LIFE AS A SAINT

LIFE AS A SAINT

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Dear Christian fellows,

  For you, what is it like being a saint?

Sincerely,

EBB4

WHO IS A SAINT? Part Two

WHO IS A SAINT? Part Two

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

To my fellow saints,

  Let us never forget that Jesus and the Father are one; it has and always is so. (Gen.1:21; Col.1:15-17)

  May the grace of God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ be with us this day. Let us give Him thanks and pray for one another with accord to honor and glorify God. We know our hope is not a maybe-so, but a matter of blessed assurance guaranteed by Jesus’ efficacious work by His walk among us, death, burial, and resurrection . . . and continuing intercession on our behalf.

  Let us walk worthy, pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work, all the while seeking and finding increasing knowledge of the wisdom He provides. Consequently may we grow on the love that Paul describes in his letter to the Corinthians, especially in patience and letting ego go.

  Knowing we are only strengthened by Jesus in truth and action, may we, though suffering, let His joy be rampant; For we know we have redemption through Christ’ blood, even unto the forgiveness of sinfulness. Ours is the inheritance of light! 

  Now, rereading yesterday’s MKJV verses containing “saint” and “saintly” we discover several facts about being a saint.

·         Saints are referred to in both OT and NT.

·         There are 35 matches in 34 verses in the OT.

·         There are 60 matches in 60 verses in the NT.

·         The bulk of verses address saints as those living this side of physical death.

·         Whether OT or NT, saints are those then and now trusting God.

·         OT saints trusted Jehovah God, “I AM THAT I AM”. (Ex.3:14)

·         NT saints trusted and now trust God Incarnate; Lord Jesus Christ. (Jn.1:1-14; 3:15-18)

·         God’s dependence is not in saints. It is we that trust in Him. (Job 13:15; 15:14-16

·         God currently and eternally spiritually protects His saints.

·         Saints are persecuted, some lightly, some heavily.

·         There are wicked that glory in the blood of saints.

·         Without reservation, precious in His sight is the death of a saint.

·         Saints will possess the kingdom with God.

·         Saints are to judge one another.

·         Saints will judge the world.

·         Saints are joint-heirs with Christ.

·         Saints are not gods, but are to live godly.

·         Saints are to minister to one another.

·         Saints are to teach the truth.

·         Saints are not perfect; they should however be seeking perfection by imitating God their Father. (Mt.5:48; Lk.6:36)

   Have I left anything out? Oh yes, answering yesterday’s question “May I go by Saint Edwin?” No, though a saint, I may not and will not plaque commemorative inscription. “saint” is indentifying address, but never trophy self-championed.  EBB4

WHO IS A SAINT?

WHO IS A SAINT?

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

“… all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of men as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls out, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.”  Chapter 1, verses 24-25, from Peter’s first letter preserved by God in His Word.

  There is presently much in the news about sainthood. Our local Omaha World-Herald has given many inches of column space to the topic and recent events. Several media have explained the pious process in detail.  But has any mass media in this Christian nation explained sainthood according to Sovereign God’s Book?

  For your convenient review and consideration, from first mention to last:

Ps.106:16  And they were jealous of Moses in the camp, and Aaron the saint of Jehovah.

Phil.4:21  Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you.

Deut.33:2-3  And he said: Jehovah came from Sinai and rose up from Seir to them. He shone forth from Mount Paran, and He came with ten thousands of saints. From His right went a fiery law for them. Yea, He loved the people. All His saints are in Your hand, and they sat down at Your feet. Everyone shall receive of Your words.

1Sam.2:9 He keeps the feet of his saints, and the wicked are silenced in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

2Chr.6:41 And now arise, O Jehovah God, into Your resting-place, You, and the ark of Your strength. Let Your priests, O Jehovah God, be clothed with salvation, and let Your saints rejoice in goodness. …

Job 5:1, 15 Call now, is there anyone who will answer you? And to which of the saints will you turn? … Behold, He puts no trust in His saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in His sight.

