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Theology / Prophecy - Current Events / PEACE ON EARTH
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on: December 17, 2004, 04:16:19 AM
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Many today are longing for “peace on earth” between men and nations, but, sadly, there is no peace. Wars and threats of wars continue with no peace in sight. The Scriptures teach that there will be peace on earth one day, but only when the Lord Jesus Christ, our risen and ascended Savior, returns to earth to fulfill the promises made to the nation of Israel. The Prince of peace will establish His kingdom on this earth and His people, Israel, will rule and reign with Him. This is a peace that man can never hope to achieve through his own efforts.
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Theology / Bible Study / Living by "Christian" Values
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on: December 17, 2004, 04:08:35 AM
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GRACE WALK - Weekly Devotional Living by "Christian" Values There is a great deal of discussion and debate today about "Christian values." The term is used to describe the spiritual/moral principles around which believers build their life. On the surface it would seem that defending Christian values is a noble cause. Yet the Bible never teaches that our life should be built around a particular value system. Paul never said "For to me to live is to live like Christ." However many Christians would suggest that to imitate the life of Christ is a worthy goal. Paul did say, "For me to live is Christ." His lifestyle was not an imitation of the life of Jesus. Christianity is not an imitation of Christ's life. It is an expression of His life.
When a person focuses on imitating Christ, he will be obsessed with doing right and avoiding wrong. Obviously a Christian should do right and avoid wrong. But many in the modern church may be putting the cart before the horse. The Bible never suggests that we are to behave a certain way in order to become righteous. Any effort to achieve righteousness by our behavior will only lead to self righteousness.
When a person receives Christ, he is given the very nature of Jesus. Peter said that we have become "partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:3). A Christian does not gradually become righteous -- he has been given the gift of righteousness in the person of Christ! 2 Corinthians 5:21 says that God "made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." You may behave more righteously than you do right now, but you will never be made more righteous than you are today. Every Christian has the nature of Christ. How can we get holier than that?
When our focus is only on behavior, we are living a legalistic, performance based kind of "Christian" life. God's prescription is that our focus should be on Jesus. Abiding in Him will allow us to live in victory. Our lifestyle is not built on values, Christian or otherwise. Our life is Christ! As we abide in Him, His righteousness is expressed through our lifestyle. Apart from him, even our "good" deeds are nothing more than empty religion. Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing." We can preach, pray, teach, witness, give, and do a hundred other things, but they all add up to zero in God's eyes if we aren't abiding in Christ. Don't get caught up in living by values. Live by His life. An imitation of Christ is empty religion. An expression of Christ is real Christianity. An imitation is never as good as the real thing. Don't settle for a cheap substitute. Abide in Him! Steve McVey is the President of Grace Walk Ministries, a discipleship ministry located in Atlanta, GA. If you have been sent this devotional by a friend and want to know more about Grace Walk Ministries, visit our web site at www.gracewalk.org. This devotional may be duplicated if printed with no changes in its entirety and with the following acknowledgment: “Copyright, 2004,used by permission. Steve McVey, Grace Walk Ministries, www.gracewalk.org ”  2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
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80
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Theology / Bible Study / Matt: 7:21-23
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on: December 17, 2004, 04:04:04 AM
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Anyone care to comment on what your interpretation is on these verses 21, 22 and 23 from Matthew 7.
Should we even have different interpretations?
How about POSTING the VERSES  |
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81
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Entertainment / Movies / ABC coversation game
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on: December 16, 2004, 05:03:55 PM
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ADMIT: That you're a sinner, condemned to physical and spiritual death, because you are not perfect. Romans 3:10, 6:23, & James 1:15 There is NONE righteous, no, not one ... the wages of sin is DEATH ... sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth DEATH. (Spiritual death is eternity in HELL.)
BELIEVE: that JESUS died, rose again, and that He alone can save you from sin, death, and Hell. Romans 10:9-10 believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness.
CONFESS: JESUS CHRIST, and nothing else, as your own Saviour. Romans 10:9-10 & 13 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus ... confession is made unto salvation ... whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Before it's too late, forever, DO IT NOW ! God's gift is FREE, and as easy as A-B-C !
You will eventually face God. It will not matter what any church taught, what any pastor said, or what you think (unless it agrees with God's word, the Bible). It will only matter what God said.
