Armageddon

 

Armageddon (circle of Pierre de Cortone)

"The extraordinary iconography of this work is an almost literal interpretation of the Book of Revelation (16: 1-14), which describes the final battle between Good and Evil on the day of the Last Judgment. Seven angels pour out the bowls of God’s wrath on the Earth, each one unleashing a new plague. The dragon on the right represents the false prophets, from whose mouths issue ‘unclean spirits like frogs’. Although it depicts a subject rarely tackled in Italian painting, this work was certainly executed by an artist close to Pietro da Cortona, as suggested by the mysterious heavily draped figures that close the composition on the left."

I am as curious as the next person as to what the descriptions in Revelation might mean. Were they limited by the vocabulary of the times? How would a person in first century describe one of these flying:

I've read one author that described a battle where helicopters fit well into Revelation 4:3-11. May I explain right now - it doesn't matter.

There are many such explanations, assumptions, ascertainments, and guesses about when the Battle of Armageddon will occur, who will be left on earth when it does occur, and firm statements that it cannot occur because God does not exist. Not one of those statements concerns me.

I hope it doesn't concern you either. We are only promised right now. Any portion of the future we are in is to be considered our allotted time, but it may last for decades, or it may end now. We've all seen death occur around us. I imagine any of my readers would have experienced the death of a family member, perhaps extended or close, or a friend, or co-worker. Everyone is aware that we spend our lifetime without knowing when it will end.

We reach out to people who have made it clear they are unhappy with that arrangement and wish to meet death quicker and on their own terms. For a variety of reasons, people do take their own lives - and we work hard to keep them from accomplishing their goal. We search for reasons to continue.

As Christians, we have been given assurance that there is more than this life on earth, but not everyone is a Christian. There are other religions that belief life continues, but not in the manner Jesus taught. As His followers, He has made it plain that we are to accomplish His purpose, and at the correct time we would be joining Him. 

I do love the assurance verses:

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 3:16)

But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. (Acts 15:11)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13)

Those are only a few that confirm Jesus' word to Nicodemus in John 3:16. That entire conversation is an excellent read. Even a very educated Pharisee came to Jesus with questions. Can you imagine the bravery it took for him to ask for permission to bury Jesus?

As Christians, we need to be prepared to work God's will in our lives. It may not be a noticeable position, and we may feel that no one is paying attention to us - you'd be very surprised. 1 Corinthians 12 explains it much better - read before and after this:

And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. (1 Corinthians 12:23)

One of my most memorable ladies lacked a strong educated background, but she was an awesome prayer warrior with a long list that she laid before God with fervor. 

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. (Revelation 5:8)

That is something we can all do, along with gathering together in worship and fellowship, as long as God has us here. He places His children where He needs them when He needs them. Read Esther. She was placed for one specific purpose where she could accomplish God's will to save Israelites. Why? Only God knows the totality of His plan. But we are given a glimpse and instructions. 

Enjoy your curiousities, but don't live your life in/for anything expect the closeness God offers through prayer, reading the Bible, and fellowshipping with like minded believers - and enjoying the fruit of the Spirit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Proof of Life

 

Fetal Anomaly Ultrasound Scan in Navi Mumbai.jpg

A composite image displaying six distinct ultrasound views captured during a fetal anomaly scan (often referred to as a mid-pregnancy or TIFFA scan). The sonograms provide detailed visualization of fetal anatomical structures, clearly showing the hands with visible digits, the facial profile, and skeletal elements. This type of detailed prenatal imaging is a routine part of maternal-fetal medicine and is commonly conducted at diagnostic imaging centers and maternity hospitals across Navi Mumbai, including areas such as Vashi, Nerul, and Kharghar, Taloja, Kalamboli, Kamothe, Panvel, Seawoods, Ulwe, to monitor fetal development and screening for potential congenital conditions.

I just finished a book written by J. A. Jance entitled "Proof of Life." It's a mystery, one of her series about a man through his employment as a police officer, homicide detective, into his retirement. Not until the end of the book do we discover the answer to: "Why this title?"

Google's AI search informed me that "proof of life" refers to verification methods used to confirm that an individual is alive and well, often through a photo, video, or message. This concept is commonly applied in contexts such as hostage situations, pension verification, and benefits programs. I posit that an ultrasound gives that same proof of life to the entities we term as: zygote, embryo, fetus, preborn, or unborn. 

Women seeking an abortion, legislators creating laws, attorneys questioning those laws in court, and judges coming down on the side of choosing whether or not a woman completes gestation have never accepted that conception indicates a stage of life for humans. Surviving birth isn't the final legal step, either, as some babies have been left (or assisted) to die simply by withholding medical care.

