Tag Archives: obedience

What Are We to Believe?

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Many of us, at least in the United States, have heard of the newspaper feature “Ripley’s Believe It or Not.” This feature told of unusual facts which were true, but nevertheless rather hard to believe.

Often it’s hard to believe the truth. Often it’s hard to believe something is possible, until it’s been done.

For more than forty years the Empire State building in New York was the world’s tallest building. But before it was built many did not believe it was possible to build such a tall building. Yet the man who built it believed not only that it could be built—but that it could be built in less than a year and a half. Sure enough he achieved what many did not believe possible. The building was completed in just over a year from the time it was started (http://history1900s.about.com/od/1930s/a/empirestatebldg_3.htm).

Many did not believe the Golden Gate bridge across the entrance to San Francisco Bay could be built—until it was done. Until not long ago most would have thought the idea of man going to the moon was an impossible dream. Yet, now it’s been done. Is it possible for the dead to live again? Is it possible for humans to become like God—shining with supernatural brilliance like the noon-day sun (I John 3:2; Daniel 12:3; Matthew 13:43)? What do you believe is possible?

Does belief matter? Is belief necessary for a Christian? Does it matter what you believe? Does it matter whom you believe? How can you believe the truth?

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Be Filled With Righteousness

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Jesus said he who hungers and thirsts for righteousness will be filled (Matthew 5:6). How can this promise be fulfilled in you?

In this message Rod Reynolds addresses questions such as what it means to hunger and thirst for righteousness, what righteousness is, and what is necessary for one to be filled with righteousness.

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Christ In You — the Hope of Glory

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Though forever remaining subject to the Father and Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:24-28), the glorified saints shall share many of God’s attributes, his power, his honor and splendor, his brilliance. Daniel 12:3 and Philippians 3:21 show that the bodies and faces of the glorified saints will shine forth with supernatural brilliance, just as that of the resurrected, glorified Christ, symbolically described in Revelation 1. There are not a few who might consider such a teaching blasphemous, but that nevertheless is the true teaching of Scripture. David wrote, “As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness” (Psalm 17:15). John wrote, “…we know that when he [the Father] is revealed, we shall be like Him…” (I John 3:2). Your destiny, if you’re a true Christian, and if you remain faithful, is to become like God, sharing in his glory for all eternity.

What assurance do you have that this magnificent, astounding purpose will be fulfilled in you? What is the basis for your hope of glory in God’s Kingdom? Both your destiny as a true Christian, and the means of its accomplishment, is reflected in the phrase, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Your destiny, if you are a true Christian, is to be glorified with God. And that can be accomplished only by Jesus Christ living in you through the Spirit of God. If Christ is living in you, and as long as Christ continues to live in you, you have the hope and the promise of glory with God.

Assuming you have believed the true gospel, repented and received the Holy Spirit, what can you do to assure that Christ will abide in you, dwell in you, to the end, so that the hope you presently have is fulfilled?

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The First Commandment

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A Pharisee asked Jesus Christ which is the greatest commandment. Christ answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment (Matthew 22:37-38).

How many of us have given much thought to this greatest commandment? Do you love God? How do you love God? None of us, indeed no one in the flesh, has ever seen God, that is, in his glorified state (except in vision, but not in reality), although of course many saw Jesus Christ when he appeared among mankind in human flesh (John 1:18; I John 4:12; I Timothy 6:16). How can we know if we love God? How is love for God measured?

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Acts 15 — Part 2

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It’s been said that there is more confusion about Acts 15 than almost any other chapter of the Bible. How are we to understand what was at issue? What was the actual decision reached, and how was it reached?

The important question for us is what are the implications for us as Christians in terms of obedience to God? In order to understand we must take a closer look at the historical and Scriptural background and at how the Church arrived at its decision.

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