Why Do We Celebrate Christmas?

Today on Facebook I found a post from a Christian ministry in Australia which told us:

Around Christmas time, various nativity scenes are set up to display what people thought occurred when Jesus was born.  Generally there’s a barn. Then you have three people inside or outside the barn: Joseph, Mary, and Jesus.  Sometimes with halos, other times without halos. Sometimes Jesus is still in the crib, sometimes on Mary’s lap. 

And facing these three, on one side, are the shepherds - and on the other side are the three kings.  However, a careful reading of what the Bible says about the birth of the Messiah would reveal that the shepherds and the supposedly three kings never actually met each other.  They were separated by about two years in time.

When the wise men (not kings) went to Herod to ask where the King of the Jews was born, in Matthew 2:7(asv) we read: "Then Herod privily called the wise men and learned of them exactly what time the star appeared."

Bill Gray Note:  Here we find the first error in interpretation.  The wise men did not go to King Herod seeking the the Christ child, King Herod heard of their inquiries and summoned them.

Matthew 2:7 (nkjv), "Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared."

Matthew 2:7 (kjv), "Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared."

Jumping to verse 16, we read:  "Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had exactly learned of the wise men."

Herod ordered the slaughter of all the male children in Bethlehem "from two years old and under" because he learned from his private meeting with the wise men that it had been two years since the star signalling the Messiah's birth first appeared.  This time difference explains why, in Luke 2:12, the shepherds saw "a baby" lying in "a manger" (not a barn but a stable cave); whereas in Matthew 2:11, the wise men saw an already two-year-old "child" inside a "house."

What this ministry in Australia has written is mostly true.  The Bible does not teach that there were Three Kings, but instead tells us that there were Wise Men, i.e., astrologers, seers, magi, magicians - maybe prophets from the East.  The reason many say Three Wise Men is that they gave three treasured gifts to the Christ child:  gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  So, three gifts, three Wise Men.  But that is only an assumption.   The Wise Men, or magi, were men of position in the East and would have traveled with a fairly large entourage of helpers.

This mostly true interpretation by our friends in Australia is a good example of why we cannot just take a portion of Scripture and build a truth or doctrine around that portion, as they seem to have done with Matthew 2 - to the exclusion of other Scripture.  Keep in mind what the apostle Paul tells us in Acts 17:11, to test all teachings and teachers against Scripture. 

And this brings to mind a point I made in our Sunday School Class last Sunday.  We have to know our personal and corporate Statement of Faith so well that when someone, either intentionally or just through lack of understanding, shares with us a erroneous belief or teaching they believe to be in Scripture - if we have a mature knowledge of our Statement of Faith based upon Scripture, we can correct them from Scripture.

With that thought, to get a full picture of the birth of Jesus Christ we must look at the account in both Matthew 2 and Luke 2.  Most folks look to Luke 2 for the story of the birth of Christ, so let's begin there - for here we see why Joseph and Mary were traveling to Bethlehem:

Luke 2:1-5 (nkjv), "And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.  So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.  Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

Luke 2:6-7, "So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:8-15, "Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.'   And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:  'Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!' "

Luke 2:16-19, "So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.'   And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.  Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.  And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart."

Nothing is more blessed than to picture the angel appearing to the poor shepherds in the fields tending their sheep.  Suddenly the angel of God appear to them announcing the birth of a Savior.  Wow!  Just imagine the shepherds fear, awe, and amazement to see the heavens open up with a chorus of angels singing and praising God - and then to have an angel tell them of the birth of their Savior.  You and I can only imagine that feeling.

Then the shepherds go into Bethlehem and find a new born child lying in a feeding trough in a stable.  From the humblest beginnings God is born in human flesh, to be the Savior.  Yes, this happened when Christ was a newborn infant.  Thus we see the shepherds gathered around a manger, a feeding trough, to worship the newborn Christ.

Now let's travel far to the East of Bethlehem and Judea, to an Eastern kingdom where magi, wise men of their kingdom, see in their visions and in reality an unusual star which they believe is to lead them to a King.  These wise men, two, three, four, who knows how many - gather their entourage and begin the long journey to follow that special star.

After a period of traveling (most likely about two years), they arrive in Judea seeking a child King and begin to ask the locals about a young child which could have been born within the past several years.  King Herod hears of their inquiries and having been told of a King of the Jews to be born - summons the wise men to deceitfully discover what they know.  When King Herod and the wise men put together what they each know - the wise men continue their journey toward Bethlehem, following the star.  And this is where Matthew 2 continues the story:

Matthew 2:1-6 (nkjv), "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.'  When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, 'In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:  "But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel."

Matthew 2:7-10, "Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.  And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, 'Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.'   When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

Matthew 2:11-12, "And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.  And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way."

Matthew 2:13-15, "Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, 'Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.'  When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 'Out of Egypt I called My Son.' 

Matthew 2:16-18, "Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.  Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:  'A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.' 

Matthew 2:19-23, "Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 'Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead.'  Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.  But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there.  And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee.  And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, 'He shall be called a Nazarene.' "

Combining what we find in both Luke 2 and Matthew 2, we have the Biblical account of why Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem, why Christ was born in a humble manger in the stable, the heavenly announcement of the Christ Child to the shepherds, and their adoration of the newborn Christ Child.

The story continues in a country far to the East, where wise men, magi, have a vision, see an unusual star and follow that star.  We are not told if they saw the star on the night of the birth or if they saw it much later.  We do know that an entourage traveling from a far country by camel over the desert and wilderness would have taken some time, possibly up to two years, to arrive at the home where Joseph, Mary, and their child, Jesus Christ, were now living in Bethlehem.

There they bowed to worship the Child King and give Him gifts ofgold, frankincense, and myrrh

Even though there may have been a number of other gifts, I believe these three are spoken of in Scripture for their symbolic significance: 

1.  Gold is a precious metal, a valuable commodity - which could have financed Joseph and Mary’s trip to Egypt.  Gold is a symbol of divinity and is mentioned throughout the Bible.  Pagan idols were often made from gold and the Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with gold (Exodus 25:10-17).