Two verses bring to mind a spiritual knowledge of life as a preborn:

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. (Psalms 139:13-15)

Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. (Jeremiah 1:4-5)

Another in the New Testament concerns two separate pregnancies:

And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. (Luke 1:41-45)

Please do not explain to me that I am judging women who choose abortion. I am stating facts that agree with science that upon conception a unique human being is formed. Totally dependent on its mother for nourishment and protection, that human being has certain inalienable rights that include life. American rights to life and liberty were first written in the Virginia Declaration of Rights on June 12, 1776, and shortly after in the Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776.

However, some people - man, women, parents, mothers, fathers - who should protect babies have found them to be inconvenient in a list of ways. The child may be short-lived, born deformed, unable to live a "normal" life, an impact on the family finances, not wanted by the person(s) who participated in conception, or an embarrassment to a family or its honor. There is an entire list of reasons people have used to remove a living human from the mother's womb.

If the fetus dies in the womb of natural causes, there are methods of showing proof of death just as there is proof of life. For any physician to deny a woman's request for those tests and for the removal of the dead child, that refusal should be considered malpractice - shouldn't it? What reasons should exist for removing a fetus?

Convenience has become a valid reason, and in some places that removal can be done up to the moment the fetus enters the birth canal during labor.

How did my country reach the point that it approves abortion by request? That took place in our extended family. I expect there are few families in America who have not lost an expected member through abortion - millions upon millions have been done for decades.

There's another verse that comes to mind:

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1)

I have not had a vision from God - it is in my own mind that I wonder what it would be like to find in Heaven that we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses during God's judgment. What if each inconvenienced human met the soul of their aborted child? From biblical verses that describe specific events, the outcome will be known:

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

Let's Start With Baptism

Baptism of Christ - by Sebastiano Ricci

Metropolitan Museum of Art 

J. Warner Wallace is an author, teacher, apologist, and was a homicide detective. His personal search for the truth behind Jesus is well worth reading - or listening to. A recent podcast on the question of Jesus' deity brought to mind questions I've heard or read, and some thoughts that have been shared with me. 

There is no doubt in my mind that not only are Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1 valid eplanations, but they cover the very same personages. One of the first things that bend the rules for me is the question of time. It is defined by the "rising of the sun" and the "setting of the sun" plus divisions inbetween that can be tracked by a sundial. That is total nonsense on any other planet in our own solar system, isn't it.

We base our reality on what we know, along with what mankind has discovered over an innumerable rising and setting of our star, the Sun. Do not confuse Sun with Son, though several civilizations did worship the Sun. A huge number of named deities have been worshipped, usually associated with a large number of equal or lesser beings.

The Children of Israel worshipped one singular God who promised a savior, a Messiah, one who would restore and lead them. Prophecies were written that remained unfulfilled for hundreds of years. Until a child was born in Bethlehem.

Let's start with his baptism, though, because that is one place where non-believers can point to Christians worshipping a trio of Gods. My experience has been that if God wants us to pay attention, He repeats information. Jesus' baptism is mentioned in all four gospels:

Pastor Jason Elder's website

Indeed, this is very important because believers are asked to follow in baptism as a public profession of faith, an outward sign of the death/burial/resurrection of Jesuis, as well as the commitment of our lives to be lived for Him. There is nothing biblical that I have found that shows baptism in and of itself is the salvation process. The belief that Jesus is God incarnate, dying for the sins of mankind, acceptance of His gift, is required. The firmness of that belief will bring changes to our lives, which become focused on God's will in our lives and sharing His good news with others. The very reason for this blog.

At the close of the baptism, we are told by witnesses that they heard God's voice affirm Jesus was His son and the Holy Spirit descended as a dove. John in particular identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the earth.

John is the very best chapter in understanding the deity of Jesus. As Christians claim, following Him confessing to being monotheistic has other religions questioning our worship as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There are two specifics that helped me understand. 

The first is words that describe me: daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a few others in work and personal environments. I exist in a single human body. 

God is described as a spirit in multiple places in the Bible, but Jesus is described as being born, growing to adulthood, preaching, and dying. Sounds like many humans. But He is also described as being God, a spirit that can be in multiple places at any given time, offering the body He created as the sacrifice He required. At Jesus' Baptism, all three aspects are mentioned: God the Father's words, the Holy Spirit descending as a dove, and the physically human Son of God rising from the water. 

That is one spirit which happened to include one human body that was created by God to hold the Spirit of God for three decades on earth. That does not confine the Spirit of our creator by any means. Jesus explained to the woman at the well in Samaria, who during their conversation said:

"Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship."
Jesus saith unto her, "Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.' (John 4:20-24)

Wallace's podcast is much longer than this one subject blog, but he covers 21 specific instances in the book of John where Jesus specifically mentioned that He and the Father are one. The death sentence He ws given was because equated Himself (correctly, I believe) with God. Yes, men crucified God, but He gave Himself as the sacrifice as promised:

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:8)

Tarry In Jericho

 

This graphic is not available for copying

Have you ever been so shamed that you couldn’t face anyone?