Ps.16:3 As to the saints in the earth, they are the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

Ps.30:4  Sing praises to Jehovah, O you saints of His, and give thanks at the memory of His holiness.

Ps.31:23  O love Jehovah, all you saints of His; Jehovah preserves the faithful, and plentifully rewards the proud doer.

Ps.37:28  For Jehovah loves judgment and does not forsake His saints; they are kept forever; but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

Ps.50:5  Gather My saints to Me; and those who cut My covenant by sacrifice.

Ps.52:9  I will praise You forever, because You have done it; and I will wait on Your name; for it is good before Your saints.

Ps.79:2  They have given the dead bodies of Your servants as food for the birds of the heavens, the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.

Ps.85:8  I will hear what God Jehovah will speak; for He will speak peace to His people, and to His saints; but let them not turn again to folly.

Ps.89:5  And the heavens shall praise Your wonders, O Jehovah, Your faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.

Ps.89:7  God is greatly to be feared in the congregation of the saints, and to be adored by all around Him.

Ps.97:10  You who love Jehovah, hate evil; He keeps the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.

Ps.116:15  Precious in the sight of Jehovah is the death of His saints.

Ps.132:9  Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness, and Your saints shout for joy.

Ps.132:16  I also will clothe her priests with salvation; and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.

Ps.145:10  All Your works shall praise You, O Jehovah; and Your saints shall bless You.

Ps.148:14  He also lifts up the horn of His people, the praise of all His saints, even of the sons of Israel, a people near to Him. Praise Jehovah!

             Ps.149:1, 5, 9 Praise Jehovah! Sing to Jehovah a new song, His praise in the congregation of saints. … Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds. … to carry out on them the judgment written; this is an honor for all His saints. Praise Jehovah!

Pr.2:8  He keeps the paths of judgment, and guards the way of His saints.

Dan.7:18, 21-22, 25, 27 But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever. … I watched, and that horn made war with the saints and overcame them until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High. And the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. …  And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and plot to change times and laws. And they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and one-half time. … And the kingdom and rulership, and the greatness of the kingdom under all the heavens, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. And all kingdoms shall serve and obey Him.

Hos.11:12  Ephraim circles around Me with lying, and the house of Israel with deceit. But Judah still rules with God, and is faithful with the saints.

Zech.14:5  And you shall flee to the valley of My mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. And Jehovah my God shall come, and all the saints with you.

Mt.27:52  and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep arose,

Acts 9:13, 32, 41 And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how many evil things he has done to Your saints at Jerusalem. … And it happened, passing through all, Peter also came down to the saints who lived at Lydda. … And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. And when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

Acts 26:10 which I also did in Jerusalem. And I shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests. And they being put to death, I cast a vote.

Rom.1:7  to all those who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom.8:27  And He searching the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Rom.12:13  distributing to the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality.

Rom.15:25, 26, 31 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. … For it has pleased those of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints in Jerusalem. … that I may be delivered from those disbelieving in Judea, and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted by the saints;

Rom.16:2, 15 that you receive her in the Lord, as becomes saints, and that you may assist her in whatever business she has need of you. For she has been a helper of many, and of myself also. … Greet Philologus and Julias, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints with them.

1Cor.6:1-2 Do any of you dare, when you have a matter against another, to go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

1Cor.14:33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

1Cor.16:1, 15  And concerning the collection for the saints, as I charged the churches of Galatia, so also you do. … But I exhort you, brothers. You know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruit of Achaia, and they appointed themselves to ministry to the saints.

2Cor.1:1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia.

2Cor.8:4  with much beseeching, begging us that they might receive of us the grace and the fellowship of the ministry to the saints.

2Cor.9:1, 12 For indeed regarding the ministry to the saints, it is not necessary for me to write to you. … For the ministry of this service not only supplies the things lacking of the saints, but also multiplying through many thanksgivings to God,

2Cor.13:13  All the saints greet you.

