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Archive for the ‘Christ’ Category

What God Gets

Posted in Christ, Faith, Michael Cave, Personal, Quotes, tagged on November 28, 2011| Leave a Comment »

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. — Revelation 7:9-10

A pastor friend used to say,

“When it is all over, the only thing God get out of all of this is the people” — Pastor Michael Cave

Churches and institutions can be helpful, companies can provide good service, countries can protect their people — the good ones should be supported but they will all eventually fade away.

What shall endure are individuals touched for and by Christ.

— fritz

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Not All The Same

Posted in Christ, Confidence, Explanations, Faith, God's Power, Hezekiah, In Christ, tagged , , , on November 18, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Sennachrib

Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, the LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? — Isaiah 36:18-19

The Bible tells of when a foreign king came to conquer Jerusalem under the reign of king Hezekiah.

Hezekiah was a good king and trusted God, encouraging his people to do so, too. The enemy tried to get them to give up by blurring the lines between their faith and that of others, saying they are all the same and all just as weak.

The same mantra is heard today — trying to get us think all faiths are the same, just as potent, just as weak.

They are not.

The Bible tells of God’s secret place, unknown by many.1

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty … Surely he shall deliver thee … – Psalm 91:1-2a

That secret place has always been in Christ. The Old Testament saints trusted in the coming Christ who would save them, just as we look back to that same Christ who saves us. As Jesus said,

“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. — John 8:56

Ours is a living faith in the living God and his Christ

“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. — Revelation 11:14-16

— fritz

1. See Also: A Secret Society (but Anyone Can Join) — March 12, 2010

(more…)

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Hope For An Old Goat!

Posted in Christ, Explanations, Faith, Judgment, tagged , , on November 8, 2011| Leave a Comment »

“The Son of man shall come in his glory … And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: … And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” — Matthew 25:31-32a,33

Sweet, loving Jesus had a surprising amount to say about Judgment. Several things are consistent:

  1. Jesus is returning.
  2. Everyone will stand before him (whether they had believed in him or not).
  3. Judgment will be based on each person’s actions.

    “I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” — Revelation 20:12

  4. A person’s actions come from who they are:
      Notice the response of both in Jesus story was the same.

      “Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison” — Matthew 25:37 & 44

      They were just living out what they were, the goats being selfish and the sheep being selfless.

Who can, honestly, say their actions have been consistently selfless? No matter what good things I try to do, the “Old Goat” in me keeps ruining it.

The good news (“Gospel”) is that the old goat can die and Jesus, the lamb of God (John 1:29), can live in his place.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” — Galatians 2:20

— fritz

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