Archive for August, 2011
Nieuwe Dochter Site
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Met trots melden wij u dat wij een dochtersite hebben opgenomen.
Aan de statistieken te zien kunnen wij op WordPress meer bezoekers genereren dan op de Blogger en Google Sites. Om die reden hebben wij dan ook besloten om de vroegere Bijbelonderzoekers en Broeders in Christus samen te voegen in een nieuwe WordPress site. Op deze “Broeders in Christus” pagina’s zullen dan basisartikelen staan over onze zienswijze en verduidelijkingsartikelen over de geschiedenis van het Christendom, het verloop van de Christenheid en de psoitie van de Christadelphians of Broeders in Christus in dit wereldgebeuren.
De Hoofdpagina’s van de Belgische Christadelphians op de Google Sites blijven echter behouden. Op die pagina’s kan u verscheidene diepgaande artikelen vinden, terwijl op de WordPress site van de Vlaamse Broeders meer pamfletachtige of strooibrieven artikelen zullen staan.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )New Flemish Site
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We proudly present our newest daughter on WordPress: Broeders in Christus.
From the statistics we got to see that we can generate more visitors via this way, so the Blogger and Google Site of the Flemish Christadelphians or “Brethren in Christ” = “Broeders in Christus” is being transferred and in the future new Dutch or Flemish articles would be placed on the WordPress Site.
The main Belgian Christadelphian Webpages stay on the Google Sites.
You are always welcome to bring us a visit over there as well.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Salvation, trust and action in Jesus #3 as a Christian
Salvation, trust and action in Jesus
3. If you have received Jesus Christ as your Saviour, as a Christian you should:
- Keep doing the things as Jesus did them.
“Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:20 KJBPNV) - Keep to the Judeo Christian values and Gods Law.
Moses with the tablets of the Ten Commandments, painting by Rembrandt (1659) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Keep to the commandments of God and to the commandments of His son Jesus.
“But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered unto you.” (Romans 6:17 KJBPNV)
“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” (1 John 5:2-3 KJBPNV)
“And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. For many deceivers have entered into the world, who confess not that Yahshua the Messiah has come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have worked, but that we receive a full reward. Whoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of the Messiah, has not God. He that abides in the doctrine of the Messiah, he has both the Father and the Son. If there comes any to you, and brings not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that bids him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen. The elder to the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, even as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do to the brethren, and to strangers;” (2 John 1:6-3 John 1:5 KJBPNV)
“Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21 KJBPNV)
“And whatever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” (1 John 3:22 KJBPNV)
“If you love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15 KJBPNV)
“He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21 KJBPNV)
“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;” (Hebrews 5:9 KJBPNV)
“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that says, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, in him truly is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that says he dwells in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” (1 John 2:3-6 KJBPNV) - Follow Jesus.
We do not have to follow any worldly person or have to belong to a huge church.
A great worldly success does not make the right church or not makes those persons great preachers/teachers.
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24 KJBPNV)
“Then spoke Yahshua again to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12 KJBPNV) - Read your Bible every day to get to know Christ better.
“Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJBPNV)
“For whatever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4 KJBPNV)
“For Moses truly said to the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord Yahweh your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall you hear in all things whatever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:22-23 KJBPNV)
“And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Yahshua the Messiah, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3 KJBPNV)
“But these are written, that you might believe that Yahshua is the Messiah, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name.” (John 20:31 KJBPNV)
“And there was delivered to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he (Jesus/Yeshua) had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord Yahweh. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say to them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” (Luke 4:17-21 KJBPNV) - Talk to God in prayer every day.
We are urged to pray without ceasing, to live in faith and to do all things with love.
Jesus has given us an example by praying himself to his Father and has told us how and to who we must pray. If people wanted to give him honours without delay he told them that not to do, but to thank God. He prayed for others but also for himself and dared even to beg his Father. At certain moments he even dared to raise his voice and to cry out to his Father.
He left us a model prayer where he gave an original text for a speech to his and our Father. Thereby it was also emphasised how Gods name is holy and that we also must recognise His Holy Name.“Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;” (Hebrews 5:7 KJBPNV)
“After this manner therefore pray you: Our Father which are in heaven, Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13 KJBPNV)
“Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6 KJBPNV)
“Give ear to my words, O Yahweh, consider my meditation. Listen to the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto you will I pray.” (Psalms 5:1-2 KJBPNV)
“If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:6 KJBPNV)
“And in that day you shall ask me nothing. Truly, truly, I say to you, Whatever you shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.” (John 16:23 KJBPNV)
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man the Messiah Yahshua;” (1 Timothy 2:5 KJBPNV)
“And whatever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” (1 John 3:22 KJBPNV)
“For the eyes of the Lord Yahweh are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers: but the face of the Lord Yahweh is against them that do evil.” (1 Peter 3:12 KJBPNV)
“Yahweh is far from the wicked: but he hears the prayer of the righteous.” (Proverbs 15:29 KJBPNV) - Be in Christ.
