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The Gospel
My Sheep Hear My Voice
The man has become like one of us, discerning good and evil. Now, in case he also takes to eat from the tree of life, and lives forever.. So The Lord God drove the man out of the garden, guarding the way to the tree of life.
To the one overcoming, I will give to him to eat of the tree of life which is in the paradise of God.
Some are confusing you and want to distort the good news of Christ.
Over the last two thousand years, people have twisted the meaning of scriptures to suit their own way of living, instead of changing their own way of living to reflect what the scriptures teach 2 Peter 3:16. That is why so many Christians nowadays do not agree with each other 2 Peter 2:1-2. It is confusing for people who rightly expect that God's people should be united and showing the character of Christ 1 Corinthians 14:33.
Born Again!
Whoever hears my Word and trusts the one who sent me, has eternal life. He does not come into judgement, but has passed over from death to life.
When people are spiritually well, they have the qualities of godliness: love, grace, righteousness etc. That is because we are made for the spirit of God to live in us
Some people are not like that though. They are mean, selfish, hypocritical and dishonest.
We say that they need to be born again - but why?
I was alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came to life and I died. Sin took the opportunity through the commandment. It deceived me, and through deceit, it killed me.
Children naturally want to do good, even if they sometimes do things that are wrong - because they are still learning right from wrong Children willingly obey when they understand why the commandment is right.
Parents (or other authorities) need to be careful, to always be fair and not take advantage of their power, otherwise the child learns that it is better to disobey.
When we learn to disobey authority by lying or defying, we start getting tempted to break other rules. We might even be tempted to disobey our own conscience!
If we choose to not obey our conscience, then we are choosing to deceive ourself in order to believe that the conscience is wrong, and that means that we are rejecting the spirit of truth. That can make us uncomfortable or angry when God's spirit is present.
Unless you turn and become as little children, you shall never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Pilate said to him "What is truth?"John 18:38
Truth isn't debatable. It is simply to be made known and then accepted or rejected.
Truth: the quality or state of being true.
Some people hate the truth, because it forces them to admit that they are wrong.
They are afraid of what other people will think of them, so they lie. They will even blame innocent people to escape the truth!
When they persecute you, it is because they don't know the one who sent me. Whoever hates me also hates the father who sent me.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts fear out, because fear is of punishment. Furthermore, the one who fears has not been made perfect in love!
There is nothing that is hidden that will not be revealed, and no secret that shall not be made known and come into open view.
A servant is not greater than his master. If the world hates you, remember that it first hated me.
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty. But now they have no excuse for their sin.
What I tell you in the dark speak in the light, and what you hear in your ear, shout from the roof tops.
No Greater Love!
A person who does not really know love will attempt to describe it as people and things who make them feel especially good. That actually describes a self-centred emotional attachment.
Christianity defines love perfectly, because the religion itself, is the very definition of love!
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Real love is when we do to others as we would have done to us. Jesus said "No one has greater love than this: that one should lay down his life for his friends".
This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
Love will always do what is good and right by others; even though there may be no promise of reward; even if we despise that one. Indeed, even if we must suffer for it!
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
He who has been forgiven much, will love much.
Why Sacrifice Messiah?
My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.
Two Thousand Years Ago, Jesus lived according to prophecy in Israel, fulfilling the plan that God had foretold.
He was born to a virgin mother, Mary, and was raised with faith to have a special relationship with God: His Heavenly Father.
He was teaching how God can heal the world, and that the world had many wrong ideas about God. But, the religious leaders thought Jesus should be learning from them rather than teaching them. Enraged, they crucified Him to prove their point.
It really proves that the human is so sinful, that even the most religious people thought that would please God!
But God knew that He can still teach us by spirit and that some people would truly repent of their sin to follow Him .. so in that way, He can heal the world through us!
So, it is because God loved the world, that He gave up His only-begotten son, so that everyone believing in Him should not be wasting away in decay, but having life fully without end!
No Ticket To Heaven
Too many people present the gospel as a basic formula: "believe it, say it, simple!". Real salvation changes our life, and requires total devotion.
Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. Many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to
Only those who do my father's will shall enter heaven. Many will say to me "Lord! Lord! see all the great things we did in your name!" To them I will plainly say "I never knew you! Get away from me, you who are lawless".
Suppose the servant thinks "My master delays", and becoming one of the rebels, starts beating his fellow servants. I tell you, the master shall come at an unexpected time to severley punish him. He will be placed with the unfaithful, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Therefore, keep watch. You don't know on what day your Lord will come.
