The Way

OK, so I read MSNBC for my national news. And, write about their articles. This one’s statement “My Way Isn’t The Only Way” may be a bit misleading. Some clarification on my personal views:

My church, my denomination, is not the only way to reach God through Jesus Christ. However, the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the only way to reach God. In fact, I just wrote a blog on that yesterday (which will now be posted as a followup):

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6 KJV)

Perhaps the most quoted verse from the Bible, 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 KJV), bears the same witness.

Scan through many of my previous postings and you’ll find these and similar verses confirming my belief that Paul answered this question correctly: And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:30-31 KJV)

Be you Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Dutch Reform, Episcopalian or any of the alphabet-stew of Christian denominations, as long as the above verses apply for you, we worship the same God, the same Savior.

If not, we don’t. And, I respect the fact that you hold beliefs that are different. I may wish that your beliefs will change, but I do not believe it is my business to see that they do so. Nor is it your business to see that mine do.

I do believe, however, that an honest exchange of information regarding our beliefs opens communications that cannot be held under other circumstances. I also believe those who seek God find Him: I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. (Proverbs 8:17 KJV) And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13 KJV)

There are many countries where tolerance, diversity and communication are not offered (or, in some cases, allowed) between believers. I do pray that offering never changes in our country. May we always be free to discuss our Bible, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah of the Lord God, who has promised us: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32 KJV)

You've heard

You have heard. How have you responded?

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. (Luke 8:11-12 KJV)

As Agrippa, you have heard. How have you responded?

King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. (Acts 26:27-29 KJV)

As Thomas, you have heard, though not seen. How have you responded?

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (John 20:28-29 KJV)

As Paul, you have heard, though not seen. How have you responded?

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. (Acts 9:6 KJV)

As Pilate, you have heard. How have you responded?

Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. (Matthew 27:22 KJV)

As Felix, you have heard. How have you responded?

And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. (Acts 24:25 KJV)

As the centurion, you have heard. How have you responded?

When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. (Matthew 8:10 KJV)

As Christ spoke to His followers, you have heard. How have you responded?

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, (Luke 24:45 KJV)

Poor

Did Christ neglect the poor? Is there no hope that poverty will disappear? Three of the Gospels state:

For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. (Matthew 26:11 KJV)

For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. (Mark 14:7 KJV)

For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always. (John 12:8 KJV

Matthew gives us Jesus’ answer to John the Baptist’s question: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. (Matthew 11:5 KJV) The poor are left unchanged, except by the Gospel. Yet, that is the greatest gift for it, only, offers eternal life.

We’re to love our neighbors as ourselves, and what we do to them is to Him: And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:40 KJV) Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. (Matthew 25:45 KJV)

James tells us that what we do displays the depth of our faith: If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (James 2:15-17 KJV)

Christ tells us how He feels when we do it: And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:40 KJV)

And, He tells us how He feels when we do NOT do it: Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. (Matthew 25:45 KJV)

However – will doing good save either the giver or receiver? No. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8 KJV) Once that gift is accepted, the recipient’s life should reflect changes.

That’s why Christians join Paul in praying for God’s children: That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19 KJV)

What we have is eternal life with our Lord. How then can we give less than Peter: Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. (Acts 3:6 KJV)

Party A

Changes have taken away, not added to. ‘… new gender-neutral marriage licenses — with the words "Party A" and "Party B" instead of "bride" and "groom"’ (MSNBC June 18)

This is what I meant in ‘Covenant or Contract’ – “Party A” and “Party B” are neither bride, nor groom, but a legal re-writing of that which they cannot be.

Instead of becoming what they wanted, they’ve added newspeak to that which was, and cannot be under their new definitions. Instead of achieving equality, they have changed the rules and deleted that which was, and cannot be under their new definitions.

I was a bride, neither Party A nor B. I am a wife, not Party A nor B. Activists have removed a legal designation, but they cannot be that which I am. The activist, though they have run over me, have not removed me. Though they have used courts to overturn the democratic votes of a majority of their neighbors, they have not gained, but erased.