“Therefore if any man is in the Messiah, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJBPNV)
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as the Messiah was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4 KJBPNV) - Be baptised, worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a place where Christ is preached and the Bible is the final authority.
Once the belief in Christ reached you and you got the want to fixed to it you can choose to confirm this by becoming baptised. By being whitewashed you can witness to start a new life as an accepted son of God and as brother or sister of the other believers. As newborn we must carry the love of Christ Jesus in us and share this love with others.
Even if you are only with two, you can form a meeting in the name of Christ, who shall be with you, and have as such the seed for an ecclesia.
In communitywith each other one must try to support each other and give chances to build and progress in the true belief.“Then came Yahshua from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized by him. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized by you, and come you to me? And Yahshua answering said unto him, Allow it to be so now: for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he allowed him. And Yahshua, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, behold, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And behold a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:13-17 KJBPNV)
“And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.” (Acts 10:48 KJBPNV)
“But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Yahshua the Messiah, they were baptized, both men and women.” (Acts 8:12 KJBPNV)“Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20 KJBPNV)“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20 KJBPNV)
“In the name of our Lord Yahshua the Messiah, when you are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Yahshua the Messiah,” (1 Corinthians 5:4 KJBPNV)
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25 KJBPNV)“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:14-15 KJBPNV)
“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Therefore you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through the Messiah.” (Galatians 4:6-7 KJBPNV)
“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Yahshua the Messiah himself being the chief corner stone;” (Ephesians 2:20 KJBPNV)
“Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16 KJBPNV)“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands;” (Acts 17:24 KJBPNV)
“Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the congregation which is in his house.” (Colossians 4:15 KJBPNV)
“Likewise greet the congregation that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto the Messiah.” (Romans 16:5 KJBPNV)
“And he went into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened, and believed not, but spoke evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.” (Acts 19:8-9 KJBPNV) - Tell others about Christ.
Primary goal of the believers in Christ Jesus, to make disciples and to witness so that others also can be saved.“A true witness delivers souls: but a deceitful witness speaks lies.” (Proverbs 14:25 KJBPNV)
“Pilate therefore said unto him, Are you a king then? Yahshua answered, You say that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice.” (John 18:37 KJBPNV)
“I give you charge in the sight of God, who revives all things, and before the Messiah Yahshua, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;” (1 Timothy 6:13 KJBPNV)
“And from Yahshua the Messiah, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,” (Revelation 1:5 KJBPNV)
“And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.” (Revelation 11:3 KJBPNV)
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:14 KJBPNV)
“And he said to them, Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15 KJBPNV)
“For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16 KJBPNV)
“Be not you therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be you partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;” (2 Timothy 1:8 KJBPNV)
“And the dragon was angry with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Yahshua the Messiah.” (Revelation 12:17 KJBPNV)
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of the Messiah: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 KJBPNV) - Help others to reach the fullness of Christ we also do have to reach for.
We have to help everybody around us to grow into someone who leads others to Christ not to entertain us or make us feel better every time we come to the ecclesia. - Be aware that it is not marketing research and advertising to bring people in that makes the good ecclesia.
Everything must be about going for the purity of the Word of Godand not particularly for popularity. One can certainly never give in to public demands or doing a concession, about the Law of God, to obtain more people. - Be disciples who replicate because they know enough of the Bible and nature of Jehovah God to help others understand Him and His son Jesus too.
- Not lack in discipleship training and pointing the congregations to Christ. We should all take discipleship as our responsibility.
Obeying to the teachings of the master teacher we must make our self free of any blemish or suspicion and fully aim our eyes to Jesus and his community, not to a human personal church community or specific human leader.
