I’m sure that nearly all of us have been in a store of some kind, and while we are going down an aisle, suddenly we hear the loud cry or screech of a small child because they are not happy about something. Maybe they wanted something in the store, but they were told that they couldn’t have it, so they began to throw a “temper tantrum” and begin to scream as loudly as they can. What is the normal response of that child’s parent? They usually firmly tell their child to “quiet down” or “Stop it!” or else there will be consequences. What that parent is doing is “reprimanding” or “rebuking” their unruly child. The parent’s desire is to have their child change their behavior through criticism of their actions.

This rebuking is done, not because of hatred, but to bring about a change. It is done to try to get an individual to recognize the error of their actions, and to try to get them to do what is right.

This example of the child in the store is like this passage in Hebrews 12.

“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we game them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Now no chastening for the present time seemth to be joyous, but grevious: nevertheless afteward it yieldeth the peacable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Hebrews 12:6-11

Like a child who grows up and learns to discern right from wrong, we as Christians are growing each day. Each day we grow a little more, and there some times when we will make a mistake and need correction. You see, it is the normal feeling for a person to feel that they are right, that what they are doing is the correct way to do things, and that they know better than everyone else, but it sometimes takes a firm rebuke to get someone to understand the need for a change.

When on the receiving end of a rebuke, it is not a pleasant experience, is it? As a child, I never liked being confronted and told to stop doing something, because it meant that I would have to change my behavior and what I wanted to do. But it was through that rebuke that I learned to do what was right. I learned to not seek to please myself by doing what I wanted, but to do things that were helpful and beneficial to others. 

As the Bible says, it is not a joyous, pleasant experience when we are rebuked. But it is done out of a place of love. Love for a person will tell them when they are doing something sinful, very firmly if need be. 

Do you remember the conversation between Jesus and Peter in Matthew 16? Jesus had just gotten through telling His apostles how He would be persecuted, and would suffer many things at the hands of the elders and chief priests, and would be crucified, when Peter began to rebuke Jesus and tell Him that these things would never happen. Jesus then turned to Peter, and rebuked him, saying, “Get thee behind me, Satan; thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”

That is quite a rebuke, wouldn’t you say? Jesus rebuked Peter, not out of hatred, but because He loved him. Jesus loved Peter very much, but at that time Peter needed to be corrected so that he would learn to never do that again. I’m sure that was a rather uncomfortable moment for Peter, but he grew stronger and wiser because of it.

Again, this rebuke was not done out of hate, but was done in love. Love will tell a person what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. If I had never been corrected and told to stop doing something that was wrong, but was instead told “Good job!” how would I have known my need to stop? Through love, I was told the truth, praised when I did something good, and rebuked when I didn’t.

“Open rebuke is better than secret love.” Proverbs 27:5

The Bible is the Book of love, and it teaches us what is right and wrong. It is filled with assurance to those who do good, and love, that they will someday receive the reward that is awaiting them someday. It also warns others to change and repent, as well as the consequence that will await them if they don’t. 

God is a God of love, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). 

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19

Ultimately, the decision is yours. Will you listen to the loving rebuke to repent of your sins, or will you ignore it?

In Christ,

Andrew

Goodmorning and welcome in. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from Colossians chapter 3.

Have you ever heard the old saying practice makes perfect?  How many of you out there are musicians?  Before you can play a part perfectly you have to practice it over and over again. Sometimes it can take quite a while to get it right but the point is that you need to keep practicing. God wants us to display perfect charity in our lives, but it requires practice and learning to walk in the qualities that we are going to discuss today.

Col 3:12-14

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

The Apostle Paul refers to the church as the elect of God.  when you are elected to a public office you are picked and chosen for that particular position.  Christians are referred to as the elect of God because he has chosen us to become followers of Jesus Christ and the things that he taught.

1 Peter 2:9 – But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

John 15:16 – Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

The Apostle Paul refers to the church as holy and beloved.  Because each of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God the only way that we could begin a walk of Holiness is through God’s mercy and forgiveness.  He blots out all of our past transgressions, cleansing us from our iniquities when we come to Him through faith in His beloved Son Jesus.  God truly loves the world, and wants to save us through faith in Christ the Lord.

John 3:16 – 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.

Romans 5:8 – But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 4:19 – We love him, because he first loved us.