2 Samuel 10 and 1 Chronicles 19 tell a story of a kindness by King David that turned into a very painful situation for servants of King David. We have no information on how many servants, nor do we know their names. They were physically insulted.

In their culture it was a double insult to their manhood when their hair on one side of their beards were removed, and their clothing cut off to display their buttocks.  Apparently one person was not so treated and was able to go ahead of them, and get back in time to tell them to “tarry in Jericho” until their hair had grown back. 

Google gave a quick answer as to how quickly a man's beard grows - an average of half an inch a month was one site's conclusion. The author went further and stated:  "... the average man could have a beard of up to six inches in length after a year of growth with minimal trimming." Therefore, David basically gave his servants a year in Jericho.

This made me wonder what a person would do if they had a year off, but continued their employment, yet could not go home to family and friends. Think about it for a moment. You do not wish to be seen, for it is physically possible for people to see what you consider a shame filled time for yourself - but there's a whole year for you to tarry away from home.

Not too often are people in the Bible told to tarry, which basically means the same in Hebrew (abide, continue, dwell, endure, remain) as it does in Greek (abide, continue, dwell, endure, sit) but there are are 50 verses that use that word in the King James Version.

Beloved Husband grew a beard this year. From January to July 4, to celebrate our country's 250th birthday. It was not a long one. Yes, he had it snapped a couple of times, but not cut back. It our culture beards are a personal decision - but in this biblical story, they were so expected that it was better to hid away from home then to be seen. 

Today, in our culture, people appear to lack any shame. Recognizing sinfulness in our lives may bring a feeling of shame, but repentance is a necessity to allow God's joy to fill our lives. With His plan of salvation, our sin is gone. 

That is God's promise. Not mine. Do you know where the Bible tells us it is His?

A Song From Sunday's Service

Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, Dec 2, 1873. Page 1

 We begin Sunday worship services with singing. When you open the YouTube app and it shows the countdown to starting, the switch to live takes you right into music. It is a regular part of our service, bringing us together to focus on the pulpit and the choir loft behind it.

Among the songs Sunday was "It Is Well With My Soul." Betcha you've heard it, though you may not know much about it. I've written more than once about Horatio Spafford. Highlights of his life are: a wealthy lawyer with investments in Chicago; had a beautiful wife and four lovely girls; was a Presbyterian for many years; founded the American Colony in Jerusalem, providing medical care, shelter, and soup kitchens to Muslims, Jews, and Christians. Several tragedies could have overwhelmed him: the Chicago fire, which burned his investments, leaving only charred property, the loss of his four daughters in a shipwreck, financial loss, but not a loss of faith.

The lyrics were sung a couple of years after the collision of two ships that sank the Ville de Harve in less than fifteen minutes. From the above news story, Mrs. Spafford and the girls were sailing with friends from Chicago - while Horatio remained behind due to business concerns.

His wife's telegram, "Saved alone. What shall I do?" speaks volumes. After receiving that, he traveled to New York and sailed to be with her. As his ship crossed the spot, the captain told him they were sailing over where the ship had been lost.

How does any one handle such loss? I don't know. I cannot begin to imagine the loss of a child, much lose all of my children in a single accident.

However, I do know a bit about having faith through tragic loss. I know bad things happen to very good people, and good things happen for very bad people. I know we live in a fallen world that God provided natural resources that can damage property and people, too. 

Matthew quoted Jesus in teaching us to love our enemies: 

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? (Matthew 5:44-46)

In the middle, Jesus let us know that God is aware natural things happen to both the just and the unjust. Those with faith continue to love God and also understand:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Jesus told His disciples that after His death a Comforter would be coming:

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (John 16:7-8)

Let's go back to Romans 8:

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:24-27)

That brings to my mind the blessed assurance of salvation:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

For me - that is the foundation for facing death - not just my own eventual, but the very real loss of parents, nephew, grandson, friends, and an innocent child in our community. Faith in God.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Paul's Life Gives Me Hope

 

Saint Paul

I've written about Paul before. I've been reading some social media posts that are not hopeful. fortunately, I'm sufficiently familiar with Bible stories the give examples of why I continue to believe:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1, KJV)

Not an eye witness to biblical events, I can have faith in their validity. No one can prove the historical events did not happen, plus archeology continues to confirm history contained in the Hebrew Tanakh. Judaism retained belief for hundreds of centuries following Moses' leading Israelites out of Egypt, back to land they had grazed through generations until the moved to Egypt. 

