Marriage Advice From A Christian Perspective Toggle navigation 7 Types of Fights Every Couple Has and How to Solve Them Sue Schlesman Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer 2020 27 May You’re at it again. A simple conversation. A teasing remark. An instruction. Venting after work. And somehow, you and your spouse (or significant other) are locked into a knock-out round that leaves you weepy, angry, or unsettled for the rest of the day. You’re not sure how a comment or observation ignited into such a big fire. Like oxygen to flames, your friendly critique or sarcastic response has created a problem that’s not easily extinguished. What should you do and how can you avoid fighting with the person you love the most? Here’s a simple strategy: Adjust your tone (Are you mad? Unkind? Disrespectful? Take a time-out and try later.) Redefine your goal (Are you trying to win?) Identify the triggers (We all push other people’s buttons, sometimes on purpose) Talk about your problem, not the other person’s problem (Use “I feel” statements, not “You ….”) If your tone is disrespectful or rude, it doesn’t matter what the topic is or who’s to blame. You’re going to fight. If your goal is to win every conversation, you’re going to fight a lot or shut down your spouse emotionally. (If you’re married to an avoider, you’re going to get the silent treatment.) It’s helpful to identify the potential landmines if you want to avoid verbal insults and emotional manipulations. Be aware that most of us fight around these 7 topics. Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Deagreez 1. Time Generally, we have opinions about how our spouses spend their time, when they’re with us and not with us, particularly in when trust has been broken. Usually, our opinions relate back to us: Am I getting enough attention? Does he/she prefer time with other people over me? Are we doing things together that we both enjoy or just that one of us enjoys? Are we splitting our time evenly between work, play, and family? The conflicts we have about time reflect deeper problems and insecurities (for example: jealousy, low self-image, materialism, ambition, and selfishness). In order not to fight about working late hours, missing family gatherings, or going out with friends, every couple needs to discover their emotional need regarding time and attention. You need to discuss it. One of you might require a lot of quality time while the other doesn’t. If that’s the case, a 50/50 split of time is not necessary, but a different kind of attention is needed. Talk through what you both expect and how it makes you feel when you don’t receive the attention you need. Give grace in areas that don’t matter. Avoiding or resolving arguments requires a couple things: 1) Put your spouse first. That doesn’t mean he/she “wins” the argument; it means you value him/her over winning the argument. 2) Decide on a win/win outcome for every discussion. If you can’t agree, wait and pray about the decision. Most decisions can wait longer than you think they can. 3) Always confess and ask forgiveness when you’re a jerk. Own it, ask forgiveness, and change. Photo Credit: Pexels/JÉSHOOTS 2. Money Many of us couples have differing beliefs about how to spend, save, give, and invest. You and your spouse may have different opinions about how much you should pay for something or how to shop for things. It’s wise to talk through all purchasing and saving goals early in marriage to learn how the other person treats money. Couples entering marriage with huge credit card debt or student loans bring a lot of stress into the relationship and on your whole family; learning to stay out of debt and prioritize paying down debt is integral to handling money together without fighting. Also, you need to talk about saving for the future to lessen your money-related stress. While couples often have their own careers and spending money, it’s probably unwise to keep all your accounts and belongings separate, as if you are roommates rather than a married couple. The process of merging “mine” and “yours” is a critical part of becoming one. This act will require vulnerability, humility, and selflessness–but will make your marriage that much stronger as a result. Yes, merging everything (especially money) invites difficult discussions, but keeping everything separate fosters a separate-but-equal mentality in the marriage, forging a comfortable pathway for competition, pride, and even divorce. If you have debt and spending problems, seek out a financial advisor and develop a plan to manage your money responsibly. The positive momentum will reduce your conflicts over money, and the overall stress of your relationship. Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/vladans 3. Parenting Our childhoods and our parents form the framework for how we parent our own children. Unless you married someone with a nearly-identical family culture, you will naturally approach many parenting dilemmas differently. For instance, you may have had a very strict upbringing that in some ways you resent, so your parenting style may be more carefree. But your spouse may have craved the attention and guidance that rules bring if they lived in a too-lax home, so they may wish to lay down the law. It’s important to recognize that differences exist so you can work towards being on the same page, rather than expecting it to just happen. It’s also essential to recognize that your children will also learn quickly who to approach to get what they want. It’s important to check with one another or you will end up arguing about