Author Archives: Dean N. Hoff

Christian

By Works

The Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-9, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

This has been interpreted to mean various things: There is nothing you can do for your salvation other than believe in Jesus the Messiah, his crucifixion, and resurrection. Jesus did it all, there is nothing we have to do. There is nothing you can do to make God love you any more or any less. We are saved by grace alone or we have no righteousness of our own.

The fact is we will be judged on how we lived our lives. Romans 2:6-10, Revelation 20:12-13

We often hear the phrase salvation does not come by works alone. Too many forget to add the alone qualifier. Salvation is a result of the combination of belief in Christ and following his law. Ecclesiastes 12:13. We can also look at it from an opposing view – not salvation by works, but damnation by works.

If we continue in sin, Hebrews 10:26-27 KJV tells us, For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, [27] But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

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Christian

Dark

As a child living in the city my parents would always ask that I come home before dark. I remember there were several times I got in trouble and argued with them about whether it was actually dark yet.

God’s word tells us in Leviticus 23:32 KJV – . . . from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

Today I found myself arguing when is even? I take it to mean evening, but is that sunset? Is it after dark?

I suppose if God wanted to say dark he would have said dark. I can Google sunset for my location and time exactly every day. Today I ended my Sabbath observation at sunset according to Google, but it was still light outside.

In good faith I think and hope that there is some leeway about keeping an exact time. Maybe I should just pick a time to define my evening and try to stick with it, dark or sunset from Friday eve to Saturday eve.

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Christian

Being Born Again

In past posts I have attempted to boil being born again down to the moment of water baptism. I think being born again is more complex than just baptism, but as we see in Mark 16:16 it plays a crucial part.

Mark 16:16 tells us, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

What must we believe?

We must believe Jesus is the Messiah. We must believe he laid down his life for us. We must learn and follow his word.

Why must we be baptized?

See Acts 2:37-39 KJV – . . . Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call

Jesus sets the core of being born again as repentance. In Luke 13:3 KJV he said, I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

In Luke 15:7 KJV he added, I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

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Christian, Inspirational

Sons and Daughters

In 2 Kings 19:3 KJV … Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.

I am convinced that many people do not know how to be born again. Jesus said in John 3:3 KJV … Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

What must I do?

Believe in Jesus, that he is the Son of God who died on the cross for our sins, that he is the promised Christ and our Messiah. John 3:16-18.

Acknowledge and repent of your sins. Matthew 3:2,6.

Be baptized by immersion in water by another in the name of Jesus or in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost for the forgivess of your sins. Mark 16:16, Acts 22:16.

Knowledge, belief, and strength are all required for salvation. A prayer of salvation is insufficient to save you if you don’t continue in faith to be born again. Persevere, believe, and be baptized.

Baptism is not only a public declaration of faith it is the birthing process. Arise from the water a new man or woman in Christ, Born Again!

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 KJV says, Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing ; and I will receive you, [18] And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

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Christian

The Least Preached Verse of The New Testament

The least preached verse of the New Testament is:

Hebrews 10:26 KJV

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

This means no more Jesus, no more of his blood erasing or covering your sin, only a fearful looking to of the judgment to come.

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Christian

Enter In

Jesus made a promise in 1 John 1:9 KJV.


If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Yet some try to confuse this clear promise.

A few days ago on television I heard a preacher say it doesn’t mean take out a piece of paper and write down all your sins, it means to acknowledge you’re a sinner and ask God for forgiveness. What’s wrong with writing down your sins and passing the paper around your church? This more closely meets the requirement – confess.

Another way to confuse the issue is to make some kind of difference between public and private sins. The Church of Christ denomination says you only need to confess your public sins. There is no such distinction in the Holy Bible. I tell you, if you do not confess all, you may die in your sins.

This is a modern day example of Matthew 23:13 KJV.

But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

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Christian, Inspirational

Open Letter to Israel and the Diaspora

Accept Jesus as Messiah.

Repent and be baptized by another, by immersion in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost or in the name of Jesus Christ.

Do not call anyone Rabbi or Master. We have one Rabbi and one Master, Jesus Christ.

Do not believe you can be saved by approaching Jehovah directly. We all need Jesus for remission of sins in the act of baptism and for forgiveness by confession.

Don’t believe that being a descendant of Abraham will save you or that you are entitled to approach God the Father directly because of your ancestry.

Pray to the Father in Jesus name. Jesus is the only intermediary between us and God. Men, do not cover your head when you pray and bring shame upon yourself.

Don’t believe Jesus’ body was stolen away by his disciples. He is our resurrected Lord.

Isaiah 12:2 KJV
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

John 3:16 KJV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

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Christian

Open Letter to the Catholic Church

You should not prohibit priests from marriage.

Don’t call your priests Father.

Do not pray to Mary or to Angels.

Don’t require any acts of penance for confessions.

Baptism is done by immersion in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost or simply in the name of Jesus Christ.

Baptism should be done at an age of understanding, when the child knows who Christ is and can repent of their sins, knowing the difference between right and wrong.

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Open Letter to the Church of Christ

Unless your righteousness exceedeth singing a cappella you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Ten Commandments are still valid and should be followed.

God still does miracles today. There is no verse limiting God’s power to the Old Testament.

The Lord’s Prayer is still valid and should be prayed both publicly and privately.

You are a denomination. Though you claim lineage from Christ you are not the direct descendant or sole heir of God’s Church. You are a product of the Protestant Reformation the same as any other Christian denomination in existence today.

No distinction should be made between public and private sin. If you want your sin forgiven in accordance with 1 John 1:9, the sin must be confessed. Confession is made to another. It does not need to be publicly done, but their is no prohibition against this. However when you tell people they don’t need to confess their private sins you are essentially telling them to die in their sin.

Where it says wine in the Bible it means wine not grape juice. Both Jesus and Paul drank wine.

While many denominations including thr Church of Christ site 1 Corinthians 16:2 as a modern day commandment to give, it is not. It is better to be honest and declare your donations go to the preachers salary, church building expenses, and whatever philanthropy your church may do.

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Motives or Desire

Errant doctrine might become more obvious if we examine the motives behind it.

Rabbi – Jesus said call no man Rabbi or Father because we have one Master, that is Jesus himself. We have one Father. His name is Jehovah. Matthew 23:8-9. Why do some have a problem with this? They want to be called Rabbi and receive respect of men.

Women speaking in Church. This is very clear in 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. It is a shame for women to speak in Church. Thus God has called no woman to shame herself and speak in Church. Why do some have a problem with this? Women of their own selves decide they want to ignore God’s New Testament command and speak in Church.

Wealth – Prosperity Gospel – Some preach that Jesus was rich and he wants you to be rich. Jesus was very clear in Mark 10:25 KJV
he tells us, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Why do some have a problem with this? The answer is that they themselves want your money and they want to be rich.

The obvious motivation in all these cases is the person’s own desire. They want what they want and they don’t want to listen to God.

The following verses are my response to those who follow their own desires.

1 Samuel 15:14 KJV
And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?

1 Samuel 15:22 KJV
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

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