The Vatican on Thursday formally repudiated the colonial-era "doctrine of discovery", used centuries ago to justify European conquests of Africa and the Americas, saying "it is not part of Catholic Church teaching".

The Vatican acknowledged in a statement from its culture and human development departments that papal documents from the 15th century were used by colonial powers to give legitimacy to their actions, which included slavery.

"Historical research clearly demonstrates that the papal documents in question, written in a specific historical period and linked to political questions, have never been considered expressions of the Catholic faith," the departments said.

They said they "were manipulated for political purposes by competing colonial powers in order to justify immoral acts against indigenous peoples that were carried out, at times, without opposition from ecclesiastical authorities".

"It is only just to recognise these errors, acknowledge the terrible effects of the assimilation policies and the pain experienced by indigenous peoples, and ask for pardon," they said.

--

This "Doctrine of Discovery" became the basis of all European claims in the Americas as well as the foundation for the United States’ western expansion. In the US Supreme Court in the 1823 case Johnson v. McIntosh, Chief Justice John Marshall’s opinion in the unanimous decision held "that the principle of discovery gave European nations an absolute right to New World lands."

I have been a Christian since I was 19(1986), and a Lutheran since 1988. So I have been through a 'New Member' class before. I was attending an ELCA congregation, until 1997. Then I made the switch to a LCMS congregation.

I am already going through the 'New Member' instruction with the Pastor. I have been able to see the recordings of services on their YouTube channel. The Pastor gave a Lutheran Service Book from the LCMS congregation to follow along with the video, for the parts of the service I don't have memorized. It just feels like it is taking longer than expected. I have already met with one of the Church Elders during one of the Pastor's visits.

Hello friends,
I would be extremely grateful for prayers for my family right now. We are facing a terrible situation that is really life or death and we desperately need a miracle. Please also pray for my mom's conversion and for her to find God. I am just despairing and seem to be running out of time. Please lift us all up in prayer. Thank you SO much

When the apostle Paul preached the good news concerning Christ and His kingdom, at Ephesus, his ministry continued there for the space of two years (Acts 19:10). We read that the Word of God grew mightily and prevailed, and that "all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus." However, at the close of his ministry, and of his life, he writes his last letter to Timothy and says; 2Ti 1:15 This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me…. While Paul was writing his last letter, believers were being persecuted for Christ; they were dying for The Lord but "turning away" from Pauline truth and teaching.

Everyone tells us that we must go back to the first three centuries to find the purity of faith and worship of the primitive church. But it is clear from this comparison of Acts 19:10 & 2 Tim. 1:15 that we cannot go back to the first century. No, not even to the apostle's own lifetime. This turning away could not have been merely personal; but must have included his teaching also, for in 2Tim.2:18, he speaks of those "who concerning the truth have erred." In chapter 3:8, he speaks of those who "resist the truth." In chapter 4:4, he speaks of those who "turn away their ears from the truth" and are "turned unto fables." Not descriptions of the unregenerate, but Christians leaving the "form of sound words" found with Paul. It was this turning away from truth as taught by the Holy Spirit through Paul, especially as contained in the letter to the Ephesians, that led necessarily; to the loss of teaching concerning The Mystery; that truth concerning the One Body of Christ given only to Paul after Israel were set aside at the end of Acts. The effect of this was at once to put everything wrong ecclesiastically, and to make room for all the various and different "Bodies," so-called, with all the consequent divisions and schisms of the church. Instead of recognizing "the One Body" which God had made, men set about making their own denominations and with this ecclesiastical confusion came the loss of the truth as to the Christian's perfect standing in Christ as having died and risen with Him. Also lost was the understanding of the difference of gifts that existed during the Acts period (AD 29-70), when Israel was still God's channel, and those given after to the church. Compare 1 Cor. 12 & Eph.4.

Also lost was the truth as to what God had made us to be in Christ; and "justification by faith" and by grace was lost. The way was now open for the full tide of error to come in: and in it came, like a flood, with all the corruption and superstition which ended in the centuries described as "the dark ages." And all this after the light of the world had come. Everyone is familiar with the term, and with the fact. But what were the dark ages? How did they come about? They were not brought on suddenly by some untoward event. There must have been some cause, something that made them possible. The corruption is historical. The Eastern churches today are in similar darkness. And the Western churches, where the reformation has not removed it, are in the same darkness. The Reformation was the beginning of the recovery of these great truths? The remarkable fact is that the recovery of these truths has taken place in the reverse order, and we remind the reader that it was not the gospels which brought Christianity out of 1400 years of darkness. It was Paul's letters. Justification by grace through faith was the first great truth recovered at The Reformation. This was the truth over which that great battle was fought and won. Not long after justification by faith was recovered, some Christians began to notice the special dispensational truth taught in Ephesians and Colossians. The Mystery truth is revealed in these two letters of Paul written after Israel was put aside at Acts 28.