Eph.1:1, 15, 18 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus. … Therefore I also, hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love to all the saints, … the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

Eph.2:19  Now therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,

Eph.3:8, 18 This grace is given to me (who am less than the least of all saints) to preach the gospel of the unsearchable riches of Christ among the nations, … may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height,

Eph.4:12  for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

Eph.5:3  For let fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness not be once named among you, as becomes saints,

Eph.6:18  praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching to this very thing with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

Phil.1:1  Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons.

Phil.4:22  All the saints greet you, most of all those who are of Caesar's household.

Col.1:2, 4, 12, 26  to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse. Grace to you, and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. … since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love you have to all the saints, … giving thanks to the Father, who has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. … the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.

1Thes.3:13  in order to establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

2Thes.1:10  when He shall come to be glorified in His saints and to be admired in all those who believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that Day.

1Tim.5:10  well reported of for good works: if she brought up children, if she lodged strangers, if she washed the feet of saints, if she relieved the afflicted, if she followed after every good work.

Phm.1:5, 7 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, … For we have great joy and consolation over your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

Heb.6:10  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

Heb.13:24  Greet all those leading you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.

Jude 1:3, 14 Having made all haste to write to you about the common salvation, beloved, I had need to write to you to exhort you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. … And Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied to these, saying, Behold, the Lord came with myriads of His saints,

Rev.5:8  And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having harps and golden vials full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Rev.8:3, 4 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer. And many incenses were given to him, so that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints on the golden altar before the throne. … And the smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God from the angel's hand.

Rev.11:18  And the nations were full of wrath, and Your wrath came, and the time of the judging of the dead, and to give the reward to Your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to the ones fearing Your name, to the small and to the great, and to destroy those destroying the earth.

Rev.13:7, 10 And it was given to it to war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given to it over every tribe and tongue and nation. … He who leads into captivity will go into captivity. If anyone will kill with the sword, he must be killed by a sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Rev.14:12 Here is the patience of the saints. Here are the ones who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

Rev.15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are Your ways, O King of saints.

Rev.16:6 since they have poured out the blood of the saints and prophets; and You gave them blood to drink, for they were deserving.

Rev.17:6 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with a great marveling.

Rev.18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all those who were slain on the earth.

Rev.19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. For the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.

Rev.20:9 And they went up over the breadth of the earth and circled around the camp of the saints, and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of Heaven and devoured them.

  Indeed this is a long list of verses to read. But having done so, what important facts having to do with sainthood did you notice? Please share them and I’ll publish in a few days. One particular question I’d like you to address: May I go by Saint Edwin?  EBB4

DISCIPLESHIP JOURNEY: THE HEART AND WORSHIP

DISCIPLESHIP JOURNEY: THE HEART AND WORSHIP

Monday, April 28, 2014

The following is written from notes taken and personal thoughts provoked during Pastor Paul Marine’s 4/27/14 Sunday sermon.  EBB4

Isaiah [MKJV] 29:13-14 And Jehovah said, Because this people draw near Me with their mouth, and with their lips honor Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the command of men; 14 therefore, behold, I will go on doing among this people, a wonder, even a wonder. For the wisdom of their wise ones shall perish, and the understanding of their intelligent ones shall be hidden.

Mark [MKJV] 7:18-23 [Jesus] said to them, Are you also without understanding? Do you not perceive that whatever enters into the man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not enter into his heart, but into the belly, and goes out into the waste-bowl, purifying all food? 20 And He said, That which comes out of the man is what defiles the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things pass out from inside and defile the man.

Luke [MKJV] 6:43-46 [Jesus taught] … a good tree does not bring forth corrupt fruit, neither does a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth the good. And an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth the evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. 46 And why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?

  Ever have bad days where nothing goes right, when you think “Could it get any worse?”? Who hasn’t?

