Tag: John

  • Grace for the Everyday Sinner in 2024 C.E.

    Grace for the Everyday Sinner in 2024 C.E.

    • Should grace be desired for more than simply acknowledgement of our blessings on occasion?
    • Is the Biblical concept of ‘grace’ the same today as God’s GRACE in the New and Old Testaments?

    What is grace?

    We associate it with good things as in praying before eating and receiving mercy for those things we ought not to have done.

    Paul frequently opens his letters to various churches with grace, peace and other gentle words of greeting. The Apostle then encourages believers in a spirit of grace given to all by God.

    Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

    First Letter of Paul *[and Sosthenes]
    to the church at Corinth 1:3 – LSB
    *Sosthenes = "saviour of his nation" - a Jew at Corinth who was seized and beaten in the presence of Gallio
    Acts 18:17
    And they all took hold of Sosthenes the leader of the synagogue, and began beating him in front of the judgment seat. But Gallio was not concerned about any of these things.

    Gospel Grace

    • Grace appears over 100 times in the Bible
    • most frequently used in the New Testament.

    The Greek word used by the Gospel writers and Apostles is χάρις pronounced: khar’-ece.

    grace

    • that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech

    A brief look at varied New Testament use of grace, favor and graciousness reveals a much deeper and satisfying application of grace through Christ.

    For of His fullness we have all received, and grace G5485 upon grace G5485.

    Gospel of John 1:16 Legacy Standard Bible

    Old Testament Grace

    God’s grace before its fullness in Christ was proclaimed to the world

    The Hebrew Bible or Old Testament also demonstrates God’s grace in action and in word. In Hebrew:

    ḥēn חֵן

    Translated in English as ‘grace‘ 38x and also as: favour (26x), gracious (2x), pleasant (1x), precious

    But Noah found favor H2580 in the eyes of Yahweh.

    Genesis 6:8

    The favor and blessings of grace extend not only between the Lord God and man but also between the mortal flesh and blood of individual souls blessing one another.


    Perhaps no blessing of grace is any better known than a benediction of parting the LORD spoke to Moses.

    “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,

    יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ׃ ס

    יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ׃ ס

    יִשָּׂא יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלֹום׃ ס

    בְּמִדְבַּר (Numbers) 6 :: Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC)


    The LORD bless you and keep you;
    the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
    the LORD lift up his countenance [or face] upon you and give you peace.

    “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”


    Blessing between the LORD and Israel from Numbers 6:24-26,27

    Gracious people chosen for God’s grace

    And of course most everyone desires at times to receive at least a portion of joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness, favour, grace, charm, elegance and acceptance.


    Who receives grace?

    Is God’s grace all-inclusive or exclusive?

    Let’s take a brief look.


    The Example of Noah

    Then Yahweh saw that the evil of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And Yahweh regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

    But Noah found favor in the eyes of Yahweh.

    Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.

    Genesis 6:5-6,8,13

    Abraham’s Grace though Faith

    And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. Then he blessed him and said,

    “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”

    Genesis 14:18-20a

    Now it happened that when Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him,

    “I am God Almighty;
    Walk before Me and be blameless, so that I may confirm My covenant between Me and you,
    And that I may multiply you exceedingly.”

    Genesis 17:1-2

    Then Abram fell on his face, and God spoke with him…


    Grace and Mercy

    25:17  וְעָשִׂיתָ כַפֹּרֶת זָהָב

    “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold…


    Grace is related to but NOT equal to mercy.

    Mercy is a transaction granted by a greater one to a lesser recipient.

    Grace is a part in a transaction by which supplication (or plea) may have been made from one to another. At times they are even equals — but often not.

    In fact God or a king or any human authority may grant grace without you even asking.

    תְּחִנָּה

    supplication,

    supplication for favour

    • to man or
    • to God

    “And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of supplication,

    so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced;

    and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.

    Zechariah 12:10 LSB

    “In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity.

    from Zechariah 13:1 –  approximately 480 B.C. 

    MORE about GRACE in every age NEXT TIME when we will ask:
    "WHO NEEDS GRACE?" 
    
    (You've probably guessed the answer already.)

    For from His fullness, we have all received and grace upon grace.

    Gospel of John 1:16 – Berean Literal Bible

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  • a study in LIGHT – Truth for Life

    a study in LIGHT – Truth for Life

    Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

    Gospel of John 8:12 ESV
    TalkofJESUS.com recommends witness from other sites from time to time. Today's Good News for you with ears to hear is from Truth For Life a ministry of Alistair Begg.
    

    TRUTH FOR LIFE PROGRAM

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    A Study in Light


  • ‘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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