The truth of the Mystery, as it was the first to go, so, it seems, is the last to be recovered. We appeal to all lovers of Bible truth to look once again at the unique writings of Paul in the two letters just mentioned. A close study of Ephesians chapter 3 is particularly encouraged. We need to ask again the question, "Was Paul the apostle chosen by the risen Christ to reveal a special phase of the purpose of God to us Gentiles?" And if he was, to ask, "What was that special Phase?" The cause of all the confusion around is that thousands, who confess to be Christians, know little or nothing of the message which comes through the post Acts Pauline letters relating to the "One Body" Church. Imagine trying to enter any earthly vocation without first showing competence in the duties and responsibilities of that employment. Yet millions of Christians, who claim to be members of the Body of Christ, cling to the dispensational aspects of the Gospels or the Acts period, trying desperately to please God by following rules and regulations which do not apply today. We must "rightly divide the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15) if we are to be unashamed. Faith and love are characteristics which apply to all of God's callings, but other aspects may change, for example, there are different promises & hopes made to different parts of His family, these need to be carefully examined. Being faithful to the calling which is The Church His Body, may go well beyond The Lord's prayer, the creeds, and the Ten Commandments. The Sermon on the Mount may not be the essence of Body truth since Christ's ministry was to Israel. Romans 15:8. May The Lord use this post to help bring back these vital dispensational truths and that their power may be seen in the lives of an increasing number of Christians, delivering them from all the variable winds of doctrine and the cunning craftiness of deception

In another thread dealing with Calvinism the question of Limited Atonement was raised and debated, so I want to deal with that point of Calvinism.

Limited Atonement, also known as "Particular Redemption," is one of the five points of Calvinism, which is a theological system that emphasizes the sovereignty of God and predestination. Limited Atonement teaches that Jesus Christ died on the cross only for the elect, that is, for those whom God has chosen for salvation. Therefore, Christ's death is not effective for all people, but only for a select few.

Calvinists believe that God chose some individuals for salvation before the foundation of the world, and that Christ's death on the cross was intended solely for these elect individuals. This view emphasizes the idea of God's sovereignty in salvation and denies the notion that Christ's death was, in any sense, an atonement for all people.

From a Catholic perspective, Limited Atonement is incompatible with the teachings of the Church. The Catholic Church teaches that Christ's death on the cross was a universal atonement, offered for the salvation of all people. In other words, Christ died for all human beings, and his sacrifice is sufficient for the salvation of all who repent and believe in him.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the one mediator between God and man. But because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, 'the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery' is offered to all men" (CCC 618). In other words, Christ's sacrifice is sufficient for all people, and all are invited to share in its benefits.

Moreover, the Catholic Church teaches that God desires the salvation of all people (1 Timothy 2:4), and that human beings have the freedom to accept or reject God's grace. Limited Atonement denies human freedom and undermines the idea of God's universal salvific will.

In summary, Limited Atonement is a doctrine of Calvinism that teaches that Christ's death on the cross was intended only for the elect. This view is incompatible with the teachings of the Catholic Church, which holds that Christ's sacrifice is sufficient for all people and that God desires the salvation of all.

I have a dissociative disorder that alters my personal beliefs greatly. It's gotten to a point where I get a sort of mental whiplash from how often and sudden my shifts in beliefs happen. I wish I were just being dramatic and making this up, but I have been going through this for almost ten years now with no end in sight...

Sometimes it almost throws me into a state of despair, making me wonder if I will ever get any better mentally. Maybe this is just my current episode talking, but I honestly wonder if God will ever heal me of this disorder, stemming from an entire childhood and adolescence of severe abuse. I've tried medication and therapy, but it doesn't seem to help.