Judaism had divisions when Christ was born, just as they, Christianity, and Islam do today. Scholars, who while disagreeing on some doctrine, believed in a singular deity, just as today. 

Paul was such a scholar. As a student under a member of the Sanhedrin, he was zealous in defending their faith to the point of seeing Jesus' followers (not yet called Christians) in prison or dead. 

What changed Paul? 

He never denied his own religion. Israel's being the focus of God's interaction with mankind remained the foundation. Jews were looking for action from God. The land promised to them had passed through many hands and they wanted it back. Scriptures promised there would be a future for the Jewish people and the timing was just about right for the promised one.

Paul had studied all those scriptures in Jerusalem, the center of Judaism and Jewish culture. The High Priest conducted ceremonial offering just as they had been done as Aaron did in the Tabernacle, only Paul saw them done in the third - and so far last - temple. Paul took pride in being a Jew, a Pharisee, and being taught by Gamaliel:

I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. (Acts 22:3-4)

Apparently Paul did not heed Gamaliel, who stood up in the Jewish Council and said:

Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. . . . And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. (Acts 5:34-35, 38-39)

What hope of salvation was there for a man who sought Jesus' followers and persecuted them unto death? Frankly, the same hope of all sinners -  which is everyone in our world today. Paul had that same hope. His renowned teach even said to the Council that they could be found fighting against God.

What changed Paul? A face to face meeting with the resurrected Jesus. The whole story is in Acts, and I've referenced it before. Either take my word for it, or look it up. It does take a meeting with Jesus for us to realize what is meant in John 3:16-18. The majority do not have that brilliant meeting Paul had - but we don't have the job God gave Paul. And for that I am extremely grateful.

I do have the same hope of salvation that Paul preached for the rest of his life. It is as simple as John 3:16 and as difficult as the entire book of the Bible. Accepting Jesus as God's plan of salvation is totally based on faith - which is:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

What is faith to you? When did you discover you had faith? Can you share specific events of faith with others? Paul did all of that - defined faith, discovered it on the road to Damascus, shared it with people for the rest of his life. Let's do our part. Share the substance of things you hope for. With anyone.

Walking On Water As A New Christian

Henry Ossawa Tanner, The Disciples See Christ Walking on the Water, c. 1907.jpg

 A Facebook post this week caught my eye. There was an error in the headline, but what was important is that Jesus was not the only person the Bible says who walked on water. Peter did, too:

And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. (Matthew 14:29)

Even in Commons Wikimedia, very few of the paintings had Peter standing on the water. In most, he was half way in, with Jesus holding his hand. In many, the painting indicated a storm - but to me that when Jesus was getting some sleep in a boat, not this same instance. We know what the fishermen were doing:

And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. (Matthew 14:22-24)

The blue in Tanner's painting doesn't show tossing waves, but it does convey the attention of the crew:

And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. (Matthew 14:25-28)

Isn't that the way new Christians are? "Lord, I believe in you. Direct miy life." Stepping out in faith the same way Peter stepped out of the boat and "he walked on the water, to go to Jesus." Then we are faced with reality:

But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. (Matthew 14:30)

That's not confined to happening with new Christians. Experienced, older and wiser, Christians can come down from a "mountain top" experience and find the wind - temptations, old friends, debts, existing or new problems - and become afraid, beginning to sink. When that does happen - and it will, Peter's example remains the best for us: "Lord, save me!"

Not from sinning, not from being lost, not even from dying (which we all will do eventually) but from the fear that our actions have separated us from Jesus. His answer to Peter is the same for us:

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (Matthew 14:31)

We doubt because we are human. I love what one man say when Jesus asked if he believed:

And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. (Mark 9:21-24)

We were sinners, unforgiven, before coming to Jesus in belief. We remain sinners, forgiven, because we have faith in Jesus' words that confirm God's promises. Peter and Paul quote ties in the Jewish faith in God's promises to the Christian's:

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 

(1 Peter 1:9-10)

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:7-10)

Stepping out at Jesus' call did not cause Peter to stumble. Fear did. Renewal of faith had him reaching out for Jesus to save him. When we do fear, seek the love that overcomes:

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:18-19)

Read Hebrews 11th chapter. Faith grows in the loving relationship with God. Not a man, not a building, not the Church, not the congregation, but in our individual relationship with God who is active in all of those.

Not Being A Catholic

 

From Wikimedia Commons, used by Creative Commons Attribution permission

"A mission of compassion for the world"

It is not easy not being a Catholic. You see, we do not have a priest we can confess to and lay all of our sins in his ear. He would then give a Catholic a number of things to do, and absolve the parishioner of all confessed sins. Then they are ready for the next Mass.