In love we must have an eye and ear for each other and for each other’s shaping in the teachings of Christ Jesus, as children of One and the same God.“by god’s grace, you, who were once slaves to sin, obeyed from your heart the pattern of teaching to which you were exposed;” (Romans 6:17 CJB)
“here is how we know that we love god’s children: when we love god, we also do what he commands. for loving god means obeying his commands. moreover, his commands are not burdensome,” (1 John 5:2-3 CJB)“I charge you therefore before God, and the Lord Yahshua the Messiah, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch you in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:1-5 KJBPNV) - Stand up to false teaching and do not stay ignorant.
Open your mouth and tell the world the truth. Speak up, don’t let your appearance or mistakes stop you and don’t let others stop you because of your appearance or past mistakes.
God loves you, I love you, and you are called to make a difference. - Avoid those who do not live according to Gods Law and Jesus teachings.
As a Christian it is important that we choose with whom we have ambulatory and concerning which subjects we want to talk, or to which films we look at and which books or illustrated magazines we want to read. Our choice of the circle of friends must become stipulated with the choice of the direction which we in our life want to go.“moreover, love is this: that we should live according to his commands. this is the command, as you people have heard from the beginning; live by it! for many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not acknowledge Yeshua the Messiah’s coming as a human being. such a person is a deceiver and an anti-Messiah. watch yourselves, so that you won’t lose what you have worked for, but will receive your full reward. everyone who goes ahead and does not remain true to what the Messiah has taught does not have god. those who remain true to his teaching have both the father and the son. if someone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, don’t welcome him into your home. don’t even say, “shalom!” to him; for the person who says, “shalom!” to him shares in his evil deeds. although I have much to write you people, I would rather not use paper and ink. instead, I hope to come and see you and to talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. the children of your chosen sister send you their greetings. from: the Elder to: dear Gaius, whom I love in truth: dear friend, I am praying that everything prosper with you and that you be in good health, as I know you are prospering spiritually. for I was so happy when some brothers came and testified how faithful you are to the truth, as you continue living in the truth. nothing gives me greater joy than hearing that my children are living in the truth. dear friend, you are faithful in all the work you are doing for the brothers, even when they are strangers to you.” (2 John 1:6-3 John1:5 CJB)“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Yahshua the Messiah, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received from us.” (2 Thessalonians 3:6 KJBPNV)Therefore let us always remember: ““not everyone who says to me, ‘lord, lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, only those who do what my father in heaven wants.” (Matthew 7:21 CJB) and take care that we always shall fulfill the requirements to enter the gate to the Kingdom of God.
“the way we can be sure we know him is if we are obeying his commands. anyone who says, “I know him,” but isn’t obeying his commands is a liar – the truth is not in him. but if someone keeps doing what he says, then truly love for god has been brought to its goal in him. this is how we are sure that we are united with him. A person who claims to be continuing in union with him ought to conduct his life the way he did.” (1 John 2:3-6 CJB)
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Dutch version: Actie bij aanvaarding Redder Jezus
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 12 so far )Salvation, trust and action in Jesus #2 What you must do
Salvation, trust and action in Jesus
2. Trust Jesus Christ today! Here’s what you must do:
- Admit you are a sinner.
“If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:10 KJBPNV)
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23 KJBPNV)
“Therefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12 KJBPNV)
“I acknowledged my sin unto you, and my iniquity have I not hidden. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto Yahweh; and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.” (Psalms 32:5 KJBPNV) - Be willing to turn from sin (repent).
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent:” (Acts 17:30 KJBPNV)
“But showed first to them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.” (Acts 26:20 KJBPNV)
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” (James 4:8-10 KJBPNV)
“I tell you, No: but, unless you repent, you shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:5 KJBPNV) - Hunger and thirst after righteousness.
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6 KJBPNV) - Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried, and rose from the dead.
Jesus is considered by scholars such as Weber to be an example of a charismatic religious leader. - Image via Wikipedia
“But those things, which God before had shown by the mouth of all his prophets, that the Messiah should suffer, he has so fulfilled.” (Acts 3:18 KJBPNV)
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in the Messiah Yahshua: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8 KJBPNV)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 KJBPNV)
“But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, the Messiah died for us.” (Romans 5:8 KJBPNV)
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as the Messiah was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4 KJBPNV)
“Knowing that the Messiah being raised from the dead dies no more; death has no more dominion over him.” (Romans 6:9 KJBPNV)
“That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Yahshua, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9 KJBPNV)
“How God anointed Yahshua of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38 KJBPNV)
“Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly; Not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.” (Acts 10:40-41 KJBPNV)
“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, how that the Messiah died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve: After that, he was seen by above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain to this present, but some have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-6 KJBPNV)
“For the Messiah also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” (1 Peter 3:18 KJBPNV) - Through prayer to the Only One God, invite Jesus into your life to become your personal Saviour.