  A classic example of this in God’s Word is the 147 year life of Jacob. Anything and everything that could go wrong did. Admittedly a considerable number of Jacob’s bad days were product of his conniving, scheming, lying heart. And yet he worshipped God and was blessed for it, even unto God allowing him a personal close encounter, using his son Joseph, and naming a still existent great nation after him.

  How different is our heart of worship in magnitude of self versus Jehovah-Jireh (Gen.22:14)? Are we weighted, even crushed, by the events of our days . . . or is our attitude one of prevailing trust in Him?

  How is our heart of worship acted out and revealed?

·         We pray.

·         We give.

·         We listen and learn.

·         We bless one another.

·         We serve those walking with and without God.

·         We, as His disciples, do all of the above to His glory, not ours.

  As we ponder these things, a closing reminder: Discipleship is submitting our total life under the control of God.

  Challenges for this week are seven; every day worship God in a different new-to-you way.

 *** For those interested in studying Jacob’s life; from Nave’s Topical Bible:

Jacob

Son of Isaac, and twin brother of Esau

Gen_25:24-26; Jos_24:4; 1Ch_1:34; Act_7:8

Ancestor of Jesus

Mat_1:2

Given in answer to prayer

Gen_25:21

Obtains Esau's birthright for a mess of pottage

Gen_25:29-34; Heb_12:16

Fraudulently obtains his father's blessing

Gen 27:1-29; Heb_11:20

Esau seeks to slay, escapes to Padanaram

Gen_27:41-46; Gen_28:1-5; Hos_12:12

His vision of the ladder

Gen_28:10-22

God confirms the covenant of Abraham to

Gen_28:13-22; Gen_35:9-15; 1Ch_16:13-18

Sojourns in Haran with his uncle Laban

Gen 29-30; Hos_12:12

Serves fourteen years for Leah and Rachel

Gen 29:15-30; Hos_12:12

Sharp practice of, with the flocks and herds of Laban

Gen_30:32-43

Dissatisfied with Laban's treatment and returns to the land of Canaan

Gen 31

Meets angels of God on the journey, and calls the place Mahanaim

Gen_32:1-2

Dreads to meet Esau; sends him presents; wrestles with an angel

Gen 32

Name of, changed to Israel

Gen_32:28; Gen_35:10

Reconciliation of, with Esau

Gen_33:4

Journeys to Succoth

Gen_33:17

Journeys to Shalem, where he purchases a parcel of ground from Hamor, and erects an altar

Gen_33:18-20

His daughter, Dinah, humbled

Gen 34

Returns to Bethel, where he builds an altar, and erects and dedicates a pillar

Gen_35:1-7

Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, dies, and is buried at Bethel

Gen_35:8

Journeys to Ephrath; Benjamin is born to; Rachel dies, and is “buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem”

Gen_35:16-19; Gen_48:7

Erects a monument at Rachel's grave

Gen_35:20

The incest of his son, Reuben, and his concubine, Bilhah

Gen_35:22

List of the names of his twelve sons

Gen_35:23-26

Returns to Arbah, the city of his father

Gen_35:27

Dwells in the land of Canaan

Gen_37:1

His partiality for his son, Joseph, and the consequent jealousy of his other sons

Gen_37:3-4

Joseph's prophetic dream concerning

Gen_37:9-11

His grief over the loss of Joseph

Gen_37:34-35

Sends into Egypt to bury corn

Gen_42:1-2; Gen_43:1-14

His grief over the detention of Simeon, and the demand for Benjamin to be taken into Egypt

