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I noticed while going through all the discussion groups listed, that BC does not have a library of recommended reading material which, along with God's word "the Bible" might be of benefit to other believers. If I have missed something, please let me know.
If you have suggestions of Christian materials which might benefit another person on this site, please let us know the name of the book/publication, the author/publisher, and where this might be obtained.
Bibles come in numerous translations but are all the Word of God. What Bible do you use, and why is it meaningful to you?
In setting up this site, I would like to let everyone know that they would please stay to the topic intended for the use of others who may be in need of information.
God Bless all who respond, and thank you.
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The Worlds Savior
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Aug 10, 2009 6:03 pm
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1 John 4:14
"And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world." KJB
When the Father sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, down to the world He did not send Him to be just the Jewish Messiah, nor the King of the Jews holding the throne of David, nor did the Father send Him down from the glory's of Heaven, to punish the Gentiles, but rather He was first and foremost sent to be the Savior of the World. We read also this: "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:17) KJB. So, the word "saved" is a very important word but todays world has turned the word into a mockery and use it flippantly and without reverence to the Creator of the world..
This title, Savior of the world, is only used one other time in our Bible, and was used by the Samaritans as our Lord lived and ministered among them for two days. These Samaritans were mostly of gentile backgrounds with a mixed blood of Israelite origin, who became those who adhered to a sort of Jewish religion being mixed with pagan religions. These Samaritans were looking for a Savior and formed a very solid belief in Jesus Christ for they said: "...Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world." (John 4:42) KJB. They perceived correctly that Jesus came as the Savior of the World and that He came to save lost sinners from all nations, not just to Israel nor to the Samaritans, as Jesus Himself said, "I came not to judge the world, but to save the world" KJB. (John 12:47) KJB.
Jesus commanded His disciples to teach to the world this: "...repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things." (Luke 24:47-4 KJB. They were witnesses of everything that He did, especially that of His resurrection and after this of His ascension in heaven to be at the right hand of God to be our intercessor between the Father and us, those who are saved. Jesus would love nothing more than being the Savior of the whole world, but unfortunately He already knows that there will be more going to hell than to heaven. Jesus became to the Father as the "...propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2) KJB. Notice that the sins of the whole world can be purged through His blood but the world does not want to be saved because they are happy to live in their sins. The world of today wants nothing to do with Jesus and does not want to hear anything about Him.. They have replaced the Creator of the World by the worship of the world itself.
When Jesus offered up His life as the propitiation of the worlds sins He did it out of love. The greatest thing about the gospel, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, is that of the resurrection because in that one act it proved to the world who He was and that is why the world at the time of the first century church became so big so fast, but it was not many generations past that they went back to worshipping the world in pagan religions.
We who have received Him as Savior, are to be witnesses for Him to all the world and when we claim to be His and yet still do the things of the world, the world He died for says they do not want the same thing they have already, nothing. Remember He said to be witnesses for Him "...in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" KJB. (Acts 1: KJB. One cannot be a true witness when there seems to be no change in their lives and when we realize that He can use us but until we recognize this we can be of little use to Him because the world still has a claim over us. We are no longer ours but rather we have been bought by a price, the price of our Saviors life on the cross of Calvary. If we want to serve Him we need to get out of the world and be separate from it. Stay out of the world and the world can see Christ in you, but stay in the world and the world will not come to Him.
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Co.
Used with permission
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Sign of Travel and Knowledge
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Aug 9, 2009 1:46 pm
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Daniel 12:4
"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." KJB
I stand amazed at Daniels prophecies about end times, which are more than the rest of the Bible with the exception of Revelations. Daniels last chapter contains the conditions which need to be in place before their imminent fulfillment or "....to the time of the end." He tells us of two things that are very important and those are that we will have the ability to move all over the world, "...many shall run to and fro..." and that "...knowledge shall be increased."
This prophecy of Daniel could not be more striking than any other summary of what will be happening at the end of the time. The Hebrew word for "to and fro" is the word "shuwt" [pronounced 'shoot'] and is a primitive root; properly, to push forth; (but used only figuratively) to lash, i.e. (the sea with oars) to row; by implication, to travel. And the first time this word "shuwt" is used in second Chronicles and reads this way: "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.." (2 Chronicles 16:9) KJB. Now, in a sense God's eyes race back and forth in this verse trying to locate someone "....whose heart is perfect toward Him...." and in a sense we cannot help but think that God's eyes were "racing to and fro" looking for those whose heart is perfect but unfortunately He did not find anyone therefore He says: "...thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars." Instead of God's directions and love, they would end up having wars. Now, I find that to be a picture of what has happened since Cain killed Abel. This prophecy of Daniels is one of those verses which describe our society today to the proverbial "T".
