Who wouldn’t want to believe everybody wins — that in the end, God doesn’t have the heart to leave anyone behind?

That my non-believing uncle who drank himself to death and my friend who worships the sun god and even my neighbor who believes in nothing but who’s really nice and serves at the soup kitchen every Thursday … who wouldn’t want to believe that all of them will end up in Heaven one day?

It would make life simpler, wouldn’t it?

Universalism cloaks itself in love and acceptance, accusing those who don’t agree with it of being narrow, rigid, angry, unloving. “Love wins,” it urges. “Can’t we all just get along?”

We ought to be all for it. It would be a whole lot easier on all of us if we could skip that part about truth being absolute, basing our choices instead on moment and mood. It would free up a lot of time in my week. Church is fun, but not that fun. Coffee and a good newsfeed in yoga pants is also fun; so is sleeping late.

I was ordained alongside someone who called himself a universalist and was stunned that no one in the hierarchy of my United Methodist tribe had a problem with that. He also considered himself a Christian (a Christian pastor, at that) but didn’t believe Jesus cared what choice we make about truth. That’s the thing about universalism. It is predestination’s odd other half. Jesus will send you to heaven whether you want to go or not. Choice is out the window just as surely as if your salvation was determined before your birth. As a theology it isn’t Christian.

Continued below.

A man in the UK faces two years in jail for stealing 200,000 Cadbury Creme eggs.

I know that people will say that God has given man free choice to choose him or against him and that's why things are so, but I am still frustrated over the whole thing. God may say in the Bible that he is objectively just and all-benevolent, but sometimes life is cold or unjust. People live their whole lives and die in non-peaceful conditions, and before they can ever get justice.

God tells us to have patience and that he has his timing, but our life down here does not wait. People get older, weaker, civilizations rise and fall, etc. If you were in a situation where someone got away with something very horrible and heartbreaking done to you, and the damage wasn't rectified within a reasonable short measure of time, you would feel cheated and frustrated. Our own secular concept of justice, on paper, is that "bad guys" get justice within a reasonably swift time, and that the victim is fairly compensated.

PARASHA: “Mishpatim” (Judgments) EXODUS 21:1-24:18 “Bringing to light the meaning of some difficult commandments"


This parashah involves the giving of a variety of commandments, that Elohim gave to Moshe to give/write down, and teach to “b'nei Israel” the first has to do with servants and their treatment. The system of slavery in Israel back in Biblical times was very much different than the cruel slavery of Africans here in the United States, starting from the 1600s, into colonial days, up until the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.

Unfortunately, the slave owners used the bible as a “reason” to own slaves, as they said, “The Bible permits slavery!” Yes, but only in extreme circumstances when one could not pay one's debts. And the person was only a slave for 6 years, in year 7, the master had to release the slave, and give the slave gifts of oil, wine, and wheat, so he or she could start life over again.

The slave could not be abused like slaves were whipped and abused under American slavery. But if the slave wished to remain with the master, the master could make a hole in the slave's ear and put in a ring, indicating that the slave was a slave for life, (being the choice of the slave) but “life” was up to 50 years, until the year of “Jubilee” if the slave chose to be with his or her master for “life” and the year, let's say was “40” then, “Life” was 10 years more, and then the slave would be released.

It is interesting to read that the scripture says in Exodus 21:6 “Then his master will bring him before Elohim and shall bring him to the door or the doorpost and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl”

The word, Elohim, can not only mean “God” but also, “Those who represent God” perhaps Levites, officials of the Tabernacle, the temple, city, etc. The word “Master” is a form of “Adonai” in this part, it is spelled; “Adonav” (his master). The doorpost was the official place of doing business, like at the county clerk’s office. So, the person who loved his master made his love for him official, before “Adonav” (His master) before “Elohim” (God himself and before those who represent Him.

If the slave was hurt in any way, say the master hit the slave and knocked a tooth out, or put an eye out, the slave was to be released immediately, and with compensation. Not so in America during the years of slavery.

Rav Shaul/Paul the Apostle talks about being “bond slaves” to Messiah Yeshua, and that is our state. Would we want to be “released” from following HIM? Would we want to be under a “different master?” There are only two that claim our lives; Yeshua or HaSatan. We were “bought with a price” the price of blood, and we were released from Satan's bondage, to follow and subject ourselves to a new master, “Adonai” which means; “my master” We are “servants” to the Most High God. The Hebrew word for “Slave” and “servant” is the same word: “Eved” slaves/servants were not considered “objects of purchase” or “property” they were considered “human beings” just like we are considered in the eyes of YHVH his “servants’ “children” “adopted sons and daughters”. Do not sons and daughters serve their parents?

