Too Many Hypocrites!

~ Hypocritical Christians ~ 

note:  This is one in a series of Biblical answers to objections some individuals raise when presented with the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ. 

“I will not bother to personally conduct a serious investigation of Jesus Christ because there are so many hypocrites in the church.” 

This is like saying, “I will not get my car fixed since there are some bad auto mechanics out there.” Such a response doesn’t stand up to the test of logic. But logic is not the main issue. What does God say?

You Are Responsible For Yourself  ~  “So then each of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). 

Hypocrites Will Get Their Due  ~  “So are the paths of all who forget God; and the hope of the hypocrite shall perish” (Job 8:13).

It Is Not Your Role to Judge Hypocrites  ~  Jesus said, “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1).

You Are to Become More Christ-Like  ~  “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins’” (Peter 4:8).

summary: “The basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can't see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of His divine being.

So nobody has a good excuse.

What happened was this: People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn't treat him like God, refusing to worship him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life” (Romans 1:19-22, The Message).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

God Light – 3rd Award

~ First Place in “Religion (Eastern/Western)” ~  

NEWS RELEASE  

Christian author Robert Lloyd Russell recently received notification of a third award for his latest book – GOD LIGHT: Sunlight Sonlight.   It is the third book in the “Christian Concepts Series.”  Reader Views book awards chose it as the best 2012 book in Religion. 

Initial judging was done by reviewers from Reader Views.  They are experts in their fields as well as avid readers.  Criteria for judging was content/originality, presentation/design, innovation, social relevance, production quality, enjoyment/impact, plot/story line, and resourcefulness (depending on category.)   Three finalists in each category were determined by a point system.  Final judging was determined by a jury of judges.

GOD LIGHT: Sunlight Sonlight is unique in that it identifies Biblical truth regarding the source of all energy on earth—light from our sun.  Thirty years in development, GOD LIGHT (paperback, 978-0-7414-7553-4; e-book, 0-7414-7554-1) provides a new look at the Son of God.

Scientists have known for decades that sunlight is essential to all life on earth.  In Part One GOD LIGHT shows clear parallels between the attributes of God and the attributes of light.  Part Two provides an overview of the “Light of the World” in Scripture.  Part Three compares the interaction of physical objects with natural light and human beings with spiritual light.  All three parts are full of practical ramifications and applications.

GOD LIGHT is part of the “Christian Concepts Series” (Timeless Truths * Contemporary Perspectives). It is available now from Infinity Publishing, Amazon, and other sources.  Retailers may order GOD LIGHT through Ingram Book Company and/or Spring Arbor Book Distributors.  The most recent prior release in this series, ONE PRECIOUS PEARL, won five national and international literary awards.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Law vs. Grace, 3of12

~ Works of the Flesh vs. the Work of the Spirit ~

introduction:  The Apostle Paul wrote the Book of Galatians to the believers of this local church at a time when they were beginning to reject the gospel of grace and were instead moving backward toward obedience of the Mosaic Law as the means of winning favor with God. Paul’s purpose in writing was to point out the dramatic differences between Law and Grace. 

Works of the Flesh vs. the Work of the Spirit

LAW  ~  “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3). 

GRACE  ~  “This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? … That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:2-3, 14).  

summary:  The bottom line of understanding Law vs. Grace is a theology of “DO or DONE!” Are you still trying to DO things to earn your salvation, or do you understand that it was DONE for you on the Cross of Calvary by Jesus Christ—you only need to accept/trust His provision on your behalf?

“Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). “Not by works of righteousness which we do, but according to His mercy He saves us” (Titus 3:5a).

notes:  (1) The fourth Tuesday of each month during 2013 ALN will look at one aspect of “Law vs. Grace” as seen in the Book of Galatians.

(2) In addition to this series of 12 posts on Law vs. Grace, you might take a look at two previous ALN posts.  Law vs. Grace (July 6, 2010) and Law vs. Grace, 2 (July 5, 2011), as well as The Core Message of the Bible #2 (February 1, 2011).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

3 Great Truths About Jesus Christ, 3

~ Consider 1 Peter 1 ~

   

Consider three great truths concerning Jesus Christ found in the  first chapter of the First Epistle of Peter.

Redemption Gives a New Owner  ~  “And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:17-19).

Resurrection Brings a New Position  ~  “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God” (1 Peter 1:18-21). 

Regeneration Imparts a New Life  ~  “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever” (1 Peter 1:22-23). 

the key question: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This is the most important question you will ever answer. If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Messiah, 89

~ Messiah Would Be Given Vinegar To Drink ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“They also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink” (Psalm 69:21).

The Messiah  

“Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When He had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit” (John 19:28-30). 

~~~ EXPLANATORY “MESSIAH” NOTES ~~~   

(1)  Each Saturday ALN posts an example of a Hebrew Scriptures prophecy (or foreshadowing) related to the coming Messiah which was fulfilled in the birth, life, death, or resurrection of Jesus Christ.

(2)  While extensive it will not be a complete list—there are hundreds of prophecies of the coming Messiah which have been fulfilled by one man—Jesus Christ at His First Coming.

(3)  It is important that there are many more prophecies of the Messiah, yet unfulfilled, which Christians believe will be fulfilled at the time of His Second Coming.  A particularly relevant Scripture verse in this regard is: “Do not despise prophesies” (1 Thessalonians 5:20).

(4)  These posts will typically consist only of Scripture—which speaks for itself.  Sometimes italicized or bold font will be used by ALN for emphasis.

(5)  The numbering of these fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah is used to differentiate individual posts. It is not chronological (either by time of the prophecy or by sequence in the life of the Messiah).  The posting sequence will, for the most part, be in the order that the prophecies appear in Scripture.

(6)  Because of the chosen methodology (#5 above) we will find many specific prophecies repeated multiple times throughout the Scriptures.

(7)  These serial posts are in addition to our regular Tuesday ALN postings on random topics.

(8)  Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar.  Once subscribed you will not miss future posts.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW