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We just finished celebrating the incredible miracle of God becoming man, and I was reminded by a missionary friend about something Philip Yancey had wrote about the incredible day that; although He existed in the form of God...He emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, and being made in the likeness of men..." Phillip Yancey was looking at his aquarium when he pondered the great Gift God gave us, Himself as a man. This is what he wrote about his thoughts on God's incarnation when he stepped into man's sandals...... “I learned about incarnation when I kept a...

There are some people who think that if you join a religion, you'll go to heaven with the crowd. This is a very narrow gate. This is like a turnstile, admitting only one person at a time. It is exclusive from the start. It is intensely personal. It is not a group experience. It doesn't happen to everybody who joins a church, or everybody who is baptized, or everybody who is in a family of quote/unquote "Christians." It isn't something you inherit from your parents or your grandparents. It isn't something you sign up for along with another person. It...

For the second time in 10 days, Protestant history was made in Vietnam yesterday when 12,000 people gathered for a Christmas rally here.

There are plenty of people today who don't believe in the Bible's teaching on everlasting punishment, even those who do find it an unreal and a remote concept. In 2003 a research group discovered 64% of Americans expect to go to heaven when they die, but less than 1% think they might go to hell. Not only are there plenty of people today who don't believe in the Bible's teaching on everlasting punishment, even those who do find it an unreal and a remote concept. Nevertheless, it is a very important part of the Christian faith, for several reasons. 1....

"What must I do to be saved!?" "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household." (Acts 16:31) "...Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?... If you would enter life, keep the commandments." Matthew 19:15-17 Notice the two different answers. One asks about salvation ... which means he sees his own desperate need and spiritual bankruptcy. The second question asks about what to do to get something? Jesus answers with the requirement of perfect obedience to God's Law. As Luther said, the law is for the proud and the gospel for...

Jn.3:3 - ...Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. A definite and non-compromising statement straight from the lips of the Incarnate Word of God Himself. Jesus did not say you must be white, or you must be black, or you must be red, or you must be yellow. He did not say you must be intelligent, or you must be uneducated, or you must be heavy, or you must be skinny. The Lord did not say you must be Baptist, or you must be Catholic, or you must be Hindu, or you must be...

When people see us, they need to see the Christ Spirit in us. This cannot be if we separate ourselves from God as miserable sinners. That is self righteous hypocrisy. People saying they do what they want because they are miserable sinners. That is saying sin is God's fault. Jesus called us to be one in Christ. John 17:20-23. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. That they all may be one; as thou, Father, are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in...

Some time after the conflict, Fuchida came upon the testimony of a young Christian woman. Her mother and father had been killed by the Japanese. That war had swept away her parents’ lives.

VATICAN CITY — Homosexuals and transsexuals "will never enter the kingdom of heaven", a leading Roman Catholic cardinal said on Wednesday. Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan said that while the Church regarded homosexuality as an "insult to God", this did not justify discrimination against gay and transsexual people. "Transsexuals and homosexuals will never enter the kingdom of heaven and it is not me who says this, but Saint Paul," the cardinal said, in comments reported by the Ansa news agency. "People are not born homosexual, they become homosexual, for different reasons: education issues or because they did not develop their own...

On the night Campbell elected the youngest openly gay mayor in America, hundreds rallied in Vallejo to protest their mayor following his remarks about gays and heaven. Demonstrators bearing rainbow flags and signs outside Vallejo City Hall Tuesday night directed their ire at Osby Davis for his comments in a New York Times' article about the growing political clout of Evangelicals. Davis, who narrowly (and we mean narrowly) defeated gay rival Gary Cloutier in 2007, told Scott James that those pearly, beatific gates would remain shut for gays. "... they are in fact committing sin and that sin will keep...

Growing up in evangelicalism, I was one of those kids who felt mediocre at meetings where ex-drug addicts gave their "testimony" of suddenly losing their craving for LSD. My grandmother used to speak of two groups of Christians: those who were "saved" and those who were "gloriously saved." Everything a good, clean Baptist youth is supposed to be, I didn't "dance, drink, smoke or chew, or go with girls who do." So unimpressive was my testimony that I did not even remember the day I was "saved." That, of course, was a problem...a big one. From time to time, I...

