GET OUT OF THE BOX

We know what happens when we only talk to people who think like we do. You have heard of Christians who will only listen to their leaders and no other, even discussions among themselves is not allowed. They read only books by their leaders, attend teachings and meetings only by their leaders, read bibles by their leaders. They lock every body else and every other thought out. We should broaden our minds by getting what others think and say about this or that. Different religion, race, political stand, it doesn’t matter, we can all learn from one another. If we get ourselves locked in our small thoughts and beliefs and not subject that to scrutiny by considering carefully what the Bible says or what others says, we look like mad people or we appear fools. We just get more stuck in our ways, more divided, and it gets harder to come together for a common purpose. I read a story where a fish meets with other fishes and asks them, how is the water where you have come from? There is some quietness so the inquiring fish moves on. Then one fish turns to the others and asks them: What in hell is called water? These fishes lives in and survives in water yet they have never sought to know the name of this liquid they live in. Pst. Elijah.

YOUR RESPONSE TO THE GOOD NEWS

There are three responses that we can have to God’s gift of forgiveness and salvation. When we know Jesus took our place and died instead of us, we can show our thankfulness by going out and living a life of thankfulness and obedience to Christ. The second option is that we can get out (confess that we accept him) but continue in our old ways and assume it is not a serious matter or comfort ourselves that there will be no consequences in the way we choose to live - even if a life of disobedience. And the last option is to deny Christ Jesus, say he accomplished nothing for us and choose the rules and regulations of the kingdom of darkness. Sadly, as we look around we see that far too few believers make the first choice.

FEAR GOD.

Believers are not to be scared of God. We have no reason to be scared of Him. We have His promise that nothing can separate us from His love Rom.8:38. We have His promise that He will never leave us or forsake us Heb.13:5 Fearing God means having such a reverence for Him that it has a great impact on the way we live our lives. The fear of God is respecting Him, obeying Him, submitting to His discipline, and worshiping Him in awe.

AT THE CROSS-ROADS

Shortly on any road. You get to cross-roads.
And you know you cannot travel both
where you want to go remains the inner guide,
 
So it is with life. As a child you may care less.
But as young birds leave their mother's nests,
One day it too becomes your turn to go,
 
To take care of yourself, to decide, to live with resulting consequences.

Then you realize there is need to know
To know where you want to go, what you want.

Many ways presents themselves, many things too.
You need food, clothing, shelter, education for you,
You need a life partner, you need some beliefs and company,
You need school and fees for your children.

You decide - you can work for it, you can steal you can stay there hopeless,
You can sell your body, sell drugs, get into corruption and such
Many ways, many things, with many consequences.

These consequences -Some easily resolved, some permanent others eternal,
Some destroys you other grounds you and brings endless shame.

It's that day, the day you get to crossroads - and we all do
That you will know we all need to know before
The things we want, the way to go, the how to go.

God's manual for life is there all the time, and glad we are that,
The Bible is that manual, in it, for you and for me,
Is the things we want, the way to go, the how to go.

Outside that manual, many, many ways and things we want
And whatever 'happily thereafter' outside that manual, is a lie.

IN THIS LIFE:

• Know God and His Word 
• Seek to have a personal, loving relationship with God.
• Confidently know the Bible as God's infallible Word.
• Understand that God's Word relates to every area of life (general education, experience).
• Apply God's Word
• Develop a lifestyle that includes personal devotions and regular Bible study, using sound methods in that study.
• Develop the skills of sound scholarship in both biblical and secular studies, characterized by a spirit of inquiry, research, and creative thinking.
• Recognize the lordship of Christ and fulfill God's will personally, vocationally, in attitude, and in deed.
• Live a life of high moral and spiritual standards at home, in the community, and in church.
• Communicate God's Word (Be in ministry!)
• Determine where the Lord is directing you to serve--whether as a layman or in an employed ministry.
• Carefully evaluate your God-given gifts along with accompanying personal talents.
• Become proficient in methods of communication, leadership, and ministry.
• Become involved in a lifetime of Christian service. ABC.

THIS IS HOW HIS BEGINNING CAME ABOUT

 Excerpt from Anthony Buzzard's article.