First off, we have modes of transportation which allows us to go "to and fro", such as our automobiles on the land, and jets which are filling our skies. This has happened in a little over one life time because a little over a hundred years ago the only mode of transportation that we had for the land was our ever faithful horse and over the seas we had ships which had either sail or steam. We have moved from the horse and buggy travel to speeding spacecraft and almost everyone is racing "to and fro" in the world.
The next thing that Daniel speaks of is our increase in knowledge or our modern scientific world has increased. At one time here in the United States a grade school education would be all that one needed in order to get by in the world but today, it takes not only a college edcuation but we need the coveted masters or doctorate in order to get the best jobs. High school graduation is a must for all of our children today but in order to have the chance to get the better jobs one needs the higher education, the education of college. But the sad thing about todays education, it has moved from the knowledge of the Lord and replaced it with a knowledge which the Bible calls vanity of vanities, or rather means nothing to the long run of things. This knowledge has increased far beyond our wildest imaginations but that knowledge.
The Hebrew word which is used in our text for today would be better understood if we learned of it. It is the word "da`ath" (dah'-ath); which means knowledge, but can also be translated as cunning, or ignorantly, and even unawares (wittingly). And when we stop and think about the knowledge that is being shoved down the throats of our children today, it first came in as a cunning demon who caught us unaware or what was happening. When our Bible was removed from the schools, we started to move toward this vanity of vanities, or means nothing in the long scheme of things because it leaves out the only one we need to know about, God. We read this: "Vanity of vanities , saith the preacher; all is vanity. And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:8-14) KJB.
However, it is amazing to me that the foundation of our education system was lain down by such great men as Newton, Boyle, Pascal, Pasteur, Farady, Maxwell, etc. and all of these men were creationists. However, in our modern education, this present generation, our science has been taken over by non-Christian evolutionists. This modern science has produced great instruments of destruction and pollution which is threatening the world itself and our existence on it. This is given as a sign of "end times" and is a "...science falsely so called..." which is spoken of by Paul to Timothy and is also spoken of by Peter. (1 Timothy 6:20, 2 Peter 3:3-4) KJB.
However, there is still "true" science being taught and we as Christians need to gravitate to those forms of education.. With the explosive increase of science (either true of false) and with our rapid travel in our day, is a sure sign that our Savior, Jesus Christ is at the door waiting for the Father to tell Him to come and take His own home to be with Him for all eternity. What about you, are you seeking true science or are you seeking what the world has to offer? For the Christian, nothing can replace the truth of God's Word, so let us seek that which is true and without vanity.
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Co.
Used with permission
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Sing a New Song
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Aug 8, 2009 2:38 pm
404 Views
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Psalm 98:1
"O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory." KJB
There are many styles of music for today's Christian and for me to say that there is any one that is wrong would be ludicrous. I do, however, have the type or style that I prefer to listen to but that is not to say that another one is not of the Lord. There are some churches out there that will not allow any style of singing or music within their congregation. However, these churches are missing out in the many blessings that one receives from those who can sing as unto the Lord. The very theme of singing is very prevalent within the pages of our Bible. The whole book of Psalms is actually supposed to be in the form of song. Most likely the very first song that was ever sung to the Lord was by God's angels at the time of Creation. God created the angels and as He was laying the foundation for the earth the angels sang to Him, for we read: "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sins of God shouted for joy" (Job 38 ) KJB.
There are nine times in our Bible when the phrase "new song" is used and the very first one was used to uplift and bring forth the very word of God and we read: " Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth." (Psalm 33:3-6) KJB.
Then the second time "new song" is used as a prophecy in which the very lips of the Messiah would speak while on the cross, for we read: "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD." (Psalm 40:2-3) KJB.
The third one has to do with spreading the good news, or the gospel: "O sing unto the LORD a new song:...shew forth His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the heathen, His wonders among all people" (Psalm 96:1-3) KJB. And then the very next three of these "new song"s still covers this very same theme, of spreading the good news of the gospel. (Psalms 144:9; 149:1; Isaiah 42:10) KJB.
Now, that leaves us with only two more to look at and those will be sung by all of the redeemed in heaven, to their Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, for we read: "Thou art worthy...: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of ever kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth" (Revelation 5:9-10) KJB.