“For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:10 KJBPNV)
“The God of our fathers raised up Yahshua, whom you slew and hanged on a tree. Him has God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:30-31 KJBPNV) - Confess.
“for with the heart one goes on trusting and thus continues toward righteousness, while with the mouth one keeps on making public acknowledgement and thus continues toward deliverance.” (Romans 10:10 CJB) - Build up a good relationship with God, Jesus and the other peoplearound you.
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Continues: Salvation, trust and action in Jesus #3 as a Christian
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Dutch version: Vertrouwen in Jezus
Previous Dutch article: Lijden bedekt door Zoenoffer
Following Dutch article: Actie bij aanvaarding van Redder Jezus
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 6 so far )Salvation, trust and action in Jesus #1 Suffering covered by Peace Offering
Salvation, trust and action in Jesus
1. Suffering covered by Peace Offering
The Bible says there will be suffering and I have and will suffer. The Bible says I will be persecuted and I have and will be. The Bible says Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
The Way, the Truth, and the Life. - Via Veritas Vita - Image by AKMA via Flickr
If you want to get rid of all the pains, choose not to follow the world but look at Christ. Believe in only One God and only one Mediator. Jesus suffered and died for us, so that our suffering can come to a good end and we can enter a New Life in the Kingdom of God.
In the only begotten son of God we do have a leader who never taught leadership but friendship and peace in the love of his Father, the Only One God. When Jesus was 12 and travelled to the temple, Mary could not find him and when she did He said, “Did you not know I would be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49) Never Jesus claimed to be the Most High or God. In several places in the New Testament Jesus says, “I am not doing my will, but the will of the Father.”
He was following the Father, who he considered the Only One God. He never claimed mastership, not becoming a leader, although we know he was a leader and the greatest to ever live, yet His call is to follow, not to lead.
This Jewish Nazarene Jesus only called followers. In the New Testament Jesus used the Greek word ‘akoloutheo’ as an imperative term. It means to follow a person in the way, meaning the way they are teaching or walking. In fact he told Peter and Andrew, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19) When we call ourselves Christians we should be followers of Christ and fishers of men.
“And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to the Messiah,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:20-22 KJBPNV)
“And Yahshua said to them, Come you after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And immediately they forsook their nets, and followed him.” (Mark 1:17-18 KJBPNV)
“And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Yahshua said to Simon, Fear not; from now on you shall catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.” (Luke 5:10-11 KJBPNV)
Jesus Christ called the twelve to be with him and that he might send them forth to preach (Markus 3:14). Jesus, who calls, is the one who knows how far the world is from the truth. He calls and teaches how to launch out into the sea of men who are in the dark and draw them unto God. He says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few …” (Luke 10:2).
We have to trust Jesus and follow him who is the only one way to the entrance of the narrow gate to the Kingdom of God.
“Yahshua said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6 KJBPNV)
Let us be thankful for the Grace by which we were saved and make it worth by our Faith in all humbleness.
“For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJBPNV)
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (Ephesians 1:7 KJBPNV)
“Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Yahshua the Messiah: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2 KJBPNV)
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Continues: Salvation, trust and action in Jesus #2 What you must do
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Dutch version: Bedekking van lijden door zoenoffer
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 3 so far )Self inflicted misery #9 Subject to worldly things
Self inflicted misery to bear
9. Subject to worldly things
We are subject to the worldly things and suffering because of our mortality and the consequences of the human pride that man wanted to do it on his own and could know it better than God the Creator. We cannot be certain what will take place tomorrow. What is your life? It is a mist, which is seen for a little time and then is gone. We are like the wind or like a breath; our life is like a shade which is quickly gone and we fade away or are cut down like a flower. (Job 14:12; Psalms 102:11; 144:4; James 4:14)
We should be aware that several bad things could have and can be avoided. The result of personal behaviour which brings forth the possibility of bad things which can cause suffering to us or to others can be avoided if we take control of our actions and live according to good values. By following the lifestyle advocated in the Bible we will avoid much self-inflicted misery.
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Next: Salvation, trust and action in Jesus #1 Suffering covered by Peace Offering
Glory of the New Born Christ in presence of God Father and the Holy Spirit (Annakirche, Vienna) Ceiling painting made by Daniel Gran (1694-1757).
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Related articles
- Jesus was the talk of the town and strengthened by the Holy Spirit he had not given in to the adversaries of God. Luke Chapter 4 (pofw.wordpress.com) tells us that the news over this man of God went quickly around. It was because Jesus is not God that the Almighty God of gods had to provide His son with the power to preach and heal. ““‘YHWH’s Pneuma is upon me for He has anointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to preach a release to the captives and a recovery of sight to the blind-to send the oppressed away to freedom-” (Luke 4:18 MHM) Jesus became anointed by his Father to fulfil the task God had prepared for him. God was the Spirit who had given His Word to come in fulfilment. By the birth of Jesus Gods Word became reality. From that moment onwards Jesus was the realisation of that promise of years ago. The covenant made with Abraham to him and his descendants could come into live. By listening to Jesus the Word of God or the Holy Scripture is being fulfilled. “He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”” (Luke 4:21 WEB)
Jesus his message was delivered with authority (Luke 4:32) and we should carefully listen to it and pay attention on all of it. Let us understand what it meant what the possessed man said: “Now in the synagogue there was someone possessed by an unclean demon, and he screamed in a loud voice: “Ahhhhh, what is there between you and us, Jesus the Nazarene? Did you come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy One of The God!”” (Luke 4:33-34 MHM) Yes Jesus was the special man send from God, who could do many special things, but only because his Father allowed him to do it. And the wise words he spoke he could speak because he knew the Scriptures so well and he wanted to do only the Will of God. Let us always keep in mind what the cleansed people saw: “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” > “Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, You are the Messiah the Son of God. And he rebuking them allowed them not to speak: for they knew that he was the Messiah.” (Luke 4:40-41 KJBPNV) - Those who want to take Jesus as God and want to hold fast on to what lots of worldly people think are often taken by the SELF LOVE (professed by evil) vs. SELFLESS LOVE (professed by Jesus) (foodforthespiritualsoul.wordpress.com). People should be fully aware that Unconditional Love of the Father of Creation is Selfless in nature and humble to accept the words of the man from Nazareth, Jesus, also called the Christos or Christ the Messiah. Opposite to what Jesus Christ, the Son of God, demonstrated of His Own Life…by dying for the sake of all of Mankind, many people want to see in him God the son, which would mean that Jesus could not die because God can not die, being an eternal spirit. Some even do say this God had a mother, though the Bible indicates it very clearly that God was the first and has ever been. God is not born, and surely not out of a human being because it was God the Creator of all things who also created the first human being, Adam, the first man and only afterwards the first woman, Eve.
It is the Father of Creation who has sent His Son, for the sake of all mankind, sinners and no sinners (which there are not), believers but also for non-believers, to find their way back home to Him. He gives us the choice to CHOOSE to work for Him as His Servants of Love, and that is what we should choose to be, no matter how much we do have to suffer on this earth. In Jesus we have the prospect of our hope and the best mediator we can have. Let’s be thankful for this man who wants to take it up for us sinners. - As you can read in Laatste dagen omroepers, Harold Camping komt met nieuwe dag op de proppen zonder verontschuldiging there are many doom preachers and people who love to curse others and say they are the ones who receive the punishment form God. Some speak of sodomite nation of flag-worshipping idolaters (Antichrist and The Most Hated Family in America in crisis + De Meest gehate familie in America – inleiding tot vervolg). Such preachers making people afraid get a so called Church Growth Through Misery (petrosbaptist.wordpress.com) but we are afraid it is not going to be the right church nor the lasting group of believers. They are not creating a church on selfless love. And they are not focusing on future wealth of spiritual richness, but on earthly richness of this day.
Dr Jim West rightly writes: “Growth through misery may be popular, but it isn’t substantive. When misery fades away, as it always does with the passing of time, so to do those who mercenarily ‘follow’ Christ (always at a distance and never with a willingness to die to self).” - We live in a world driven by the constant pursuit of pleasure and personal satisfaction. The world encourages individuals to adopt a “me-first” mentality and avoid hardship at all cost. Because so many persons put their pleasures on the first place we do get so many hurt people and so many problems in this world.
Scripture teaches us that while we are not to actively pursue hardship, we nonetheless are to realize that God uses challenging situations to help us conform to the perfect image of His Son.
