around them. To add the pressure of a relationship at this stage seems almost too much to ask, especially when the other person is experiencing the same upheaval. Such early relationships make it more difficult to avoid damage to delicate and still-forming self-esteem, not to mention the problem of resisting temptation. If being marriage-minded is still far off, it is probably too early to begin dating or courtship. Much safer for all concerned are group activities where young people can develop social skills and friendships without the pressure and inherent difficulties of romantic attachments.

Sadly, some people—even professing Christians—give in to sexual temptation while still in their teens. The Bible tells us that any kind of sex before marriage is a sin (Matthew 15:19; 1 Corinthians 6:13; Ephesians 5:3). The Bible warns us to run away from sexual sin because sometimes running is necessary to resist (1 Corinthians 6:18). Verses 19-20 go on to say, “Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” Any kind of sexual activity outside of marriage is not honoring God with our bodies.

No matter when a person decides to begin to begin a romantic relationship, this should be a time of building on the foundation of faith that he/she has been taught, growing and figuring out what God wants him/her to do. We are never too young to begin this exciting process. “Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

Was Jesus a Created Being?

2008-06-13T08:27:00.000-07:00

John 1:3 contains two direct statements that tell us that it was the preexistent Jesus who created all things. "All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." Notice that John is not content to say only that all things were made through Him, but John adds the fact that "without Him nothing was made."

Paul confirms exactly what John wrote: "For by Him all things were created." Paul goes on to make sure that we understand what he means by all things—"that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him" (Colossians 1:16).

Since Jesus created all things, He could not have been one of the "created things." Paul then adds, so there can be no mistake, "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together" (verse 17, NIV).

Dr. Norman Geisler comments: "The context of this passage makes it clear that there are no exceptions; Christ is the Creator of all things including angels and everything visible or invisible. Nowhere is this made more clear that Christ is not a creature—angelic or otherwise—than in the relation of angels to Him. Since Christ could not be both the Creator of everything and at the same time a creature Himself, it is necessary to conclude that He is Himself the uncreated Creator of all creation" (Christian Apologetics, 1988, p. 338).

He adds a footnote: "In view of the clear teaching that Christ is Creator and not a creature, the Arian misinterpretations of phrases like Christ is 'firstborn' (Colossians 1:15) or 'beginning of creation' (Revelation 3:14) are wrong. Christ is 'firstborn' in the sense of being the unique (not created) Son of God. Christ is first over creation, not first in it" (ibid.).

Micah 5:2 stated that the messianic King to come was "from everlasting." Jesus had appeared in His divine life before His human birth as the priest-king Melchizedek (see Hebrews 7), "having neither beginning of days nor end of life" (verse 3).

Jesus was not created. He existed from eternity along with God the Father.

Hearts

2008-05-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

I've been reading about hearts, our hearts. Like how deceitful they can be. I found very many interesting passages on our hearts, too.

Lets start out on a good note about our hearts, and what God requires of us. In 1st Chronicles it says to worship God with a perfect heart. But how can that be when our hearts are NOT perfect? Lets dig deeper. In Psalm 51:10 King David (a man after God's own heart) says: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Then the Lord says in Ezekiel 36:26 that "A new heart also will I give you...and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh." Our natural desire is to sin, so we must ask God to change our desires and thoughts to ones that honor Him.

Our hearts are very dear to God, I believe, and we must guard them with the upmost care. In Proverbs 4 it says to keep your heart with all diligence, because out of it are the issues of life. Obviously we ought to guard our hearts because what we think in our heart is what becomes us.
We ought to pray to God often about our heart, to make them pure, and upright and holy so that we worship God in ways He ought to be worshipped.

We ought to keep our heart straight ahead, set for the goal(s) we are after, and pursue them wholeheartedly. Yet if our heart is wicked, how do we know our goal(s) is worthwhile? Seek God, and listen to hear His voice. We can be sidetracted so easily; we need to stay focused on God, and open to what He says to us. And make sure we're not sidetracted by sin. Or that our goals are wrong. They must be honoring to God.

Now some other verses on our heart...
Jeremiah 17:9 says this: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Our hearts have been inclined to sin from the time we're born, and it is so easy to fall into the routine of forgetting and forsaking God. Yet we have a choice to continue in our sin, or yield to God. I pray we'll yield, and let God use us for what he wants to accomplish here on earth. How amazing would it be to be used to fulfil God's plan?
We harden our hearts against God, and become less sensitive to His voice. How it must hurt Him when we do! Each time we sin it becomes easier to do, and before you know it, God seems like a distant memory, Somebody you cannot call on. But you can stop that from happening. Psalm 26 says: "Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart." Let God examine yoru heart, and be ready to hear what He has to say. Then change what He asks of you.

Jesus even asked why do we think evil in our hearts? Why do we? Because it's our sinful nature, but we should surrender our lives to Him, and let Him make our hearts pure. Make us without blemish so that we can come to Him.

Jesus sees right into our hearts, and knows our motives, desires and thoughts when we go to Him in prayer. When we pray, are we doing it for the right reasons? or because we want something? or because things are bumpy? We should worship God anytime, and talk to Him, not just because we need something, or because suddenly your life is falling apart.

Take tithing...we are to give 10% of our money to God, yet are we doing it to get something in return? Is our motive to give to God from our heart, or to give because we want God to give it back to us? If you tithe, do it from the heart, do it because God requires it. Don't do it because you think you'll get anything in return.

Our hearts are deceitful, and desperately wicked, yet you hear people saying "follow your heart". Should not we be following God? Following HIS heart? Yes, we should.

I want God to soften my heart, to make it soft, so that I may be truly repentant when I sin. So that I may help others, and see them through His eyes. And how can I do that unless my heart is soft towards God?

What the Bible says about the triune God

2008-02-18T06:32:00.000-08:00

The Bible story tells us how God began to reveal himself over a period of time through appearances to individuals, beginning with Abraham (Genesis 12), and through certain historical events, chiefly concerning Abraham's descendants, the Israelite (Jewish) people. The Jewish people were very strong in the belief that the God who had brought them out of slavery in Egypt, met with them at Mount Sinai, given them his commandments, and who had brought them into the promised land, was the one true living God of all the earth. This was in contrast to the many gods that the surrounding nations worshipped.

Over the years God foretold through the prophets, particularly from the eighth century BC onwards, that a figure would arise among them who would bring many blessings to God's people, whether they were Israelites or from among the nations of the world. "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14 - Immanuel means "God with us" in Hebrew). "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). "I ...will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the nations" (Isaiah 42:6).

Several centuries later, during the reign of the Roman emperor Caesar Augustus, a child was born in the Jewish village of Bethlehem. At the age of 30 this individual, Jesus, began his public ministry and astounded people, both with his miracles of healing and with his claims*. These claims included the assertion that he was the one foretold through the Old Testament writings (e.g. John 5:39,40). He said many things about himself that the Jewish religious leaders rightly recognised as putting himself on a level with God. On a number of occasions they were ready to stone him for blasphemy for making such claims. At the same time he often talked about his "Father" in heaven who had sent him into this world. Of course, if the claims of Jesus are true, then God is no longer one person, but two!

However, before Jesus was crucified, he promised his disciples that he would ask the Father to send them "another Counsellor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you" (John 14:16,17). It is interesting that the Greek** word "another" that is used here implies "another like me". This "Spirit" that Jesus spoke of came to indwell the disciples of Jesus fifty days later on the Jewish Day of Pentecost.

Now all this complicates the matter even further, for if the Spirit is also God and distinct from the Father (and we will explore this later), then we now have not just two persons, but three! For Jews who had been steeped in the Jewish tradition of one God, this must have been all rather confusing. But as the rest of the New Testament indicates, after Pentecost the early disciples of Jesus, particularly those he had trained for leadership in this new community, got it all sorted out reasonably quickly. To this evidence we now turn.

In the following pages we will look at what the New Testament has to say about the following questions:

Is Jesus really God?

Is the Holy Spirit really God?

Is the Holy Spirit personal?

Is the Holy Spirit distinct from God the Father?

Jesus is God

There are many approaches one can take when exploring this question in the New Testament. Here are some of them:

His remarkable claims (see Is Jesus really God).

He is constantly given the title "Lord", the word that was consistently used of God in the Greek translation of the Old Testament of the third century BC.

He is referred to as God a number of times (e.g. John 20:28). Paul can declare, "in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9). John says, "He (Jesus) is the true God and eternal life" (1 John 5:20). In the Old Testament he is called "the mighty God" (Isaiah 9:6) the same two Hebrew words used of God in a number of places (e.g. Isaiah 10:21; Jeremiah 32:18).