But I think what bothers me the most is wondering if God will forgive me for my mental health episodes, where I will sometimes turn my back on Him or sometimes veer into another direction, religiously speaking. I want to say that it's not my fault, but what if God doesn't see it that way? I worry that I'm going to Hell because of this awful mental illness that won't go away. I just want God to know how much I love him and how sorry I am for every single mental health episode that I experience. I just wish I could be normal so I could follow Him in the best way possible, you know?

Sorry to sound so pessimistic. I'm just really struggling with this.

Isaiah 53:3-5 ESV


The lyrics to this song are in my head right now:

Lean On Me

By Bill Withers

Sometimes in our lives
We all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow
Lean on me
When you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on...

Now this song was not intended to speak of Jesus Christ as our friend who we can lean upon when we have pain and when we have sorrow, but it was written about human beings leaning on one another. And yet, Jesus Christ is the best friend any Christian can ever have to lean upon during such times as this. For he gave his life up for us on that cross, and when he did, he not only took upon himself all our sins, but also all our griefs and our sorrows. For since he lived in a flesh body, he suffered as we suffer, so he knows pain and suffering, and he knows rejection, and he knows persecution.

So, there isn’t anything in this life that we are going through that Jesus cannot feel and that he has not experienced in some way or another in his life and in his death on that cross. And so he sympathizes with us in our griefs and in our sorrows. And he was tempted to sin, as we are tempted, too, so he knows what that feels like, as well. But he did not sin in all that he did. Yet, when he died on that cross, he became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God. So when he died our sins died with him so that we might die with him to sin and live to him and to his righteousness.

If we believe in Christ with God-given faith, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin, and we are raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, no longer as slaves to sin, but as slaves to God and to his righteousness. Therefore, we are not to let sin reign in our mortal bodies, to make us obey its passions. For if sin is what we obey, it leads to death, not to life eternal. But if obedience to God is what we obey, then it leads to righteousness, and to sanctification, and its end is eternal life. For the wages of obedience to sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

For to this end did Jesus Christ give his life up for us on that cross that we might die with him to sin and live to his righteousness, and that sin would no longer be our practice, but that righteousness and obedience to our Lord would now be our practice. And he has given us his Holy Spirit to live within us to teach us all things pertaining to Christ, and to encourage, comfort, guide, and direct us in the way that we should go, as well as to empower us to live godly and holy lives to the praise and glory of God. So, Jesus did not leave us to go it alone, but he provided a helper for us.

So, not only does Jesus sympathize with us in our weaknesses, and with our pain, and with our sorrows, and not only can he feel what we feel when we go through times of rejection and persecution and betrayal, but he also knows what it is like to be tempted of the devil, and he knows and he has made the way out for us from underneath that temptation, too. For through his death on that cross he delivered us from slavery to sin and he provided his Spirit for us to indwell us and to give us all we need to resist the devil and to flee temptation and to draw near to God, if we will take his way out.

So, whatever we are going through in this life, if we are being tempted of the devil to sin, or if he is hounding us in other ways, such as in using other humans to persecute us, and to do evil against us, and perhaps even to falsely accuse us of what we did not do, so as to ruin our reputations, and with the goal in mind to destroy our ministries – as he did with the prophets of old and with the New Testament apostles – then if we are following the Lord in obedience, the Lord is on our side, and he will be with us, and he will carry us through everything he allows us to go through in this life.

So, we can definitely lean on him for our support if we are following him in obedience, and if we are not walking in sin. Yet, he will help us out of sin if we call on him in truth, and if we truly want his help, and if we are not just playing games (mind games, tricks), i.e. if we are earnest. For that is why he died, to free us from our addiction to sin. So there is never any excuse for any true believer in Jesus Christ to still be walking in deliberate and habitual sin. Jesus already made the way of escape. We just have to take the way out he provided for us. But many do not, and they remain in their sins.

And with regard to suffering for the sake of righteousness, and for the sake of the name of Jesus and of his gospel, Jesus promised us that we will suffer, and that we will be persecuted and falsely accused, and that we will be hated and rejected as he was treated. He never promised us that following him would be easy. He said the narrow road is hard, and it is the broad road that many travel to destruction which is easy. So, if we are true servants of the Lord, we will be hated and persecuted and rejected. But it is worth it all, for if we are following the Lord, we are sharing with others the gospel.

