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Same sex marriage

Sat, 19 May 2012 07:05:28 +0000

Quote:The United States Constitution
Amendment 1 - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

God's Word
Matt 19:3 Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all ?" 4 And He answered and said, "Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, 5 and said, 'FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH '? 6 "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."

Mark 10:8 AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH ; so they are no longer two, but one flesh.

Ephesians 5:31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.

Genesis 2:24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife ; and they shall become one flesh.

Well here we are in election year again and we have the subject of gay marriage. My question to start off with about gay marriages how did the government get involved in a religious institution? Marriage is a religious right is not something the spilled onto us by the government. I keep hearing from politicians of both sides of the aisle that there is a separation between church and state. This separation is so wide that even a quote from the Bible cannot be read in public. But yet the institution of marriage which is a religious institution practiced in Judaism, Christianity and most other major religions is now been corrupted and taken over by the federal government. Congress has made laws and the court system has ruled on the institution of marriage. What's next or they going to tell us how we can perform baptism? As far as the practice of same-sex marriage the Bible is very clear in Matthew 19 Mark 10 In Genesis 2 that marriage is between a man and a woman and it is one man and one woman. It is also make clear of those verses that the purpose of marriage is to continue the species.

Why has God taken away your sins?

Sat, 12 May 2012 00:49:53 +0000

Satan hindered us

Fri, 11 May 2012 07:42:47 +0000

“Satan hindered us.”
- 1 Thessalonians 2:18

Since the first hour in which goodness came into conflict with evil, it has never ceased to be true in spiritual experience, that Satan hinders us. From all points of the compass, all along the line of battle, in the vanguard and in the rear, at the dawn of day and in the midnight hour, Satan hinders us. If we toil in the field, he seeks to break the ploughshare; if we build the wall, he labours to cast down the stones; if we would serve God in suffering or in conflict-everywhere Satan hinders us. He hinders us when we are first coming to Jesus Christ. Fierce conflicts we had with Satan when we first looked to the cross and lived. Now that we are saved, he endeavours to hinder the completeness of our personal character. You may be congratulating yourself, “I have hitherto walked consistently; no man can challenge my integrity.” Beware of boasting, for your virtue will yet be tried; Satan will direct his engines against that very virtue for which you are the most famous. If you have been hitherto a firm believer, your faith will ere long be attacked; if you have been meek as Moses, expect to be tempted to speak unadvisedly with your lips. The birds will peck at your ripest fruit, and the wild boar will dash his tusks at your choicest vines. Satan is sure to hinder us when we are earnest in prayer. He checks our importunity, and weakens our faith in order that, if possible, we may miss the blessing. Nor is Satan less vigilant in obstructing Christian effort. There was never a revival of religion without a revival of his opposition. As soon as Ezra and Nehemiah begin to labour, Sanballat and Tobiah are stirred up to hinder them. What then? We are not alarmed because Satan hindereth us, for it is a proof that we are on the Lord’s side, and are doing the Lord’s work, and in his strength we shall win the victory, and triumph over our adversary.

By C. H. Spurgeon

Satan will persecute you, he will stand in your way.

John 15:20
Remember the word I spoke to you: 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will also keep yours.

The Compelling Force of the Call

Wed, 09 May 2012 01:04:56 +0000

“Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16 ).

Beware of refusing to hear the call of God. Everyone who is saved is called to testify to the fact of his salvation. That, however, is not the same as the call to preach, but is merely an illustration which can be used in preaching. In this verse, Paul was referring to the stinging pains produced in him by the compelling force of the call to preach the gospel. Never try to apply what Paul said regarding the call to preach to those souls who are being called to God for salvation. There is nothing easier than getting saved, because it is solely God’s sovereign work—“Look to Me, and be saved …” (Isaiah 45:22 ). Our Lord never requires the same conditions for discipleship that he requires for salvation. We are condemned to salvation through the Cross of Christ. But discipleship has an option with it—“If anyone …” (Luke 14:26 ).
Paul’s words have to do with our being made servants of Jesus Christ, and our permission is never asked as to what we will do or where we will go. God makes us as broken bread and poured-out wine to please Himself. To be “separated to the gospel” means being able to hear the call of God (Romans 1:1 ). Once someone begins to hear that call, a suffering worthy of the name of Christ is produced. Suddenly, every ambition, every desire of life, and every outlook is completely blotted out and extinguished. Only one thing remains—“… separated to the gospel … .” Woe be to the soul who tries to head in any other direction once that call has come to him. The Bible Training College exists so that each of you may know whether or not God has a man or woman here who truly cares about proclaiming His gospel and to see if God grips you for this purpose. Beware of competing calls once the call of God grips you.

by Oswald Chambers

The Jehovah's Witnesses have a savior or do they have two saviors?