His pre-existence before coming into this world is constantly assumed and sometimes directly stated (e.g. John 1:1,14).

He was involved in the creation of the universe and it is his power that sustains it (e.g. Colossians 1: 16,17; Hebrews 1: 2,3).

His role as judge of the human race (e.g. John 5:25-29; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

His achievements in reconciling men and women to God and meeting their needs on the journey through life are often described in the same terms as the achievements of God the Father. Their roles often overlap (e.g. 2 Corinthians 5:19; and compare Hebrews 8:12 with Mark 2:5-7). That Paul, an avowed monotheist, should attribute every imaginable activity to him that Judaism reserved for God alone is particularly significant.

There are numerous passages showing that we are to give him the same love, loyalty and devotion that we are required to give to God.

He receives the same worship of created beings, in heaven and on earth, as does God the Father (e.g. Revelation 5:11-14 - Jesus is constantly referred to as "the Lamb" in Revelation, the one who was sacrificed for us).

There are quite a number of passages from the Old Testament, quoted in the New Testament, where the original references refer to God, while the New Testament writers refer them to Jesus (e.g. Matthew 21:15,16/Psalm 8:1,2; Philippians 2:9-11/Isaiah 45:22,23).

There are numerous titles or metaphors used of Jesus that are also used of God, such as Saviour, Rock, Light, the Bridegroom, the first and the last, Alpha and Omega, I am, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Shepherd, Master, etc.

The fact that Paul, a person steeped in the Old Testament understanding of the Spirit of God, should so easily call him the Spirit of Christ as well, is as strong a confirmation as one could get of Christ's full divinity (e.g. Romans 8:9).

There is much more that could be said on the divinity of Jesus. However, more people have difficulty with the Holy Spirit than they do with Jesus. After all, Jesus did and said things that only God could be expected to do and say. But also he was always talking about his Father in heaven, so is obviously someone distinct from the Father. The New Testament writers distinguish Jesus from God the Father at every stage of his career - his pre-existence (John 17:5), through his presence on earth, to his ascension into heaven (1 Peter 3:22).

But who is the Holy Spirit? A student expressed his uncertainty this way, "God the Father makes perfectly good sense to me; and God the Son I can understand; but the Holy Spirit is a grey, oblong blur." I will focus the rest of this section on exploring the biblical picture that is given to us of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is God

To begin with, the very fact that his full title is the Holy Spirit (used about 90 times in the New Testament) points to his divinity. God is supremely the Holy One in the Bible (Isaiah 57:15). Jesus spoke of the Spirit as the Holy Spirit, as he was later to address God as Holy Father (John 17:11). In this respect Ephesians 1:13 is a significant passage. In the Greek it literally reads, "the Spirit of the promise, the Holy." Both "the promise" and the adjective "holy" are emphasised in the Greek word order. He is not only the one promised by the prophets, he is God himself who has come to live with and in his people. Significantly, Jesus is also "the Holy One" (Acts 3:14).

He is often referred to as "the Spirit of God" in both Old and New Testaments.

The New Testament writers can quote passages from the Old Testament in which God speaks and say, "The Holy Spirit spoke" (e.g. Acts 28:25-27/Isaiah 6:8-10).

Paul's language can fluctuate between God, Christ, and Spirit, depending on the emphasis of a given passage. For example, he can speak of the power of God (2 Corinthians 4:7), the power of Christ (2 Corinthians 12:9) or the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:19), all of which are at work in his life. This says much about how Paul viewed Christ and the Spirit in terms of deity and inter-relationship. Or note 1 Corinthians 12, where the subject changes from God in verse 6, to the Spirit in verse 11. Similarly in Acts 5, to lie to the Holy Spirit (verse 3) is to lie to God (verse 4).

Whereas in the Old Testament the temple building signified the place where God lived among his people, in the New Testament the body of believers is the new temple, the place where the Holy Spirit lives in his people (1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 2:21,22). In the New Testament there is no difference between the way the presence of the Holy Spirit is spoken of and the presence of God. The presence of the Holy Spirit is the presence of God.

One of the most significant descriptions of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament is "the Spirit of life" (Romans 8:2). He is the one who "gives life" (2 Corinthians 3:6). God in the Old Testament is supremely the living God, the source of life in all that lives. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life because he is the Spirit of God. Significantly, Jesus is also spoken of as "the author of life" (Acts 3:15).

There are some offshoots from Christianity, such as Jehovah's Witnesses, Christadelphians and Unitarians that deny the traditional church teaching of the Trinity. The Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus was created by God the Father before the creation of the universe. He is a minor God. According to them the Holy Spirit is distinct from God the Father, but he is in no sense personal. He is merely God's active force which he uses to accomplish his purposes in the world. Let us explore this issue.
The Holy Spirit is Personal
By "personal" we understand that the Holy Spirit has all the qualities that we usually associate with persons. We can enter into a relationship with him in a similar manner to the way we have relationships with other people. He is not just a blind, unfeeling, unintelligent force. This presents us with a problem, because in our thinking persons usually live in bodies, and the Holy Spirit is spirit, as is God the Father, and doesn't have a material body. He lives in a different dimension to that with which we are familiar.

"We can enter into a relationship with him in a similar manner to the way we have relationships with other people"

Jesus is easier to understand, as he entered into our human experience, which involved sharing human nature and a human body. Obviously he was a person. However, when we explore the New Testament we find that the Holy Spirit is constantly spoken of in personal terms. The most obvious example of this is found in the use of the verbs that describe his activities.

Take the following examples:

The Spirit convicts people of guilt and judgement (John 16:8)

guides God's people (John 16:13)

tells things that are to come (John 16:13)

brings glory to Jesus (John 16:14)

hears God's truths and makes them known (John 16:13,15)

appoints pastors over God's people (Acts 20:28)

speaks God's message (Acts 28:25, etc.)

bears witness together with our own spirits (Romans 8:16)

helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26)

intercedes on our behalf (Romans 8:26, 27)

searches all things (1 Corinthians 2:10)

knows the mind of God (1 Corinthians 2:11)

teaches the content of the gospel to believers (1 Corinthians 2:13)

lives among and within believers (1 Corinthians 3:16, etc.)

washes, sanctifies and justifies God's people (1 Corinthians 6:11)

gives gifts to his people as he determines (1 Corinthians 12:11)

gives life to those who believe (2 Corinthians 3:6)

cries out from within our hearts (Galatians 4:6)

leads us in the ways of God (Galatians 5:18)

has desires that are in opposition to the flesh (Galatians 5:17)

strengthens believers (Ephesians 3:16)

is grieved by our sinfulness (Ephesians 4:30)

can be blasphemed (Luke 12:10) and lied to (Acts 5:3)

The Bible is more concerned to describe the Spirit's activity, what he does, than to deal directly with the question of his person, who he is. However, it is obvious that all these activities are those we associate with persons. They imply:

Intelligence - most of the verbs used above imply intelligence. The Bible speaks of "the mind of the Spirit" (Romans 8:27)

Feelings - he can be grieved or made sad. Joy is a quality often associated with the Holy Spirit

Will - he decides the gifts he gives to his people (1 Corinthians 12:11)

These are the three main characteristics which make up personality.

Several significant passages that emphasise the personal nature of the Holy Spirit:

"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children" (Romans 8:16). If our own inner spirit has personal qualities, then so also must the Holy Spirit. Both "testify".

"...you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11). If Jesus is personal, then the Holy Spirit must be also.

In Romans 8 the Spirit in our hearts prays for us on earth (verse 27), while Jesus prays for us in heaven (verse 34). This again suggests that as Jesus is a person, so is the Spirit.

"I speak the truth in Christ - I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 9:1). Paul here appeals to his relationship with both Christ and the Holy Spirit for his honesty, implying that as Christ is personal, so must the Spirit also be. Another verse with similar implications is Romans 15:30.

Jesus said the disciples would be better off with the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives than they were with his company and friendship while he was with them on earth (John 16:7). That means the Spirit must at least have the personal qualities that Jesus possessed.

It is significant that the "fruit" that the Spirit produces in believers' lives, "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22,23), are chiefly personal qualities, having to do with our relationships. They are also qualities often attributed to God in his relationship with us. A blind "force" or "influence" does not produce love! The Bible also speaks of the "fellowship of the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 13:14; Philippians 2:1). We may enjoy friendship with him and he creates friendship between believers.

It is true that to describe the effect of the Holy Spirit in our lives, the Bible does use impersonal metaphors such as fire, breath, wind and water. However, it is significant that Paul, who probably has more to say about the relationships that exist between the persons of the Trinity than any other writer, tends to avoid such images. Instead he uses verbs of personal action that are used elsewhere of God and Christ.