Just think of all the times we will sing a "new song" unto the Lord as we serve Him for all eternity. What a day that will be when the redeemed of the Lord shall lift their voices and praising the Lord of all creation. A new song will be sung in the hearts of all the redeemed for all eternity, what a marvelous thought that will be. So as we sing to Him in the congregations of our earthly churches, let us do so as unto the LORD, for there will come a time when we will sing to Him directly as we praise Him for His glorious salvation which has been bought by His blood on the cross of Calvary.
What about you, are you going to sing a "new song" as unto the LORD as you serve Him daily while yet still here? I pray that you can sing that song in your heart for He has redeemed your soul from the pits of hell.
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Co.
Used with prmission
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Time of Old Age
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Aug 7, 2009 2:23 pm
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Psalm 71:18
"Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come." KJB
I do not know about you but I have a tendency to be a little resentful because of the limitations and the many infirmities that are associated not only with my health but because of age. Well, I am resentful until I stop and think about the alternative, that of not being able to move at all. At least I am still able to get around, howbeit, not without troubles with my breathing. The Lord has been preserving my life for His glory and for His use, I just need to be totally aware of that one thing, of my being able to serve my Lord and Savior. Even though we might be reaching an age where we are shoved aside because we are too old to do anything, the Lord still uses us. In our text, we read "O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come." KJB. Our Lord will not forsake us no matter how old we become, not like our secular world. It seems that the world is pushing for programs that will forsake the older generation, which is literally called, genocide (the killing off of the older generation).
Our Bible abounds with many promises of blessings for old age, so this growing old should be a great occasion for rejoicing and a better and more deeper commitment to the Lord. We read: "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree:...Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age" (Psalm 92:12-14) KJB. If we tend to become Spiritually cold in our Old Age, Paul's admonition is highly appropriate when He says: "Aged men [should] be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness,...teachers of good things" (Titus 2:2-3) KJB.
Therefore, when we read the heartfelt prayer of the Psalmist, in our text, it is still appropriate today. It will be sooner than you think that you too shall enter into this time of "old age" so it is something even the younger generation needs to hear. We also read this following prayer by the Psalmist: "Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth" (Psalm 71:9) KJB. And then David said: "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (Psalm 37:25) KJB. I want you to understand something, this time of old age can be a great blessing if we only allow the Lord to work through us. This time can be a time of happy harvest for the cause of Christ only if we allow Him to do His will through us. We still have many seeds to sow in the lives of our younger generation so let us be about the work of the Lord, sowing seeds of His love to all who will listen. God will soon enough call us home to be with Him for all eternity, making these old bodies new again, without pain, without sickness. So, let us be about His work while we are still here, for death will come and then we will be with Him.
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Co.
Used with permission
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God Will Provide
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Aug 6, 2009 6:12 pm
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Genesis 22:14
"And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen." KJB
In this account here in Genesis, Abraham had just passed the severest test any parent should have to go through, that of sacrificing their own child for the Lord's sake. Abraham was willing to kill his own child because the Lord told him to do so. I do not know about you but my children are the most precious things that I have and to give them as a sacrifice to a God would be the hardest thing I could ever do, in fact I do not think I could do it. I do believe though that Abraham was probably wondering why his Lord had asked him to kill the only son that he had, even though he knew that God had told him that he would have many descendants, as the sands of the seas. However, he did not refuse nor did he question his Lord, because he knew that if he killed his son on that altar that God would raise him again from the dead. We read: "God was able to raise him [Isaac] up, even from the dead" (Hebrews 11:19) KJB. As we read the account of this I cannot help but think that Abraham was very relieved when God told him to stop, and more so when he found out that God had provided the ram to sacrifice as "...aburnt offering in the stead of his son..." (Genesis 22:13) KJB.
On the way up to that mount, Abraham told Isaac that "God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering" (vs. . And after he had sacrificed the ram on that altar, Abraham named the place where he had sacrificed that ram, "Jehovah-jireh" which when it is translated it literally means "the Lord will provide". It would be many centuries later that God literally did provide Himself a sacrifice on that very same mount, Mount Calvary, the place of the skull. In the Hebrew language there is not a specific verb which can cover this future event, and the word "jireh" could be translated as "will provide or is providing", which covers the event we know of today as God providing Himself as the sacrifice for all the world. Our Lord, the Creator of time, covered His own sacrifice when He told Abraham to sacrifice on that mount and when Abraham called that place, Jehovah-jireh, He did not realize that he was naming the place for Jesus' death on that same mount. What a marvelous God we serve because it does not matter whether the tense in the language makes little difference whether it was Abraham's time or the Lord's time.
