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Hello Brothers and Sisters,

Christians have thoughts and think about facts from the Holy Bible every day. This is a big part of our lives, and these frequent thoughts can help us and others. For us, these thoughts and facts result in hope, encouragement, and strength. When we share these thoughts and facts with others, they become part of our living testimony for CHRIST or a Witness to the lost. These same thoughts and facts are also part of our fellowship with each other and our personal relationship with CHRIST.

So, these thoughts and facts are important and certainly worthy of sharing with each other. That's what this thread is for - sharing the thoughts and facts that are the core of our lives as Christians. We get these thoughts from studying GOD'S WORD, listening to sermons, and trying to digest a variety of Godly materials. I think that the best way we get these thoughts and facts is to read and study GOD'S WORD every day.

Most Christians can easily find thoughts and facts from the Holy Bible that brighten our day, uplift us, encourage us, or provide ideas to share with others. I'd like to invite you to do just that in this thread. I'm hoping and praying that this area will be a blessing to everyone. When we talk to others or witness, we use our own words and the Holy Bible, so I'd also like to encourage you to use your own personal thoughts and selected Scripture. This will be good practice for all of us.

Love In Christ,
Tom

 

Light 2008_02_18

John 1:1-5  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

I've always thought this is one of the most beautiful and meaningful portions of the Holy Bible. The beginning of all things is GOD because HE is the CREATOR. HE has no beginning and no end. John is speaking about a person here, but the person is GOD made manifest in the flesh - JESUS CHRIST.

In just the first five Verses, John refers to JESUS CHRIST as "The Word" and "The Light". These names have beautiful significance when talking about JESUS CHRIST. "Words" are a way to communicate with each other. GOD'S WORD, the Holy Bible, is GOD'S Communication to us in written form. JESUS CHRIST is GOD'S Communication to us IN PERSON. JESUS CHRIST is also the mediator between GOD and man. JESUS CHRIST did speak to many people during HIS First Coming to earth. "The WORD" is a meaningful name because the spoken words of JESUS CHRIST were and are GOD'S WORDS. Remember, JESUS CHRIST is GOD and is the CREATOR, but so are GOD THE FATHER AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT - yet THE THREE ARE ONE - A HOLY TRINITY.

An entire study could be done on "The Light", and it would be beautiful, but I just want to mention a couple of brief thoughts that definitely apply. Mankind is born under the curse of sin and death because of sin in the Garden and the "Fall of Man". This curse is our inheritance from Adam. GOD is LIGHT and satan is DARKNESS. We are in DARKNESS unless we accept JESUS CHRIST as LORD and SAVIOUR. We don't leave this world immediately after being Saved, so we are still exposed to evil and darkness. The difference is that evil and darkness are no longer our master. JESUS CHRIST is our MASTER, and HE is a LIGHT for our path during this short life. HE is our LIGHT and we love the LIGHT. HE rescued us from darkness, and we don't want to return to that pitiful state of darkness.

One of the beautiful things about LIGHT is that it can be seen, and this is certainly true with Christians. The LIGHT of CHRIST can be seen in the lives of Christians, and we should have a desire to share the LIGHT that CHRIST has given us. YES - CHRIST is our LIGHT, but HE is also our LIFE.

GOD is the CREATOR, and HE gave us life, but the wages of sin is DEATH. CHRIST died on the Cross in our place, and HE arose from the DEAD. We were dead in our trespasses and sin before we were saved and were doomed to eternal punishment. When we accept JESUS CHRIST as LORD and SAVIOUR, we are born again as a new creation in CHRIST. Our Eternal Life is in CHRIST, so CHRIST is our LIFE.

Love In Christ,
Tom

A beautiful thread and a the best place to start is with the foundation of all that there is, Jesus Christ. I am currently doing a study on Hope, Faith and Love from some very old study notes of mine that I found while digging through some old boxes. Going by the condition of the paper and my writing form I think it was from a time that I was still in my teens. It was a wonderful study then and just as wonderful now. God's word never gets old no matter how much we may have studied it.

It is through His word that we see and understand His wonderful mercy and wonderful promises that He has given to all that are willing to accept Him. It is through Him that we have hope, hope os Salvation from a terrible fate of eternal punishment, hope of eventually being free from the burdens of this fleshly life. The hope of all hope is Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

No matter what happens in the life of a Christian, we can know that it will all work out to our good according to God's purpose. There is absolutely NO reason to doubt or worry. We will have rough times as everyone does, but as long as we keep our eyes on the Lord through every storm, we will come out safely on the other side.

Amen and Amen!

Brothers and Sisters, I'm still having a good time following references for LIGHT. This is a beautiful subject throughout the Bible, but I think that John does a wonderful job of glorifying the LIGHT, and the LIGHT is JESUS CHRIST.

