According to the Bible unborn babies are human beings and they are treated as such in the Mosaic Law. Since no starting point in the pregnancy is given the implication is that life begins at conception which is why Christian’s tend to be pro-life.
Do to Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3) every baby that is born has a sin nature. In other words we are all barn with the tendency to sin. This is why Jesus died on the Cross to save us from out sin. The Bible does indicate that a baby that dies before being capable making a decision to accept Christ goes to heaven.
Children are considered a gift from God to the parents even though some kids may qualify as gag gifts. While not all married couples have children from a Christian perspective children are greatest blessing God can bestow on a married couple so a birth is considered a cause for great joy.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
The Christian Church
What the Church is not
The church is not the building ypu see and it is not even the organization that owns the building. A church is actualy the people that make it up. It is a fellowship of Christians that gathers together to worship God.
The Church
In the broader since the Church refers to all Christians from the time of Christ until his return to take that church to be with him. The church in this sense is the fellowship and ultimate gathering of all Christians with Jesus.
The Local Church
The local church is a local group of Christians the meet, worship and fellowship together. This is what is generally considered a church. This local group of Christians gathers together in a building that is commonly referred to a church.
Friday, September 2, 2011
The Hope of Resurrection
The eternal hope of the Christian is not being a disembodied spirit floating around heaven. The real Blessed Hope of the Christian is the resurrection of our physical bodies from the dead in glorified form; like that of Jesus Christ; that will be free of pain and death. When this happens in what is known as the Rapture those the bodies Christians alive at the time will be instantly transformed glorified form with dieing.
This wonderful reunion of all Christians in our glorified physical is what the Christian longs for. Particularly those of us with believing loved ones that have died.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
HOW TO BE SAVED
1. WHY WE MUST BE SAVED: The question is often asked is "Why do I need to be saved?" It takes various forms such as "Saved from what?" Most people, and this writer trusts that you who are reading this section, realize that they are estranged from God. Of course, he is assuming that you believe in God. If you are an Atheist and/or Agnostic, you should click on those words for further enlightenment.
The Bible is clear that all are sinners. It is sin that separates us from God. Romans 3:23 states, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." You and I are first of all sinners by nature --at enmity toward God; we are in the state--absence of righteousness--of sin; and finally we actually commit sin. So the fact is that God is holy and cannot have sin in His presence. Therefore, everyone MUST be saved because we are sinners by nature, by state, and by action.
2. CAN WE SAVED OURSELVES? Some think that they can be saved by doing good works such as keeping the 10 commandments, or first and great commandment--"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." The second is like it, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." (Matthew 22:37, 39).
Others think they can be saved by keeping the golden rule, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:12). You can see that the golden rule is NOT quoted as it was given by Jesus. Actually, this rule is a variation of the second great commandment.
This writer submits to you, have you ever REALLY kept the second great commandment, let alone the first? Well, you may say, "I try." Trying is not enough; you need to keep it, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Impossible? Yes, it is. That is why you cannot save yourself. IT IS NOT OF WORKS! (Ephesians 2:9)
3. ONLY JESUS CHRIST CAN SAVE US. Christ said, "I am the door; by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture." (John 10:9). Again, He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, BUT BY ME." (John 14:6-- caps and bold type for emphasis) Earlier Romans 3:23 was quoted . The next verse says, "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Many verses show that salvation comes through Jesus Christ.
4. WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED? "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts 16:31). Again, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God has raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9, 10). Verse 13 plainly states, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." This, of course, simply means if you call on Him to saved you believing that He will do so, you will be saved.
Therefore, all you have to do is to believe. Believing is simply trusting what God has done for you and/or taking God at His word. "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power [authority] to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name; which were born [it requires a birth which is commonly called the "new birth" to distinguish it from physical birth], not of blood [your parentage makes no difference], nor of the will of the flesh [this shows you can not do it], nor of the will of man [no other person can do it for you], but of God [God and only God can save]." (John 1:12, 13). Trust Him, and He WILL save you.