”An eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe; (21:24....) if you read on, we see that it doesn't mean, “if you knock out my tooth, I have a right to knock your tooth out too” or “if you blind me in on eye, I have the right to put out your eye” or in modern terminology, “If you break my stereo, I have the right to go into your house and smash your stereo” how I ask you, does that solve the problem? It doesn't, it just creates more problems. If we look at this situation in light of scripture, it is saying in other words; “just compensation for hurt or damage received”

How would that work? If I broke your arm accidentally or on purpose, I would be responsible for taking you to the doctor and paying the medical bill, and even, paying you “lost wages” if you couldn't work. It doesn't mean that the other guy could break “my arm too”. If you broke my stereo, then I would expect you to either pay to have it fixed or buy me another one of equal value, (arm for an arm, stereo for stereo, etc.)

We continue to read about many rules, commandments, and judgments, that make very good sense, even today, yet many of these judgments are not practiced today, everyone is off to the lawyers for a lawsuit. My opinion is that if the legal system today, was set up to reflect the Biblical standards of criminal justice in accordance with God's Word, there would be a lot less crime. The criminals would think twice before committing crimes. An example would be the following; A man goes to prison for stealing a car, sells it, and spends the money, so the prisoner has to work in prison and the money he would make would be sent to the victim to compensate the loss.

His sentence would end only when the sum is completed. Or...the court system would pay the victim the money lost in the theft, and the thief would have to work to pay back the court. This type of punishment would reflect more the Torah standard of criminal justice.

We come now to Exodus 23:19. “You shall bring the first fruits of thy land unto the House of YHVH, thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk”

One commandment does not even reflect the other. It would be like saying, “turn out the lights when you leave the house, hey, don't forget to check the mailbox for mail”. What has one got to do with the other? G-d is saying here to bring your tithe to the House of YHVH but then goes on to a different subject. Would this; “seething a kid in its mother's milk” be taken literally? In order to break this commandment, one would have to take a kid goat, butcher it, cut up the meat, then take the mother goat, milk her, then boil the meat in the mother's milk. Who would go to the trouble to do all that? Today, when people make stew, the meat is usually boiled/seethed in water with condiments, not in milk. But if we look at this commandment in a derashic sense, (the moral and spiritual sense) we could get this understanding;

It may be all about the separation of life and death, of the clean from unclean (Tamei from tahor) good from bad. In “Basar v'chalav” (meat and milk) we can see that the word “Chalav”(milk) spelled in Hebrew is “Chet, Lamed, Beit (ch+l+v) yet the word “fat” is also spelled (ch+l+v) yet pronounced “Chelev” They are related, “milk” is a form of “fat”, and the fat of an animal was offered up on the altar to YHVH, as a “sweet savor” a “pleasant smell” unto YHVH, this was part of the worship service.

We worship G-d with our full “heart” and the word “Ch+l+v” contains the letters “lamed” and “beit” (l+v) (Lev) which means “heart” Milk symbolizes “life” a baby is nurtured by its mother's milk to live, to have life. Yet the flesh (Basar) symbolizes death, as a believer, to be in the “flesh” is the opposite to being “in the spirit, full of life”. Once the animal is cut up, if not used, the flesh sits and rots, flies come around, and it becomes “Tamei” (unclean) when we are in the “flesh” we are in a way of speaking, “unclean” spiritually, until we confess our sins, and become as “milk” (full of life) again, walking in the spirit, and, like the fat of a clean animal, being a “sweet savor unto YHVH .

This is just one way one can look at this prohibition of boiling a kid in its mother's milk, from a Derashic (moral and spiritual) standpoint. (watch “Basar v' Chalav/Meat and Milk” on YouTube “Kehilah Melech Yisrael”)

”if you meet an enemy's ox or his ass going astray, you will bring it back to him again” (Ex 23:4) This is one way to make your enemy, your friend, make peace with him. Would not this be for today as well, of course, it would! It may not be an ox, maybe his wallet with his ID and money. “Do not oppress the stranger, seeing you were strangers in the land of Egypt?” other bibles say “foreigner” the USA used to welcome all immigrants, but now many are being oppressed, being deported, being cheated in wages, we must turn this around and start helping those who come to this country to seek a better life, thus turning a curse into a blessing.