Non-Catholics have to confess their sins direct to our Father. Oh, He knows them anyway, but He has requested we acknowledge them, with remorse, too. There are no "Hail Mary's" and we've already spoke directly to our Father, which means in most cases we already know what we were - and are -  supposed to do.

The important thing is, our sins are gone. The ones we prayed to Him about, that we regret that have caused a separation between Him and ourselves. We can do this any time, any place, just as a thief on a cross could call across to the man in the middle:

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. (Luke 23:42)

A bit further back in the Bible, King David was speaking directly to God after a reminder from his pastoral authority figure, the prophet Nathan:

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. (Psalms 51:2-4)

Oh, we all need an intercessor - someone who speaks for us before a higher authority - but as not being Catholic, ours is God:

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (1 Corinthians 2:12)

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

There are other verses, but no need to fill pages here - the message is simple, as long as scripture is where we find God. Bereans did:

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. (Acts 17:10-12)

I believe scripture is of great importance - partly because the Bible says so. But, not being a Catholic, this comes easily:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Oh, yes, not being a Catholic, I'm not confined to fish on certain days, and our pastors know what family life is like because they live through it, too:

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4:1-5)

Peter had his own experience with changes in dietary laws that opened his heart to non-Jewish believers:

And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. (Acts 10:13-15)

There is much to learn in Acts 10. The story of Cornelius and Peter has great depth, and comes to me when I'm reading other verses as confirmation that God speaks to those who speak to Him.

No - I have not had any specific experience where I believe I heard God's voice. But - I could spend pages here showing His hand in where and how I am now. As Paul, I've kicked against the pricks that are designed to lead me on the right path, but I learned better before I took a road to Damascus:

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (Acts 9:4-5)

Few have such a direct meeting with our Lord. And that's fine with me. His judgment seat is enough for me to consider. Not the first one - I know I'll make it through that because I believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, who died as prophesied, and rose again on the third day - as He told His disciples. They forgot. They didn't have the gospels, the letters to the churches, the Revelation to John. But, they had Jesus for another 40 days, then received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and they turned the world upside down. Or, at least people tlhought so.

Spend time with your Bible in prayer to our Lord. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit. We've been given instructions on how to deal with wrong spirits:

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:1-4)

Why? Because reading the Bible brings us closer to our Father. In fact, look beyond the verses here. read chapters especially John, who tells why he wrote:

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13)

Apprenticeship - Discipleship?

Apprenticeship

 According to Wikipedia, apprenticeship is learning through work that leads to a credential that is recognized by a relevant authority and is deliberately structured and supported to provide a progression of learning experiences, training potential new practitioners of a trade or profession on-the-job training and accompanying study. Apprenticeships may also enable practitioners to gain a license to practice in a regulated occupation. Most of their training is done while working for an experienced employer who helps the apprentices learn their trade or profession.

Discipleship is more focused - being a disciple, a follower, or a student of some philosophy, especially a follower of Christ. The Bible uses the word "disciple" often, and if you do a search in the King James Version, you'll find either disciple, disciples in 255 verses, all in the four gospels and Acts of the Apostles. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ just means you are His follower, and there's a title:

And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.  (Acts 11:26c)

Jesus did not call His followers Christians. We are told to whom He came:

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)

Last Sunday I covered how we know we are lost and the Roman Road that outlines the salvation process in "Everyone Gets the Same Question." When our answer is "Yes, I want to follow what Jesus taught and I believe He is God," we still have a lot to learn. If we are around people who do not see Jesus that same way, they will ask questions that new Christians may find difficult. Some of us older ones are faced with the same situation!

When we've been Christians for a while, we learn how to answer such questions by turning to the Bible. There are so many times the answer becomes obvious with prayerful reading, and our experience in question answering grows. I've thought about one - the fourth chapter of 1 Timothy - that is good for a young Christian. Timothy's mother and grandmother taught him Hebrew scriptures, the Tanakh, and Paul wrote him personally.

In that fourth chapter, Paul wrote:

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. (1 Timothy 4:12-16)

Some people become Christians late in life. No  one sees them as "youth," but they are young in belief. Following Paul's advice to Timothy really is good for us at any age, and at any stage of our Christian life simply because there is too much to learn. So many verses are applicable in a variety of situations in today's society even though today's inventions and applications seem to outdate the Bible. They don't.

The Bible is as applicable today as it was when Moses moved the Israelites out of Egypt. Whether you think of it as apprenticesip or discipleship, use the Bible as life's book of instructions, and see how long practicing Christians use it. Learn from them, then share. Remember that last line in verse 16 - consider who will be saved.

Who Will Listen To Me?