If the Holy Spirit is personal, as all the evidence indicates, then the next question to ask is: Is he a distinct person, in a very real sense separate from the Father?
The Holy Spirit is a distinct person from God the Father
A good beginning point here is to note the number of passages in the New Testament that mention all three persons of the Trinity together, often within the space of either one or two verses. The following is a list of such passages. It is not an exhaustive list as there are other passages where two of the persons are mentioned, but the presence of the third can be assumed by implication. Having listed these passages, I will look at several which are especially significant.

Matthew 3:16,17 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Hebrew 2:3,4

Matthew 28:19 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 Hebrew 3:6,7

Luke 1:35 2 Corinthians 1:21,22 Hebrews 6:4-6

Luke 1:67-69 2 Corinthians 3:3, 4 Hebrew 9:14

John 14:16,17 2 Corinthians 5:5-10 Hebrews 10:12-15

John 14:26 2 Corinthians 13:14 Hebrews 10:29-31

John 15:26 Galatians 3:1-5 1 Peter 1:2

John 16:13-15 Galatians 3:11-14 1 Peter 3:18

John 20:21,22 Galatians 4:4-6 1 Peter 4:14-17

Acts 2:33 Ephesians 1:3-14 2 Peter 1:21-2:1

Acts 2:38,39 Ephesians 2:18 1 John 3:21-24

Acts 7:55 Ephesians 2:22 1 John 4:1,2

Acts 10:38 Ephesians 3:4-7 1 John 4:13,14

Acts 10:46-48 Ephesians 3:14-19 1 John 5:6-9

Acts 11:16,17 Ephesians 4:2-6 Jude 20,21

Romans 5:5,6 Ephesians 5:18-20 Revelation 1:4,5

Romans 8:3,4 Colossians 1:7-10 Revelation 1:9,10

Romans 8:8-11 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10 Revelation 2:7

Romans 8:16,17 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 Revelation 2:26-29

Romans 14:17,18 1 Thessalonians 5:18,19 Revelation 3:5,6

Romans 15:16 2 Thessalonians 2:13,14 Revelation 3:12,13

Romans 15:17-19 1 Timothy 3:15,16 1 Revelation 3:21,22

Romans 15:30 Timothy 4:1-6 Revelation 5:6,7

1 Corinthians 2:8-10 2 Timothy 1:8-14 Revelation 14:12,13

1 Corinthians 2:12-16 Titus 3:4-8 Revelation 22:16-18

The very fact that so many passages can refer to each of the three persons of the Trinity, with each having a distinctive role in our salvation, is the strongest possible evidence that the Holy Spirit is distinct from God the Father, just as Jesus is distinct from God the Father.

The following passages are particularly significant:

At the baptism of Jesus we read, "...he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, whom I love...'"(Matthew 3:16:17). You will note that the Spirit descends on Jesus to empower him for his public ministry, while God the Father speaks from heaven.

Jesus' final commands to his disciples, recorded in Matthew's Gospel, includes the command to baptise converts, "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). Baptism signifies our initiation into the divine family. I will explore some of the implications of this further in Part 2. Baptising "into the name" (literal translation) is a Hebrew form of expression. Note that it includes under a singular name not only the Father, but the Son and the Holy Spirit.

"In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don't know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words. All our thoughts are known to God. He can understand what is in the mind of the Spirit, as the Spirit prays for God's people. We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him" (Romans 8:26-28). This passage expresses the remarkable truth that when our praying is prompted by the Holy Spirit we are caught up in the free and open communication that takes place between two members of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit and God the Father. Both of these desire our good. One writer, Martin Smith, puts it this way:

Our prayer is not making conversation with God. It is joining the conversation that is already going on in God. It is being invited to participate in the relationships of intimacy between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There is an eternal dance already in full swing, and we are caught up in to it. Prayer is allowing ourselves to join the dance and experience the movements, the constant interplay of the Persons of the Trinity.

You will note in the above passage that God knows the mind of the Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 2:11 the Spirit similarly knows the thoughts of God the Father. This is distinction, not identification. God the Father does not pray to himself. Nevertheless, the Spirit and God the Father act in harmony.

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons" (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). In these verses, and those following, Paul is pointing out to the Corinthian believers the wide range of gifts and ministries that are given to individuals in the Christian fellowship, even though they are one united body. His appeal to unity is based on the fact that these gifts and ministries all have their source in members of the divine Trinity. His appeal for the need for variety is based on the fact that variety exists even within the Godhead itself. Diversity within unity belongs to the character of God. The Trinity is foundational to Paul's whole argument.

C. K. Barrett notes of this passage in his Harper's New Testament Commentary on 1 Corinthians, "The Trinitarian formula is the more impressive because it seems to be artless and unconscious." Gordon Fee, one of the world's leading textual critics, in his impressive volume God's Empowering Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul, adds, "...passages like this are the 'stuff' from which later theological constructs are correctly derived."

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:14). Here is one of the clearest references to the Spirit as one of the three Persons of the Godhead, each of whom is designated by that special ministry that belongs to him. That Paul can refer to the activity of the three divine Persons together in one prayer, with God the Father standing in second place, is as strong evidence as one could get that Paul was truly Trinitarian in his thinking. Gordon Fee comments:

That Paul would include the Holy Spirit as an equal member of this triadic formula, and that he would pray to the Spirit in their behalf, says as much about his understanding of the Spirit both as person and as deity as any direct statement of this kind ever could...It is for the later church to try to understand the ontological implications, how God is three in one; its reason for doing so at all comes about precisely because the church is forced to come to terms with Paul's understanding of God's character and activity in our behalf expressed in this kind of prayer.

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:2-6). Paul wants the believers in Ephesus to develop those personal qualities that will enable them to demonstrate to the outside world a true unity of love. The fact that they are one body, and should be seen to be so, he argues, is based on the fact that there is, "one Spirit...one Lord...one God and Father of all."

This passage puts into credal form the fact that God is experienced as a triune reality. It is the Spirit coming into our lives who builds us into one body or fellowship; it is Jesus, who died for us, in whom we put our faith for forgiveness and acceptance; and it is God the Father over all to whom we look for guidance and provision.

"How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God" (Hebrews 9:14). It is the eternal Spirit, who empowered Jesus at his baptism for his public ministry, who enabled him to offer himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins on the cross. Here again, the Spirit is clearly distinct from God the Father. Each had their part to play in our salvation.

"Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth" (Revelation 1:4). John begins this remarkable letter with a prayer that his readers may receive grace and peace from each of the Persons of the divine Trinity. The Holy Spirit is presented here as the seven-branched candlestick that stood before the Most Holy Place in the temple of the Old Testament. This is in line with the symbolism that pervades the book of Revelation, most of which is taken from Old Testament temple worship. "Seven" in Revelation is the number of perfection, completion or fulfilment. Jesus is probably mentioned last in this passage as most of the rest of the book is about him. There could hardly be a clearer statement of the divinity of, and distinction between, the three Persons of the Trinity.

It should be becoming increasingly clear that Trinitarian language and ideas keep popping up constantly through the New Testament. The writers don't use the word "Trinity". Nor do they set out to explain the Trinity. That was left to later generations, however successful, or otherwise. (Who can explain God?) It was just that their experience of Jesus and all he had taught, and all they had experienced since the Holy Spirit had been given to God's people on the Day of Pentecost, clearly led in this direction.

J. Murray, in his Commentary on Romans in the New International Commentary, when speaking of Paul's description of the work of the three Persons of the Trinity in Romans 15:17-19, says:

It is not a case of artificially weaving these persons into his presentation; it is rather that his consciousness is so formed by and to faith in the triune God that he cannot but express himself in these terms.

This could be said of other writers of the New Testament.
Points for clarification
There are four other matters that require some clarification before moving on to Part 2.

The unity of the Trinity

Though each of the Persons of the Trinity exercises a different role in meeting our needs and preparing us for future glory, these roles often overlap. They exist in a unity of love, and all their purposes towards us are achieved in harmony with one another. Thus, Jesus can say, "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30). Often similar activities are attributed to different Persons of the Trinity. As the Holy Spirit is so intimately associated with both God the Father and Jesus, he is not only called "the Spirit of God", but also"the Spirit of Christ" (Romans 8:9; Galatians 4:6; Philippians 1:19). Paul can sometimes use a form of shorthand. Instead of saying, "Christ lives in his people by the Spirit", he simply says that Christ lives in his people (e.g. Romans 8:10; Galatians 2:20).

The submission of Jesus to the Father

"While Jesus lived on earth the Father was greater then he. That was Jesus' choice, for our eternal good"

There are those who argue against the traditional understanding of the Trinity by pointing out those passages in the New Testament where Jesus is spoken of as being in submission to the Father. He declared that the Father had sent him (John 5:30), that he only did what the Father told him to do (John 12:49), and that the Father was greater than he (John 14:28).