If you read from chap 21 to 24 and look carefully at the commandments/judgments, you will see that most make perfect sense even in our modern days. God's Word is right on the money!


Shalom,


From Ben Avraham

Almost every corner of America’s most populous region — every race, every income bracket — appears to have low credit scores. But why?

The region’s poor credit means Southerners are paying more to borrow money, assuming they can qualify for loans at all. That sets them back in everything from car and home purchases to credit card rewards. Yes, even credit card rewards.

…demography is no match for geography. Even some of the South’s biggest, most dynamic cities — think Atlanta or Dallas — have the same below-average credit scores as their more rural Southern neighbors. Within every income bracket, the typical Southerner has a lower credit score than someone who lives in the Northeast, Midwest or West.

The reason why credit scores are so low in the South has gotta be connected to medical debt, because that’s the most common type of unpaid bill that people have,” Braga said. And the South, he said, easily has the highest levels of medical debt in the country.

Login to view embedded media
And a prayer for anyone else who is seeking justice, and all of us to be safe from those who do evil.

May God watch over us, and guide us away from danger, may God give us discernment, as well as guide all to him.

Khan is facing charges of causing/procuring/allowing false voter registration of self/another person, submission of fraudulent registration to Secretary of State, submission of fraudulent candidacy petition, aiding/abetting the commission of fraud at any election, subscription of fictitious names to nomination petitions, false nomination/declaration of candidacy, fraudulently casting votes . . .

Titus 1
appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach

I invite discussion on the issue of whether the spiritual health of our offspring should impede our leadership in the Church.

I some parts of the world if a Church Elder has a child in rebellion, the matter is taken very seriously and the elders might all fast and seek God to bring repentance to the son or daughter. The leader must step down until the matter is resolved.

I have heard of this approach being employed with great effect.

This matter is not generally considered in the modern church - are we missing something - should we gather around those who are struggling with offspring who are wandering into sin and stand with them until we see matters resolved?

Any advice?

Americans are always taught disabled people are not normal. If you are blind, you are not normal because most people can see. If you are deaf, you are not normal because most people can hear. If you are epileptic, you are not normal because most people do not get seizures. You get the picture. But people also tell me because everyone has some kind of problem whether it is diabetes, cerebral palsy, PTSD, you name it - I am normal despite having physical, psychological, and social disabilities. Am I abnormal because doctors say so or is everyone normal, regardless of what genetic and acquired medical conditions some of them are dealing with? What does "normal" really mean if it has nothing to do with the definitions of medical conditions and being within certain ranges in medicine? I am being challenged to consider myself as a normal person knowing medically, I am abnormal in many ways.

... You might be a right-wing extremist. At least in the UK.

That's according to the UK's Prevent program, as reported here:


Other works listed include Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales, Paradise Lost, and the poems of G.K. Chesterton.

Is this sinful/wrong? Just for educational purposes?

A rhetorical game that universalists like to play is to suggest that in the early Church there was from the beginning a robust universalist tradition running alongside the standard teaching that some are damned forever, and that the latter view simply became dominant at some point and pushed aside the former. Indeed, they claim, this non-universalist view is rooted in only a handful of scriptural passages, in illustration of which they will quote two or three of the best-known texts explicitly threatening everlasting punishment. They will then claim that there is, by contrast, a mountain of scriptural passages implying universalism. Origen, on this narrative, was simply giving expression to what was already clearly there in the tradition, indeed what was perhaps the dominant tendency in the New Testament itself. This is standard David Bentley Hart shtick, both in his book That All Shall Be Saved and in earlier work.

The whole thing is sheer fantasy. The reality is that from the Old Testament all the way through to the time of Origen, there is a loud, clear, and consistent emphasis on precisely the opposite of universal salvation – on the condemnation and perpetual exclusion of those who fail to repent of evildoing in this life. Origen and the very few orthodox writers who sympathized with him beginning only in the third century represented a novelty – and a tentatively proposed one that was immediately resisted as such – not some longstanding mainstream loyal opposition.

The universalist sleight of hand vis-à-vis scripture is accomplished via two main moves. First, when considering the scriptural evidence against universalism, the universalist tends to focus primarily on passages that on a natural reading threaten perpetual suffering. He then argues (not plausibly, but put that aside) that these passages don’t really entail such suffering. And then he claims thereby to have defused the scriptural evidence against universalism.