Have you ever given it much though about the phrase, “Lift Christ up with Praise�? Quite often you will here a pastor use this phrase as he instructs you to give glory to God though His Son. But have you ever really consider what the phrase means to you and and the significance of it? Give me a moment of your time and allow me to introduce you to something very few Christians have actually ever considered when hearing this phrase, “Lift Christ up with Praise�. Most people know the verse John 3:16 , many have even memorized it....

ChristiaNet.com, the world's largest Christian portal with nine million monthly page loads, recently asked, "Can salvation be lost?" Bill Cooper, president of ChristiaNet, states, "I believe our focus should be on spreading the Gospel and gaining new salvations." Out of 1,200 Christians surveyed, 54% believed that Christians can not lose their salvation. Some surveyed in this group felt that, "Once you have accepted Jesus, no one can pluck you out of His hand." One poller responded, "I am kept by the power of Christ not my own works." "It is a free gift from God. There is nothing we did...

Hal Lindsey answers how do you know if you are saved and explains what an EMP attack is. Is that a great combo or what?

We seem to be in an era when it seems God's wrath is about to increase upon this world because the world has turned to man instead of God to correct it's mistakes. There is not one person in the whole world that is not a sinner. However, those of us who have a right relationship with God, and receive His forgiveness, and walk in His ways are described as righteous (Gen.6: 9) and blameless (Job 1:1); (Ps 18:20-24). This is not because we are free from sin, but because the true direction of our lives is to serve and...

Go Back to the Purgatory ProjectHELL EXISTS AND WE MIGHT GO THERE!by Father Marcel Nault [Father Marcel Nault, 1927 - 1997. On Easter Sunday, March 30,1997 at12:00 noon, Father Marcel Nault was called from this earthly life untothe God whom he had loved and. served with zealous devotion. Born onMarch 3, 1927 in Montreal Quebec, his was a relatively late vocation. Hewas ordained to the diocesan priesthood on March 4, 1962 the day afterhis 35th birthday.] The following is a speech given by Father Marcel Nault to the WorldCatholic Bishops Fatima Peace Conference in Fatima, Portugal in 1992.This speech made such...

The passing of Senator Edward Kennedy was truly the end of an era. He had been extolled as the "lion of the Senate." Understandably, given the impact of his life, the news media were filled with stories about Kennedy, his family, his trials and tribulations and his contributions. I was most surprised to read that a month before his death Senator Kennedy had written a letter to Pope Benedict XVI, which was delivered to him by President Obama. As a practicing Catholic, I took great interest in Kennedy's thoughts about his Catholicism at the end of his life.

Known as the “City of Brotherly love”, this earthquake prone city was the home of this faithful church. Founded by the Pergamon King Attalos II, for his brother Eumenes, this city often changed its name during various times of its history, depending upon what ruler the inhabitants wanted to honor. The name Philadelphia was a reflection of the love and commitment that Attalus II showed to his elder brother Eumenes who ruled throughout Lydia before him. Thus, the “City of Brotherly Love”. Attalos wanted his new city to be a center for the Greco- Roman civilization, this way he could...

During the days of Abraham people believed that their lives were governed by powerful spirits gods. So they made models of these spirit gods out of gold and silver – and these gods were given names and the people were fearful of these gods, and made sacrifices to them. They thought that by making animal sacrifices, and in some instances, virgin child sacrifices that these gods would be pleased and bring forth a good harvest. The people that God talked to Abraham about in Genesis 12 however would be different. These people would not have idol gods, or spirits, or...