2.  Frankincense is a highly fragrant oil used in worship, where it was burned as a pleasant offering, an incense, to God (Exodus 30:34).

3.  Myrrh was a spice and was used in embalming.   Speaking of the cross on which Christ would die to buy our pardon.

So the three:  Gold representing His kingship - Frankincense a symbol of His priestly role as our High Priest -  and Myrrh prefiguring his sacrificial death and embalming.

It is good that we continue to revisit this story of our Savior, especially today, Christmas which we celebrate as His birthday.

One final point:  Was Jesus Christ born on December 25th?

Most likely not, for the shepherds were in the field with their flocks - and in December the weather would not have been appropriate for that to be true.  Some suggest earlier in the Fall, i.e., maybe October.  But since the Bible does not tell us the exact date, we cannot be dogmatic about December 25th. 

Let me suggest this:  Suppose you adopt a child from another country and no one knows exactly when that child was born.  Do you celebrate the birthdays of your other children - but just ignore the birthday of your new child?  No.  You will give that child a birthday which can be celebrated. 

I have often read that the reason Christians chose the day of December 25 to celebrate the birth of Christ was to offset the pagan celebration of Saturnalia, the pagan worship of their sun god.

When the pagans were celebrating and having great parties - weaker Christian believers could be lured into those pagan rituals and celebrations, causing them to stumble.  What was the solution?  Give the Christian believers their own celebration during that week of pagan worship.  Thus the Christian leaders chose to celebrate the birth of Christ at that time.

Regardless of when we celebrate His birth, it is a time of worship, celebration, and joy.  So forget why the date was chosen - and just celebrate the fact that Christ was born in Bethlehem to be our Savior (Luke 2:11), to be our High Priest (Hebrews 2:17), to be our Atonement (Hebrews 2:17), and our Way (John 14:6) to eternal life in the presence of God.

God bless and Merry Christmas,

Bill 

Who Is Really Winning - The Secular World or God?

Recently a hometown Friend, Ruth, shared an article on Facebook about the toymaker, Mattel, and their proposed plan to create a Same-Sex Barbie doll set. The article is titled "Mattel to Meet with Gay Couple to Discuss Barbie Same-Sex 'Wedding' Set."   The article tells us:

Mattel, the well-known manufacturer of Barbie, is considering accepting a proposal to create a toy line which would depict same-sex “wedding” dolls. .  .  .

There are various ongoing controversies surrounding pro-LGBT representation and messages that are being introduced to kids without the knowledge or consent of their parents. These can include cartoons, elementary schools, and even public libraries. (A homosexual couple) Jacobi and Caprio, however, contended that homosexuality is something that is so prevalent today that the toy makers should not have doubts when it comes to exposing young kids to it.

"It's going to come up in your family no matter what," Caprio asserted.  "As more same-sex couples are having kids, your kids are going to have kids in a class that have gay parents.”  Jacobi stated that “love is love and it’s that simple.” .  .  .

Bill Gray Note:  It is a physical impossibility for same-sex couples to have babies.  They may go off the plantation and find other sources for impregnation or adoption - but it is a scientific and physical impossibility for a same-sex couple to biologically conceive a child themselves.  And yes, it is just that simple!

If Mattel eventually makes the decision to create same-sex “wedding” Barbies, it wouldn’t be the famous doll line’s first step into pro-LGBT messaging.  In 2017, one of Mattel’s official Barbie Instagram account posted a picture of a Barbie doll that was “proud to wear” a “Love Wins” t-shirt, displaying the slogan used since 2015 to celebrate the Supreme Court forcing all 50 states to recognize same-sex marriages.

Another hometown Friend, Clay responded, "I saw an ad for a same sex couple for Jared Jewelry the other night.  It went so quickly that I wasn't sure I had seen it correctly, so I hit pause and replayed it."

I replied, "Hi Clay, I noticed that Jared commercial also - and you are right, it is almost a subliminal image.  But it is definitely support for same-sex marriage. Jared has become a dirty word for me.  I am glad someone else noticed Jared's pandering to the secular world."

Phillip added,  "Another step toward the fall of civilization, progressives are winning."

My response, "Hi Phillip, You tell us, 'Another step toward the fall of civilization, progressives are winning.' "   While I understand what you are saying, and it is easy today to get discouraged and believe the secular world is winning.  However, I believe we should always know that God won the war against Satan back in Genesis 3.  Today we are just fighting the clean-up skirmishes with Satan's folks.

Jesus tells us this in the "Parable Of The Wheat And The Tares" in Matthew 13:

Matthew 13:24-30, "Another parable He put forth to them, saying: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.  But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.  So the servants of the owner came and said to him, "Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field?  How then does it have tares?"

He said to them, "An enemy has done this."  The servants said to him, "Do you want us then to go and gather them up?"

But he said, "No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, 'First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.' "

Matthew 13:36-40, "Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, 'Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.'  He answered and said to them: 'He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.' "

As Christian believers, our task in this clean-up operation is to minimize the collateral damage, lost souls not evangelized and those without a home church, by sharing the Gospel with all the world (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15 - The Great Commission). 

The dialogue above made me think of a 2009 dialogue:

In 2009, a Forum Friend on the TimesDaily Religion Forum posted a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson:  "The life of man is a self-evolving circle, which, from a ring imperceptibly small, rushes on all sides outwards to new and larger circles, and that without end."

And, I responded:

My Friend, you have just described the very best method of Christian Evangelism:  Concentric Circle Evangelism.

We all can make a splash, ever so small.  Yet from that small splash, like a pebble dropped into a body of water, the concentric circles of our Christian life should expand.  First, to those in our immediate family.  Then to those in our circle of friends.  Then to those in our community, our city, our state, and our nation - to the ends of the earth.

Your quote prompted me to think of waves of concentric circles in water and apply that to Christian evangelism - starting small, spreading, never ending, reaching the far corners of the earth.

"And this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness for all the nations, and then the end shall come" (Matthew 24:14).