But that is to conflate the debate over universalism and the debate over annihilationism. If you take account of all the passages that indicate final exclusion of the wicked (bracketing off the question whether those excluded are annihilated or suffer perpetually) the collection of anti-universalist scriptural texts is massive.

Continued below.

Genesis 2:23 Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh;

Genesis 29:14 Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh.

In Genesis 29 we see that they are related, they are flesh and blood. In Genesis 2 we see that Adam and Eve are related, they are flesh and blood but there is a strong emphasis on them being male and female. As we read in Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 5:2

My question is: Were Adam and Eve brother and sister the same as Abraham and Sarah were half brother and sister? So that they shared the same mtDNA. A man carries an X chromosome for a woman. Women carry the mitochondrial for the man.

There is strong evidence in the DNA that Adam and Eve did evolve. Even many people believe the male and female in Genesis 1:28 is the same as we find in Genesis 2:23

Not only does the man get the mtDNA from the mother, he also gets the X chromosome from his mother. Brothers and sisters share their mother's X chromosome and their mother's mtDNA.

Did Adam/Eve have any mutations? Did God create Adam to look like he did not evolve?

We had an interesting and thought provoking question posed to us this afternoon on our Parish Chat Thread
<< I am still debating whether we eat fish or not next week >>

I did respond stating that I had always been taught [ and this BTW, was whilst I was still in the UGCC ] that fish was meat [ because it had a spine and bones]

There have been a couple of very lighthearted responses but the original poster has just added this to the thread https://orthochristian.com/68722.html and the comment that clearly Fr Epiphanius, who was a canonist knows best.

We can't refer this to our Priest at present as he is away in Thessaloniki [ a Monastic Tonsuring and Diaconate Ordination].

Any comments or is this a difference between Greek and Russian Practice ?

Universalism is the idea that everyone goes to heaven. This idea is held by some Christians, based on statements in the Bible that God wants “all men to be saved” or that imply that Jesus came to save the “whole world” (1 Timothy 2:1-4; 1 John 2:2; etc.). But these statements are qualified by many other passages of Scripture. I will show that universalism is not a biblical doctrine.

First, let’s consider how the words “all,” “every,” and “whole” are used in the Bible. These words are not always all-encompassing. That is, they are not always to be considered in a wooden literal sense as in “every last one.” Sometimes these terms, just as we use them in modern English, are hyperbole. Consider these passages:

In Mark 9:23 Jesus said that “All things are possible for one who believes.” Are literally ALL things possible for the believer? I am confident that Jesus did not mean that just because I am a believer that I could be an Olympic athlete.

In Matthew 8:34 we see that, “All the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw Him, they begged him to leave their region.” It is doubtful that literally every last person, including women and children, left what they were doing and went out to see Jesus to complain. The point of the passage is that Jesus became a controversial figure and well known among many in the community.

In Mark 1:5 the text says that “all” the country of Judea and “all” Jerusalem were going out to John the Baptist to be baptized in the Jordan River, and confessing their sins. The meaning of this passage is certainly not literally “all,” but rather people came from every part of Judea to be baptized.

In Luke 2:1 it is written that “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.” Obviously, that means the Roman World and not the entire globe.

In 1 Peter 1:4:7, Peter said that “The end of all things is at hand.” Believers today mistakenly think Peter was speaking of the end of all things in the physical universe, which would be the literal meaning. But since the earth is still here, he must have meant something else. That something else was that the end of all COVENANTAL THINGS were at hand. The Jews did not have a concept of the end of the literal world. Rather, they thought in theological terms. Peter was reflecting the coming end of the visible fabric of Judaism—the great temple and with it the end of ritual animal sacrifices for sin—forever. Jesus had told them that this would happen in their generation (Luke 21:22, 32). This is reflected by all of the biblical writers. For example, the writer of Hebrews said, “In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.”