How many of you have been frustrated or disturbed about what is going on in your life in the present? I know I have, because at times I have wondered what the Lord is doing but when I stop and realize that God is still in charge and that "...all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:2 KJB. We might not see what the Lord's idea is, even in the present, and definitely not in the future, but He always has a purpose and that purpose is for His cause and for His glory. I know, we might not like it, as Abraham did not like having to sacrifice the only son that he had, but yet did it without question or doubt, but we still need to do what the Lord wants us to do, regardless of what we think at the time. Our God sees and answers in His time and not ours. There will come a time when we will as Paul said "...now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known" (1 Corinthians 13:2) KJB. Folks, that day is approaching very quickly so do not wait to get saved, for those of you who are waiting, but as Paul said, "(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)" (2 Corinthians 6:2) KJB.
How often have we received an answer to our prayers but yet there are prayers that we continue to pray and yet the Lord does not seem to be answering? The question is, have you ever prayed for something and literally seen later that God had set into motion the very thing that you prayed for? As Abraham was very thankful for God providing Himself a sacrifice, we should also be aware of and very thankful for His providing all of our needs even before we are aware that we need them. There has been times when the Lord would provide something for me before I knew I needed them. I stand amazed at those times. Isaiah said, and I cannot help but agree with him, this: "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer" (Isaiah 65:24) KJB. If we knew the future, and we do to some extent, we would not do what we do now. The future we know is the future of whole mankind at the end of this age, the age of grace, which is found in our Bible. The future which is written within those pages is playing out as we speak and the times which Jesus Himself talked about in Matthew 24 are happening right now.
Remember and be encouraged in the knowledge that God has all things in control, even though it does not seem like it. His will is being done in all things, regardless of what we think. What about you, are you going to do as the Lord says, or are you going to do them according to self?
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Co.
Used with permission
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Effectual Prayers
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Aug 5, 2009 7:24 pm
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James 5:16
"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." KJB
When we think that our prayers are not heard because there does not seem to be anything happening, well, Nehemiah thought that also but God not only answered his prayers but those prayers, "availeth much". Nehemiah was the Jewish man who served King Artaxerxes in the Persian land from around 445 B.C. (before Christ). Before this time however, Cyrus (538 B.C.), the King who allowed the Jewish people to return to Jerusalem in order to re-establish the worship of God in the temple. However, the walls of Jerusalem were still broken down, all the gates were burned, and not only that but the Jewish people were still being afflicted. (Nehemiah 1:3) KJB.
When Nehemiah heard of this from his brother Hanani, he immediately "...sat down and wept, and mourned...and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven" (Nehemiah 1:4) KJB. It was at this time, during his mourning for the Jewish people, that he started praying for the people of God. This prayer lasted for over or close to four months, and this prayer availeth much. We read this prayer in Nehemiah 1:5-11 and in it we learn some things about how the Christian should pray today, because our God is the same God Nehemiah prayed to four and a half centuries before Jesus came and died on the cross of Calvary, in other words almost 2,500 years ago, Nehemiah became an example of prayer for all who call the Lord their Savior.
The first thing: He appealed to the Creator of the Universe because He said, "O LORD God of heaven, the great terrible God" (vs. 5). This example tells us that we also need to recognize who God is, the one who created all that there is and ever will be.
The second thing: He appealed to a God who keeps His word for he said, "God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love Him" (vs. 5). Our God does not say anything without meaning it. He does not say something and say "Just kidding." His Word is right from the beginning and has not changed.
The third thing: He appealed to the same God we know, the God who forgives and forgets about sin when we ask and repent of that sin, for we read, "...confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee" (vs. 6). Now, as I said before, we serve the same God, the same God who forgives us of sin and remembers them no more. (Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 8:12, 10:17) KJB. God literally said: "...I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 10:16-17) KJB.
The fourth thing: He appealed to the same God we worship, the God whom we accepted into our hearts for salvation for he said: "O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant" (vs. 11). God will listen to you if you have become a child of His, which happens the instant you ask Him to come in and save you, but He will not hear your prayers if you are still in your sin for we read: "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2) KJB.
The fifth thing: He appealed to the same God we serve, the God who listens to His children, those who know Him personally. "Prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day" We know that when we continue to read the book of Nehemiah that God not only listened but answered his prayers and Nehemiah was instrumental in the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
If God will answer the Prophet Nehemiah, then He will answer our prayers if we are His. This is what is meant that God will answer the prayers of the righteous, the effectual prayers will availeth much.