Once the Son of God’s origin by miracle in Mary

(Matt. 1:18, genesis) was discarded in favor of a twisted

version of John 1, producing a preexisting Son of God

rather than as John wrote a preexisting word, wisdom and

plan of God, fearful conflict and argumentation, disputes,

excommunications and disunity followed. Jesus’ unitary

monotheism (Mark 12:29) was lost and recovered only by

certain minorities (the so-called Dynamic Monarchians).

At the Reformation the Socinians led a significant

movement which recaptured the unitary monotheism of

Jesus and the Apostles (Mark 12:29, repeated in 1 Cor.

8:4-6 by Paul). Paul believed in the unitary monotheistic

Shema (“Hear, O Israel”) as had Jesus. Without that firm

foundation there is little hope for a united, single

Christian faith. At present the denominations are unable

to pay attention to and put into practice the clear

command of Paul: “I urge and entreat you, brothers and

sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Messiah that all of

you be in perfect harmony and full agreement in what you

say and that there be no dissensions or factions or

divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in

your common understanding and in your opinions and

judgments” (1 Cor. 1:10, Amplified Bible).

For further information about how the faith lost its

essential unity soon after the death of the Apostles please

consult the introduction to my One God, the Father, one

Man Messiah Translation of the New Testament with

commentary, available ...

For a succinct definition of who Jesus is, read Luke

2:11

KINGDOM OF GOD AS A MUSTURD SEED AND THE LESSON.

Mark 4:30 And he said, “With what can we compare the Kingdom of God, or by what parable can we set it forth? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed which, when it is sown on the earth, is smaller than all the seeds that are on the earth, 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes greater than all the garden plants and puts out great branches so that the birds of heaven are able to nest in its shade.” REV.
This parable is talking of something larger than the Church - the Kingdom of God. The church is part of the Kingdom but the Kingdom is wider and includes many other issues - past, present and future.
The lesson we get is that God's plans and purposes have always started somewhere. As we know He has almost always used mankind to work them out, and His plans and purposes extends to the ends of the Earth and beyond, no matter where he finds man, that person will soon realize how small the beginning is compared to the desired end.
Our encouragement is in knowing that the records in the Bible, the testimonies of believers through out history, the testimonies around us at present and future promises shows that the ending is always great and a success.
What God has planned and purposed to do in your life may not have taken much shape today, but you are in the safe hands of Him who works things out in great ways from very small beginnings or from nothing. He will work it out in your finances, in your education or desire to study, in your family or desire to have a family, in your business, in your work, in your ministry etc. What he has planned to do in His church, in the community and in the nation He will do it. What we have seen so far and all the testimonies we have should be enough to dispel fear and doubt. The success of God's Kingdom will benefit all people - directly and indirectly (just like the mustard shrub nests the birds of the air although it was not planted for that) If God cares for those who have not believed in Him, how much more will He care for those who believe in Him. He is calling you to continue to or to start cooperating with His plans and purposes as His Kingdom advances.

ANY BODY CAN BECOME A CHRISTIAN.

The sin of Adam and Eve separated us (the whole humanity) from God. God being very loving and caring has provided a way that we can re-fellowship with Him To connect with God in a personal relationship is the first step in your knowing your purpose here on Earth and to finding your ultimate fulfillment. You know, you cannot get into a deeper relationship with one you do not know well. John 17:3 emphasizes that truth: '3 And this is life in the Age to come, that they know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.' REV. Careful study of His word will help you know Him and much about Him. One of the things you come to know is John 3:16. That for God loved you so much, He gave his only son, so that if you believe in him, you will not perish but have eternal life. Turn your life to God - to the one who knows you inside out. To have a proper relationship with Him we have to come to Him in His prescribed way - through Jesus Christ. John.14:6. '6 Jesus says to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'REV. Our relationship with Him will definitely lead us to have higher standards about right and wrong. In that relationship, you do not just decide what is right, what is true and what is moral. You let Him guide you into all that through His word and you obey.

Scripture shows that Jesus Christ is a true human being. It is clear from the verses below that he was indeed a man.

Acts 2:22
“Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.

Acts 2:23
This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

Acts 17:31
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”

1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Romans 5:15
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man (Adam) how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Thanks STF.

100 Scriptural Arguments | BiblicalUnitarian.com

100 Scriptural Arguments | BiblicalUnitarian.com