Tag: evangelical

  • Advent 2 of Christmas Evangelicalism

    Advent 2 of Christmas Evangelicalism

    Advent

    Advent time unpacked nativity set boxes

    a Nativity Scene on the mantle for Advent and our annual Christmas feast?

    A COVID Christmas – Shall we take Jesus out of the box includes history of Christmas in the U.S. December 1, 2020 C.E. 

    Last time in our ADVENT 1 post from this 2024 Common Era series, we asked:

    The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

    And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

    Genesis 6:11-12 KJV

    Command of the LORD & promise of a Covenant

    “But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark.. Genesis 6

    “I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.” – Genesis 9

    READ MORE about God’s covenant with Noah

    Ark Encounter full-size replica of Noah's ark built to Biblical specs

    IMAGINE the historical NOAH preaching to a corrupt church about this ADVENT of the Last Days when JESUS will return to judge creation with fire and fellow sinners sitting right beside you at this year’s Christmas program.

    The chosen Before Christ

    A PERSONAL interaction between the Creator and Living God of timeless eternity and a created son of Adam and NOAH.

    Jesus said to them,

    ‘Verily, verily, I say to you, Before Abraham’s coming — I am;’

    excerpt from Gospel of John 8: Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)

    AFTER this unique time of ABRAHAM Before Christ,

    • Judah (and Israel) had yet to be conquered, named, lost, regained and renamed over centuries of the chosen sons of Abraham.

    Chosen for Covenant and Curse

    FROM the LAW of Moses 
    for the generations of the LORD's chosen;
    administered by Levite priests (sons of Jacob, Isaac and Abraham:

    Additional Blessings of Obedience

    • “You must not make idols for yourselves..
    • You must keep My Sabbaths
    • and have reverence for My sanctuary. I am the LORD.
    • .. and I will establish My covenant with you.
    • youthful christian Swifty?
    • Sunday morning NFL evangelist?
    • Latte listeners of amplified praise?

    Punishments for Disobedience

    And YES,

    (You know some of the long history of God’s chosen)

    it gets worse from here even BEFORE Christ.

    YET could the LORD’s prophesy apply even to US?


    Our sin and disobedience continue into these Common Evangelical post-Christian times — (notably by some adopted in Christ Jesus).

    The Advent of Defeat

    You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them.

    Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. “For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the LORD will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly.

    Deuteronomy 7:2b-4 NKJV

    • But if your heart turns away and you do not listen.. Deuteronomy 30:17a
    • Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” – Joshua 24:22
    model of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem

    King Solomon (the Preacher) & Sin

    But King Solomon loved many foreign women.. from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love.

    ..  his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.

    א מְלָכִיםא (1 Kings) 11:1-3 excerpt

    All this took place a millennium BEFORE the Common Era centered around the very incarnation of JESUS CHRIST.

    Failed Kings Before Christ

    Saul, as most of us know, failed in disobedience to the Lord’s word through His Prophet Samuel.

    Even David was a failed king, but he repented of his sin before the Lord and publically in sight of Israel.

    To name just one king of Israel or Judah who did evil in the sight of the Lord, Ahab (and Jezebel) come to mind due to their zeal to destroy God’s Prophet Elijah.

    Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him.

    Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.

    1 Kings 16:30,32 NKJV

    So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.

    READ the compelling contest for your own clarity of faith.

    And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions?
    If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.”

    But the people answered him not a word.

    1 Kings 18:21

    Advent of a Common Era

    “How long will you falter between two opinions, twenty-first century C.E. christian?

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com

    In this traditional Advent season of these last days we anticipate more than simply celebrating Christmas in the year of our Lord (A.D.) 2024.

    For the similarities of centuries of evil times Before Christ bring to mind our own disobedience to God’s will.

    Our incarnate redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man: And NOW celebrate Him in a manger, though our Savior was sacrificed on a Cross for repentant sinners – sinners who love babies and good gifts, even while we fear DEATH and judgment.


    Talk of JESUS .com

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  • Before Christmas Evangelicalism Advent 1

    Before Christmas Evangelicalism Advent 1

    Before Christ

    Before Creation

    And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

    Genesis (Beginning) 2:5 KJV ..in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,

    Here witness a time before Adam, before an incarnational Birth of the Christ, yet not Before Jesus the eternal Son of the One Triune God.


    Before Re-Creation

    Note that I did not say 'recreation' as we often view these days of the pre-christmas season. 

    The Bible points to a renewal of a corrupted creation we noted in the beginning - a creation corrupted by SIN.

