Category Archives: Christian

Christian

Better Man

Thank goodness the gospel isn’t about working harder or getting better.

The Gospel is not about working harder. What does the Bible say?

James 1:22 KJV
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

1 John 3:8-9 KJV
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. [9] Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin… .

A central doctrine of the Gospel is to strive hard against sin.

The Gospel is not about getting better.

1 Corinthians 15:3 KJV
… Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures… .

Isaiah 53:5 KJV
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

1 John 1:7 KJV
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Another central doctrine of the Gospel is that Jesus died for our sins. He died teaching us how to follow the Heavenly Father and indeed how to be better men and women.

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Christian, Inspirational

When Work is No Longer Work

There are many today that argue we cannot be saved by works. They profess our actions can neither save or damn us. Some of these even claim that you don’t have to follow the law. But,

Is it work for you to not murder?

Is it work to not steal?

Is it work to not lie?

Is it work to not commit adultery?

Go through the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. Are any of them really work? For some people, one or more of them might be. I tell you, unless you write God’s Commandments on your heart and do them, you will find yourself facing eternal damnation. However, if you walk in the light and truly follow Jesus; what you once found to be work can become effortless. Doing the right thing will just come naturally. Indeed his (Jesus) yoke is easy and his burden light.

Matthew 11:28-30 KJV
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

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Christian

Know Boundaries

There are hundreds, perhaps thousands of books about establishing boundaries in relationships.

From reading almost any of these books you will see that healthy boundaries in every relationship come from a deep sense of true love. God has established boundaries or conditions for his children. Likewise people establish boundaries with one another to make their bonds stronger and keep their relationships healthy.

The first condition of Christianity is found in John 3:16 – whosoever believeth – believe. Additionally he created ten commonly known rules for his children to follow – encouraging his children to behave and get along with each other. These are the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20 or Deuteronomy 5.

While unconditional love is a whimsical fantasy, love with conditions or boundaries is lasting. It hopes for reciprocity. It produces a stronger, safer bond once there is reciprocity.

If you have any doubts, pick up your Holy Bible and know God’s boundaries. If you are not familiar with the importance of boundaries in personal relationships,  whether with spouse, family, or friends pick up one or more of the self help establishing boundaries books that can be found on any search engine.

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Christian, Inspirational

Let’s Begin

There’s are those that say keeping the law is impossible.

The Bible says:

Mark 9:23 KJV Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Philippians 4:13 KJV
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Matthew 5:48 KJV
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

In the movie, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda said, do or do not, there is no try.

I say don’t let naysayers (Matthew 23:13) keep you from your home in Heaven. Learn the law and try to keep it. With God’s help you can and will succeed.

A great place to begin is by learning the Ten Commandments. They can be found in Exodus 20.

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Christian

Confusing Duty with Works

Many proclaim we are not saved by works, but by grace alone. They cite these verses found in Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV. 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.

Does this mean we have no duty to our Master and Saviour? Absolutely not.

We have a duty to respect his sacrifice.

We have a duty to keep the law.

We have a duty to love and act in charity.

Jesus said in Luke 17:10 KJV … when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

My faith tells me duty and works should not be confused with one another. It also makes me wonder; how may I be a profitable servant of Christ.

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Christian, Inspirational

There’s Nothing To Forgive

A few days ago I was watching DayStar television. Joni Lamb made the statement that in the New Testament we are no longer under the law. In her very next breath she talks about asking God for forgiveness.

The spirit bears witness to the truth. If there is no law, there is no sin and hence no need for forgiveness.

Live above the law – know it and keep it and you will never need forgiveness!

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Christian

Above the Law

I’ve heard sin defined as falling short or missing the mark. In my opinion the definition of sin is simple and straightforward. Sin is breaking the law. Romans 7:7, 1 John 3:4.

You’ve probably heard that someone is above the law when the law does not seem to apply to them. I believe someone is above the law as long as they don’t break it. You no longer want to be under the law in the New Testament, fine – don’t break it.

Hebrews 10:16-17 KJV This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; [17] And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

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Christian

Do You Know Him?

You may know who Jesus is. He is the only begotten Son of Jehovah, our Heavenly Father. He is God himself who died on the cross for our sins. He is our Savior, the promised Messiah.

But do you know him? Are you his follower?

Jesus is our example. Jesus died showing us how to live. He kept the law. He never sinned. He always did the Father’s will. Knowing this and that the wages of sin is Death, we should strive to not sin. Be perfect even as he was perfect. Matthew 5:48, Hebrews 4:15.

Believing in Jesus we must repent and be baptized. Acts 2:38. While it is true that love can cover a multitude of sin, the only sure forgiveness after baptism is confession. 1 John 1:9. Followers of Jesus do not continue in sin. Hebrews 10:26-27. Rather we strive to be as our Master, Jesus, who lived perfectly before the LORD.

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Christian, Inspirational

Without Condition

Why do people seek unconditional love? Why do they look for it from others and even expect it from God? Is the answer as simple as what can I get away with in this relationship?

I want love with honesty and trust. I want friends and family that care about me. If they love me, they care what I do. They care how I treat them and others.

Love without condition is either pure desperation or lust without any real emotional connection. It’s not something to hope for or desire.

God places conditions on his love, if you hope to be with him forever. The first condition is John 3:16 – believe. The second condition is John 14:15 – behave.

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Christian

Heart of Stone

One view of reading the Holy Bible is to focus on context. Rather than applying it to self, the focus is on who wrote it, who was the audience and why was it written to them (or what was the purpose).

There’s nothing inherently wrong with examining and understanding context. The problem is this. The Bible was written for you. If you look at a clear New Testament commandment in Corinthians and say that only applied to female Corinthians you are in error. If you look at Exodus 20 and say that only applied to the Jews in the Old Testament you are in error.

Let the Lord write his laws on your heart and don’t seek ways to say that doesn’t apply to me.

Ezekiel 36:26-27 KJV
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. [27] And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

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