I am the true vine and my father is the cultivator. He cuts off any branch in me that does not bear good fruit. But those who do bear fruit are pruned to produce more. Remain in me, and I will remain in you that you may bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing.
Enter through the narrow gate, because many take the broad road leading to destruction. The gate is small and the road narrow, that leads to life. Only a few will ever find it.
Faith vs Works
Some people think that the bible is a criteria for heaven, a set of commandments in order to escape a certain doom John 5:37-40. That is sometimes called "legalism" or "works-based faith".
The law is to silence every mouth and make the world accountable to God for punishment.
Therefore, no one will be declared righteous before God by works of law, for by law comes awareness of sin. God Himself gives righteousness to those who live by faith, who always put their trust in Jesus Christ.
There is no sense of achievement for the righteousness we receive, as every one has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. It is God's gift through the redemption in Christ Jesus, so we may boast only of His goodness and not our own.
God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth
St. Paul worked hard to explain legalism vs. obedience, and still many people are confused.
A legalistic religion is based upon a fear of punishment for failure, whereas salvation sets us free by knowing that God is pleased with us
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is meant to restore our relationship with God, the maker John 1:12, Galatians 4:4-7, Romans 8:14-17, Matthew 25:40. He becomes a real and active part of our life, a loving shepherd leading us in the way (Psalm 23).
He will always tell us when we need to repent, and we can recognise when people's words are inferior to His.
This is how we can be certain of our salvation, without a doubt.
Some people follow teachings to believe that they are Christian, but they don't personally know God. They repent for a short time but they don't really grow into the image of God.
The "once saved, always saved" doctrine is not properly understood by all Christians, so they might sometimes make it sound like a license to sin Hebrews 10:26-29
Stay Close With God
We can sometimes feel like worship is more of a duty than a precious moment with God.
God doesn't need us to be in church, He needs us to take His spirit into the world!
When we bring the spirit of God to others to relieve their suffering, He treasures us as His child. That makes us sing from the heart!
"To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to me?" says The Lord. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats.
"When you come to appear before me, who has required this from you, to trample my courts?
Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove your evil deeds from my sight;
Stop doing bad.
Learn to do good, seek justice, relieve the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow"
My sacrifice to you is a broken spirit. God, you will not despise a heart that is broken and contrite.
Worthy Pursuits
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth rust and thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in or steal. For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.
Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven.
Mammon: Riches or material wealth, esp. as an influence for evil or immorality.
So they brought him a coin. And he said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's" and he said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" Deuteronomy 10:14, Psalms 50:12
God blesses the ground when it drinks in the rain that frequently falls on it and then produces useful growth. But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is rejected, it is near to being cursed, and it's end is to be burned.
Some who hear the word are like seed falling among thorns. The worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and various desires for other things, choke the word that was sown. So it doesn't grow in them to produce good fruit.
Wherever your treasure is, there will be your heart.
Martyrdom
I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel.
Saint Paul had such love for his fellow Israelites, that he would rather be lost than saved, if it would save them.
At the heart of martyrdom is a willingness to suffer for another's liberation.
Whoever loves his father or mother more than he loves me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than he loves me is not worthy of me. And anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his own life will lose it, but the person who loses his life for my sake will find it.
Discipleship
You know that those who think to rule the nations are masters over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it is not so among you. Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be servant of all. Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Love your enemies; Whoever hates you, be kind to them. They curse you, bless them. Insulted? Pray for them. If you are struck on the cheek, offer the other as well. If someone takes your coat, let him have your shirt. Give to whomever asks of you. If what is yours is taken, don't insist on getting it back. When you lend without expecting to receive it back, and when you give to those who don't help you, then your reward will be great! You will be called children of The Most High God. Afterall, He is kind to those who are unthankful. You must be just as merciful.
Whoever hears these words of mine and does them is like a wise man who built his house on bedrock. His house survived the storm. The foolish man hears my words and does not act on them. He is like a man who built on sand. When the storm came, his house collapsed with a mighty crash!
The Word of God
He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Word: A command, password, or signal.
God's voice has been with us from the beginning John 1:1-4, instructing those who love Him Revelation 3:19-20
Although Jesus (God's Word in human form John 1:14) now waits in heaven Hebrews 10:11-13, we Christians are joined with Him in a very special way: He has exchanged places with us! In death He paid the wages of our sin Mark 10:45, so in life we become the present "body of Christ" Ephesians 4:11-16
We are adopted as heirs to the kingdom of God in Christ Jesus Romans 8:14-17, receiving authority John 1:12 and power as co-heirs with Him, and God may speak through us Isaiah 59:20-21
We are a holy, royal priesthood 1 Peter 2:9, representing The Most High 2 Corinthians 5:20. Our words must speak truth in perfect faithfulness, without sin and deceit, for His sake Jeremiah 23:21-22
This authority only belongs to a person having good conscience that God supports them 1 Peter 3:10-17, Hebrews 10:38. This is why we must live worthy of the calling 1 Corinthians 6:20, turning away from sin and making every effort in obedience, to give Him glory John 15:8
By speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does it's work.