decisions before and after they’re made. Taking parenting classes together is helpful for getting you on the same page regarding discipline, training, and connection with your kids. It’s also helpful to become friends with other couples ahead of you in life stage whose marriage and parenting style you both admire. Watching people parent and watching how their kids react provides a phenomenal learning environment. It’s important to check with one another about how to handle tough discipline situations and keep the communication lines open if you have something you want to bring up, and vice versa. In parenting, being proactive always trumps being reactive; anticipate problem situations before they happen and talk about how you want to handle something. Photo Credit: ©Faith Life 4. Extended Family In-law relationships are not easy, even if your in-laws are lovely people. Every family has its own dynamic and culture, so it takes grace and intentionality to merge new worlds together. Again, the way you grew up will have a huge impact on your expectations for extended family. Maybe you’re used to your whole family gathering for days on end for holidays and vacations, using eachother’s things, or stopping by unannounced. But if your spouse did not grow up this way, they might interpret these actions as a crossing of boundaries, and might feel frustrated or unloved if you don’t help protect their boundaries. Or, another situation that may come up is what kind of say extended family has on your relationship. Maybe you want to include your parents or siblings in your private lives–like how many kids you want and when, or how to spend your money. But check with your spouse first, as they should have a say in who is involved in their marriage, too. If your extended family culture is toxic, dysfunctional, or invasive, you and your spouse will have to set up perimeters for prioritizing your marriage and your parenting while still showing respect and love to the family members in your lives. Learn to set loving boundaries with your extended family. “Blood deals with blood” is good rule of thumb in handling family communication and problems (especially early in the marriage, when parents are getting used to their kids being a unit apart from them). That means you communicate, decline, and confront your family members when needed, and your spouse does the same with his/hers. This prevents many additional problems with in-laws and reinforces the boundaries. Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Antonio Diaz 5. Friends Unless you and your spouse had the same friend group before you became a couple, you will have to adapt to your spouse’s friends and their spouses for the sake of your marriage. Some couples find it difficult to form couple friend groups where everyone “clicks.” One of the beautiful things about the church body is learning to love and support people who are different from you. Often, we don’t form these types of friendships as single people, but we are forced to do so as married people. Learning to make new couple-friends is an important part of married life. This doesn’t mean that you’re forced to become best friends with all of your spouse’s friends–but if they’re important to your spouse, it should be important for you to get to know them. If you know that one of your friends is not your spouse’s favorite person in the world, be considerate of that. Don’t cut them out of your life of course–there’s no growth in that–but do include your spouse in on the decision of how much time that friend might spend at your house, etc. You might have to have honest (but respectful) conversations about each other’s friends, especially if a friend has a toxic relationship with your spouse. Find married friends who share the same values as you and your spouse do. Church groups are a great place to find these kinds of friends. Start having people over or going out together until you begin forming friendships as couples. You will need these in the days ahead. Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Antonio Guillem 6. Intimacy Authentic intimacy leads to good sex, and good sex is dependent on intimacy. However, many marriages lack either or both important bonding tools. Today, many couples enter marriage with emotional baggage from abuse, previous sexual activity, insecurity, and pornography—all of which hurts intimacy in marriage. Do the spiritual and emotional work of self-care so that you can love your spouse unimpeded by fear, guilt, or comparison. As hard as this work is, it is so necessary to have a healthy marriage well beyond physical intimacy. Talk to your spouse about what helps them to feel loved and connected, and share your needs vulnerably in turn. And, just as importantly, ask them what makes them feel unloved. If cleaning your dirty kitchen alone after dinner while your spouse watches TV is an intimacy killer for you, your spouse needs to know that! Without giving time, attention, and kindness to one another, both intimacy and sex will disappoint. Make it a priority to talk to one another before or after dinner without distraction—catch up on the day, talk through your day, and discuss problems you are facing together. Then give yourself time to be together in the evening before you go to bed. Intentionally making time to decompress early in the evening will keep you from fighting when you’re tired, as well as facilitate a loving environment when you climb in bed. You sleep better when you haven’t had a heavy conversation when you’re lying down. Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Goroden Koff 7. Faith If you and your spouse have different faith backgrounds or vary in your perspective about church involvement or affiliation, you might find yourself disagreeing regularly about which church to attend, how involved you should be, or if you should attend at all. We can also easily judge or criticize one another for the personal way we practice faith: reading, listening to music, going to Bible study or small group, serving, giving. All of these avenues for faith provide a possible platform for argument. Ask a lot of questions about church and faith background when you’re dating, and don’t assume you can change someone’s mind after you get married. (You won’t.) Decide what theology and church practice are non-negotiable to you and choose accordingly. Marriage pushes us to adapt and concede in many areas; faith is often one of them (what kind of concession is critical to your own spiritual growth). Here are a few important questions when it comes to disagreeing about faith: Are you willing to leave your faith to keep peace in your home? Are you willing to pray and give grace when you disagree? What does God require of you as a married believer? Is your spouse asking/demanding that you disobey Scriptural practices and theology? Arguments evolve from pride and stubbornness. Discussions evolve from mutual respect. It is always more important in your marriage to prioritize how you disagree over what you’re disagreeing about. Even if the issue at hand is critically important, you can’t resolve the conflict if you can’t conduct a civil conversation. Learn to conduct disagreements where you both feel validated and loved, no matter what decision you make. Sue Schlesman is a Christian author, speaker, English teacher, and pastor’s wife. She has a BA in Creative Writing and a Master’s in Theology & Culture. Her second book Soulspeak: Praying change into unexpected places is a Selah Award finalist. Sue’s material appears in a variety of print, online, radio, and podcast mediums. She has a passion for missions, social justice, traveling, reading, and the local church. You can find her writing about life, education, family, and Jesus at sueschlesman.com. Photo Credit: ©Getty Images Drink This Before Bed, Watch Your Body Fat Melt Like Crazy Healthier Living Club Sponsored by Revcontent Find Out More > 18,098 NEXT: 5 Things You Need to Know about Your Wife About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Crosswalk App Do Not Sell My Info (CA Only)
Skin Color Should not Matter
Toggle navigation Search Browse The Bible Toggle Dropdown Search The Bible Find it! 4 Reasons Skin Color Doesn’t Matter to God (and it Shouldn’t Matter to You) Bible / Bible Study / Topical Studies / 4 Reasons Skin Color Doesn’t Matter to God (and it Shouldn’t Matter to You) Kristen Terrette | Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer Saturday, May 30, 2020 Share Tweet Save The gospel of Jesus Christ is Good News for everyone. So Christians, those who’ve accepted Jesus’ free gift of salvation, hold no preconceived notions about different groups of people. We’re not judgmental, or racist, or prejudiced against people who look different. Right? I challenge us to spend one day intentionally recognizing our first thought about every person we come across. When we pass those who don’t look like us in a parking lot, car, or on an elevator, what thought pops into our heads? This small test will effectively point out where our prejudices are. I know, because it showed me mine. Without a doubt, I believed: the Gospel was for all and also that I wasn’t a part of the problem with racial divides But I was. I fight predetermined perceptions every day, challenging labels I’ve placed on people without even knowing it. We all have them. Stereotypes and judgments based on appearance are everywhere and usually begin at a very young age because of our upbringing and environment. I hope to do my part in stopping this in future generations, because God doesn’t care about skin colors and here are four reasons why: 1. God never mentions a group’s skin color in the Bible. Yes, you read that right. Check it out for yourselves. People groups are identified by where they’re from geographically, their language, or their family line, but never by the color of their skin. God never makes mistakes, so I can only assume this is intentional and strategic. He never wanted us to classify groups of people by the amount of pigmentation in their skin. We did that all on our own, even going so far as listing either black or white as options on standardized tests. A person’s complexion is only mentioned a few times, and even then these are cosmetic characteristics and do not indicate God’s favoritism or cursing on them. An example is the term “ruddy” which is used to describe Esau, David, and Solomon. Ruddy is reddish in tone, meaning healthy, fresh, or clear in appearance, but it is also used to indicate the tanning of skin. In my opinion, this only lends more credibility to the idea that God doesn’t care about skin colors, because a tan appearance falls right in the middle of our human skin color ranges of very fair or white to very dark or black. Solomon tells of his love, an individual, not a group, as being dark, and yet this refers to the darkening of skin that occurs from sun exposure, which happens to every type of skin pigmentation. “White” is used to describe someone with leprosy, and “bronze” is used to describe Jesus in the book of Revelation. It’s embarrassing, really, that we’ve made a cosmetic feature, much like that of a powder or eye shadow, a