Mar. 17, 2016
BLOOMBERG
President Obama hit North Korea with new sanctions Wednesday in response to the country’s “illicit” nuclear and ballistic missile tests earlier this year.
U.S. Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland will head to Capitol Hill Thursday for the first day of what will probably be a months-long campaign to pressure Republicans to consider his nomination.
Fewer Americans than forecast filed applications for unemployment benefits last week, illustrating the Federal Reserve’s view of a stronger labor market.Initial jobless claims climbed by 7,000 to 265,000 in the week ended March 12.
In its quest to slake the world’s thirst, Coca-Cola is intent on making milk a billion-dollar brand. But not just any kind of milk. Coke has joined forces with a dairy cooperative to create Fairlife, which produces a filtered, high-protein, low-sugar, lactose-free designer milk also called Fairlife. It costs about $4 for a 52-ounce bottle-more than organic milk and about double what the conventional stuff sells for.
Secretary of State John Kerry determined that the Islamic State group is committing genocide against Christians and other minorities in Iraq and Syria, as he acted to meet a congressional deadline.
Norway’s central bank cut its benchmark interest rate to a record low and signaled it’s prepared to ease policy further to ward off a recession in western Europe’s biggest crude oil producer.
South Africa’s central bank raised the benchmark interest rate for a second time this year, increasing it by a quarter percentage point as a political crisis engulfing the country hits the rand and bond market.
A newly discovered Russian-language hacker group known as Buhtrap has attacked 13 Russian banks since August using malware that infiltrates their gateway to the central bank, according to Moscow-based cybersecurity company Group-IB.
AP Top Stories
A retired Utah lawyer used her expertise to help victims of domestic violence before her husband killed her and then himself, a grim reminder of the unpredictability of domestic abuse and how it can affect older couples, experts said.
Scans of King Tut’s burial chamber have revealed two hidden rooms, Egypt’s antiquities minister said Thursday – a discovery that could intensify speculation that the chambers contain the remains of the famed Queen Nefertiti.
Researchers found cocaine, Advil, Prozac, Lipitor, Benadryl and dozens of other drugs in the tissue of juvenile chinook salmon caught in the Puget Sound in September 2014, the Seattle Times reported in February. The salmon likely picked up the drugs from wastewater in the area that’s a “[cocktail] of 81 drugs,” as the Seattle Times put it.
China expressed its opposition on Thursday to unilateral sanctions against North Korea saying they could raise tension, after the United States imposed new curbs on the isolated country in retaliation for its nuclear and rocket tests.
Royal Dutch Shell PLC and Saudi Arabian Oil Co. will split up the assets of their joint U.S. venture, which will see the kingdom’s state-owned producer take full ownership of America’s biggest oil refinery, the companies announced late Wednesday.
Sufferers of Alzheimer’s disease may not have “lost” their memories, but could simply have difficulty accessing them, say researchers, who Wednesday unveiled a possible treatment that could one day offer a cure to the ravages of dementia.
The Army’s top general says military forces on the ground face a high level of risk if the United States gets into a large-scale conflict against a power such as Russia or China.
Hamas’s military wing said Wednesday one of its members was involved in an attack in the occupied West Bank, in what was thought to be the first such acknowledgement since a wave of violence began in October.
A senior Australian government minister on Thursday called Donald Trump’s campaign for the U.S. presidency “terrifying” and warned it risked casting the Republican Party into the wilderness if he wins nomination.
BBC
The US has called on North Korea to immediately release an American student sentenced to 15 years’ hard labor for crimes against the state.
The Kurdish militant group TAK says it carried out Sunday’s deadly attack in the Turkish capital, Ankara. In an online statement it said the attack, which killed 37 people, was in revenge for military operations in the mainly Kurdish south-east.
US President Obama has issued an executive order imposing new sanctions on North Korea, after its “illicit” nuclear test and satellite launch.
Kurdish parties have declared the establishment of a federal system in areas they control in northern Syria.
WND
Israelis can now use their smartphones to make live video distress calls to emergency responders, a first-of-its-kind service that, if successful, could set a new standard for countries around the world.
The day that heart transplant patients no longer need to wait for a donor match just got a little closer. Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital have successfully grown functional heart tissue from stem cells created from skin cells.
