SOME OF MY STRONGEST BELIEFS IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
I believe that the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount gives the best formula for bringing peace with our neighbors. He said in Matt. 5:[43] Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. [44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
I believe further that God would be greatly pleased if everyone on the face of the earth would be saved. See 2 Peter 3:[9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any of them should perish.
Jesus said in Luke 15:[4] What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? . . . . [7] I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
See the words of Jesus in Luke 18:[9] And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: [10] Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. [11] The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. [12] I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. [13] And the publican, 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. [14] I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
I be¬¬-lieve that many who claim to be followers of Christ are trying to save themselves by doing good works. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Timothy Keller in his book, THE REASON FOR GOD [Belief in an Age
of Skepticism] wrote that, "Good works may produce a great deal of
moral behavior in your life, but inside you are filled
with self-righteousness, cruelty and bigotry [like the Pharisee above.] You are always comparing yourself to other people and are never sure you are
being good enough - by trying to be a good person through an act of will. You need a complete transformation of the very motives of your heart."
I understand that the scribes and Pharisees in the lifetime of Jesus had over 600 individual laws that they claimed to be following, but Jesus said in Matt. 22:37-40 that the law of righteousness was encompassed in the two great commandments to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves.
The Apostle Paul summarized it all in Rom. 7:[6] But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
If we TRULY REPENT of our past sins and believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God we will inherit everlasting life. But we must receive the Holy Spirit, which Jesus said our heavenly Father would surely give to everyone who asks Him for it.
Jesus said in Luke 1:13] If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
If we have truly repented, that Spirit will make it possible for us to bring forth some of the fruits of the Spirit - see Gal. 5:[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. [24] And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. [25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
If we have received the Holy Spirit and are willing to follow His guidance, we will all make many mistakes as we grow in our knowledge of the truth, but John tells us in 1 John 1:[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
My precious wife, Celia, inspired me to add the following verses as some of my favorite passages in the Bible:
James 3: [17] But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Phillipians:4: [11] Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.[12] I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.[13] I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Jer. 29:[13] And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Best wishes to all who are seeking to know the will of God, AND ARE SEEKING TO DO IT,
Bob Prince; Midland, NC rprin47@gail,com
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