Michie said:

A Dutch bishop has described the Vatican’sFiducia Supplicans declaration, which permits nonliturgical blessings of homosexual couples, as an attempt to “make peace with a secular society.”

However, Auxiliary Bishop Rob Mutsaerts of the Diocese of ’s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands warned: “Peace at the expense of morality and truth” is a “most merciless peace imaginable.”

“God loves everyone. He loves all sinners, but he hates your sins. He fervently hopes that you will return to him, just as he hoped for the prodigal son’s return. He wants nothing more than for you to share in his love,” Mutsaerts wrote in a foreword to a new book that attacks the declaration.

Titled “The Breached Dam: The Fiducia Supplicans Surrender to the Homosexual Movement,” the book was written by José Antonio Ureta and Julio Loredo de Izcue.

Continued below.

Dutch bishop: Fiducia Supplicans too much ‘in tune with zeitgeist’

Auxiliary Bishop Rob Mutsaerts of the Netherlands warned: “Peace at the expense of morality and truth” is a “most merciless peace imaginable.”

www.catholicnewsagency.com

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This bishop is likely going to remain an auxiliary bishop for as long as pope Francis lives. Maybe he will even be Stricklandized.

However he's right. The dam is breached. The zeitgeist is flowing our way without restraint.

Wolseley said:

Design a church by workshop, and all you get is another well-meaning, but essentially irrelevant social agency that tries to be all things to all people, regardless of stance or moral standard. The Faith is stripped of its exceptional nature; there is nothing for people to strive for, because there's no goal that needs to be met. The USCCB has been busy planting both feet firmly in this world, and airily dismissing the spiritual requirements necessary for eternal salvation.

"A flavorless and textureless work of committee-craft" is exactly right. I am reminded of the old saying that a camel is a horse designed by a committee, and that's essentially what we have here. And speaking of camels, as for the truths of the Faith as juxtaposed against the bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo of the "synodal process", let us not forget the words of our Savior to the religious leaders of His time: "You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!" (Matthew 23:24)

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Did you notice that before the first synod on synodality silliness they had listening sessions and opportunities for input (skewed as it was) and this time they pretty much didn't? I had no chance to tell them what BS this synodality synod stuff has been so far. I think they didn't want to hear it. So the bureaucrats and activists made a bureaucrat and activist document irrelevant to the actual faith. All in NGO-speak. These hijackers are really annoying me.

Teresa W. said:

Just wanted to know that I appreciate your analyses very much. Your formatting is much easier for me to read than a long wall of text that I usually give up on. Plus I find them to be very solidly based on scripture.

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Hey, thank you. I do not like long walls of text either (have seen a lot of those on the forums), so that is why these analyses are divided into three parts: verse, explanation and relevance. These are a hybrid between devotionals and exegeses.

Here are the rest of the devotionals: bible analysis

Hello Senator.

More Trump allies, including Mark Meadows, plead not guilty in Arizona​

The former White House chief of staff — along with Mike Roman, who worked on Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign — pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from their alleged efforts to try to subvert Joe Biden’s win.

Most of the 18 defendants in the 2020 election case have already entered not guilty pleas, including former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, former state party GOP chair Kelli Ward and the pro-Trump electors who participated in a strategy that prosecutors say sought to deny Biden his rightful electoral victory. On Thursday, state Sen. Jake Hoffman (R) also pleaded not guilty. He, too, appeared by video, with artwork of Ronald Reagan donning a cowboy hat displayed behind him. Later in the day, Hoffman and another co-defendant, state Sen. Anthony Kern (R), were in the crowd when Trump made his first appearance in the battleground state since his criminal conviction in New York. To cheers, the former president called his trial “rigged” and said that “there was no crime.”

Trump was not charged in Arizona but was described in the indictmentas an unindicted co-conspirator.

Whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will NOT be forgiven.

Isn't that a bit harsh?

Let's check the context. Matthew 12:

22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”

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These Pharisees have hardened their hearts so much that they stubbornly attribute the work of the Holy Spirit to the evil spirit.

31Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

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Stubbornly calling the Holy Spirit evil will not be forgiven.

32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

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If a person keeps calling the Holy Spirit evil, he could not have been born of the Spirit, the Spirit does not dwell in him, and he has not been born again. In fact, he is condemning himself.