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82
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Theology / Bible Study / The Key to Victory: Trusting vs. Trying
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on: December 16, 2004, 02:56:34 PM
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GRACE WALK - Weekly Devotional
The Key to Victory: Trusting vs. Trying
If Jesus promised victory, why are so many Christians experiencing defeat in their own lives? In his book, Victory in Christ, Charles Trumball expresses the sad circumstances of many people:
"There were great fluctuations in my spiritual life, in my conscious closeness of fellowship with God. Sometimes I would be on the heights spiritually; sometimes I would be in the depths. A strong, arousing conviction, a stirring, searching address from some consecrated, victorious Christian leader of men; a searching Spirit filled book, or the obligation to do a difficult piece of Christian service myself, with the preparation in prayer that it involved, would lift me up; and I would stay up - for a while - and God would seem very close and my spiritual life deep. But it wouldn't last. Sometimes by some single failure before temptation, sometimes by a gradual downhill process, my best experiences would be lost, and I would find myself back on the lower levels. And a lower level is a perilous place for a Christian to be, as the Devil showed me over and over again."
The cycle Trumbull described may be typical, but it isn't the kind of Christian life described in the New Testament. The problem for many believers is that they try instead of trust. We live in a culture that commends effort. From childhood each of us learned that we shouldn't give up. Don't be a quitter. Keep trying until you accomplish your goal. One company even advertised a motto which said, "We try harder!" In the natural world, trying harder is commendable and often effective. Yet God's ways really aren't our ways. Sometimes they seem to be opposite from ours. In the spiritual world, trying harder is detrimental. That's right. Trying will defeat you every time, regardless of how sincere you might be.
No Christian has a problem with the previous paragraph as it relates to salvation. If an unsaved person were to suggest to you that he is trying hard to become a Christian, what would you tell him? You would probably make it clear to him that a person is not saved by trying, but becomes a child of God by trusting. You would tell him that there is absolutely nothing he can do to gain salvation. It has all already been done. Salvation is a gift to be received, not a reward for hard work.
Yet many Christians who understand that trying is detrimental to becoming a Christian somehow think that it is essential to walking in victory after salvation. Not so! 1 Corinthians 15:57 says, "but thanks be unto God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." The Bible clearly says here that victory is a gift that comes through Jesus. If we have the Lord Jesus Christ, victory is already ours!
Do you get the picture? We don't experience victory by fighting, instead we enjoy it by faith! As we abide in Christ and allow Him to live His life through us we live in victory. 1 John 5:4 says, "And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith." The key to victory is to simply allow Christ to live through us. The Bible calls it "walking in the Spirit." Many people try to stop sinning in order to walk in the Spirit, but Galatians 5:16 says, "Walk in the Spirit and [then] you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."
Victory is a Person and His name is Jesus! It isn't necessary to walk in defeat. The victory was won at the cross and became ours the moment we received Christ! Steve McVey is the President of Grace Walk Ministries, a discipleship ministry located in Atlanta, GA. If you have been sent this devotional by a friend and want to know more about Grace Walk Ministries, visit our web site at www.gracewalk.org. This devotional may be duplicated if printed with no changes in its entirety and with the following acknowledgment: “Copyright, 2004,used by permission. Steve McVey, Grace Walk Ministries, www.gracewalk.org ” 2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
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86
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Theology / Bible Study / THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST
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on: December 16, 2004, 02:00:18 PM
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Daily Inspirational THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST by K. R. Blades PART 2 OUR SUBSTITUTE REDEEMER The Lord Jesus Christ faithfully and perfectly performed for us the work necessary to deliver us from the debt and penalty of our sins. What we could not do for ourselves by any of our works, He did for us as our substitute redeemer. He took our place, as our redeemer, and suffered the wages of our sins for us. He propitiated God's justice in connection with the penalty of our sins, and perfectly provided for the forgiveness of our sins and our justification by God. Redemption, as described in the Law and illustrated in the Book of Ruth, sets forth two essential requirements on the part of the redeemer. First, the redeemer had to be capable of functioning as such, and second, he had to be FAITHFUL in the performance of his duty. Faithfulness of performance was an essential issue. If their was no faithfulness on the part of the redeemer, there was no redemption. The one needing redemption was completely dependent upon the faithfulness of the redeemer for deliverance from his predicament. The declaration of the "FAITH," or FAITHFULNESS, of the one redeeming summed up the fact that all the work necessary for redemption had been done and the one needing redemption could trust in and relax in the work of his redeemer. And so it was with us! The predicament of the debt and penalty of our sins was one from which we could not escape. None of our works, no matter how good or well intended, could propitiate God's justice and justify us in His sight. We desperately needed a redeemer. One who was capable of functioning in our place, and one who would faithfully perform our complete redemption. Thanks be to God for the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Thanks be to God for “THE FAITH(FULNESS) OF JESUS CHRIST.” He did the work we could not do and the declaration of His "FAITH," or FAITHFULNESS, means that can completely trust in Him and relax in what He has done for us. THE VERSES Consider now the verses where the apostle Paul uses this magnificent expression. Consider how precious in meaning this wonderful