So when you think that your prayers are not being answered, and if you are His child, think what God did for Nehemiah and continue to pray because those prayers will availeth much or cause much to happen, even though we might not see the results of that prayer in our life time, He will answer them in His time. Remember, our prayers will be answered in several ways, YES, or NO, or He will tell us to wait.
But He will answer, so keep on praying until something does happen. This is the best weapon, which is in our armor (Ephesians 6), that any Christian could do, PRAYER. The Word of God is our weapon, but prayer is another weapon against Satan and his demons. "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Ephesians 6:13) KJB.
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Co.
Used with permission
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Many Infallible Proofs
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Aug 4, 2009 3:09 pm
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Acts 1:3
"To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:" KJB
Unfortunately todays church is not anything like the first century church in that their faith in the deity of Christ was not a blind leap of faith because most of them knew the Lord personally or knew someone who knew or seen Him personally. For us today, we have to take what they took for granted in more faith, having not seen nor knew someone who saw Him in the flesh. However, we need to think of it this way, only God can totally defeat death and those of the first century knew, beyond all doubt, that Jesus rose from the dead after that faithful third day. Those of the first century church had seen Him, or touched Him, and they might have even eaten with Him, either alone or in those many crowds, either in closed rooms, or in the open country side, as He fed that many thousands on little more than which can be eaten by a few people.
Now, this term "infallible proofs" is a translation from the Greek word "tekmerion" and is defined as a token (as defining a fact) or literally as a "criterion of certainty" and is only used this one time and is significantly the inspired Word of God and is applied only one time to pertain to the resurrection of Christ. In other words, it does not take a rocket scientist to understand that Christ's resurrection is one of the most certain facts in all of man's history on this earth. There have been many large volumes written covering the resurrection and setting forth these "many infallible proofs", especially within our New Testament. There had been many eye witnesses to His resurrection from the dead and it is no wonder that the Apostle Peter said: "We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty." (2 Peter 1:16) KJB. Peter had no doubt whatsoever because He was allowed to see the resurrected Lord in that upper room after that said third day of our Lord being in the tomb.
The apostle John had more to say about this resurrection of His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, when he said: "The life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us" (1 John 1:2) KJB. John not only saw Jesus in His resurrected body but he also was there when our Lord was in His glorified body, for he said: "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am, alive for evermore" (Revelation 1:1 KJB. He spoke and wrote this having been directed from the Lord Himself. John had no doubt whatsoever, so it should not take us any stretch of the imagination that we can have no doubt because we have the very word of God. Unfortunately, there are those who need some sort of physical proof, as did Thomas because he needed to see, to touch and even to thrust his hands into the wound in our Lord's side. Thomas was not there on that fateful night when our Lord appeared to the rest of the apostles in that upper room, so our Lord arranged the night in which Thomas would be there and not doubt His resurrection. Here is what transpired that night: Jesus said this after He appeared again to the disciples, with Thomas being present this time and speaking to Thomas directly: "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." (John 20:27-31) KJB. He told Thomas to "be not faithless, but believing." As we can have no doubt, having the very Word of God in our hands, in our Bibles. God, throughout the centuries, has been able to preserve His word so we can rest assured that we have the very Word of God to learn of Him. If we do not have His preserved Word, then what hope have we? For without His Word we have no hope of the resurrection or for that fact, any other thing that occurred over two thousand years ago.
It is very true, that we, who are Christ's disciples, must believe on Christ and receive Him as did the first century church did after the resurrection. But our faith is the same faith as theirs because we need to believe in the very same Christ as they did and our faith is not one of credulousness but one of of total faith in the resurrected Savior from the dead. It is a very reasonable faith, based on many "infallible proofs" which our Lord did after He rose from the dead and was translated into heaven in the presence of several eyewitnesses and we have their account as having seen, touched and handled the very Word of God, being Christ Jesus. Because of these "many infallible proofs" we can rest assured of His love for us because of His birth, death and resurrection from the dead (the gospel).
What about you, are you taking the Word of God by faith in our resurrected Savior or are you placing your eternal soul in the hands of someone else? Not one "religious" person in the world has rose from the dead, neither Mohamed, Buddha or Joseph Smith, only Jesus rose from the dead, and is at the right hand of God today, waiting the day when He comes again to take His believers into heaven, forever to be with Him in His glory, for we will know Him as He is, because we to shall have a glorified body.