Mark 3:

28“Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

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They stubbornly accuse the Holy Spirit in Jesus as unclean. Persisting in calling the Holy Spirit evil is a specific case of blasphemy against the Spirit. For the general case, see What is the unforgivable sin?.

Mr. M said:

Ephesians 2:
1 And you who were dead in trespasses and sins,
2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air,
the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh,
fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind,
and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

Paul here says that we were all by nature children of wrath,
by the spirit of disobedience.
Those who receive the Gospel are born again by the Spirit, they don't
get a new vessel, they receive the promise of the Father for those who
obey His Son.

Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness
and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.
He remains long suffering towards those who continue in disobedience,
for He has appointed a day in which the Son while judge the secrets of men's hearts.

Romans 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men
by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness,
but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish
but that all should come to repentance.

There is no reason to believe that Paul is saying that there are vessels
of wrath that are pre-ordained, but this is determined by the spirit they
choose to abide under.

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There are vessels of wrath bound for eventual predetermined extinction presented in scriptures beyond any question.

Who might these be you ask? That answer should be entirely obvious:

The devil and his messengers. Predetermined destruction beyond any doubt

Remember we're tempted by the tempter between our own 2 ears

Kind of keeps us from getting too cocky before our Maker. Especially when we're engaged in trying to cover up the obvious problem, our adversary

BNR32FAN said:

Nah never mind, if you’re going to pretend that you don’t know what the word saved means when it’s used in reference to people hearing the gospel then you’re not even being honest about the discussion and I have no further interest in discussing it with you.

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Since I am not pretending, nor being dishonest, then it's not me who is not interested in discussion.
As before... I hope you have a good day. I leave you my peace.

dwb001 said:

I have and I don't get it either.

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To understand the joke, you need to sell everything you have, buy a boat, invite a Catholic and a Christian Scientist on board and launch off with a a Hurricane approaching ...

The meaning of the English word worship according to Oxford:

1. [uncountable] the practice of showing respect for God or a god, by saying prayers, singing with others, etc.; a ceremony for this
2. [uncountable] a strong feeling of love and respect for somebody/something

Despite the importance of worship in the Bible, no Hebrew or Greek word was always translated into the English word "worship."

ESV, Genesis 22:

5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.”

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Exodus 34:

8 And Moses quickly bowed [H6915] his head toward the earth and worshiped [H7812].

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Strong's Hebrew: 7812. שָׁחָה (shachah) — 172 Occurrences

NASB Translation: bow (5), bow ourselves down (1), bow yourselves down (1), bow down (21), bowed (16), bowed in worship (1), bowed themselves down (2), bowed down (14), bowing (1), bowing down (1), bows down (1), did homage (1), down in homage (1), homage (1), lie down (1), paid homage (3), prostrate (2), prostrated (13), prostrating (1), weighs it down (1), worship (47), worshiped (31), worshiping (3), worships (2).

NASB translated H7812 to "worship*" 83 times and 89 times to something else.

New American Standard Bible, Deuteronomy 6:

13 You shall fear only the LORD your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name.

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English Standard Version:

It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.

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Strong's Hebrew: 5647. עָבַד (abad) — 289 Occurrences

NASB Translation become slaves (1), been slaves (1), bondage (2), burdened (2), cultivate (7), cultivated (2), cultivates (1), do (6), do the work (1), enslaved (3), given (1), holding in bondage (1), imposed (1), keep (2), labor (3), laborers* (2), make servant (1), make slaves (2), manufacturers (1), observe (1), perform (9), performed (2), plowed (1), rendered (1), serve (141), served (52), serves (2), serving (5), slave (1), slaves (1), subject (1), till (1), tiller (1), tiller* (1), tills (2), use as slaves (1), used (1), uses services (1), work (7), worked (2), workers (2), working (1), worship (7), worshipers (6).

NASB translated H5647 to "worship*" 13 times and 276 times to something else.

Two Hebrew words sometimes got translated as "worship*." H7812 was related to bowing, and H5647 was related to serving.