This is explained by Paul in Philippians. "Jesus...being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness...he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:6-8). In order to reconcile us to God and lift us up to his level, he came down to our level. He took upon himself our full humanity. "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity...he had to be made like his brothers in every way... "(Hebrews 2:14-17). That meant that he behaved towards his heavenly Father in the manner in which we are meant to behave, in submission and obedience. That he was willing to take not only our human nature on himself, but also the consequences of our sins, demonstrates the amazing self-giving love and condescension of God. While Jesus lived on earth the Father was greater than he. That was Jesus' choice, for our eternal good.

In the same way the Holy Spirit chooses to submit himself to both the Father and the Son. One of his chief ministries is to focus our attention on Jesus, rather than himself. Thus, Jesus can say of the Spirit, "He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you" (John 16:14). This submission in love, for our benefit, is in no way inconsistent with the full divinity of each. Rather, it is an example of the way we ought to behave towards one another (Philippians 2:5)!

Glimpses of the Trinity in the Old Testament

The Trinity is not something that the writers of the New Testament thought up, and which contradicts all that God had revealed to his people over preceding centuries. There are hints of the Trinity in the Old Testament which can be seen more clearly in the light of the fuller revelation of God that came to us through Jesus. The idea of the Trinity did not take God by surprise!

Of the 377 instances of the Hebrew word for breath, wind and spirit in the Old Testament, there are approximately 94 that refer to the Spirit of God. His activity there is associated with God's power in creation or in the lives of individuals. He equips people for leadership, inspires prophecy and the revelation of God's truth through chosen individuals. He is the presence of God with his people. These activities are also associated with the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. His coming to indwell God's people in a new way, as happened on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), was clearly foretold (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27).

There are many prophecies about the coming of Christ throughout the Old Testament. There are times when God appears to individuals in human form (e.g. Joshua 5:13-15; Daniel 10:4-11). Some would see here the appearance of the second Person of the Trinity, Jesus, prior to his literal taking of human nature in Bethlehem.

Some would see hints of the Trinity in the plural term "us" used for God (Genesis 1:26), or in the threefold "Holy, holy, holy" of the angel's worship (Isaiah 6:3). It is interesting that the Hebrew word translated "one" in the famous statement of Deuteronomy 6:4, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one," that precedes the command to love him with all our heart, soul and strength, is a word that does not necessarily mean "one single individual". It is a word that "stresses unity while recognising diversity within that oneness" (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament: Harris, Archer, Waltke).

Not an invention of the fourth century church

Some have tried to argue that it was the church of the fourth century that came up with the idea of the Trinity and that we have been stuck with it ever since - except for those groups that have "seen the light". This is simply not historically accurate. All the pointers towards the truth of the Trinity were there in the personal experiences of the first Christians and the New Testament writings right from the beginning, as I have sought to show.

The First Council of Nicaea (now Isnik in modern Turkey) held in AD 325, which spelled out the doctrine of the Trinity in its simplest credal form (known to us today as the Nicean Creed), was called by the Emperor Constantine because of divisions that had arisen among Christians. These divisions had arisen largely because of the teaching of a priest, Arius, who taught truths that were contrary to the generally accepted views of the church. Specifically, he taught that Jesus was inferior to God the Father. His views were rejected by the Council. Of all the bishops present at Nicaea (traditionally 318, though the exact number is uncertain) only two failed to subscribe to its decision.

The debate at Nicaea centred largely around the person of Christ. The Creed, one of the few authentic documents to survive from the Council, contains declaration of belief "in the Holy Spirit" without elaboration. Other creeds written over the following hundred years developed further emphasis on the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Of the early Church Fathers, Irenaeus and Origen share with Tertullian the responsibility for the formulation of the doctrine which later was expressed in the creeds. Athanasius led the debate at Nicaea. At the hands of Augustine a century later it received a formulation, enshrined in the Athanasius Creed, that is accepted by Trinitarian churches to this day. After receiving further elucidation at the hands of John Calvin it passed into the Reformed faith.

It is important to state that all this debate was undergirded by appeal to the writings of the New Testament. The ultimate decisions were made on the basis of the teaching of Jesus and his apostles. As Gordon Fee expresses it, it was precisely on the basis of the experience and language of the New Testament church that "the later church maintained its biblical integrity by expressing all of this in explicitly Trinitarian language." The teaching of the New Testament still remains today the basic reason why the vast majority of Christians acknowledge God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Having explored some of this teaching, let us move on to the question, "Does it make sense?"

for more information read http://www.christianity.co.nz/trinity8.htm

CHRISTIAN LOVE

2008-01-15T03:15:00.001-08:00

"34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

"15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me."

15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Think about what God has command of us: first we are to love him as the triune God of the universe with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and second we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. But this is impossible if we are looking for something in return! If so much rides on being effective in our love both towards God and our neighbors, we better know what it looks like. But I warn you, a myopic view of love is going to cause trouble. You better be ready to stretch in ways never expected if you intend to pursue a life based on Christian love. You better be prepared to drop your simple definitions, because biblical love won’t fit into them. If any advice might be given, I would say, "let go of your sentimental platitudes and your simple formulas of how people express love, because biblical love will cut right through them." Biblical love requires extraordinary discernment and wisdom because it is ruthlessly hard on self-examinations. May God Bless us with such discernment and wisdom.

Why Does God Permit Evil?

2008-01-08T04:12:00.000-08:00

The history of the human family presents a dark picture of sorrow, suffering, and death. Through famine, plague, storms, and accidents, our race has drunk deeply of the cup of anguish. What is God’s program concerning man’s suffering? Why does God permit evil? What is the remedy? “If a man die, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14).

“For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; to hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death.”—Psalm 102:19,20

The age-old question has been, Why has an all-powerful, all wise Creator permitted pain and suffering? Why has he permitted the continuing reign of sin and death for more than sixty centuries?

Perhaps no difficulty has presented itself more frequently to inquiring minds than this. Could not God have prevented man’s fall? Why does he not deal with the human family as graciously, kindly, lovingly, as he deals with his angelic sons? Is it just or loving for God to permit the bringing forth of millions of creatures under these unfavorable conditions, beset by weakness and a tendency toward sin from their birth and surrounded by others similarly weak and helpless?

Human philosophers fail to answer the question because the answer is far too deep for human philosophy. Those who reject the divine origin of the Bible may as well abandon hope of finding an answer. Only God can explain his own secrets—why he has done as he has. Truly we read, “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant” (Psalm 25:14).

The difficulty in understanding what God is doing arises from our failure to recognize God’s plan in this world. He could have prevented sin’s entrance. The fact that he did not should suggest that its permission is designed for some ultimate good. God’s plans seen in their completeness will prove the wisdom of his course.

The Bible shows us that God’s purpose for men is progressive, embracing long periods of time. If we ignore these periods when they can be seen in their completeness, we are blinded to the answer to our question. Accepting these, Bible students may look at the subject from God’s standpoint and may understand the mystery of God. This mystery has been hidden from ages and generations and has now been made known unto his saints (Colossians 1:26,27).

What is this mystery? Simply stated, God’s plan will glorify him through its ultimate enlightenment of angels and mankind. In the ages to come trials and reverses, sorrows and tears will be proven to have been a worthwhile part of that program.

Man, A Convict

To analyze our subject we turn to the beginning of earth’s troubles. The sacred record explains that man’s fall from life and the perfection in which he was created had been foreseen by the Creator. Therefore, the penalty of sin, death (Genesis 2:17), was arranged so as to be gradually inflicted. This happens through man’s conflict with the unfavorable conditions of the unprepared earth (of climate, sterility of soil, storms, thorns, weeds).

God foresaw that through our experiences such a penalty would teach man a lesson about sin and its results. That lesson, thus learned, would never need to be repeated. It would be an everlasting lesson to all; especially when Christ’s reign of righteousness shall show, by contrast, the peaceable fruits of righteousness. Experiences teach us that God planned for our struggles upon this earth to be beneficial: our minds are exercised by grappling with earth’s disturbances and imperfections, our conscience is exercised by combating our weaknesses, and our harmony with God is enhanced as we learn to call upon God’s sympathy.

For Thy Sake

There is deep meaning in the Creator’s words to his fairly tried and justly condemned creatures. He sent them out among the thorns and briars, to labor in pain, sorrow, and disease, as well as to be subjected to the casualties and calamities of nature’s unfinished work. He said, “cursed is the ground for thy sake” (Genesis 3:17); that is, the earth is in its present condition for our profit and experience, even though we may not recognize this fact.