Amid an epidemic of addiction and abuse tied to these powerful opioids drugs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging primary care doctors to try physical therapy, exercise and over-the-counter pain medications before turning to painkillers for chronic pain.
Top News – 3/17/2016
Apostasy in the Christian church
… there will be an apostasy that is associated with the appearance of the Antichrist. Most Christians are looking for the arrival of the Antichrist, but very few are looking for “the apostasy” that must come first.
Now Germans DEMAND we leave the EU: ‘We’ve never even liked the British’
THE German TV show which mocked The Queen for being ‘horse-faced’ has sparked fresh outrage by DEMANDING Britain leave the EU.
‘Green flash’ meteor sighting reports across Britain
A bright meteor has been sighted over Britain in the early hours. Witnesses have described the object as a green flash moving south to north for a few seconds, leaving a magnesium-white trail.
A Bible Believer Looks At The Christian Cult Of Dominion Theology
Dominion Theology starts with a scripturally incorrect premise, Postmillennialism, and then makes a drastic left hand turn into full-on heresy by attempting to create a theocracy in America. Thrown into this mongrel mess is the hellish teaching that there will be an ‘end times transfer of wealth’ from the wicked to the ‘righteous’.
Alaska, South Atlantic and Oklahoma: Earthquakes 10-16 March 2016
Last week offered us a major earthquake to talk about. The week of 10-16 March 2016 was a whole lot quieter, with the largest event — an M6.3 in Alaska — coming it at a full order and a half of magnitude smaller. And, on a logarithmic scale like the one used to measure earthquakes, that’s a huge difference.
Obama’s Supreme pick tied to TWA 800, OKC bombing
Obama has chosen to nominate United States Appeals Court Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. Garland served as Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick’s “principal deputy” during the two most corrupt years in American political history…
General Says Army At High Risk In War Against China, Russia
The Army’s top general says military forces on the ground face a high level of risk if the United States gets into a large-scale conflict against a power such as Russia or China.
Israel presents red lines to Russia on Golan, Iran
Rivlin reportedly told Putin that borders of both Syria and Iraq were arbitrarily drawn during the First World War, and did not reflect present realities.
Kurds declare federal region in Syria’s north
Syria’s Kurds on Thursday declared a federal region in the country’s north, officials told AFP, as they seek further autonomy in areas under their control.
Foreign governments dump U.S. debt at record rate
In a bid to raise cash, foreign central banks and government institutions sold $57.2 billion of U.S. Treasury debt and other notes in January, according to figures released on Tuesday. That is up from $48 billion in December and the highest monthly tally on record going back to 1978. It’s part of a broader trend that gathered steam last year when central banks sold a record $225 billion of U.S. debt.
Merrick Garland declared Obama’s Supreme Court nominee
President Barack Obama has nominated veteran appeals court judge Merrick Garland to be the next US Supreme Court Justice. The Supreme Court vacancy follows the death of Antonin Scalia last month. Judge Garland, 63, is viewed as a moderate and has won praise from senior Republican figures.
Syria conflict: Government rejects direct peace talks
Syrian government representatives have ruled out starting direct negotiations with the opposition, as UN-backed peace talks entered a third day in Geneva. On Tuesday, opposition leaders said they were ready to meet face-to-face. But chief government negotiator Bashar al-Jaafari rejected the idea, calling his opposition counterpart a terrorist.
Argentina sinks Chinese fishing boat Lu Yan Yuan Yu 010
Argentina’s coastguard chased and sank a Chinese vessel that it says was fishing illegally in Argentine waters on Monday. In a statement, the coastguard said one of its vessels had fired warning shots at the Lu Yan Yuan Yu 010 as it headed for international waters. The coastguard said it had first tried to raise a response by radio. All 32 crew members were rescued, it said.
Migrant crisis: ‘Many issues’ in way of EU-Turkey deal
EU leaders are meeting later to try to finalise a deal with Turkey to ease the migrant crisis. European Council President Donald Tusk said he was “more cautious than optimistic” about the negotiations. The proposed plan would see migrants arriving in Greece from Turkey sent back. For each Syrian returned, a Syrian in Turkey would be resettled in the EU.
Western Sahara: Morocco threat over UN peacekeepers
Morocco has threatened to pull its soldiers out of UN global peacekeeping missions in a row over the disputed territory of Western Sahara. It is furious with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon after he used the term “occupation” about the territory, which was annexed by Morocco in 1975. The foreign ministry also said it would immediately cut funding and personnel for the UN Mission in Western Sahara.