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Col
Used with permission
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Salvation is of God
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Aug 3, 2009 3:01 pm
373 Views
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Psalm 62-8
"In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah." KJB
I do believe that everyone, at some time in their life, has asked themselves the question, Why am I here, and for what reason do I exist? And the most important question is, "How did I get here?” The Psalmist answered this question for himself, because we all have to seek the answers for ourselves. How many of you have felt as though there was something missing in your life? How many of you have tried to fill that void with things, such as a car, a house or various other things? How many have tried to fill that void with work, with friends or even family? You see, this void, which is within us, is the part that only God can fill. We are born alive the first time from the water of our mother's womb. (John 3). Jesus tells us that we need to be born from above. Jesus lets us know that when we are born the first time, it is nothing more than a physical birth. But when we become born from above our souls are dead because of the original sin committed by Adam and Eve, both sinned because they were enticed by Satan to eat that which the Lord told them not to eat of, the tree in the midst of the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:1-6) KJB. And then God judged them for that sin and we are the result of that sin. Adam and Eve's sin was passed from generation to generation, down to our present time. Each and every person in the world is born dead, that is the soul, and each needs to be made new, or reborn from above. Jesus said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.." (John 3:3) KJB. I know, I have said this over and over again but at this time in humanities history, it needs to be shouted from the highest mountains unto a lost and dead world so that they who accept Jesus might be born again. Nicodemus, the ruler and great scholar of the Phariees, who came to Jesus at night because he did not want to be seen in the presence of this one called Jesus. Jesus explained this idea of being born again to all who will listen. So let us go over this and see what Jesus is saying to Nicodemus.
Remember this, the world is trying to fill that void and have tried to replace the God of Creation with a god who can do nothing for them. Jesus said this: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." (John 3:5- KJB. Jesus gives to us here a very important doctrine, the doctrine of salvation. He tells us first of all that each of us are "born of water" but He also says that we need to be born "of the Spirit". Let us go over each one to see what they mean.
First off, it is the idea of all of us being born of water. What does that mean? Some seem to think that Jesus is talking about our baptism, which is in water, but that is not what He is telling us. Each of us have had a physical birth right, if not, I want to talk to know who you are. Jesus explains to Nicodemus these two births. Jesus says this: We all need first of all this, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh..." (John 3:6a) KJB. Now, no one can miss what He is saying here, isn't He speaking of our physical birth, from the womb of our mother, hence "born of the flesh". Now, during the nine months of our growing within the wombs of our mothers what did we rest in and what protected us? Was it not water? Yes, hence, being born of water, and this is not baptism because Jesus is not speaking of baptism here in the least. What He is speaking of is our first birth on this earth. When we came to being is when the egg of the mother is combined with the sperm of the father, making us what we are completely, for each cell within our bodies contains everything that we are because of the genes which God created in the first place, and I am a true believer that God creates the soul at this time but does not allow it to be born completely yet. So let us go to the next part of our Lord's declaration that we need to be born twice, first: water birth, second: Spiritual birth (the soul being born new).
The second thing Jesus is speaking of here is the one thing in which is talked about throughout the whole of the New Testament, that of being saved, or being "born-again" as Jesus tells us we are. He says: "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (vs 3).. We need to go over the second birth, what is it and why is it important. First off, the second birth is being born "of the Spirit", so what does it mean? Jesus said: "...that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (3:6b) KJB. The Jewish people had be watching for the coming of the Messiah, who would trample down all those who came against them. But they missed the boat because the Bible speaks of two types of coming, the first as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, and the second one was to be the Conquering King of Glory, who would destroy from off the earth, evil. By the way, the Jews are still looking for His coming, whereas, the Christian is waiting for His second coming as the Conquering King. Now what does it mean to be born-again? Jesus said it when He said that we need to be born of the Spirit! That is, when anyone believes in the Son of God and asks Him to save them, He (God) will come into them as the Holy Spirit. Jesus said it best when He said: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." (Revelation 3:20-21) KJB. Jesus (God), through the Holy Spirit (God, and for the Father (God), is one and the same God, and we know that there is only one God, the God of All creation. So when you have the Son, you not only have the Father but also the Holy Spirit for they are one and the same God. I know, I am going off on rabbits trails, but at times one needs to go on them to find the main thing, the rabbit.