The condemned pair had children. These children inherited the curse from their parents. That included imperfections and weaknesses as well as the ultimate penalty for these, death. This is verified by Job: “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?” (Job 14:4) Mankind has been learning what sin and evil are (and their undesirable results) and he has been preparing the earth for the later purposes of God.

Labor and toil were prescribed for man’s good. Until this century they have kept man so busy that he has been unable to plan or perform evil to the extent he otherwise could have done. With the proliferation of evil, with leisure, man has turned his attention to plotting and scheming. Under these circumstances, what a mercy our short life span is! Were the same “shrewd businessmen” who now accumulate millions in a few short years to live 930 years (as Adam did), what might we expect? One man, or a syndicate or trust, could conceivably own every foot of land, control every drop of water and every breath of air, and have the remainder of mankind as his slaves.

World Redemption Coming

It is clear that God’s action in exposing his creatures to death, pain, and calamities, relates only to their present life on earth. He did not give the slightest intimation of any continuance of life in any other locality. On the contrary, the penalty was “for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 3:19). “Dying shalt thou die” (Genesis 2:17, margin).

True, God promised that at some time a son of the woman would deliver mankind (Genesis 3:15), but it was an indefinite hope. Yet, God showed that although he dealt severely with men, according to laws and justice, he was also sympathetic. He would relieve man without violating his own character.

Humanity was created with morality, the sense of right and wrong, and the liberty to use it. The law of right and wrong was written in his constitution. It was a part of his nature, just as it is a part of God’s character. But, this image or likeness to God, this law originally inscribed in the nature of man, has lost much of its clarity through the degrading influence of sin. It is not, today, what it was in the first man.

The ability to love implies the ability to hate. Therefore, we may reason that the Creator could not make man in his own likeness, with power to love and to do right, without the corresponding ability to hate and to do wrong. This liberty of choice is termed free moral agency, or free will, and is a part of man’s original endowment. This, along with the full measure of his mental and moral faculties, is what made him an “image” of his Creator. After six thousand years of degradation so much of the original likeness has been corrupted by sin that we are not free. We are bound by sin’s results. Sin is easier and more agreeable to the fallen race than is righteousness.

St. Paul tells us that God permitted the entrance of sin and death for man’s training and education. God adopted a method for recovering our race from that original sentence of death which would show the justice of his sentence and the unchangeableness of his decree. However, it would also permit those who were sick of sin to use their experience to return to harmony and obedience to their Creator and his just and reasonable laws and regulations. This plan is stated by the apostle in Romans 3:24-26.

Briefly, this plan provides that another man (by proving his obedience to the law of God and hence his worthiness of eternal life) might sacrifice his life and redeem the forfeited life of Adam (and of his lost posterity); it is written “in Adam all die” (1 Corinthians 15:22), and “it follows then that . . . the result of a single transgression is a condemnation which extends to the whole race” (Romans 5:18, Moffatt).

Since condemnation was upon all and since another newly created man would have been equally likely to fall, God planned the transfer of his only Son from the spiritual to the human nature. In this God was providing a man fit for sacrifice—“the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:5,6). For our sakes, he who had been rich (possessing glory, honor, wisdom and power) became poor (humbling himself to a lower nature—that of a man—becoming faithful unto death) so “that we through his poverty might be made rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

The Redeemer’s Sacrifice

To redeem man would cost the sacrifice of God’s son’s life as the ransom price (with all of the implied suffering and self-denial which would be necessary to bring that sacrifice to pass). To restore this life (to those who would prove worthy—“whosoever will” as stated in Revelation 22:17) would require a double exercise of God’s power: first to open the prison house of death by a resurrection of the dead and second, to give to the redeemed a full opportunity to decide whether they love good or evil, righteousness or sin, truth or error. He will destroy all who love or work iniquity. He will develop and perfect those who love and choose life upon its only condition— righteousness.

Our Lord’s mission at the first advent is stated by the apostle Paul. Jesus was to die for the race so that he might erase the results of Adam’s transgression and secure the right to resurrect it and restore it (cf. Romans 5:6-12,16-19,21; 1 Corinthians 15:21-24). He “wills” to restore all who shall prove worthy. This period of proving who is worthy of everlasting life is his Millennial Reign (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).

Christ will establish righteousness in the earth through the kingdom of God. It is this kingdom which he has promised that shall be inaugurated and for which he has bidden us wait and hope. He taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

The World’s Glorious Hope

Paul states that the first man (who was a sample of what the race will be when perfect) was of the earth, earthy. In the resurrection his restored posterity (with the exception of the Gospel Church) will still be earthly. That is, they will be human, adapted to the earth (1 Corinthians 15:38,44). David declares that man was made a little lower than the angels and crowned with glory, honor, dominion (Psalm 8:4-8). St. Peter, our Lord, and all the prophets since the world began declare that the human race is to be restored to that glorious perfection. Once again man is to have dominion over earth (Acts 3:19-21).

This is what God planned to give to the race. And what a glorious plan! Close your eyes to the scenes of misery and woe, degradation and sorrow that prevail on account of sin, and picture the glory of the perfect earth. Not a stain of sin mars the harmony and peace of a perfect society; not a bitter thought nor an unkind look or word; love meets a kindred response in every heart and benevolence marks every act. There sickness shall be no more: not an ache nor a pain, nor any evidence of decay—not even the fear of such things. Think of all the pictures of comparative health and beauty of human form and feature that you have ever seen and know that perfect humanity will be of still surpassing loveliness. The inward purity and mental and moral perfection will stamp and glorify every radiant countenance. Such will earth’s society be; and weeping bereaved ones will have their tears wiped away when they realize the resurrection work completed (Revelation 21:4).

Under the rulership of Christ as king of all nations the evil tendencies inherited from Adam and those which have come from six thousand years of degradation will be restrained by super-human wisdom, love, and power. With all men brought to a clear knowledge of the truth in its every phase all will be fairly and fully tested. Lovers of righteousness will be perfected and given control of a then perfect earth. Those who love unrighteousness when they fully understand the penalty for unrighteousness will be destroyed in the “Second Death” (Revelation 20:6) as followers of Satan. The “first” death is the destruction to which all were subjected by Adam’s sin, the death from which all will be recovered by the Lord Jesus’ sacrifice. The “second” death is the destruction of those who, though redeemed by Christ from the first death, shall by their willful conduct receive the penalty of death again. This death means final destruction, without hope of redemption or resurrection, for Christ dieth no more. No good reason for any further trial can be imagined. The trial granted during the Millennial Age under Christ will be thorough, fair, and a final individual trial (1 Corinthians 15:25).

Our Lord Jesus pointed out that death was the penalty against all who do not flee sin and lay hold upon the Redeemer and life-giver (Luke 13:1-5). Destruction (perishing), is the penalty of sin taught in the Scriptures. Only by faith in the Redeemer, repentance, and reformation can the gift of God (eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord) be obtained. Whoever hears the offer of life is responsible to the extent that he understands it. According to God’s promise all mankind shall, either during the Gospel Age or the Millennial Age, be brought to a clear appreciation of these conditions and privileges, with full opportunity for repentance and life.

Mankind Learning the Lesson

Calamities are temporary. Some are the result of human imperfection and lack of experience. Others result from the preparation of the earth for its Sabbath (or Millennium). During that thousand years (or “millennium”) under Christ’s direction earth shall be given its finishing touches and be made ready for the redeemed race. His reign shall prepare the people to properly use, enjoy, and rule the completed earth.

Man is exposed to calamities and accidents. He is not specially protected by his Creator. Man is a sinner condemned to death, he is not to be spared from death, but must be allowed to pass through it. By experience with trouble and sorrow and pain, all of which are but elements of death, mankind is learning experiences with sin which will be valuable in that kingdom. Each shall then be required to choose between good and evil. The evil they learn now; the good, and its blessed results and rewards will be displayed then— during the Millennium. Only a few profit by their lessons in this life and these are chiefly those called to the heavenly calling. The majority of humans are learning to know sin and evil. God’s plan for the future of mankind is obscured from the masses. “The God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:4). With the dawning of Messiah’s kingdom, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God’s character will shine everywhere. “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped” (Isaiah 35:5). Messiah’s gracious reign, the manifestation of God’s mercy, will be for the uplifting of our race. During the thousand years of Messiah’s kingdom, the world will learn the desirability of righteousness, just as they now have the opportunity of learning the undesirability of sin.

