A Proud American

I always post some type of Scripture reading or Bible lesson, but not today.  I just read an email sent to me from a friend about a Medal of Honor Recipient that asked me to foreword it to friends.  I NEVER DO THAT.  I ALWAYS DELETE THEM AS THEY FREQUENTLY HAVE TRACKING THINGS ATTACHED.  For some strange reason I decided to check out the email so I went to snopes.com.  When I read the bottom part that stated what was written on this great man's Medal of Honor citation I felt moved to share that information.  You can click on the word "citation" to go to the website and read it there too.  Here is the email:

Courage.     You're a 19 year old kid. 
You're critically wounded and dying in the  jungle somewhere in the Central Highlands  of  Viet Nam . 

It's  November 11, 1967.  LZ (landing zone) X-ray.

Your unit is  outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is so  intense, from 100 yards away, that  your CO (commanding officer) has  ordered the MedEvac helicopters to stop coming  in. 

You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns  and you know you're not getting out. 
Your family is half way around the world, 12,000  miles away, and you'll never see them again. 
As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day. 
Then - over the machine gun noise - you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter. 
You look  up to see a Huey coming in. But ... It doesn't  seem real because no MedEvac markings are on it. 
Captain Ed Freeman is coming in for you. 

He's not MedEvac so it's not his job, but he heard the radio call and decided he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire anyway.  Even after the MedEvacs were ordered not to come. He's coming anyway.

And he drops it in and sits there in the machine gun fire, as they load 3 of you at a time on board. 
Then he  flies you up and out through the gunfire to the doctors and nurses and safety. 

And, he kept coming back!! 13 more  times!! Until all  the wounded were out. No one knew until the  mission was over that the Captain had been hit 4 times in the legs and left arm. He took 29 of you and your buddies out that day. Some would not have made it without the Captain and his Huey. 

Medal  of Honor Recipient,Captain  Ed Freeman, United States Air Force, died last Wednesday at the age of 70, in Boise, Idaho .. 
May God Bless and Rest His Soul. 

I bet you didn't hear about this hero's passing,  but we've sure seen a whole bunch about Michael Jackson, Tiger Woods and the bickering of congress over Health Reform.

Medal of  Honor Winner Captain Ed Freeman 

Shame on the American media !!! 

Here is the snopes link.     Ed Freeman on Snopes.com

Here is the Vietnam Medal of Honor Recipients link.    Medal of Honor

Twas The Night Before Jesus Came

Twas The Night Before Jesus Came

     Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house, not a creature was praying, not one in the house.

     Their Bibles were laid on the shelf without care, in hopes that Jesus would not come there.

     The children were dressing to crawl into bed, not once kneeling or bowing their head.

     Mom in her rocker with the baby in her lap, was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

     When out of the East there arose such a clatter, I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.

     Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

     When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.

     With light like the sun sending forth a bright ray, I knew in a moment this must be the day.

     The light of his face made me cover my head, it was Jesus returning just like he had said.

     I thought I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth, I cried when I saw him in spite of myself.

     In The Book of Life he held in his hand, was written the name of every saved man.

     He spoke not a word as he searched for my name, when he said it’s not here I hung my head in shame.

     The people whose names had been written with love, he gathered to take to his Father above.

     With those who were ready he rose without a sound, while all the rest were left standing around.

     I fell to my knees but it was too late, I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate. 

     I stood and cried as they rose out of sight, Oh if only I had been ready tonight. 

     In the words of this poem the meaning is clear, the coming of Jesus is drawing near.

     There’s only one life and when comes the last call, we’ll find the Bible was true after all! 

More than just words!

      I often find my self reading several different translations when I study the Word of God.  I do not believe that one of today's translations can have the title "best translation."  Although, personally I hold NASB and NKJV to be my personal favorites.  KJV, NIV, and NLT have several qualites to offer a person in their studies as well.  We MUST ALWAYS refer to the original Greek to find what God really had to say on a subject.  I often tell others, who have no ability to research or understand the Greek language, to read several translations.  This way they get a feel from several different angles of what was to be translated on a particular verse.
      This time of year we read scriptures that deal with the birth of Jesus Christ.  I want to look at the words of a few verses with you.  We will see the importance of using different translations.  We will use the aforementioned translations to illustrate what I mean.  Look at the following translations of Mt 1:21:

KJV- And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for          
          he shall save his people from their sins 
NKJV- And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for 
             He will save His people from their sins
NASB- She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save 
             His people from their sins
NLT- And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save 
         his people from their sins
NIV- She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name      
        Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.


