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Sanctification vs. Justification

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        Sanctification and justification are two terms that are easy to confuse, yet they both play vital roles in the life of a Christian.         Let's start with justification. Justification is the act of God whereby humankind is accounted free from guilt of penalty of sin. For Christians, this starts when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, and what He has done. His sacrifice then covers our sin, and we are justified and made holy. Being holy doesn't mean we aren't sinful, but that all your sins, past present and future are already paid for, and you don't have to accept the consequences.         Sanctification begins after justification. While your sins have been covered by the blood of Christ, Christians are called to be transformed by the renewing of their minds, into the image of Christ.  Romans 6:1-2 says "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?" Thus, sanctif

Conglomeration of Thoughts and Quotes Part 2

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There aren't times in your life when you're just waiting; you're always on mission.  God is our one true comfort in any situation.  It's worth it to press pass resistance.  You say you have nothing in common with them, but they're heading towards hell just as fast as you were.  Everything you do for Christ will last forever. God isn't a tangible presence, but an all-encompassing presence.  The only way to be filled with the spirit is to empty myself of me.  sometimes we know the cost of everything and the value of nothing.  See the one and do something about it, instead of seeing the all and doing nothing.  "A belief, no matter how sincere, if not reflected, isn't a belief. It's a delusion." ~Kyle Idleman It's crucial to have hope and power beyond ourselves.  Don't focus on trying to change yourself, focus on God.  "True humility isn't thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less." ~C.S. Lew

Ripping the Curtain

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"And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split." ~Matthew 27:50-51         What is the significance of the curtain in the temple being torn in two at the death of Jesus?         The curtain was huge, 6-inches thick, and separated the Holy of Holies in the Temple. God dwelt there amongst His people, yet separated by this curtain. While it may seem like an unfair thing for a loving God to separate His presence thus from His people, it was actually amazingly caring that He allowed the High Priest to enter once a year and intervene for the people. God is the very essence of Holiness, and we the people are as far from perfect holiness as the east is from the west. Being holy, God couldn't come into contact with a filth-ridden people, but because He cared He allowed His presence in the Holy of Holies. If anyone, including the Hig

Conglomeration of Thoughts and Quotes

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  God is like the focus mechanism on binoculars, without it pretty much everything is out of focus.  "He who prays as he ought will endeavour to live as he prays." ~John Owen While reading the Bible is beneficial, and indeed critical to the Christian walk, it is not the sole determinate of the strength of your relationship with God.  You can't live for Him without living with Him.  "Interpretation without application is abortion." ~Dr. Howard Hendricks If you wait till you 'feel' like it to change, you will never change.  "Our best havings are wantings." ~C.S. Lewis Live like someone died for you.  "If therefore anybody is lost, the blame is theirs, but if anybody is saved, the credit is God's." ~John Stott Hell is the most just place in all creation.  God's grace not only forgives us, but also transforms us.  "Dreams don't work unless you do." ~John Maxwell "At the day of judgement, we shall

Jesus in Isaiah

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For he grew up before him like a young plant,      and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,      and no beauty that we should desire him. 3   He was despised and rejected by men;      a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces      he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4   Surely he has borne our griefs      and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken,      smitten by God, and afflicted. 5  But he was pierced for our transgressions;      he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,      and with his wounds we are healed. 6   All we like sheep have gone astray;      we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him      the iniquity of us all. ~Isaiah 53:2-6         Isaiah ministered as a prophet in Jerusalem during the reign of four different kings, from c. 739-686 B.C.; Jesus was born a

What is Prayer?

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              What is prayer? Prayer isn't about us and what we get out of it or even about helping others. I've heard many times from people that you should try to pray less for yourself and more for others. So is that what prayer is about?          Let's pretend that you're a man named Billy and you live in a kingdom with a king who is willing to meet with you at any time. You go see him maybe once or twice a day. When you go, you say "Hey, how's it going?" no pause "So I have some issues, my wife's sick, one of my cows are lost, and my kids won't behave. Also my friend Joe has some financial troubles. So if you would help us out, that would be awesome. So thanks, bye, see you later, and you're pretty cool I guess."         Let's be honest. In this scenario, when you're in and out in less than three minutes, you don't really care about the king at all. It's all about you and 'Joe' and what the king can d

7 Attributes of False Teachers

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Reject or add to parts of the Bible. "All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17) The Bible warns in both Proverbs 30:5-6 (Do not add to His words lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar) and  Revelations 22:18-19 that His scripture is not to be added to or taken from, for it is breathed out by God in divine revelation. So if one proclaimed to know God and boasts a revelation for additions or subtractions from the bible, he lies.       Don't stay within the Church "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us." (I John 2:19) If someone is a true Christian, they will stay within the body of Christ, His church. If someone leaves the church and t