[Matt 5:10-12; Matt 10:16-25; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 6:22-23; Lu 21:12-17; Jn 15:18-21]

But the gospel message we should be sharing is not the one that is presently permeating the church in America and that the majority are buying into. We should be teaching what Jesus taught, that if anyone would come after him, he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin and to self) and follow (obey) him. For if sin is what we obey, it will end in death, not in life eternal. But if we die with Christ to sin and live to his righteousness, then we have the promise of eternal life with him. For if we are ashamed of him and of his Word, when he returns, he will be ashamed of us (he will deny us).

[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]

Give Them All to Jesus

Phil Johnson / Bob Benson Sr. 1975

He never said you'd only see sunshine.
He never said there'd be no rain.
He only promised a heart full of singing
About the very things that once brought pain.
Give them all to Jesus -
Shattered dreams, wounded hearts, and broken toys…
And He will turn your sorrows into joy.

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

Hi gang. I suffer from a quite a few health problems, and it annoys me sometimes. I can't really go hiking because of my arthritis. I can't sing worship songs because my throat gets raw after only one or two (it's been this way for years). I have hearing loss so I sometimes I have to stand closer to people. I also have acid reflux so bad that I'm stuck eating mostly an almond yogurt that I found that doesn't trigger me. I'd love to know what being able to be active like some of the regular people around me feels like again. Thanks for any prayers!

…'former SOLDIER who's also an Antifa member

Kayla Denker, who has become one of the most recognizable faces of militant transgender activists, is now believed to be a former soldier
Shortly after the Nashville school shooting, which was carried out by a transgender attacker, Denker posted a TikTok of herself loading an assault rifle
Denker's video comes as trans activists are preparing to gather on April 1 for a 'Day of Vengeance' - planned before the shooting, but continuing regardless

A militant transgender activist who has quickly become one of the most high-profile 'faces' of the radical movement is a former soldier and Antifa member, it has been claimed.

Kayla Denker, who runs a YouTube site with videos dedicated to explaining Marxism and guns, posted a video of herself with an assault rifle after the Nashville school shooting.

The Nashville attacker, Audrey Hale, 28, was described by police as transgender, and online appeared to reference herself as 'Aiden' - although the authorities are still referring to Hale as a woman.

Hale's murder of three nine-year-olds and three staff members at a Christian school she attended - and may have resented, according to police - has sparked intense debate among the transgender community.

While the vast majority condemned the attack, fringe groups and extremists said the shooting was in part a consequence of the oppression of trans people.

Denker, based in Colorado, and believed to be a former soldier, was among those who immediately posted a highly provocative video online, showing herself brandishing an assault rifle.

Continued below.

Please pray for my mental health. I believe I am having yet another episode. These episodes cause me to radically change my beliefs, even when I don't want them to change. I feel like I really need God right now, because medication and ten years of therapy still hasn't caused these mental health episodes to stop. It's exhausting and I just really want for God to lift this burden from my shoulders.

There is an old, ingrained tradition (not found in the Bible) of equating the Palm Sunday crowd with the crowd that cried 'crucify him'
It crops up every year though a few have begun to expose it.
Here is a clear exposition of what is in Scripture vs. this common error.

Calls for police to release the "manifesto" that authorities say was written ahead of Monday's Nashville school shooting has prompted concern among LGBTQ+ groups, who caution against the publication of such a document.

While many details remain to be unveiled about the massacre at The Covenant School this week, police have identified the shooter as 28-year-old Audrey Hale. On Monday, Hale, armed with two assault-style weapons—a rifle and a pistol—as well as a handgun, fatally shot three children and three staff members at the school before being killed by police.

Speaking at a press conference hours after the shooting, Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake, who said the shooter identified as transgender, confirmed that officials were in possession of a "manifesto," a map detailing how the incident would take place and writings "that pertain to this date, the actual incident."

Continued below.

Completing the New Testament brought a spurt of growth among the Gentiles, and the number of Gentiles joining the "church" surpassed the number of Jewish people turning to Yeshua. The number of Gentile Christians went from 40,000 in 150 A.D. to 210,000 in 200 A.D. to 1.20 million in 250 A.D. They were in and around Rome, Carthage, Alexandria, Jerusalem, and Antioch. While a good number lived in the cities, most lived in the rural areas surrounding the cities. The Gentiles living in the city proper were subjected to anti-Jewish rhetoric, and Jewish teachers were still teaching the Gentiles in the rural areas, free from the propaganda. Because of the larger number of Gentiles meeting together inside the cities, meeting halls were rented, a precursor to "church buildings." The Gentile teachers began to call themselves "Bishop." As the numbers of Gentiles grew, so did the "need" for more bishops arise. The number of Gentiles being fed anti-Jewish propaganda was also growing and becoming more entrenched among all of the Gentiles who did not have the blessing and privilege of being instructed by the Jews.

