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Hey, come on in to the Christian Treatise Page. Christian Bulletin also features Fun Quips, Vital Info and a Ladies Page, where we speak of Christian subjects, Christianity, religion, spirituality, society, culture and other religious and spiritual matters of interest. {We believe that men are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith which is alone. We are saved by faith without works, but not by a faith which is without works. --C. H. Spurgeon.} Christian Bulletin speaks of culture, Christianity, society, religion. Christian Bulletin also talks about the religious bulletin, the spirituality of different people, along with their spiritual condition. Religious people don't mean to be too religious or seem too spiritual. Christian Bulletin includes worship and mention of Baptist churches. God is also mentioned in Christian Bulletin, along with Jesus, Jesus Christ or Christ himself. Psalms and Proverbs, along with the church is spoken of by faith. You must be a Christian by faith in Jesus Christ to enter heaven. Where Is Your Faith In Luke 8:22-25 we read, "Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where Is Your Faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! For he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him." Each one of these 12 disciples, with the exception of Judas Iscariot, had settled the question of faith in Christ alone as their only hope of heaven. Let’s just look at a couple of them and find out how they settled this question in their hearts. "And again the next day after John (the Baptist) stood, and two of his disciples; and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus" John 1:35-37. "One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus" (John 1:40-42). "The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me" (John 1:43). Notice how simple salvation is. How do we know these three were saved on the spot? Look at what Andrew said to Peter, "We have found the Messiah, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus." All the Jewish people were waiting for the coming of the Promised Messiah. These early disciples recognized Jesus as the Messiah and thus put their trust in Him as Savior immediately. Isaiah 45:22 says, "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." That’s exactly what these disciples did–they looked to Jesus as God to save them and were saved. The angel told Joseph, "And thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins." A Savior saves. These believed He was the Savior and trusted Him to save them. So, faith in Him alone is the foundation stone, the first step, as it were, which so many people miss and try to go to the next step of consecration; and that’s why they fail miserably–they skip the first step–Faith in Him alone! Now a foundation had been laid–of faith. So these disciples should have known that the creator of the world and all the elements therein (John 1:1-3) certainly is the one and only one capable of controlling those elements–the wind and rain being a couple of them. Maybe they could have invoked His Power! That’s why Jesus asked them: "Where Is Your Faith?" Let me ask you a question, Christian, those of you who have laid the foundation and put your faith in the solid Rock, Jesus Christ, as your only hope of heaven. Where Is Your Faith with regard to Soul Winning? Why is it that every time it comes time for regular soul winning, you find some excuse for not going? Where Is Your Faith? Where Is Your Faith when someone asks you to go with him to visit a sick friend who needs Christ or visit someone else who needs Christ? Where Is Your Faith? Hey, do you remember in John 4 when Jesus told the woman at the well that He was the Messiah that she referred to (John 4:25,26), what she did? Well, to refresh your recollection, "She left her water pot and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" Then we are told that some believed upon hearing her excited testimony and others believed when they heard Jesus’ own words. The "believing" here means that they were converted on the spot and this woman was responsible for their conversion, and she was a brand-new Christian. Hey, come on, anybody can do it! Where Is Your Faith? Christian, Where Is Your Faith with regard to giving tithes and offerings? I realize that this Christian service is one of the hardest to undertake. It takes more faith than others. It comes down to a question of whether you believe that God will bless you financially if you obey Him financially. I settled that question over 48 years ago when I first heard of the concept. We had a new home, a new car, making payments on them just like everybody else, along with other obligations. We didn’t know how we were going to do it. We had two children and another on the way and my wife hadn’t worked for seven years and didn’t intend to go back to work. We started tithing and within three months I got a yearly raise that just covered the yearly tithe. We have been tithing and giving offerings for over 48 years. Today we have our home paid for here in the San Diego area, our two cars paid for, and a good retirement income. God has been faithful in His promises. Proverbs 3:9,10, "Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine." The same promise of blessing financially is found in Malachi 3:8-11. We are not farmers or vine dressers today, but God’s hands are not limited or tied to the old days or the times that existed at the time of His promises. He can keep you healthy. He can give you a better job. He can see that you get a promotion. He can make your car run longer and without repairs. He can keep you out of the hospital or out of an accident. He can keep you physically able to work. Where Is Your Faith? Besides that, God promises rewards in heaven for giving tithes and offerings. Listen to Paul in Philippians 4:15-17: "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. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire Fruit that may abound to your account." That fruit there refers to rewards for supporting missionaries, God’s ministers, God’s churches. Certain women were given recognition in the Bible as "ministering to Jesus of their substance"–Luke 8:3. "Substance" means money, financial means, or services! How would you like to be commended for doing same? For the sake of brevity, just one more point. Christian, Where Is Your Faith with regard to sustained and caring prayer? In Ezekiel 9 we have the scene of a man with a writer’s inkhorn by his side and six men with destroying weapons in their hands. The man with the inkhorn by his side is told "to go through the midst of Jerusalem and Set A Mark upon the foreheads of the men that ‘sigh and that cry for all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof.’ And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city and smite...slay utterly old and young, both maids and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary." And so it happened. Let me ask you this Christian. If the man with the inkhorn by his side came to your city today, would he set a mark upon your forehead because you sigh and cry for the abominations committed in your city against the Lord God Almighty or are you just "playing church" or playing at Christianity? David said, "Against thee, and thee only have I sinned." Sin is against Almighty God. So are Abominations. If you are not sure of heaven, read on briefly and make sure. What about Repentance? Paul says salvation comes by Repentance toward God and Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:20,21). The publican exercised Repentance when he, in the temple, "standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" said Jesus in Luke 18:13,14. To be Justified is to be Saved, born again. No longer be Deceived–follow the publican’s example and be Justified. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord {for salvation} shall be saved." You get what you ask for! Eternal life is a gift that can’t be paid for by us in any form. Jesus met all the demands of the law, died in our place, shedding His Blood, which Blood washes away our sins (Rev. 1:5), not water, not baptism. Also eternal life is not conditional life, conditioned on our helping Jesus save us or keep us saved, as we are kept by the power of God through faith (1 Peter 1:3-5), not through works or a combination of faith and works.2 Cor. 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." If you are not sure of heaven, of which you can be sure (1 John 5:10-13), and you are sick and tired of sin and its dominion over you, why not pray, "Lord, I am a sinner; forgive my sins; save my soul; and take me to heaven when I die? I am now trusting in Jesus Christ alone as my only hope of heaven." Then set out to read the Bible (New Testament first) and obey its precepts through the power now given you in the form of the Holy Spirit dwelling within (Romans 5:5; Galatians 4:6). "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2). Do it Now!Kneel at the Cross Bring Them In Home | Fun Quips | Vital Info | Ladies | Christian Treatise | e-mail Copyright 2000 Christian Bulletin. All Rights Reserved.
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Isaiah 45:22 says, "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else."![2092935[1].gif (11090 bytes)](20929351.gif)