But, if God’s plan for redeeming the world was by the death of his son (justifying and restoring all who believe in and accept him, obeying and loving righteousness), why did not the Millennial reign of Christ with its favorable conditions and powerful restraints begin as soon as Christ had given the ransom price at Calvary? Why are those who would follow righteousness compelled to “sail through bloody seas,” as the poet said, and suffer for righteousness sake? God has been calling and drawing a special class of humans. They are to be his “elect,” the “bride” class that are to be joint-heirs with his son in his kingdom of glory. Christ and his bride will vanquish sin and Satan.

The Narrow Way

This special class is required to walk by faith and not by sight. They walk in the footsteps of Jesus: a narrow way (Matthew 7:14) of self-denial and opposition to the world, the flesh, and the Adversary. It seemed wise to our heavenly Father that our Lord Jesus should learn obedience through suffering and be tested in respect to his willingness to endure suffering for righteousness sake. How appropriate that the Father should make similar arrangements for the Church whom he will receive from among the race of Adam to be members of the Royal Priesthood under Jesus, the High Priest of our order! God is preparing a Royal Priesthood for the Messianic Age. It is a priesthood that is to heal, to teach, to uplift all the willing and obedient.

During this age sin and evil have been further made use of for the discipline and preparation of the Church. Had sin not been permitted, the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus and of his Church, the reward of which is the divine nature, would have been impossible. The Revelator exclaims: “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? . . . all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest” (Revelation 15:4).

Eventually, every creature in heaven and earth and under the earth shall be heard to say, “Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever” (Revelation 5:13). This will be after the reign of evil, sin, and death. The key is found in the Plan of the Ages—showing the work which each age is to accomplish and the grand eventual overthrow of evil.

The False Gospel of Carnal Christianity

2007-12-13T07:12:00.000-08:00

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” - Galatians 6:7

A False Gospel

There is rampant in this age a false gospel of carnal Christianity which has deceived many souls. The vast majority of Christendom today have not bowed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. These are on sinking sand and are an easy prey to such a teaching which has permeated our land and our pulpits. So our purpose is to bring out the true gospel and the false, showing clearly the warnings from God’s Word that we should not sow to the flesh, but rather to the Spirit. May you have an open heart and an open Bible, as we pray that God will deal with us all by His Spirit.

We are warned concerning this false gospel of carnal Christianity in Galatians 6:7,8: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” This to me is a most solemn warning to all of our hearts, and especially in this day of free-believism and carnal Christianity which is preached on such a large scale. You see, the vast majority of Christendom today is deceived as to the state of their never-dying souls before God. What is happening is justification in Christ is preached alone, at the expense of holy living; and the hearers of this one-sided gospel are left in the dark as to God’s requirement of the necessity of a holy life. God’s grace has been turned into lasciviousness; the attitude of most has been: “A little sin won’t hurt-I’m just a `carnal Christian’ you know, and besides, doesn’t grace cover it all?”

Holiness Required by God

But my prayer is that God would so work by His Spirit as to make blind eyes to see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, that there would be a mourning over it, for this is our only hope. Oh, how our hearts should cry to the Lord for the truth of His Word that appeals not to our fleshly desires or to our fleshly emotions, but to that which cuts off our flesh and lays us bare before God in confession and repentance! We should cry to Him to so work in our hearts by His Spirit, that holiness of thought, word and action would characterize our hearts and lives.

This false teaching of carnal Christianity has so permeated our churches that no one ever questions his interest in Christ, no matter how he lives. People are told that if they have believed, that is all that is necessary, and therefore all is well with their souls. But the Holy Word of God declares no such teaching, but in fact declares just the opposite! For we read in Hebrews 12:14, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Yes, holiness must characterize our lives, “for God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness” (I Thess 4:7). “He hath chosen us in him [Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” (Eph 1:4). Again, He “hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling” (II Tim 1:9). This is the same One Who says to be “obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy” (I Peter 1:14-16).

Our warning text from Galatians 6 declares the same thing. God would have us to understand and not to be deceived about this false teaching, that no matter what false preachers and teachers say about it: “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” My friend, if you sow to your flesh, you shall of your flesh reap corruption. I don’t care how many professions you have made or whose church you may belong to; you cannot mock God! He is no respecter of persons. Each and every one who sows to his flesh shall of his flesh reap corruption.

Repentance Is Given

A man who sows to his flesh continually has never been saved; he’s never been born again. Why? Because under Holy Spirit conviction we are given the grace to repent, and in repentance we learn to hate sin, to abhor it, to loathe ourselves, and to flee by faith to Christ for deliverance from sin. We know that sin has not been eradicated, for it is still the plague of our hearts; but sin is no longer the practice and rule of our lives. It cannot be, for the soul whom God saves has had a new nature and a new heart put within; and he now desires holy things and walks in the way of righteousness. He knows in himself that this is true, because the Holy Spirit has worked in him the things found in God’s Word. He reads in Ezekiel 36:26 about the new heart that God has given him; and in II Peter 1:4 about the new nature he has been given. He finds in I John 3:9 that he has been born of God, and that he who is born of God does not make sin the practice and rule of his life.

Why? Because His seed (the seed of God) remaineth in him, and he cannot make sin the practice and rule of his life anymore. He hears the Word say, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (I John 2:15). Having been taught by the work of the Holy Spirit that he is a lost, hell-deserving sinner, having laid at the feet of God in repentance, having looked by faith to Christ as his Lord and Savior, having seen that his sin put Christ to death, then he wants no part of the world. The love of God has been shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Spirit’s work in him.

He learns well that “all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh [the desire to indulge]...is not of the Father,” so he hates it and cries out against it because it put Christ to death. Again, he learns, “all that is in the world, the lust of the eyes [the desire to possess]...is not of the Father,” so he hates it and cries out against it because it put Christ to death. He learns that “the pride of life [the desire to attract to oneself]...is not of the Father, but is of the world”-the Satanic world system of sin -so he hates it and cries out against it because it put Christ to death on the cross. He also learns that “the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (vv. 16,17), so he desires by grace to do the will of God, which is to walk in “righteousness and true holiness” (Eph 4:24).

A New Nature

Therefore, since God gives every sinner whom He saves a new heart and a new nature, and puts His Holy Spirit within him to guide him into all truth, that saved sinner now searches the Word of God, not to find things that will justify him in his sins, but to find that Word which warns him against sin and tells him how to flee to Christ from sin. He reads Romans 8:6: “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace”; so he begins to cry to the indwelling Holy Spirit to deliver him daily from a fleshly, carnal mind, and to give him that spiritual mind of life and peace in Christ. No, he is not seeing how close he can walk to the world and sin, but how he can walk close to God in Christ by His Spirit. He is not searching the Word of God to find out the sins of others recorded there so he might use them as a means of justifying his walking in sin, but he reads these things as warnings to him not to walk where others have walked and failed.

You see, the man or woman, boy or girl, whom God saves, and unto whom He gives eternal life in Christ, hears these words from Colossians 3:2-5: “Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify [put to death, reckon as dead] therefore your members which are upon the earth.” How then could any soul justify living a life to the flesh? No, for because of what Christ has done for him and because Christ’s life is now his life, this saved soul now desires to put to death the things of the flesh, that he might sow to the Spirit and walk after the Spirit. Beloved, this is the way God deals with our souls-I know first hand: I know what the difference is between carnal Christianity and the life which is lived by faith in and upon the living God by the Holy Spirit, for I have lived them both. The only difference between me and the carnal Christian is the grace of God, and I praise Him for it!

Therefore, when the saved soul hears God’s Word: “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry”; and “put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another”-now he desires to mortify them, and why? Because he has “put off the old man with his deeds” and “put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Col 3:5,8-10). So his desire is for Christ and His life, to walk in a way pleasing to God and not after sin, because he has been born of the Spirit of God and has a new heart.

Also in Colossians 3:6 the Holy Spirit gives us another reason for walking in the Spirit and not after the flesh. He says we are not to walk in these sins, “for which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.” Yes, those who walk in such a way of disobedience to God’s revealed will, shall find themselves under His curse and wrath.

A Holy Life Follows Salvation

My friend, I would not have you deceived! A holy life, a sowing to the Spirit, must follow the salvation that God gives in Christ, or it is not God’s salvation; for Christ came to save His people from their sins, and not in their sins (Matt 1:21). A holy life, a sowing to the Spirit, must follow the salvation that God gives us in Christ or God’s purpose in saving us would be defeated, and this cannot be. Did we not read that God has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world “that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” (Eph 1:4). We cannot thwart the purpose of God toward His people. Listen again to this definite and positive statement-”For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness” (I Thess 4:7). Yes, a holy life must follow the salvation that God gives in Christ, or God’s will would be turned aside, and this cannot be-”For this is the will of God, even your sanctification” (4:3). Sanctification is your being set apart from sin by the progressive work of God’s Spirit in your heart and life.