There was a scribe who asked Jesus a very important question, so let us go over that. "Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God ; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question." (Mark 12:32-34) KJB. Notice what Jesus said about the greatest commandment of all, and that is: the scribe answered this question by saying: "...to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself..." but it is what Jesus said that is important to all to think about. He told this scribe this, "...Thou art not far from the kingdom of God." Why was this man "...not far from the kingdom of God..." because this man believed in the one true God of Creation. But notice what Jesus was saying about his man's salvation, even though he believed with all his heart and soul that God can save him. Jesus said this man was "...not far from the kingdom of God..." but not quite there yet. Wait a minute, does not scripture say that we are saved by faith and faith alone? But Paul clarified what it takes to have complete salvation for he said: "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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed....For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:9-11,13) KJB. Yes, we must believe that He is who He says He is, the Son of God, but you need to understand something, "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." (James 2:19) KJB. These "devils" believe in Him but they are not saved and they literally tremble. In other words, they are scared to death because they know that they will at some time in the future, be judged completely because of their sin. So, what does Paul say: First, each and every one needs to believe, then they need to "....confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus..." or that He is the Son of God. And this needs to be done by your mouth. We need to "...believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead..." which is the resurrection from the dead. And then Jesus explains what He is saying, "...For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." In other words, we believe in our hearts first, and then we need to open our mouths and tell others that when we do so, or mouths speak and we are saved because of that faith. You see, many have believed but they never declared that in front of others. Jesus said and gives two contrasts: "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 10:32-33) KJB. Jesus says, confess me before man and I will confess you before my Father (paraphrased). If you want to be saved, believe in the only one who can save, Jesus Christ, for there is none other name among men whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) KJB. You cannot save yourselves by what you do but rather by what you believe and then do. Baptism does not save.
When one receives Christ into their heart, that is the second birth, being born from above. Our text verse comes after salvation for it says: "In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah." KJB We all have two births, if you are saved that is and at the end of our lives we die, but it is only the physical body which dies and it is the Spirit which, being born-again, shall have eternal life with the Creator and Savior, Jesus Christ. If you are "NOT" saved, you have one birth, and at the end, two deaths, one of the body and the other of the soul. But, the soul does not die after our physical death but goes to one of two places, heaven or hell, there to remain for all eternity. The Christian, the true Christian that is for there are many who claim to be Christian, is born twice, the first, physical birth through the water, and the second birth is through the Spirit of God. this happens the instant we believe and receive Him into our hearts. We need to confess that He is who He says He is, the one who rose the third day via resurrection.
It has been said that when we are born twice we can only die once, but when we are only born once, we will die twice. Which one are you, are you born-again? If not, why not?
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction, Co..
Used with permission
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Repentance According to God
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Aug 2, 2009 2:47 pm
366 Views
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Luke 5:31-32
"And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." KJB
There has been many things in this world that has changed but there is one thing that has never changed and that is the word of God. And since the beginning, at least after Eve was enticed by Satan, that sin came into the world and death because of that sin. (Romans 1:12:21) KJB. Therefore, man, since the beginning has had a need to repent. Therefore, the need to repent is one of the greatest doctrines within our Bible. What is repentance? The English word does not do the Greek word justice but it gives us a little bit of what it means, therefore the Greek word "metanoia" (met-an'-oy-ah); (subjectively) compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by implication reversal (of [another's] decision): and in the King James it is translated as repentance. It literally means to "turn away from and to go the other direction".
Paul gives us some of what this Doctrine means in his epistle to the church at Corinth. "Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter." (2 Corinthians 7:9-11) KJB. Notice that Paul essentially uses the same phrase three times to express what he means by this word called repentance. He says that he rejoices that the church at Corinth that were "sorrowed to repentance" because they "were made sorry after a godly manner", (vs 9), and because of this "godly sorrow" they worked hard for "repentance" which showed God that they "repented" for salvation, which the world does not repent and they die, and because, again, "that ye sorrowed after a godly sort" and they were careful to repent of their sins. Then Paul was truly blessed because of their repentance and gave to them great praise and told them of their carefulness to repent was wrought in them, and that their clearing, their indignation, their fear, their vehement desire, their zeal, and last what revenge and in all these things they "have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter" of repentance. Amen, what great praise that Paul gave to that local church. Oh that our churches today would repent and receive the same praise from their God, the God of salvation.
Now, just as "godly sorrow leads to repentance" so should the many blessings of God. Paul wrote and asked the church at Rome this: "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" (Romans 2:4) KJB. God desires that all should repent, that is turn from their sin, and those who say they do not sin are nothing more than liars, therefore, making them sinners. "If we say that we have no sin , we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:8-10) KJB. Now, if we "confess our sins" and not turn from is there forgiveness of those sins? I for one do not think so because Jesus said we need to repent for He came to preach repentance from sin so that one might have eternal life. Because repentance of those sins is proof positive that one has changed and that is what a Christian should be, changed. We are changed one thing at a time into the image of God and this is done by the Holy Spirit from within. If we do not listen to that small little voice that comes from within, He will stop speaking and let us go our way, because He will not force Himself onto us, we have to come to Him willingly. Our God desires our total being, therefore, we cannot withhold anything from Him because He knows it all in the first place.