This brings to mind the autobiography of Jerry Falwell titled "Strength For The Journey."   Chapter 8 "Spreading The Word" begins on page 179 with:

At 6 A.M. on Monday morning, July 2, 1956, I unlocked the front doors of our little church in the old bottling company building on Thomas Road and entered the empty sanctuary.  The cement-block building was cold and dark.  I switched on a light and stood looking at the empty rows of theater chairs that we had  just purchased from the old Isis Theater on Main Street.  On our first Sunday many rows of those chairs had remained empty.  I was determined that in the next few weeks those same chairs would be filled to capacity.

"Lord," I prayed, "there are hundreds of people near this little building who do not know you.  Help me find them.  Help me reach them.  Help me get them inside this place!"

Jerry Falwell and the Thomas Road Baptist church is the best real life example I know of "Circle of Influence Concentric Evangelism."  He explains his plan of evangelism from the beginning of his Thomas Road Baptist church ministry:

That first Monday in my cramped office, I labeled the dot on the map where our church stood and the ten-block radius immediately surrounding it as our Jerusalem.  I had placed the point of a compass on that dot and drawn the ten-block radius around it. .  .  The next wider circle I called Judea.  That circle included a twenty-block radius from the church.  The next circle included a thirty-block radius.  I called the third circle our Samaria.  And the rest of Lynchburg, all of Campbell County, Virginia, the states and nations beyond were the "uttermost parts of the earth." 

Bill Gray Note:  Using that plan, Jerry Falwell personally began to knock on doors in his Jerusalem circle, then his Judea circle, and then his Samaria circle of homes around that little bottling company building church.  The rest is history as we know how he, strengthened by the Holy Spirit, spread that little church teachings to the "uttermost parts of the earth." 

I wasn't out to steal souls from other congregations in the area.  In fact I congratulated each person who claimed active church membership and wished them and their church God's best!  But it was important to find out if each person really was an active member of another Bible-believing church or just pretending.

"I'm a member of First Methodist," one lady declared proudly.

"Wonderful," I answered, writing down the information.  And then without looking up I added the question, "Who is your pastor over there?"

When she didn't know the pastor's name I assumed that there many other things about the faith she didn't know.  "Now, I don't want to take you away from your own church on Sunday morning," I told her, "but this Sunday night I am preaching on forgiveness, and I'd be honored if you would come."   (page 184).

Jerry Falwell's explanation of Acts 1:8 coincided with the message a visiting missionary from the Philippines, Steve Houston, shared with our Corona Fil-Am church about fifteen years ago.  Steve shared his view of Acts 1:8, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (or the uttermost part of the earth)."

Steve explained that our Jerusalem is our immediate family and very close friends.  Our Judea is our local community, city, state.  Our Samaria is our nation.  And "to the ends of the earth" is self-explanatory. 

Folks, when we see so many people, legislative bodies, and companies such as Mattel who are trying to reach our children with the Secular World Gospel instead of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - that is a sign that we need to ask ourselves, "Are our concentric circles of the Christian Gospel weak and ineffective?  Are we dropping a large enough 'pebble of God's Word' into our lake of evangelism?" 

Or are we being "couch potato Christians" - Christians who will just sit on our laurels and "wait" for folks to come and ask us about Jesus Christ and His wonderful gift of eternal life?   Definitely food for thought.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

My K.I.S.S. Gospel Theology

This blog was written on December 19, 2011.  Yet I believe it is even more relevant today, for I see so many Christian churches and denominations leaning toward or outright adopting a secular worldview theology - instead of the theology taught in our Christian Bible.  We see many pulpits watering down the Gospel, accepting and empowering secular worldviews.  We see the secular world saying to the church today, "Did God really say that?"  (Genesis 3:1-6).

And rather than standing on the solid foundation of the Word of God - many churches and denominations are accepting, catering to, and empowering those who would bring a theology of homosexuality, same-sex marriage, abortion, secular ecumenism, even atheism into the house and family of God.  That is why I feel a need to once again share this blog from 2011.

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My K.I.S.S. Gospel Theology
December 19, 2011 at 2:46 PM

You may ask, "Bill, what is a K.I.S.S. Gospel Theology?  Are you playing with us?"   No, my Friends, I am very serious.  I believe we all should be using the K.I.S.S. principle, concept, or idea - when applying, teaching, or sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others.  Yesterday, in church, while waiting for our Christmas program to begin - I was reading one of my favorite Christian magazines "Israel My Glory" which is a publication of The Friends Of Israel Gospel Ministry.

In an article, I read, "The story of the Gospel is the incarnation, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension, and coming again of Jesus Christ."   That, my Friends, is the perfect description of the Gospel of Jesus Christ viewed through the lens of my K.I.S.S. Gospel Theology.   And, that is how I feel the Gospel can and should be shared most effectively.

We all know that K.I.S.S. is an acronym for the principle called Keep It Simple Stupid.  However, from my experience in dialoguing with atheists, secularists, and other non-believers - I have developed a deep aversion, even a strong dislike, for the word "stupid."   Why?  Well, this seems to be the favorite adjective, or label, used by the secular folks when addressing Christians and anything regarding our Christian faith.

Why is the strong adjective "stupid" the favorite atheist/non-believer's description of Christians?  Well, part of it is that they are following the teachings of one of the leading atheist gurus, Richard Dawkins.  In Googling "Richard Dawkins stupid" - below are several of the results I found:
 

1.  Richard Dawkins says Pope is 'stupid.'   By TELEGRAPH Added: Tue, 31 Mar 2009

2.  Richard Dawkins, in his Review of the book "BLUEPRINTS: Solving the Mystery of Evolution" by Maitland A. Edey and Donald C. Johanson - writes: "It is absolutely safe to say that if you meet somebody who claims not to believe in evolution, that person is ignorant, stupid or insane (or wicked, but I'd rather not consider that)."

3.  Richard Dawkins, in a recent NewsNight interview with Jeremy Paxman, was asked, "Do you really care that there are a lot of stupid people around?"  And, Dawkins replied, "I do actually, yes.  I really do.  I mean, I care that children are being misled by those stupid people."

Bill Gray comment:  Dawkins, instead of saying that he thinks Christians are misguided, prefers to call us "stupid."   And, since, in his book "The God Delusion" Dawkins makes the point that religion is inherited from parents - this, then, explains his reply to Jeremy Paxman.