Again, a holy life, a sowing to the Spirit, must follow the salvation that God gives in Christ, or the grace of God would not reign in the believer’s life; and this cannot be, for we read in Titus 2:11,12: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” I want you to pay particular attention to these verses and pray that the Holy Spirit will write them upon your heart. When the grace of God that brings salvation appears to all, it teaches them the same thing. And what does God’s grace teach us?-that we will be self-denying ones. In what way?-saying no to the world and denying ourselves ungodliness and worldly lusts, because we hate sin, self, Satan and the world of ungodliness. “All” learn this lesson, not just some of God’s children. “All” of them are taught by the Holy Spirit to hate sin and deny self. If this self denial and hatred of sin is absent from the life, then God’s salvation is absent (John 16:13,15; Isa 54:13).

But this Scripture does not end only in giving us the negative; the Holy Spirit shows the grace of God that brings salvation will teach us something positive as well-how to live soberly, righteously and godly. Where? in heaven? No, in this present evil world, right at home, on the job, or wherever we walk! For by His grace and blood He has delivered us from “this present evil world” (Gal 1:4).

Remember this: the same Holy Spirit teaches all of God’s children the same lessons. What are they? He trains us to reject and renounce all ungodliness, and worldly, passionate desires; and He also trains us to live sober, temperate, self-controlled lives in an upright, devout manner (Titus 2:12). In other words, He teaches us to live spiritually-whole lives controlled by Him, here in this present evil world.

The False Gospel - no power over sin

What a far cry this is from the present-day gospel that is preached-a gospel that gives no new heart or new nature, a gospel that does not break the power of sin, but allows one to live on in it, a gospel that gives only an insurance policy against hell and knows nothing about holiness of thought and action, a gospel that will let you indulge the flesh, and puts no restraint upon your passion, pride and evil heart! Oh, this is not a gospel, but a false thing! I say false because it says that all one has to do is say “yes” to the four spiritual laws and believe in a historical Jesus; and after he “believes” he is saved and saved for ever, no matter what he does.

Did you know that the average individual tells you that he made a profession when he was 6, 8, 12, or 15 years of age; but he drifted off into sin, and after 10 years or so he came back and rededicated his life and now gives himself to religious service? It is from this group that the majority of our missionaries, teachers and preachers come, and they know nothing of heart-felt repentance or standing before God as a guilty, lost sinner! If you are in this group, I tell you in love, you have mistaken the call to salvation -to come to Christ as a guilty, needy, lost sinner-as the call to service; and therefore you have become two-fold more the child of hell than you were before, unless the Holy Spirit by His Word and grace gives you a heart to see your desperate need of Christ. You see, you have mistaken the call to a broken heart and a contrite spirit, to repentance and faith-the call to break with sin and to walk in holiness of life in conversion-as a call to the ministry! I know this does happen, for I have heard so many testimonies given along this line. It even happened to me! I mistook the call to salvation as the call to the ministry, and only by the grace of God was I awakened to see that I had missed true repentance and faith, and was still in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity.

Therefore, let me proclaim today that I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for that Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth (Rom 1:16). This salvation is the deliverance from the power of sin, which I have experienced by the grace of God in Christ; and beloved, I praise the Lord that Romans 6:18 is true: “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness,” servants of Him Who has delivered us from the law of sin and death! (Rom 8:2).

C. H. Spurgeon has said it so well:
Each creature brings forth after its own kind: the old nature being radically evil continues to produce and to send forth swarms of sins; it is not reconciled to God, neither indeed can be, and therefore its thoughts and acts are those of rebellion and hatred toward God. On the other hand, the new nature “cannot sin because it is born of God”; it must have its fruit unto holiness, for it is holiness itself. Out of a dove’s nest we expect only doves to fly. The heavenly life breeds birds of paradise, such as holy thoughts, desires, and acts; and it cannot bring forth such unclean birds as lust, and envy, and malice. The life of God infused in regeneration is as pure as the Lord by whom it was begotten, and can never be otherwise. Blessed is the man who has this heavenly principle within, for it must appear in his life and cause him to abound in holiness, to the glory of God. Reader, have you this divine seed within you, or do you remain under the dominion of a corrupt nature? This question deserves a present and thoughtful reply.

WHAT IS A SPIRITUAL GIFT?

2007-11-29T06:46:00.000-08:00

Descriptive Words

To understand the nature of spiritual gifts we must first look at the words which the writers of Scripture used to describe them. I Corinthians 12 lists them for us. Each word, it seems, views the gifts from another standpoint, showing another aspect of their purpose, function, or source. Viewing these terms together yields a more complete description of the gifts they are describing.

"Spirituals"

In verse 1 the Authorized Version (KJV) mentions "spiritual gifts." The Greek simply reads "spirituals" (ton pneumatikon), meaning "things characterized or controlled by the Spirit." Spiritual gifts, then, are first of all things controlled or characterized by the Spirit.

"Gifts"

In verse 4 we find the word "gifts" which translates from the Greek word charisma; hence, our term "charismatic." The root word (charis) means "grace." So now if pneumatikon tells us that spiritual gifts are things characterized by the Holy Spirit, charisma teaches us that they are gifts of God's grace. They are not something we earn or deserve. They are gifts of grace. Regardless of what the term "charismatic" has come to mean and imply today, there really is no such thing as a non-charismatic gift. All gifts are charismatic; that is, all gifts are freely given by a gracious God.

This term is used also in Romans 12:6 and I Peter 4:10. (It should be noted that when Paul speaks of gifts in Ephesians 4:7-8, he employs another term, dorea, which stresses virtually the same truth; i.e., that spiritual gifts are just that -- gifts, not rewards.) This is further emphasized throughout the first half of chapter 12. For instance, verse 7 tells us they are given; again in verse 8 is the same. Verses 11 and 18 declare that the gifts are given sovereignly by the Spirit of God: He distributes them as He sees fit.

With this truth recognized, a basic principle begins to emerge, a principle which we shall develop later in more detail. We naturally tend to think that a very gifted man must be a very godly man. A pastor, for example, who is especially gifted in several areas (such as preaching, teaching, leadership, counseling, etc.) is almost instinctively assumed to be spiritually mature and further advanced in holiness than the "ordinary" believer. "What else could explain his great giftedness?" we think. The simple fact of the matter is that he may or may not be spiritually mature. His giftedness really has nothing to do with the question, for gifts are not given in proportion to holiness or anything else. Gifts are given freely and sovereignly by God to whomsoever He wills. They are gifts of grace, not merit, and so they are not at all indicative of a person's sanctification. They prove nothing but that God gives gifts freely. Spiritual gifts are "charismatic" -- gifts of grace.

"Administrations"

In verse 5 Paul calls them "administrations." The term in the Greek is diakonia, "service," the same word from which we get the word "deacon," which means "servant." The next fact about spiritual gifts, then, is that they are services to be performed. Their primary function is for others. Gifts are for serving.

"Operations"

Verse 6 calls them "operations." This is the Greek word from which we get our English word "energy" (energema). Spiritual gifts are also energizings. It is likely that this word emphasizes the divine energy enabling us to perform the service. Peter has this very idea in mind when he says to "minister" (serve) with the "ability" (strength) which God gives (I Peter 4:11). God gifts us to perform service in His strength.

"Manifestations"

Finally, verse 7 refers to them as "manifestations." The Greek word (phanerosis) means "to make visible," or "to display." Spiritual gifts, then, are visible displays of service to others. Spiritual gifts are not abilities given to do something for yourself, alone. That is selfishness. They are visible "services" performed for others. They are to be exercised in love, Paul teaches in chapter 13, and "love seeketh not her own" (13:5).

Definition

Putting together all these terms, we find that a spiritual gift is a God-given ability to serve the church effectively. There are longer definitions which can be made, but this seems to say it all. God has graciously, undeservedly equipped each of us with the ability to minister to others within the body of Christ. A spiritual gift, then, more than being a possession, is a channel through which the Holy Spirit ministers to His church. This is the means He has chosen to edify the Church.