Gen_42:36

His love for Benjamin

Gen_43:14; Gen_44:29

Hears that Joseph still lives

Gen_45:26-28

Removes to Egypt

Gen_46:1-7; 1Sa_12:8; Psa_105:23; Act_7:14-15

List of his children and grandchildren who went down into Egypt

Gen 46:8-27

Meets Joseph

Gen_46:28-34

Pharaoh receives him, and is blessed by Jacob

Gen_47:1-10

The land of Goshen assigned to

Gen_47:11-12; Gen_47:27

Dwells in Egypt seventeen years

Gen_47:28

Exacts a promise from Joseph to buy him with his fathers

Gen_47:29-31

His benediction upon Joseph and his two sons

Gen_48:15-22

Gives the land of the Amorites to Joseph

Gen_48:22; Joh_4:5

His final prophetic benedictions upon his sons:

Reuben

Gen_49:3-4

Simeon and Levi

Gen_49:5-7

Judah

Gen_49:8-12

Zebulun

Gen_49:13

Issachar

Gen_49:14-15

Daniel

Gen_49:16-18

Gad

Gen_49:19

Asher

Gen_49:20

Naphtali

Gen_49:21

Joseph

Gen_49:22-26

Benjamin

Gen_49:27

Charges his sons to bury him in the field of Machpelah

Gen_49:29-30

Death of

Gen_49:33

Body of, embalmed

Gen_50:2

Forty days mourning for

Gen_50:3

Burial of

Gen_50:4-13

Descendants of

Gen_29:31-35; Gen 30:1-24; Gen_35:18; Gen_35:22-26; Gen 46:8-27; Exo_1:1-5; 1 Chr 2-9

Prophecies concerning himself and descendants

Gen_25:23; Gen_27:28-29; Gen_28:10-15; Gen_31:3; Gen_35:9-13; Gen_46:3; Deu_1:8; Psa_105:10-11

His wealth

Gen_36:6-7

Well of

John 4:5-30

 

LIFE WITHOUT RESURRECTION

LIFE WITHOUT RESURRECTION

Sunday, April 27, 2014

1Peter [MKJV] 1:3-9 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has regenerated us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and unfading, reserved in Heaven for you 5 by the power of God, having been kept through faith to a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time; 6 in which you greatly rejoice, yet a little while, if need be, grieving in manifold temptations; 7 so that the trial of your faith (being much more precious than that of gold that perishes, but being proven through fire) might be found to praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen, you love; in whom not yet seeing, but believing in Him you exult with unspeakable joy, and having been glorified, 9 obtaining the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

  An oxymoron is figure of speech in which 2 or more contradictory words are combined to make a point, sometimes becoming a well-worn cliché. For example: “thunderous silence” “sweet sorrow” “a fine mess” “accurate estimate” “accidently on purpose” “awful pretty” “Amtrak schedule”, and my all time favorites, “all natural artificial flavoring” “genuine simulated leather” and “a little pregnant”.

  Today’s title, “life without resurrection”, is just such play on words, carrying a meaning, but actually an oxymoron; there being no life without resurrection!

  Without Christ’ resurrection personally ours, this temporal world sojourn whether it pleasurable or disagreeable, prosperous or poor, is naught but existent plodding in eternal death. (Jn.3:18)

  Study His Word and we discover believers trusting Lord Jesus Christ possess resurrection now. But are we living as resurrected? Do we walk in the power of Jesus’ resurrection? Do we know the supremacy of His resurrection? (Phil.3:9-10)

  Wonderful though it be, Jesus did not come and die that men may only escape eternal damnation. He came that men may realize abundant life here and now; accomplished only through personal experience of His resurrection power. Without it we will not be His confidant or realize relational inherent godly confidence. (Jn.10:7-11; Phil.3:1-11)

  As His family, we are His quality product, created in Christ Jesus a resurrected people unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should exactly walk in them. (Eph.2:10)

  Live as resurrected!  EBB4 (Originally written Sunday, April 7, 2013)

REJECTION OF RESURRECTION

REJECTION OF RESURRECTION

Friday, April 25, 2014

1Corinthians [MKJV] 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

In the beginning God created … [Jesus] In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Genesis chapters 1 thru 3; Colossians 1:14-18)

  Today’s thoughts may be drastically new to some (or many?) of you. They may be difficult to wrap your mind around as they are contrary to viewpoint taught and accepted in some Christian circles  . . . and when digested will perhaps require serious contrition unto renewal. (Rom.12:1-3)

  Evolutionists resolutely or ignorantly deny the need for Christ’ death, burial, and resurrection; this group includes Christians holding Darwinian et al belief opposed to the Genesis record; whether big bang, slipping out of slime, monkey to man, or theistic evolution in some form (God laid an egg and stepped back to be surprised, delighted and discouraged, by what hatched.).