The disciples asked, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” And He replied, “To you has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given and he will have plenty. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. For this reason I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear nor do they understand.
Beware of men, for you will be brought before governors and kings because of me. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you should say, for it is not you speaking, but the spirit of your Father speaking through you.
“This is my covenant with them,” says Adonai: “My spirit who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, or from the mouth of your offspring, or from the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says Adonai, “from now on and forever”
Jesus rebuked the wind and waves: “be quiet!” and it fell calm. The disciples having such little faith were amazed: “who is this? - Even the wind and the waves obey him!"
Holy Communion
Jesus gave up His life on earth as a ransom for our sin, so that His spirit can live within us! We are individuals, but collectively we are the body of Christ Ephesians 4:9-16, Colossians 1:24, united in spirit.
We break bread to remember that His body, once whole, was broken for us Ephesians 3:6
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body".
Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim The Lord's death until he comes. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of The Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgement upon themselves.
The wine is His blood Leviticus 17:11. His divine life goes in us and throughout us, so that we become a reflection of Him John 6:56
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins Hebrews 10:4, Hebrews 10:26-30.
I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it new with you, in My Father's Kingdom.
Whenever you do this, remember me.
Baptism
The way baptism saves us, the water depicting how the ark saved Noah, is not by the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but a pledge of a good conscience toward God's expectation, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God in heaven - with angels, authorities and powers having been subjected to him.
Baptism is a public ceremony for our covenant with God, witnessed by heaven and earth. The details of an individual's covenant are personal and perfectly understood by both parties.
When we commit our life to live God's way, He renews our conscience 1 Peter 3:21-22. We are no longer the same old sinner that we once were, but we are made new, learning to live blamelessly by following Him Ephesians 4:21-24
We don't have to pretend to be someone that we aren't, because we know that God is pleased for His spirit to live in us.
Being raised from the water symbolises the resurrection that we are promised in Christ John 5:24, 1 John 3:14, John 6:39, Colossians 2:12
In this way, St. Peter is describing that the water cleanses us by washing away the guilt of our past.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation - the former has passed away, and behold, the new has come!
Sometimes words have a deeper meaning for us, even if the one who is speaking doesn't know it.
This deeper meaning speaks to us, because it is a special insight that only matches our own thoughts, whatever our private concerns may beProverbs 1:20-21
When we begin to perceive these voices, we may choose to ignore them John 14:17, or learn from them Hebrews 12:25
I shall ask the Father, and He shall give you another Helper, to stay with you forever - the Spirit of The Truth, whom the world is unable to receive, because it does not see Him or know Him. But you know Him, for He stays with you and shall be in you.
We must be very careful about believing what the spirits John 10:4-7, John 14:6 want to teach us. St. John warns that not every spirit has been sent by God:
Do not believe every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, is of God. The spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, is not of God. That is the spirit of the antichrist.
The Holy Spirit
God is love. He who stays in love stays in God, and God in him.
Spiritual Possession
Possession: The state of having, owning, or controlling something.
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves servants for obedience, you are servants of the one whom you obey, whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?
You are from God, children, and have overcome them, because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.
The spirit of The Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind.
Your bodies are temples of The Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God. You are not your own;
Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone doing sin is a servant of sin. A servant does not stay in the house forever - a son stays forever. If, then, the son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Stay in me, and I stay in you. As the branch is unable to bear fruit unless it stays in the vine, so neither you, unless you stay in me. I am the vine and you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire and they are burned.
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
What is Sin?
Whoever knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people
- Pride
- "I am better/right"
- Often the root of persisting sin. By doing God's will instead of our own, we can gain His approval. After all, what reason could God have, to be displeased with us?
- Lust
- "I want that"
- When we are not content with what we have, we focus our attention on a hope of gratification. This never gives us satisfaction, and it generates distress.
- Gluttony
- "I can't help myself"
- Compromised self-control, for destructive behaviour. Gambling, addictions, etc.
- Sloth
- "I can't be bothered"
- When we don't do what we really should do, this can impact others who rely on us.