John 12:35-36  Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

Just think about this for a moment. The LIGHT was among them - in Person. The LIGHT even gave them signs and wonders to help them believe, but most of HIS Own rejected HIM. It's beautiful to think about all of the evidence that CHRIST gave to mankind to prove that HE was and is GOD, and HE loves us. I'm giving thanks right now that I'm a child of the LIGHT.

2 Corinthians 4:3-7  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom 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. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Those who are lost and walking in darkness should know that there is only a short and limited time to come to the LIGHT and accept JESUS CHRIST as LORD and SAVIOUR. The length of our short life on this earth is uncertain. There is misery and the curse of sin and death in the darkness. The happiness some people think they've found in the dark is temporary and it is usually sin that simply results in more misery. The only real and lasting happiness is in the LIGHT. JESUS CHRIST has HIS arms outstretched to you and is inviting you to come out of the darkness forever. This might be your last chance to accept HIS loving invitation. The happiness you're looking for can only be obtained by Peace with GOD. Peace with GOD is only possible by accepting JESUS CHRIST as your LORD and SAVIOUR.

Love In Christ,
Tom

 

Romans 8:1-2  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Brothers and Sisters,

This is a very uplifting portion of Scripture that should cause us to rejoice, give thanks, and worship the One who rescued us from the law of sin and death. This law is many times called the curse of sin and death.

The first thing we should notice in this portion of Scripture is VICTORY, but we should quickly note who won the VICTORY. Christians are IN CHRIST, and the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD lives in our hearts. There is nothing in this portion of Scripture for man to brag about - ALL GLORY GOES TO GOD! We are not condemned because JESUS CHRIST has already paid our penalty with HIS Precious Blood on the CROSS. JESUS CHRIST will also be our JUDGE, but HE will JUDGE us for REWARDS, not punishment.

Other beautiful portions of Scripture talk about the Law of Faith in JESUS CHRIST freeing us from the curse of sin and death. In fact, countless portions of Scripture instruct us plainly that having JESUS CHRIST as LORD and SAVIOUR is the ONLY way, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. ALL we have is in HIM, so JESUS CHRIST is our ALL-IN-ALL.

Love In Christ,
Tom

 

Good Evening Brothers and Sisters,

I many times like to read the Bible in the quiet of the evening. I enjoy reading from various translations, including the Amplified Bible. I also like to follow the references and comparisons to understand the portion of Scripture more fully.

This evening, I simply wanted to read a few Scriptures in Hebrews, and I'm glad that I did. The first three verses of Hebrews Chapter 1 are extremely powerful and packed with information for further Bible Study.

First, please see the same portion of Scripture from the KJV as a base for comparison:

Hebrews 1:1 KJV  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Hebrews 1:2 KJV  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Hebrews 1:3 KJV  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
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Now, take a look at the Amplified. It's nice to have software that will allow you to do a side-by-side comparison of various translations, and the Freeware e-Sword Bible Study package does this and much more.

Hebrews 1:1 AMP  IN MANY separate revelations [each of which set forth a portion of the Truth] and in different ways God spoke of old to [our] forefathers in and by the prophets,

Hebrews 1:2 AMP  [But] in the last of these days He has spoken to us in [the person of a] Son, Whom He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order].

Hebrews 1:3 AMP  He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God's] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high,
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Just the Scriptures by themselves speak volumes without reading a word of commentary. You should understand that Hebrews is a book of great contrasts and comparisons.  Examples:

1 - GOD'S Grace verses the Law of Moses.

2 - JESUS CHRIST versus Levitical Priests and Old Testament Prophets.

3 - The New Covenant versus the Old Covenant.

If one puts Hebrews into historical perspective, the comparisons in Hebrews are some of the most powerful and beautiful in the entire Bible. The Jews were used to using the words of the Prophets as the ultimate TRUTH, but now they have the words of JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF. One doesn't have to look very hard at this small portion of Scripture to determine that JESUS CHRIST is and always has been VERY GOD.

Most of the Jews didn't believe in the Holy One who walked among them, even though HE gave them many signs and wonders to help their belief. HE was, in fact, their Promised MESSIAH and Anointed KING, but they rejected HIM.

The Book of Hebrews tells the people WHO was among them, what HE did, and why HE did it. I find it almost amazing that the Old Testament Scholars among the Jews didn't see the Bible Prophecy being fulfilled under their very noses. This is also a time when Jews are being persecuted, and everyone is persecuting the Christians - including the Jews. So, this was a time of fear and confusion. JESUS CHRIST is much more important than the fear and confusion, and this is one of the purposes for the book of Hebrews. In fact, JESUS CHRIST will always be much more important than fear and confusion.

Brothers and Sisters, I really don't want to give much commentary about this beautiful portion of Scripture. I've mentioned some surrounding issues, but I'd rather have these Scriptures speak to your heart just as they are. Read them again and see if you can recognize the great Power and Truth locked in a few words. Use your own Bible to do a little bit of study. Follow the cross references and comparisons and see the tremendous significance of this portion of Scripture. Enjoy!

Love In Christ,
Tom