New Years Resolution:
We will stop trying to repent our way to heaven, witness our way to heaven, tithe our way to heaven, pray our way to heaven, or attend church to increase our odds of getting to heaven...
"...because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe." (1 Timothy 4:10)
For my wife, children and grandchildren..and anyone else who may be interested!
Once and for All
"He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2)
Think about that for a moment. "The whole world"
Before Christ Jesus, once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest of Israel would enter the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle to apply the blood of a bull calf sacrifice to the mercy seat to cleanse himself of sin. He would then leave to sacrifice a goat and return to apply the blood of the goat to the mercy seat for the sins of all other Israelites. As a result, the sins of all Israelites were atoned for that year. This occurred year after year, a never ending ritual of blood sacrifices, to atone for the sins of Israel. Then came Christ Jesus...
"But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption." (Hebrews 9:11-12)
"Once for all". So all your sins, and the sins of all others who have ever lived in this world, have been eternally atoned for, not by pastors, priests , monks, or 12 imams...not by baptisms, crusades, jihad or prayers towards Mecca...but by the blood of Christ Jesus, the "Savior of the world".
"...now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42)
Wow! Thank you Jesus.
Think about that for a moment. "The whole world"
Before Christ Jesus, once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest of Israel would enter the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle to apply the blood of a bull calf sacrifice to the mercy seat to cleanse himself of sin. He would then leave to sacrifice a goat and return to apply the blood of the goat to the mercy seat for the sins of all other Israelites. As a result, the sins of all Israelites were atoned for that year. This occurred year after year, a never ending ritual of blood sacrifices, to atone for the sins of Israel. Then came Christ Jesus...
"But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption." (Hebrews 9:11-12)
"Once for all". So all your sins, and the sins of all others who have ever lived in this world, have been eternally atoned for, not by pastors, priests , monks, or 12 imams...not by baptisms, crusades, jihad or prayers towards Mecca...but by the blood of Christ Jesus, the "Savior of the world".
"...now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42)
Wow! Thank you Jesus.
Blind Guides of the Blind
"No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says: He is always convinced that it says what he means." --George Bernard Shaw
"I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel...if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be anathema!...For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ."(Galatians 1:1-11)
George Bernhard Shaw was correct. I would put it this way...
"No religious institution of man believes what the Bible says, instead, they are convinced the Bible says what the religious leaders of that particular religious institution say it means."
Thus the Bible has become a commentary on the various doctrines of the men. Instead of the Bible being the infallible word of God, the doctrines of men are deemed infallible - "blind guides of the blind", all falling "into the pit" of unbelief...
"Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders?" Jesus responded..."You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN"...blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15:1-2,7-9)
So, here are a few things the Bible actually says, it is good news, and to the extent the doctrines of men teach otherwise, let them become "anathema!".
1. GOD LOVES ALL OF US
“God commends His love for us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8)
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15)
“Christ died for our sins . . . was buried . . . and rose again. . .” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
2. GOD WILLS THAT ALL OF US BE SAVED
“God our Savior…will have ALL men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4)
“Trust in the living God, who is the Savior of ALL men” (1 Timothy 4:10)
3. ALL OF US ARE RECONCILED TO GOD
“When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His son” (Romans 5:10)
“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not counting their sins against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19)
“And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile ALL unto Himself” (Colossians 1:20)
4. ETERNAL LIFE IS A GRACIOUS GIFT FROM GOD TO ALL OF US
“For even as in Adam ALL are dying, thus also, in Christ shall ALL be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22)
“The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23)
5. WHAT ALL OF US SHOULD DO WITH THIS GOOD NEWS
"Prescribe and teach these things." (1 Timothy 4:11)
“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
"I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel...if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be anathema!...For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ."(Galatians 1:1-11)
George Bernhard Shaw was correct. I would put it this way...
"No religious institution of man believes what the Bible says, instead, they are convinced the Bible says what the religious leaders of that particular religious institution say it means."
Thus the Bible has become a commentary on the various doctrines of the men. Instead of the Bible being the infallible word of God, the doctrines of men are deemed infallible - "blind guides of the blind", all falling "into the pit" of unbelief...
"Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders?" Jesus responded..."You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN"...blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15:1-2,7-9)
So, here are a few things the Bible actually says, it is good news, and to the extent the doctrines of men teach otherwise, let them become "anathema!".
1. GOD LOVES ALL OF US
“God commends His love for us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8)
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15)
“Christ died for our sins . . . was buried . . . and rose again. . .” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
2. GOD WILLS THAT ALL OF US BE SAVED
“God our Savior…will have ALL men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4)
“Trust in the living God, who is the Savior of ALL men” (1 Timothy 4:10)
3. ALL OF US ARE RECONCILED TO GOD
“When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His son” (Romans 5:10)
“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not counting their sins against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19)
“And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile ALL unto Himself” (Colossians 1:20)
4. ETERNAL LIFE IS A GRACIOUS GIFT FROM GOD TO ALL OF US
“For even as in Adam ALL are dying, thus also, in Christ shall ALL be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22)
“The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23)
5. WHAT ALL OF US SHOULD DO WITH THIS GOOD NEWS
"Prescribe and teach these things." (1 Timothy 4:11)
“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
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