In Revelation 1:7 we find the statement that “every eye will see Him” at his Parousia. Futurists take this statement literally, and read into it that every single person around the entire globe will see Jesus, aided by modern television. But this statement does not demand that every last person would see Jesus, but rather, the statement is a superlative one about the encompassing majesty of Jesus at his Parousia. There are several things that qualify the statement. Obviously, it is qualified by living persons, not dead persons. Second, it is qualified by “those who pierced Him” and “tribes of the earth” which limit the statement to the Jews of the first century. It is also qualified by other passages such as Matthew 26:64 in which tells the Jewish leaders that is THEY who will witness his coming in judgment. It is still further qualified by history. Josephus related that chariots were seen in the sky over Jerusalem in about AD 66, and stated “those who saw it. . . ”—implying that not all saw it. This event was reported by other ancient historians and satisfies the visibility requirement of Revelation 1:7.

In 1 Timothy 2:1-4 we find that God wants “all men to be saved.” However, this does not necessarily mean that all men will be saved. Given the numerous passages on election, obedience, free will, and limitations of those who are saved, this passage is best understood as “all types of people, Jews or Gentiles and whatever their station in life.”

Continued below.

Video Talk

1 Peter 4:1-2 ESV


I believe this is speaking about Jesus Christ and his suffering on that cross for our sins. In his death on that cross he became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). And he put our sin to death with him in order that we might die with him to sin and live to him and to his righteousness, and that we might walk in obedience to his commands (1 Peter 2:24; Romans 6:1-23; Ephesians 4:17-24; Luke 9:23-26).

So, by God-given faith in Jesus Christ, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin, and we are raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer like our old lives, but now in righteousness and holiness, and in obedience to our Lord and to his commands (New Covenant). And now we have been set free from our slavery to sin so that we can now walk as slaves of God and of his righteousness, and no longer for human passions.

1 Peter 4:3 ESV


Now “Gentiles” is a term that was used to speak of non-Jews, but it was also a term used to refer to non-believers in Jesus Christ, although many Gentiles became believers in Christ. So we can safely substitute this word “Gentiles” for “unbelievers.” But biblically speaking an “unbeliever” is anyone who does not walk in obedience to the Lord and who walks in sin, instead, regardless of what faith they profess with their lips.

So, we, as followers of Jesus, are not to live as though we are unbelievers. We are not to be living in (practicing) sensuality, sinful passions, orgies, drunkenness, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. And idolatry is the worship of anything or anyone in place of or over and above God. And idolatrous worship is the giving of our passions, hearts, time, affections, devotion, loyalties and obedience to anyone or anything above God.

1 Peter 4:4-5 ESV


Now, when our lives change, and we are crucified with Christ in death to sin, and so we are now living to God and to his righteousness, in obedience to our Lord, the ungodly, including many who profess faith in Jesus Christ, will malign us, and they will mock us, and they will reject and even scorn us and treat us with disdain, and they may even accuse us of wrongdoing when we are following the Lord, and when we are doing what his word teaches.

And this is because many people profess faith in Christ, but they never died with him to sin, and they are not living to him and to his righteousness, for they have bought into a lie which is telling them that they don’t have to repent of their sins, and that they don’t have to obey the Lord, and that no works are required of them (but read Ephesians 2:10). But they will be judged by God according to their works, as we all will be judged by God.

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

Login to view embedded media Caution: This link may contain ads

Praise the “I AM!”

An Original Work / February 24, 2012

Jesus, my Savior, full of compassion,
Glorious in power, mighty in strength;
Gracious Redeemer, mighty deliv’rer,
My heart adores Him. Praise to His name!
Perfect salvation my Lord provided
When He died for my sins on a tree;
Crucified my sins; conquered in vict’ry,
When He arose, so I could be free!

I am so thankful for His forgiveness;
Grateful that He chose to pardon me,
Giving me new life full in His Spirit,
So I can serve Him; His servant be!
Walking in daily fellowship with Him,
Obeying Him whate’er He commands;
Forsaking my sins, living in freedom,
I will endure with Him to the end!

He gives me peace and calm reassurance
In times of sorrow, or in distress.
His grace is sure, and oh, how sufficient
To meet me in my need for sweet rest.
Oh, how I love You, Jesus, my Savior.
My heart longs for You where’er I am.
Your word is precious; speaks to my spirit;
Brings comfort, healing. Praise the “I AM!”

Login to view embedded media

Hey folks. Post something nonpartisan that makes you feel good about society or people.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 7:1 ESV


All of God’s promises have conditions (stipulations, requirements). But too many people are pulling many of these promises out of their context and they are applying them broadly to anyone who makes a verbal profession of faith in Jesus Christ, regardless of whether or not they ever died with Christ to sin, and regardless of whether or not they are living to God and to his righteousness. And this should not be! So, please, if you read a Scripture with a promise of God, look further to see who it applies to.

