Live Peacefully

  Live Peacefully

The Apostle Paul writes,

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone."

                                                       Romans 12:18

“Let us therefore make every effort to do 

what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” 

                                                                 Romans 14:19

As Christians, as believers in Christ Jesus it is important to live peaceful lives simply because that is the best way to spread the gospel of Christ. 

The apostle Peter writes,

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 

Dear friends,

I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”       1 Peter 2:9-12.

Question, Are you living peacefully with those around you?

Please think about it.

About false teachers

 About false teachers

Jesus said,

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.

The church has been around a long time as a result many calling themselves Christians are not. The apostle Paul even warned,

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4

The apostle Peter warned,

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  

Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  

In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:1-3.

We as Christians must be carful not to follow false teaching, not to listen to false teachers. The only way we can do such a thing is to read and study the scriptures for ourselves. We should also do our best to become apart of a good bible believing church congregation.

We can as believers wanting to make sure the truth is spoken in the name of Jesus, jump up and down, yell and criticize those we believe are not presenting the word of God correctly. That however will just wear us out and produce nothing.

There will always be false teachers in the church. And do what the Apostle Paul tells us to “....“Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:13b. 

      That being said we should not engage in witch hunts. Such things do not produce followers of Christ.

We need to concentrate on producing good spiritual food for those around us. We need to do as Paul writing to Timothy said,

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15.

Please think about it.

Trusting and believing in Jesus

 Trusting and believing in Jesus.

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  

(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  

And everyone went to his own town to register. 

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  

He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:1-7.

Jesus is the most influential person in all of history.  

William Durant, popular American modern historian and philosopher (1885-1981) When asked what he felt the apex of history was he replied, “the three years that Jesus of Nazareth walked the earth.” 

Napoleon Bonaparte said of Jesus,

“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. 

Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him."

I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel."

  Jesus is all he said he is. He is the one and only Son of God. The Saviour of mankind. 

Jesus is God reaching down to mankind and saying I love you. Saying...

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 

and I will give you rest.”

                                     Matthew 11:28.

C.S. Lewis said of Jesus,

"He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less." C.S. Lewis.

Do you believe in Jesus and the salvation he brings to all who will believe and put their trust in him?

Please think about it.

God will judge

 God will judge

       In the book of James we read,

"Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."  

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:13,14

In Ecclesiastes we read,

"I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind." Ecclesiastes 1:14.

To read these two scriptures it would seem there is little hope. That is if this life is all there is. If this life is all there is it means there is no justice. Men like Hitler, Pol Pot and other vicious dictators got away with the evil they did. But this life is not all there is. We as individuals live on through eternity where there will be justice. 

The writer of Ecclesiastes writing, 

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty of man. 

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14.

It doesn’t matter who we are we will one day stand before God and give account for what we have done.

What will God say to you when you stand before him?

Please think about it.

A Checklist for Chtistians

  A Checklist for Christians

In the book of Micah we read,

“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8.

Here is basics of what God requires of all Christians. 

We are to...

Act justly.

Love Mercy.

Walk humbly with God.

If you consider yourself a true Christian, a true follower of Christ Jesus. Are you doing this.

Please think about it.

Take a few minutes

  Take a few minutes

    In the book of 1Chronicles we read,

“Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous deeds among all peoples.” 1 Chronicles 16:23-24.

If you are a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Take a few moments to reflect on what God has done for you.

Think about how he has blessed you or taken you through a tough time in your life. Perhaps he’s even brought a person into your life that has helped you through that tough time in you life. Or a person who has been a blessing to you.

Have you received an answer to prayer?

Is there small things in your life that God has blessed you with?

Take a few minutes to thank God for all he has done in your life.

Please think about it.

Not everyone who says

 Not everyone who says

Jesus said,

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.

The church has been around a long time as a result many calling themselves Christians are not. The apostle Paul even warned,

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4

The apostle Peter warned,

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  

Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  

In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:1-3.

We as Christians must be carful not to follow false teaching, not to listen to false teachers. The only way we can do such a thing is to read and study the scriptures for ourselves.    We must also remember that there will be minor differences between true Christians. It’s the major differences we should worry about.

The basic beliefs of true Christians are found in the Apostles Creed. While not written by one of the apostles states what are if you will not negotiable parts of our beliefs as Christians. It reads,

1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth

2. I believe in Jesus Christ God’s on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.

3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary

4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.

5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.

6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost

9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,

10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.

11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.

12. I believe in life everlasting.

Please think about it.