So, to avoid this word, which has become the ensign, or banner, of the atheist, secularist, and non-believing world - I will define my  K.I.S.S. Gospel Theology as Keep It Simple and Straightforward.

Viewed through this K.I.S.S. Gospel Theology lens - what is the Gospel?

It is His:

Incarnation:  His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:31), when He set aside His divine nature (but, was still was deity, still fully God) and became man, clothed in a human body - so that He could be like His brethren in all things, that He might be our High Priest and make propitiation, i.e., atonement, for our sins before God (Hebrews 2:17).  He came to die in our place - that we may choose to live in Him.

Ministry:  What was His earthly ministry?   In John 18:37, Jesus tells Pilate, "For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."   Before Christ came as the perfect, sinless Man - mankind was lost in sin and had no way to eternal life.

God had given Moses the Law, but that was only a band-aid - temporarily binding the wound of sin - until the Great Physician Himself came clothed as a man, to offer permanent healing to all mankind.    He tells us, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me"  (John 14:6).  This was His ministry - to die in our place, so that we may choose to live in Him.

Death:  God's perfect love must be balanced by His perfect justice.  Because of Adam's disobedience mankind was mired in sin and could not pay our sin debt to satisfy that perfect justice.  How could this sin debt be paid, so that we might be seen as righteous before God?  Man could not pay that debt.  For to satisfy His perfect justice - the price paid, i.e., the sacrifice - must be perfect.  And since no man was or is perfect - we were locked forever in our Sin Prison.

On the door of our Sin Prison cell, just like in the Roman jails of Christ's day, our Certificate Of Sin Debt had been posted.  This is the price to be paid to free us from our Sin Prison cell.  But none of us could pay that price and buy our pardon - for the price is far too high for any sinful, mortal man to pay.

Jesus Christ came as our Brethren to pay that debt for us.   In our place, He was cursed, spit upon, beaten unmercifully, then nailed to the cross - to die a painful, cruel death.   On the cross, above His head, Pilate had his soldiers nail a sign he had made, which read, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS, in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin (John 19:19-22).

Yet, what Pilate could not see, nor could his soldiers - was what Jesus Christ Himself nailed to that cross.  He nailed the Certificate of Sin Debt, earned by every human ever born or to be born, to His cross.  He took the sins of all mankind, for all time, upon His precious back and nailed them to the cross - thereby paying the Sin Debt for all people, of all generations.  To gain the Full Pardon purchased by His precious blood - all we need do is, by the grace of God, through faith in Him - believe His Gospel and receive His free gift of eternal life.  What could be more Simple and Straightforward than that?

He paid that great price for us.  All we have to do to gain eternal life - is to accept this free gift.   He died in our place, so that we may choose to live in Him.

Resurrection:  Jesus Christ was buried and for three days He was in Paradise/Hades (Luke 16:19-31), where He was in fellowship with the Old Testament saints who had died in faith, believing on their coming Messiah.  He led these Old Testament faithful who were in the Bosom of Abraham, who had been waiting to enter into the presence of God through Jesus Christ (John 14:6) - into heaven (Ephesians 4:8).

Then, after three day, He rose from the grave, i.e., He resurrected.  And His resurrection assured our resurrection into eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:12-19) - for as we are told in verse 17, "and if Christ has not been raised (resurrected), your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins."   But, praise God - He did resurrect.  And, so will we.

And in John 5:28-29, Jesus Christ tells us, "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment."

This also is His confirmation that the only two eternal destinations for all people are heaven (resurrection of life) and hell (resurrection of judgment).  There are no other choices.  But, we get to choose.  No, we MUST choose - our own individual eternal home.  Could it be more Simple and Straightforward?

Ascension:  On the 40th day after His resurrection Jesus Christ ascended into heaven (Acts 1:6-11) where He is sitting at the right hand of God the Father (Mark 16:19, Acts 7:55-56, Colossians 3:1).  What is Christ doing at the right hand of God the Father?  He is interceding for all believers (Romans 8:34).  He is our one and only Mediator between man and God (1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 9:15).

Coming Again:   In Acts 1:10-11, we read of two angels (appearing as men in white clothing) who tell His apostles and disciples as they watch Jesus Christ ascend into heaven, "Jesus. . . will come again in just the same way as you have watched Him go into  heaven."

First, we are told in 1 Thessalonians that He is coming in the air so that we might be "caught up" (raptured) with Him in the clouds.   This is when He will Rapture His church, His body of believers, into heaven.  Because this event, when we will be caught up, is "imminent" - this must happen before the Tribulation begins.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord."

This is not His Second Coming.  It is the Rapture.

Of His Second Coming, we are told in Revelation 1:7, "Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him.  So it is to be.  Amen."

Who or what is this "clouds" with which He is coming?  Well, in Hebrews 12:1 we are told that, ". . .we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us," - the Christian church, His body of believers, as well as the Old Testament saints (Hebrews 11).  And, in Revelation 19:14, we are told that Christ will return "with His armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean"  Those armies are His Bride, the church - and all the Old Testament saints and martyred Tribulation saints.  This is the cloud of believers who will be with Him at His Second Coming.

This is His Second Coming, when He will return in power and glory, the Lion of Judah, accompanied by His "cloud of believers."

Yes, He is coming again.  First, in the clouds to catch up (rapture) His church - and then His Second Coming to earth to establish His Millennial Kingdom upon earth for 1000 years.  Then eternity.

So, what should be the main goal of all Christian believers?  What should be our first thought each morning?   Answer:  We should be seeking ways that we can share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others - in a Simple and Straightforward way.

"Interesting, Bill, but who are these 'others' with whom we should be sharing the Gospel?"  Glad you asked.

Who needs to hear the Gospel?  The most obvious answer would be - the lost of the world, the non-believers.  For they are the ones most in danger of dying without Christ in their hearts, who will be lost for eternity if they leave this mortal body while still denying Him.  They need the Gospel served to them - on a platter of love, with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).

