Very insightful. We are emotional creatures, and being changed into the likeness of Christ will certainly include making progress in having right emotions.
The church doesn't love and that's the Truth. This may be the most relevant, the most honest and biblically sound truth about love, about wisdom in the church that I've heard in a very long time. It's certainly more direct. And kind. Jesus was clear that many in the church are not saved (Matthew 7:21-23). Thank you.
Can you help me? My life is like hell and i feel like there's no hope for me but i wanna say a looot of things but I'm just gonna keep it short ... I'm from the middle east and from muslim family and from a really Islamic country so it's rlly with no joke dangerous here to even talk about Christianity But i don't believe in Islam . I want to be christian i believe in jesus and i don't know what to do TT .... there's no church here all of them closed or even a christians people to ask for help and i cannot travel for some reasons 💔 So what should i do? Any help? Any advice?
Hello, praying for you and want to encourage you with reminders of the gospel, and of the truth of the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. I don’t have great advice and I honestly am not sure what you should do but I know one thing for certain that God is faithful and Jesus Christ alone can help you and save you. You mentioned that you want to be a Christian that’s wonderful, I’d like to share with you a little bit of what it means to be a Christian. To be a Christian is to be made a new creature and be born again by the grace of God through faith in Jesus. A Christian is someone who has turned away from their sin believes in Jesus Christ the Son of God and trusts in Him alone for eternal salvation and the forgiveness of sins. As humans, we are slaves of sin and are enemies of God. God is Holy and His law is perfect He requires complete perfection for entrance to heaven. The Bible tells us that mankind is naturally evil and none of our righteous deeds could ever be good enough to give us any right standing before God, we all fall short of His glory and could never reach that perfect standard of holiness that God requires, we need a Savior someone to be righteous for us, and to keep God’s law perfectly in our place and someone to wash us clean from our sin and guilt. there is only one way to please God and be accepted by Him and able to go to heaven and that is through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world and He alone is able to save you from your sins and give you eternal life, repent (turn away) from your sin and put your trust in Him. Believe in the gospel, we all have sinned against the holy God who created us and we justly deserve hell for our rebellion, the Bible says the penalty for sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. God in His mercy because of His great love toward us sent His Son Jesus Christ to become a human and live the perfect sinless life that you and I could never live and to die on the cross as our substitute and suffer the penalty that we deserve for our sin in our place. On the cross, Jesus suffered the eternal wrath of God and was crushed for us so that we could be forgiven of our sins and made right with God. Jesus really did die on the cross as the sinless Righteous Son of God and He rose again from the dead proving Himself to be God and triumphing over sin and death. Jesus is alive today and He is ready to Save and forgive any who call upon Him in truth and turn away from their sin and put their trust in Him. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Salvation is a free gift from God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Pray to the true God, our Father in Heaven, and thank Him for His patience and kindness be genuinely sorry for your sin because it offends the holy God who loved you so much and gave you life and every good thing and ask Him for mercy and for this amazing gift of faith in Jesus. God is kind and merciful and abounding in love and He answers prayer. Ask Him for help and tell him honestly what’s on your heart that you want to believe in Jesus and worship the true God Jesus Christ not Allah. Do not serve Allah but only Jesus Christ. Thank God for what Jesus has done and ask Him to forgive you and help you. The Bible tells us that God is compassionate and merciful like a loving Father, and He already poured out His wrath on Jesus Christ so that you can come to Him and receive grace, forgiveness, and be accepted and adopted into God’s family through faith in Jesus. Ask God to grant you repentance and faith and ask Him to teach you about Jesus through the word of God. I would encourage you to discreetly find access to a bible whether online or however you can get a hold of some of God’s word because that is the only way we can learn and hear from God and grow in salvation. Pray to God that He would provide you a Bible. Perhaps also keep watching Christian RU-vid if you can, I recommend John MacArthur, Grace to You, Paul Washer, John Piper, and Steve Lawson but there are many good ones. The Bible also tells us that the world hates Christ and hates Christians and those who belong to Jesus may have to suffer persecution and even death. Jesus tells us that no slave is greater than His master, if they hated Jesus while He was on earth they will hate His followers too. Jesus tells us that we are blessed when that happens and will be rewarded in heaven. But take heart, the Lord Jesus is with you and will never forsake those who belong to Him and trust in Him alone for their salvation. Jesus is so worthy and He is faithful to keep you until the very end and bring you to be with Him in heaven. Turn to Jesus right where you are and pray to Him and put your trust in Him and find rest. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through Him.” John 3:16-17 Jesus said “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matt. 11:28-30 “Now May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 Be strong and courageous for the Lord our God is with you. “Do not let your heart be troubled believe in God believe also in Me (Jesus) in my Father’s house there are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1-3 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in front of my enemies, you anoint my head with oil my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:4-6 I hope this is helpful, and hopefully encouraging to hear the gospel and some scripture, and remember the hope of heaven. This life is dark and evil, but by God’s grace through faith in Jesus we can be saved and God promises to give us eternal life to live forever in heaven with Jesus where there will be no more tears or pain or fear or evil or death only light and peace and love and joy praising God forever, what a great gift! Will be continuing to pray for you God is faithful and mighty to save and He promises in the Bible to keep forever those who draw near to Him through Jesus Christ. Keep seeking after Christ and trust in Him alone with all of your heart He is the way the truth and the Life.