Tertullian 155-220 A.D. Tried to disprove the relevance of the Mosaic Law and that the blessings and promises to Israel were now passed on to the "other nation" of God, (Which isn't taught in the O.T.) the "church." He said the Jews were persecuting Christians! (Another big lie!)
He was still attacking the Mosaic Laws! Which means he was also attacking the O.T. If Yeshua "did away with the Law," why were he and others trying hard to disprove the things taught in the O.T.? Because if you destroy the credibility of Jews, you destroy the credibility of the O.T. If you destroy the credibility of the O.T., you destroy the credibility of the Jews. You try to establish a gulf that cannot be crossed. You try to prove the O.T. has no bearing on the N.T. The only reason to attack the Mosaic Laws at that time is because Gentile believers were living under and practicing the Mosaic Laws! If some of those Gentile believers wer to travel into the future, attend the average "church service," they would be angry and protest loudly! They would ask the "pastors," What do you think you are teaching? What is this nonsense coming out of your mouth?" Thye would say, "You are wrong! You are a false teacher!" They would tell the pew warmers to stop listening to their "pastor!"
While the evil Gentile teachers focused solely on the N.T., the Jewish teachers mostly focused on the O.T. Since the fortunate Gentiles were aware of the many things taught in the O.T., they quickly realized that the things they read in the N.T. were first established in the O.T. These Gentiles did not seperate the Old and New. They recognized both contained the same teachings, that everything originated in the O.T.

I am going to list some of the O.T. laws that still apply to believers today:
To know that God is one - Deut 6:4
Love God - Deut 6:5
Fear God - Deut 10:20
Sanctify His name - Lev 22:32
Do not profane His name - Le 22:32
Keep His commandments - Deut 28:9
Love other believers - Lev 19:18
Don't hate other believers - Lev 19:17
Not to oppress, abuse or take advantage of widows, orphans and others - Ex 22:21-22
Not to gossip - Lev 19:16
Not to take revenge or hold a grudge - Lev 19:18
Fathers to learn Scripture and teach their children - Deut 6:6-9 (I wonder how many fathers in the Evangelical/Christian world practice this?)
Honor the elderly - Lev 19:32
Learn and obey the commandants - Num 15:39
Do not commit blasphemy - Lev 24:16
Do not listen to false teacher/prophets Deut 13:4
Not to live like unbelievers - Lev 20:23
Not to cross-dress - Deut 22:5
Not to engage in homosexuality - Lev 7:14, 18:22
Not to engage in incest - Lev 18:7-18, 20:11-21
Not to commit adultery - Lev 20:10, 18:20
Not to swear falsely by God's name - Lev 19:12
Not to steal, lie or deal falsely with others - Lev 19:11
Do not mistreat the blind or deaf - Lev 19:14
Help out needy believers - Deut 15:7-11
Don't be a false witness - Deut 19:16
Do not kidnap - Ex 21:11
When buying or selling to others, do not defraud them - Lev 25:14

Do these things apply to believers today or did Jesus do away with them? Are we not under these laws? That is what people are taught!

I will get to baptism, but as I began to study, I came to realize how much effort, by many, many people, starting centuries ago, was put into separating Jewish and Gentile believers and separating the O.T. from the N.T. Which reinforces what I have been telling people for years, first, when you read anything in the N.T. you must ask yourself, "What is the Jewish meaning of that," and second, the need to find out and discover the true meaning of things in the N.T. by finding out what they mean in the O.T., the origin of things in the N.T.! We see the word "stumbling block, stone of stumbling" in the N.T. Since those words are not a part of our culture, the meaning can escape us But, after you look it up in the O.T. we find Lev 19:14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf or put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shall fear thy God... Wow, so a stumbling block is something that can trip up another! This was also a metaphor meaning, Do not mislead another! Now it makes sense. And at the end of that verse we also see that a part of fearing God means to obey God!
I have been telling and showing people for years that the word "church" is not a biblical word, it was a word forced into English translations. There is no Hebrew or Greek word that means "Church," and Jesus never said the word "Church!" "Christianty" is not in Scripture nor is there a Greek or Hebrew word that means "Christianity." Jewish people do not have to turn to a "Christian faith" to become saved! The Gentile sheep are made spiritual Jews, grafted into the Vine and enter the spiritual kingdom of God, which is based in the true Judaism! God puts a new spirit, a new mind and writes His laws on the hearts of all Jewish and Gentile sheep. While on earth, they are a part of the one, true faith. God has merged the Jew and Gentile into "one new man!" Eph 2:15!