expression is as it conveys the truth of Christ's faithful performance as our substitute redeemer. “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST unto all and upon all them that believe:...” (Romans 3:21 22) “We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by THE FAITH OF CHRIST, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:15 16) “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST might be given to them that believe.” (Gal. 3:22) “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through THE FAITH OF CHRIST, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” (Philippians 3:9) The “righteousness of God”; justification; the promise of justification unto eternal life which men so desperately need, doesn't come through our own performance of works and deeds. Instead, justification is by “THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST.” It's provided for through the faithful performance of Jesus Christ as our substitute redeemer. His faithful performance as our redeemer has provided justification for us, and God justifies all who believe in Jesus Christ; that is, all who trust in Him, relying upon His faithful performance as their redeemer. “According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by THE FAITH OF HIM.” (Ephesians 3:11 12) Here, in Ephesians chapter 3, the apostle Paul utilizes the expression again as he deals with the grandeur and glory of the eternal purpose of God now made known through the revelation of “the mystery of Christ.” And we, who have trusted Christ as our Savior, are not only justified unto eternal life, but we have been made fit by God to be utilized by Him in His “eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We have been made fit to be utilized by Him in His plan for the reconciliation of the principalities and powers in heavenly places. However, fitness has not come of our own doing, but once again we have been made fit “through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (See, for example, Eph. 1:3 7; 2:1-22; Col. 1:12 13) Christ's faithful redemptive work in our place has made us completely fit to be utilized by God in His plan and purpose. Therefore, “we have boldness and access with confidence by THE FAITH OF HIM.” “For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:19 20) Likewise also is this expression used regarding `living unto God' in our daily lives. We can't and won't live unto God and bring forth fruit unto Him by our own energy and performance under the law. Rather, we live unto God as we walk motivated by the justified and sanctified position we have in Christ, all through “THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD,” who loved us and gave Himself for us. What a wonderful truth is conveyed in this expression - “the faith OF Jesus Christ.” If it wasn't for His faithful performance as our substitute redeemer there would be for us no redemption; no forgiveness; no justification; no reconciliation; no sanctification; no nothing.. There would only be wrath in “the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.” Thanks be to God for “THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST". ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Should this devotional be a blessing to you, maybe you have a friend or family member that would like to start receiving the daily word. You may forward this to them, by copy and paste method, and they can use the below link to subscribe. We love to meet new people Daily Inspirational WEB SITE Grace And The Truth www.graceandthetruth.comE-Mail GracentheTruth@aol.com 2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. |
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87
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Theology / Bible Study / THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST
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on: December 16, 2004, 01:57:01 PM
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Two Minutes With The Bible
THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST
by K. R. Blades
PART 1
The apostle Paul uses the above expression at least 7 times in his epistles to us, and with it speaks of something that often times is not fully appreciated by Christians as it ought to be. The expression strikes many as a peculiar one. “Faith” is something that we think of with respect to ourselves. We place OUR faith IN Christ. Therefore, to find Paul talking about “the faith OF Jesus Christ,” or CHRIST'S faith, seems puzzling. Because of this, unfortunately, many times the expression is treated as if it were a misstatement. Christians are told, or led to think, that the expression really does refer to our faith IN Christ, but it has just been mistranslated. The impression is given that the expression is just a funny wording in the original Greek. It really does say “the faith OF Jesus Christ,” but it's to be looked upon as just a funny way of referring to our faith IN Him. And with this, many English translations make the expression refer to our faith IN Christ, though some do at least acknowledge in a foot note that literally the expression is “the faith OF Jesus Christ.” However, unfortunately, by doing this a wonderful truth is largely obscured, if not completely obliterated. A wonderful God be thanked truth which is marvelously conveyed in the expression “the faith OF Jesus Christ.”
There are two things that ought to make it apparent that Paul's reference to “the faith of Jesus Christ” is referring to something special with respect to Christ, and that it is not just a funny wording for the issue of our faith in Him. First of all, when our faith is the issue, the wording that conveys that is plain. Consider, for example, the following....
“Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through FAITH IN HIS BLOOD,...” (Romans 3:25)
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified BY FAITH without the deeds of the
law.” (Romans 3:28)
“But to him that worketh not, but BELIEVETH ON HIM that justifieth the ungodly,
HIS FAITH is counted for righteousness.” (Romans 4:5)
“For ye are all the children of God BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.” (Gal. 3:26)
“Since we heard of YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS,...” (Col. 1:4)
There's no funny wording in these verses, nor in dozens of others like them in which the issue of our faith in Christ is set forth. This should tell us that the expression “the faith OF Jesus Christ” must be referring to something else. The second thing that makes this apparent is the fact that in the passages where Paul refers to “the faith OF Jesus Christ,” he refers to the issue of our faith IN Christ by a separate expression of its own. Notice this in the following....
