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It is interesting to note that when submitting a story at the Digg site, there are no categories listed for "faith," or "religion," or "God topics."
Usually, I don't get the chance to submit a story at Digg because someone else has always "beaten me to the punch" and already submitted it. But this time, it was a story that did not have any "diggs" yet, so I was able to be the first.
When it came time to give the post a label, there wasn't any description in the categories that appeared to fit. Then, I saw "world news" was a choice and decided that would certainly work. In fact, no other story in history has ever impacted the world quite as enormously than the life, ministry, sacrificial death, and resurrection to life of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
I thought that Pastor Greg Laurie did a fine job in his article explaining what it really means to be "born again" in Christ.
In the conclusion of the essay, Pastor Laurie wrote:
"That whosoever believes in Him ..." To believe means to trust in, to cling to, to rely on Jesus for your forgiveness and personal salvation. And what's the result of believing in Him?
The result is that those who believe "should not perish but have everlasting life." That is, faith in Jesus is the gift of eternal life. Among other things, it is the gift of knowing that you will go to heaven when you die (Romans 6:23).
But it's not enough to have someone offer you a gift. You must accept it. Of course you could reject the gift, but you can't be neutral about the offer or say that you can't decide. This is a YES or NO proposition.
You might say, "But I'm not the 'religious type.'" That's OK, because God isn't looking for religious people, but sinful people like you and me that need some good news in a world gone bad.
Can anyone ever say that this fallen world that we now live in isn't rife with sin and "gone bad?"
No.
And Biblical Christianity has the only "antidote for what ails us."
The only way to be rescued from this sinful, fallen world is to be born again in Christ.
Man's temporal efforts in this area can help halt the downward spiral for a season. However, the God of the Bible informs us of what is to come through the prophecies in Scripture.
Placing our trust in finite, fallen people and their ideas, governments, and choices for what constitutes as "educational priorities" leaves much to be desired; to say the least!
Those who hold fast to the Lord Jesus and know His Truth are set free from the bondage of sin and corruption that is in this world.
Jesus warned us:
Jhn 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
The Bible clearly tells us that Jesus' kingdom "is not of this world."
Jhn 8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
Jhn 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
He also told us that knowing Him and His gospel of salvation through being born again is knowing the Truth.
Jhn 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
And, the Truth will set us free.
Jhn 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
There is such a thing as absolute Truth. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Him!
Jhn 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Take a look at this interesting article called, A modern American fairy tale written by Pat Boone. We can sadly see how our current liberal left educators have taken us down a spiraling, out of control cesspool of sin rather than focusing on the academic knowledge needed for our children to succeed in this world.
People who do not know God are guilty of leading our children astray. They promote sin like there is nothing to be concerned about. Well, they are wrong. Dead wrong! The Bible is filled with warnings, admonitions and pleadings to turn (repent) from sin! In fact, the term "sin" occurs 448 times in 389 verses in the King James Bible! I'd say that God must be quite concerned about sin! It's mentioned enough times in His Word to rank far up in consideration on the scales of justice.
Yet, sadly, there is much preaching going on today in these post-modern, "ignore the Bible" type churches that do not hold to the opinion that the Bible is true, absolute and God's Holy Word. If you are currently in one of them, my advice is to get out...and fast!
A good way to do a "check up" on the health of any, particular Christian church might be to view their "beliefs" list. The following is a good one. However, it does not include any denominational traditions and tenets. But it could serve as a valuable "plumb line" in determining where your church stands regarding the true gospel of Christ, true Christian faith, salvation, adherance to Jesus Christ, and God's Word, the Bible.
What We Believe...Jesus asks each and every person who has ever lived, "Who do you say that I am?" Luke 9:20
* About God:
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 3:22; Psalms 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14
*About Humankind:
We are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like him in character. We are the supreme object of God's creation. Although humankind has tremendous potential for good, we are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God, called "sin." This attitude separates us from God.
Genesis 1:27; Psalms 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2
*About Eternity:
We all were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally in union with God through forgiveness and salvation or separated from God by sin. Heaven is the place of eternal union and eternal life with God. The eternal separation from God is called Hell.
John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; (Hell)
Matthew 25:41; Revelation 21:27 (Heaven)
* About Jesus Christ:
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heavens glory and will return again, to earth, to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; John 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13
*About Salvation:
Salvation is a gift from God to mankind. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can we be saved from sin's penalty. Eternal life begins the moment we receive Jesus Christ into our life by faith.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6; John 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
*About The Holy Spirit:
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make mankind aware of our need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual gifts, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian's responsibility is to seek and to live under His will daily.
2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13; John 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1
*About Spiritual Gifts:
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are available to each believer in Jesus Christ, allowing for greater intimacy with God and power for accomplishing His work in our world today. We believe that God, the giver of gifts, gives severally as he wills, and with emphasis on growing maturity in Jesus Christ. These gifts are revealed and then can be used for His purposes and powerfully influence and affect our world for Christ.
1Corinthians 12:4-7, 11, 17, 29, 30
*About The Bible:
The Bible is God's Word to all mankind. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalms 12:6; 119:105, 160; Proverbs 30:5
Pastor Laurie ends his essay with two statements plus the most important question that you will ever answer in your lifetime:
The gift is on the table.
The next move is yours.
Would you like to be born again?
*******
HT: World Net Daily
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1 comment:
Neil at 4Simpsons Eternity Matters has a great thread regarding "The Divine Transaction."
Neil wrote:
"There is a divine transaction that takes place when someone becomes a Christian. By trusting in Jesus the following trade takes place:
Your sins and the associated guilt are transferred to Jesus’ account. He willingly took the punishment for these sins on the cross.
Jesus’ righteousness and perfection are imputed or credited to your account.
It is the ultimate good deal."
Bubba commented:
"One thing I would add is that, while Christ’s righteousness is imputed to one’s account immediately on accepting His gift of grace and accepting Him as Lord and Savior, God wills that the righteousness that is imputed by our salvation should grow through sanctification. Our adoption into God’s family is really a first step into God’s plans, as He desires us to grow into maturity.
In Luke 14, Christ told us to count the cost of being His disciple, that it involves bearing our own crosses and renouncing all that we have.
In Philippians 2, Paul encouraged his early Christian audience to “work out” their salvation, to bring it to maturity: “for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
In Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis used a metaphor by George MacDonald to address the very subject of “counting the cost,” and to explain how Christ will not keep Himself to curing just those ills you want cured:
“Imagine yourself as a living House. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what he is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is he up to? The explanation is that he is building quite a different house from the one you thought of – throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”
There is a cost to becoming the mature son that the Father desires, the faithful disciple that the Son desires, and the purified temple that the Spirit desires. Despite that cost, what Christ offers is still “the ultimate good deal”: indeed, becoming a mature member of God’s family is far better than merely being adopted as a baby into that family. It is the only way to become what God always intended.
But because Christ and His Apostles didn’t avoid being frank about that cost, neither should we."
Great Bible study topic!
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