Commander of elite Iranian Quds Force meets secretly with Hamas delegation
General Qassem Suleimani, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force, reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to the Palestinian resistance in a secret meeting with Hamas’s delegation to Iran on Wednesday, al-Mayadeen Arab news site reported. The Palestinian delegation, headed by the chairman of Hamas’s political bureau, Musa Abu Marzouk, met secretly with senior Iranian figures…
Kurds are planning a breakaway region in Syria, and it won’t go down well
Could a solution to Syria’s woes be a dramatic decentralization of power? On Wednesday, Kurdish groups in Syria argued just that, proposing a plan under which the country’s largely Kurdish north would become its own region — a model that could eventually be applied to the entire nation, supporters of the plan say.
Largest US coal miner Peabody warns of bankruptcy
Peabody Energy, the largest US coal miner, warned Wednesday that it may be forced to seek bankruptcy protection after missing a key debt payment. Just two months after the number-two miner Arch Coal fell into bankruptcy, Peabody said that due to operating losses and negative cash flows, it risked falling into default on its loans.
Obama slaps new sanctions on North Korea after tests
President Barack Obama imposed sweeping new sanctions on North Korea on Wednesday intended to further isolate the country’s leadership after recent actions by Pyongyang that have been seen by Washington and its allies as provocative.
Two suicide bombers kill 22 in Maiduguri, NE Nigeria
At least 22 people were killed in a twin suicide bombing at a mosque in northeast Nigeria Wednesday, prompting condemnation from President Muhammadu Buhari and stoking fresh fears about security.
Palestinian shot dead in West Bank was Hamas fighter: party
Hamas’s military wing said Wednesday one of its members was involved in an attack in the occupied West Bank, in what was thought to be the first such acknowledgement since a wave of violence began in October.
Province due for Level 9 earthquake soon
Dr. Clague stated that investigative science is becoming more exact, and that we are coming close to the next Level 9 earthquake off the B.C. coast.
Top Headlines – 3/17/2016
Palestinians welcome Paris peace bid as ‘timely, realistic’
Japan backs France’s peace initiative
US, Germany, France criticize Israel’s ‘land grab’ near Jericho
EU interested in buying Israeli natural gas
Head of Israel Allies Caucus in Congress applauds Arizona’s anti-BDS law
Israel launches first ever video distress call service
Israeli stabbed in terror attack near Ariel, two terrorists shot dead
Palestinian shot dead in West Bank was Hamas fighter: party
‘PA will never allow IDF to conduct hot pursuits after terrorists into Area A of West Bank’
Putin meets Rivlin at Kremlin amid Russia’s Syria disengagement
Israel fears Russia’s pullout from Syria will leave dangerous void
Putin tells Rivlin: I’ll meet with Netanyahu on security issues
Israel won’t allow Iran, Hezbollah on Syrian border, Rivlin tells Putin
Rivlin lobbies Putin for help in redeploying UN peacekeepers on Golan
Israel Defense Forces General Warns Hamas, ISIS Formed Alliance in Egypt
Senior IS commander dies of wounds from US strike in Syria
ISIS Recruits Child Jihadis After Suffering Losses From US Airstrikes
State Dept. to miss deadline for ISIS ‘genocide’ declaration
Brussels shooting: ISIS flag, ammo found in raid tied to Paris attacks
2 Female Suicide Bombers Attack Mosque Near Maiduguri, Nigeria, Killing Over 20
EU leaders meet to offer migrant deal to Turkey
Turkey deports British academic accused of terror propaganda
Turkey’s Erdogan pushes parliament to make praise of violent acts a ‘terror crime’
US President Obama nominates Judge Merrick Garland
Russia says registers 10 ceasefire violations in Syria in 24 hours
Russia supplied weapons to Iraqi Kurds
Syrian Kurds say they’ll declare federal region in Syria
Four arrested for planning attack in Paris
Germany bans neo-Nazi group, carries out sweeping raids
Obama slaps new sanctions on North Korea after tests
White house says North Korea seeks to use US citizens as pawns
General says Army at high risk in war against China, Russia
China, Russia Planning Space Attacks on U.S. Satellites
Australian minister says Trump phenomenon ‘terrifying’
RNC weighs scrapping convention rule book to head off anti-Trump maneuvers
We choose the nominee, not the voters: Senior GOP official