The Gospel of Jesus is about his birth, death, resurrection and death, and now, sits on the right hand side of God in all power and authority. Before his birth via the Holy Spirit, he was prophesied throughout the Old Testament and there are stories about Him before God himself becomes a human baby and is truly God and truly human. Know that we are born into this world with a sin nature. This sin nature keeps us away from a Holy God. God provided a way to Him through His Son Jesus Christ, and by His Holy Spirit we learn of our new faith. If you have a bible, read the book of John or listen to it on RU-vid. Pray first to God, the Father and ask him to open your spiritual eyes and heart to the truth of Jesus, through His Word. There are many people teaching the bible and you have to be careful what you are listening to, there are many false teachers! Follow along in the bible, if you have one whenever you hear someone teaching the bible. Always ask God to guide you, Jesus says he sends a Comforter to his disciples when he descended to heaven. That Comforter is the Spirit of Truth, he will guide in all knowledge and truth in Jesus. He knows everything about you. Only He can convict you of Himself and of our sin. Remember, we are flesh and we still have a sin nature, once you learn more about abiding in Jesus, you will learn that sin has no power over you as your apply God's Word to your life. Acknowledge your sin nature. Then ask God to forgive you of all of your sins (I know there are many as we all have fallen short of the glory of God and we do the things we should not - because our flesh is weak and we have this awful sin nature). Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and that you want to live for Him, now and to turn away from man's teachings. Ask God to help and guide you and to protect you from those who do not believe. Remember, we practice faith every day and we don't even realize that we do. We get up in the morning and go about the day and may take a drive somewhere - get behind the wheel of a vehicle - to safely get to our destination. In that manner we place our faith in getting to our destination safely. It's the same way with accepting Jesus in our heart and life. You don't need great faith. The walk in Jesus is that same faith and in time you will notice that God is there for you and protecting you, and will never leave you nor forsake you. Jesus was prophesied throughout the Old Testament. That teaching will come later as you begin to grow in Him and learn of Him. Jesus took your sins on the cross providing a relationship to God the Father. You become a child of God after you accept Jesus in your heart and life. You can do this all alone where it is safe for you to talk with God, the Father. You can do this on your own. Thank Jesus for providing the way to a Holy God (Father) and ask Him to change your heart and life for Him and to learn how to follow Him. Most people stop here and say they are 'saved' yet, they continue to stay in sin and think they are 'Christians' and they have no fruit or desire to learn more of Jesus. If you can find a bible, both the Old Testament and the New Testament, that would be awesome. If you cannot, go online and start learning. I learned a lot thru a website mikemacintosh.net/sermons/ and start with the book of John as it covers the entire life and ministry of Jesus. You might read it a few times or you can go to the gospels - the books Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. When it is safe, you can get baptized. If not, just know that the Holy Spirit indwells you as a new believer. Baptism in the bible does not save you. It is only to show others that you have a new life in Jesus. Remember there is no way to be perfect in Jesus because we are only human therefore we must abide in Him and follow Him, every day. Remember, you cannot work for your faith and you cannot be perfect to get into Heaven by your own merit. It is why we need Jesus. Once you start listening to Pastor Mike Macintosh (above link( you will learn that your growth in Christ starts as "baby steps" and unto maturity as you begin to understand God's Word and apply it to your life. You will learn how to discern the false teachers and the fake ministers, too as you grow in your faith and as the Holy Spirit leads you. If you stumble and the enemy tells you that you are not saved, go back through the scriptures and reaffirm your faith. It's by faith that we are saved, not of works as the scripture says. Some people may say you should feel something, or do something, etc., That is not true. Take it one day at a time and trust Jesus with your new life. He is there for you every step of the way. God bless you and keep you in His hands.