    The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

    And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

    Genesis 6:11-12 KJV

    Ark Encounter full-size replica of Noah's ark built to Biblical specs

    Have you considered that in the time of Noah and Before Christ

    ONLY Noah and his wife, along with their three sons and their wives, were chosen to be SAVED from the destruction to come.

    The DOOR to salvation on Noah’s ark would not have been open to you. Yet God may have brought you to the Door of Christ Jesus in these last days.

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com


    Before and After

    Before, of course, can mean ‘face to face.’

    Then the LORD said to Noah,

    “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation.

    Genesis 7:1 ESV פָּנִים


    We ought not speak of BEFORE without considering the consequent AFTER.

    In the context of TIME, and even before time, what comes after or NEXT typically follows before. We speak of consequence or result of what has come before.

    Before I was afflicted I went astray:

    but now have I kept thy word.

    Psalm 119:67 KJV

    And unique events such as the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ still reflect a TIME before AND (except for the end of days) a TIME after. 

    .. the sun stood still, and the moon stayed..

    And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.

    Joshua 10: [12-15 context NKJV]

    Before our fathers or families

    It’s right there from the beginning:

    Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

    Genesis 2:24 NKJV

    Do you know this one?

    אֲנִי הִנֵּה בְרִיתִי אִתָּךְ וְהָיִיתָ לְאַב הֲמֹון גֹּויִם׃

    “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.

    “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.

    וְלֹא־יִקָּרֵא עֹוד אֶת־שִׁמְךָ אַבְרָם וְהָיָה שִׁמְךָ אַבְרָהָם כִּי אַב־הֲמֹון גֹּויִם נְתַתִּיךָ׃

    בְּרֵאשִׁית (Genesis) 17:14-15 WLC & NKJV

    This PERSONAL interaction between the Creator and Living God of timeless eternity and a created son of Adam and Noah wandering through lands of other kings and princes clearly points to a unique time BEFORE CHRIST was born as a Son of Man in a manger in Bethlehem of Judea.

    AFTER this unique time Before Christ, Judah (and Israel) had yet to be conquered, named, lost, regained and renamed over centuries of the sons of Abraham.

    The chosen Before Christ

    For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

    Deuteronomy 7:6 KJV

    But I'm getting ahead of myself. 
    We'll take a look at Moses and the Law later in this Advent series, God-willing. - RH)

    Jesus Christ, the grown Son of Man born of Mary and Son of God conceived by the Holy Spirit said this to well-schooled leaders of the Jews.

    ..it is my Father who is glorifying me, of whom ye say that He is your God..

    Abraham, your father, was glad that he might see my day; and he saw, and did rejoice.’

    The Jews, therefore, said unto him, ‘Thou art not yet fifty years old, and Abraham hast thou seen?’

    Jesus said to them,

    ‘Verily, verily, I say to you, Before Abraham’s coming — I am;’

    excerpt from Gospel of John 8: Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)

    The CHILD of MARY in a manger in Bethlehem of Judea IS the Christ, the Messiah of Israel and Savior of souls! Yet even BEFORE these pivotal historic events in the history of mankind, JESUS IS the Son of God — even as HE IS now and forever..


    I am the door, through me if any one may come in, he shall be saved, and he shall come in, and go out, and find pasture.

    Gospel of John 10:9 YLT – Invitation of Jesus Christ to any who would follow Him
    sheep by a manger

    The Lamb of God in a manger

    Talk of JESUS .com

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  • ‘You’re NOT MY Father!’ – the prodigal C.E. Evangelical

    ‘You’re NOT MY Father!’ – the prodigal C.E. Evangelical

    Our Family Prodigal

    Most Christians are no doubt familiar with the scenario of Jesus’ parable about the prodigal son with its two brothers questioning their relationships with their father.

    We have perhaps neglected a theological relationship of the Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit of God.

    Today in PART 2 of our examination of the role of the FATHER we continue in our study of doctrines of the Common Era by looking at contemporary family relationships AND parallels to the Son Jesus‘ parable of the prodigal son (which of course HE is not).

    Part 1 of God our Father and His role in the Trinity

    Parable of the prodigal son

    You'll find an archaic former view of 'the prodigal' in the New King James version of the Bible from Before the Common Era referring to the son's prodigal living common to this era.

    This parable of Jesus is part of three illustrations of those whose faith is LOST as answer to why the Lord receives and dines with SINNERS.

    Gospel of Luke 15:

    The Parable of the Lost Son

    Luke 15:11 NKJV
    Then He said:

    HERE is the riotous Common Era christian as well! You, me and others BEFORE some realize that WE may return to GOD the FATHER in humility — BEFORE some become acceptable in the Father’s house through the saving grace of the SINLESS Son JESUS our only hope and Savior.