The Apostle wants us to be filled with bowels of mercy. Bowels is an old word that means from the depths of your heart or to be filled with pity and compassion for others.  Mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.  Jesus could have called legions of angels and destroyed the entire world but instead he suffered and showed us mercy when he went to the cross and died for our sins.

Lamentations 3:22 – It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

He took upon himself the suffering that we rightly deserved, and that is the mercy that we want to show to one another.  Instead of retaliation or returning evil for evil, Jesus taught to turn the other cheek and be merciful.

Luke 6:36 – Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Matthew 5:7 – Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Another quality that a Christian wants to be filled up with is kindness.  Kindness is having a compassionate and good-hearted demeanor.  It is being inclined or able to forgive and show mercy.  

Ephesians 4:32 – And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

A humble person is not proud and does not believe that they are better than other people.  The Apostle Paul was very humble in the position that God placed Him in.

1 Corinthians 15:9 – For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Philippians 2:3 – Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Romans 12:10 – Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Meekness is To be quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive.  If you have the quality of meekness you will have a desire to submit to the teachings of Jesus.  Christians are called to walk in meekness of spirit.  It is a quality of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Titus 3:2 – To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

Matthew 11:29 – 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.

To be long suffering is having or showing patience in spite of troubles, especially those caused by other people.

2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Ephesians 4:2 – With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Forbearance is a ceasing or restraining from action; patience; long suffering.  It’s a withholding of punishment that is due to somebody else.

Romans 3:25 – 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;

The Apostle taught the church to be very forgiving with each other, the way that the Lord Jesus is towards us.  Instead of imputing our trespasses unto us, He cleanses our conscience.  Our sins and iniquities He remembers no more when we come and confess them to Him.  Because God treats us this way, you need to treat others in the same manner.  

Mark 11:25 – And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Ephesians 4:32 – And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Matthew 6:15 – But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Charity is called the bond of perfectness and divine charity will possess these qualities that we discussed today. 

Just like a trumpet player has to practice his parts, the Christian needs to practice these qualities each and every day.  If you continue to do this, eventually you will learn to walk in perfect love with God and with each other.  After all,….

…..practice makes perfect!

Let’s think about these things for today and Lord willing we will talk some more tomorrow. Till then, bye-bye everybody.❤️

tlkjbc.wordpress.com

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 

Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Matthew 13:45-46

What would you do to obtain one of the most valuable things on earth if the opportunity presented itself to you? To what length would you go if it was something that you have wanted all your life?

Some people have wanted a certain special car since they were a child, but had never had the opportunity to get one. At some point in their childhood they saw a car that captivated them so much that it left a permament longing in their heart that Someday! they would get one, whatever the cost.

And so I pose this question to you: How much is eternal life worth to you? How much is a lifetime spent in the kingdom of Heaven worth to you?

People are always searching for ways to live longer, whether it is through trying to eat healthy or exercise, or trying to cut out certain “unhealthy” habits. But the fact is that we all die, some sooner or later than others, but eventually death will overcome our fleshly bodies. 

I know that I sure would like to live forever. Don’t you? We are limited to really just a handful of years because our bodies just won’t live that long. Eventually we will all break down, and stop working, just like motor in a car, but there is a way for us to live forever. It is not found in science or medicine, or exercise. The key to immortality is found in the blood of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. That is the one and only way to live forever.

So what is the cost? Considering that everything that we could attain will all be taken away from us upon our physical deaths, it is only prudent that we give our lives to the Lord right now. Wouldn’t you trade 1 dollar for 1 million dollars? You would have to be crazy to pass that up! So will you trade the short 70, 80, 90 years of your life to be able to live forever? That is quite a small price to pay, yet many people will not take that offer.

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” James 4:14

How many people have grown old and grey, and look back and say, Time does fly. A short time is all that we have on this Earth. So, once again, what is the kingdom of Heaven worth to you? The price has already been set, but will you give up everything for it?

“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36

Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:34-37

The life of a Christian is a high calling. It will result in persecution by those who fight against Christ. It will require that you give up what you want to do, as a carnal man. It is a road less traveled, but it is the ONLY way if you want to receive the prize. The Apostle Paul realized this, but he knew that any sufferings that he would have to endure for the name of Jesus would not even come close to the riches that would await him in Heaven.

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” Romans 8:18,19

Will you take this opportunity to get this deal of an eternal lifetime?

In Christ,

Andrew

Good morning and welcome in. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from Galatians chapter 4.