Donald Trump on brokered convention: ‘I think you’d have riots’
Anti-Trump Groups Threaten ‘Largest Civil Disobedience Action of the Century’
John Boehner backs Paul Ryan for president, calls Ted Cruz ‘Lucifer’
Soros, alarmed by Trump, pours money into 2016 race
KKK grand dragon endorses Hillary Clinton for president
Obama nominates Jewish Judge Merrick Garland to Supreme Court
Obama’s choice of popular centrist Merrick Garland for Supreme Court puts GOP to the test
McConnell: Senate won’t consider Garland nomination
GOP Supreme Court blockade showing early cracks
GOP Senators Say They Will Meet with Obama SCOTUS Pick
Top Senate Republican says Obama chose to ‘politicize’ Supreme Court nomination
As appellate judge, Garland viewed as friend of government regulators
Merrick Garland has ‘very liberal view of gun rights’
Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards Spotted at White House After Merrick Garland Nomination
Religious liberty bill passes Georgia state legislature
Georgia’s “religious liberty law” stirs backlash from business
Foreign governments dump U.S. debt at record rate
Fed Scales Back Rate-Rise Forecasts as Global Risks Remain
Venezuela to Shut Down for a Week to Cope With Electricity Crisis
Comet P/2016 BA14 to Make Historic Flyby of Earth
Closest comet in 246 years approaches
5.6 magnitude earthquake hits near Sarangani, Philippines
5.1 magnitude earthquake hits near Sarangani, Philippines
5.0 magnitude earthquake hits near Bristol Island, South Sandwich Islands
5.0 magnitude earthquake hits West of Macquarie Island
Colima volcano in Mexico erupts to 18,000ft
Reventador volcano in Ecuador erupts to 18,000ft
Sinabung volcano in Indonesia erupts to 14,000ft
US marijuana industry may reach $44 billion by 2020 – report
Dog owners warned about new tick disease
Fossil of pregnant T. rex could contain DNA
Companies Want to Replicate Your Dead Loved Ones With Robot Clones
A New Weapon for Battling Cellphones in Theaters: Laser Beams
St. Patrick’s vision of freedom and world-transformation
The Daily Discovery (March 17, 2016)
ARTICLES I LIKE FROM AROUND THE WEB:
(Click title to go to full article)
The Young Messiah’s Only Words – “Those are Jesus’ only recorded words in Scripture before the age of thirty. Nothing else. In fact we don’t have anything in Scripture about Jesus between the age of two and the age of thirty. Niente. Zilch. Nada.”
God’s Abortion Guarantee – “Normally I take articles from this blog and toss them on the Cripplegate, but today I’m doing the opposite. Yes, that means that my next installment in the modesty series still isn’t finished. Sorry. I’m a workin’ man who’s busier than a crazed, caffeine-laden beaver. So here’s one of my more popular Cripplegate original posts: I’ve written on a lot of issues and biblical passages on here over the last few years, but the one thing I haven’t tackled was the issue of abortion. The reason I haven’t tackled it was because I didn’t have the time to explore the topic in the comprehensive manner that I normally lean towards (i.e. like this or this or this). I still haven’t found the time, and the kind of post I’d like to write requires a lot of research. I have started my research and wanted to share something that I’ve already learned…”
My Generation’s Weeds Problem – “I’m a Millenial, and my generation has a weeds problem. (Yes, plural not singular. No, not the TV show). In Jesus’ parable of the sower, three kinds of soils turn out fruitless. There’s the soil so hard the seeds just bounce off, to be snapped up by birds. There’s the soil so thin that plants never take root. And then there’s the soil that does sustain life; but there’s no room at the inn.”
The Three Most Common Causes of Depression – “Over the past couple of days I’ve been privileged to be teaching a group of Reformed Baptist pastors about giving help and hope to the depressed. I was greatly encouraged by their compassion and balance as we explored the causes and cures of depression. I believe the church in general is coming much closer to the mind of Christ in ministering to depressed Christians, du to a growing understanding of the complexity of depression and the need to adopt a holistic approach to recovery. One of the questions that arose in discussion was “What are the most common causes of depression in our own day?” From my experience of counseling in this area over many years, I’d say the three most common causes are the following.”
