Author: Jim

Gospel of Paul Part 2

To the Believers in Corinth Paul reminds them of the Gospel, He taught them:
1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
1 Corinthians 4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:16-18 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
1 Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
And he continued in his second letter to them:
2 Corinthians 2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
2 Corinthians 8:18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
2 Corinthians 9:13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
2 Corinthians 10:14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:
2 Corinthians 10:16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand.
2 Corinthians 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
2 Corinthians 11:7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely
And the apostle made clear what gospel he brought to them:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

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Gospel of Paul Part 3

To the Believers in Galatia, Paul reminds them of the Gospel, He taught them, warning them there is only ONE Gospel for Believers:
Galatians 1:6-9 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Galatians 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Galatians 2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
Galatians 2:5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
Galatians 2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
Galatians 2:14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Galatians 4:13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
Yes, there was a gospel to Israel (the circumcision) but they were rejecting it (as a nation), so Christ (God) opened the door of salvation to the gentiles (gospel of the uncircumcision) to be preached by Paul.

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Gospel of Paul Part 4

He refers to the Gospel 4 times to the Ephesians:
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Ephesians 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Ephesians 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Ephesians 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
To the Philippians the thanks them for their help with spreading the Gospel:
Philippians 1:5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
Philippians 1:7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
Philippians 1:12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
Philippians 1:17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Philippians 2:22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
Philippians 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
Philippians 4:15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

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Gospel of Paul Part 5

He reminds the Believers in Colossi of the Truth and Hope of the Gospel:
Colossians 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
The power of the Gospel comes from the Holy Ghost.
1 Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
1 Thessalonians 2:2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
1 Thessalonians 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
1 Thessalonians 2:8-9 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
1 Thessalonians 3:2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
Reminds them of the Gospel and what’s still coming.
2 Thessalonians 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Thessalonians 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Gospel of Paul Part 6

Paul reminds Timothy and Philemon of the Hope and power of the Gospel.
1 Timothy 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
2 Timothy 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
2 Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
2 Timothy 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
Philemon 1:13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

The Apostle Paul reminds the Hebrews that the Gospel was to them first.
Hebrews 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

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GOD’S PLAN Part 2

Isn’t it great to be alive? And greater still to know God loves you …
Each one of us has problems …. Personal, family, financial, and so on …
But God has settled man’s greatest problem. Consider the text for today:
Acts 13:38-39 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Man’s greatest problem is separation from GOD.

And this separation is caused by sin. Sin has been defined as Transgression of the Law. Doing Evil, Not doing good. Campus Crusades for Christ put it this way, “An active or passive rebellion against GOD”.
It’s interesting, most people will agree with the Bible when it states:
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
BUT then they will deny that God has the right to send them to an everlasting punishment for their sins … because “My sins aren’t that bad”.
Scripture teaches us that God can have no fellowship with sin … No fellowship with us as long as we continue in sin …
What’s the solution? How can we enjoy GODS fellowship?
By accepting GODS forgiveness for man’s greatest problem.
Remember the text … Acts 13:38-39: BE IT KNOWN unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the FORGIVENESS OF SIN: And by him ALL THAT BELIEVE are justified (forgiven) from all things …
“THAT’S TOO SIMPLE, I DON’T BELIEVE IT” Acts 13:40-41 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
Don’t harden you heart, accept GODS simple plan of forgiveness … accept His solution for your greatest problem.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

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GOD’S PLAN Part 3

For the next few minutes, why not God have control over your thoughts.
Our Scripture is found in Acts 24:14-15 Paul’s testimony before Felix, the Governor:
But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets; And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
GOD HAS BROUGHT MAN HOPE…
What was Paul’s hope toward God? Why the resurrection?
Let’s consider this word HOPE. It’s not a wishy-washy dreamy “I Hope so ….”.
It’s an anticipated “I Know so”. It’s used with expectation, confidence.
Paul didn’t think there might be a resurrection, he KNEW there will be, both of the just and the unjust (all). Consider the following:
Romans 5:2-5 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Romans 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Do you have this HOPE?
Do you hope (know) you’ll be in Heaven,
OR do you just hope you’ll get there?
I HOPE that you KNOW …. GODS eternal hope … the Lord Jesus Christ

