Tag Archives: repentance

How to be a Real Christian

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In the world today there are well over 2 billion people who claim to be Christian. Among those claiming to be Christian are represented a wide assortment of beliefs and practices that are often contradictory not only to each other, but are often exactly the opposite of what Jesus Christ himself believed, taught and practiced. One dictionary definition of a Christian is one who professes belief in Jesus as Christ. Is a Christian just anyone who claims to be a Christian? If not exactly what does it mean, from the standpoint of Scripture, to be a Christian? What makes one a Christian in God’s sight?

In this article is information that can help you understand how you can become a true Christian, or if you are a real Christian, how you can remain one.

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Biblical Fasting

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The calm waters of the Jordan River flow south toward the Dead Sea in the land of Galilee, Israel.

Full Audio of Sermon: Biblical Fasting

Published February 16, 2019
Moses fasted, David fasted, Nehemiah fasted, Daniel fasted, Jesus fasted, as have many other men and women of faith. Jesus said his disciples would fast. But what does it mean to fast from the standpoint of the Bible? Why should one fast? How? How often? Learn the answers to these and other questions as Rod Reynolds discusses Biblical fasting.

“Biblical Fasting” by Messenger Church of God released under a Creative Commons [CC BY-ND 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/)]License:
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Does God Want People to be Deceived?

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Question: I have read the article, “Are ‘Many’ or ‘Few’ Called in this Age?”. One part has me confused. It is Matthew 13:15: “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them” (KJV).

I realize they could have seen but their hearts were dull, callous, insensible, their ears hard of hearing, and their eyes closed so they couldn’t see. That part I do understand. The part I don’t understand is the last part: “…lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart and should be converted and I should heal them.” Doesn’t that mean that their ears and eyes could be opened, which would lead them to understand with their heart?

If they were converted, would that mean that they repented and applied God’s law and obeyed Him, and He would heal them? If it isn’t referring to that, then I don’t understand what he was referring to. It sounds like He didn’t want them to understand or change. Would that mean that at times God doesn’t want someone to understand?

I don’t understand. I hope you can explain it for me. Thanks so much. Continue reading →

Are the ‘Lost’ Predestined to Hell?

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Traditional Christianity has taught that when one dies, whatever judgment awaits him is made and that is final. Some have gone so far as to teach that God chose and “predestined” some for salvation from the beginning of time, and that all others are destined for “hell.” Logically, this would mean many, even the vast majority, of humanity are “predestined” to be sent to hell for eternity (as hell is often imagined). Are the “lost” of this age predestined to eternal torment in hell? Continue reading →