Christianity And Government

America was founded on the precepts of Christianity. Columbus sailed for Queen Isabella of Spain, a Catholic country. Our founding fathers left the Anglican Church in England because it was ruled by the head of state. They were Christians who wanted to worship according to their beliefs, not the king's.

Until the late 20th century, our legislators and our laws have been closely knitted to Biblical principles. The nation was formed by men of faith. The controversial clause "under God" in our Pledge of Allegiance was added by Congress as late as 1954. The influence of the Bible is consistent throughout our history.

Christopher Columbus said, "...I am a most unworthy sinner, but I have cried out to the Lord for grace and mercy, and they have covered me completely."

George Washington said, "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."

Thomas Jefferson even suggested that the national seal be a portrayal of "the children of Israel in the wilderness, led by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night."

Patrick Henry boldly declared: "It cannot be emphasized too strongly that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded assylum, prosperity and freedom of worship here."

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, a constitutional signer said, "Blasphemy against the Almighty is denying his being or providence, or uttering contumelious reproaches on our Saviour Christ. It is punished, at common law by fine and imprisonment, for Christianity is part of the laws of the land."

Virtually every one of the 55 writers and signers of the United States Constitution were members of various Christian denominations: 29 were Anglicans, 16 to 18 were Calvinists, 2 were Methodists, 2 were Lutherans, 2 were Roman Catholic, 1 lapsed Quaker and sometimes Anglican, and 1 open deist--Dr. Franklin who attended every kind of Christian worship, called for public prayer, and contributed to all denominations.

"Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that it should be otherwise; and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian." - United States Supreme Court, 1892.

The U.S. Congress officially recognized the Noahide Laws in legislation which was passed by both houses. Congress and the President of the United States, George Bush, indicated in Public Law 102-14, 102nd Congress, that the United States of America was founded upon the Seven Universal Laws of Noah, and that these Laws have been the bedrock of society from the dawn of civilization. They also acknowledged that the Seven Laws of Noah are the foundation upon which civilization stands and that recent weakening of these principles threaten the fabric of civilized society, and that justified preoccupation in educating the Citizens of the United States of America and future generations is needed. For this purpose, this Public Law designated March 26, 1991 as Education Day, U.S.A. The law was passed in March, 1991.

"Devout Christians are destined to be regarded as fools in modern society," Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia said Tuesday, offering a rare glimpse of his private views. "We are fools for Christ's sake," the conservative jurist said. "We must pray for courage to endure the scorn of the sophisticated world." Scalia said intellectuals through history have rejected miracles and the Easter story. "The wise do not investigate such silliness," he said sarcastically. "They do not believe [in the resurrection of the dead] Scalia said it's " irrational" to reject miracles. "One can be sophisticated and believe in God. Reason and intellect are not to be laid aside where matters of religion are concerned." (Justice Scalia Says Religion, Reason do mix," US Today 4-10-96)

As the above demonstrates, our government was founded on Christian precepts. The Bill of Rights was structured to guarantee citizens the right to worship (or not to worship) in accordance with their beliefs. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;..." So the First Amendment reads. From this evolved the doctrine of "Separation of Church and State".

Recent Supreme Court rulings on the First Amendment make many feel America is moving further and further from the founding father's precepts. Many Christians ask if it is a Christian's responsibility to bring Christianity to the government? Or at least return government to the moral precepts of the founding fathers? The following verses indicate otherwise. Our duty as Christians is not to interfere with government; BUT, to bring people to Christ. Success in the later will lead to success in the former.

Jesus was clear about the Christian's role in government:

Luke 20:25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.
See also: Matt 22:21 and Mark 12:17

The Disciples followed Christ's lead:

Phil 3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

1 Peter 2:13-15 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors , as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

2 Peter 2:9-11 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

1 Tim 2:1-3 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority ; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Christianity is the ministry of reconciliation:

2 Cor 5:18-21 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation ; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

Christians are subject to a Higher Power. Our eyes are focused on the ordinances of God through Christ. As ambassadors we are to reconcile the world to Christ. As citizens of America we also have a responsibility to fulfill the obligations of citizenship according to the Constitution. According to scripture, we obey and respect our government, praying for our leaders. We change our government peacefully through our representatives and at the poles.