And, I am sure that the Holy Spirit will lead us to at least one person today who is seeking to know more about God, more about His Written Word, the Bible.  This dear person may only be curious at this time, or he/she may be standing at the door - almost ready to open the door and invite Him to come in to be Lord and Savior of his/her soul.  Just maybe, you sharing the Gospel today will help him/her take that final eternal step, open the door of his/her heart, and be embraced by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into eternal life.

Then we who are more mature in God's Word should be sharing with the new believers, that they will gain a greater understanding of His Word and therefore strengthen their walk with Him and their witness to more "others."

And finally, being in dialogue with other believers, both new and mature, being in the Word of God and discussing the Word of God - will help us become more knowledgeable of His Written Word, it will help us to grow more mature in His Word, and will strengthen our Christian walk.  We are told in Proverbs 27:17, "Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another." 

And that is the effect of Christian brothers and sisters gathering to study His Word, to have open discussions of His Word, and to share new insights into the Word of God.  We call that Bible Study, where 2 or 3, or 30 or 40, or more gather to talk about, chew on, and absorb His Word.

This is my K.I.S.S. Gospel Theology - Keep It Simple and Straightforward - and share the Gospel with the world.

We who are believers should adopt this K.I.S.S. Gospel Theology in the workings of our local churches, in our Sunday School classes, and in our Bible studies.  It always weighs upon my heart when I see churches get so caught up in "marketing pizzazz" - i.e., what new catch words, new catch phrases, new music, or new "gotcha" ideas of the world can we adapt to our church - to lure more people?  I know.  Let's not call our Bible study a Bible study.  Let's come up with some catchy new name for it - and then, folks will not realize they are in a Bible study until it is too late.

My Friends, I am firmly convinced that a local church is like a three legged stool.  One leg is the Worship service and sermon, another is an effective Sunday School, and the third is a Bible study where the Bible is studied and discussed - and not the latest popular book from the Christian book store.

Remove one of these legs, which many churches have begun to do by not having Sunday School, and the stool is wobbly.  Remove the second leg, Bible study, or change the focus of that Bible study away from actually studying and discussing the Bible verse by verse, to discussing a trendy topical subject, or the latest Christian book - and that stool, i.e., that local church - is wobbly, often near impossible to keep standing.

This has been a burden upon my heart - that I am beginning to see so many one legged church fellowships.

If you agree, or find this in any way useful, why not begin by sharing it with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors - all your FRANs.  Let's all keep sharing the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, with the world - until He returns.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

How Are We Saved? - An Interview Between Ben Shapiro And Roman Catholic Bishop Robert Barron

Is salvation “works-based” or “faith-based” or “love-based”?  In Acts 17:11 the apostle Paul gives us a clear answer: "We must test the teaching and the teacher against Scripture."

It isn't about what Judaism, Roman Catholicism, or any of the Protestant churches teach.  It is about what the Bible teaches.  And if your church, any church, teachings are in full alignment with what the Bible teaches - you are in the right church.  If what your church teaches varies from what the Bible teaches, then it might be time to look around for a new church home.

In the video below Ben Shapiro, who practices Judaism, interviews Roman Catholic Bishop Robert Barron regarding what his church, the Roman Catholic church, teaches about salvation.  Bishop Barron tells us that the Five Solas are not quite accurate. 

He tells Ben Shapiro, "If Luther had said 'Gracia Primo' (Grace first) he would have been right."   Then he tells Shapiro, "It is Grace and cooperation with Grace."  In other words, God's Grace and Jesus Christ's death on the cross are not sufficient to save us.   We must work, i.e., cooperate with God in love, to be saved.

Since Bishop Barron mentioned the Five Solas, what are the Five Solas of our Christian faith?

1. Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone)
2. Sola Fide (faith alone)
3. Sola Gratia (grace alone)
4. Solus Christus (Christ alone)
5. Soli Deo Gloria (to the glory of God alone)

Did God leave room for one more Sola, Gracia Primo (Grace first)?  Not really.  What does the Bible say about salvation?

Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

And also these Scripture passages define our salvation:

Ephesians 1:13, 4:30, "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed (indwelled) with the Holy Spirit of promise,  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."

John 20:29-31, "Jesus said to him, 'Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'  And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."

John 1:12-13, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

Galatians 2:16, 21, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. .  .  . (21) I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."

The Bible is very clear that salvation, eternal life, is attained "by grace through faith" alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).  In other words, "Sola Gratia (grace alone) by Sola Fide (faith alone)"

The following excerpt is from the Ben Shapiro / Bishop Robert Barron interview.  You decide for yourself if the Judaism view or the Roman Catholicism view align with the Biblical view:

Last Sunday Roman Catholic Bishop Robert Barron appeared on the Ben Shapiro Show.  Shapiro is a well-known conservative pundit and a practitioner of the Jewish religion.   Shapiro shared with Bishop Barron that, as a practicing Jew, people from outside his religion often claim that he will not go to Heaven.  Shapiro then asked Bishop Baron a pointed question about salvation:  "What’s the Catholic view of who gets into Heaven and who doesn’t?"

Before he allowed Bishop Barron to answer, Shapiro noted that he attempted to obey the 10 Commandments in his life and sought to promulgate Judeo-Christian virtues.  Shapiro stated that he felt like he lived a “good life.”   Shapiro asked the Bishop, “What’s the Catholic view of me?”

Bishop Barron provided a Roman Catholic answer.  He claimed that, according to the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, someone “outside the explicit Christian faith could be saved” through sincerely following his conscience.  He refereed to the Christian faith as merely “the privileged route.” 

Barron went as far as to claim that sincere Atheists could be saved.  The Catholic religion, Barron claimed upon inquisition from Shapiro, that Roman Catholicism was neither “works-based” nor “faith-based” but “love-based.”

https://www.facebook.com/officialbenshapiro/videos/288775041778411/

I will agree with Bishop Barron on one issue.  Yes, an atheist can be saved - and yes, everyone can be saved.   So how can they be saved?

Jesus, in the Bible, gives us a very clear path to Eternal Life.  Everyone, Whoever, will come to the Father through Him - no other path.