     We can see that the words I have made made bold varies according to their translation.  Sometimes we need to understand that these are more than just words.  The Greek word used here is best translated "bring forth."  Some might say, "So what!  What is the difference if we say 'bring forth' or 'bear' a son?"  The difference is very significant.  Consider how Lk 1:13 is translated:


KJV- But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; 
         and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name 
         John.
NKJV- But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer 
            is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call 
            his name John
NASB- But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition 
             has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you 
             will give him the name John
NLT- But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! For God has heard your 
         prayer, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son! And you are to name 
         him John
NIV- But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your 
       prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and 
       you are to give him the name John. 


      We see here that these translations all use the word "bear."  Which is properly translated.  The question arises, "Why are the translations not in agreement on Mt 1:21 like they are on Lk 1:13?"  Again we must understand that these are more than just words.  These words are "inspired by God"(2Ti 3:16) and we must seek to find exactly what God was saying in each verse.  That is why it is so very important that we look at the original Greek. 
      In Mt 1:21 we see the Greek word tikto.  This word properly means to bring forth; to be born of a woman giving birth.  There is no ties to being born of a man. This is significant, as Jesus Christ was born to be born of a virgin. (Isa 7:14) This virgin birth was a sign from God.  Thus, the word in Mt 1:21 should have been translated "bring forth."
      Concerning Lk 1:13, we see all the translations used the word "bear."  This is the Greek word gennao.  This word properly means of men who fathered children.  We understand that Elizabeth conceived from a man, Zacharias.  In contrast, Mary was "found to be with child by the Holy Spirit."(Mt 1:18)  This is no doubt referring to the virgin birth of out Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
      You see, these are more than just words we read on paper.  We are reading God's Words.  We must be diligent in the study of these words so that we will not be lead astray by men who choose not to seek for the truth.  These men will teach things that do nothing but tickle the ears of people.  They teach according to their own lusts.  The only reason false teachings come from the pulpits today is because the pews allow the false teachings to happen.  




Have a red letter day,
Chad
      

Shame on the Church!

Pliny the Younger (c. 62 - c.113 AD) was the Roman Governor of Bithynia (present-day northwestern Turkey). Around 111 or 112 AD, he wrote the following letter to Emperor Trajan of Rome asking for advice on how to deal with Christians. 

It is a rule, Sir, which I inviolably observe, to refer myself to you in all my doubts; for who is more capable of guiding my uncertainty or informing my ignorance? Having never been present at any trials of the Christians, I am unacquainted with the method and limits to be observed either in examining or punishing them. Whether any difference is to be allowed between the youngest and the adult; whether repentance admits to a pardon, or if a man has been once a Christian it avails him nothing to recant; whether the mere profession of Christianity, albeit without crimes, or only the crimes associated therewith are punishable -- in all these points I am greatly doubtful. 

 In the meanwhile, the method I have observed towards those who have denounced to me as Christians is this: I interrogated them whether they were Christians; if they confessed it I repeated the question twice again, adding the threat of capital punishment; if they still persevered, I ordered them to be executed. For whatever the nature of their creed might be, I could at least feel not doubt that contumacy and inflexible obstinacy deserved chastisement. There were others also possessed with the same infatuation, but being citizens of Rome, I directed them to be carried thither. 

 These accusations spread (as is usually the case) from the mere fact of the matter being investigated and several forms of the mischief came to light. A placard was put up, without any signature, accusing a large number of persons by name. Those who denied they were, or had ever been, Christians, who repeated after me an invocation to the gods, and offered adoration, with wine and frankincense, to your image, which I had ordered to be brought for that purpose, together with those of the gods, and who finally cursed Christ -- none of which acts, it is into performing -- these I thought it proper to discharge. Others who were named by that informer at first confessed themselves Christians, and then denied it; true, they had been of that persuasion but they had quitted it, some three years, others many years, and a few as much as twenty-five years ago. They all worshipped your statue and the images of the gods, and cursed Christ. 