  How so?

  Genesis 2:17, Romans 5:12, and 1Corinthians 15:21a make it very plain that death came after Adam, as result of his sin, not previous to Adam. Evolution as doctrine includes life-death-life cycle prior to Adam’s original sin and its consequence, death; mortality and decease were nonexistent beforehand.

  Jesus death, burial, and resurrection are the sole efficacious remedy for and from death, both spiritual and physical. (1Thes.4:16-17; Rev.1:5)

  Unawares, evolution professing Christians may consider themselves intellectually astute, but in practice erroneously doctrinally redefining and undermining the necessity for and fact of Christ’ resurrection victory over physical death as well as spiritual.

  Where this leaves the preacher and teacher that corrupts Truth is obvious. (James 3:1)

  And what of those sitting at their feet eating leavened bread? (Gal.5:9)

  If yours, get rid of misbegotten religious loaf! Then you will realize the true freshness of Christ’ redemptive quickening (Eph.2:5; 1Pet.3:18); for when trusting The Word (Jn.1:1) we are redeemed; alive!

  Christ is Redeemer sacrificed for our sin. Do not sinfully eat or serve corrupted bread that destroys. Be pure and truthful and celebrate by partaking of only the unadulterated Bread of Life! (Jn.6:51; 1Cor.5:7-8)

  Simply put: If we can’t believe what Genesis says about creation (life), then how can we believe what it says about resurrection (life)? EBB4 (originally written April 5, 2010)

 

 

RESURRECTION LIFE IS NOT A PARTY

 

RESURRECTION LIFE IS NOT A PARTY

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Romans [MKJV] 1:15-19 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

2Corinthians [MKJV] 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

  Jesus suffered that those who trust Him gain eternal redemption; resurrection life spiritually, mentally, emotionally present and physically future. Jesus and family are quickened, made alive together in and by His resurrection. (Col.2:13)

  Resurrection presently ours includes some delightful experiences, but should not be thought a party, for as we follow and serve Him, it may be anything but gala.

  Here in the USA, Christian life is a cakewalk compared to historical and present day maltreatment of Christians in other nations and cultures. However, this USA pleasantness for followers of Christ has diminished in the years since WWII and apparently will continue to do so.

  All of the apostles, save one as Jesus said would be, died horrible deaths because of their service for The Lord. The letter to the Hebrews tells of this. “… others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” (MKJV Heb.11:35-38)

  Read Fox’s Book of Martyrs. (No need to purchase, it's free at: http://www.biblebelievers.com/foxes/findex.htm  )

  Check out present day persecution of Christians. (http://www.persecution.com/ )

  After researching all of the above, I must admit that USA Christian life is by comparison a ball. But could our safer environ possibly be largely contributed to compromise; being silent on issues, extreme going along to get along; embracing social tolerance, diversity, and peace as being more precious than redemption and resurrection responsibilities? I believe so.

  Let us consider fearing God more than man and dare to share Truth as have Jesus, the apostles, and a multitude of disciples past and present.  EBB4 (Originally written April 4, 2013)

PS: Yesterday’s DT “RESURRECTION REPLACEMENT” was a rerun actually written on Wednesday, April 03, 2013. I indicated as such under the title, but some readers didn’t notice and think I just had corrective neck surgery. A few days ago I had my one year checkup and given the OK on activities I enjoy. Rototill I shall. Roofing I think I’ll excuse myself with a pain in the neck. Sincerely, Ed Bullock