Sat, 05 May 2012 02:42:07 +0000

The Jehovah's Witnesses have a savior or do they have two saviors? As most people know the Jehovah's witnesses have rewritten the Bible for the sole purpose of separating Christ and God the Father. They still do not explain how they can have two saviors when in Isaiah 43:10-11 their own translation says, "YOU are my witnesses,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “even my servant whom I have chosen, in order that YOU may know and have faith in me, and that YOU may understand that I am the same One. Before me there was no God formed, and after me there continued to be none. I—I am Jehovah, and besides me there is no savior.”[/align]

In many verses in their translation of the Bible such as acts 13:23 they refer to the Savior of Israel as Jesus. It is repeated again and ask 5:31 God exalted this one as Chief Agent and Savior to his right hand, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And in 2 Timothy 1:10 they refer to the Savior as Jesus Christ. There are many more verses in the Bible such as first John 4:14, Titus 2:6-14, acts 4:9-12 Titus 1:1-16, 2 Timothy 1:10. Sometimes when the Savior is being referred to as Christ is in lower case and sometimes it is capitalized apparently for no rhyme or reason. It appears they've concentrated so hard on trying to divide the Father and the Son that they forgot that only one, according to the Father can be the savior of Israel.

1 John 4: (NWT)
14 In addition, we ourselves have beheld and are bearing witness that the Father has sent forth his Son as Savior of the world.

Titus 2: (NWT)
6 Likewise keep on exhorting the younger men to be sound in mind, 7 in all things showing yourself an example of fine works; showing uncorruptness in your teaching, seriousness, 8 wholesome speech which cannot be condemned; so that the man on the opposing side may get ashamed, having nothing vile to say about us. 9 Let slaves be in subjection to their owners in all things, and please them well, not talking back, 10 not committing theft, but exhibiting good fidelity to the full, so that they may adorn the teaching of our Savior, God, in all things.

Acts 4 (NWT)
9 if we are this day being examined, on the basis of a good deed to an ailing man, as to by whom this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of YOU and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Naz·a·rene´, whom YOU impaled but whom God raised up from the dead, by this one does this man stand here sound in front of YOU. 11 This is ‘the stone that was treated by YOU builders as of no account that has become the head of the corner.’ 12 Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.”

Have You Ever Been Alone with God?

Thu, 03 May 2012 00:54:18 +0000

“When they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples” (Mark 4:34 ).

Our Solitude with Him. Jesus doesn’t take us aside and explain things to us all the time; He explains things to us as we are able to understand them. The lives of others are examples for us, but God requires us to examine our own souls. It is slow work—so slow that it takes God all of time and eternity to make a man or woman conform to His purpose. We can only be used by God after we allow Him to show us the deep, hidden areas of our own character. It is astounding how ignorant we are about ourselves! We don’t even recognize the envy, laziness, or pride within us when we see it. But Jesus will reveal to us everything we have held within ourselves before His grace began to work. How many of us have learned to look inwardly with courage?
We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves. That is always the last bit of pride to go. The only One who understands us is God. The greatest curse in our spiritual life is pride. If we have ever had a glimpse of what we are like in the sight of God, we will never say, “Oh, I’m so unworthy.” We will understand that this goes without saying. But as long as there is any doubt that we are unworthy, God will continue to close us in until He gets us alone. Whenever there is any element of pride or conceit remaining, Jesus can’t teach us anything. He will allow us to experience heartbreak or the disappointment we feel when our intellectual pride is wounded. He will reveal numerous misplaced affections or desires—things over which we never thought He would have to get us alone. Many things are shown to us, often without effect. But when God gets us alone over them, they will be clear.