dividing factor instead of looking to the Bible’s example and not caring about this at all. 2. God loves diversity. There are between 25,000 and 35,000 genes in every human cell and up to forty trillion cells in the human body! Somewhere between 100 to 378 genes are involved in the production of melanin—the pigment responsible for skin color. Even when we use the highest number, it is tiny compared to the amount of genes in every cell. And this same melanin also determines our hair and eye color. God, in His perfectness, put together a formula, so small it can only be realized under high efficiency microscopes, just to create variety in His prized creation. It was no accident He orchestrated us in such a way that every human is unique. He programmed the genes from which all our variations come within Adam and Eve, the first humans. This was what He wanted. So all ethnic identities—every shade—highlights God’s desire for beauty in diversity. The light brown skin of the Native, Hispanic, Latino, or Middle Eastern cultures? Yes. The dark brown of North African cultures? Yes. The fair skinned Norwegian or Japanese cultures? Yes. Every ethnicity is the beautiful handiwork of God’s creative mind. His abundance of creativity pushes beyond our human understanding. His very character is creative, so He cannot go against it. Diversity is God being His creative self, showing off to the world. A variety of skin colors gives Him glory for the vastness of His imagination! And we don’t have to look solely at humans to see evidence of this. Diversity is found in all of His creation. Trees. Flowers. Birds. Horses. Dogs. All glorify God. So variety, in skin color and all throughout the earth, should be celebrated. 3. We were created in God’s image. You know the verse. “So God created mankind is his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 Everyone has an image. Social media is a relatively new way we display this to the world. If I want to be viewed as a devoted mother, I could show images of me making a homecooked meal, toting kids to various practices, or watching their extracurricular activities on Facebook. If I want to be depicted as a godly woman, I may share blog articles on my Savior, or post a pic on Twitter of me attending church. If I wanted to show off an image of wealth, I could post pictures of my expensive clothes and handbags, or the affluent resorts where I’d vacationed on Instagram. Now, these are random images we could attempt to project, but this concept has helped me understand this verse more accurately. Mankind is made in the image of God. So what’s God’s image? We can go on and on about this, and I am no theologian, but I do know God is all loving, moral, creative, and reasonable. He has a perfect will, intellect, and emotions. He has authority and dominion over all. So if we reflect His image, then we, too, have these things at some level. Humans are able to love, make moral choices, think creatively, and use reason to evaluate decisions. We also have free will in deciding how we live. We are intelligent and have feelings. We also hold authority over the creatures and other living things on earth. All people are given this capacity. Our skin color does not determine your ability to reflect God’s image. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” So as we mature, we’re to continue reflecting more and more of Christ’s image by the way we live, and our skin colors don’t limit this. No one is disqualified of this special blessing. 4. God includes all parts of the world in His salvation work. “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God[,] persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.” Revelation 5:9 This verse is a vision where the “elders” and “living creatures” bow down and sing praise to the slain and resurrected Lamb (Jesus). Does it amaze you, as it does me, the lengths at which He went to include all here? God could have simply said, persons from “everywhere.” But, no. He specifically uses ways we categorize people by referring to “every tribe and language and people and nation.” He wanted to cover all in His Kingdom work. No one is beyond His reach. And there are many more verses where God includes all. Colossians 3:11 states, “Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” And Romans 10:12 says, “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” And notice what He leaves out. He does not categorize any of these groups by their skin color. Why? Because He loves every one the same. He made each beautiful and unique according to His infinite creative mind. As Christ-followers, we are called to be like Jesus, so we must work diligently to fight against labeling people by the color of their skin. Can you help to do your part while I work to do mine? Our following generations will be better for it if we do. Photo Credit: ©Getty Images Kristen Terrette cherishes her Southern roots and lives forty-five minutes outside of Atlanta, GA. She served as a Children’s Ministry Director for many years, and with the support of her husband and two children, she now stays home writing Christian fiction and non-fiction. She’s passionate about storytelling and helping people take their next steps in their relationship with Jesus. She also serves on the women’s leadership team at her local church and writes for Wholly Loved Ministries. You can check out her novels and articles at http://www.kristenterrette.com. 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What Does Second Peter 2:10
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Overcome Emotional Struggle s