End of part 4

End of part 4

Hebrews 10:19-25 ESV


When Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, who is the second person of our triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – died on that cross, he who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God. And so when he died, our sins were put to death with him so that we might now, by faith in him, die with him to sin and live to him and to his righteousness. For by grace we are saved. And that grace teaches us to say “No!” to ungodliness and fleshly lusts, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s return.

[2 Corinthians 5:15,21; 1 Peter 2:24; Romans 6:1-23; Titus 2:11-14]

Now, under the Old Covenant, a high priest went once a year into the Holy of Holies to make sacrifice first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people. And he was the only one who could enter into this holy place behind a curtain. But when Jesus Christ died on that cross, that curtain was torn in two, symbolizing that now, through Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins, and by faith in him, we can now enter into the presence of Almighty God and we no longer need a human mediator between us and God. And now Jesus Christ is our high priest, and no other, and we all are a holy priesthood.

[Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 3:1; Hebrews 4:14-15; Hebrews 7:26-28; 1 Peter 2:5-9; Revelation 1:5-6; Revelation 5:9-10; Revelation 20:6]

Therefore, since we can now come into the holy presence of Almighty God, by God-given faith in Jesus Christ, because of what he did for us on that cross in shedding his blood for our freedom from slavery to sin, we should draw near to God with true hearts in full assurance of faith in our Lord Jesus. And that faith involves us being crucified with Christ in death to sin, and being raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer as slaves to sin, but now as slaves to God and to his righteousness. So we now walk according to the Spirit and no longer according to the flesh.

And now we are to hold fast the confession of our hope in our salvation from sin without wavering. And that confession is not lip service only. For to confess is to agree with God, to voice the same conclusion as him, and it is to align with him, and it is to speak the same thing as him.

And Jesus said that if anyone would come after him he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin and to self) and follow (obey) him. For if we don’t, but we hold on to our lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose them for eternity. But if we are crucified with Christ in death to sin, and so we are raised with him, and we are now walking in newness of life in him, we have eternal life. For if we are ashamed of Jesus and his Word in this life, then when he comes back he will be ashamed of us (he will deny us).

[Luke 9:23-26; cf. Matthew 7:21-23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14]

Now, not everyone who professes faith in Jesus Christ has truly been crucified with Christ in death to sin and been raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer as slaves to sin, but now as slaves to God and to his righteousness. For many are buying into a lie which is telling them that they can make a one-time profession of Christ as Savior and Lord, and have all their sins forgiven (past, present, and future), and that heaven is now guaranteed them when they die, regardless of how they live.

But that is not the gospel message of the Scriptures that Jesus Christ and Paul and the other New Testament apostles taught. They taught that we must die to our old lives of living in sin and for self, and that we must be transformed in heart and mind of the Spirit of God (be born again), and that we must now walk in holiness and in righteousness in obedience to our Lord, in his power and strength. For if we continue in deliberate and habitual sin, and if righteousness and obedience to our Lord are not what we practice, then we will not inherit eternal life with God regardless of what we profess.

[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; Heb 10:23-31; 1 Pet 1:17-21; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

So, when this encourages us to consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day (of judgment) drawing near… and as we read that we are to exhort one another every day so that none of us may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13), it is because if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries (Hebrews 10:26-31).

Now, when this says, in this context, that we are not to neglect meeting together, as is the habit of some, it is for the purpose for the body of Christ to encourage one another in our walks of faith, and to stir one another up to love and good works, and it is for the purpose to prevent one another from being hardened to the righteousness of God by the deceitfulness of sin, because if sin is what we practice, and if righteousness and godliness and obedience to our Lord are not what we practice, we will not enter the kingdom of heaven, but Jesus will tell us to depart from him.