Now, in the NT, Matthew 4:

10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”

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Strong's Greek: 4352. προσκυνέω (proskuneó) — 60 Occurrences

NASB Translation:
bow down (1), bow down before (1), bowed down (1), bowed down before (2), bowing before (1), bowing down (1), prostrated himself before (1), worship (32), worshiped (17), worshipers (1), worshiping (1), worships (1).

NASB translated G4352 to "worship*" 52 times and 8 times to something else.

Acts 16:

14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

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Strong's Greek: 4576. σέβομαι (sebó) — 10 Occurrences

NASB Translation devout (1), God-fearing (3), worship (4), worshiper (2).

NASB translated G4576 to "worship*" 6 times and 4 times to something else.

Romans 12:

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

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Strong's Greek: 2999. λατρεία (latreia) — 5 Occurrences

NASB Translation:
divine worship (2), service (2), service of worship (1).

NASB translated G2999 to "*worship" 3 times and 2 times to something else.

Altogether, there were 5 Hebrew or Greek words that sometimes got translated to the English word "*worship*". There was a strong relation between the concept of worship and bowing/serving in both Hebrew and Koine.

Ukraine​

Pray for the trauma-healing retreats our partner runs for Ukrainian Christians in Poland. Those who attend had been targeted by Russian forces in the occupied or previously occupied areas of Ukraine.
Number of Prayers 16
YES - I WILL PRAY

Afghanistan​

Give thanks for the opportunities that Afghan Christians have to meet together online. Pray that these virtual gatherings would help them to grow and become mature in Christ.
Number of Prayers 27
YES - I WILL PRAY

Afghanistan​

Pray that the Lord of the harvest would raise up more workers in Afghanistan. There is a particular need for more mature Afghan Christians with a heart to serve.
Number of Prayers 34
YES - I WILL PRAY

Afghanistan​

Pray for ‘Jamal’ and ‘Rasa’, believers with a heart to reach other Afghans. Please pray that the Lord would lead them as they consider options regarding where they should be based.
Number of Prayers 35
YES - I WILL PRAY

Afghanistan​

Pray for the strengthening and encouragement of the small, often secret gatherings of Afghan believers within the country.
Number of Prayers 28
YES - I WILL PRAY

Afghanistan​

Pray for the ongoing financial and logistical needs of our partner’s vital media ministry (see previous day). Broadcasting into Afghanistan is often expensive and complex.
Number of Prayers 47
YES - I WILL PRAY

Afghanistan​

Pray that many would tune in to the live radio and TV programmes broadcasting the gospel into Afghanistan and that there would be a significant response to the gospel.

Everglades National Park

Across the country, violence rose substantially this year over last year – a shocking increase even for a place used to physical threats. Christians were kicked out of their communities, their homes were destroyed, and they endured so much for following Jesus.
At the local level, Communist authorities heavily monitor religious activities in some parts of the country. In these areas, church leaders reported cases of local authorities closing down house churches, which are technically illegal. But even among registered churches, they are monitored.
Converts to Christianity carry additional vulnerabilities. Because they’re seen as traitors to their communities who have angered the spirits, they can face pressure and violence from their families and local authorities. Families have been known to stir up the local community, who often expel converts from their homes and villages.

Meet Maixay​

“When I hear of someone being persecuted, I go to them right away because I don’t want them to give up their faith in God. I’m afraid they will forsake God, which will be very discouraging… I ask what their needs are, and I discuss this with my church and with same-hearted people just like Open Doors to help these believers and deliver their needs.”
Maixay (name changed), a believer in Laos.

What does Open Doors do to help?​

Open Doors’ local partners strengthen persecuted believers in Laos by providing Christian materials, leadership and discipleship training, socio-economic development programmes, advocacy support and emergency relief.

Please pray​

• Pray for wisdom for Christians, especially church leaders, who are heavily monitored by government.
• Pray for comfort for believers who are expelled from their rural communities for their faith.
• Ask God to protect unregistered churches so they can continue to meet and fellowship.

Kokavkrystallos said:

I'm pretty sure it's talking about unholy alliances. It doesn't mean not being around sinners at all, for then we'd need to leave the world. It's like Jesus went about His daily business and would have certain associations with sinners, but they were not there when He spent all that quality time with His disciples.