In the book of Galatians the Apostle Paul was getting concerned about those in the church who were trying to combine Christianity with Judaism.  They were attempting to go back into the Old Testament and try to keep some of the things from which they had been set free by Christ.  

Gal 4:8-11

8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

2000 years later there are still some people who profess to be followers of Jesus who are trying to do the same thing.  Instead of enjoying the freedoms that Christ has given us, they simply desire to go back into the bondage of Judaism in an attempt to be justified by the law.  

The Apostle Paul was a minister of the New Testament, not of the letter of the law.  The Apostle used to be a Jewish Pharisee who understood Judaic law very well but he turned away from it all in order to receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and get forgiven for his sins. He knew in his heart that there was no salvation in the old testament law because nobody had kept it perfectly, including himself.  He refers to the old testament as the ministration of death.  

The purpose of the law was to convict us of our sinfulness so that we would go to Christ Jesus for forgiveness, but once we place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, we are no longer under the law anymore, but we are under the law of liberty.  Jesus frees us from the demands of the old testament.  So when people in the church were making an attempt to go back into the law from which he had left, the Apostle took issue with that.

Gal 4:19-26

19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

The only way that we can end up entering into heaven someday is by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior.  He died on the cross is a propitiation and atonement for the sins of men.  The Apostle Paul understood this and became a Christian.  Christ Jesus has freed us from being in bondage to the law.  

Gal 4:30-31

30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

As a Christian we accept Jesus Christ as our savior.  The law cannot save us, it only shows that we are sinners in need of God’s forgiveness.  As a Christian we believe that it is by grace that we are saved for we are justified by faith in Him.

Gal 5:1-4

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Those who profess Christianity as their faith who decide to go back into Judaism are not trusting in Jesus completely for salvation.  We cannot be justified through the law of Moses.

Acts 13:38-39

38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Nobody had kept the law perfectly, and no one can today either.  Eventually you were going to make a mistake from which you would have to be forgiven with God to make it into heaven.

Gal 6-13-15

13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Certain men were telling early Christians that they had to be circumcised otherwise they would not be saved by God.  Circumcision was required in the Old Testament while baptism is required in Christianity. 

Acts 15

15 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

Peter spoke to them about this issue.

10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Christians are freed from the yoke of the Old Testament.  Remember it isn’t possible that the blood of animals should take away our sins, they were simply done for a period of time as a covering until Jesus would die on the cross and shed his own blood for the complete remission of our sins.  

There are many people today who still attempt to combine Judaism and Christianity with each other, feeling that they will become a more righteous person because of it.  The Bible is clear that we are all sinners and then there are none righteous no not one.  We have to trust and have faith in the one who died on the cross for our sins. He is the Lamb of God whom God sent to this earth as a Savior to cleanse our hearts and our consciences of sin.  

Christians are freed from the bondage of the Old Testament law.

Jesus Christ has given us a liberty pass!

Let’s think about those things for today and Lord willing, we can talk some more tomorrow.  Till then, bye bye everybody.❤

tlkjbc.wordpress.com

With an abundance of forested land in the northern part of Minnesota, burning firewood is a common method of heating one’s home. There are always plenty of trees that can be used for fuel for a woodstove. We have a wood-burning stove in our house, and one thing we have learned is that when one burns firewood, there is a very important safety precaution that one needs to take, and that is buying a smoke alarm. 

A smoke alarm is a device which will emit a loud, piercing sound when it detects smoke in a house. There are some alarms which are wired directly into a house’s wiring, but most smoke alarms are powered by a disposable battery. Eventually these batteries can become old, and worn out. If they are not replaced, the smoke alarm will not work. It will not do it’s job of alerting a home’s residents to the danger that is happening.

A person’s conscience is like their own personal smoke alarm. The conscience is like an inner voice inside a person that tells them the difference between right and wrong, and Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 4 that in the latter times the conscience of some people will have become “seared.” Meaning, when they sin or do evil they will not care. They will feel no remorse or sorrow towards God, and they will not seek to change from their wicked ways. Their “warning bells” will not go off.

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 

Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” 1 Timothy 4:1,2

Like a dead battery in smoke alarm, these “warning system” inside of some of these people will not go off when they sin against God.

If we sin, we need to listen to that feeling inside that causes us to immediately be filled with the desire to beg for forgiveness to our God. We need to be filled with a Godly sorrow that leads us to repentance. Just like Peter. When the cock crew, and Peter realized that he had just denied the Lord, he wept bitterly. He felt sorrow for his sin, and he was later forgiven by Christ because he repented.