Yet, it is sad that the very precepts and convictions of our fathers are being eroded by a growing attitude toward removing anything Biblical from public sight. Do we in the process loose the very morals the Bible defines?

Tolerance in Christians

I see such a great need for more tolerance among Christians. It is painful to see so much finger pointing and back stabbing among those who hold common a love of and a belief in Christ our Savior.

I see Christians calling others (even of the same denomination) apostates. I hear Catholicism called the Harlot Church and the Great Whore of Revelation. I am by told by a Baptist newsletter that Jazz, the saxophone, drums, the piano, New Orleans, and smoking are sinful. I read that versions/translations other than the King James version are wrong and even evil. By what authority is the KJV better than any other? Where is the gentle love of Christ? I'm reminded of a childhood expression. "Each time you point a finger at someone, there are three others pointing back at you."

Luke 6:41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Tim 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

1 Cor 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

We are brothers and sisters in Christ.

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

It hurts to see the condemnation among Christian denominations and even among Christians of the same denomination.

Rom 1:22-23 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Jesus told us to love our neighbor as ourselves. He places the importance of this on equal footing for our need to love God,

Matt 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Explaining "neighbor", Jesus uses the parable of the good Samaritan because he knew how the Jews hated the Samaritans. Isn't that a lesson to us?

Phil 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

I can be with any Christian. If we disagree in doctrine, I offer the scripture that supports my position. The worst case is we agree to disagree. It is still the same Christ. We are still brothers and sisters.

1 Tim 5:22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.

I can love you in Christ and disagree with your doctrine. Spiritual growth is a journey. A gentle journey of love.

2 Tim 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

ειρήνη, Tom

Quotes

Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in
the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to
know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift
up my soul unto thee.
Ps 143:8

Wherever you look,
whatever you touch, there is a miracle.

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
-- Mahatma Gandhi --

The Fly

God in His wisdom made the fly,
Then forgot to tell us why.
by Ogden Nash

"Innocence seldom utters outraged shrieks.
Guilt does." Whittaker Chambers

"No man is totally useless; they can always
serve as bad examples to follow"

"Only Fools are Positive"
Ben Franklin

God + 1 = a majority

We all love humanity, except face to face.

Ordinary moments are sacred.
See them, value them!
"The Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want."
Through God, I lack for nothing.
I am complete and perfected in God's eyes.
Be still, allow the 'Christ in you' to be.
Wherever you look, whatever you touch, there is a miracle.

Iraq - Did You Know?

Did you know..? I didn't know! How could we know?

Did you know that 47 countries have reestablished their embassies in Iraq ?

Did you know that the Iraqi government currently employs 1.2 million Iraqi people?

Did you know that 3100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 new schools are now under construction and 38 new schools have been completed in Iraq ?

Did you know that Iraq 's higher educational structure consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers, all currently operating?

Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United State s in January 2005 for the re-established Fulbright program?

Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational?

They have 5 - 100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment.

Did you know that Iraq 's Air Force consists of three operational squadrons, which includes 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft (under Iraqi operational control) which operate day and night, and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 Bell Jet Rangers?

Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battalion?

Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers?

Did you know that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq that produce over 3500 new officers each 8 weeks?

Did you know there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq ? They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities.

Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?

Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid October?

Did you know that there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in Iraq and phone use has gone up 158%?

Did you know that Iraq has an independent media that consists of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?

Did you know that the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004?

Did you know that 2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a televised debate?

OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW!

WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW?

OUR MEDIA WOULDN'T TELL US!

Instead of reflecting our love for our country, we get photos of flag burning incidents at Abu Ghraib and people throwing snowballs at the presidential motorcades.

Tragically, the lack of accentuating the positive in Iraq serves two purposes:

It is intended to undermine the world's perception of the United States thus minimizing consequent support, and it is intended to discourage American citizens.

---- Above facts are verifiable on the Department of Defense web site.

http://www.defenselink.mil/ .......Pass it on! Give it a Wide Dissemination!

Does God Love Sinners?

Does God love sinners?

Yes, absolutely!. Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. It is not sin or the lack of sin that brings us to God's love. It is believing that brings us to God. Through that believing, we strive to resist sin.

