Category Archives: Christian

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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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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Things That Make You Go Hmmm

A while ago on the Jim Bakker show, Jim said God has shown me that great and terrible things are about to take place on the Earth, but I have prayed to the Lord that these things don’t come to pass. It’s a no lose comment. Essentially, either I’m a great prophet or God listens closely to my prayers. I don’t see the downside unless it was a lie (my personal guess).

Another pastor on a different show was saying God’s love is unconditional, all you have to do is … . Now I personally believe God’s love is not unconditional. If he doesn’t care what you do, his love is really worthless. However, the comment shows the hypocrisy of the people who profess God’s love as unconditional. They don’t want rules, and religion has become a dirty word. Yet,  all you have to do is say this simple prayer. His love is unconditional, but oh here’s a condition.

Between us the first condition of God’s love is believe. John 3:16.

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In That Day

2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

This isn’t referring to some special judgment where saved Christians receive different eternal rewards based on works. It is referring to the ONE Judgment Day. Are you saved or will you be damned?

1 Peter 4:17-18 KJV For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? [18] And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Grace, mercy, and belief are all needed for salvation, but our actions(deeds and/or works) matter.

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Christian, Inspirational

Proud To Be

As an American I don’t really know what it’s like to have a King. I say Jesus is my Lord and my King, but honestly it feels a little like empty words. I do know what it’s like to have had a Father. I also know what it’s like to have a brother.

Jesus is my Lord. He is the King of Kings. I hope that will sink into my soul, but in the meantime it’s nice to know that God considers me family if I keep his word and walk in the light.

Jehovah is my Father and Jesus is my brother.

They can be your family too.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 KJV
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.

Mark 3:35 KJV
For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

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Perfect Love

It is true perfect love casteth out fear, but perfect love is a two way street. God’s love is already perfected. He has met any requirements by giving us his Son as the last and only sacrifice for sin and to show us the way.

What about your love towards God?

Love towards God has some conditions and requirements. Conditions include belief, repentance, and baptism. Requirements include obedience. Jesus said in John 14:15 KJV If ye love me, keep my commandments.

So until you both accept and act in love, fear God.

Matthew 10:28 KJV And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Love is the more excellent way.

The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is to just love and be loved in return.- Moulin Rouge 2001

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Believe and Behave

I recently came across this post on X:

“If the person who offers you Salvation is the same person who threatens you with punishment and “eternal damnation” that is not Salvation.

That’s extortion!”

I thought about it. I couldn’t come up with a strong argument against it. However, the response that did come to mind was – is it wrong for one person or entity to wield both the carrot and the stick. I think the answer to that is, it depends. It depends on the purpose?

So what is God purpose? What does God expect from men? 

To believe and behave.

That’s a simple and straightforward purpose. Believe in love and act in love. It will make both you and the world a better place.

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Graduation

Today many preach legalism as something negative and shy away from teaching the law.

The Bible in Galatians 3 tells us the law was our schoolmaster. You aren’t finished with school until you graduate. Likewise we are not done with the law until we let God write it in our minds and on our hearts.

In Matthew 5:17 KJV Jesus, my Lord, Savior, and teacher, said, Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Lessons we learn from our teachers (schoolmasters) guide us throughout our lives.

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Meritorious

Can we have righteousness of our own?

With faith in Christ can we merit salvation?

The answer to both is YES.

I recently responded to a post on X. The author said Jesus was not our friend and God was our enemy. My response was Jesus is our friend. John 15:14-15. Also, if we stay away from sin, God will be our father not our enemy. 2 Cor. 6:17-18

Did you notice both of these conditional promises are merit based? If you do whatsoever I command, you are my friend. If you touch not the unclean thing, you will be my son or daughter.

Jesus said in Luke 21:36 KJV Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

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Be Mindful

Have you heard Jesus died on the cross for all your sins past, present, and future?

I tell you:

Past sins are forgiven in water baptism. Acts 2:38. Present sins are forgiven by confession. 1 John 1:9. Future sins may not be forgiven. Hebrews 10:26-27.

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