ALL IS VANITY

IF...

…It can mean a condition or qualification; a requirement, or a stipulation (Encarta ® World English Dictionary). a conjunction used to indicate the circumstances that would have to exist in order for an event to happen. The event that God would have happen is Salvation for all… God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” 2 Pet. 3:9. The circumstances that would have to exist are the perfect keeping of the laws of God; sinlessness and righteousness in our lives; a devotion to and worship of God. Can't do it!

CARNAL OR SPIRITUAL Part 2

The Carnal Christian?
I do not presume a carnal Christian to be one who only wants Jesus as a kind of hell-insurance policy, as some describe them. I suppose I believe such a person to not be a Christian at all. Because if such a person made any kind of profession of faith motivated solely by “give me a get-out-of-hell-free-card” then such a person does not understand his sin, nor his judgment, nor God’s Holiness, and least of all…the person of Jesus Christ. And chances are such a person’s life would demonstrate the lack of a regeneration which the spiritually discerning would recognize.

CARNAL OR SPIRITUAL?

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace”.
Rom. 8:6 is my opening text, but for anyone desiring “context” I would suggest reading at least chapters 1-8. And then read also 1 Cor. chapters 1, 2 and 3. I would even go further to say that IF you are not studying the WHOLE Word of God, then you will seriously be lacking “context”.

GRACE

I am grieved, I mourn, I lament, I am distressed, I am pained by sorrow to hear/see/believe there are people who do not understand the gospel message…
G R A C E !!!  How then can anyone be saved?

One cannot have salvation if one does not understand Grace. That is to say; there is nothing of "works" in it. One cannot understand Grace if one does not understand sin; it is undeserved and unearned. One cannot understand sin if one does not understand what happened in the "garden"; man became totally separated from even coming to God without first repenting.

THE VEIL HIDES THE GLORY

But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.

Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor. 3:7-18

GO AHEAD… ASK

I have heard and read many times that God HAS to do whatever "YOU" ask of Him. Let me assert... God does not have to do anything. Oh He is true to His Word alright. But one must read the rest of His Word. There are major requirements from us before God starts "lavishing" upon us.

THE ILLUSION OF CHRISTIAN AMERICA

"Rather than acting as resident aliens of a heavenly kingdom, too often we sound (and act) like resident apologists for a Christian America. … Unless we reject the false reliance on the illusion of Christian America, evangelicalism will continue to distort the gospel and thwart a genuine biblical identity."  ~John Seel,  The Evangelical Pulpit

There are Christians in America, but there is no Christian America, especially in obama's delusional world. Ours is a nation of many religions… there is one group that worships the true God in the only Way… and then there are all the others. I know the argument that Christian forefathers founded this country on Biblical principles and under the direction of the Holy Spirit because God wanted a Christian nation.

MAN AND WOMAN

The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men. Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God. Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD, Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. Joel 1:12-15.

LIFE...DEATH...LIFE

We (you, me, everyone) will die. That is Simple, is it not? It is an inescapable fact. To leave it at that, though, is ignorant, reckless, irresponsible, and foolish beyond measure. Do you think so little of yourself? Do you think we are as frogs, or herring, or prairie dogs, or wildebeests that just come and go with little consequence (except as food for snakes, whales, coyotes and lions)? Have you watched the "Circle of Life" movie too many times?  If "birth to death" is all there is, then we (as a most intelligent, sophisticated, potential-of-a-creature) are a most pitiful, momentary breath in the eons of time. However, the significance of all these (animals), and others, is as nothing compared to the worth of man. The Bible says…

"Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings (one penny), and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows" Luke 12:6-7.

ABOMINATIONS

What does “abomination” mean? …a disgusting, wicked thing.

So… pretty much everything we do is abominable to God. Having said that, let us explore what scripture says about abomination and abominable, understanding that those who are being abominable will find their own permissible excuses for being so.

ESSENTIALS AND NON-ESSENTIALS

"In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love" ~Rupertus Meldenius, (circa 1627).
A pseudo-truism. Another axiom of ecumenism, frequently tossed out in an effort (no doubt) to "justify" everyone and achieve "balance". A false balance is abomination to the LORD  Prov. 11:1.

This slogan  is familiar to many, although there is some debate about authorship. Augustine was a great "promoter" of it. Such slogans can be misleading and should be avoided. ESPECIALLY when used to divide Christians, for such is what it does. This statement has misled many in the past and is still doing it today. The only part Rupertus got right is "In all things, love."

ECUMENISM

Ecumenism… i.e., let's embrace every religion, because we agree to disagree.
Technically, ecumenism applies only to Christianity, within Christianity. That, in itself is very curious. The devil is not concerned with compromising Islam or Hinduism because they have nothing to do with Jesus Christ. It is not necessary to corrupt these religions. They are already totally off the mark. The devil, satan is only attacking Christianity. Do you understand this?

NEW YEAR 2016

A Blessed New Year...

Even So, Come Quickly Lord Jesus.