Tag Archives: Jesus Christ

Faith Not Feelings

We are told to be “Looking diligently” lest we “FAIL OF THE GRACE OF GOD”. The word translated “FAIL” is the Greek hystereō (hoos-ter-eh’-o), which means “to fall short of, to fail to reach the goal, to suffer for lack of”. The same word is used in:

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and COME SHORT OF (hystereō) the glory of God.

Because we all have sinned and hystereō the glory of God, we all deserve eternal separation from God. None of us deserve entrance into God’s wonderful Heaven. None of us deserve to be born again, nor to be adopted into the family of God. All of us deserve eternal damnation.

But God offers us GRACE!

Grace is when God gives us what we do not deserve. To receive grace, we must have faith in God. To receive grace, we must TRUST God to be honorable, truthful, and faithful. Grace turns from my ability to God’s ability. Grace looks to the Cross of Christ and the empty tomb. We are told … Continue reading

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No More Golden Calves

This past Friday thousands of flights with American, Delta, and United Airlines were canceled or delayed. Emergency services reliant on 911 calls were disrupted, and court trials delayed. The U.S. Customs service was delayed. Hospitals were unable to do diagnostic tests like X-Ray, CAT Scan, or MRIs. Some surgeries had to be rescheduled. United Parcel Service and FEDEX reported issues, and Wall Street as well as banking services across the nation were effected. What happened? A routine update to Microsoft Windows customers contained a defect that crashed computers nationwide.

Sometimes it seems as if the world has gone crazy. Yet in the midst of all this craziness (including what they call AI – which I think is very dangerous … have you never seen the Terminator movies?) our God is still in control. Sometimes we forget this, and start to make golden calves. We have a lot of golden calves in America today, things we rely on instead of God.

Computers
Health Care
Man Made Religion
Human Sexuality
Money
Political or National Alliances
Family
Businesses… Continue reading

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Blessed or Cursed Of God

Those who are “righteous”, that is, those saved by faith in Jesus, born again children of God, are generally blessed if life. However those who follow their own path, who reject the Word of God in order to be their own gods, in time these people are cursed.

Proverbs 10:6 (KJV) Blessings are upon the head of the just…

God told Israel before they went into the Promised Land,

Slide 2

Deuteronomy 28:1-2 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.

The way to blessing is to heed the Word of God, and to DO what He has said. In the ancient world, blessings were always passed on from father to sons by placing his hand upon the head of the child. As Jacob – now called Israel – prepared to die, he called for his sons. Joseph came, bringing his sons Ephraim and Manasseh. The Bible says: Continue reading

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Will All Jews Go To Heaven Without Jesus?

Israel, and the battle that nation is having with Hamas (a terrorist organization) and the Palestinians is in the news. Around 1139 people were killed when Palestinian armed forces went from the Gaza Strip into the Gaza envelope of Southern Israel. One source noted:

“One of Hamas’s goals was simply to kill Israelis—many of them. The Washington Post reported that instructions found on dead Hamas fighters included, “Kill as many people and take as many hostages as possible.” Among other weapons, Hamas also equipped its fighters with thermobaric grenades, which can quickly cause massive fires in a home. The fighters also had enough ammunition and food to keep going into Israel if they were able to do so, as well as maps, suggesting an even higher death toll was possible.”

This is not the only time in history that the nation of Israel has been attacked. Israel has been bullied and attacked throughout history. And yet God has promised “ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED”. … Continue reading

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Don’t Quit Running, Christian!

Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

In chapter 11 God defined faith for us. Faith must be in the proper OBJECT, as faith in the wrong thing or wrong person will not save your soul. We read:

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please {God}: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

Faith must come to GOD, believing that He is. Faith must come to Jesus, believing that He is the Messiah. Faith must come to the Bible, believing it is the Word of God. Faith must be in the proper PERSON, the proper OBJECT. … Continue reading

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How We Got Our Bible #4: The New Testament Formation (Part 1)

As our Lord Jesus taught, He did not create new Scripture – but instead properly interpreted and taught Scripture to show its true intent. Groups like the Pharisees, though well meaning, had twisted the Scripture through their own opinion. Jesus chastised them for this, saying:

Mark 7:6-9 Well hath Esaias {Isaiah} prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

Note that as Jesus chastised them, He referred back to the Old Testament prophesies of … Continue reading

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The Old Covenant Is Gone Forever

Hebrews 10:5-6 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

Who is the One that “COMETH INTO THE WORLD”? Who is it Who had “A BODY PREPARED FOR ME”? It is Jesus. The Bible says:

1 Timothy 1:15 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners …

Mark 10:45 … even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

And again in John 6:38-39 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.

Jesus specifically came into the world because animal sacrifices… Continue reading

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God’s Wisdom and Understanding vs The Strange Woman

In Proverbs Chapter 7 God contrasts two women, one called Wisdom who is to be your sister and her kinswoman Understanding, to one unnamed STRANGE woman who wants to take advantage of you. The word translated “STRANGE” is the Hebrew zûwr {pronounced zoor} which is used in Scripture for strangers, foreigners, enemies, profane people. The “STRANGE WOMAN” uses her words to “FLATTER” you. This is the Hebrew châlaq {pronounced khaw-lak’}, which means “to separate, to draw away, to divide from what God wants for you”. Let’s look first at … Continue reading

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Jesus The Bondsman Of A Better Covenant

What is the proof that Jesus is the Engyos of God? The phrase “BY SO MUCH” is the Greek kata tosoutos, which means “by so many GREAT proofs”. There are many proofs set forth in Chapter 7 that proves Jesus to be the Head of a Greater Covenant. One of those proofs is in the life of a mysterious Person called Melchizedek. Before we talk about the Melchizedek and Abraham, let me ask this question:

Does God Speak To People?

Illustrate: I was watching an episode of a show Sherry and I like called “Blue Bloods”. I’ve been a Tom Selleck fan from his Magnum P.I. days. The show is generally clean, and depicts a Catholic family in law enforcement, with Selleck in the lead as the Police… Continue reading

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God Is Faithful, So Keep Walking

Let’s break this down. “SAME DILIGENCE” is the Greek autos spoudē. The word translated “SAME” is autos means “HIS”, “HER” or “THEIR”. This is a reflexive pronoun of self. It is pointing to the diligence that someone else showed. The word “DILIGENCE” is the Greek spoudē, which means “diligence, earnestness in accomplishing, carefulness in following through”. The person referred to – the one we are to copy – did not start out like gangbusters then fizzle out. This person acted as if they had a “full assurance of hope unto the end”. We are told in verse 12:

be not slothful

Word Study: This is the Greek ginomai mē nōthros, which means “to become sluggish, dull, or half hearted”. We have the promises of God Himself to rely on. Our God is faithful, and what He has promised will come to pass. God has called us into His Kingdom… Continue reading

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