Oswald Chambers

The whispers of God’s love

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:40:39 +0000

“At that time Jesus answered.”
- Matthew 11:25
This is a singular way in which to commence a verse-”At that time Jesus answered.” If you will look at the context you will not perceive that any person had asked him a question, or that he was in conversation with any human being. Yet it is written, “Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father.” When a man answers, he answers a person who has been speaking to him. Who, then, had spoken to Christ? his Father. Yet there is no record of it; and this should teach us that Jesus had constant fellowship with his Father, and that God spake into his heart so often, so continually, that it was not a circumstance singular enough to be recorded. It was the habit and life of Jesus to talk with God. Even as Jesus was, in this world, so are we; let us therefore learn the lesson which this simple statement concerning him teaches us. May we likewise have silent fellowship with the Father, so that often we may answer him, and though the world wotteth not to whom we speak, may we be responding to that secret voice unheard of any other ear, which our own ear, opened by the Spirit of God, recognizes with joy. God has spoken to us, let us speak to God-either to set our seal that God is true and faithful to his promise, or to confess the sin of which the Spirit of God has convinced us, or to acknowledge the mercy which God’s providence has given, or to express assent to the great truths which God the Holy Ghost has opened to our understanding. What a privilege is intimate communion with the Father of our spirits! It is a secret hidden from the world, a joy with which even the nearest friend intermeddleth not. If we would hear the whispers of God’s love, our ear must be purged and fitted to listen to his voice. This very evening may our hearts be in such a state, that when God speaks to us, we, like Jesus, may be prepared at once to answer him.

By C H Spurgeon

MOTIVATION

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 07:48:04 +0000

God considers not the action, but the spirit of the action.
Peter Abelard (1079–1142)

God does not care
What good you did
But why you did it.
He does not grade the fruit
But probes the core and tests the root.
Angelus Silesius (1624–1677)

God strikes at the core of our motivations. He is not interested in merely applying a new coat of paint, imposing a new set of rules. He wants to rebuild our minds and give us new values.
Erwin W. Lutzer (1941– )

God values not your deeds, but how they are performed;
He does not view the fruit, only the root and core.
Angelus Silesius (1624–1677)

It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, it is why he does it.
A. W. Tozer (1897–1963)

Man sees your actions, but God your motives.
Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380–1471)

Many a solo is sung to show off; many a sermon is preached as an exhibition of talent; many a church is founded as a slap to some other church. Even missionary activity may become competitive, and soul-winning may degenerate into a sort of brush-salesman project to satisfy the flesh.
A. W. Tozer (1897–1963)

Not all people can be driven by the same stick.
Arabian Proverb

Nothing is impossible; there are ways that lead to everything, and if we had sufficient will, we should always have sufficient means. It is often merely for an excuse that we say things are impossible.
François, Duc de La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)

When the will is ready, the feet are light.
George Herbert (1593–1633)

Where the heart is willing it will find a thousand ways, but where it is unwilling it will find a thousand excuses.

God's revelations to man

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 21:00:22 +0000

God's revelations to man.
Even before we start here I think that we might give a little definition of what a revelation is. I'm going to define it as a disclosure of God's nature or God's being or God's will by God. The unveiling of God to man. When discussing God's revelations to man I think that there are two categories one being a general category, and this is something that God would make to all men. For instance we see this in the Scriptures in Genesis 1, where God discloses his existence and the fact that He is the Creator of all things. But I think it goes even farther than the Scriptures I think that we can see that God has in fact reveal Himself or His existence to those who've never heard of scriptures before. We can look at tribes from back in the dark ages and begin of times and that includes Biblical times where societies have worshiped a creator or a supreme being. That being may have been the moon or a statue or a monkey whatever. But all the societies and that includes all around the world all knew, they had the knowledge of, the existence of a supreme being and creator.

The other revelation category would be a specific category specific revelation. We see this in the Scriptures in Matthew 16:16 where Christ asked Peter who he thought He was and then Christ explained that only the Father could have given him that information and he was blessed for having that revelation. We see that the Gospel is available to anybody who wants to read it and many people have heard the Gospel but that the gospel itself has not been revealed to those people. We see this in John 6 where Christ explains that the Father will teach who chooses to of the gospel and to those that are taught will come to Christ. The Gospel could be in a general form where everybody could hear it but then again it's true nature and believe would be a revelation in the specific type form. I believe we can also see Revelation in some of the covenants. Because some of the covenants actually have a prediction in them and they show God's nature and his plans for his people. And like the Bible none of the revelations made available to us will contradict each other if they are true. Nor will they contradict the Bible which in itself is in fact a revelation. One revelation that all of us Christians have in common is that we are sinners and this revelation and brought us to our knees in repentance. Scriptures tell us that the Gentiles have the law written on their hearts, would this not be a revelation?