In the book of 1 Corinthians Paul had written to correct some of those in the church because there was some sinful things that were going on, and instead of being filled with sorrow because of the sin, they were proud of it and unashamed. Paul firmly rebuked them, and told them to remove those individuals from the church so that they would realize the error of their actions.

Later, in 2 Corinthians, from what we read it sounds like the person who was the cause of this sin had been filled with sorrow, and had repented.

“For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. 

Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” 2 Corinthians 7:8-10

Gody sorrow worketh repentance. They needed to have the “batteries” of their conscience changed out, and that is what Paul did through his letters to them.

Listen to that warning bell inside, that voice that tells you what is right and what is wrong. When faced between two decisions, make sure you pick the right one. Keep those “batteries” charged!

In Christ,

Andrew

Good morning and welcome in. Today we are going to continue taking a look at a passage of scripture that we studied the other day.

Rom 2:1-4

2 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

To simplify the first three verses in this passage is to say that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.  Without God’s grace none of us would ever be able to get to heaven.  Instead of standing in judgment over somebody else, we need to be forgiving with each other when they confess and apologize for their faults.  Forgiveness is an act of divine charity. God grants each of us forgiveness when we admit sin and we are supposed to treat each other the same way.

It’s the goodness of God that leadeth us to repentance.  

The change in our life comes after we recognize the goodness, forbearance and the forgiving nature of our God.  When we understand how much He cares for us, we can come to Him in faith to be completely cleansed of our sins. It’s only then that lasting change can truly begin to happen in our lives.

Today there are numerous people preaching that change is required first before you can truly be forgiven.  That is like putting the cart before the horse.  If that were truly the case, heaven would be beyond the reach of any of us. it would no longer be a gospel of grace but attempting to gain salvation from works.

Rom 11:6

6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Works are activities involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result while grace is defined as God’s divine favor toward the unworthy.  As the Apostle teaches us they are two completely different things.  The works that the Apostle Paul did in his life we’re a direct result of God’s forgiveness on His heart.

1 For 15:9-10

9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

The Apostle Paul got forgiven first and then God caused the change to happen in his life, not the other way around.  

The truth is that there are none righteous, no not one.  We are all the same in the eyes of God, sinners who need redemption.  God displays grace to the entire world by allowing His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins.   He freely grants divine benevolence upon the undeserving by granting us forgiveness even before we have changed or put away the filth of the flesh.  

1 Peter 3:21 – The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

God is ready and willing to forgive us even though we don’t deserve to be treated so well.  Is this how you treat others?  When you stand in judgment over others and are unforgiving with them, remember that you didn’t deserve God’s forgiveness either.  That’s the entire thrust of our study passage.  Each of us makes a mistake occasionally, but it is grace and forgiveness that leads us to change and eventually become transformed into the person that God wants us to become.  

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

When I first became a believer in the Lord Jesus, I understood in my heart how much God loved me.   I realized what Jesus had done for me at the cross and that I could be forgiven with Him when I came to Him and asked for it.  Knowing these facts about God filled me with great hope and led me to change my life.  This is one of the reasons that the gospel of peace needs to be preached.  When we have faith in what it says, it can cause us to completely change direction in our lives.  

We must first come to God as we are, wretched sinners that are in desperate need of forgiveness.  God wants us to confess our sins and to admit our faults, not only to Him but to each other.  He wants us to call out to him for mercy, and He is more than willing to grant it.  Is this how you treat others?

God wants us to be forgiving with one another in the church.  Even in the church, people make mistakes at times but because we have received mercy from God, He wants us to show that same mercy to others who apologize and make an attempt at reconciliation. It’s the goodness and kindness of God by extending forgiveness through His Son Jesus that leads us to repentance. It’s not repenting and changing our lives that leads us to God’s forgiveness. That is completely backward theology and comes from false teachers in the world today. 

Titus 3:4-6 – But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

When a baby comes out of its mother’s womb it doesn’t walk over to the kitchen table and ask for a hamburger and french fries. It’s just a baby that needs to go through a growth spurt and mature.  It’s the same in the Christian church.  This is why God wants us to be so forgiving with each other. 

The goal is to completely change over from dead works to serve and do the will of God, but it is a process that requires confession, forgiveness and reconciliation, not only towards God but each other.  Some people require a lot more grace than others, up to seventy times seven, but even in such a case, God wants us to forgive others upon the confession of their fault.  