Christians have often gone off in wrong directions. That's called wrong believing. Does that make them void as Christians? Were the Crusaders Christians?, They claimed to be followers of Christ. They were wrong in their beliefs. The inquisitions were wrong. The Puritans were wrong. They sinned in their wrongful belief. Yet, what nullifies man's confession of Christ as in Romans 10:9-10?

We all as Christians have knowingly sinned and or wrongfully believed. Who among us hasn't broken the speed limit? Told a white lie? What man hasn't seen a woman he perceived beautiful and not felt a twinge of lust? Does God draw some line in the sand and to sin on one side of the line is forgivable BUT to sin on the other side is unforgivable? And is His love based on those conditions? If so who can tell me where that line is?

Scripture names two places where sin is unforgivable: Mark 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Rev 14:9-11 says of any man who worships the beast and bears the mark "their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever."

Jesus taught us in Matt 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust . 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. The lesson is that the Father in heaven is perfect and He loves the just and the unjust. Are not the unjust sinners? "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness." Then belief leads us away from sin (unfrigheorusness).

Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: The pious receive no more respect from God than the impious. The key is Romans 10:9-10. Were not the hypocrites in Matt 6:5 pious?

Paul freely admits his sinful nature in: Rom 7:12-25. (These are among my favorite verses.) Rom 7:25 is most relevant here: I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Gal 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain . Many become legalistic in their pursuit of God through Christ. Are works a legal requirement for salvation or rather a natural outflow of our belief and love for Christ? Do we through works or church attendance or whatever else buy our way into heaven? Do we bribe God? No, acting on our love, we do the will of God.

John 3:18 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. Just like Romans 10:9-10 again. So even in our belief, we can sin or wrongfully believe. Yet, through our belief we are not condemned. Grace is undeserved favor; then, what need of grace if not for sin?

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit This means that with all the faults of our flesh, we continue to walk after the Spirit. We stumble, we get up. We repent. We move on.

My concern is expressed in Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise , they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, First, this speaks of corruptible man. Would that not be the same as sinful man? Secondly and most importantly, they became fools because they tried to humanize God; that is, to reduce God to man's level of understanding.

1 Cor 13:9-12 speaks of how as men we know in part, we speak as children, see through a glass, darkly. 1 Cor 13:10 But when that which is perfect (God) is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. I accept that now I know in part. I am meek in my understanding of God's ways.

The Word of God says God loves believers, even those who sin. What else could be called unconditional love? Our goal, as believers, is to walk in the Spirit and through love, resist sin.

Arguments for the Trinity

Arguments for the Trinity

Most Christians absolutely believe in the triune Deity: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Which in the language of the New Testament, Greek is homoousios, of one substance with. The Trinity is foundational to their Christian belief system.

Others believe that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are thee separate entities which in Greek is homoiousios, of like substance. For years I belonged to this camp. After posing my position to a public Christian internet forum, I found verse after verse that either directly confirmed the existence of the Trinity or alluded to the existence of it. The similarity of the two Greek words was a cause for much of the confusion.

The definition of the Trinity was the main topic at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. The decision was settled by a vote. 250 and 318 bishops attended the council and only 2 voted against the Trinity. From this decision came the Nicene Creed which starts with an affirmation of the Trinity.

Does this of and by itself confirm that the Trinity is of God. No. But even as today, I weigh the wisdom of well known Biblical scholars in my study; there is wisdom in adding weight to the Nicene consensus.

The relationship between The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit is beyond the realm of human understanding. How often has man tried to explain God in man's terms and failed? The best explanation I've heard is the Trinity is liked to water which exists as steam, liquid and ice; yet, it is one and the same substance.

Rom 1:22-23 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Our understanding is limited. God's isn't:

Mark 4:10-11 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable . 11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: This indicates that there are mysteries of the Kingdom of God we don't understand.

1 Cor 13:9-10 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

If one verse isn't sufficient proof; consider the evidence of the composite of verses alluding to or claiming the Trinity. The Bible confirms itself through restating its principles in its verses.

The Disciples worshipped Jesus, which if Jesus weren't God would violate the 1st Commandment.

Matt 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
Matt 28:9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
Matt 28:17-18 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Luke 24:52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
John 9:38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

The Old Testament prophesied the coming of the Father - Son:

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

The New Testament speaks of the God and Son as One:

Matt 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Matt 28:18-19 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mark 1:9-11 Then one day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized by John there in the Jordan River. The moment Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens open and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descending on him, and a voice from heaven said, "You are my beloved Son; you are my Delight"

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 10:30 I and my Father are one.
Some interpret this verse to mean "of one mind". This is valid only if taken in isolation.