JB

The predictions about the details of the crucifixion of Christ

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 02:09:53 +0000

The predictions about the details of the crucifixion of Christ were foretold centuries before they were fulfilled. They were fulfilled with amazing precision.
1. That He was going to be betrayed by a close friend (Ps. 41:9 ).
2. That His disciples were going to forsake Him (Ps. 31:11 ).
3. That He was going to be falsely accused (Ps. 35:11 ).
4. That He was going to maintain silence before His judges (Isa. 53:7 ).
5. That He was going to be proven guiltless (Isa. 53:9 ).
6. That He was going to be numbered with the transgressors and thieves (Isa. 53:12 ).
7. That He was going to die by crucifixion (Ps. 22:16 ).
8. That He was going to be made fun of by the spectators (Ps. 109:25 ).
9. That He was going to be made fun of for not being rescued by God (Ps. 22:7 , 8 ).
10. That they were going to gamble for His garments (Ps. 22:18 ).
11. That He was going to pray for His enemies (Isa. 53:12 ).
12. That He was going to be forsaken by God (Ps. 22:1 ).
13. That He was going to be physically thirsty (Ps. 69:21 ).
14. That He was going to yield His spirit into the hands of the Father (Ps. 31:5 ).
15. That His bones were not going to be broken (Ps. 34:20 ).
16. That He was going to be buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isa. 53:9 ).

Having a Humble Opinion of Self

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:32:34 +0000

EVERY man naturally desires knowledge; but what good is knowledge without fear of God? Indeed a humble rustic who serves God is better than a proud intellectual who neglects his soul to study the course of the stars. He who knows himself well becomes mean in his own eyes and is not happy when praised by men.
If I knew all things in the world and had not charity, what would it profit me before God Who will judge me by my deeds?
Shun too great a desire for knowledge, for in it there is much fretting and delusion. Intellectuals like to appear learned and to be called wise. Yet there are many things the knowledge of which does little or no good to the soul, and he who concerns himself about other things than those which lead to salvation is very unwise.
Many words do not satisfy the soul; but a good life eases the mind and a clean conscience inspires great trust in God.
The more you know and the better you understand, the more severely will you be judged, unless your life is also the more holy. Do not be proud, therefore, because of your learning or skill. Rather, fear because of the talent given you. If you think you know many things and understand them well enough, realize at the same time that there is much you do not know. Hence, do not affect wisdom, but admit your ignorance. Why prefer yourself to anyone else when many are more learned, more cultured than you?
If you wish to learn and appreciate something worth while, then love to be unknown and considered as nothing. Truly to know and despise self is the best and most perfect counsel. To think of oneself as nothing, and always to think well and highly of others is the best and most perfect wisdom. Wherefore, if you see another sin openly or commit a serious crime, do not consider yourself better, for you do not know how long you can remain in good estate. All men are frail, but you must admit that none is more frail than yourself.

Thomas à Kempis

John 9:39 vs John 3:17

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:43:21 +0000

“I have come into this world to judge: Blind people will be given sight, and those who can see will become blind." John 9:39

I was going to do a post and call it the purpose statement of his incarnation. And I was looking at the different verses where Christ declares a reason for why He came for instance He claims he did not come to destroy the law or the prophets but to fulfill the law and claimed He did not come to bring peace but conflict and other various verses like, but what intrigued me were four conflicting verse and that was John 9:39. That verse reads, “I have come into this world to judge: Blind people will be given sight, and those who can see will become blind." and John 5:22 "For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son.

Now the conflict I saw was in two other verses from John, John 3:17 and John 12:47. Verse 17 reads "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. And Verse 47 reads, If anyone hears My words and doesn't keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

I think you can see the conflict in these two verses of John with John 9:39 and 5:22. Now I know there is no conflict in the Bible and I've never found one myself but I thought this was worth pointing out because we have a lot of people that like to cherry pick verses and try and make the Bible seem like that contradicts itself.