The New Testament also teaches us that God sometimes sovereignly guides His people through challenging circumstances that ultimately profit them. In Hebrews 12:5–11, the author explains that God disciplines His children like a loving Father and that discipline ultimately benefits us by helping us “share His holiness” (v. 10). Believers may therefore look upon God’s discipline as corrective; that is, aimed at helping us overcome our sinful behaviour (cf. Proverbs 3:11–12; I Corinthians 11:32; Revelation 3:19). We may also distinguish between punishment and chastisement; the former is to be associated with God’s wrath upon unbelievers and the latter with God’s loving desire to shape and mould His children.
Read more about that: Submit to divine discipline and read Jeremiah 19:3–6; 21:1–5, 11–12. - God had planted the seed of salvation into the Virgin Mary. That young girl did not mind taking the burden on to her. Not only had she have to going to suffer for what others were going to say and how she had to face the possibility to become stoned to death, because she was not yet married. She also had not have an easy time with this “man from God’ who sometimes did not what she had asked but what his Father had asked him to do. John 3 Who is the “Son”? (revivalandreformation.wordpress.com) brings us the picture of the Jewish ruler who saw in Jesus his real role of master teacher and representative of God. “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Yahshua by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, unless God is with him.” (John 3:1-2 KJBPNV)
This man Jesus from Nazareth, inflicted pain on himself by accepting the role which was made in petto for him. He was willing to fulfil the role of the Adam, the first man, who could prove to keep faithful and honour the Only One God. He studied the Torah and knew the Word of God very well. He also kept to it, no matter what people did to him to get him to other ideas. Though he was without sin, he also had to suffer. So you can wonder why God had to punish him, if suffering is a punishment from God, which it is not. And as you can see from the story of his life, though he did the Will of God, he was not exempt from doubts or pains and had to suffer a lot. - People around Jesus, who became faithful followers, had also to suffer a lot when they had Jesus not around them anymore. They did consider those persecutions as Bad things no punishment from God but as part of the reactions of those people who did not want to live according the rules of God.
- That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life does not mean we shall be excluded from suffering, because the freedom God gave to the people made it also possible that the humans do stupid things by which stupid things can come over them. The risk taking society has to become aware that it just not can do everything what it would like to do without having to bear the consequences of its deeds. So when they play with nature forces or atoms they should be aware of the dangers of nuclear damage. They could go to a scheme of Securing risks to reduce the impact of the damage. But often people do not want to learn from previous experiences. Japan’s nuclear disaster reason to think twice you should think, but many continue to use the world resources in the wrong way and they think they can play with it to their own good, not thinking about what it is going to do to next generations. So when those following generations are going to undergo the problems of the previous generations it shall not be a punishment from God, but they shall have to suffer because the selfishness of the people before them.
- People are often taking too much for granted and do not stand still to the causes of Shocking News. People on the other hand do not always have to look for the cause of a disaster in the Hand of God nor in the wrongdoings of people. There are just phenomenon of the nature which can show the beauty, the power, the destruction but also the new creation of its inside forces.
In those exceptional natural movements we also could see and find reasons to Let us recognise how great God is. Though it sometimes can sound hard but we can have Profitable disasters coming over a world who does not always want to open her eyes. - Please do find more about Suffering and how we have to look at it in the articles on the Book of Job.
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Bible and Bookroll of the Holy Scriptures - Bijbel en Boekrol
Self inflicted misery #8 Pruning to strengthen us
Self inflicted misery to bear
8. Pruning to strengthen us
Lots of things which were not pleasant happened in this world. Many people had to suffer so much for nothing. We may be sure it has not been for nothing. No matter what happens we may not give up our hope which will be greatly rewarded. (Galatians 3:4; Hebrews 10:35)
We can try to do what is right in God’s eyes, but we shall need to accept the suffering we have to undergo and we shall have need of waiting before Jesus actions and word has effect for us.
“However, continue to remember the earlier days when you were first illuminated, and then you endured a great contest of sufferings. Indeed, you were observed as in a theatre participating with those sharing the same things. For you sympathized with those in prison bonds. With joy you plundered your own possessions, realizing you possess a better piece of property which will always remain. Therefore, you should not cast off your bold outspokenness which has a great reward to be paid it. For you need to have endurance so that having done the will of The God you might capture the Promise.” (Hebrews 10:32-39 MHM)
Suffering from within - Agony - Image by Island Capture Photography via Flickr
We may not forget the encouraging words which God speaks to us as His sons and daughters. Observing God’s kindness we should see how He guides us through life and how He corrects us. Though men do not love it when they are corrected we should not be discouraged when He rebukes us. Because the Lord corrects everyone He loves, and punishes everyone He accepts as His child.
