While we at FSM agree with the general context of this article we wish to emphasize that true salvation means more than just “accepting Jesus as Savior” or saying some “quick prayer.” That is what many have dubbed easy-believism or salvation without having Christ as the Lord of ones Life.
We highly recommend these two articles also be read:
Answer: Jesus saves is a popular slogan on bumper stickers, signs at athletic events, and even banners being pulled across the sky by small airplanes. Sadly, few who see the phrase Jesus saves truly understand what it means. Those two words pack a tremendous amount of power and truth…
By Paul Stark Editor’s note. This appeared on the blog of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL), National Right to Life’s state affiliate. The pro-life movement is comprised of people of many faiths and no faith. So is MCCL. Ours is not a “religious” position. The facts of science (showing that the unborn is a…
CONTEXT: This is the last of Pauls’ epistles, written while he is pending execution in Rome. It is a very personal letter to a very close friend, it is a letter of great encouragement to continue the fight of faith even in suffering. Matthew Henry breaks it down like this: Paul expresses great affection for Timothy. (1-5) Exhorts him to improve his spiritual gifts. (6-14) Tells of many who basely deserted him, but speaks with affection of Onesiphorus. (15-18)
Our text for today v.13-14, comes in the second section the Henry describes as an exhortation to improve his spiritual gifts. We are not talking about Gifts as in preaching, teaching, etc. but as MH says in paraphrasing v.7: God has not given us the spirit of fear, but the spirit of power, of courage and resolution, to meet difficulties and dangers; the spirit of love to him, which will carry us through opposition.
I think everyone can agree that this is a task we need help with. Look back at v.5 for a moment, it is key to anyone desiring this is Sound Doctrine. You CAN NOT have a strong Faith, one that enables you to endure suffering and trials, built upon a weak and sinking foundation.
Paul repeats this here, in v.13, telling Timothy to Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in other words, keep and follow the sound teaching (Doctrine) you have heard from me. remember this is prior to the written Bible, internet, etc. so being a Berean (Acts 17:11) was not an option for every believer like it is today.
In v.14, Paul continues his encouragement of Timothy by telling him, he is not alone in his efforts for: That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. Timothy is to be encouraged because the Holy Spirit which indwells every true believer (YES YOU TOO) helped us to preserve the Good News of Christ, the sound doctrine we learn, the message of hope we share [Good Thing].
This is not the first time Paul speaks of preserving the Gospel, at the Jerusalem Council he is clear on its importance too. Just as Paul directly charged Timothy to preserve the unblemished Gospel Doctrine, he in fact charged every true believer, who reads the Bible to do the same. What are you doing to preserve the Unblemish Truth of God’s word?
President Biden and Isaiah 6: It’s Not Really About ‘Here Am I Send Me’
President Biden certainly isn’t the first President to misquote Scripture for political ends, only the most recent. Last week, in a speech responding to the terrorist attack on the airport in Kabul, Biden quoted from Isaiah 6:8, when the prophet answered the Lord’s call by saying, ‘Here am I send me!”
It was odd. It was out of place. And, it was inappropriate. Even worse than blurring the line between America and the Kingdom of God, the President used Holy Scripture to deflect from his own responsibility for this disaster…
CONTEXT: The book of Joel was the telling of God’s judgment upon His chosen people (Israel), the pagan nations that surrounded them, and the eventual outpouring of the Holy Spirit (restoration of God’s people) Acts 2. Matthew Henry breaks chapter 2 down as follows: God’s judgments. (1-14) Exhortations to fasting and prayer; blessings promised. (15-27) A promise of the Holy Spirit, and of future mercies. (28-32)
I want to look at just v.1 this morning because I think they are applicable to all of us today.
Blow the trumpet in Zion [warning of impending judgment], Sound an alarm on My holy mountain [Zion]! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble and shudder in fear, For the [judgment] day of the Lord is coming; It is close at hand,(AMP)
Judgment by way of the “Day of the Lord” is the predominant theme of the book of Joel. Israel (1:15; 2:1–2) and all the nations (3:2–3) are subject to this judgment. While most associate the “Day of the Lord” with wrath and judgments it can also be a day of salvation and restoration.