5. HOW CAN I KNOW I AM SAVED? If you have trusted Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior, you can be sure you are saved and will be with God for all eternity. This is known as the security of the believer. Logically, this is true; if you are "born of God" (John 1:13), then you are His child. You now carry His name (even as you carry the name of your human father). Scripturally, this is true; "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 [continue to] believe on the name of the Son of God." (Bold type and caps are for emphasis.) As someone has put: "God said it; I believe it; that settles it." Furthermore, you now have eternal life; note that it is eternal; therefore, it is not here today and gone tomorrow.
Thus, you may be sure that you are saved.
6. WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW? Get into your Bible and read it. This writer suggests you start with the Gospel of John, for it is easy to read, and for the most part easy to understand. Spend time each day talking to your Heavenly Father. Be thankful! Get into a good Bible believing church. Don't go to the nearest church because it is near. Check it out! The Holy Spirit Who now indwells you will direct you.
The Bible is clear that all are sinners. It is sin that separates us from God. Romans 3:23 states, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." You and I are first of all sinners by nature --at enmity toward God; we are in the state--absence of righteousness--of sin; and finally we actually commit sin. So the fact is that God is holy and cannot have sin in His presence. Therefore, everyone MUST be saved because we are sinners by nature, by state, and by action.
2. CAN WE SAVED OURSELVES? Some think that they can be saved by doing good works such as keeping the 10 commandments, or first and great commandment--"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." The second is like it, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." (Matthew 22:37, 39).
Others think they can be saved by keeping the golden rule, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:12). You can see that the golden rule is NOT quoted as it was given by Jesus. Actually, this rule is a variation of the second great commandment.
This writer submits to you, have you ever REALLY kept the second great commandment, let alone the first? Well, you may say, "I try." Trying is not enough; you need to keep it, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Impossible? Yes, it is. That is why you cannot save yourself. IT IS NOT OF WORKS! (Ephesians 2:9)
3. ONLY JESUS CHRIST CAN SAVE US. Christ said, "I am the door; by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture." (John 10:9). Again, He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, BUT BY ME." (John 14:6-- caps and bold type for emphasis) Earlier Romans 3:23 was quoted . The next verse says, "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Many verses show that salvation comes through Jesus Christ.
4. WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED? "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts 16:31). Again, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God has raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9, 10). Verse 13 plainly states, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." This, of course, simply means if you call on Him to saved you believing that He will do so, you will be saved.
Therefore, all you have to do is to believe. Believing is simply trusting what God has done for you and/or taking God at His word. "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power [authority] to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name; which were born [it requires a birth which is commonly called the "new birth" to distinguish it from physical birth], not of blood [your parentage makes no difference], nor of the will of the flesh [this shows you can not do it], nor of the will of man [no other person can do it for you], but of God [God and only God can save]." (John 1:12, 13). Trust Him, and He WILL save you.
5. HOW CAN I KNOW I AM SAVED? If you have trusted Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior, you can be sure you are saved and will be with God for all eternity. This is known as the security of the believer. Logically, this is true; if you are "born of God" (John 1:13), then you are His child. You now carry His name (even as you carry the name of your human father). Scripturally, this is true; "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 [continue to] believe on the name of the Son of God." (Bold type and caps are for emphasis.) As someone has put: "God said it; I believe it; that settles it." Furthermore, you now have eternal life; note that it is eternal; therefore, it is not here today and gone tomorrow.
Thus, you may be sure that you are saved.
6. WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW? Get into your Bible and read it. This writer suggests you start with the Gospel of John, for it is easy to read, and for the most part easy to understand. Spend time each day talking to your Heavenly Father. Be thankful! Get into a good Bible believing church. Don't go to the nearest church because it is near. Check it out! The Holy Spirit Who now indwells you will direct you.
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