 They affirmed, however, the whole of their guilt, or their error, was, that they were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft, or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food -- but food of an ordinary and innocent kind. Even this practice, however, they had abandoned after the publication of my edict, by which, according to your orders, I had forbidden political associations. I judged it so much the more necessary to extract the real truth, with the assistance of torture, from two female slaves, who were styled deaconesses: but I could discover nothing more than depraved and excessive superstition. 

 I therefore adjourned the proceedings, and betook myself at once to your counsel. For the matter seemed to me well worth referring to you, especially considering the numbers endangered. Persons of all ranks and ages, and of both sexes are, and will be, involved in the prosecution. For this contagious superstition is not confined to the cities only, but has spread through the villages and rural districts; it seems possible, however, to check and cure it.

Consider what Peter wrote in (1Pe 4:12-19).


Notice some things Piny said in his letter:

First Paragraph

He wasn't sure if there should be any difference in punishment between the young and adults. 


He wasn't sure if the punishment fit the crime.  WHAT CRIME?!?!  Christianity?

Second Paragraph

Those who refused to renounce Christ were executed.  No specific crime, but the Christians expressed inflexibility the Roman cause and faithfulness to Christ.  Keep in mind that Tacitus writes that Christians were wrapped in skins of wild beasts and allowed to be killed by wild dogs.  They were also clothed in flammable material and used as lights in his garden or lights at his circus.

Third Paragraph

Anyone who denounced Christ and worshiped an idol God was set free!

Fourth Paragraph

Does this not sound like what we do on the Lord's Day?  We sing hymns to worship and take the Lord's Supper.

What Pliny calls, "depraved and excessive superstition" I call FAITH!

Fifth Paragraph

Again, what we know as faith is superstition to Pliny.

Notice what the goal was to do with Christianity.  To "cure" it.  

     In conclusion, I read what the early church endured for their faith and I compare that to the 21st century church and I am appalled.  We won't even miss a football game to worship God today.  We put off worship for work.  We put anything an everything before the Lord's Day!  In doing so, we still feel like God owes us something because we are there once a month or every other week.  That's OK though.  The "By-Laws" of our congregation says we are still a member as long as we come once a month!  SHAME ON THE CHURCH TODAY!  (Mt 16:24,25)  These verses are not suggestions.  Satan must only make God second in your life not last!  (Mt 22:37,38)

Have a red letter day!

Are you a Daniel?

     I hear people say, "We can't allow people to remove God from this and that."  I do agree.  The problem is that there has always been people trying to remove God from things.  There always will be people who will attempt to remove God. The problem is God's people run around throwing fits and complaining.  They click "LIKE" on Facebook to these things.  They even forward emails that say these things.  That sounds great.  We take action into our own hands.  Everyone says, "We can fix this.  Our country is going down the tubes and it is all this particular political parties fault.  We can fix it by voting the other way!"  Sure, people voted the other way and things may slowly get better, but are we missing the point?

     In the Old Testament God used others to accomplish things with his people.  It is all through our Bibles that we lay on the counter after a service and pick it up in that same spot for the next service.  Read the Bible, you will see what I mean.  God sent struggles not to punish his people, but to call them to repentance!  (Amos 4:10)  God sent pestilence and war as a call to repentance!  Maybe, this country needs to repent. 

     Are we repenting to God or striking out at those who threaten our way of life?  Some guy says we can't do this or that because it has to do with God so we plan an attack on we can stop them.  God says he will avenge us when we suffer for him!  (Rom 12:19)

     Consider Daniel, he was told by man not to pray. (Dan 6:6-9)  This sounds similar to us being told not to pray in schools and court proceedings, does it not?  Daniel didn't fight the injunction.  He didn't rally all his friends together and cry about what was done.  He just kept doing what he always had done.  He prayed! (Dan 6:10)  Take special notice that Daniel DID NOT open the window.  Thus, the window of prayer is always open!  Daniel remained obedient no matter what man said.  He continued to pray.  God used that obedient man in a mighty way.  We all know about the miracle of Daniel and the lion's den.  The thing that is never mentioned is Daniel's willingness to pay a price prior to this miracle ever taking place.  Today, we want the miracles, but we are not willing to pay a price.  