True repentance requires that we recognize that we are sinners and that is a crime against God and a complete violation of His Holy nature. He "cannot" sin for it is impossible for His to do so. It is man who needs to repent and not God. When we recognize that we are sinners this will bring godly sorrow which will ultimately lead us to a point where we either repent or we turn away from Him unto our own devises. Now, which is better, to repent of sin and do a turn around and go the other way, or continue in that sin and die in those sins? It is a choice that we all make sooner or later. As John said in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins." What a great promise that God has given to us.
Confess "all" your sins to God, after all, He knows them all anyway. And turn from those sins and walk on the narrow path which leads to all good things. Remember, Christ taught that this "sorrow according to God" brings great joy elsewhere in Heaven. He said: "Likewise, I say unto you there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth" (Luke 15:10) KJB. Remembering this, we are all sinners in need of repentance. (Romans 3:23, Luke 13:3,5) KJB. Go ahead, stay in your sin and see what happens at death, your choice.
By Dr. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word, Grand Junction,Co.
Used with permission
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Peace of Christ
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Aug 1, 2009 11:31 am
375 Views
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John 14:27
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." KJB
In this troubled world, Christians have the only true peace that there is.. This "peace of Christ" is definitely not the "peace of the world". When we look at the history of the world we cannot help but think that the worlds peace is futile because when there is a peace in one place on earth, there is war in another. There has been wars going on since the dawn of time.. The first war was between the first two sons of Adam, Cain and Able. Cain won but at the cost of his own brothers life.
Even if the world's leaders came to a truce and there was peace it is not true peace.. The peace of Christ brings and end between Satan and God over our souls, and that peace is true salvation. How many of you have received Christ and had a peace come over you that you have never had before? That is what Christ is talking about. He gives his peace to us the instant that we receive Him as Lord and Savior. Jesus said, "My peace...." is "...not as the world giveth...”. His peace is internal and never, never external, "From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?" (James 4:1) KJB. James is right, before salvation there is a war in our members that only the "peace of Christ" can stop. He completely stopped this type of war on the cross of Calvary by giving Himself a sacrifice for our souls.
I want you to understand something, a true Christian will never have true peace in this world because Satan will do everything he can to destroy you in some way or another. There will be brief respites or breaks in this type of peace, the world's, but over all, we will fight the good fight from the time we receive Christ until He either takes us home at the rapture or at death. And at death, this temporary peace that we might receive will be left behind, taken over by the permanent peace of Christ. John said this about the Word of God: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulations but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Jesus is the one who overcome the world and all we have to do is to accept Him. I know, some think that the salvation that the Bible tells us about is too easy but God knew that He had to make it easy because of who He died for in the first place, man.
The Lord Jesus, by Himself in the only one who can give true peace, and Paul says, "He is our peace..." (Ephesians 2:14) KJB. He is the only true peace maker. There have been many who have been given the worlds "Noble Peace Prize" but that peace is still temporary. I want you to understand something and take it into your heart, the only true peace that we can get is from Christ and through Christ alone. Before there can be peace between God and man on this earth can happen, there has to be peace between man on Earth and God in heaven. In order to make peace with God in heaven, one only needs to accept His Son into there hearts.
Once a person has been "justified" by faith on Earth, then God can say that there is peace once again and this has to happen for every person on Earth but unfortunately that will not happen. Not until He is completely in charge of this Earth, will there ever be peace completely. God has eternal "...peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). Now, for our daily peace, which we need each and every day, comes only through our Studying His word and through prayer. Have you ever noticed that when you truly went to God in prayer, that after that prayer you felt a great peace come over you? I have and I have had that feeling even during the prayer to my Father in heaven. We are living in the last days so we need to put on the full armor of God and part of that armor is the Sword and that being the Word of God. Peace will come completely on this Earth at some time but not now. We are still in the battle for souls, the souls of your friends and family. The souls of even strangers are in danger that is why we are told to go forth in the power of God to reach those souls for the cause of Christ.
We are told this "In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7) KJB. "IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION WITH THANKSGIVING..." What better words can there be that tell us how to receive peace and each and every day as we wait for His second coming, to take us home for ever to be with Him but until that time let us be found in well doing for His names sake for His name is above all other names and worthy of all things to be our True Peace.
By DR. Terry Cleaveland, Pastor (retired), Preacher, Teacher of God's Holy Word,Grand Junction,Co.
Used with permission
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