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GOD’S PLAN Part 4

I trust you will receive a blessing from these next few minutes as you read this. GOD HAS A COMING KINGDOM

ACTS 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
ACTS 28:23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
ACTS 28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
Did you know that there is more than one kingdom? Consider the first … The kingdom where God dwells right now … ACTS 1:9 … ACTS 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
The second is introduced by the Lord Jesus: Matthew 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
To Nicodemus He said: John 3:3 … Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
And then let’s consider the coming Kingdom: Revelation 19:11 (gives us a picture of the returning KING .. king of kings, lord of lords, the Lord Jesus) And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Revelation 20 explains how HE will rule this Kingdom on earth for 1000 years.
Jesus left the first kingdom, (2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich).
And came to this earth to present he kingdom to the Jews, and when they rejected Him, now we have a spiritual kingdom to enter into (which we enter by choice) until He returns. And He will be coming again to usher in the 1000-year kingdom where He will rule the earth.

How do we have a part in this coming Kingdom? We must by faith enter the spiritual kingdom …
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 believe in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ
AND Romans 10:9 confess that Jesus is God. Are you a member of the kingdom of God?

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GOD’S PLAN Part 5

Thank you for continuing as we finish God’s plan.
GOD WILL JUDGE THE WORLD.
Paul concludes his remarks from the top of MARS hill with these words:
ACTS 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
And how did most of his listeners respond? THEY MOCKED!

Peter writes that in the last days scoffers will come, walking after their own lust, mocking God’s word.
2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
Many, many today do not believe they will be judged. They live like there will not be an accounting to a high and holy God. Believer and unbeliever alike.

Through the Scriptures we find several future judgements. Time and space does not allow us to distinguish between them. The attempt is to draw your attention to the fact that YOU will be judged … believer or unbeliever.
Judged for every word, thought and deed:
Matthew 12:34 (Jesus said) O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

Peter warns that Judgement will begin at the house of the Lord (1 Peter 4:17) For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Some Scripture to consider:
HEBREWS 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
2 Timothy 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Romans 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
1 Corinthians 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Revelation 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

Are you ready to face JUDGEMENT? It’s coming!

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American Holidays Part 2

New Year’s Day was celebrated for the first time in 45 B.C., when the Julian calendar first took effect.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a holiday in cities and states throughout the United States beginning in 1971; the holiday was enacted at the federal level by legislation signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986.

Washington’s Birthday was the first Federal holiday to honor an individual’s birth date. In 1885, Congress designated February 22 as a holiday for all Federal workers. In 1970, To give federal employees a three-day weekend, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved it to the third Monday in February, which can occur from February 15 to the 21st. The day soon became known as President’s Day.

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season.

Juneteenth was first celebrated in Texas in 1866. Freed men, women and children gathered in rural communities and freedom colonies to rejoice with parades, dances, hallelujahs, feasts, music. Jun 17, 2021 it will be the United States’ 11th federal holiday, joining the ranks of President’s Day and Thanksgiving, and the first new one created since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established in 1983.

Independence Day also called Fourth of July or July 4th, in the United States, the annual celebration of nationhood. It commemorates the passage of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.

Labor day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States. President Grover Cleveland signed a bill into law on June 28, 1894.

Columbus Day a federal holiday in the United States, which officially celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492. Was signed as federal holiday by President Johnson on June 28, 1968, to be effective beginning in 1971.

Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on November 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. In 1954, President Eisenhower signed legislation establishing November 11th as Veterans Day.

Thanksgiving Day the earliest celebration was held in 1578. In 1870, Congress passed legislation making Thanksgiving (along with Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and Independence Day) a national holiday. However, unlike the other holidays in the bill, the President had the discretion to set the date for Thanksgiving. With few exceptions, each President until Franklin D. Roosevelt followed Lincoln’s lead by declaring the last Thursday of November a National Day of Thanks.

Christmas Day is celebrated every December 25th, and has been a federal holiday since 1885. In the Middle Ages, Christmas celebrations were rowdy and raucous—a lot like today’s Mardi Gras parties. Christ’s birth is traditionally celebrated in the West on December 25th, but many Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7. Neither date is likely correct in light of several clues uncovered by historians and information in the Bible itself.

See Birth of Jesus

See Age of the Lord Jesus

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