We, as the Lord’s people, are those who are his by God-given faith in him, which results in us being crucified with Christ in death to sin and us being raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, no longer like our old lives, but now living as slaves to God and to his righteousness, in walks of obedience to our Lord and to his commands (New Covenant), and no longer living as slaves to sin. So we now walk according to the Spirit and no longer according to the flesh (Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Titus 2:11-14).

For we are called to be God’s holy people, not just as a status we wear, but in practice, for we are to be holy in all our conduct (1 Peter 1:14-16). And to be holy is to be separate (unlike, different) from the world, for as followers of Christ we are being conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ, our Lord. So, we are not to partner (unite, join in with) with the world. We are not to be like the world. We are not to do the ungodly things that they do. And we are not to be likeminded with them nor to share in the same attitudes.

And the world of unbelievers is not comprised solely of those who make no profession of faith in Jesus Christ, but this includes all who have made superficial professions of faith in Lord who never died with him to sin and who are not now living to him and to his righteousness, but who are still walking in sin. We are not to be partners with them, either. We are not to be in close fellowship with them to where we begin to take on their attitudes, and their characters, and their behaviors, for we are to be holy people.

So, we don’t go by who says or who doesn’t say that they believe in Jesus. What we go by is how a person lives. Are they walking in the light of the truth of the gospel in obedience to our Lord? Or are they still walking in darkness (sin), doing whatever they want to do, without regard for our Lord and for his commands? And I am certainly not saying that any of us has to be absolutely perfect. But none of us should be living in deliberate and habitual sin. None of us should willfully be disregarding our Lord’s words.

And how do the Scriptures define an “unbeliever”? They describe an unbeliever as one who practices sin and who does not practice obedience to our Lord, nor does he practice righteousness. And they describe an unbeliever as one who is disobedient, and a believer as one who makes obedience to our Lord his practice. Therefore disobedience = unbelief, and faith = obedience. And this has to do with what we practice.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 6:35-58; Jn 15:1-11; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; 1 Co 6:9-10; 2 Co 5:10; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-11; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Co 10:1-22; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; 1 Pet 1:17-21; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

Therefore, we are to come out from among those who are walking in disobedience to our Lord and who are not honoring Christ as Lord, and we are to be separate (unlike, different) from them. Now, this is not saying that we cannot associate with the people of the world, otherwise how can we show them the love of God, and how can we share with them the truth of the gospel of our salvation? This is speaking of us not being in partnership with those who do not honor Christ as Lord of their lives.

We are not to take on their character, and their attitudes, and their way of thinking and believing and behaving. We are to be different from them in thought, in belief, in attitude, and in behaviors. We are not to engage ourselves in their ungodly behaviors and attitudes and thinking. It is to have no part with us. For we are to be holy in all our conduct. And then God will welcome us, and he will be a father to us, and we will be his sons and daughters. And this teaching is consistent throughout the New Testament.

So, since we have these promises, we are to cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. In other words, we are to cast off all hindrances (roadblocks) and all sins which cling so closely so that we can run with perseverance the race God has marked out for us to run (Hebrews 12:1-2). And we are no longer to walk in sin, but now in righteousness and in holiness and in walks of obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ, from now to eternity.

For, if sin is what we practice, and if righteousness and walks of obedience to our Lord are not what we practice, we will not inherit eternal life with God, but we will die in our sins. And heaven will not be our eternal home.

[See noted Scriptures above]

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

Login to view embedded media Caution: This link may contain ads

Pray that management at my job at transport will stop mandating me and stop asking me to work overtime as I am feeling very weary Amen

In 1945, the first atom (fission) bomb was detonated. In 1952, the first hydrogen (fusion) bomb was detonated. But in between these two dates, the nation of Israel reappeared on the map in 1948, setting the stage for the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. This was the God of Israel saying to the world, "Do not fear the bomb. Fear Me."

A court document in the Dominion versus Fox News lawsuit was released on the 16th
unfortunately it quotes many Employees of Fox News and they use foul language
I think it is clear evidence Fox News acted irresponsibly but I would like someone to play devil's advocate
read at least some court document and defend Fox news.

Have financial struggles placed a strain on your marriage and if so, how did you resolve the issue? What advice is there for couples going into marriage, what are the best things to do financially?