Lets take a closer look.

John 9:39 “I have come into this world to judge: Blind people will be given sight, and those who can see will become blind.”.40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say , We see ; therefore your sin remaineth .

You must read the whole 9th chapter. The Pharisees had declared themselves righteous but Christ came to declare them blind (therefore your sin remaineth) Christ came to set things straight , the Pharisees were serving themselves, calling themselves righteous. The blind man was accused of being blind because of being born in sin. John in chapter 9 points out that the neither the blind man nor his parents sin was responsible for the man being born blind.

In short it was the Pharisees that were making a judgment not Christ.

In John 5:22 ( "For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son.)

If you move down the chapter you will read, 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. 28 "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.

The judgement here is at end times and not on this earth.

Paul Washer, The Gospel. The most terrifying truth of Scripture.

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 01:58:42 +0000

Just and the Justifier

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 07:11:12 +0000

We have seen the ungodly justified, and have considered the great truth, that only God can justify any man; we now come a step further and make the inquiry—How can a just God justify guilty men? Here we are met with a full answer in the words of Paul, in Romans 3:21-26 . We will read six verses from the chapter so as to get the run of the passage:
“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference; for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness; that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

Here suffer me to give you a bit of personal experience. When I was under the hand of the Holy Spirit, under conviction of sin, I had a clear and sharp sense of the justice of God. Sin, whatever it might be to other people, became to me an intolerable burden. It was not so much that I feared hell, but that I feared sin. I knew myself to be so horribly guilty that I remember feeling that if God did not punish me for sin He ought to do so. I felt that the Judge of all the earth ought to condemn such sin as mine. I sat on the judgment seat, and I condemned myself to perish; for I confessed that had I been God I could have done no other than send such a guilty creature as I was down to the lowest hell. All the while, I had upon my mind a deep concern for the honor of God’s name, and the integrity of His moral government. I felt that it would not satisfy my conscience if I could be forgiven unjustly. The sin I had committed must be punished. But then there was the question how God could be just, and yet justify me who had been so guilty. I asked my heart: “How can He be just and yet the justifier?” I was worried and wearied with this question; neither could I see any answer to it. Certainly, I could never have invented an answer which would have satisfied my conscience.
The doctrine of the atonement is to my mind one of the surest proofs of the divine inspiration of Holy Scripture. Who would or could have thought of the just Ruler dying for the unjust rebel? This is no teaching of human mythology, or dream of poetical imagination. This method of expiation is only known among men because it is a fact; fiction could not have devised it. God Himself ordained it; it is not a matter which could have been imagined.
I had heard the plan of salvation by the sacrifice of Jesus from my youth up; but I did not know any more about it in my innermost soul than if I had been born and bred a Hottentot. The light was there, but I was blind; it was of necessity that the Lord himself should make the matter plain to me. It came to me as a new revelation, as fresh as if I had never read in Scripture that Jesus was declared to be the propitiation for sins that God might be just. I believe it will have to come as a revelation to every newborn child of God whenever he sees it; I mean that glorious doctrine of the substitution of the Lord Jesus. I came to understand that salvation was possible through vicarious sacrifice; and that provision had been made in the first constitution and arrangement of things for such a substitution. I was made to see that He who is the Son of God, co-equal, and co-eternal with the Father, had of old been made the covenant Head of a chosen people that He might in that capacity suffer for them and save them. Inasmuch as our fall was not at the first a personal one, for we fell in our federal representative, the first Adam, it became possible for us to be recovered by a second representative, even by Him who has undertaken to be the covenant head of His people, so as to be their second Adam. I saw that ere I actually sinned I had fallen by my first father’s sin; and I rejoiced that therefore it became possible in point of law for me to rise by a second head and representative. The fall by Adam left a loophole of escape; another Adam can undo the ruin made by the first. When I was anxious about the possibility of a just God pardoning me, I understood and saw by faith that He who is the Son of God became man, and in His own blessed person bore my sin in His own body on the tree. I saw the chastisement of my peace was laid on Him, and that with His stripes I was healed. Dear friend, have you ever seen that? Have you ever understood how God can be just to the full, not remitting penalty nor blunting the edge of the sword, and yet can be infinitely merciful, and can justify the ungodly who turn to Him? It was because the Son of God, supremely glorious in His matchless person, undertook to vindicate the law by bearing the sentence due to me, that therefore God is able to pass by my sin. The law of God was more vindicated by the death of Christ than it would have been had all transgressors been sent to Hell. For the Son of God to suffer for sin was a more glorious establishment of the government of God, than for the whole race to suffer.
