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On the Ark, Noah probably got milk from the cows. What did he get from the ducks? Quakers |
John 8:31-32 (NASB 1995)
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
Here is a well-known, and oft-misused passage from the Gospel of John. "The truth shall set you free" is a phrase heard from countless politicians and other charlatans. Has been for years, probably for centuries. But, as the saying goes, "You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means" 😉
In this passage, Jesus is speaking to a very select group of people: "those Jews who had believed Him". The context is an argument that Jesus was having with the Pharisees. (Nothing new there, right?) He had proclaimed himself "the light of the world" (v.12). He spoke rather cryptic things about his Father and himself (v.16f), about him going away (v.21), and several other things.
In the course of the discussion, some of the Jews that were listening to him believed in him (v.30); most, however, did not. They not only did not believe, they were adamantly against him. So Jesus' comment are directed to those that believed in him (v.30), and believed him (v.31). Do you see the difference? To be one that can legitimately claim to believe IN Jesus, one must also BELIEVE him. In other words, it is not possible to truthfully say that you "believe in Jesus" yet at the same time deny, in word and/or in action, what he actually said.
True discipleship involves remaining continually in his word. The result of remaining in his word is to "know the truth", and that very truth, once absorbed, sets one free.
Free? Free from what? Not physical slavery, but spiritual slavery. Slavery to sin and death (v.34).
All who have not believed what Jesus has to say, have not believed in Jesus, remain in their natural state, born into slavery to sin, born of their father the devil (v.44).
Children of the devil are destined to remain with their father for all of eternity, an eternity in hell.
Don't be that guy. Believe what Jesus says. Believe IN him. While you still have time. Today is the day of salvation. (2 Cor 6:2)
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"Do as thou hast said." 2 Samuel 7:25 |
- Morning: "Do as thou hast said." 2 Samuel 7:25
- Evening: "But I give myself unto prayer." Psalm 109:4
by Karl D. Stephan - Jan 15, 2021.
Discusses the now-infamous "Section 230". (Not very flattering to President
Trump.)
by Alan Shlemon on Stand to Reason.
"Here’s a basic but good reminder: Christians need to study Scripture.
We’ve begun a new year. Why not resolve to do it in 2021? There are at
least three reasons why. These are not meant to be the top three reasons
or the most important ones. They are just three reasons that came to
mind."
by Albert Mohler
- PART I Will the Biden Administration—As Promised—Be the Most LGBTQ-Friendly Administration in American History?
- PART II An Historic London Church Affirms Commitment to Scripture While New Church of England Document Undermines Historic Christian Teaching
- PART III Truth May Be Lonely But It Nonetheless Remains True: The Church of England Attempts to Hold Irreconcilable Positions on Sexuality Simultaneously
by blogger and author Tim Challies.
Tim and his wife Aileen lost their twenty year old son Nick back in November.
He died quite suddenly and unexpectedly while at college. Nick gives us an
update on how his family, including Nick's fiancé, are doing and what their up
to.
by blogger and journalist Bari Weiss.
Ms. Weiss, who although liberal, is NOT among the "woke" hordes; in fact, she
is one of those that signed that famous
Letter on Justice and Open Debate
in Harper's magazine in July of last year, the letter that really set off a
s**t storm on social media. She resigned her job at the NY Times last year
precisely because of the increasingly hostile work environment towards
"non-woke" types. Anyway, in this essay she shares her rather apocalyptic view
of what is to come in the near future, the increasing repression and
persecution of all that dare to defy "woke" insanity that has infected most of
the "elites" in the US, and in the West in general. The corporate big-wigs,
academy, arts & entertainment, publishing, what used to be called
"journalism", and so on. If you don't read anything else today - besides your
Bible of course! - read this. As I said, she is of the liberal persuasion and
I do not agree with everything she stands for, but she is one of the few remaining voices of reason on the left side of the aisle.
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