Activists have offered false dreams of obtaining that which others have: Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD. … And the burden of the LORD shall ye mention no more: for every man's word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God. (Jeremiah 23:32, 36 KJV)

I speak my mind, put my thoughts where others may read them. I do not become an activist for legal change in return, for my Lord tells me: My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both? (Proverbs 24:21-22 KJV) He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. (Proverbs 24:24-25 KJV)

My Lord also says that As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (Revelation 3:19 KJV)

My Lord also responded to His disciples: And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. (Luke 9:54-56 KJV)

Instead of being incensed at the change, I am saddened at the loss.

The Gospel

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:17-18 KJV)

This reference isn’t the only one specifying the need to maintain scriptural doctrines.

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (2 Corinthians 11:3-4 KJV)

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-8 KJV)

Seems to me, then, that it is very important that the gospel not come from wonderful preachers, outstanding teachers, well-worded authors but should come from the Bible. Fifty years ago I listened to Billy Graham at Skelly Field in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He spoke from the Bible, spoke of Christ of the Bible, lifted his Bible as the source of his words and the focus of his sermon. He wasn’t the first, nor will my current minister be the last, to tell me of Christ’s love direct from this book.

There have been some in between that did speak of doctrines other than scriptural, who preached Jesus different from the New Testament, who called attendance to another gospel.

To some this will appear closed-minded, unopened to the beauty of another’s religion. It may even appear offensive. Should it appear so, please remember the words of He whom I worship as Lord:

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6 KJV)

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 3:18 KJV)

Just continue with the advice Paul sent to Timothy: Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (1 Timothy 4:13 KJV)

Our Youth

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. (1 Timothy 4:12 KJV)

It has been a pleasure over the past few years to watch many of our young people step forward and use their considerable talents in witnessing for our Lord. The summers are especially a blessing because so many are home from Bible college, and will be working with us in Vacation Bible School.

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 4:15-16 KJV)

Our youngsters coming the VBS are headed for an old age where they may say, as David did: For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth. (Psalms 71:5 KJV) O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. (Psalms 71:17 KJV)

They will have an opportunity to learn of their Creator so that they may Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1 KJV)

Some have turned aside, even as youth, and have decided not to hear the words, nor obey: I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice. (Jeremiah 22:21 KJV)

Perhaps some will come to the Lord one day and say: The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? (Matthew 19:20 KJV)

They will need to understand the Bible verses they’ve read over the years. And they will understand, as He said: But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26 KJV)

The Preacher spoke to the bottom line: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV)

Learn His commandments. Vacation Bible School offers our children a head start in this, and our adults the opportunity to serve Him. Please, join us in prayer for the coming services.

Do you love me?

Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me …? (John 21:15a KJV)

He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? (John 21:16a KJV)

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? (John 21:17a KJV)

How would you feel if someone you loved and trust – someone you’d left home and family to be with – asked three times the same question, even after you’ve answered? Who was not clear here? He who is, was and evermore shall be? The one who was with God, and who was God? So it must have been Peter who wasn’t clear?

When someone asked Him what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? (Mark 10:17 KJV) Jesus let those around know the man was loved, but even then His answer was not completely clear: Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. (Mark 10:21 KJV)

Give up everything? His followers … were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. (Mark 10:26-27 KJV)

There are many today who love Him, but they are much like … the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. (John 12:42-43 KJV)

There are so many things we love more than God. Look around us and we can see things we’ve put before our love of God. Yet He loves us, and tells us so: … Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. (John 13:1b KJV)

He loved us. He came for us. As with Jerusalem, He says to us, how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! (Luke 13:34b KJV)

How do we know when we love Him? 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 14:21 KJV)

Can we stand with the centurion who watched Him die then said, Truly this man was the Son of God. (Mark 15:39 KJV)

That man did so without knowing of the resurrection. How can we do less 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 KJV)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? … For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35, 38-39 KJV)