I don't wall myself off from everyone, but there are certain alliances I cannot & will not enter into, especially any of a romantic nature. I'd go fishing with an unbeliever, no problem. Give me a chance to witness. But to hang out every day as my best friend, couldn't do that. Work environments are different, you have to be around unbelievers, and that's where Jesus says let your light so shine before men.

I won't go into any of my old haunts: not a bar, not a rock concert, not a street corner where drugs are dealt, not a keg party, or a house party. But I associate with those who do, especially on Sabbath when we have our studies - there are many worldlings that have various addiction problems, and as long as they are willing to come there and hear about Jesus, I eat with them, because we have a meal afterwards. That's the sort of thing Jesus did, right there.

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One of His disciples was never a believer. And none of His disciples were believers until after He had fellowship with them. Remember the Pharisees said “why does He eat with sinners?” His reply was “healthy people don’t need a doctor, sick people do”. So I do agree that there are some that we should not even associate with, people who go out of their way to make a mockery of God. This is why I ignore most of the atheists here on CF, because I come here to talk to Christians, not people who are here just to mock us and God, I couldn’t care less what they think. Unfortunately I have some family and friends who are not believers who I hope and pray for that one day they will see the truth. So I try to be a light to them. I don’t try to push Christ on them, I just let His love be a testimony to His truth.

By "my Paraclete," I mean the point of connection where the Holy Spirit contacts my human spirit. My spirit is like an electric socket; the Holy Spirit is the power station. He provides an extension cord to plug into my spirit.

KJV, Genesis 2:

7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

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When God created man, a (detached) breath of life entered his nostrils and settled in the sphenoid sinus. (See appendix.) That divine breath became the man's spirit. Adam became a living soul.

Ezekiel prophesied in 36:

26 I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

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I believe that Ezekiel prophesied on the Indwelling Paraclete in the NT.

Etymology:

Paraclete comes from the Koine Greek word παράκλητος (paráklētos). A combination of para ('beside/alongside') and kalein ('to call') ... often used of one called to help in a lawcourt. In the Jewish tradition the word was transcribed with Hebrew letters and used for angels, prophets, and the just as advocates before God's court.

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When I was born of the Spirit, the Paraclete dwelled in my human spirit. Romans 8:

16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children.

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The Paraclete is in touch with my conscience, Romans 9:

1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit.

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The human spirit and conscience are housed in the sphenoid sinus (Gen 2:7). The Paraclete is the Holy Spirit's tentacular connection (a branch) to our human spirit.

As we grow spiritually, the Paraclete strengthens our inner being, Ephesians 3:

16 according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith … 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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Whenever I focus on the Paraclete, I always sense peace, John 14:

26 But the Helper [Paraclete], the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

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Isaiah 26:

3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

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When the Paraclete first took up residence in my human spirit, I did not feel a thing. Some people may feel it. I didn't. However, some months later, I started sensing his speaking in my conscience. I could sense his peace in here and there. Some years later, I could sense his peace consistently any time, any day, whenever I focused on him. Right now, I can sense the Paraclete in me. 99% of the time, I don't feel anything except peace, internal peace. It is a feeling of peaceful connection. Other times, I feel joy, e.g., when I worship

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Appendix: Where is the sphenoid sinus?

It is behind your eyes and nose before the imaginary plane formed by the two ears in the middle of the skull.


Behind our natural eyes are our spiritual eyes. Between our natural ears are our spiritual ears.





It is near the pituitary

An Original Work / March 3, 2018

The old cross is the cross
On which our Savior died.
He took our sins upon himself,
And he was crucified.

He died upon that cross
To put our sins to death,
That we might die with him to sin
And live to righteousness.

The new cross, not the same.
On sin it puts no blame.
It satisfies the flesh of man.
He does not have to change.

Its god does not require
We leave our flesh’s desire.
It modifies and pacifies.
It strives to not offend.

But where, in all, lies truth?
It’s found in Jesus Christ.
He said that we must die to sin,
Live to His righteousness.

His Holy Spirit, gave,
To live within our lives,
To take away the pow’r of sin.
We live victorious!

So, no one has to sin.
Our Lord has made a way
That we can walk in holiness
And live for Him each day.

In truth, we must believe,
By faith, our Lord receive.
Accept Him now to be your Lord,
And walk in victory!