John 3:14-15, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but HAVE eternal life."

John 3:16, "For God so loved the WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him should not perish but HAVE everlasting life.

John 14:6, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. NO ONE comes to the Father except through Me."

The Bible is God's clearly written "Users' Manual For Eternal Life."  It is up to each of us to read it and follow it - and if we do, we WILL HAVE eternal life in Christ.

One last thought, "Your life may be the only Bible some people will ever read.  Make sure it reads well."

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

Click on the image to enlarge: 

How Does YOUR Statement of Faith Read?

Many years ago my close and very dear Friend, Pastor Freddy Cortez, taught me that when I find a church, ministry, or person which may influence me or folks who read my writings, the first thing I should look at is their Statement of Faith, i.e., what they believe.  For what they believe - is what they teach. 

And I would not want to subject myself nor any of my Friends and readers to false teachings or false theologies.  The only times I might share from a false teaching, I will clearly and distinctly assure that my readers are warned that it is a false teaching or theology - and that is why I am sharing it, to highlight the error in that teaching.

Years ago, in my research, I came across the web site of a church in the Midwest.  I could not find their Statement of Faith, aka Statement of Beliefs, on the web site, so I sent an e-mail asking why I could not find this vital bit of information about their church.  Right away I had a response telling me, "We do not post our Statement of Beliefs because we do not want to offend anyone."

Whoa!  You are afraid that what you believe and teach about God - will offend someone?  Really?

I replied, "Well, you have most certainly offended me.  And I have no doubt that you have also offended God."

Yes, I realize that I may sometimes sound like a broken record.  But if we, as Christian believers, do not understand what we believe about God, salvation, and our Christian faith well enough to put it in writing - how can we say, or be sure of, what we believe?  When witnessing to a non-believer and they ask, "What does your church teach?"  What will you tell him or her?

So yes, I am hung up on knowing and understanding our Statement of Faith, personal and corporate.

Today my faithful and long time Christian brother, Paul Wilson, posted about the scrumptious food he is preparing for their church's Worship In Food Fellowship tomorrow at Goleta Valley Church.  You might guess that Paul's lovely bride, Jhing, is a Filipina and they spent years in our Fil-Am Church of Irvine (CA), before moving to Santa Barbara.  Thus the well prepared Food Fellowship!

Paul's post led me to take a look at their church we site.  I found their Statement of Faith to be very complete and well written.  I want to share that statement as a good example of a Christ-Centered, Bible-Teaching church fellowship.  This is taken from their web site but the bold and indented emphasis is mine.  By the way, Paul, I did find one word misspelled - but that did not distract from the fullness of your Statement of Faith:

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What We Believe (Goleta Valley Church):

1.  We believe in the Scripture of the Old and New Testaments as verbally inspired of God, and inerrant in the original writings, and that they are of supreme and final authority in faith and life.  2 Timothy 3:16,17;  2 Peter 1:21;  Psalm 119:89.

2.  We believe in one God eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14.

3.  We believe in God the Father, creator of heaven and earth, perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, measureless in power.  We rejoice that He answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.  Genesis 1:11;  Isaiah 40:28.

4.  We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary, and is true God and true man.  Luke 1:35;  Matthew 1:18,19.

5.  We believe in the Holy Spirit, who came forth from God to convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and comfort those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ John 16:7-123;  Titus 3:1-5.

6.  We believe that man was created in the image of God; that he sinned and not only incurred physical death but also spiritual death which is separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature, and in the case of those who have reached moral responsibility, became sinners in thought, word, and deed.  Romans 3:19,20;  5:12;  Ephesians 2:1-3,12.

7.  We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood.  Romans 4:25;  5:16,18;  Ephesians 1:7;  1 Peter 1:3-5.

8.  We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His Ascension into heaven, and in His present life there, as our High Priest and Advocate.  Acts 1:1-11; 2:32,36; 1 Timothy 2:5;  1 John 2:1.

9.  We believe in the “blessed hope” - and the personal pre-millennial and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Acts 1:11;  Titus 2:13;  1 Thessalonians 4:16,17;  2 Thessalonians 2:1-17.

10.  We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit, and thereby become the children of God.  Ephesians 2:8,9.

11.  We believe that every born again person has been baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ and therefore has the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  1 Corinthians 12:13.

12.  We believe that every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ still has an old sinful nature which wars against the soul.  Romans 7:15-25.

13.  We believe in the existence of Satan who:

a.   originally was created a holy and perfect being but through pride and wicked ambition rebelled against God.

b.   became utterly depraved in character and the great adversary of God and His people.

c.   is the leader of all other evil angels and spirits and the deceiver and god of this present world.

d.   has vast powers, but is strictly limited by the permissive will of God who overrides all his wicked devices for good.

e.   was defeated and judged at the cross, and, therefore, his final doom is certain.

f.   we are able to resist and overcome only in the armor of God by the blood of the Lamb and through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Ezekiel 28:11-19;  Luke 4:1-13; Ephesians 6:10-12

14.  We believe in the divine guarantee that all who are born again shall never perish.  John 10:27,29;  Romans 8:35-39;  1 Corinthians 1:4-8;  1 Peter 1:5;  Colossians 3:3.

15.  We believe that all the saved are called into a life of separation from all worldly and sinful practices.  James 4:4;  Romans 12:1-3;  1 Corinthians 5:14.

16.  We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost.  John 5:28,29;  11:25,26; Revelation 20:5,6;  20:12-15.

17.  We believe in the sacredness of the Lord’s Day in commemoration of the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, to rest from our common work, and to serve and worship our Master. John 20:19;  Luke 24:3-45;  Acts 2:1-4;  20:6,7;  1 Corinthians 16:2.

18.  We believe in separation of our church and state, with each having definite and distinct spheres of responsibility.  Mark 12:13-17.

19.  We believe in the priesthood of all believers and that:

a.   Christ is our Great High Priest and through Him every born again person has direct access into God’s presence without the need of a human priest.

b.   The believer has the right and responsibility to personally study and interpret the Scriptures guided by the Holy Spirit.  1 Peter 2:5-9.