Confessions: Thick or Thin? – “Confessions of faith come in all sizes. You have comparatively thick ones (like the Westminster Confession of Faith), medium-thickness ones (like the New Hampshire Confession), and thin ones (like the statements of a few churches I’d rather not point you toward!). The driving question behind the thickness or thinness of a statement of faith is, how much do Christians need to agree upon to be a church? Longer confessions imply more; shorter confessions imply less.”
SERMON:
Jason Vaughn – The Dangers of Expectations
VIDEOS:
Legalism and Modern Evangelicalism
Do not Love the World
“All death can do to the believer is deliver him to Jesus. It brings us into the eternal presence of our Savior.” – John MacArthur
A La Carte (March 17)
It’s a bit of a slow day for Kindle deals but I did find Mormonism 101 by Bill McKeever & Eric Johnson and The Crucified Life by A.W. Tozer for $2.99 each. Also, new from GLH Publishing is Christ, The Glory of the Gospel by Thomas Goodwin which is $0.99 for the time being.
We have some new Visual Theology prints at our store that may interest you. You can see them right here.
Who’s Your Daddy?
“Christianity unapologetically places fathers (or father-types) at the head of the church and the table and the household, but commands that they lead with a servant’s heart with Christ as their model. The problems stem not from obeying the godly mandate, but from shirking it.” The article goes on to look at the problem of fatherlessness in literature.
A Willingness to Listen
Yes! This was one of my big takeaways from reading Black & Reformed. “Making your church more diverse is about more than just adding another shade to your elder board. It often means having a willingness to learn and be challenged by opposing viewpoints.”
The Theology of Donald Trump
Writing for Christianity Today, Michael Horton takes a look at the theology of Donald Trump. His unfortunate conclusion: “If the working theology of American spirituality is a combination of ‘moralistic, therapeutic deism’ (Christian Smith) and pragmatism (William James), then perhaps Donald Trump is after all exactly the right candidate for the moment.”
Punting Isn’t An Option
“I hear women talking about wanting to go deeper with God, so they buy books written by women who talk about their experiences of God. To me, that is robbing ourselves of a much richer treasure. If you want to go deeper with God, go to the source: the Bible. That is where you will see God, high and lifted up, exalted, in His glory. That will change you.”
This Day in 1780. 236 years ago today, Thomas Chalmers was born. Chalmers was a pastor, social reformer, and one of the founders of the Free Church of Scotland. He preached the important sermon, “The Expulsive Power of a New Affection.” *
When Faith Is Under Attack
This one-minute video (a sermon excerpt) is worth watching.
Your Meaningless Ministry
“We all want to succeed. We all want our efforts to mean something in the end, to be worth it when all is said and done. But when death comes knocking, I would hate to find I received my entire reward here on earth.”
In Praise of Administration
Put your hands together for the invisible administrators who make our lives so much better and our churches so much stronger.
A healthy body that houses a sick soul is not something to be coveted. —Eric Alexander
Fear and Faith Collide in ‘Midnight Special’
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Our Time is Short
What is The Gospel?
God made everything out of nothing, including you and me. His main purpose in creation was to bring him pleasure.
The chief way in which we as humanity do this is through loving, obeying, and enjoying him perfectly.
Instead of this, we have sinned against our loving Creator and acted in high-handed rebellion.
God has vowed that he will righteously and lovingly judge sinners with eternal death.
But God, being merciful, loving, gracious, and just, sent his own son, Jesus Christ, in the likeness of man to live as a man; fulfilling his perfect requirements in the place of sinners; loving, obeying, and enjoying him perfectly.
And further, his son bore the eternal judgment of God upon the cross of Calvary, as he satisfied the eternal anger of God, standing in the place of sinners. God treated Jesus as a sinner, though he was perfectly sinless, that he might declare sinners as perfect.
This glorious transaction occurs as the sinner puts their faith (dependence, trust) in the Lord Jesus Christ as their substitute. God then charges Christ’s perfection to the sinner, and no longer views him as an enemy but instead an adopted son covered in the perfect righteousness of his son.
God furnished proof that this sacrifice was accepted by raising Jesus from the dead.
God will judge the world in righteousness and all of those who are not covered in the righteousness of Christ, depending on him for forgiveness, will be forced to stand on their own to bear the eternal anger of God.
Therefore, all must turn from sin and receive Christ Jesus as Lord.
