Four days ago, my Christian brother and long time Friend, Jun Polistico, posted a graphic which read: "Rightly Divide The Word Of Truth. Whether To The Jews Or To The Gentiles. Apostle Paul Said, 'No Mixing.'"
And over the next four days there has been a lively discussion, some agreeing that the Jews and Gentiles are separate, almost to the degree of Replacement Theology (which I disagree with) - and others disagreeing, offering differing beliefs.
My personal belief is that there are the Jews, not as we see in Judaism today - and there is the Church, the worldwide body of believers. The reason for the 7-year Tribulation in the End Times is to put all Jews through the Refiner's Fire (Malachi 3:2-3).
From that will come the believing survivors of the Tribulation, i.e., the Remnant of Israel, who will enter the Millennial Kingdom of Christ in their mortal bodies. Remnant of Israel in their mortal bodies and the Church in our immortal bodies - both believing in Christ, the Messiah, each with a special place in the Eternal Kingdom of God.
Today a gentleman, Ralph, who seems to be a non-believer, posted the following statement and I responded to his statement:
Hi Ralph, You tell Jun Polistico, "It's a sad story really. Christianity is . . and it has brought a lot of misery to our World, even unto this day."
Ralph, my friend, YOU do not know true misery and suffering - until you leave this world and enter into eternity without a relationship with Christ.
With Christ we know there will be no more suffering, no more pain, no more sorrow. That is His promise to all who will believe:
Revelation 21:1-4, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will WIPE AWAY EVERY TEAR from their eyes; and there will NO LONGER BE ANY DEATH; there will NO LONGER BE ANY MOURNING, OR CRYING, OR PAIN; the first things have passed away.' "
But the alternative for those who will not believe, who do not have a relationship with Christ is:
Luke 16:22-24, 25-26, "Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom (Paradise); and the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades he lifted up his eyes, BEING IN TORMENT, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, FOR I AM IN AGONY in this flame.'
(25) But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, AND YOU ARE IN AGONY. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.' "
Ralph, my friend, three things I will promise you:
(1) Heaven and hell are real places, and the only two eternal destinations for all mankind.
(2) The Bible is the true Written Word of God and all within it pertain to God's plan of salvation for those who will believe. It is not meant to scare you, nor to threaten you - but to offer you LIFE, if you will only believe.
(3) And only YOU can condemn YOU to hell. I cannot, nor will God. I recall many times in the 35 years I have been doing Christian writing, that folks have accused me, "Bill Gray is condemning me to hell!"
And my response is ALWAYS, "No, my Friend, Bill Gray cannot condemn you to hell, God cannot condemn you to hell - THE ONLY PERSON who can condemn YOU to hell - IS YOU!"
God gave all mankind the gift of Free Will - the Free Will, aka, freedom to choose to Believe, to follow Christ - or the freedom to Reject Christ.
We all will exist eternally. There is no annihilation, no being forgiven later, no do-overs - only eternal existence following death. The BIG question is: "Where will YOU spend that eternity - In peace, harmony, love, in the eternal presence of God - OR - In agony, sorrow, regret, in the eternal absence of God?"
Believe Him and you will have Eternal Life. Reject Him and you will have Eternal Loss.
In 1990, my mom was in the hospital in Alabama. I was a relatively new Christian believer, but during my visit to her in the hospital I wanted to learn where she stood in Christ and be a witness to her if needed. I knew my step-father had her in a cult church, the Worldwide Church of Christ, for years - but in spite of that, "Did she have a relationship with Jesus Christ?"
Since I was a new believer and not confident in my ability to tell her about Christ, I searched in Christian bookstores for a good Christian tract which I could use in talking with her. And the one below, Steps To Peace With God," published by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, is the one I chose.
It truly tells the Gospel story: We are separated from God - No works can bridge the gap between God and us - The only way to God is with Jesus Christ. So, as the tract concludes: Where do YOU stand today?
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
And over the next four days there has been a lively discussion, some agreeing that the Jews and Gentiles are separate, almost to the degree of Replacement Theology (which I disagree with) - and others disagreeing, offering differing beliefs.
My personal belief is that there are the Jews, not as we see in Judaism today - and there is the Church, the worldwide body of believers. The reason for the 7-year Tribulation in the End Times is to put all Jews through the Refiner's Fire (Malachi 3:2-3).
From that will come the believing survivors of the Tribulation, i.e., the Remnant of Israel, who will enter the Millennial Kingdom of Christ in their mortal bodies. Remnant of Israel in their mortal bodies and the Church in our immortal bodies - both believing in Christ, the Messiah, each with a special place in the Eternal Kingdom of God.
Today a gentleman, Ralph, who seems to be a non-believer, posted the following statement and I responded to his statement:
Hi Ralph, You tell Jun Polistico, "It's a sad story really. Christianity is . . and it has brought a lot of misery to our World, even unto this day."
Ralph, my friend, YOU do not know true misery and suffering - until you leave this world and enter into eternity without a relationship with Christ.
With Christ we know there will be no more suffering, no more pain, no more sorrow. That is His promise to all who will believe:
Revelation 21:1-4, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will WIPE AWAY EVERY TEAR from their eyes; and there will NO LONGER BE ANY DEATH; there will NO LONGER BE ANY MOURNING, OR CRYING, OR PAIN; the first things have passed away.' "
But the alternative for those who will not believe, who do not have a relationship with Christ is:
Luke 16:22-24, 25-26, "Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom (Paradise); and the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades he lifted up his eyes, BEING IN TORMENT, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, FOR I AM IN AGONY in this flame.'
(25) But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, AND YOU ARE IN AGONY. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.' "
Ralph, my friend, three things I will promise you:
(1) Heaven and hell are real places, and the only two eternal destinations for all mankind.
(2) The Bible is the true Written Word of God and all within it pertain to God's plan of salvation for those who will believe. It is not meant to scare you, nor to threaten you - but to offer you LIFE, if you will only believe.
(3) And only YOU can condemn YOU to hell. I cannot, nor will God. I recall many times in the 35 years I have been doing Christian writing, that folks have accused me, "Bill Gray is condemning me to hell!"
And my response is ALWAYS, "No, my Friend, Bill Gray cannot condemn you to hell, God cannot condemn you to hell - THE ONLY PERSON who can condemn YOU to hell - IS YOU!"
God gave all mankind the gift of Free Will - the Free Will, aka, freedom to choose to Believe, to follow Christ - or the freedom to Reject Christ.
We all will exist eternally. There is no annihilation, no being forgiven later, no do-overs - only eternal existence following death. The BIG question is: "Where will YOU spend that eternity - In peace, harmony, love, in the eternal presence of God - OR - In agony, sorrow, regret, in the eternal absence of God?"
Believe Him and you will have Eternal Life. Reject Him and you will have Eternal Loss.
In 1990, my mom was in the hospital in Alabama. I was a relatively new Christian believer, but during my visit to her in the hospital I wanted to learn where she stood in Christ and be a witness to her if needed. I knew my step-father had her in a cult church, the Worldwide Church of Christ, for years - but in spite of that, "Did she have a relationship with Jesus Christ?"
Since I was a new believer and not confident in my ability to tell her about Christ, I searched in Christian bookstores for a good Christian tract which I could use in talking with her. And the one below, Steps To Peace With God," published by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, is the one I chose.
It truly tells the Gospel story: We are separated from God - No works can bridge the gap between God and us - The only way to God is with Jesus Christ. So, as the tract concludes: Where do YOU stand today?
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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