LISTEN to Today’s Radio Broadcast from Tony Evans Overcome Emotional Struggles The battle to overcome your emotional struggles is a battle for your mind. If you are worrying, stressed out and depressed, it is because you are thinking things that are not true. In 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, Paul writes, “…for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” It is not our flesh that we fight but rather our minds and what Satan tries to do to our minds. One of Satan’s favorite strategies is to plant his thoughts in your mind so completely that you come to believe they are your thoughts, so you will begin to act on these thoughts. This strategy of Satan may get you to ask the question, “Well, how can I be blamed for acting on these thoughts if they are not mine?” Friend, you are not responsible for every thought that comes into your head. But you are responsible for how you act on it. This is why we are to take “every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). When a thought comes seeking to lure you deeper into worry, doubt, anger, hatred, shame or more, you have two choices. You can reject it, or you can adopt it and make it your own. When you reject these thoughts, you free yourself to focus on the Spirit. If you will set your mind on the things of the Spirit, you will have both life and peace. You will also have purpose, meaning and joy. With the Holy Spirit governing your thoughts, external circumstances do not dictate your responses. If you want to overcome your emotional struggles, change your thoughts. If you seek to be set free from that which holds you hostage, then set your mind on God’s truth. For His kingdom, WATCH Discover the prescription for a pandemic in this past Sunday’s sermon. Watch Now TODAY’S HOPEWORD FROM TONY SERMON APP Listen to powerful, encouraging sermons from Tony Evans anytime and anywhere. The Urban Alternative, PO Box 4000, Dallas, TX 75208, United States Unsubscribe Manage preferences
Be Still
Today’s Scripture “…But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!…” (2 Chronicles 20:17, NLT) Make Yourself be Still The Israelites were surrounded by a huge army and greatly outnumbered. They were so worried and stressed out. Just before they went to battle, they decided to pray. Notice God’s answer. If you will be still and remain at rest, God will turn it to victory. He is with you. He will vindicate you. When you feel overwhelmed and you’re tempted to take everything into your own hands, you have to make yourself be still. The battle is not yours. The battle is the Lord’s. As long as you’re fighting it, God is going to step back and let you do it on your own. But when you put it back in His hands, God will fight your battles. Now do your part and rest. Trust God’s timing. He knows what He is doing. You may not understand why something is taking so long, but sometimes God will delay an answer so He can show His power in a greater way. A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You for Your hand of protection upon my life. I choose to be still, to get quiet before You, and listen to You. Give me the grace to accept Your timing and rest in the fact that You’ve already scheduled things in for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” MIRACLES OUT OF MISTAKES 3 Inspiring Messages from Joel! Through this resource, you will be encouraged to move past regret and shame. Your mistakes don’t stop or cancel your purpose. Allow God to correct the complications and resolve the complex issues. OUR THANKS FOR A GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT REQUEST YOURS NOW! ► Follow Us This email is intended for hopkinsanthony33@gmail.com. To unsubscribe from this email list, click remove. To ensure delivery to your mailbox, please add devotional@goto.joelosteen.com to your address book of approved senders. View this email online. Share this email © 2020 Joel Osteen Ministries | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS OF USE
Who Wrote the last book of the Bible
Toggle navigation Search Browse The Bible Toggle Dropdown Search The Bible Find it! Who Wrote Revelation? Bible / Bible Study / Topical Studies / Who Wrote Revelation? Clarence L. Haynes Jr. | Contributing Writer Thursday, May 28, 2020 Share Tweet Save Revelation is the final chapter. It’s the book that closes out the Bible, the one book in the Bible that many people are afraid to read. I guess the many symbols and images can be overwhelming and somewhat scary. Ultimately when you understand the true meaning of the book – when you know whose side you are on – that fear will turn to joy and expectation. The goal today is not to give you a deep dive into the entire book, even though I will give you a brief synopsis. Today we want to look a little bit closer and learn more about the person who wrote Revelation. You will find the identity of the writer in Revelation 1:4. That person was John. Who Was John? In the New Testament, you just can’t say John wrote the book because there were a few important people named John in that time. The author of Revelation is the apostle John, or as he called himself the disciple whom Jesus loved. John is the author of five books in the New Testament: – The Gospel of John (this is where he identifies himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved) – 1 John – 2 John – 3 John – Revelation John was one of the twelve disciples, but he was also part of the “inner circle” along with Peter and James. They had the privilege of experiencing things with Jesus that the other disciples didn’t. One of the greatest of