“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST unto all and upon ALL THEM THAT BELIEVE:...” (Romans 3:21 22)
“We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a
man is not justified by the works of the law, but by THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST, even we HAVE BELIEVED IN JESUS CHRIST, that we might be justified by THE FAITH OF CHRIST, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Gal. 2:15 16)
“But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by FAITH OF
JESUS CHRIST might be given to THEM THAT BELIEVE.” (Gal. 3:22)
“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law,
but that which is through THE FAITH OF CHRIST, the righteousness which is of God BY FAITH:” (Phil. 3:9)
Paul is not being redundant in these verses. He's not simple stating the issue of our faith in Christ twice. Instead, “the faith OF Jesus Christ” is one thing, and our faith in Him is something else. In fact, placing our faith in Christ is something we do because of “the faith OF Him.”
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
“The faith OF Jesus Christ” is referring to His faithful performance as our substitute redeemer. It refers to Christ's FIDELITY. His faithful performance in our place doing that which we needed done for us. The word “faith” is being used in its quality sense. In this sense it denotes the quality of faithfulness; fidelity; or loyalty. An example of this use of the word “faith” is found in Romans 3:3 4, where the apostle Paul asks the question....
“For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make THE FAITH OF GOD without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar;...” (Romans 3:3-4a)
Obviously, “THE FAITH OF GOD” here is not God's faith in anyone, nor is it anyone's personal faith in God. Rather, it is the issue of God's faithfulness. His faithfulness to His word and to do what He says He will do. This is why Paul responds to the question by saying, “Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar.” God is true and faithful to His word. The “FAITH OF GOD” is His faithfulness to do what He says He will do. Another example where "faith" has this sense can be seen in Titus 2:10, where Paul exhorts servants to be “obedient unto their own masters,” and to be ones who are “not purloining, but shewing all good FIDELITY.” The word “faith” is rendered here with its sense of quality. Paul is exhorting the servants to be faithful in the performance of their duties to their masters. To show fidelity and loyalty to them.
It is with this same sense of quality that the word “faith” is used in the expression “the faith OF Jesus Christ.” The issue is His faithfulness. Jesus Christ's faithful performance as our substitute redeemer.
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Theology / Bible Study / "JOINT-HEIRS, JOINT-BODY, JOINT-PARTAKERS"
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on: December 16, 2004, 01:43:50 PM
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Two Minutes With The Bible
"JOINT-HEIRS, JOINT-BODY, JOINT-PARTAKERS"
By Russell S. Miller
"That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel" (Eph.3:6).
Bible prophecy has great things in store for those Gentiles of the future "kingdom of Heaven" on earth, but such a position as "joint-heirs, and of a joint-body, and joint-partakers" is foreign to the prophetic Word of God. Nevertheless such is the rendering of Darby’s New Translation; Bullinger’s foot-notes; and Englishman’s Greek New Testament.
This is why Paul declares that "the Mystery" committed to his trust was "hid in God", "not made known", and "hid from ages and from generations" until it was first revealed to him by the glorified Lord Jesus Christ (Eph.3:1-9; Col.1:26; ICor. 9:17; Gal.1:11,12).
"Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit" (Eph.3:5).
In all that which the Lord Jesus Christ inherits of His Father, we have been made "JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHRIST" (Rom.8:17), and of His promise to Abraham we are "JOINT-PARTAKERS IN CHRIST" (Eph.3:6). But there is more, in that "one new man" of Ephesians 2:15, believing Jews and Gentiles are a "JOINT-BODY" in Christ today. And all this is a result of the gospel of the grace of God given to Paul.
Thus, the Apostle produces his credentials "WHEREOF I AM MADE A MINISTER, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;"EVEN THE MYSTERY WHICH HATH BEEN HID FROM AGES AND FROM GENERATIONS, BUT NOW IS MADE MANIFEST TO HIS SAINTS" (Col.1:25,26).
That’s right, Paul, that great architect of grace, is the minister of the Church, which is the Body of Christ. "AS A WISE MASTERBUILDER", he says, "I HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon" (ICor. 3:10).
"...That in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, FOR A PATTERN TO THEM WHICH SHOULD HEREAFTER BELIEVE ON HIM TO LIFE EVERLASTING" (ITim.1:16).
"And to make ALL MEN see what is THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE MYSTERY, which from THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD hath been HID IN GOD, who created all things by Jesus Christ" (Eph.3:9).+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Subscribe at: http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/twominut.htmlTwo Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam Mailing Address: Berean Bible Society N112 W17761 Mequon Road P.O. Box 756 Germantown, WI 53022 Web Site: http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/Gospel Books, Materials, & Free Mailings Email: berean@execpc.com 2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
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