Here in chapter 2 v.1, the context is definitely judgment and wrath that Joel is warning against. Israel had become complacent AGAIN, it had fallen back into the sins of its surrounding neighbors and Joel sires out a warning Blow the trumpet in Zion, (any temple, pulpit, or corner will do) Sound an alarm on My holy mountain, we too must be able, ready and willing at every moment to speak out against the anti-Christ. For the [judgment] day of the Lord is coming, God cannot abide sin, nor sinners. The old saying God Loves the Sinner But Hates the Sin? is far from true and He must and will pass judgment on everyone.
Of course, no one knows when the final judgment “day of the Lord” will come but we must (All True Believers) act like it is today. Spiritual Complacency has plagued the “church” for far too long in America. Oh, we are good at giving, missions, and feeding the poor. We respond well to national disasters and the like but do not ask us to get involved in the BIG PICTURE, the moral issues of today.
It is time we, All True Believers, Shout is from the Blogs, Corners, and Pulpits; that we demand that the core values America was founded upon, the Judeo-Christian principles be returned before the Wrath of God, the final judgment, the “day of the Lord” is poured out upon this nation and people.
We share the world with modern pagans who worship the sun—or idolize an imagined primordial Big Bang—so we need to be truth witnesses unto a world drowning in deception and delusion…
It’s easiest to get into a conversation when someone speaks to us first. God speaks to us in His Word; and if we pray with an open Bible, we don’t need to think of words to pray to Him. We can simply respond to what…
Today I thought I would do something a little different. I came across this quote from Puritan Stephen Charnock, and it caused me to pause and think, how true. If God is not eternal, why would we bother shedding our praise, worship, and love upon Him?
So today I am just listing (a Bible drill of sorts), no comments, Bible verses to contemplate, meditate and reflect upon the Eternal God and His worthiness to be Loved.
ETERNAL GOD
Genesis 2:17 – But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Psalms 72:17 – His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.
Psalms 90:2 – Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Psalms 102:25-27 – Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. (Read More…)
Psalms 119:127 – Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 – He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
Isaiah 57:15 – For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Jeremiah 10:10 – But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
Jeremiah 32:27 – Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
Matthew 25:46 – And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Mark 9:43-48 – And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: (Read More…)
John 1:12 – But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 5:24 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 6:50-71 – This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. (Read More…)
John 14:2-3 – In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (Read More…)
John 17:3 – And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Galatians 6:8 – For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Philippians 1:23 – For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
2 Thessalonians 1:9 – Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Hebrews 9:27 – And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Jude 1:6 – And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
WORTHY OF LOVE
Deuteronomy 6:5 – And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deuteronomy 7:9 – Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Psalms 16:11 – Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Isaiah 1:1-31 – The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. (Read More…)
Matthew 6:24 – No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Matthew 22:34-40 – But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. (Read More…)
Mark 12:29-31 – And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: (Read More…)
Luke 10:27 – And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
John 14:21 – He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
John 14:23-24 – Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (Read More…)
John 14:23 – Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
John 17:24-26 – Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. (Read More…)
1 John 2:4-6 – He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (Read More…)
1 John 4:19 – We love him, because he first loved us.
1 John 5:3 – For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
As hurricane Ida made landfall (and heads towards us in mid Mississippi) I had the thought of how powerful God is. I for one am convinced that God is Sovereign over all things including hurricanes, even if I don’t understand the why.What I do know is we can count on His omnipotent Grace to see us through these events.
Chapter CONTEXT: Matthew Henry says of this Chapter: A salutation, and an account of saving blessings, as prepared in God’s eternal election, as purchased by Christ’s blood. (1-8) And as conveyed in effectual calling: this is applied to the believing Jews, and to the believing Gentiles. (9-14) The apostle thanks God for their faith and love, and prays for the continuance of their knowledge and hope, with respect to the heavenly inheritance, and to God’s powerful working in them. (15-23)
Our text for today is one extolling God’s omnipotence. A google search or that of some Biblical software will lead one to find a list with many variations of verses. The consistent theme however is that God is all-powerful and man is not.
Here are some of the things God has power over:
Creation
Salvation
Understanding
Resurection
Justice
Nations
________?
The above quote sums it up pretty well if God is not the omnipotent ruler of the universe what peace can a believer have. What assurance can we have, what joy? I do not know about you but I take great comfort in the fact that He hath made the earth by his power and ruleth by his power forever.
Praying for everyone in Ida’s path and recovery for those displaced by her wrath.
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