I'm praying for you. I do not know what exactly to do in that situation. I would reach out to any family members or friends who can get you out. Jesus LOVES you and you are his PRECIOUS servant who has been ENDURING hardship for HIS GLORY. God will reward you greatly in heaven.
This is complicated by the fact that these English words don't just have a single meaning but ranges of meaning. And the corresponding biblical words in Hebrew (nephesh) and Greek (psuche and pneuma) also have ranges of meaning. If we think about the New Testament Greek words, psuche is often well translated as 'soul' and pneuma is often well translated as 'spirit'. Usually, these concepts are synonyms, i.e., they mean the same thing, which is the entire immaterial part of a human being. So, for example, pneuma in 1 Cor 5:5 seems to mean this, and so does psuche in Matt 10:28. At a few places in the NT, however, psuche and pneuma seem to be used to refer to different aspects of the immaterial part of a human being, e.g., in 1 Thess 5:23 and Heb 4:12. But we do best to think that human beings are made up of only 2 actual parts, the body and an indivisible immaterial part, which we can call 'soul' or 'spirit'. It is best not to think of us as having 2 separate 'things' that make up the immaterial part. And this understanding fits well with our being made in God's image, since God is indivisible, so we would most naturally expect our immaterial part to be indivisible too.
Matthew 1:18-25 ( The Birth of Jesus Christ(😊1st❤)) "18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ( 😊1st❤) came about: His mother Mary😊 was pledged to be married to Joseph😊 , but before they came together, she was found to be with child( Jesus😊1st❤) through the Holy Spirit(😊❤) . 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, " Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit(😊❤). 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus( 😊1st❤ ) because he( Jesus😊1st❤) will save his people from their sins." "( Matthew 1:18-21 what does the name " Jesus" mean? " the meaning is more specifically explained in the rest of the verse."( ESV ) Jesus(😊1st❤) is the Christ( Messiah) the Lord( Jesus😊1st❤) and Jesus is "... Immanuel "- which means , " God with us."( Matthew 1:23b Zondervan NIV Study Bible) and he(Jesus😊1st❤) will save his people from ( from what?) Sins. ( that is right from sins. Now the word, " save" lead us to openning Luke 2:11 " 11 Today in the town of David a savior(Jesus😊1st❤) has been born to you; he ( Jesus😊1st❤) is the Christ( Messiah) the Lord( Jesus😊1st❤). "( Luke 2:11 Zondervan NIV Study Bible) Resume back to Matthew 1:22-25 "22 All this book took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophets: 23 " The virgin will be with child(Jesus😊1st❤) and will give birth to a son, and they will call him( Jesus😊1st❤) Immanuel"- which means, "God(😊100%❤ with us."( Matthew 1:18-23 Zondervan NIV Study Bible) Now for a wrap in Matthew 1:24-25 "24 When Joseph😊 woke up, he did what the angel(😊) of the Lord(😊❤) had commanded him and took Mary(😊) home as his wife. 25 But he( Joseph 😊)had no union with her ( Mary😊) until she gave birth to a son( Jesus😊1st❤). And he( Joseph😊) him( Jesus😊1st❤) the name Jesus(Jesus😊1st❤)."( Matthew 1:24-25 Zondervan NIV Study Bible)
“Christians communicate a falsehood to unbelievers when we act as if policies and laws that protect life and freedom are more precious than being a certain kind of person”? Piper’s way of saying Trump-disdain is more important than life itself. (From 10-22-2020)
Honestly, if there's no sexual intercourse in heaven because earthly marriage is only an illustration of the spiritual beauty and non-erotic love of Jesus and other people in heaven, then what was the point in using erotic intimacy and beauty as the picture? Because even while we are on earth, we are capable of cultivating spiritual beauty and non-erotic love to give to others. We will not be naked in heaven because nakedness even in a sinless state is unrighteous, so why not use non-erotic love and spiritual beauty which is more like what will be in heaven? Our intimacy with other people in heaven will be brotherly and sisterly rather than husbandly and wifely, the men and women are not going to have romantic or erotic feelings for Jesus whether on earth or in heaven, and He is not going to have erotic feelings for the women of heaven either. If erotic love is an illustration of the love of Jesus, then shouldn't the love in heaven be even more erotic? Yet, it is only the non-erotic parts of marriage that will continue and become better. So why not just use the non-erotic parts of marriage, which you already are allowed to have outside of marriage with the same or opposite sex, as the illustration?
