Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Magnify the Lord
Ten Righteous Men
Part 1
In Genesis 18-19 we read the account of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (the home of Abraham’s nephew Lot and his family) and of Abraham’s plea with God that the cities be spared from what we have believed to be God’s wrath against their many sins, including homosexuality. We even hear preachers today denouncing cities like New Orleans and Las Vegas, saying that hurricane Katrina was God’s wrath against the people of New Orleans. I’ve heard more than one minister make statements like this one: If God doesn’t punish America [or a specific city in America], He’ll have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.
Continue reading “Ten Righteous Men”
The Strength of Sin Is the Law
1Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
As I was meditating before getting out of bed this morning, listening to the still small voice inside, I was once again made aware of what a major role the law is still playing in my life. I was asking God to show me why it is still so difficult for me to accept the abundant life Jesus came to reveal to us—not a life that we must attain to, but one that is already there for recognition and acceptance, the life that Jesus called the kingdom of heaven that is within everyone.
The Letter Kills
I awakened this morning about three o’clock, as I so often do, again wrestling with all the seeming contradictions of Scripture. The “but what about”
Scriptures were bombarding my brain. (See But What About . . .? I had a prolonged discussion with my husband about how difficult it is to relate to a God I find described in Scripture. While He is supposed to be love and infinitely compassionate, I see Him assigning untold numbers to everlasting torment.
The New Jerusalem
Revelation 21:1-8 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Mental Knowledge vs Spiritual Revelation
We all want to know God, for
John 17:3 . . . this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Authority of the Bible
We all know that every Christian —including me— quotes the Bible to confirm whatever he believes. We also know that beliefs which contradict each other can all be defended with Scripture. So what can we trust?