     We must turn to God in repentance and prayer.  We must remain faithful.  God, will heal this country not a new political party!  People will always be trying to remove God from his people.  The question is will his people trust God and remain obedient?  Do you witness to others when you are told not to?  Do you confess Christ when people ask you not to?  Do you take God with you all week or leave him wherever you worshiped him on the Lord's Day?  Are you a Daniel?

     Everyone wants to be saved.  So many men say, "This is what the Bible says to be saved."  For the most part they are partly correct and you must remember this saying, "A HALF TRUTH IS A WHOLE LIE."  The Bible is a complete work.  We must look at the entire body of work to see what we must do to be saved, not just one or two parts.  Consider the following illustration.

     You want to be a mechanic so you buy a book called, "Be A Mechanic."  Does just owning that book make you a mechanic?  No, certainly not.  The first section says you must have tools.  The second section says you must have a shop to use the tools.  The final section teaches you how to use the tools. You then go out and buy tools.  Are you now a mechanic?  No, just doing part of what that book says does not make you a mechanic.  You must do what the rest of the book says right?  The same thought applies to our salvation and the Bible.  Just owning a Bible doesn't save you.  Having a place to worship(shop) doesn't save you.  You must do everything the Bible says in order to be saved.

    Let's look at the phrase "be saved."  The Bible says the following:

BELIEVE:              Jn 3:16,17

REPENT:                  Acts 2:38-40

CONFESS:               Rom 10:9

BAPTISM:               Mk 16:16

FAITHFULNESS:    Mt 24:13

     Now, if you must to everything a mechanic book says to be a mechanic. Wouldn't you have to do everything the Bible says to be saved?  Yes, you sure would.  Remember the quote, "A half truth is a whole lie."  

     Today, I ask you to be a Daniel.  Today, turn to God and allow him to heal you and this country!

Have a red letter day,

Chad

What is in a name?

I am always saying this Hebrew or Greek word means this or that.  Then we read  scripture with the word's definitions in place and it can mind blowing what the Bible is saying when we look at it that way!  The stories we read seem to come into a new light when we look at what each word means!  If you don’t know what I mean about the Bible stories being in a new light I encourage you to make a true attempt to study with this in mind.

I have been recently studying church doctrines of several denominations and how these denominations are named after MEN!  IF YOU HAVE A FRIEND THAT ATTENDS A DENOMINATIONAL CHURCH AND YOU HAVEN’T TOLD THEM THE TRUTH, SHAME ON YOU.  You are 1 of 3 things: ashamed of the word, afraid of what they will think of you, or weak in doctrine and don’t put God first.  Forgetting that denominations are NOT God’s plan.  You could also be considered a bad friend because you have a friend that is in trouble and is probably forfeiting their opportunity at eternity with God and YOU ARE JUST SITTING BACK AND WATCHING!  Tonight’s message is all about a name.

      Some names are famous- ABRAHAM LINCOLN!  Some names are notorious OSAMA BIN LADEN!  Let's look at the name "Jesus Christ" and the things we have in that name.

(Acts 4:12)

I. SALVATION IN THE NAME OF CHRIST.

From the previous read scripture we know there is no name that men by which we must be saved!  NOT THE POPE,  LUTHER, WESLEY(Methodist), SMYTHE(Baptist), SEYMORE(Pentecostal), or CALVIN(Presbyterian)!  It is that reason that I prefer the name CHURCH OF CHRIST as opposed to Christian Church!

          A. REMISSION of sins.      (Acts 2:38)

Without Christ we are not forgiven of our sins.  We can see the purpose of baptism.  Those men who teach salvation without baptism are ignorant! 

ASK THESE QUESTIONS:

1.  IF YOU ARE NOT BAPTIZED HOW DO YOU GET FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS?

 The will say through Christ’s sacrifice or through the blood of Christ!

2.   ARE YOU REALLY TRYING TO CLAIM THE BLOOD OF CHRIST OR HIS SACRIFICE BUT REFUSE TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THAT BLOOD THROUGH BAPTISM, AND IGNORE WHAT IS COMMEMORATED TO RESEMBLE THAT BLOOD IN THE LORD’S SUPPER?