Many people really don’t understand how forgiving God is but when we look at the life of the Apostle Paul we can see the results of what God can do with a sinner.

When people apologize and admit fault, be forgiving with them as God has forgiven you.  Instead of standing in judgment over others, be merciful as God is towards you.

Salvation is not by our own works but by God’s grace.

Anything other than that is putting the cart before the horse.

Let’s think about these things for today and Lord willing I’ll talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye-bye everybody.❤️

tlkjbc.wordpress.com

“But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:20

Going camping was one of my most favorite things to do as a child. Once school was out for the summer, our family went camping at least two or three times a month. And when one goes camping, there is one thing that just about everyone I know does, and that is the making and eating of s’mores. It almost wasn’t camping unless you had a bag of marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers.

If someone says that they are making s’mores, but they just sit down and eat a plain graham cracker all by itself, then that is not a s’more. If you just take a marshmallow out of the bag and pop it into your mouth, that is not a s’more. Just having all of the ingredients does not make a s’more. You need to put them all together in a process.

To make a s’more, you need to get your graham crackers all laid out and ready, with a piece of chocolate. And then you have the most crucial part- you need to push a small stick through a marshmallow and roast that marshamallow over a fire. Once it becomes soft and brown, you need to put that marshmallow onto your graham crackers and chocolate. That is a s’more. You can have all of those ingredients, but unless you physically put them all together, you won’t have a s’more.

If someone says that they have faith in God, but they don’t have any actions that show it, is it really faith?

If you claim to love each other in the church and you someone of the congregation in need of basic needs, and you have the ability to help them, but you do not, how is that love? How is that showing your faith?

The parable of the good Samaritan greatly shows this. The first two men, a priest and a Levite saw the wounded man on the side of the road, but they did nothing. Nothing at all, but instead passed him by and left him. 

Does that sound like love?

The first two men did nothing to help. Now look at how the actions of the Samaritan differed from them. Instead of walking on by, the Samaritan poured in oil and wine into the man’s wounds, and bound them up, and then took the man to an inn to have someone look over him until he got better. 

The Samaritan had love, and compassion. The priest and the Levite did not, as was shown by their actions. Unlike the first two, the Samaritan did something. 

If I say I am going to go fishing, the proof will be me sitting in my boat on the lake with a line into the water. 

Faith without works is dead.

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 

And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:14-20

One need to look no further than our Lord Himself. He was active every day, healing, teaching, and performing miracles. Every single day He did something. We need to be the same way. We need to follow His example by being busy everyday studying the scriptures, spending time in prayer, helping others, and just overall loving each other. It is through these actions that we can show our faith in Christ.

Do you have faith in Jesus? What are your works? What are some things that others can see that show your faith?

In Christ,

Andrew

Good morning and welcome in.  Today we’re going to take a look at a passage of scripture from the book of Romans.

James 5:9 – Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

The word grudge is defined as to be unwilling to give or to allow something.  In this case, it’s refusing to grant a person forgiveness and mercy.  As Christians, we are supposed to be very forgiving and merciful with each other, understanding that each of us have come short of the glory of God.  A grudge develops because of the refusal to forgive another person when they seek reconciliation with you.  Instead of releasing someone from the debt of their sins, (as the Lord Jesus Christ does for us,) they refuse to forgive, retaining a bitter grudge in their heart.  Instead of forgiving, they stand in judgment over another, and in their eyes, deem them unworthy of their forgiveness.

Romans 2:1-2 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

When you judge others in this manner, you condemn yourself.  The reason why is because each of us are sinners in the eyes of God.  Each of us in the church pray and ask God for forgiveness as we need it.  When someone approaches you and apologizes yet you refuse to forgive them, and you hold it against them, you condemn yourself because God will not forgive you.  When you treat others this way you abide in a state of unforgiveness with God.  The only way to be released from that is to apologize to God for treating the offender that way, and to forgive and to reconcile with them.

Luke 6:37 – Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

When people refuse to show mercy and forgiveness they become very lofty and filled with pride.  As I have talked about for years, it’s the “I’m better than you syndrome.”  Something that people really need to understand in the church is that each of us are sinners who require forgiveness from God.  If God so loved us we also ought to love one another.  The same is also true about forgiveness.  Because God forgives you, you also need to forgive others.  When you refuse to do so, you are setting yourself up as judge and jury, and at the same time usurping the command of Christ to show them mercy.  The Lord Jesus extends forgiveness to all of us. Who are you to stand in judgment and condemn someone in your own mind as unworthy of your forgiveness?