Also, when it says that we are not to neglect meeting together, this has nothing to do with the institutional market-driven gatherings called “church,” that are of the flesh of man and not of God. For those are businesses which are being marketed to the world like any other business, and so they are working to attract the world to their businesses called “church” via marketing tricks and schemes, and via entertainment and the manipulation of the gospel to make it less offensive to human flesh. So, we are to come out from among them and to be separate.

[Jn 15:19; Rom 12:1-2; Jas 4:4; 1 Jn 2:15-17; 2 Co 6:14-18; Rev 18:1-5]

For Our Nation

An Original Work / September 11, 2012

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.

Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.

Men deceiving: We’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.

Login to view embedded media

We'll also have a story from Rome on this tonight on News Nightly.

2023Easter Monday, which falls on April 9,, 2023, is not considered a federal holiday in the US. All federal holidays with time off are non-religious, with the exception of Christmas Day. Easter is a Christian tradition that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and marks the end of Lent."

Why don't Americans get Good Friday or Easter Monday off as a holiday ...​

"Why don't Americans get Good Friday or Easter Monday off as a holiday, when you guys are much more religious than Europe or Canada who both get those days off? I just recently found out that Americans don't get Good Friday off, or Easter Monday, and in some cases not even the Easter Sunday for businesses that are open on

It is now a thing on the Left to call for the murder of adversaries. I assume the press secretary of the Governor of Arizona expected to get cheers and plaudits for posting this. The murders carried out by a transgender zealot gave her no fear that perhaps such a post should not be made. These people inhabit the world with us, but they might as well be on another planet.

Tweet below.

EWTN News Nightly Capitol Hill correspondent Erik Rosales tweeted out the video of this exchange between himself and the "Equal Rights Amendment Caucus" which includes notorious democrats like Ayanna Pressley and Cori Bush. Addressing Pressley who was at the dais at the time, Rosales asked, "Congresswoman, I've interviewed a number of Republicans about this—your critics—who basically say that this could open up unlimited abortion access and also bring lawsuits against churches and other religious organizations. What would you want to tell them?"

The caucus then erupts in laughter at the question before Pressley offers a feeble answer involving punchline phrases like "disparate access" and "inequities and injustices."

I tell you what their laughter just makes me think about the mockery all the condemned gave Noah while he built the ark.

Hey everyone!

It’s been a bit since I’ve been on this sub forum,I’ve had my ups and downs,but today I need some help understanding something that’s starting to worry me.

So As a Christian,I am very serious about obedience,I show kindness and manners to everyone because I want to,I have integrity because it’s the right thing to do and I want to.But I’ve seen multiple sources say obedience is out of love for Jesus,Everytime(which isn’t rarely) but I should say in my life,which I obey the Lord;I don’t feel like I obey out of love but because I want to,and I’m worried it isn’t Godly obedience since it feels like it isn’t motivated by love for Jesus.Do I love Jesus?,absolutely,but I can’t figure this loophole out

The IRS made an unexpected visit to the home of Matt Taibbi on the same day that he testified before Congress, the "Twitter Files" journalist has disclosed to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH).






Login to view embedded media

>>>Randi Weingarten called for gun confiscation Tuesday, saying the U.S. must follow "what other great democracies" have done to ban guns, following the shooting at a Christian Nashville school.<<<


She wants to confiscate our guns.



Say when.

With the knowledge that dogs are easier to adopt out than cats, a Kansas City animal shelter took to social media with a simple, yet clever video to even the odds.

But Wayside Waifs Hospital and Shelter did more than even them, they managed to get all but two of their shelter cats adopted after the video went viral on TikTok, garnering a million views, and 2,500 shares.

In the video below, shelter workers are asked to recommend a cat with a specific personality type as a way of giving the felines, with only a name and a picture, a bit more character.

“It was actually something that one of our feline care technicians thought of. What kind of animal likes people? What kind of animal would wanna snuggle with the other kittens?” Casey Waugh with Wayside Waifs said.

The video went viral, as commenters from The Philippines, Brazil, the UK, and others all cheered on the shelter for their admirable efforts.

One commenter even offered to relocate to Kansas City if the shelter was hiring, which they are as it turns out.

Continued below.

-

In Romans 12:2 Paul tells us that we are to renew our mind.

This means.... the BORN AGAIN.....are to come into the right understanding, regarding revelation knowledge, of who we have become, (Born again) as = the "righteousness of God in Christ".
Paul teaches that when we have this right mind, we have become this.>..""""as many as be perfect"""".