20.  We believe in the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and that:

a.   He alone is Head of the Body of Christ, into which all true believers are immediately baptized by the Holy Spirit.

b.   All members of this one spiritual body should assemble and identify themselves in local churches.  Philippians 2:11;  Colossians 1:18;  Ephesians 4:4-16;  Hebrews 10:25.

21.  We believe in the importance of the local church and that a New Testament church is a local assembly of born again baptized believers united in organization to practice New Testament ordinances, to work together for worship, prayer, fellowship, teaching, a united testimony, and to actively engage in carrying out the Great Commission.  Matthew 28:19,20;  Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:41-47.

22.  We believe in the independence and autonomy of the local church, and that:

a.   Each New Testament church is free to govern itself without ecclesiastical interference.

b.   We should cooperate with other New Testament churches as the Holy Spirit leads.

c.   It is responsible to follow the pattern of the New Testament church and is directly accountable to God.

23.  We believe the ordinances given to the local church are two:  baptism, and the Lord’s Supper, and that:

a.   Baptism is by immersion of believers thus portraying the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

b.   the Lord’s Supper is the partaking of the bread and cup by the believer as a continuing memorial of the broken body and shed blood of Christ.  Matthew 28:19,20;  1 Corinthians 11:23-34;  Romans 6:1-10;  Acts 16:30-34.

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So, my Friend, can YOU tell us the Statement of Faith, with Scripture references, you and your local church fellowship believe and teach?   If not, what are YOU going to do about it?

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

Click on the image to enlarge:

 

Honey And Apple Cider Vinegar - God's Medicine?

Recently a Christian sister asked prayers on Facebook because she had real pain in her upper left arm.  Today she posted:  "It's a frozen shoulder... no biggie. I'll exercise it every day and I'll be good as new in a couple months."

I responded to her:   For a number of years I had joint aches and other related issues, was taking MSM / Glucosamine for it - and it was relatively expensive.  One month, about 10 years ago, I could not afford to buy that over-the-counter medication.  Talking with my brother in Alabama, he suggested I replace that with honey.  I decided to try it and in a couple of books on Folk Medicine, I found that apple cider vinegar makes a great aches and pain medicine when combined with honey.

I began putting an overflowing teaspoon of honey and one of apple cider vinegar in my morning coffee and in my before bed green tea / chamomile tea combo. Within a few weeks - no joint pains, no real aches.

And there are great benefits:  (1) It is much cheaper than the MSM / Glucosamine, (2) It adds great flavor to my coffee and tea, (3) and at the age of 81 years young, if I feel like walking to the store or just going for a long walk - not a problem.

An additional benefit I discovered during the many years I have been writing.  In the morning I get my cup of coffee, sit at my computer, and write a Christian blog and/or Friends Ministry eNewsletter.  Often I will get absorbed in writing and forget my coffee.  When I do reach for my coffee, it is cold.  And since I drink only black coffee - it has lost its flavor.

But, voila! - I have discovered that when I have added honey and apple cider vinegar to my coffee - even cold it still tastes great.

Good health and no more wasted coffee!   A win-win situation.

One last benefit I discovered.  Back in the late 1980s my mom had a problem with her jaw.  At times it felt like it was locking up - and she had to go to a dentist to have a procedure done.   Fast forward about 30 years and I started experiencing the same effect - it felt like my jaw bone joints were starting to bind or lock.  But once I began my regimen of honey / apple cider - it never happened again.

I am not a doctor and cannot tell anyone else what is good for them (except when I say God is the answer) - but from personal experience I will say that honey and apple cider vinegar in my morning coffee and evening tea have worked wonders for me. 

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

Pro-Abortion Democrats Introduced A Bill In The U.S. House Making Abortion A "Human Right!"

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN if we built a display showing One Penny, 1/100 of a dollar, for each baby killed via abortion since the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973?  What would that display look like today?  The photo below is a graphic display of the almost 60 MILLION babies killed via abortion, Infanticide - in America alone - since that 1973 decision.

This article was posted in LifeNews(dot)Com today:

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Pro-Abortion Democrats Introduced A Bill In The U.S. House Of Representatives This Week ~  that would force the government to declare the killing of unborn babies a “human right.”

The pro-abortion bill - "The Reproductive Rights are Human Rights Act" - would require the U.S. State Department to include abortion on demand and other reproductive rights in its annual human rights report.  It is a reaction to the Trump administration, which, earlier this year, prioritized real human rights issues by removing references to the so-called “right” to abort an unborn child from the report . .  .  .  .

Under the pro-abortion Obama administration, one section of the report was called “Reproductive Rights.”  The Trump administration removed that section and added a new one called “Coercion in Population Control.”

But abortion activists - who ignore forced/coerced abortions that truly violate a woman’s “right to choose” - want Abortion On Demand to be the core of women’s rights issues.

“Women’s rights are human rights,” said Rep. Frankel in a statement about the bill.  “There is no greater right for women than to be in charge of their own bodies.”

Planned Parenthood - The Center for Reproductive Rights - NARAL - and 42 other organizations endorsed the pro-abortion legislation.  Many of them also promoted it Monday on social media in connection with Human Rights Day.

“This erasure puts real lives in danger,” said NARAL President Ilyse Hogue.  “Using backdoor tactics to erase all mention of reproductive rights - including abortion, contraception, and maternal mortality - from vital reports and resources in order to push an extreme, ideological agenda is a true testament to just how dangerous and corrupt this administration (Trump administration) is.”

Planned Parenthood’s new president, Leana Wen, also thanked the pro-abortion House Democrats for introducing the bill . .  .  .  .

Abortion is NOT a human right.  It is a human rights violation because its very purpose is to kill an innocent, vulnerable human being.  Scientific research long ago proved that a unique human life begins at conception.  But every year, nearly 1 million unborn babies still are aborted in America.  Their human rights do not matter to abortion activists.