these happened when they were with Jesus on the mountain and saw his transfiguration. You can read about it in Matthew 17, Mark 9, and Luke 9. Interesting enough, even though John was an eyewitness to this event he chose not to write about it in his own gospel. Some scholars suggest that the influence of this event is not captured in one instance in John’s gospel account. They say it is a recurring theme that flows throughout his entire book. Nevertheless, this “inner circle” apostle is the same John who wrote Revelation. Where Did John Write Revelation? The book of Revelation was written around AD 95. Prior to him writing the book, there was a time of tremendous persecution in the church. At this time, the ruling Roman emperor was Domitian. John was persecuted because he was fulfilling his mission, preaching the gospel and making disciples. As part of his persecution, he was exiled to the island of Patmos. He refers to this in the first chapter of Revelation: “I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 1:9). Patmos was a small penal colony to which John was banished. I guess this was the emperor’s method of trying to shut him down and silence him. What’s interesting to note is that in this place of exile and banishment, God gave him this great revelation. It is just a reminder that your circumstances don’t limit God from using you or revealing truth to you. God is greater than your circumstances. How Did John See the Things Written in Revelation? Early in chapter 1 of the book we discover the way John wrote the book. Surprisingly, it came by revelation (I guess naming the book wasn’t very difficult). Here is how it happened in John’s words: “On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: ‘Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea” (Revelation 1:10-11). John was caught up in the Spirit and he was instructed to write all the things he saw. He was creating a written record of the things God was about to reveal to him. I often wonder with many of the things he saw, how much his mind must have been blown. Unbeknownst to him, he was writing about things that would happen thousands of years into the future. What an incredible challenge. Imagine if you lived in the 1930’s and you had to describe at that time the internet, smartphones or even drones. What language would you use to describe that? What point of reference or imagery would you use to describe this flying spider looking thing. This was part of John’s challenge, describing things thousands of years into the future with language and references of the first century AD. Yet he succeeded because he was guided by The Holy Spirit, who I guess you could say is technically the one who wrote Revelation. How Can We Trust That John’s Visions Are Reliable? What’s very interesting about this book is that John has an encounter with Jesus again in the first chapter. Remember John had a very unique perspective of Jesus. He saw him in his natural form as a human; he also saw him transfigured and in all his glory. Let’s look at this encounter: “I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. ‘Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later” (Revelation 1:12-19). I believe that when John saw this vision of Jesus, his mind went back to that mountaintop experience. I believe the combination of being caught up in the spirit and this encounter with Jesus gave John the confidence to write, and more importantly gives us the confidence to believe what he wrote. What Is the Message of Revelation? The message of Revelation is a simple one with a lot of challenging symbolism. The message is about what is to come. John is writing in two spaces: what was happening then and what would happen in the future. The book gives a picture of what will happen as we close the doors on human history as we know it and we look forward with anticipation to Jesus’ second coming. John describes in detail a period of tribulation that will come upon the earth, that will be unmatched when compared to any other time in human history. He gives us insight into the events that will take place leading up to the very moment when Jesus again returns as he promised he would do. What John also describes is what happens after that, and then ultimately the judgement of Satan and all who choose not to follow Christ. Finally, he ends with the beauty of heaven and the wonderful things God has in store for those who love him. If there is one message that Revelation emphasizes I believe it’s found in chapter 22: “The angel said to me, ‘These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.’ ‘Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll” (Revelation 22:6-7). Jesus is coming soon. In light of this truth, the question that remains, that only you can answer, is how will you live your life? Knowing who wrote Revelation, the apostle John, knowing the message of Revelation that Jesus is coming soon, ask yourself now: What’s next? I mentioned earlier that the book of Revelation can be scary, depending on whose side you are on. If you are on Jesus’ side, here is good news – you win. This is a story that truly ends well for those in Christ. You have nothing to fear. God has nothing but the best planned for those who love him. When he comes that will be a glorious day. I pray that we would all labor for the cause of Christ until he comes. It will be worth it all in the end. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Design Pics Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a rising speaker, teacher, author and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. He has spent more than 30 years serving the body of Christ in various capacities and has just released his first book, The Pursuit of Purpose. If you have ever struggled trying to find God’s will, this book will help you discover the different ways God leads you into his perfect will. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com. Promoted Stories Ads by Revcontent Drink This, See Your Belly Fat Melt Insanely Throughout The Day Usa Healthy News 30 Second “Miracle Stretch” Leaves Chiropractors Baffled! 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Easy Power Plan Your Daily Verse – 2 Corinthians 3:17 – Inspirations Drink This, See Your Belly Fat Melt Insanely Throughout The Day Usa Healthy News Load More You may also like A Little Reminder From God – Girlfriends in God – May 3, 2019 Zephaniah 3:17 Pray Like Everything Depends on God – Encouragement for Today – October 31, 2014 Ads by Revcontent Ohio: Best 5 Options If You’re Drowning In Debt Comparisons.org Featured Verse Topics Healing Bible Verses Worry and Anxiety Bible Verses Prayer Bible Verses Bible Verses for Overcoming Grief Comforting Bible Verses Bible Verses About Protection God’s Promises – Verses in the Bible Bible Verses For Faith in Hard Times Encouraging Bible Verses Hope Bible Verses Friendship Bible Verses Forgiveness Bible Verses Strength Bible Verses Love Bible Verses Inspirational Bible Verses About Online Bible Sitemap Link to Us Advertise with Us Feedback Proud member of Salem Media Group. Copyright © 2020, Bible Study Tools. All rights reserved. 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Save Money
Living Light Daily Devotional Save Money By Touching Lives with Dr. James Merritt The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down. (Proverbs 21:20) There are two rules we should all follow when it comes to handling our finances. Rule number one – pay God first. Rule number two – pay yourself second. Tithing should be the first thing we do when we receive a paycheck, giving back ten percent of what we make to the Lord. After all, the money is all His anyways. Then after that, we should pay ourselves, and that means saving money. Now, you might be thinking, “Wait a minute! I can barely make ends meet. I can hardly pay my bills. And you’re telling me that before I pay my bills, I need to pay myself?” I know, it might seem a little backwards, but when it comes down to it, we can all save something. Even if you’re just saving a little bit each week, that small amount will add up over time. What if you decided instead of going to Chick-fil-a for lunch one day, you put that money in a savings fund? Or what if you didn’t go buy a $4 cup of coffee on your way to work and put that money in the bank? Again, it might not seem like much, but you’d be amazed how quickly your savings can add up if you’re diligent. There are several verses in Scripture that show us the value of saving money. For example, Proverbs 6:6-8 says, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” In other words, the ant saves because it knows it will need the food later on. Even this small, often unnoticed creature has the wisdom to see the value in saving. We would be wise to follow the ant’s example and save our own resources so that when we need something later on, we aren’t unprepared. Dear Lord, thank you for the wonderful example of the ant. I pray that you would give me the diligence and the discipline to save money, even if that means just saving a little at a time. I want to be wise with the money you’ve given me Lord, so please grant me the wisdom I need. Amen. Read in browser » Recent Articles: Marriage and the Church God Owns It All The “S” Word Thoughtfulness Four Answers Prayer Request Email TL Staff Donate Now Share Tweet Forward This email was sent to hopkinsanthony33@gmail.com why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences Touching Lives, Inc. · 1800 Satellite Blvd · Duluth, GA 30097 · USA
Once Saved Always Saved
Toggle navigation Search Browse The Bible Toggle Dropdown Search The Bible Find it! Are Christians Really “Once Saved, Always Saved”? Bible / Bible Study / Topical Studies / Are Christians Really “Once Saved, Always Saved”? Hope Bolinger | Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer Friday, May 29, 2020 Share Tweet Save It’s the age-old question Christians have struggled with for centuries. When we accept Jesus into our hearts, does salvation stick? Do we always have the hope and security of salvation, or as insinuated in books like Screwtape Letters, can we lose our salvation? And if once saved, always saved, what about the so-called Christians who leave the faith? Did they always have Jesus in their hearts, or did they implement a fake-it-till-you-make it Christianity? No doubt, many of us have wrestled with these questions. Indeed, entire books have been written upon the very subject. As someone who has personally seen friends abandon their faith after I was so sure that they had accepted Jesus into their hearts, I have struggled with this topic for well over a decade. Nevertheless, for the sake of this article, I will argue that once you have accepted Jesus into your heart and have committed to making him Lord and Savior of your life that you are saved. But this doesn’t answer the main question: can you have that salvation removed? It appears even the early church wrestled with this. Let’s dive into the origins of the phrase and come to a conclusion together about the nature of salvation and whether or not it can be taken away. Where Did This Phrase Originate? Let’s analyze the origin