 

Wikemedia Commons 

Speaking aloud of our love for God and thankful for what He has done for us does not come easily for most. We sit in church and see others speak clearly and understandably, and think "How do they do that?" At times I've wondered if I could get through by sharing an old ear horn and making people listen to me. 

It's not too difficult, though, when you start with the people closest to you. Let's look at some examples. I'll pick and choose here, but you can pick and choose among any Bible story you want. Since we are talking about becoming a Christian, I we can start with the New Testament.

Peter is usually mentioned as being the first called, but there are these verses:

Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. (John 1:38-42a)

The other lists in the gospels begin with Peter, bold, outspoken Peter - but it's Andrew who first brought his interest in Christ to his brother. Andew listened to John (the Baptist) and didn't hesitate to speak to Jesus. Andrew first found his brother and Peter went with him to see Jesus.

In our own family, one of my children spent a good deal of time with a sibling who questioned whether or not Christianity was worth the time and effort. He didn't understand the Trinity - how could there be three separate people at Jesus' baptism - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I'll address that question (that many people have) in another blog let stick with - speak with a family member. They may not listen well the firsts time around, but know that new Christians have the Holy Spirit's help:

And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. (Luke 12:11-12)

The previous verses show Jesus telling the disciples how difficult like will be if they choose to follow Him. The conversation began in a large crowd that wasn't listening, so Jesus turned and spoke directly to His disciples. Lesson: even in a crowd, focus on the people you want to hear.

Paul gave us a good example in an open area in Athens still called Mars Hill, also known as Aeropagus, a prominent rock outcropping located northwest of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. In ancient times, it served as the meeting place for the Areopagite Council, a significant judicial and legislative body in Athens, which gathered crowed of citizens:

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. (Acts 17:22-23)

Does that sound a bit unusual to you? A foreigner telling Greeks they were superstitious, ignorantly worshipping, and defining the unknown god? Not even I would suggest anyone starting that way - but it worked because Paul knew his audience. He knew Greeks were inquisitive by culture, education was sought by Greeks, and their language had covered the known world for over a couple of hundred years. People listened, came back for more, and some believed.

Philip's is a story none of us can expect to happen - but it not only did, he handled it quite well:

And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. (Acts 8:26)

I have not heard a single person tell me that an "angel of the Lord spoke" to them, but I've heard many say that the Holy Spirit has led them. Our own Assistant Pastor is on the road today in response to a call from another church to be their pastor. He and his family did spend time in prayer and have no doubt that is where they are led to serve. Philip responded to:

And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. (Acts 8:27-29)

Our church heard a witnessing to a similar incident. He was stopped along a highway. Our Assistant Pastor (also named Philip) was the only car that stopped, and Philip offered to help. Not an unusual situation for a white man to stop and assist a Black man, but our Philip invited the gentleman to church. I heard this story as that gentleman made a public statement about it to thank our Philip.

I wrote "Send A Philip" last month. I didn't know at the time that the Holy Spirit would be sending our Philip, and his family, but it was so timely as I was being led to return to this blog. It's not a source of income, I do not advertise, I have not one thing for sell here. My only hope is the individual that needs to know about God's plan for them finds a clue here. I listened years ago and wrote. I know I need to continue. Will you read and listen?

What's Next?

 

Moving scene, Montreal, 1st May, frontpage of L'Opinion publique, Montreal, 

vol. VII, no 20, 1876, 18 mai, p. 1.

Our Assistant Pastor is on the road today, moving to another state. His sermon Sunday morning was entitled "What's Next? You can watch it on YouTube, just search for First Baptist Church of Cottondale, Texas. Oddly enough, there are two other FBC Cottondale, and I've been blessed to take photos of both. We were not there on a day services were being held, or I would have attended. I am very glad to attend services where the Bible is taught and discussed.

However, losing an Assistant Pastor is actually traumatic is many cases. It is always a sense of sadness to stop seeing him at work or calling with questions, and it increases a pastor's job until a new one is selected. However - it is also a very happy occasion because there's another church that has requested him as pastor. It is an opportunity for growth, and a continuing of what came next for him years ago.

"What's Next" is one of the first questions in every Christian's life. It certainly jumped to the forefront in AP's sermon this morning from Acts 1. Jesus' disciples most definitely had experienced trauma in their lives over the past three years.

Jsus took twelve men away from their everday work. We know Matthew was a tax collector, and there were at least four fishermen: Peter, Andrew, James, and John. There new job was to follow Him, listen, apply the lessons, and share the good news. The twelfth, Judas Iscariot, died the same day Jesus died. The next three days were spent in a combination of despair and mourning for all who followed Jesus. 

But that third day!!! And, the next 40 days with Him!!! Those were fulfilling. However, the disciples didn't understand any more than they did they time He gave the parable about the sower (see Mark 4.)

