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Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling
Philippians 2:12, ESV
We do not earn our salvation. We show the world we are saved by being obedient to Christ and doing good works to help others, encourage each other, and glorify God.
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In chapter 5, Ross attempts to build a case that the ecumenical creeds produced by historical Christian counsels failed to include any mention of the importance of the Genesis 6 day creation account. He writes:
If all pre-Darwin Christians unanimously and unambiguously held one view on the length of the creation days, evidence for such a position would likely be found in the creedal statements written during the first 1700 years of church history.
What Ross fails to realize here is that one of the purposes of the early Christian creeds was to identify and resist heresies from becoming malignant in the church. Old Earthism, including death, suffering, thorns, and predation prior to the sin of mankind did not infect the culture or church until the 19th century. So, the authors of the creeds would have seen no need to protect…
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Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16, ESV
We read, memorize, and live out Scripture, because by it the Holy Spirit moves through us to lift each other up in Christ in wisdom and thankfulness and through conversations and singing God’s truth.
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Matthew 18:20, ESV
Not merely about having church, Jesus is telling us that He is with us as we call out sin, encourage repentance and change, and draw each other closer to Himself.
Our church is preparing to make our way through Ephesians after this two week “Vision series” to explain where we see our little congregation going in the future based on the “foundation of apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20) as we “make disciples … baptizing them in the name of Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all” He has commanded. (Matthew 28:18-20) Our vision and mission, therefore, is “To live a full life in Christ and bring others along for the ride.”
And this morning it included stories of how the Gospel changed people’s lives in our own congregation. There were quite a few amens and praise the Lord’s shouted. We remember and thank God that we have the Prophets (Old Testament) and Apostles (New Testament) to point us to Christ.Daniel
This Sunday at Church I want to encourage you to do the following: Praise God for the Gospel.
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Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
2 Timothy 3:12-13, ESV
We need each other – with the Bible and the Holy Spirit – to encourage each other to hold to the truth of Scripture. Too many today will try to lead us astray and mock us for staying true to God.
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:14, ESV
Loving others includes helping in times of need; sacrificing time, money, energy, and comfort; leading from sin to repentance and Christ; and merely being present and attentive.
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, ESV
As God’s faithful, we are to help and encourage each other in all things, as He helps and encourages us, especially through Christ.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works
Hebrews 10:24, ESV
Love God, love people, love the Church.
How?
Grow in godliness as we spur and encourage each other – with Scripture, prayer, and sacrifice – to love on this fallen world.
Yep.
How valuable? Would you consider them priceless?
Just imagine, what if you could say you held in your hand a small item, a one-of-a-kind, totally unique, and personally made by God Himself? How would you treat it?
Would you hold it carefully, caress it, watch over it?
Would you toss it in the trash, make fun of it, or abuse it?
Are we not unique? Are we not “fearfully and wonderfully made” by God? Are we not valuable beyond compare? Did God not offer His own Son as a ransom for our souls?
For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. – 1 Peter 1:18-19 CSB
Then why…
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a simple man of God 