At this point they will either get upset or change the subject because you just put a whole in their beliefs!

         

B. ETERNAL life in heaven.

Without Christ we are hopelessly headed for eternal damnation!  Acts 4:12  said there is no salvation in any other name.  NOT, ALA, MOHAMMED, BUDDHA, OR ANY OTHER IDOL YOU CAN THINK OF!  We can’t get to the Father without Christ!  

(Jn 10:9; Jn 14:6)

II.  PRAYER IN THE NAME OF CHRIST

Where do we get the teaching of praying in his name?  

(Jn 14:13,14)

(Jn 15:16)

(Jn 16:23,24)

(Jn16:26)

A. GOD ALWAYS ANSWERS PRAYERS OF HIS CHILDREN!

Notice I said his children. 

(Pr 28:9)

(Acts 10:31)

God has 3 answers to our prayers:  YES       NO        NOT RIGHT NOW!

The answers we get are based on a few other conditions:

1. Faith of the one in prayer!    (Cornelius as opposed to unbeliever)

2. Willingness of to do God’s will of the one in prayer.

God gave us his very best when he sent Jesus.  We need to repay him by living obedient lives.  God Bless

Have a red a letter day,

Chad

Living Inside Out

     Today’s post is from what is commonly called “The Eight Woes.”  This would be the 5^th Woe.  I personally find this to be among some of the most serious scriptures in God’s Word.  I put this up there with (Eze 3:18-21; 2Pe 2:20,21) I’m not saying one verse is more important than another; those are just some that seem very sobering to me! 

    In today's text, Jesus is referring to the Pharisees doing what they can to appear clean to men (outside), but their hearts were extremely unclean(inside).  Looking at several translations I found a lot of words here from rapine, intemperance, injustice, uncleanness, covetousness, and iniquity to describe the Pharisees.  Putting them all together really shows what Jesus thought of the Pharisees.      

     Today, we will try to learn how to live inside out.  The goal is not be hypocritical or be called by any of the aforementioned words!  Christianity starts on the inside.  That is when we receive the Holy Spirit.  Until that point we are not a part of the Lord’s Church.  (Mt 23:25,26)

I.  LIFE IS ABOUT PERSONAL CHOICES

We are faced with decisions from the time we get out of bed until we go to sleep.  The choices we make, say everything about the person we are.  We can talk and appear one way on the outside, but the choices we make says who we are.  Aristotle said "We are what we do repeatedly.  Therefore, excellence is not an act, but a habit!"

There are two types of people in the world.  REACTIVE AND ACTIVE!

The first is:      

A. REACTIVE PEOPLE

     A reactive person lets everything around them dictate their actions and decisions.  These people tend to “follow the crowd” so to speak. (Mk 7:15)

     Reactive people let the outside control the inside!  Reactive people let others shape and form their decisions.  Reactive people live outside in!  Reactive people don’t have a foundation to support them. (Mt 7:26-27)

   Jesus must be the foundation we all are supported by.  In order to have Jesus as our foundation we must “act on his words!”  Having a personal relationship with Christ is far deeper than mere believing he exists!  Did you notice that some people heard the words but they lacked action?  THEY ARE FOOLS!  Many people from the “Stained Glass Crowd” are reactive people.  Reactive people are often happy on the outside and miserable on the inside.  That’s because all their decisions are based on what others say and do!    

B. ACTIVE PEOPLE

     An active person doesn’t allow their decisions to be affected by outside sources.  These people tend to “set the pace” they “march to the beat of a different drum” so to speak.  They have goals and nothing or no one will keep them from achieving that goal.  WHAT IS YOUR MAIN GOAL IN LIFE?  It may be financial independence, if such a thing exists.  Me personally, I want to hear these words, “WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!”  

     It’s not what you know; it’s who you know!  Many people today who are driven by possessions get those very things.  Their focus is in worldly things.  Those people don’t know Christ!  They claim to know him, but they really don’t.  They may even know the Word of God.  There is a big difference in knowing the Word of God and applying the Word of God!  (1Jn 1:4; 2Th 1:8)

We must have a personal goal of intimately knowing Christ! 