James 4:11-12

11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

The Lord Jesus wants us to forgive when someone approaches and apologetically says, I repent.  Just to say I’m sorry is a confession of fault.  It’s an admission of regret.  In the following passage,  Jesus commands that you must forgive them.  If true forgiveness has happened, the past deeds will be forgotten and reconciliation will follow.  Reconciliation immediately follows because there is no grudge anymore and the deeds have been forgotten. God remembers our sins and iniquities no more when we confess our faults to him.

Luke 17:3-4 – Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Remember that the Lord Jesus was hated by many because He was showing mercy and forgiveness to sinners.  When people cried out to Him for mercy, He healed them and forgave them of their sins.  In the parable of the proud pharisee, the pharisee stood in judgment over the humble publican, yet it was the publican who cried out for mercy and was forgiven for his sins. Because Christ treated others in this manner when they asked Him for mercy, who are you to judge somebody else when they ask you for the same?  The truth is there is no excuse.

……..Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

How can a man judge another man unworthy of their forgiveness?  How can a sinner condemn another sinner?  The Bible concludes that there are none righteous, no know not one.  How do the unrighteous judge the unrighteous because they are exactly the same in God’s eyes. If you have sinned just one time in your entire life, the only way you will be able to enter heaven is to go to Christ Jesus for forgiveness.  There is no other way to access eternal life. You are just as guilty as everybody else, just as if you had done it yourself.

James 2:10-13

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

The Apostle John taught that if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.  Nobody’s perfect no matter how much that someone thinks they may be.

Mark 10:17-22

17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

Here’s an example of someone who felt that they hadn’t sinned.  Jesus simply took him to an area in his life where he did have faults.  None are righteous in God’s sight.  Look at the man that God chose to write a lot of a new testament that we have today.  The Apostle Paul referred to himself as the chief of sinners.  The entire purpose of the law in the old testament was to convict us of our sins so that we would go to Jesus for forgiveness and then show that forgiveness to others 

Matthew 7:1-2 – Judge not, that ye be not judged.For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

When you refuse to forgive those who are seeking forgiveness from you, you are completely going against the commands of Christ and setting yourself up for eternal disaster.  In the long run, you are only hurting yourself.  You are placing yourself in the ranks of the unforgiven.  When you refuse to forgive others it only comes right back at you from God. So I guess…..

…..what goes around comes around.

Let’s think about those things for today, and Lord willing I’ll talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.❤️

tlkjbc.wordpress.com

“And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.” Luke 21:8

Deceive(d) means “mislead, tricked; to cause to believe what is not true.”

Have you ever been mislead by someone or something? Have you ever been “tricked” into doing something that seemed okay or correct at the time, but later you learned that you had been deceived?

Sometimes when someone wants to purchase a specific item, the only way for them to acquire it is through an online website. Just about all major retail outlets have their own online website to further increase their profit, and these websites usually are very reliable; meaning, that you will get what you ordered, and what was described. 

And then you also have other online shopping marketplaces which are not as “trustworthy.” They will have pages upon pages of electronics, tools, etc, for ridiculously low prices; often offering items for over half of the normal retail value. Prices “too good to be true.”

Upon receiving an ordered item, you will sometimes notice that the picture of the item that you thought you were ordering did not match what you received. They might even sell something that is claimed to be “genuine,” but, upon close inspection, you will discover that the item is nothing more than a cheap fake. Sure, it may look very convincing at a glance, but it is still a counterfeit.

And that is what is going to happen in the time just before Christ returns. Jesus forewarned that many would come claiming to be Him. They will do all sorts of signs and wonders, trying to convince people that they are the Christ, and to lead people after them. 

“And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: 

For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.” Mark 13:21,22

Why would someone claim to be someone they are not? Because they want the glory for themselves. They want people to love THEM. They want people to follow THEM. Who else wants this kind of attention? The devil. But the true believers of Jesus will know how to spot these fakes and won’t be deceived.

A quick search through the internet will reveal that these times are upon us right now. Many people have already begun to claim that they are Jesus, the Son of God, and it will only proceed to get worse and worse until the “son of perdition” i.e, the anti-Christ reveals himself.

