Category: God

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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Look To God

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Humans have long sought a Utopian world of peace and justice, free of crime, war and other evils. When men talk about building a better future, when they talk of solving the world’s problems, when they talk about peace and security, what is it they focus on? What do human beings generally perceive as the key or keys to a successful future? What do they perceive as the means to achieving a happier society? Or a better world? Whom and what do they look to for solutions?

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Christian Thanksgiving

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Christians have both many reasons and an obligation to give thanks to God. All nations are called upon to acknowledge and be thankful to God, for He is the ultimate source of every blessing, but genuine Christians especially should “Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations” (Psalm 100:4-5).

What does Scripture tell us about thanksgiving as it relates to us as Christians?

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