Bible Verse of the Day

Matthew 21:22
"And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Too many questions on your mind about your faith?


Do I have Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord?
Sin is what separate us from God.  In Romans 3:23, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
In Romans 5:12-13, (12) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— (13) for before the law was given, sin was in the world.
And in 1 Corinthians 15:3-6, Paul said, (3) For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, (4) that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, (5) and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. (6) After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time,..
Jesus Christ is the ONLY WAY to God. In John 14:6, Jesus said, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
So, if you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, as it says in Romans 10:9, That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
 
I agree that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for our sins. Is this enough to have an eternal life with Christ?
Read the Bible. Meditate on it day and night. Put them into practice. Be a living sacrifice.
In Joshua 1:8, Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
In Matthew 7:21, Jesus said "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."
Therefore, we should not only hear and believe in His words, we should also put them into practice.
Be a living sacrifice. In Romans 12:1-2, (1) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. (2) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
and..
In John 1:6-7, (6) If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. (7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 

If Jesus will purify me from all of my sins, does it means I am without sin now?
In John 1:8-10,  John said, (8) If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

So how can I avoid committing a sin?
In 1 John 2:1-2, John said, (1) My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. (2) He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
In 1 John 3:9-10, (9) No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. (10) This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. 

How then are we justified? Is it by works?
It is righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, so that noone will boast with his works. For it is written in Romans 3:20-26, (20) Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. (21) But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. (22) This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, (23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (24) and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (25) God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— (26) he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus....(28) For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. 
 And in Ephesians 1:2-5, (1) As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, (2) in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. (3) All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. (4) But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, (5) made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

What is the unforgiveble sin?
In Matthew 12:32, Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?
 In Matthew 19:4-6, Jesus said, (4)...that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female,(5) and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh? (6) So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." 

But why then did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?
 In Matthew 19:8-9, (8) Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. (9) I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."  

Is it lawful for a divorced man/woman to re-marry?
In Luke 16:18, Jesus said, Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Also in Matthew 5:27-28, (27) You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery.(28) But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
But in 1 Corinthians 7:39, A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.
Therefore, only a widow/widower can remarry.

Of all the commandments, which is the most important?
In Matthew 22: 37-40, (37) Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.(38) This is the first and greatest commandment. (39) And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' (40) All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." 

I have kept all of God's commandments, What do I still lack?
 In Matthew 19:21, Jesus answered, If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. 

How can I receive the Holy Spirit?
In Acts 2:38, Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. And in Acts 20:21, I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
Therefore, these two pre-conditions for receiving God's His Spirit are repent and believe.

How is repentance achieved?
Repentance is not simple. It is not merely a declaration by simple assertion, "I have repented." Repentance is a gift from God just as much as one’s initial calling. We donot work for repentance. We must seek God and ask for repentance. This does involve a certain amount of genuine, heartfelt and fervent prayer—sometimes more than a little. It is not automatic and should never be treated as such. But neither must one unnecessarily agonize over it for a long time. God grants repentance to all who seek it with their whole heart, as David did in Psalm 51:10, Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

How would I know I have the gift of repentance?
Your outlook in life will be transformed from "get" way of life, to the "give" way of life. Your thinking becomes completely changed to a whole new way of looking at life. Your mind has turned from its own. You want to obey God and His commandments.  
It is the faith of Christ, not human faith, that has made this change in you. Therefore, you are now a Christian who will live by faith in Jesus Christ.
But donot misunderstood. God does not owe you His Spirit because you have repented and exercised faith. The Holy Spirit is a gift as it is said in Acts 2:38, Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, as is repentance. In Epheisians 2:8-9, (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. So like salvation, God's Spirit is not earned by your works. Faith to believe is also a gift.

What does the Bible says about Marriage?
In 1 Corinthians 7,  (1) Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. (2) But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. (3) The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. (4) The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. (5) Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. (6) I say this as a concession, not as a command. (7) I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
(8) Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. (9) But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.  (10) To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. (11) But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
(12) To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. (13) And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. (14) For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
(15) But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. (16) How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
(17) Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. (18) Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. (19)Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts. (20) Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. (21) Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. (22) For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave. (23) You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. (24) Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.
(25) Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. (26) Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. (27) Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. (28) But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
(29) What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; (30) those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; (31) those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
(32) I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs—how he can please the Lord. (33) But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— (34) and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. (35) I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
(36) If anyone thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if she is getting along in years and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. (37) But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. (38) So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does even better.
(39) A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. (40) In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

For online Bible passages lookup, please go to  http://www.biblegateway.com/

Remember, the Truth, at first will make you miserable, but it will set you free.

God Bless us all!

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Thanks,
Lucy

Quote of the Day

To remember everyday

Never underestimate the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Everybody can make the impossible things happen in the name of the Lord.