The Bible is more about God, who he is and what he does.
It is not so much about what I do. It is not just a moral code.
Church was different yesterday. Half the churches cancelled because of a possible freezing rain. I think we had double what I expected. But, I had already planned a small group Bible study. Our people read this short chapter 5 times. Each time they would look to answer a word search question. I call this observation. Rather than forming opinions we just looked to see what we would find.
Who is in the chapter? What are the key words? Are there any commands or directives?
There is really only one thing we are told to do in this short chapter. Believe the truth. Trust God. That sums up God's good news for our part.
Another question. See what God does. What is God's part?
This next part really got me. Too many to count. I had to circle whole verses of things that God does in our lives.
Jesus did the work. God gives us everything we need. We just need to trust him.
I hope my preaching becomes an exact parallel to what God says in his Word. Life changes as we discover what God does in our lives. It becomes more about God, than about me. Be encouraged. God will do what he says he will do.
Just don't live to please your self. Less of my opinions and more understanding what God says and does.
We were reading Colossians 1.
I think I will remember this as one of my favorite Sunday mornings.
Monday, February 23, 2015
Monday, February 9, 2015
Do all religions lead to God?
All religions lead to the same God?
This is often said as an attempt at tolerance. At first it seems to be accepting all religions. But where is there a religion that accepts this?
Islam says that: Allah is the only true God, and that anyone who says Christ is the Son of God will be condemned (Qur'an 5:72, 9:30)
Jesus says in John 8:24 "That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I AM who I claim to be, you will die in your sins." Jesus is claiming to be God as he had just forgiven sins as if he was God. The religious people understood what he was doing.
To say all religions lead to God is intolerant of the Bible, Christ followers and Christianity. To say all religions lead to God, is not tolerant of any major religion.
To step back and claim that all religions are acceptable is not possible. It is like accepting right and wrong as the right way to live. No one can do both at the same time.
What we should say is that I respect the right for all people to seek God as they see fit. I am thankful for many who died for this right. I wish this were true around the world.
But, I will live by the teachings of Jesus Christ. He is the way the truth and the life. No one can make it to God except through Jesus Christ.
This is often said as an attempt at tolerance. At first it seems to be accepting all religions. But where is there a religion that accepts this?
Islam says that: Allah is the only true God, and that anyone who says Christ is the Son of God will be condemned (Qur'an 5:72, 9:30)
Jesus says in John 8:24 "That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I AM who I claim to be, you will die in your sins." Jesus is claiming to be God as he had just forgiven sins as if he was God. The religious people understood what he was doing.
To say all religions lead to God is intolerant of the Bible, Christ followers and Christianity. To say all religions lead to God, is not tolerant of any major religion.
To step back and claim that all religions are acceptable is not possible. It is like accepting right and wrong as the right way to live. No one can do both at the same time.
What we should say is that I respect the right for all people to seek God as they see fit. I am thankful for many who died for this right. I wish this were true around the world.
But, I will live by the teachings of Jesus Christ. He is the way the truth and the life. No one can make it to God except through Jesus Christ.
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