II.  Life is about personal goals.

     Your goals will dictate the fruit your life will produce! Wolfgang Von Goethe said, “The things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least”  (2Pe 2:19)   Your personal goals are what control you.  They influence your thoughts and actions.

 A. PROIORITIZE YOUR PERSONAL GOALS

      Therefore, you are a slave to your personal goals.  Life breaks down into two main sections.

SPIRITUAL (we aren’t just flesh & bones) AND PHYSICAL.  Now physical can be divided into 2 sub-

parts.  FAMILY and OCCUPATION.  We must choose which ones to put first!  That is how we 

formulate and prioritize our personal goals.  People today, often put physical before spiritual.  Yet, 

they claim to be a “BROTHER” to Christ!   (Mt 12:50)

QUESTION: What is your main goal in life?

If you thought “A house that’s paid for and meeting the Old Timers every morning at the Coffee 

Shop!”  YOU ARE PHYSICAL MINDED PERSON!

If you thought “To be with my Lord in Heaven for Eternity”  YOU ARE A SPIRITUAL MINDED PERSON!

(Mt 6:33)

     To reach these goals we must live inside out!  We cannot be REACTIVE letting the outside dictate 

the inside!  We must be active.  That is letting what is inside dictate what comes out!  We can only 

be active in accomplishing our goals if we BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND!      

WRITE DOWN YOUR GOALS AND LOOK AT THEM EVERYDAY!

     Prioritize your goals with the end in mind.  Spiritual, Family, and then Occupation or whatever 

order yours maybe . You must work DAILY to achieve your goals.  When decisions in life come up.  

Make them according to your personal goals.  “WILL DOING THIS keep me from achieving goal #1? 

NO, Good.  #2, NO, Good.  #3 YES.  I have no reason to do that activity then!    

B. DEFINE YOUR PERSONAL GOALS   

   To assist you in defining personal goals let’s do this.  IMAGINE YOU ARE AT 

YOUR OWN FUNERAL. The following people are going to speak at your funeral.  1. Close Family 

Member 2. Close Personal Friend 3. Close personal Co-worker 4. Close Church Member.  Take time to 

think what you would like those people to say!  Then write them down and look at them everyday as 

well. That will tell you what you feel a successful life is.  

     Don’t be reactive and let someone else define what success means to you!  When we are living a 

life that is obedient to the commands of our Father in Heaven, that is productive in the home 

with our family, and also paying the bills we will find that is living inside out.  Living inside out 

will provide much more happiness for us since we are accomplishing and doing things that are 

meaningful to us and not to society as a whole.  Our first goal must be a spiritual goal. 

If we are to be obedient to our Father in Heaven, we must be obedient to all his Word and not just 

parts we want to pick and choose.  

It starts with belief and faith. (Heb 11:6; Jn 3:16)  

How do we get faith? (Rom 10:17)

Then we must repent of our sins.  (Lk 13:3)

Repenting is more than saying I’m sorry.  It’s a change of life!

Then we must confess. Rom 10:9; Mt 10:32)

Then we must be  BIBLICALLY baptized by immersion.  (Mk 16:16; 1Pe 3:21; Ac 22:16)

Why are we baptized? (Acts 2:38)  Not to join a church; that’s not Biblical

If you weren’t Baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and to receive the Holy Spirit.  You weren’t 

BIBLICALLY BAPTIZED

Finally, we must live a faithful life.  (Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22) 

Have a red letter day,

Chad

Do you "confess" or "witness"?

Confession seems to hold a variety of roles in the New Testament Scriptures. It is used as a prerequisite to baptism. Then, it is spoken of as an

ongoing declaration of our faithfulness to Christ, that is demonstrated by our

words and actions. Then, it appears to be linked with our admission of sins and

transgressions to God. Finally, it is set forth as an action of Christ on our

behalf

I.  What is Confessing?

        A. Confessing is in our WORDS

(Rom 10:8,9)

    I first want you to understand that this book, chapter, paragraph and verses were written and intended for believers(SAVED) not the unbeliever (LOST, WORLD)!  The beginning of the book (Rom 1:7) says it was written to the “saints in Rome”!  Nowhere in scripture are those outside of Christ called saints!  Paul later refers to the people intended to receive the letter as “Brethren.”  (Rom 10:1)Where is a sinner in the Bible called brethren?   