Jesus has borne the death penalty on our behalf. Behold the wonder! There He hangs upon the cross! This is the greatest sight you will ever see. Son of God and Son of Man, there He hangs, bearing pains unutterable, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God. Oh, the glory of that sight! The innocent punished! The Holy One condemned! The Ever-blessed made a curse! The infinitely glorious put to a shameful death! The more I look at the sufferings of the Son of God, the more sure I am that they must meet my case. Why did He suffer, if not to turn aside the penalty from us? If, then, He turned it aside by His death, it is turned aside, and those who believe in Him need not fear it. It must be so, that since expiation is made, God is able to forgive without shaking the basis of His throne, or in the least degree blotting the statute book. Conscience gets a full answer to her tremendous question. The wrath of God against iniquity, whatever that may be, must be beyond all conception terrible. Well did Moses say, “Who knoweth the power of thine anger?” Yet when we hear the Lord of glory cry, “Why hast thou forsaken me?” and see Him yielding up the ghost, we feel that the justice of God has received abundant vindication by obedience so perfect and death so terrible, rendered by so divine a person. If God himself bows before His own law, what more can be done? There is more in the atonement by way of merit, than there is in all human sin by way of demerit.
The great gulf of Jesus’ loving self-sacrifice can swallow up the mountains of our sins, all of them. For the sake of the infinite good of this one representative man, the Lord may well look with favor upon other men, however unworthy they may be in and of themselves. It was a miracle of miracles that the Lord Jesus Christ should stand in our stead and
Bear that we might never bear
His Father’s righteous ire.
But he has done so. “It is finished.” God will spare the sinner because He did not spare His Son. God can pass by your transgressions because He laid those transgressions upon His only begotten Son nearly two thousand years ago. If you believe in Jesus (that is the point), then your sins were carried away by Him who was the scapegoat for His people.
What is it to believe in Him? It is not merely to say, “He is God and the Saviour,” but to trust Him wholly and entirely, and take Him for all your salvation from this time forth and forever—your Lord, your Master, your all. If you will have Jesus, He has you already. If you believe on Him, I tell you you cannot go to hell; for that were to make the sacrifice of Christ of none effect. It cannot be that a sacrifice should be accepted, and yet the soul should die for whom that sacrifice has been received. If the believing soul could be condemned, then why a sacrifice? If Jesus died in my stead, why should I die also? Every believer can claim that the sacrifice was actually made for him: by faith he has laid his hands on it, and made it his own, and therefore he may rest assured that he can never perish. The Lord would not receive this offering on our behalf, and then condemn us to die. The Lord cannot read our pardon written in the blood of His own Son, and then smite us. That were impossible. Oh that you may have grace given you at once to look away to Jesus and to begin at the beginning, even at Jesus, who is the Fountain-head of mercy to guilty man!
“He justifieth the ungodly.” “It is God that justifieth,” therefore, and for that reason only it can be done, and He does it through the atoning sacrifice of His divine Son. Therefore it can be justly done—so justly done that none will ever question it—so thoroughly done that in the last tremendous day, when heaven and earth shall pass away, there shall be none that shall deny the validity of the justification. “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died. Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.”
Now, poor soul! will you come into this lifeboat, just as you are? Here is safety from the wreck! Accept the sure deliverance. “I have nothing with me,” say you. You are not asked to bring anything with you. Men who escape for their lives will leave even their clothes behind. Leap for it, just as you are.
I will tell you this thing about myself to encourage you. My sole hope for heaven lies in the full atonement made upon Calvary’s cross for the ungodly. On that I firmly rely. I have not the shadow of a hope anywhere else. You are in the same condition as I am; for we neither of us have anything of our own worth as a ground of trust. Let us join hands and stand together at the foot of the cross, and trust our souls once for all to Him who shed His blood for the guilty. We will be saved by one and the same Saviour. If you perish trusting Him, I must perish too. What can I do more to prove my own confidence in the gospel which I set before you?