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6)

Forty days of being with their resurrected miracle worker who explained parables - and they asked "What's Next?' with a question not related to Jesus' previous instructions:

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (Acts 1:4-5)

Don't think you've done better, yet. This is often what new Christian believers run into. "Wow! My whole world has changed. People I ran around with won't speak to me now, and the people at church expect me to know what to do next. I don't!"

Trust God. Trust that reading your Bible with prayer will teach you what you need to do next.  After that verse six questions, the disciples did exactly what Jesus told them to do. The rest of chapter one tells us they obeyed by staying in Jerusalem. They gathered in the Upper Room where the Last Supper was held and prayed. Then Peter referred (Acts 1:20) to scripture in Psalm - which comes close to:

Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents. (Psalms 69:25)

The disciples then prayed and filled the empty leadership position.

So - for the new Christian and the established church members - the answer is always: obey God's instructions.

Where are the instructions? In the Bible. How will we know which one applies? Begin with two commands:

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:36-40)

Any decision should be predicated by beginning with the first, and continuing with the second, before taking action. Love God enough to read His words in the Bible:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

The simplicity of Christianity is accepting Jesus as God's Son, His plan of salvation. But saying it is so doesn't necessarily mean that one believes it. Fortunately, the Bible was written so that we can be certain of its essential truth, even when we have questions:

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:10-13)

Everyone Gets the Same Question

 

Question Mark Trio

Recently on X a member continued a conversation with me after an exchange about Pascal's Wager. I've written about it before, so you can either do a search here or Google if you are not familiar with it. 

Everyone answers the question "Does God exist?" Even if it is a lower-case deity, humans choose to believe, or not, in their own mind. 

What I do not understand are those who accept the outward signs of belief - marriage, funerals, Christmas, Easter - and participate in those out of civic duty. 

One sweet mother describes her own mother as being in heaven. It gives her a sense of peace. But she has denied believing in the one book that uses that word for a specific place. How does she think her mother got to heaven, and what did she teach her own children for their comfort. 

Lots of questions - but every individual who lived or is now living on this planet faces it because we all know death comes to each one of us. 

For believing Jews and Christians the question is answered in:

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

Simple - belief in this verse to be considered either a believing/practicing Jew or Christian. You see, anyone can take the title, but the Bible decides whether they are telling the truth. When a person tells someone else they are a Jew or a Christian, the assumption should be they believe in God, YHWH, LORD, the most used names applied to the deity we worship.

To be considered a Christian, it is necessary to add:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1-3)

Christians do not believe in multiple Gods - there is  only one and we see that deity in many ways - one of which was when He became human, and there is much to learn from that. Our reference is called a Bible. It contains books the Jews consider scripture, plus the writings of Jesus' apostles who worked directly with Him while He was here on earth, then returned to the heaven we all wish to see.

The question about God's existence isn't new, and the relationship between God and mankind goes back to the oldest book in the Bible - Job.

How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? (Job 25:4)

Yes - even though it isn't one of the first books, it has been studied and is believed by scholars to have been written about the same time of Abraham, introduced to us in the book of Genesis. Reading Job takes time and study. It is his friend Bildad speaking in Chapter 25. Bildad and Job's three other friends never questioned the reality of God, nor the need to do right and not wrong. Their ethics are clear throughout the book. Even Job asks:

For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? (Job 27:8)

Which Jesus rephrases:

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36)

Please - if you chosen there is not a deity, reconsider. Then add the Bible to your reading. Never leave the life of Jesus out of your life without being able to explain the reason for your choice. Some day, an explanation will be required. That's a promise.

Pascal's Wager does not go beyond deciding whether or not a deity exists. When a person make the choice that one does, it is necessary to be certain you have chosen wisely. There is a huge difference for the Christian believer, given in John 3:16-18:

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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18)

I started this subject, and was interrupted. Didn't get back to it until today. Good thing! Our lesson was on Job, which gave me the Job 25:4 verse. Then the sermon this morning gave me the next blog. 

The Bible Explains the Bible

 

Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Boulder, Colorado

I looked in Wikimedia Commons for graphic with the Greek Alpha and Omega letters because of four  verses - and this one is my favorite:

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. (Revelation 21:6)

I like the difference between "It is done," and "It is finished."

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30)

Which word do you use when you've completed a significant part of a project, as opposed to when the entire project is complete? 

When Jesus died on the cross, several prophecies were fulfilled, but there was much more coming down the road. John outlined Jesus life and death on earth, then was given the task of showing the completion of God's plans for Earth, the entire planet and every soul who had ever been on it. 