Distinctions

Gifts and Gift

At this juncture, some distinctions are in order. The gifts of the Spirit are not the same as the gift of the Spirit. In Acts 2:38 Peter says to those who inquired about salvation, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." The "gift" (singular) of the Holy Spirit is simply the Holy Spirit Himself. The Holy Spirit Himself was the promised Gift to all who believe on Jesus. Jesus spoke of this on several occasions. John 7:38-39 records one such occasion. Jesus said, "He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." Then John added the interpretive comment, "This spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive." John 14:16-18, 26; 15:26; and 16:7 also speak of the same promised Gift, as does Acts 1:4-5. As will be developed later, the Holy Spirit is Christ's Gift to His church, and this is basic to receiving the gifts (plural) of the Spirit: when we receive Him, we then also receive what He gives; i.e., spiritual gifts. For example, since I married my wife, I have jokingly told her many times, "what's yours is mine, and what's mine is mine!" That may be a little one-sided, but you see the principle -- when I received her, I received also what was hers. All that was hers became mine as well when we became united in marriage. And the same was true for her. Likewise, when I received the blessed Spirit of God, I received Him in all that He had to offer. Among the wonderful ministries of the Spirit in the believer's life is the ministry of gifting for service. This we received when we received Him.

Perhaps it would be helpful to pause here and explain another point in this verse (Acts 2:38). When Peter said to "repent and be baptized for the remission of sins" he was not teaching that baptism is a requirement of salvation. The Greek preposition translated "for" in this verse (eis) carries the idea of "because of." "Repent and be baptized because of the remission of sins." It's like those posters in the police station, "man wanted `for' robbery" -- they are not asking for volunteers! They are declaring that someone is wanted "because of" his crime already committed; he is not wanted in order to commit it! The same is true here; we are to be baptized in obedience to Christ because of our forgiven sins not in order to gain forgiveness.

Gifts and Fruit

Nor should we confuse gifts of the Spirit with fruit of the Spirit. Gifts are services to be performed for others; "fruit" speaks of the graces or character traits of a person indwelt by the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit of God takes up residence in a man, He not only enables him to serve, but He also begins to cultivate holiness, the evidence of which is a deep-seated "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance" (Galatians 5:22-23). Both the fruit and the gifts are essential. Both are manifestations of the indwelling Spirit. But the two are not the same.

Gifts and Talents

Finally, a word about talents. What is the difference between a gift and a talent? It is often said that we are born with certain talents, natural abilities, but when we are born again we are given spiritual gifts -- talents being natural and gifts being supernatural. It is interesting that such sharp distinction is never drawn in Scripture. It is often inferred or just assumed, today, but never is it so stated in Scripture. And with all the facts examined, it seems that this distinction is needless and difficult, if not impossible, to demonstrate.

Let me explain. Galatians 1:15-16, for example, declares, in effect, that Paul was gifted to preach at birth. But that gift, obviously, was not exercised until many years later. To be sure, he no doubt preached and taught before he believed, but that preaching or teaching received an entirely new dimension when he was saved. He had the gift (talent) all along; it became "spiritual" when he became spiritual. (A "spiritual" man is a Christian. This is Paul's terminology in I Corinthians 2:14-15.) His "natural" giftedness (which, of course, was sovereignly given also) became spiritual simply because he himself became spiritual. Or to look at it another way, what is the difference between what your Sunday School teacher does each Sunday morning and what your college professor did for you? The difference is obvious: the teaching of your Sunday teacher, or your pastor, although that same talent, gift, could be used in a secular classroom, has an entirely different dimension. That teaching is spiritual and ministers to the church. The talent is the same but has been given a new dimension and a new capacity -- a capacity for spiritual things. Many a teacher has become "spiritual" and so gained the ability to minister to the church with the same talent, the same gift, he had all along. That talent simply became enhanced in its ability to serve the church effectively. It became spiritual. So the contrast is not absolute; nor are such distinctions necessary. God wisely and providentially equips at birth; the spiritual dimension is added at the new birth, but the talent itself is basically the same.

An Observation

Before leaving this matter of definitions, one more observation is in order, and that concerns that word "manifestations." Just what is it that is manifested? What is made visible? It is the Holy Spirit Himself! A spiritual gift is a "manifestation of the Spirit" (I Cor. 12:7, italics added). This is how the Holy Spirit is seen -- in the exercise of spiritual gifts. One of the greatest displays of the Holy Spirit is a church in which the members are exercising their gifts for one another. A church functioning as a gifted body is a beautiful display of the Spirit. So a spiritual gift is not only an ability to serve; it is the channel through which the Holy Spirit ministers to the body. This puts the discussion on a much higher level of importance! When you exercise your gift in the service of other believers, it is to be recognized as the manifestation, the display of the Spirit of God. God has chosen to minister to his people through us! Few things can match the blessing of knowing and experiencing that.

So ask the question of yourself: how has the Holy Spirit ministered through you this week? How will He next week?

Christianity

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Christianity is a monotheistic^[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as depicted in the New Testament.^[2] Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God and the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament, and that the New Testament records the Gospel that was revealed by Jesus. With an estimated 2.1 billion adherents, or approximately 33% of the world's population in 2007,^[3] Christianity is the world's largest religion. It is the predominant religion in Europe, the Americas, Southern Africa, the Philippines and Oceania.^[4] It is also growing rapidly in Africa and Asia, particularly in China, South Korea and the Middle East.^[5] It is shrinking in other countries including Australia.

Christianity began as an offshoot of Judaism,^[6] and includes the Hebrew Bible (known to Christians as the Old Testament) as well as the New Testament as its canonical scriptures.^[7] Like Judaism and Islam, Christianity is classified as an Abrahamic religion (see also, Judeo-Christian).^[8]^[9]

The name "Christian" (Greek Χριστιανός Strong's G5546), meaning "belonging to Christ" or "partisan of Christ",^[10] was first applied to the disciples in Antioch, as recorded in Acts 11:26.^[11] The earliest recorded use of the term "Christianity" (Greek Χριστιανισμός) is by Ignatius of Antioch.^[12]

About Christian life :

2007-11-23T05:21:00.000-08:00

About Christian life :

Christians believe that all people should strive to live in imitation of Christ. This includes obedience to the Ten Commandments. Jesus taught that the greatest commandments were to: “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind, and strength,” and to “love thy neighbor as thyself.” This love includes such injunctions as "feed the hungry" and "shelter the homeless", and applies to friend or enemy alike. Though the relationship between charity and religious practice are sometimes taken for granted today, as Martin Goodman has observed, "charity in the Jewish and Christian sense was unknown to the pagan world."

Christianity teaches that one can only overcome sin though divine grace: moral and spiritual progress can only occur with God's help through the gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling within the believer. Christians believe that by sharing in Christ's life, death, and resurrection, they die with him to sin and can be resurrected with him to new life.

Symbols :

The best-known Christian symbol is the cross, of which many varieties exist. Several denominations tend to favor distinctive crosses: the crucifix for Catholics, the crux orthodoxa for Orthodox, and the unadorned cross for Protestants. However, this is not a hard-and-fast rule. Other Christian symbols include the ichthys ("fish") symbol or, in ancient times, an anchor, as well as the chi-rho.

Matthew 3:16,17	1 Corinthians 6:9-11	Hebrew 2:3,4
Matthew 28:19	1 Corinthians 12:4-6	Hebrew 3:6,7
Luke 1:35	2 Corinthians 1:21,22	Hebrews 6:4-6
Luke 1:67-69	2 Corinthians 3:3, 4	Hebrew 9:14
John 14:16,17	2 Corinthians 5:5-10	Hebrews 10:12-15
John 14:26	2 Corinthians 13:14	Hebrews 10:29-31
John 15:26	Galatians 3:1-5	1 Peter 1:2
John 16:13-15	Galatians 3:11-14	1 Peter 3:18
John 20:21,22	Galatians 4:4-6	1 Peter 4:14-17
Acts 2:33	Ephesians 1:3-14	2 Peter 1:21-2:1
Acts 2:38,39	Ephesians 2:18	1 John 3:21-24
Acts 7:55	Ephesians 2:22	1 John 4:1,2
Acts 10:38	Ephesians 3:4-7	1 John 4:13,14
Acts 10:46-48	Ephesians 3:14-19	1 John 5:6-9
Acts 11:16,17	Ephesians 4:2-6	Jude 20,21
Romans 5:5,6	Ephesians 5:18-20	Revelation 1:4,5
Romans 8:3,4	Colossians 1:7-10	Revelation 1:9,10
Romans 8:8-11	1 Thessalonians 1:5-10	Revelation 2:7
Romans 8:16,17	1 Thessalonians 4:1-8	Revelation 2:26-29
Romans 14:17,18	1 Thessalonians 5:18,19	Revelation 3:5,6
Romans 15:16	2 Thessalonians 2:13,14	Revelation 3:12,13
Romans 15:17-19	1 Timothy 3:15,16 1	Revelation 3:21,22
Romans 15:30	Timothy 4:1-6	Revelation 5:6,7
1 Corinthians 2:8-10	2 Timothy 1:8-14	Revelation 14:12,13
1 Corinthians 2:12-16	Titus 3:4-8	Revelation 22:16-18