- Wrath
- "I'll make you pay"
- Anger resulting in fury makes us act against others in a way that is insulting, harmful or destructive.
- Greed
- "I still need more"
- Even if we have enough, we still want more. Inevitably, this causes some suffering to ones who genuinely need it more than we do.
- Envy
- "I deserve it more"
- This causes us to hate those who have what we want, perhaps taking it from them or being unkind.
What Went Wrong?
The reign of the heavens has become like a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while men slept, his enemy sowed darnel amongst it. When the workers discovered this, they asked whether they should remove the weeds. 'No', he instructed, 'so that you will not uproot some of the wheat too. Let both grow together until the harvest. The reapers shall bundle the weeds to burn them and gather the wheat to my granary.
Certain men have slipped in, wicked ones perverting the favour of God for indecency. These dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of glorious ones. These are grumblers, complainers, who walk according to their own lusts, speaking boastfully, giving admiration to persons for the sake of gain. These are the ones causing divisions. Sensual, and devoid of the spirit.
I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock
The false teachers coming among you will secretly introduce destructive heresies. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed, these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories.
His subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him, to say, 'We don't want this man to reign over us!'
Man against God
Sometimes people choose to use God's name as authority for their own agenda, because He is a powerful figure and they think they are righteous by association Exodus 20:7, Matthew 7:21 Those who represent God for their own interests, deny The Kingdom's Power.
God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be like God, knowing good and evil." The woman saw that the tree was good for food, pleasant to the eyes and desirable to make one wise. She took from it's produce and ate, and gave to her man who was with her, and he ate.
The people conspired, saying, "let us build a tower reaching to the heavens, to make a name for ourselves". Then God said "look at what the human has begun to do, and if they complete this then nothing will be unattainable for them". So He scattered them, confusing their speech so one could not understand another.
When the tenants saw the son coming, they said amongst themselves "here comes the heir to the estate! Let's kill him and seize the estate for ourselves!".
His citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, to say "we don't want this man to reign over us!"
The Final Judgement
The final judgement is about how we have treated others, not what we have believed.
The king will say to those sorted to his right hand, 'Come, you who are blessed by my father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, I was thirsty, I was a stranger, I was naked, I was sick, I was in prison. You always helped and cared for me.'
"The righteous will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, a stranger, or needing clothes? When did we see you sick or in prison, and do all this for you?'
"The king will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me'
"Then to those sorted on his left, 'Go, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. I was hungry, I was thirsty, a stranger, I needed clothes, I was sick and in prison, and all those times, you did nothing to help.'
"They too will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not care for you or help you?'
"He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
The wicked will go to everlasting punishment, but the righteous to everlasting life
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
Paradise Earth
In that day, the wolf will dwell with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the baby goat, the calf and the young lion and the yearling together, and a little child will lead them.
The cow and the bear will graze together, their young ones lying down together, and the lion will eat straw like an ox.
A nursing child will play by a nest of snakes, and a weaned child will put his hand into a viper's den without harm.
They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of God, as the waters cover the sea.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death will not be any longer; nor mourning nor crying nor pain, they will not be any longer, for the former things have passed away.
Are they lost?
God sent the prophet Jonah to pronounce judgement upon the city of Nineveh, but when the city heard the judgement, they repented. So God decided to forgive them. Jonah was upset with God for making him speak an unfulfilled prophecy.
Actions alone might not always mean a person is wicked, because fair justice will consider circumstances and culture. An offender may have believed they were actually doing right instead of wrong!
Jesus warns us to not judge others, because we ourselves are guilty. Only God is qualified to judge.
God asked Jonah: is it right for you to be so angry? That plant grew in one night and perished in one night. Should I not also feel sorry for Nineveh the great city, in which there are more than 120,000 men who do not even know right from wrong, as well as their many animals?"
Many people pass away without ever hearing the truth of the gospel. Are those people forever doomed?
I have other sheep that are not from this fold. Those also I must lead. They will listen to my voice, so there'll be one flock, one shepherd.
I, Adonai, search the heart. I try the mind, to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruitage of his works.
The servant who knew his master's will but did not prepare or act according to his desire will be harshly whipped. But the one who did not know and what deserved flogging, shall be beaten with few. From everyone given much, much will be required; and from the one for whom more is provided, all the more they will ask of him.
Jesus for Jews
They shall look upon me whom they pierced, and they shall be in bitterness over him as a bitterness over the first-born.
Hardening in part has come over Israel, until the completeness of the nations has come in.
Jerusalem shall be trampled underfoot by the nations until the times of the nations are filled.