It is impossible to put the whole story in one verse, though John 3:16 comes close:

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 3:16)

It is important to have read the full discourse Jesus had with Nicodemus beginning with John 3:1 and running through John 3:21 to understand the outline of the discussion. Entire sermons have been written on John 3:16-18, and entire study cousrses on all 21 verses. No one gets it in one reading without finding out who Nicodemuis was and why this discussion was important.

Nicodemus is mentioned in other verses. He was a Pharisee. Pharisees are mentioned in many verses, and when you know them, you understand how different this discussion could be. Verses may appear to be important when they are quoted alone, but it is how they fit into the entire biblical story of God that we can see their importance.

Never allow your salvation - or any one else's - to stand on a single verse. Find where the subject or the person is through the entire Bible, being certain you get the full picture that you are shown.

The majority of people who have lived on Earth believed/believes in a deity. Some do not, but tend to "worship" something all of their lives. They have an earthly goal while not believing there is more to living. Christians are consistent - there is life after death. God, the name applied to the deity that created the seeable universe we live in, supplied the book that introduces Him to mankind. He also supplied all the information to reach Him and accept living with Him eternally. 

I've written of Pascal's Wager - most recently three years ago - and you can Google about it and find tons of information. Each one of us must determine what we will bet our lives upon. I have deliberately (see the freedom to do so in the middle of that decision?) chosen to put my faith in God's merciful love. Have you? If not, would you be kind enough to tell me why not? It can be done anonymously, right here.

Can We Talk About Goals?

 

This was just sketched on a wrinkled piece of paper that I had used heaven only knows when. Doubting it came from a work meeting (but it could have), I prefer thinking it came from some Ladies Meeting, or a weekend of fellowship thinking about God's word (or Word.)

Frankly, my five-year goal is to celebrate my 90th birthday five years from next Friday. A weekly goal is getting to next Friday - but we worked pretty hard at that this past year, so I'm feeling comfortable. It's the "Someday" goal from the above list that's on my mind.

My "Someday" goals have changed over the decades. Too many decades to really look at the changes, but I made one "Someday" goal back when I was a young teen and decided I was being taught correctly and needed to make a decision. Some day, I wanted to be in heaven with most of the people I knew. There is a God who both created and still cares about u, who provided an eternal home for His creation. Simple and unbelievable unless you find Him.

I not only knew the Roman's Road that outlines the reasons for and ability to achieve salvation. These verses in the Bible do not stand alone, but they encompass the wording needed to understand we live in an imperfect world, why that affects everyone. At one time I had it memorized and marked in my New Testament. Back then I was eager to share that information.

Life decisions moved my path into creating a family. I fell in love in a week, and married a year later. Together we made and met several awesome goals. Missed a few along the way, too, but none of them were earth-shattering. This year we celebrated our 65th wedding anniversary. We feel grateful and blessed - many of our dear friends did not make that. Our own son-in-law missed his 37th, and they would have been an awesome couple at 50th, 60th, or 70th. 

Not everyone gets to complete a goal, but we should set them. The heavenly one I set is available to everyone I know, and many have turned it down. I would love to know the specifics on those that have. Where/when did they make the specific decision to turn down what Gof has for them?

Oh, I do ask that question. The older I get, the stronger is my desire to believe I have done what I could to explain why I am interested. You see, the offer of a heavenly eternity is open to every one, to whosoever, all mankind. And yet many turn it down. The answer I do get is the same as many celebrities, "I don't believe there are any gods. Science proves the universe is simply a natural occurrence."

Can it be that it's simply a matter of having an open mind and using prayer as a companion to reading the Bible?

As the Bible teaches, all mankind has sinned - that's a problem, but is true:

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Romans 3:10)

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)

In spite of our willfully damaging other people's lives, God loves us all:

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Willfully continuing to reject God has only one solution, accepting God has the other:

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

The needed action is simple and life changing:

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)

Of course these aren't the only verses. They are a convenient way of getting to the center of "what is wrong and how to set it right." There are tons of other verses - Romans 3:10 is a quote from the Old Testament. Prophets before Christ were specific in where men were sinning. If we look with truth in our own lives, we know where we have fallen short of truth with those we love, much less those we don't.

The Bible is full of truth. However, single verses can carry falsehoods, so it is best read in context. Read through Romans. Better yet, read through the four Gospels and see what you find in Jesus. Then read Acts to meet Paul and why he was involved with Jesus' followers. Then read Romans.

Of course, then you'll need to read the Old Testament to find out where Jews came from, why their religion is important, how promises made to God were not kept, but promises made by God were kept. Never skip the Prophecies! Every book of the Old Testament speaks of God's promise of a coming savior. Can you see Jesus there? If not, please let me show you what you've missed.

Come, set your goal. Read with me, and learn of our Lord and Savior. One God who is always with mankind.