I believe that there are many times we are guilty of taking God/Jesus Christ for granted. As well, I believe today’s church is often at fault in how they present God/Jesus when they paint God as a big doting grandfather in the sky, and/or when they paint Jesus as a weak and powerless person who just went around loving on people and making them feel good all over. By giving these false images of God – Father and Son – I believe it helps feed complacency, apathy, dishonor, disrespect and taking God for granted.

In addition, when we teach salvation as some kind of emotional decision we make to receive Christ, but we don’t tell people that coming to Christ means death to sin (death to our old lifestyles of sin), and transformed hearts and minds, and walking in Christ’s righteousness and holiness, then we give them a false image of God. This often translates into people thinking that God’s grace means they can do whatever they want and still have their ticket into heaven.

Yet, his word teaches us that Jesus died, not just so we could go to heaven one day, but so we could die with him to sin, and so we would no longer live for ourselves but for him who gave himself up for us (See Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Ephesians 4:17-24; 2 Corinthians 5:15).

In fact, his grace teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled and upright and godly lives in this present age while we wait for our Lord’s return (See Titus 2:11-14). Thus, when we realize what Jesus Christ has done for us in saving us from our sins, we should turn from our sins, walk with him in truth, and choose to obey him in all things.

Realizing

An Original Work / May 14, 2011

Realizing what He did for you
Should cause you to walk with Him in truth.
Trust in Him to be your Lord today.
Turn from sin; obey without delay.

Realizing He died on a tree,
So that from sin you could be set free,
Should bring you down upon bended knee,
Repentant; humbly; submissively.

Realizing that He loves us so,
Which is why, to the cross He did go,
Is what leads us to salvation free,
Through our faith in Jesus Christ our King.

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We don’t always know for certain what the will of God is in any given situation, do we? Now, if we read the Scriptures we can learn what his will is and what it isn’t with regard to the gospel message, and to our salvation, and in regard to the promise and hope of eternal life with God, and with regard to the subject of habitual and deliberate sin against the Lord Jesus. Those things are made clear to us in the Scriptures, but we must read the Scriptures in their appropriate context to learn the truth of the Scriptures, for so many people are teaching Scriptures out of context erroneously.

But we don’t always know God’s specific purpose for our individual lives other than what is stated clearly in the Scriptures, or to know where we are to go or what job to take, i.e. things which are everyday decisions we must make that aren’t addressed to us specifically in the Scriptures other than we are to seek the Lord and his counsel and direction, and we are to walk in his ways and in his truth and in righteousness, and not in sin. So sometimes when we pray for something, we may have to say with Jesus, “Nevertheless not my will but Thine be done.” That is still praying according to God’s will.

But what we can be most certain of is the message of the gospel, for it is stated for us clearly all throughout the New Testament, but we must guard against getting our gospel alone from Scriptures taught out of context, for many false gospel messages come from selected Scriptures taught outside their original context. For, to believe in Jesus is not just professing him as Lord or praying a prayer to receive him into our hearts. Belief in Jesus is persuasion of God to leave our lives of sin behind us and to now follow Jesus Christ in obedience to his commands in holy living (Luke 9:23-26).

And the Scriptures teach us that the way that we can know that we have eternal life with God is if we are dying to sin daily, by the Spirit, and if we are walking (in conduct, in practice) according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh, and in walks of obedience to our Lord and to his commands, and if we love our fellow humans. For that is faith, to die to sin and to live to righteousness and in obedience to our Lord and no longer in sin and to love our neighbors as ourselves. For Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to his righteousness, in his power, by his grace.

Now, with regard to this next section about sin leading to death, or not leading to death, I will share here my understanding based on all the Scriptures which teach on salvation from sin and on eternal life with God, and on the subject of putting sin to death in our lives and no longer walking in deliberate and habitual sin against the Lord. For it is the practice of sin that leads to death, and it is the daily dying to sin, by the Spirit, that leads to eternal life. So this all comes down to what we practice, either dying to sin and obeying our Lord, or continuing in sin and disobeying our Lord.