This is my covenant with those turning from transgression in Jacob, says Adonai: "My Spirit that is upon you, and My Words that I have put in your mouth, shall not be withdrawn from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor their descendants," said Adonai, "from this time and forever".
Adonai is the true God. He is The Living God and The Everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, and the nations will not be able to endure His indignation.
My reign is not of this world. If my reign were of this world, my servants would fight so that I should not be delivered to the Jews. But now my reign is not from here.
Growing The Church
Saint Peter was hurt, because Jesus asked him a third time, "Do you love me?" Peter said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep."
The church has a diverse range of people, each having unique character, knowledge and talents. Moreover, what one person can see might be different than what another can see.
We should kindly share our strengths, to help each other grow to full potential in The Lord.
Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, pastors and teachers, to readjust the holy ones for ministerial work, to build up the body of Christ until we all reach unity in the faith and in knowing the Son of God, reaching perfection, attaining the full measure of stature that belongs to Christ.
The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgement.
Stay there so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote useless speculations rather than advancing God's work. Our goal is to produce love, which comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and genuine faith. Some have departed from these, turning to fruitless discussion. They want to be teachers of the law, but they don't understand what they are saying or what they so confidently assert.
Do not go among the Gentiles, go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. Proclaim this message: 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you recieved, freely give.
Christian Concepts
- The Holy Bible
- A collection of writings originally penned in Hebrew or Greek languages between 1500BC and 100AD, by people who had a respected relationship with God. The writings were stored and studied as separate scrolls within religious libraries. During the first 300 years after Christ's resurrection, churches established formal lists to identify which writings should be considered officially inspired by God, to distinguish them from other sacred writings that were written by people whose spirit was not recognised as being representative of God.
- Heaven
- A spiritual realm of reality which is known by faith, in which God resides. Christianity teaches that Jesus came to earth to demonstrate God's true nature so that we might recognise Him in the heavenly realm and follow Him. Christians are called to follow Jesus, to live in a way that honours Him so that we will serve as effective ambassadors of God, becoming a vessel for His Holy Spirit to operate in the world.
- Atonement
- The putting right of things that are wrong. In context of a person coming to know the truth about sin and repentance, this means understanding why the sinfulness is bad, why we became that way, and why God is willing to forgive us for repenting of it.
- Holy
- Without sin or fault, beyond reproach.
- Messiah / Christ
- The only-begotten Son of God, born to a mother who was pure and virgin. He was raised under the shadow of The Holy Spirit and heaven's close watch, so that He was presented without blemish to receive all honour, glory and praise as The One who is a perfect example of God's intention for mankind. His character is to love and heal, to judge without partiality, and to be the fullness of God in human form. Although His human body was executed 2,000 years ago, He reigns forevermore in heaven so that we may know Him and represent Him on earth while heaven continues to serve Him for an eventual return in glory, afterwhich sin will never again rule humankind.
- Original Sin
- Adam introduced sin to a world that knew no sin, by choosing to disobey God's commandment. Adam could never escape the shame and guilt for what he had done. His relationship with God suffered, he doubted God's true nature, and subsequently all humans become tainted as they are impacted by the philosophy of a world controlled by fear: not being able to fully trust and know God. The corruption of hnumankind's once impeccable knowledge of God has spread from this one man's Original Sin, to all.
The Great Commission
God gave me grace to lay a foundation, like a skilled master builder. Others are building on it. Each must build on it very carefully. No one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have, that is Jesus Christ.
Builders use various sorts of materials: gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay and straw.
The quality of each builder's work will become visible when the day comes, and it will be revealed with fire. The fire will test what sort of work was done.
If what has been built survivies, the builder will receive a reward. If the work is burned up, the builder will suffer a great loss; himself being saved, but as through fire.
He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does The Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Follow me, and you will fish for men!
This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
..For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age; against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Nobody lights a lamp and hides it away
The Gospel
God did not send his son to condemn the world, rather that through him, it might be saved.
Saved from what?
The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. I have come so they may have life to the full.
Two thousand years on, we really must ask: "Why does the world suffer ruthless destruction?" Natural rights are plundered by advantaged ones, killing is so frequent and insane.. are we numb?
Find out the reality of the gospel, and learn why Christianity is yet to achieve it's full intention.
You'll think more about potential outcomes of prophetic visions, and your views regarding Christianity will be challenged for the better!
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these, the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
The Holy Bible is a big book and people use it in different ways, but how can we read it the way God intended so that He can teach us through it? Having the right perspective is the key.
This booklet lays the foundation of the principles of Christianity, and the message that the spirit of Jesus lives among us to guide us into all truth.