What Is the Gospel?
There is no greater message to be heard than that which we call the gospel. But as important as that is, it is often given to massive distortions or over simplifications. People think they’re preaching the gospel to you when they tell you, ‘you can have a purpose to your life’, or that ‘you can have meaning to your life’, or that ‘you can have a personal relationship with Jesus.’ All of those things are true, and they’re all important, but they don’t get to the heart of the gospel.
The gospel is called the ‘good news’ because it addresses the most serious problem that you and I have as human beings, and that problem is simply this: God is holy and He is just, and I’m not. And at the end of my life, I’m going to stand before a just and holy God, and I’ll be judged. And I’ll be judged either on the basis of my own righteousness–or lack of it –or the righteousness of another. The good news of the gospel is that Jesus lived a life of perfect righteousness, of perfect obedience to God, not for His own well being but for His people. He has done for me what I couldn’t possibly do for myself. But not only has He lived that life of perfect obedience, He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to satisfy the justice and the righteousness of God.
The great misconception in our day is this: that God isn’t concerned to protect His own integrity. He’s a kind of wishy-washy deity, who just waves a wand of forgiveness over everybody. No. For God to forgive you is a very costly matter. It cost the sacrifice of His own Son. So valuable was that sacrifice that God pronounced it valuable by raising Him from the dead – so that Christ died for us, He was raised for our justification. So the gospel is something objective. It is the message of who Jesus is and what He did. And it also has a subjective dimension. How are the benefits of Jesus subjectively appropriated to us? How do I get it? The Bible makes it clear that we are justified not by our works, not by our efforts, not by our deeds, but by faith–and by faith alone. The only way you can receive the benefit of Christ’s life and death is by putting your trust in Him–and in Him alone. You do that, you’re declared just by God, you’re adopted into His family, you’re forgiven of all of your sins, and you have begun your pilgrimage for eternity.
The Gospel In A Nutshell
Now, with regard to this rule of faith—that we may from this point acknowledge what it is which we defend—it is, you must know, that which prescribes the belief that there is one only God, and that He is none other than the Creator of the world, who produced all things out of nothing through His own Word, first of all sent forth; that this Word is called His Son, and, under the name of God, was seen “in diverse manners” by the patriarchs, heard at all times in the prophets, at last brought down by the Spirit and Power of the Father into the Virgin Mary, was made flesh in her womb, and, being born of her, went forth as Jesus Christ; thenceforth He preached the new law and the new promise of the kingdom of heaven, worked miracles; having been crucified, He rose again the third day; (then) having ascended into the heavens, He sat at the right hand of the Father; sent instead of Himself the Power of the Holy Ghost to lead such as believe; will come with glory to take the saints to the enjoyment of everlasting life and of the heavenly promises, and to condemn the wicked to everlasting fire, after the resurrection of both these classes shall have happened, together with the restoration of their flesh. This rule, as it will be proved, was taught by Christ, and raises amongst ourselves no other questions than those which heresies introduce, and which make men heretics.
Tertullian, “On Prescription Against Heretics,” Chapter XIIl
The Gospel on 5 Fingers
Can you explain the gospel in 30 seconds? In one minute? In five minutes?Here’s one way I have found helpful. The five main components of the gospel can be remembered on 5 fingers of one hand. Here they are:
1) Jesus’ birth
2) Jesus’ life
3) Jesus’ death
4) Jesus’ resurrection
5) Jesus’ ascension
Obviously each point can be elaborated on depending on how much time you have. Here’s the short version:
1) Jesus’ birth – Jesus, God himself, the creator of the universe, the Messiah, became a human being – took on flesh, and was born of a virgin.
2) Jesus’ life – Jesus lived a life of perfect obedience to his Father. Though he was tempted in every way as we are, he never once sinned.
3) Jesus’ death – on the cross, Jesus himself took all our sins and paid for them. God the father counted all our sins to Jesus as if he himself had personally committed them. Then Jesus bore God’s wrath towards sin – the punishment we deserved – as a substitute for us.
4) Jesus’ resurrection – within 3 days, Jesus rose physically from the dead, proving that his sacrifice for sins have been accepted by God, since the punishment for sin was death. Jesus was seen by numerous people after he rose including 500 at one time (1 Corinthians 15).
5) Jesus’ ascension – Jesus ascended physically into heaven where he reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords. And someday he will return to the earth.