Major American Jewish groups say their relationship with Roman Catholic leaders is at risk because of a recent statement by U.S. bishops' on salvation and evangelizing. Jewish leaders say that they interpret the bishops' new document as a plan to evangelize Jews during interfaith dialogue. Jews say they can't participate in a dialogue under those conditions. The bishops had issued the declaration in June. They said that the church doesn't evangelize Jews but will invite them to the faith when it's appropriate. The Jewish protest was made Thursday by the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, and rabbis

Focusing on the needs in Uganda the International Mission Board, the sending arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, sends missionaries for two years through their Journeyman Program. The Journeyman, such as Chris Bosson, shadow a church and primarily start new churches and equip them with everything from food, medical care, to Bible resources. Chris Bosson's time was spent ministering to the youth in villages by showing the Jesus Film, leading youth Bible conferences, and teaching a weekly youth Bible Study out of his home. This weekly Bible Study-Crossover continues today under Pastor Enoch Kategaya's oversight.

PROVO, Utah -- Mormons are sometimes thrown off by the question, "Are you saved?" This is, in part, because members of the LDS Church have a different idea of what "saved" means. Ted M. Bair, a retired Church Educational System teacher, explained to a class at BYU's Campus Education Week on Thursday, Aug. 20, not only how to be saved, but also showed that several Christian religions have different ideas of how people are saved. Bair said there are three general ways that other Christian religions think about being saved. 1. We are saved by grace no matter what. You...

Rainbow colours, glorious, Melt into scenic views— Radiant through softened glow, Creating all things new. Freshness lingers past the rain, Embracing nature’s charm— God’s vibrant promises still proclaimed With tender hues of calm. Sunbeams gently stroke my face, And Heaven’s warmth abides— My spirit yearns for His embrace And peace His touch provides.

Beautiful flowers by the pulpit In such a magnificent array Bring back to me, old memories Of another time, of bygone days It was here that I first heard the word Preached so many different ways The once new varnished pulpit Now like me, weathered and aged It was here that I had first believed And here I accepted the Lord It was at this altar by the pulpit Where we prayed in one accord

Isaiah, the Fifth Evangelist by OneVikeIn today's message, I would like to broaden your understanding of the book Christ read from while in the synagogue of His home town, Luke_4:16-30 so that you may better appreciate the book written by the Fifth Evangelist. While Isaiah is the most often quoted prophet in the New Testament, his book can be as obscure as it is interesting. Even many Christians will admit they know very little about the book and what it has to offer for their walk with Christ. Other than being familiar with a few famous passages that foretold the...

God created man that he might possess his Creator forever in the beatific vision. Those who die in the state of enmity toward God are deprived of this happiness. Between these extremes are people who are neither estranged from God nor wholly dedicated to Him when they die. What will be their lot after death? The response of faith is that nothing defiled can enter heaven (Rev 21:27), and therefore anyone less than perfect must first be cleansed before he can be admitted to the vision of God. If this doctrine of Catholicism is less strenuously opposed than the...

On Speaking Ill of the Dead A bit of advice to my fellow conservatives: Do not speak ill of the dead. I think you know to whom I refer, do you not? A second bit of advice to my fellow Christians: Do not speak ill of the dead. Let us suppose that you are a wretched man, recently died under unseemly circumstances, whose life was made all the more wretched by fame. Oh? Do we not believe fame brings wretchedness? It brings its own temptations and its own sorrows that we private people, we happily private people never hunted by...

Episcopal presiding bishop terms individualistic salvation 'heresy' By Bob Allen Thursday, July 09, 2009 ANAHEIM, Calif. (ABP) -- The presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church called the evangelical notion that individuals can be right with God a "great Western heresy" that is behind many problems facing the church and the wider society. Describing a United States church in crisis, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori told delegates to the group's triennial meeting July 8 in Anaheim, Calif., that the overarching connection to problems facing Episcopalians has to do with "the great Western heresy -- that we can be saved as individuals,...

I was looking at a Free Republic post Is There Salvation Outside The Catholic Church which incurred an astounding reaction among Freepers. You won't see that kind of post in Huffington or Kos. I am a former Catholic, now merely and simply a nondenominational "Christian" not bound, or aided by Protestantism or Catholicism. I received an excellent education in parochial grade and high schools, was an altar boy, and like most boys in the 1950's I was steered toward Catholic seminary. I did not go. Again, my parochial education, except for some of the doctrines, gave me an advantage in...