Enduring what we suffer as being a father’s punishment would not be such a bad idea, because than our suffering shows that God is treating us as His children. Was there ever a child who was not punished by his father? If you are not punished, as all his children are, it means you are not real children, but bastards. In the case of our human fathers, they punished us and we respected them. How much more, then, should we submit to our spiritual Father and live!
Our human fathers punished us for a short time, as it seemed right to them; but we should know that God does it for our own good, so that we may share His holiness. When we are punished, it seems to us at the time something to make us sad, not glad. Later, however, those who have been disciplined by such punishment reap the peaceful reward of a righteous life.
“So don’t feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God. So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet!” (Hebrews 12:5-12 Message)
When we do have to undergo suffering let us take it up as our training in this temporary world. When we receive correction from God let us pay close attention and take it as a warning. Jehovah corrects those He loves, as parents correct a child of whom they are proud.
“My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah; Neither be weary of his reproof: For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth; Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” (Proverbs 3:11-12 ASV)
So let us in a way be happy when we can hear an exhortation which reasons with us as with sons. Let us not become so depressed or pulled down that we faint when we are reproved of the One and Only who can have everything in hand. Though people think they can do something bad to us, they shall never be able to kill our deepest soul. Only the One from above shall be able to give us eternal life.
He is the One who can shout to us or give chastening or instruction for our profit. So we should not resent God’s discipline or sulk under His loving correction.
“Observe, then God’s kindness and pruning upon those Jews who fell; but upon you non-Jews God’s kindness if you continue in that kindness, otherwise you also will be pruned off.” (Romans 11:22 MHM)
“But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All his righteousness that he has done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die.” (Ezekiel 18:24 KJBPNV)
“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” (Hebrews 6:4-6 KJBPNV)
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Continues: Self inflicted misery #9 Subject to worldly things
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Related articles
- The agony of true worship (pastorayres.wordpress.com)
We must find a way to understand the difference between idol worship in the name of God and true worship.2 Corinthians 12:99And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
All throughout scripture we find that worship involves a great cost and sacrifice. Here in Paul’s request to have his suffering removed He finds that God would rather him go on living with his suffering as an enablement to worship God. This enablement results in better praise and more effective work for Christ. For a man who spent most of his Christian walk under fire, in jail, fleeing for his life, in suffering, being beaten, being arrested he still needed to learn more brokenness in order for God to receive full glory.Is it possible that our suffering purifies our response to a holy God from pride, arrogance, pretension, selfishness, and competition?
From the pain experienced by the first animal’s innocent death to the pain and fear of Adam and eve hiding in the garden, our ancient progenitors found their expulsion from the garden costly.
Pain and suffering causes inequalities between men to vanish. The trauma room of ER’s to the suffering in chairs outside ICU wards, to the paneled walls of funeral homes people find equality in suffering. No pride and selfishness exists. No pretence or bigotry can thrive.
Ask yourself about the suffering that bears your celebration and exaltation of God. May you find the absolution in true worship of God, the maturing of your walk and the power that rested upon Paul which only finds existence through our death to self, our acknowledgement of our inabilities, our weakness, our utter lostness, and moral defeat.
- The Agony of Defeat (idkh.org)
There is nothing permanent it this world. The only thing permanent is change. So, when we fail and feel the agony of defeat, look at it as if it is something that we have to experience in life and after a while it will be gone.we may sometimes fail and taste the agony of defeat, but that is normal. We are not yet perfect. We try to be perfect but failures come along the way. But those failures must not stop us from achieving what God has planned for us. We are all unfinished work of God. - Pierced! (devotionsandblessings.wordpress.com)
O my soul, look at Jesus!
He is your Substitute.
He is there for you!
He is suffering death for you!
He is bearing the desert of your sins in His body on the tree!
He is enduring your curse, being made accursed for you!He is revealing . . .
what is in man’s nature,
what is in God’s heart, and
what He is willing to do and suffer–rather than I should perish! - God Isn’t Punishing You (ruthiedean.com)
Ruthie Dean continually struggles to believe God has her best interest in mind. “Because sometimes life’s circumstances just seem plain unfair – even unbearable. I’ve caught myself thinking of God as cruel taskmaster, thinking “I told her not to” as He sends down punishment from heaven.” she writes.God takes pleasure in giving you GRACE abundantly. He is longing to bless you – in the midst of trials and suffering and persecution and confusion – because He is a good Dad.Psalms 103:11 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Not because we are good, but because He is. - God cares for our hurts. The God who hears each heartbeat also hears the cry of every broken heart. He is not a God who is faraway and watching over the clouds, untouched by our miseries or unaware of our limitations. He knows our frailty. He knows our frustrations, and He has shared in our deepest griefs.