Democrats Introduce Bill Requiring U.S. to Call Abortion a “Human Right”
https://www.lifenews.com/2018/12/11/democrats-introduce-bill-requiring-u-s-to-call-abortion-a-human-right/

 
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Realize that each penny in the display below represents one baby who was murdered via abortion - each of those tiny pennies represent one tiny baby which would still be alive if not sacrificed on the altar of Molech.

"And they built the high places of Baal which are in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech, which I did not command them, nor did it come into My mind that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin."  (Jeremiah 32:35)

Folks, we Conservative Americans MUST stand with President Trump in his efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and to put a stop to this Infanticide, this mass killing of babies.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

Click on the image to enlarge:

 

Another Fantastic Tuesday Night Bible Study! - December 2, 2018

ANOTHER FANTASTIC TUESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY  ~  Last Tuesday, December 2, 2018, at the home of Jun & Rachel Quintans.   Our study was led by Associate Pastor John Nash Quintans taking us through a discussion of Psalm 119:89-96, "The Immutability Of The Law Of The Lord." 

Right away we had a discussion centering around, "What does it mean that the Law of the Lord is immutable"?  

What does the Bible tell us about God's Immutability?

Psalm 119:89, "Forever, O LORD,  Your word is settled in heaven."

Malachi 3:6, "For I am the LORD, I do not change; .  .  ."

James 1:17, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

We continued by discussing the faithfulness of God, that when we delight in the Word of God and stand on His Word - no tribulations will defeat us.

Then brother Tony Alagao raised the question of different Bible translations - and should a church teach from translations such as the NIV (New International Version), NLB (New Living Bible), NCV (New Century Version), etc.?

This brought a lively discussion.  This was my input:

Which Bible Translation should I use?  Our omniscient, omnipotent God was big enough to author His Bible, His full revelation to man, through 40 chosen men, living in different geographical locations, over a period of 1600 years. 

The Bible has unity in its message of salvation and eternal life for all who will, by grace through faith, believe and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  Since we know God did that - should we question His power to control the translations and distribution of His inspired Word over the millennia? 

There are basically two method of Bible translation: 

Formal Equivalence Bibles are "word-for-word" translations.  The KJV (King James), NKJV (New King James), and NASB (New American Standard Bible) translations fall into this category.

Dynamic Equivalence Bibles are "thought-for-thought" translations.  Examples are the NIV (New International Version) and NAB (New American Bible).

Paraphrase Bibles are NOT Bible translations - but are more akin to commentaries, personal and most often educated thoughts from one or more men on what the Bible is teaching.  Most often good information, but still man's thoughts, not necessarily God's thoughts.  Examples are The Living Bible, The Message, the Good News Bible, etc.

What is the difference between the the "word-for-word" translations and the "thought-for-thought" translations?   The original Bible manuscripts, i.e., autographs, were written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.   The original writers used the cultural writing and grammatical constructs of that day when they wrote the original manuscripts. 

The translators for the KJV, NKJV, NASB, etc., chose to do a "word-for-word" translation using the same sentence and grammatical structure used by the original writers - even though it might be somewhat awkward when compared to our English today.  Yet for an indepth study of God's Word I still find these translations most useful.

Bible translators for the NIV, NAB, etc., the "thought-for-thought" translations, chose to keep the message of the Word intact - but to relate it in more current sentence and grammatical structure to encourage easier reading of Scripture.  In doing that they often took several verses written in the more awkward sentence/grammatical format of the early writers and combine them into one sentence or verse which flows more easily in our modern English.

So, the Dynamic Equivalence did not just replace the "thee" and "thou" wording - but also brought the sentence structure up to date.  Did they lose any part of God's message of salvation for all believers in doing that?  No, they just, at times, compressed the verses into more readable English sentence and grammatical structure for us today.

And that is why we often hear or read today, "The NIV is corrupt.  You can see that they have deleted a lot of verses that are still in the KJV, NKJV, and NASB Bibles!"

No, they have not deleted verses, they have merely combined the complete message and thought of several verses into a more readable English sentence and grammatical structure for believers of today.  But on the "con" side of these translations - it does make indepth Bible studies more difficult.  That is why my go-to Bibles are most often the NKJV, NASB, and at times the KJV.

After that healthy discussion, we continued through Psalm 119:89-96, discussing the faithfulness of God to sustain us through trials, tribulations, and persecutions.  That by keeping His Word, His commandments and laws, in our hearts - we will have the strength and perseverance to overcome.  

And we concluded with verse 96, that although our worldly perfections have limits - His commandments, His Word, is limitless, knowing no boundaries. 

Thank you Lord for this insightful Bible study from Pastors John Nash and Rudy of Resolved Bible Church of Norco, California - and for the Quintans family for making their home available for this wonderful fellowship.

Dory, Lana, and I worship at the International Bible Baptist Church of Riverside (IBBC-Riverside).  If you do not currently have a church home, you can find solid Bible teaching at Resolved Bible Church of Norco and at International Bible Baptist Church of Riverside.  We invite you to visit one of these churches and enjoy our Christian fellowship and worship.

You will find Dory, Lana, and me at IBBC-Riverside:

International Bible Baptist Church
5932 Challen Avenue, Riverside, California 92503.

(Off Cypress Avenue between Tyler and Van Buren Avenues)

We would love to have you, your family, and your friends join us for Christian fellowship and worship.

Our Morning Service is at 10:30 AM

And our Main Worship Service is:

* Sunday School - 1:30 PM  ~  Join us in the sanctuary, for I know you will enjoy our study of God's Word.

* Worship Service - 2:30 PM  ~  Come worship the Lord with us.

If you are in the area on any Sunday, come join us for fellowship and worship.  The invitation is open and perpetually standing.

Let me close by suggesting:  Don't just go to church on Sundays.  God's fellowship is open 24/7/365 and since we are His ambassadors on earth (2 Corinthians 5:20) we also want to be in Bible Study, Sunday School, and Prayer Meetings with you.  We are here to study and share His Word with you and to pray with you. 

Like the Quintans family, I was also saved in a Bible study and can assure you, that is where the rubber meets the road - when we sit together, open our Bibles, and discuss God's Word.   I pray that you are now, or soon will be, involved in a local Bible study.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

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