By C.H. Spurgeon

Car Bomb Kills 38 Christians Outside Easter Service in Kaduna, Nigeria

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 21:58:55 +0000

Car Bomb Kills 38 Christians Outside Easter Service in Kaduna, Nigeria
This is part of a clear, ongoing effort by Jihadists to exterminate Christianity in Nigeria and establish an Islamic state ruled by Shariah. The Jihadist terrorist group Boko Haram also carried out a series of terrorist attacks on Christian churches on Christmas day the past two years.

Recent intelligence indicates that Boko Haram has become affiliated with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

http://terrortrendsbulletin.com/2012/04/...a-nigeria/

(Resurrection Day) Easter Bible Verses

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 21:34:26 +0000

Easter Bible Verses
John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. (NIV)
Romans 1:4-5  And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. (NLT)
Romans 6:8-11  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
Philippians 3:10-12  I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (NIV)
1 Peter 1:3  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... (NIV)
Matthew 27:50-53  And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.(NIV)
Matthew 28:1-10  After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." (NIV)
Mark 16:1-8  When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' "
Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. (NIV)  
John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. (NIV)
Romans 1:4-5  And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. (NLT)
Romans 6:8-11  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
Philippians 3:10-12  I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (NIV)
1 Peter 1:3  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... (NIV)
Matthew 27:50-53  And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.(NIV)
Matthew 28:1-10  After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." (NIV)
Mark 16:1-8  When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' "
Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. (NIV)  

'Talibuns'? Hot Cross Buns With Islamic ‘Halal’ Symbol Spark Debate

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 19:31:16 +0000

Should Christians be upset if the packaging of their “hot cross buns” traditionally eaten at Easter carries the Islamic halal food certification symbol?

This question has triggered an animated debate in South Africa in the run-up to Easter, both online and in the media. Protests by some Christians prompted the retailer to agree to offer two packaging options.

One will carry the halal symbol and be labeled “spiced buns” while the other will omit the symbol and be labeled “hot cross buns,” according to a statement from the Woolworths supermarket chain.

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/talibuns...ark-debate

Who also maketh intercession for us?

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 19:21:05 +0000

He ever liveth to make intercession. (Heb. 7:25 )
Who is he that condemneth? it is Christ that died … who also maketh intercession for us. (Rom. 8:34 ) Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. (Heb. 9:24 )
If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (1 John 2:1 ) There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Tim. 2:5 )
Seeing … that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:14-16 ) Through him we … have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (Eph. 2:18 )

THE LORD—THE LIBERATOR NO. 484, By C. H. Spurgeon

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:58:12 +0000

Pain vs pleasure

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:40:06 +0000

During my walk today I was listening to a sermon on my podcast by Dr. Zacharias. If you not aware of the gentleman he is very biblical-based apologetic even though, as most apologetics do, he uses very few scriptures during his sermons. In other words if you were to set listening to one of his sermons you wouldn't be going back and forth in her Bible jumping one burst another try to follow.

I wanted to say that because I wanted to give him credit for the thoughts I had and let you know that they weren't originally mine. His sermon was about pain and pleasure. His premise was that pleasure causes more destruction in a culture then does pain. I think that I have always felt this way as a Christian, I see the pain and suffering in Africa and in china and I see that their churches are much stronger and more biblically based and the churches in the free world were people have most everything. But to take it to the level of harm to all of our culture going beyond just the Christian culture is a level I never considered. In America there are many cultures and that's what makes America great. I don't know if the pain varies from one culture to another in America I don't really see that that's the case. That it may change from one level of economics to another level of economics. But I think what Dr. Zacharias was trying to get at is that the pleasures of the flesh turn you away from God and the opposite is with pain. As they say there is no atheists in a foxhole, and you always see people more willing to listen to the Gospel when they are feeling pain. An example is during 9/11 the church attendance skyrocketed across the country. But when things are good church attendance goes down. I've heard before the people say that the persecuted church is a stronger church and that's probably so like I say you look around the world that are in Africa and the some Middle East countries and China and you see that this is actually so those churches are much stronger more biblically based and the church is more dedicated to God than at a church you may find an America where it's just the thing of meeting place where people get together on Sunday and dress up and shake hands and have coffee and donuts.

Can we interchange the word culture with society or community in his presentation?