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 

That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 

Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 

Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 

And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 

And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10

Thankfully, we have been left all of the information that we need to know to spot these fakes, these deceivers. Read your Bibles, and you will see the difference between these counterfeits and the real Messiah. They may look very convincing, but they will be the devil.

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:13,14

Don’t be led astray by a cheap fake pretending to be Jesus. Has a trumpet sounded to announce the second coming of Christ? Not yet. Has every eye seen Jesus coming back in the clouds, along with His angels to gather His elect? Not yet. But know this, He is coming soon, and when He does, He will destroy the devil and all of his false prophets.

Our King is coming!

In Christ,

Andrew

Good morning and welcome in. Today we are going to take a look at a passenger scripture but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.

Last year Andrew bought an inexpensive tablet for us to use at home.  He knows how I like to play cards, such as hearts, spades and solitaire, so he put some of them on the tablet for me.  This way I could play a few games before I go to bed each night. 

The solitaire game that I have is very forgiving.  I tend to make mistakes during my game, but when I do, I can simply push the undo button.  This erases my last move and takes me back to the last hand.  Instead of suffering with my mistake, I can try it again.  If I get into a real bind in the game, I can push the help button.  If I ask for help it will give me assistance and show me the proper move to make next.  These two features of this game help me to win constantly and they remind me of the Christian Life.  

God gives us the grace that we need in order to move in a different direction.  He also provides us with the help that we need whenever we ask, and gives us pointers so that we can be victorious in the Christian life.

1 John 5:4 –  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

God wants us to overcome all things, but we must have faith in Jesus.  We must go through a spiritual rebirth.  Each of us were born into this world through the flesh, but in order to enter into the new heavenly kingdom that is coming, we must be born of the spirit.

John 3:3-7  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

When we choose to place our faith in Christ, we get baptized into His name being completely submerged under the water.  It is a rebirth through this water grave, from which we rise up unto a new life.  Just as children have had earthly parents in the flesh, through faith in Christ we can become children of the heavenly Father.  He adopts us as His very own children when we place our trust in His Son Jesus.  We become a part of the family of God.

John 1:12 – But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

There is a great possession that we have in the church, it’s God’s forgiveness.  It is a quality that is truly divine.  The church is a place that is filled with sinners who are beginning their walk in a new direction with God.  Just like a marathon runner has to endure certain struggles and sufferings to get across the finish line, God grants us forgiveness when we require it so that we can eventually overcome the carnal nature and cross the eternal finish line.  Like my solitaire game, God’s grace allows us to step back, He blots out our wrong move, and let’s us try it again so that we can become conquerors over the carnal nature.

Romans 8:37 – Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

As an Apostle of God, Peter made mistakes along the way, but He got forgiven by the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of God’s grace, not even his own faults could stand in the way of him eventually becoming what Jesus had called Him to be.  Peter became a winner in the Christian life because God had given him the opportunity to undo the wrong footsteps that he had taken along the way so that he could try again.  The Lord also provided the help and guidance that he needed in order to be victorious and succeed.

2 Corinthians 2:14 – Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ…..

God wants us to triumph.  His desire is that all men would come to repentance and call upon the name of his Son Jesus.  He wants each of us to be able to redo the wrong moves that all of us have made in our lives, but we must first exhibit an act of faith, and come to Christ to be washed of our sins through His mercy.  God sent Jesus not only as an atonement for our sins, but to help us and lead us on the path of salvation and eternal life.  We have the Holy scriptures that He has given us for a road map to heaven.  God’s love for this world is so great that he allowed His only begotten Son to die on the cross for our misdeeds.  

Rom 8:31 – What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

God’s love for this world is the greatest love that I have ever known in my life.  He wants to redeem us, to forgive us, and to save us.  He is merciful and gracious.  He wants us to overcome the things of this world and to become winners, but we must first place our faith and trust in His son Jesus Christ in order to do this.   No what matter what struggles we may encounter, no matter what hills we may have to climb, no matter what oceans we must cross, God wants to help us to succeed.  We can do it through faith in Christ.

Phil 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Many years ago in WWII, the prime minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill, would raise up his hand and extend his fingers in a “V”  for victory sign, but we truly have someone whose name is synonymous with this sign,….. it’s our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

1 Cor 15:57 – But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s think about those things for right now and Lord willing I’ll talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.❤️

tlkjbc.wordpress.com

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