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No doctors, no medical treatment, no recuperation, no gradual improvement. They carried the sick to Jesus, and he healed them. With a simple touch, with only a word, Jesus restored them to perfect health. These physical cures point us to the nature of the spiritual cure.via randalmatheny.com
Read today's devotional at the link above.
Even though the plan of salvation through Christ had always been in the mind of God (Eph. 3:9), it would have come to naught if Christ had refused to sacrifice Himself. Let us then think about what might have happened if Christ had refused the will of the Father.Steve lists three effects too horrible to think about. His last paragraph deserves special attention as well. #salvation #JesusChrist
via Friendica
"God's grace never fails but it is possible for us to fall from grace (Galatians 5:4). If we could be saved in that condition, we would be saved without the grace of God!" —George DeHoff #grace #salvation
via Friendica
Baptism is not a requirement of salvation, but it is a requirement of obedience.
If obedience is necessary for eternal salvation, as it most certainly is according to Hebrews 5:9, since Jesus "became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him," then how can baptism be a requirement of obedience but not of salvation? This denominational doctrine is a clear and direct contradiction of all New Testament teaching, both on baptism and on obedience.
Misunderstanding a sentence in an article leads to a reflection on guilt and evangelism.
It's a good article from Gospel Advocate and, I hope, a good post that will provoke reflection.
Tragedy tends to bring opportunity, opportunity most often met with physical provision. Will we be satisfied to send money, food, water, and clothing?
This tragedy should remind us of the opportunity to help people prepare for the ultimate destruction of the earth. It will be an event exceeding 8.9.
My point exactly over on my personal blog at http://randalmatheny.com/2011/03/14/tweets-quotes-truths-and-a-prediction/
The tenth day of the seventh month of Israel’s calendar marked a day unlike any other (see Leviticus 16). To the spiritually minded in Israel it was a day to be prepared for and longed for. It was a day of approach to God; indeed more closely than any other day of the year. It was the day the high priest and his family, the tabernacle itself, and the congregation were cleansed. It was the day that the high priest made atonement for the people of Israel. It was a day of great danger for the high priest, entering, as he did, into the holy of holies. It was a rite full of meaning for the children of Israel. It spoke of God’s desire to commune with His people. It spoke of God’s mercy and grace in making a way for Israel to approach God. It has great meaning for Christians as we consider that which is equivalent to the Day of Atonement in the New Covenant.
Eddie has a good description of what was involved for the Jews on the Day of Atonement. Ought to make us appreciate even more the sacrifice of Christ. Click on the link above for his whole article.
There are a lot of reasons why I became a Christian but the main one which drove me above all the rest is that I recognize that we are living in a material world that could only have gotten here as a result of the will, actions and purpose of a creator. In short, I recognize and acknowledge that there is a creator God who is powerful enough and intelligent enough to bring about what we can see in the observable universe. It's a big and complex universe we live in so the creator has to be bigger and more powerful than our universe and He has to possess the intelligence to accomplish it. With this acknowledgement of a creator naturally comes the realization that there was intent and purpose connected to this creation. In short, what does our creator expect out of His creation? The writer of Revelation penned this in chapter 4:11, "...thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Isaiah wrote in 43:7, "Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him." Yes God has expectations of His creation and according to Isaiah's inspired words, mankind figures prominently in God's purpose.
Ralph P. Martin wrote that Paul's theology can be summarized in the concept of reconciliation. Getting back to God. David remind us that God created us for a purpose, to live with him, and he has overcome the sin which claimed us and brought us back to himself.
God’s promises do not have to be inevitable to be certain
The only thing I might add to this good topical sermon by Tom Moore is a bit more on the Holy Spirit, but that's a judgment call in terms of direction to take when preaching. The title pulls it together, a quote from 1 Pet. 1:5, "kept by the power of God through faith," and since the Petrine epistles are my favorites, I would have liked to have seen a treatment of that phrase, but hey, it's a topical sermon, so now I'm just bellyaching. Near the end, his list of seven activities that contribute toward faithfulness is good, one we need to heed often and well.