John 10:32-33 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

John 10:38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me , and I in him.

John 14:10-11 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me ? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me , he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me

John 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me , and I in you.

John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood .

2 Cor 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

2 Cor 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

Eph 4:4-5 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Heb 1:8-9 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

I have deliberately omitted 1st John 5:7, which proclaims the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. because many believe this verse was added to the text after the book was canonized. Most Bible translations omit this verse.

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

So it is Christ who is saying this to John in: Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

I've learned through this process, as a Christian believer, it is important to test and retest my beliefs and doctrine against the Word of God. That if through this process, I gain the wisdom to recognize what I once believed doesn't hold up to the test and retest of scripture, to let go of the old and live by what is proven in the Word.

1 Cor 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

Man & God: The New Covenant

One of the most significant differences between the Old Testament and the New Testament is man’s relationship with God. In the Old Testament God is perceived as external. God spoke to man; or prophesized through man. In the New Testament God is perceived as internal. God worked through man, from the inside out. For example:

· Old Testament – External God:

In Gen 3:8-19 God saw Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and punished them for eating of the fruit.

In Gen 17:1-22 The Lord appeared to Abraham to make a covenant with him , where God promised Abraham would be a father of many nations.

In Gen 32:24-30 Jacob wrestled with God, his hip was dislocated, and Jacob was renamed Israel.
Gen 32:30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Ex 3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him (Moses) in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

When God spoke through the prophets, the prophets would say, “Thus saith the Lord”.

Isa 44:6 "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.

“Thus saith the Lord” is used 414 times in the KJV from Exodus through Malachi.

· New Testament – The Internal God:

John 10:30 I and my Father are one.

John 10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

John 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

John 14:20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.

Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another

Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

In the Old Testament, Jews prayed to God through an intermediary:

Gen 32:9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:

In the Lord's Prayer, we are instructed to call on our Father. The Greek translators often chose the word Pater for father. In Aramaic, Jesus often used the word Abba which is a very special word for father similar to a child calling Daddy. Throughout the New Testament Jesus consistently referred to God as our Father.

Sanctification

The word and usage:

Sanctification is the separation from the secular into the sacred. Along with sanctify, it is used 11 times in the New Testament and the derived words, below, are used extensively in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament it refers to things belonging to God: The first born, a sacred place, the temple, the alter. In the New Testament it refers to the Christian believer who is freed from sin by Christ to realize the true will of God.

The words "holy," "hallow," "hallowed," "holiness," "consecrate," "saint," "sanctify," "sanctification" are all derived from the same root. The Hebrew verb qadhash - appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy (-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify (-ied oneself), wholly.

From the Greek: Hagiasmos (hag-ee-as-mos'); properly, purification, i.e. (the state) purity; concretely (by Hebraism) a purifier. (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

1 Cor 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

2 Thess 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Sanctification in the material sense is the establishment of God’s ownership. It is in the ethical sense the separation of man from the secular to the divine. We are sanctified by leaving the things of the earth and taking on the things of God through Christ. We “…put on the new man after which God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (From Eph 4:24). We also “put on the new man” who “above all these things put (s) on charity which is the bond of perfectness.” (From Col 3:10,14)

Sanctification is then the complete realization of Christ in you and the hope of glory.

Amen

The Kingdom Is At Hand

After the temptation of Jesus:

Mark 1:14-15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. And saying, the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

How?

I live through my senses and experiences. How do I move from living by my senses and experiences to living by the Spirit?

WE have experienced God’s love through ‘being at one’ with a moment:

v At one in romance . . .

v At one with a sunset . . .

v At one in love with another . . .

v At one in the love of a child or grandchild . . .

v At one in music or dance . . .

Nurture: Treasure those moments where you are at one with love and at one with God.

Matt 6:34 "So don't be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.

Open mind: See the beauty of God’s creation

Matt 18:3 Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Seek what is of God: Filter out those things that are not of God.

Col 3:8-10 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Act: Random acts of kindness. Kindness is healing.

Matt 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Psalm 100: A Psalm of praise.

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is GOD: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.