Many Catholics just don’t know what to say when someone asks them whether they are saved. As Catholics, we're vaguely familiar with "saved" language. We don't usually ask someone, "Are you saved?" and when someone asks us this question, we often stutter and fumble for an answer. So how should we answer: "Are you saved?" Constantly. We are constantly being saved by the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Why? Because salvation is dynamic, ongoing. It's a past, present, and future reality. Let me explain. Salvation is a past reality: We have been saved by the death of...

(John 3:16-18) What you believe does matter . . . FOR ETERNITY!!! In all of the intense media coverage after the death of pop superstar Michael Jackson, the one thing that has driven me crazy has been hearing over and over, often by high-profile Christians, that Michael is now at peace in Heaven. Really? I hear this same thing whenever a famous person dies, regardless of what they believed during their life, as well as from people when a family member or close friend dies, again, regardless of what they believed during their life. If this is true, then what...

Gospel superstar Andrae Crouch and his twin sister, Sandra, confirm meeting with Michael Jackson and praying and singing with him weeks before his death. Jackson, raised as a member of the Jehovah's Witness sect and reportedly a convert to Islam last year, sought out the Crouches for inspiration for his upcoming tour, for which he was unprepared, according to a report in Assist News Service. But while some blogs have reported that meeting led to a spiritual conversion by Jackson, the Crouches say they are not certain. "Not sure where that came from," said Sandra Crouch on her Facebook page....

Why does the Catholic Church teach that there is "no salvation outside the Church"? Doesn’t this contradict Scripture? God "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:4). "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). Peter proclaimed to the Sanhedrin, "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Since God intends (plans, wills) that every human being should...

TO THE BISHOPS, PRIESTS AND DEACONS, MEN AND WOMEN RELIGIOUS, AND ALL THE LAY FAITHFUL ON CHRISTIAN HOPE Introduction 1. “SPE SALVI facti sumus”—in hope we were saved, says Saint Paul to the Romans, and likewise to us (Rom 8:24). According to the Christian faith, “redemption”—salvation—is not simply a given. Redemption is offered to us in the sense that we have been given hope, trustworthy hope, by virtue of which we can face our present: the present, even if it is arduous, can be lived and accepted if it leads towards a goal, if we can be sure of...

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There are no spoilers in this review unless you haven't seen any of the Terminator movies. The first movie was released 25 years ago and if you haven't seen it you are probably not going to do so.

Salvation In the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the terms "saved" and "salvation" have various meanings. As used in Romans 10:9–10, the words "saved" and "salvation" signify a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ. Through this covenant relationship, followers of Christ are assured salvation from the eternal consequences of sin if they are obedient. "Salvation" and "saved" are also used in the scriptures in other contexts with several different meanings. Additional Information If someone were to ask if another person had been saved, the answer would depend on the sense in which the word is...

Saint John’s Gospel has left us an evocative account of the visit of Peter and the Beloved Disciple to the empty tomb on Easter morning. Today, at a distance of some twenty centuries, Peter’s Successor, the Bishop of Rome, stands before that same empty tomb and contemplates the mystery of the Resurrection. Following in the footsteps of the Apostle, I wish to proclaim anew, to the men and women of our time, the Church’s firm faith that Jesus Christ “was crucified, died and was buried”, and that “on the third day he rose from the dead”. Exalted at the...

The co-chairman of the Bilateral Commission of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and the Holy See is urging Pope Benedict to state publicly that Jews need not convert to Catholicism. Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen, who addressed the Synod of Bishops last October, writes: In the Second Vatican Council and the Nostra Aetate document, it was made clear that no efforts would be made by the Catholic Church to convert Jews. Rather, the Jewish people should continue the faith of its forefathers as expressed in the Bible and rabbinic literature. The Jewish people remain a people of God’s covenant, a people...