And then the passage here continues by stating that. For everyone who is truly born of God does not keep on sinning, making sin his practice. For Jesus protects us from the evil one. But, we do have examples in the Scriptures of Christians falling back into sin and forsaking the lives God had for them to live, and so we have much counsel given to the churches in the Scriptures instructing the Christians to repent of their sins and to return to following the Lord as they once had. So this is not saying a true Christian will never sin, but when he comes to Christ he doesn’t still practice sin.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Peter 1:15; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

And an idol is not just a statue formed in the hands of human beings. It is anyone or anything that is honored by us and is valued by us and to which we give our undivided loyalties and hearts and minds and passions and commitment to in place of God or above God. And so an idol can be a person or a possession or a talent or intellect or a people group or a philosophy, or habits and practices which are dishonoring and disobedient to the Lord. It is what we are most devoted to, what we talk about most, and that which has our hearts surrendered to do its will in place of us doing the will of God.

Only in Him

An Original Work / February 19, 2014
Based off Isaiah 30

Woe to those who look to man’s help;
Who turn away from Jesus Christ;
Forming an alliance not in step with God;
Making their own plans, and praying not.

Willing not to listen to truth,
They close their ears to what is right.
Pleasing words are all that they’ll hear;
Feel good messages that bring cheer.

Trust in your Lord; turn from your sin.
Put your faith now ONLY IN HIM.
Do not turn to idols. They’ll not satisfy.
Jesus will save you. That’s why He died.

Your Lord will be gracious to you.
He cares all about you, ‘tis true.
He forgives you all of your sin
When you give your life up to Him.

Oh, how truly gracious He’ll be
When you bow to Him on your knees;
Turning now from your sin; walking in his ways.
He’ll lead and guide you all of your days.

Now you will sing praises to Him.
He delivered you from your sin.
You’ll tell others now of His grace,
So they may see Christ face-to-face.

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There is a particular Christian song out there which has the appearance of all goodness, but if you listen closely to the words, and especially if you compare the message given there to the message given in this Psalm, perhaps you will see what I am seeing, but maybe not. But I believe the song lyrics, much like what many are preaching today, are a mixture of truth and untruth (deception). I cannot say that the deception is willful on the part of the author, but that the lyrics, I believe, give a mixed message.

So, first I want to look at the words of the psalmist. What I find consistent all throughout this 119th Psalm is that the Psalmist speaks continually about walking in the ways of the Lord and obeying his commandments and seeking the Lord and his will. He speaks of keeping the word of the Lord diligently, and of being steadfast in faith, and of having an upright heart. He wants to be kept from sin and to have his eyes fixed on the ways of the Lord. And he speaks of his opponents as those with evil purpose, far from God’s law.

But in this Christian song I am speaking of, when the person is concerned that her faith may fail, or when the tempter would prevail, or when she can never keep her hold, for her love is often cold, then she just claims that Christ will hold her fast. And then she continues by stating that Christ will not let her soul be lost because her soul was bought by Christ at the cost of his blood shed for us on that cross. For her Savior loves her so, she states, and therefore the love of God will hold her fast, even if her love is often cold.

Do you see the contrast between these two messages? Now, as I am writing this, I will have to say that I just looked up the author to these hymn lyrics. She died in 1918, so these lyrics are not modern lyrics. And they do have truth in them. But let’s compare them to what the Psalmist said. When he cried to the Lord, looking for help, his response was “I will keep your statutes.” When he called to the Lord to save him, perhaps from his enemies (see v. 150), he wanted saved so that he would observe God’s testimonies.

But in contrast, the song writer, when she feared her faith may fail, she just claimed that Christ would hold her fast. And when the tempter would prevail (conquer, win) in her life, again she claimed that Christ would hold her fast. Then she claimed that she could never keep her hold for her love was often cold, but that Christ would hold her fast. Now are we perfect people? No! But we are not to be those who go through life not keeping our hold and having love that is often cold and expect that God is just going to hold us.

That is not the message of the cross of Christ, and it is not the message that Jesus taught and not what the NT apostles taught. And I am not pushing legalism here nor harshness nor a hammer hanging over your head the first time you get out of step even a little bit and then “BAM!” No! This is not what this is about at all! This is about this attitude that is being spread today that we can have our salvation from sin but that Christ does it all for us and that no matter what we do, he will always be there for us. Just not true!