Self inflicted misery #7 Good news to our suffering
Self inflicted misery to bear
7. Good news to our suffering
As the apostles also made it clear to us we have the good news on which our faith should be based. Listening and believing in this gospel which is preached unto us we should have our foundation.
If the gospel is fixed in our minds, and if our faith in it is not without effect or without cause, we can be sure that though we have to suffer now, there shall come a time when suffering shall all be gone.
Paul also wrote: “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:1-2) and we may be assured that we do not have to believe in vain. We not only have to see then that God is good but also that His rules are fixed: to those who were put away he was hard, but to us He has been good, on the condition that we keep in His mercy; if not, we will be cut off as they were.
The Works of Jehovah to be known and presented in the Bible. - The Great Bible (entitled The Byble in Englyshe), publ. 1540. The English form Iehovah (Jehovah as the "J" stands for both I and the later J) is used for the Tetragrammaton at Exodus 6:3.
In these last days the Creator of all things has spoken to us through his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things. We should listen to this Father and to the one whom God has chosen to possess all things at the end. (Hebrews 1:2) God does not want sacrifices and offerings, and He is not pleased with animals burnt whole on the altar or with sacrifices to take away sins. (Hebrews 10:5-6)
The Lord of lords Jehovah has been willing to give us understanding. We should not rebel or turn away from Him. In case we do have to suffer today let us offer our back to those who give us blows, and our face to those who are pulling out our hair. That we would not be afraid to those who beat us and not stop them when they insult us or spat us in our face.
“The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.” (Isaiah 50:5-6 KJBPNV)
Let us obey the will of the one who sent Jesus and to finish the work he gave him to do, giving the task to let the Lord be known and to bring the Gospel of the Good News.
Proclaiming the Gospel we as the children of God are directed by our Heavenly Father as a spiritual training, and as such our endurance can be the expression of His love. We can take His encouraging words at heart.
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continues: Self inflicted misery #8 Pruning to strengthen us
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Related articles
- good news… (carmonthomas.wordpress.com)
We must trust the God in these men to have passed down the accurate Word for us. These men had in mind to spread the gospel.Do I go and try to alleviate suffering or preach the good news? Or both? Are they mutually exclusive? Jesus healed the sick, the lame,and gave sight to the blind. Why? Jesus is the outflowing of God. (Think solar wind or sun rays.) My paraphrase or memorization of a verse Hebrews in the Amplified version. This tells me that God cares about our infirmities and has a cure for them. Jesus went person to person to make up for shortcomings, lameness, deafness, blindness, illness and death. He still does. (‘nother story.) But, He also told them the truth. If we follow Him, we will be treated like Him. He’ll make sure we are fed and clothed, we will be in His Presence….but the world will hate us. - What is the Gospel? (garyeugenehill.wordpress.com)
- The Gospel (allsufficientgrace.wordpress.com)
The term gospel is found ninety-nine times in the NASB and ninety-two times in the NET Bible. In the Greek New Testament, gospel is the translation of the Greek noun euangelion (occurring 76 times) “good news,” and the verb euangelizo (occurring 54 times), meaning “to bring or announce good news.”In 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, the apostle Paul summarizes the most basic ingredients of the gospel message, namely, the death, burial, resurrection, and appearances of the resurrected Christ.- “the gospel of God” (Mk 1:14, ASV; Rom 15:16),
- “the gospel of Jesus Christ,” (Mk 1:1; I Cor 9:12),
- “the gospel of his Son” (Rom 1:9),
- “the gospel of the kingdom “ (Mt 4:23; 9:35; 24:14),
- “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24),
- “the gospel of the glory of Christ” (II Cor 4:4, ASV),
- “the gospel of peace” (Eph 6:15),
- “an eternal gospel” (Rev 14:6, RSV).
- Although distinctive aspects of the message are indicated by the various modifiers, the gospel is essentially one. Paul speaks of “another gospel” which is not an equivalent, for the gospel of God is His revelation, not the result of discovery (Gal 1:6–11).
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Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words says the English word gospel denotes the good tidings of the kingdom of God and salvation through Christ and what He did, which is to be received by faith alone.