    (You likely know more of the parable and its additional lessons from this father.)

    “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

    God the Father is Not MY father photos of two young girls

    Why do Common Era prodigals deny the Father’s love?

    Our cover PHOTO, christian family photo album or church member directory could include THOUSANDS of FACES we know who were once near and dear to our hearts.


    As noted previously the truth of SCRIPTURE has not changed. 
    
    WE cannot quite grasp the mystery of the Holy Spirit. 
    
    AND in Common Era preaching Jesus can be promoted more like WE like on the stage of 'worship.'
    
    YET the fruit of FALSE teaching may easily rot souls JESUS would save had WE prodigal evangelicals returned to the Father.

    Jesus welcomes ALL sinners with the love of a friend. This Common Era king embraces sinners of ALL cultures and beliefs without requiring any turn toward His righteousness and away from The Life of this world.

    FALSE! According to Scripture.


    Witness of a dad

    I know a man in Christ.. —such a man was caught up to the third heaven.

    The Apostle Paul in witnessing a true event without disclosure of his source of witness writes to Christians in Corinth.
    
    The 'man' in Christ may have been Paul, John during his Revelation from Jesus Christ, perhaps even Peter or another. The witness is authentic. Therefore the truth and impact of these scenes require no identification of its narrator.

    common fathers in the Common Era:

    • Their father insisted, “not in my house you don’t,” but they did.
    • Her older sister ran away with her boyfriend, then her father came into her at night!
    • Their ‘christian‘ mother was caught in the arms of another man, then threw her father out of their house.
    • The church had no idea who the father of a single mom leading worship might be.
    • Their father cheated with a woman at work, then they all moved to another town where this prodigal pastor did it again.
    • The PK (Pastor’s Kid) was known to be sleeping with a significant other.
    • When their son got his girlfriend pregnant mom helped pay for her to get an abortion.
    • She changed schools so no one would know what her mother dared not tell her father.
    • A father suspected his son partied all night with guys and girls alike.
    • HE’S NOT MY FATHER! You have to choose between him and ME,” insisted the step-daughter to her mom.

    Further resistance against fathers

    SOMETHING CHANGED, but I’m not certain when.

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com

    What is certain in 2023 of the Common Era is that:

    • Christians have again become a minority.
    • Marriages between one man and one woman for life are rare (even among ‘christians.’)
    • Children need not be born into a Common Era home with values of God our FATHER.
    • Parents of the Common Era reject accountability to a father, a family and to God.

    Fathers (present or absent) may NOT raise, teach or discipline ANY human progeny.


    a few more facts:
    • The 1960 Census showed a record proportion married, 67.4 percent, among persons 14 years old and over.
    • The number of families in the United States in 1960 was 45.1 million. (A family is a group of two or more persons who are related to each other and living in the same household.)

    • In 2011, the Pew Research Center found that 51 percent of Americans were married, compared to 72 percent in 1960. However, rates of cohabiting couples are rising
    • according to private research company Demographic Intelligence, less than half a million couples were cohabiting in 1960, compared to 7.5 million in 2010 [C.E.]

    America’s Families and Living Arrangements: 2022 – U.S. Census

    • 4.2% Cohabiting with joint biological child (actual # may be higher than survey sample)
    • 2.6% Cohabiting with NO joint biological child

    • 21.3% or ONE IN FIVE – NO partner present (at time of survey)
      • A few are single fathers — MOST are culturally priased as SINGLE MOMS in the Common Era

    WHY does Common Era culture reject JESUS?

    GOD, the authority of any church and especially FATHERS are anathema to the majority of this COMMON ERA.

    Roger@TalkofJESUS.com on Rejection of the Father of Trinity

    It’s quite easy for some to worship MARY, the ‘single mom’ of the child Jesus we celebrate each ‘Christmas.’

    Of course A.D. first century culture was intolerant of such things.

    What does JESUS say about ‘the Father’ that is so offensive to so many in Common Era churches in these last days?

    Gospel of John: 6:40, 8:28, 10:30 Legacy Standard Bible

    apokalypsis iēsous christos which God gave Him to show to His slaves the things which must soon happen; and He indicated this by sending it through His angel to His slave John,

    The Revelation of Jesus Christ 1:1 LSB from Morphological Greek New Testament
    Revelation 3:19-22

    ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline. Therefore be zealous and repent.

    ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

    Jesus standing at a door knocking

    ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

    Revelation of Jesus Christ to John

    Talk of JESUS .com

    Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to keep all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

    Matthew 28:19-20 LSB – Command of the Risen Christ Jesus

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