For the Psalmist, he was focused on his love response to the Lord for all that the Lord had done for him. He was focused on a walk of obedience to the Lord and to his commands with a strong desire to please the Lord in all things. And he saw the enemies of God who were persecuting him as those who were workers of evil who were far from the Lord and his commands. And he didn’t want to be like them. He wanted the Lord to rescue him from his enemies so that he could keep the commandments of God.

But the hymn writer, at least in this one song that she wrote, presumed upon the Lord that he would hold her fast even when the tempter prevailed in her life, and even when she did not keep her hold, and even though her love was often cold. It was all about what Jesus could do for her despite her failures to be who he wanted her to be, and with no mention of those, in fact. And it was presuming that her salvation was secure solely on the basis of God’s love for her, but not with regard to her response to him.

Do you see what I am getting at? And this is not legalism. This is the gospel that Jesus taught and that the NT apostles taught. They didn’t teach that Jesus does it all and that nothing is required of us at all other than a profession of faith in Christ. We can’t go on living in sin and expect that God is going to let us into his heaven on the basis of lip service. Whether intended or not, though, that is the message this hymn is giving, for the focus is solely on what Jesus does for us despite what we do in return.

So, what did Jesus teach? He taught that if we are going to come after him that we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our old lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose them for eternity. But if for Jesus’ sake we deny self, die daily to sin, and follow him in obedience, then we have eternal life. For if we deny him by our actions in this life, he will disown us when he returns (Luke 9:23-26).

And he also taught that not everyone who says to him, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING the will of God the Father in heaven. For many will stand before him one day professing him as Lord and proclaiming all the things they did in his name, and he is going to say to them, “I never knew you. Depart from me you workers of lawlessness,” because they did not obey the Lord (Matthew 7:21-23).

And Paul taught that genuine faith in Jesus Christ results in us being crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin, but as slaves to God and to his righteousness. So we are no longer to allow sin to reign (prevail) in our bodies to where we obey its sinful desires, for if sin is what we obey, it will lead to death. But if obedience is what we obey, it will lead to righteousness, and to sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God (Romans 6:1-23).

So, no matter what you may think of my assessment of the woman’s hymn (song) lyrics, and how they compare to the words in this psalm, please know that our salvation is not just God’s gift to us so we can be forgiven all our sins so that we can escape hell and go to heaven when we die. He died that we would die to sin and live to his righteousness. But, Jesus does hold fast those whose true trust is in the Lord, who are walking in his ways in obedience to his commands, and who are no longer walking in sin.

To Be Like Him

An Original Work / March 16, 2014
Based off Scripture

Crucified you are with Jesus.
To be like Him, oh, you’ll be,
Because He died at Calv’ry,
So from sin you’d be free.
Oh, what joy He brings into your life,
Giving life with Him endlessly.

Oh, what plans He has for your life.
Share the gospel faithfully.
Show the people He loves them.
Now His witness you’ll be.
Tell the world of sin about Jesus,
How He died for them on a tree.

Purifying hearts, He saves them,
Who believe on Christ, God’s Son.
Turning now from their idols,
New lives they have begun.
Jesus saves from sin; we’re forgiven.
Over sin, the vict’ry He won!

When He comes again to take us
To be with Him evermore,
There will be no more crying.
Gladness will be in store.
Heavens joys will now overtake us:
We’ll be with our Lord evermore.

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returntosender said:

You discipline your own kids not a stranger. To me she is too violent in the movies he makes and those that produce the movies concerning blacks represent them as low moraled and That's putting it mildly.

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Abuse is definitely a serious matter.

But in the end, Madea films is simply comedy, humor, satire which isn't meant to be taken seriously.

Though it is sending a message that if you're misbehaving and aggravating / bullying other people on purpose, don't expect the court of law to keep you safe all the time if you have that privilege. You could come across someone deranged or insane like Madea and you could end up disabled for life or even dead before you can even call 911 or your lawyer.

It's a real possibility you can't always threaten anyone with a lawsuit esp against someone who doesn't fear the jail or even the death penalty. These people are real and they exist.

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I think someone was asking?

Grip Docility said:

Thank you! Not only will contrast be seen, but your life applications will be there! Deeply appreciated!

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You are welcome, bro. It is getting late here, but hopefully these two devotionals work out for you. However, there is a difference between pride and confidence. We can be confident in Christ, and trust His ways.

Confidence in Jesus