I was watching Sunday ABC News and the Salvation Army was the big sponsor for the newscast. They showed a commercial that was very touching. The Salvation Army is the greatest organization ever created! It is truly doing God's work. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90cfMSqAj0o&feature=related

A recent poll claimed that about half of all professing Christians don’t believe that Jesus is God, or that the Holy Spirit and Satan even exist. Smaller but still significant percentages don’t believe that Jesus lived a sin free life or that He is the only way to salvation. This has prompted questions about whether this means they aren’t really saved. I remembered an article on this subject that I wrote a number of years ago and in response to these questions I have updated and expanded it. I believe it will explain what you have to believe about Jesus...

by D. James Kennedy A.B., M.Div., M.Th., D.D., D.Sac.Lit., Ph.D., Litt.D., D.Sac.Theol., D.Humane Let. TEXT: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1 The most perfect speech ever uttered by mortal man was delivered on the battlefield of Gettysburg. It has been learned by unnumbered millions of children in school. It is actually an extended personification, where America is personified as a man who is conceived, born, dedicated, lives his life, engages in dangerous and perhaps mortal struggles, is born anew, and lives thereafter gloriously. Abraham Lincoln is immortal in the...

In the last blog post we looked at how important it is to really know the Christ of the Holy Scriptures. To some this might sound like a silly question, but it truly isn’t. Jesus is not a “relative thought,” or some figure based on any religious or personal philosophy. He is who He is and God’s Word, the Bible, reveals to us exactly who He is. In Jesus’ day, many were confused about who Jesus Christ was. Jesus asked his disciples, "Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am?" And they said, Some say that Thou...

Join Leland on Saturday 3/21 12p-2p in the plaza of the Robert F. Stevens Courthouse to peacefully demonstrate what a waste our tax dollars have become and to hold our elected officials accountable! Let's show our leaders that we're done with the "Stimulus" plan that only stimulates Government and the props up the unproductive, while stealing from the successful and punishing the achievers. Be a part of the New American Tea Movement that is growing in strength across the country! Bring you tea bags and your creative signs. We're calling for real tax cuts and expanding liberty. Let's send a...

1 Peter 1:3-9 (King James Version) 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7That the trial of your...

This question was put to me the other day over lunch by a close friend who I had not seen for a number of years. I hasten to add that he is not about to tell his wife this. They are both still Mormon. However, we had a great conversation about all kinds of things, and this question came up. I could tell he was moved by what we talked about in that regard, and so decided to record the essence of our conversation. Here are the guts of the essay for those who like short as opposed to long...

Gospel Library Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball“To Live with Him Someday”   Chapter 1: “To Live with Him Someday”, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball, (2006),1–10The only way we can find joy, truth, and fulfillment is to live in harmony with Heavenly Father’s plan.From the Life of Spencer W. Kimball Church members all over the world love the Primary song “I Am a Child of God,” with its simple but profound message of who we are, why we are on the earth, and what the Lord promises us if we are faithful. Sister...

In the 6000+ years of man’s history, the “pinnacle moment” is the Abomination of Desolation, the key event that will occur in the midst of the Tribulation (a terrible seven-year period that will mark the end of this age). It will be the time when the Man of Lawlessness (i.e., The Anti-Christ) will break his covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:27) and establish himself as Almighty God (Daniel 11:36-37, 2 Thess. 2:2-4, Rev. 13:14-15). He will demand total, absolute allegiance and worship (Rev. 13:16-18).

One of Connecticut’s most popular conservative radio talk show hosts, Jim Vicevich, uses many different Americana bumper music in his show’s rotation. One song in particular that Jim often uses - that absolutely blesses my heart - is by the Blue Grass Americana group named Cadillac Sky. The song is called Sinners Welcome. This song starts off with a soft vocal melody: One more night in the county jail Ain’t nobody gonna make your bail Behind these bars you’ll do your time Got yourself 25 to life. And the chorus: Sinners Welcome, No man denied Sinners Welcome, Save your soul...

John Witherspoon was not only a Founding Father, but in his roles as preacher and professor he taught and influenced many of the great men of the Founding era.On November 15, 1794, a 72-year-old Presbyterian preacher lay dying on his farm near Princeton, New Jersey. In some ways he may have welcomed death. His wife had died five years earlier, and for over two years he had been blind, so his associates had to lead him into the pulpit, where he still preached with his usual earnestness and perhaps with more than his usual solemnity and animation. Even though his...