That’s the gospel, the good news, and if we believe in Jesus Christ and this good news and call upon him he will save us from our sins and give us eternal life.
That’s a simple way to remember the gospel – five fingers. Even a child can do it. So ask God to give you opportunities to share his good news today.
Ready to start your new life with God?
Who do you think that I am?
With that brief question Jesus Christ confronted His followers with the most important issue they would ever face. He had spent much time with them and made some bold claims about His identity and authority. Now the time had come for them either to believe or deny His teachings.
Who do you say Jesus is? Your response to Him will determine not only your values and lifestyle, but your eternal destiny as well.
Consider what the Bible says about Him: Read more
Resource Links
CanIKnowGod.com is a website inspired by LifesGreatestQuestion.com, with new content, images, audio and video that will help you understand more about who God is and how to know Him. The site is mobile responsive and has an infinite scroll which makes for a very user-friendly experience. After you indicate a decision on CanIKnowGod.com, you are directed to a page that details what it means to have a new and transformed life through Jesus Christ. There’s even a Facebook page for daily updates, encouragement and scripture sharing.
Look to Jesus
Have you ever felt a little lost and wished there was a quick-start guide to your relationship with God? This is it!
30 Day Next Steps
John Beckett, a leading Christian businessman, has written a series to read over 30 days for new believers.
New Believers Guide
The New Believer’s Guide is a series of articles designed to show you how to walk in the new life Christ has given you— a life of faith and freedom.
Jesus Booklet
Jesus is the Savior of the world. Discover who Jesus is today in this series.
About Christianity
Know Jesus Christ and your life will be transformed
The Perseverance (Security) of the Saints
Notice all the Scripture references!
It is not just a handful of texts that teach the perseverance of the saints: the entire gospel sustains and confirms it. The Father has chosen them before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4), ordained them to eternal life (Acts 13:48), to be conformed to the image of his Son (Rom. 8:29). This election stands (Rom. 9:11; Heb. 6:17) and in due time carries with it the calling and justification and glorification (Rom. 8:30). Christ, in whom all the promises of God are Yes and Amen (2 Cor. 1:20), died for those who were given him by the Father (John 17:6, 12) in order that he might give them eternal life and not lose a single one of them (6:40; 17:2); he therefore gives them eternal life and they will never be lost in all eternity; no one will snatch them out of his hand (6:39; 10:28).
The Holy Spirit who regenerates them remains eternally with them (14:16) and seals them for the day of redemption (Eph. 1:13; 4:30). The covenant of grace is firm and confirmed with an oath (Heb. 6:16–18; 13:20), unbreakable like a marriage (Eph. 5:31–32), like a testament (Heb. 9:17), and by virtue of that covenant, God calls his elect. He inscribes the law upon their inmost being, puts his fear in their heart (Heb. 8:10; 10:14ff.), will not let them be tempted beyond their strength (1 Cor. 10:13), confirms and completes the good work he has begun in them (1 Cor. 1:9; Phil. 1:6), and keeps them for the return of Christ to receive the heavenly inheritance (1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Thess. 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:4–5).
In his intercession before the Father, Christ acts in such a way that their faith may not fail (Luke 22:32), that in the world they may be kept from the evil one (John 17:11, 20), that they may be saved for all times (Heb. 7:20), that their sins will be forgiven them (1 John 2:1), and that they may all be where he is to behold his glory (John 17:24). The benefits of Christ, which the Holy Spirit imparts to them, are all irrevocable (Rom. 11:29). Those who are called are also glorified (8:30). Those who are adopted as children are heirs of eternal life (8:17; Gal. 4:7). Those who believe have eternal life already here and now (John 3:16). That life itself, being eternal, cannot be lost. It cannot die since it cannot sin (1 John 3:9). Faith is a firm ground (Heb. 11:1), hope is an anchor (6:19) and does not disappoint us (Rom. 5:5), and love never ends (1 Cor. 13:8).
Truth2Freedom Blog Disclaimer
This post was originally posted on:
https://truth4freedom.wordpress.com
(Alternative News, Apologetics, Current Events, Commentary, Opinion, Theology, Discernment Blog, Devotionals, Christian Internet Evangelism & Missions Activist).
“A simple layman armed with Scripture is to be believed above a pope or a council without it…” – Martin Luther
“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”
— Augustine
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