      The Greek word used here for confess is (hom-ol-og-eh-o) which means publicly acknowledge anyone!  Confession starts with a public acknowledgement of Christ.  This doesn’t mean a confession is all you need, but is one of a number of things!  Dean Mills says, “When we read in scripture what we need to obtain something that is the minimum we must do to obtain whatever we are reading about!  There is a possibility of more things being required, but this is just the minimum!” 

        B. Confessing is in our ACTIONS

Our confession is not only what we say, but what we do as well!  Many people talk like Christ but act like Satan!  (Mt 7:21-23) makes very clear that just calling Jesus Lord will not get us into his kingdom, rather we will hear “I never knew you!”  It is possible to believe and not confess!  We see this today as well!  We don't confess Christ as we are afraid of social discomfort.  (Jn 12:42)

There is before us the challenge of living day after day for Christ. The author of Hebrews writes these words: (Heb 4:14)  Later in the same epistle we read in (Heb 10:23)  God is faithful to us!  We must hang on to that confession and live a lifestyle that coincides with that confession!  CONSIDER THIS: (1Jn 4:15)

God cannot work in an empty tank! (YOUR BODY)  Abide in him and study his Word!

     Also, (Mt 10:32,33) tells us Jesus will repay the favor!  If we confess him, he will confess us and vice versa! 

We deny Christ with our S.A.W.!

Silence- Our failure to confess Jesus (I don’t want to offend anybody.  If        

            someone asks tell them the truth but SMILE!  THERE’S NO NICE WAY 

            TO SAY TURN OR BURN   SO SMILE WHEN YOU SAY IT!

Actions- The way we act (not ornery but vicious)

Words-   The things we say (cussing and such)

II. What is witnessing?

There is a distinct difference between witnessing and confessing.  Many people believe telling someone Jesus is Lord is witnessing.  WRONG!  We will now contrast the two!

          A.  Witnessing is CONFIRMING

You need to understand you can confess Christ without witnessing for Christ!!!

CONFESS- to acknowledge or declare

WITNESS- : to be able to testify to its having taken place; one who has personal knowledge of something; something serving as evidence or proof

Witnessing to someone about Christ is deeper than just saying he exists!  It’s proving he exists!  (Acts 1:8)

You see, the Apostles had to receive the power of the Holy Spirit before they could become witnesses!  They had to receive that knowledge with which they could convict men with the scriptures and confirm that Jesus was not in the tomb but he has risen!

If we are to witness today we too must confirm that Jesus is who he said he is! (The Son of God)  We must confirm Jesus did what he said he was going to do! (Raise on the third day) Then we will be witnessing and not just confessing!  Then we will be winning souls and growing the Lord’s Church!  We must witness to others!

        B.  Witnessing includes CONFESSING

They work together that is why they are so hard to distinguish apart!  We must be confessing with our WORDS and our ACTIONS while we are CONFIRMING with the Word of God that Jesus Christ has shed his blood for us!  That we too can overcome death and spend eternity with God through Jesus!  We can’t just say it we must confirm it with the Word of God!  That is witnessing and confessing at its best!  That is employing The Great Commission!  That is winning souls.  CONFESSING CHRIST IS PROCLAMAITION!  WITNESSING FOR CHRIST IS CONFIRMATION!

Acts 1:8 is very significant!  The coming of the Holy Spirit!  WHO SAW THE RESURRECTION?  NOBODY!  They saw an empty tomb, but no one saw him rise inside the tomb!   EVEN THE APOSTLES HAD TO BELIEVE!  The Great Commission says some still doubted! (Mt 28:16-20)  The Apostles were a select group of men that ate, drank, and spoke with Jesus for 40 days after his resurrection!  (Acts 10:39-41) Paul didn’t witness this happen either!  That’s why in (Acts 13:30,31) he says “he appeared to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem.”  

They didn’t see the resurrection just like you and I!  However, they did know the difference between confessing and witnessing!  They had a goal of witnessing to everyone they saw!  Look at the result of their witnessing “the Lord added to the church day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47) 

THE CHURCH TODAY SHOULD HAVE THE SAME GOAL!

Have a red letter day,

Chad