If we dont yet have the renewed mind, then we will THINK "Christianity" according to the world's viewpoint.
And this is the carnal mind of the Flesh.
Its only by the renewing our mind, that we gain and always keep God's perspective of who we have become as a "new Creation", so that we can escape the flow of the world = which is the lust of the world. And once we have the renewed mind... we no longer exist in a struggle to try to be like Christ, but instead we find POWER in the Rest that is God's Grace that provides us with this....= "Christ always Gives ME THE VICTORY", over the world, the flesh, and the Devil.

To have the renewed mind, you have to understand, discern, 3 things, perfectly.
When you have, you have "worked out your Salvation" that God provided to you for FREE, as "the Gift of Salvation" that is "The Gift of Righteousness".

1.) You have to understand what Jesus meant when He said.......from the Cross....>"IT is Finished".

So, what is "IT"?

It is your entire Eternal Salvation.

As "IT" has already been purchased by Christ's Death and Blood. And this that He has provided for you, from the Cross, is your Eternal Salvation.
Jesus completed your Eternal Salvation 2000 yrs ago, and rose from the dead to prove it.
Therefore, If you have gone to the Cross, by faith, believing/receiving Christ as your Savior, then God has given to you HIS = "the Gift of Salvation".
This provides complete redemption from all your sin, .... the HOLY Spirit birthing of your spirit as born again regenerated into God's Spirit, and you now have Eternal Life.
Your born again Spirit has now become : "ONE with God"...."made righteous"...>"in Christ"...... "seated in Heavenly places".
When you can understand this, is when you BELIEVE IT.....and right then you have achieved a large part of the renewed mind, and you'll stop trying to be good and do right, to try to be accepted by God, wrongly believing that Salvation is yours to complete, which is the wrong mind.


2.) You have to understand the difference between being SAVED, and discipleship.

Being SAVED, is to be redeemed, is to be born again, and this is based only on the finished work of Jesus on the Cross that God has provided to you, through your faith in Christ.
God saved you THROUGH your faith. You gave God your Faith and through your faith God SAVED you.
This is the "Gift of Salvation" and God on the Cross finished this for you, 2000 yrs ago, which is Why Jesus told you....."IT IS Finished".
You dont start or finish Salvation, as Christ did that already on The Cross for you, reader.... You only RECEIVE IT through faith..... from God.....
""""as "the Gift of Salvation".
Your DISCIPLESHIP on the other hand..... is your daily walk of Faith. Its this..>>"present your body as a living sacrifice to God".....daily, constantly.
That is what YOU do, because you have already RECEIVED "the Gift of Salvation"""" that was completed for you 2000 yrs ago by GOD on the Cross.
And when you can understand that these 2 are separate,... that Salvation is CHRIST and your discipleship is "present your body to God, sacrifically".... then you have achieved another level of revelation, that is related to "renewing your mind".

3.) Most Important.

You have to understand that your body and your mind, are not redeemed.
Your body and your mind are not "saved" or born again. Its only your SPIRIT that is Born Again. Its only your born again SPIRIT that is "In Christ"...>"one with God".....and its only your SPIRIT< born again, that is the Son/Daughter Of God "in Christ".
See that?
That is the REAL YOU, that is born again.....as "your body is DEAD because of SIN" and is going into a hole in the ground, reader....., and your mind has to be renewed.
Now here is the Revelation....
= God only SEES your born again Spirit as His redeemed, as His Son/Daughter., as this alone.... is the "new Creation in Christ'.
And you have to begin to SEE yourself as only the same, and when you get this revelation, then you and GOD have the same MIND regarding who you have become "in Christ" "made righteous", "ONE with God"......Born AGAIN.
This is the final part of "as many as be Perfect"..... as this completes the renewing of your mind when you BELIEVE IT.

And when you have all this as your FAITH, as your renewed mind..... then you have started your real walk of Faith, and you have for the very first time put on "the Armor of God" and have literally "worked out your Salvation".

Now, until you come to this revelation i just showed you, then you are in the mind of the flesh, and you'll have no power to live sustained Holiness, and you'll only continue to wrongly believe that Salvation is strictly related to self effort, water baptism, confessing sin, works, commandments, penance, law, and performance.

God bless you to see it.