of the phrase “once saved, always saved”. We don’t stumble across that exact phrase in Scripture, but we do have several Bible verses that point to the assurance of salvation. But first, where did this phrase come from? It’s tricky to narrow down where exactly it originated, but from this Koinos Christian Fellowship article, we can get hints of it from Augustine, who influenced the Calvinist T.U.L.I.P. doctrine, primarily unconditional election. You can read more about that in this article from the Rev. Barry Gritters. Yet, for those of us who do not ascribe to five-point Calvinism, do we have other evidence that dates earlier than the fourth century AD. Say, for instance, Scripture, which was written in the first century? Do we have verses that point to assurance of salvation once saved? And do we have verses that appear to point to the opposite? Let’s categorize them below and establish definitions of saved, genuine belief, and the conditions in which salvation must take place: Verses that appear to point to once saved, always saved (operating word: appear): John 10:27-30 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” Ephesians 1:13 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,” 1 John 5:13 “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” Romans 8:37-39 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Verses that appear to say that a believer can lose their salvation (operating word: appear): Hebrew 6:4-6 “For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.” Matthew 6:15 “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” 2 Peter 2:20-22 “ If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: ‘A dog returns to its vomit,’ and, ‘A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.’” Photo credit: Pixabay/Creative Commons What Does It Mean to Be “Saved?” We desperately need to establish definitions for this hefty topic. After all, most Christians can assert that there’s a difference between a person praying a sinner’s prayer and that having no effect on their life, and a person dedicating their lives to Christ and receiving a transformative grace that bears fruit in their actions, thoughts, and words. So, let’s establish some definitions and particulars of salvation. Saved: Delivery from one’s sinful condition and depraved life into the assurance of eternal life, via the death and resurrection of Jesus. Bodie Hodge explains this more for Answers in Genesis. Grace vs. Works: As Christians know, one cannot achieve salvation by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). There is nothing we can personally do to earn salvation. Nevertheless, if a person has experienced the transformative indwelling of the Holy Spirit, they should bear fruit that shows there has been a metamorphosis of the soul. A person cannot simply pray a prayer and then continue business as usual. Pilgrimage: As described in this article, the prayer is only just the start. We may receive justification (a one-time event that assures a believer of eternal salvation), but we must continue to run the race of life. We must continue to allow the Lord to transform us (sanctification). We call it a Christian walk, journey, or pilgrimage for a reason. Does This Mean I Can Do Whatever I Want? Where are the boundaries? Because God has saved us and salvation appears to be assured, can we go about living how we please, knowing that Jesus’ death on the cross will “take care” of our sins? By no means (Romans 6:1). If we have truly experienced the transformative salvation of Jesus, we need to put to death our old way of life. We have understood the corrosive effects of sin and we cannot return to that way of living anymore. Does this mean if I slip up that I automatically lose my salvation? No. We have grace for a reason. After all, even Paul continued to do the sinful actions he didn’t want to do (Romans 7:15-20). OK, you may say, what about those who leave the faith, where do they fit in this equation? Can I Lose My Salvation? No doubt, almost all Christians have known at least one person from a part of their church or Christian community who fell away from the faith. Personally, it was my best friend in high school who I was absolutely certain from the outset had her salvation secured. Where do they fit into this equation? Because by our definition of justification and salvation above, Scripture appears to say that once a person has experienced the genuine transformative salvation that they cannot be snatched out of God’s hand. So, with those who commit apostasy, do we simply throw our hands up and say, “Well, they were never truly saved in the first place”? Or is there something deeper happening here? And what about those who truly appeared as though they were saved? It’s a tough question to answer, as only God can know the heart of a person. Someone may appear to have their lives pulled together but may not be saved. They can put on a good show and even convince themselves that they have assured salvation, but as we witness in the parable of the seeds, trials and tribulations often have a way of revealing one’s true character and inner condition (Matthew 13). In short, if a Christian has been genuinely saved, entailing a life that bears fruit due to the inner workings of the Holy Spirit, they cannot lose their salvation. How Then Should I Live? Can we sin beyond the repair of salvation? And what about those Christians who live unrepentant and sinful lives? As for these questions, we can boil it down to two things. First, nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Christians mess up every day, but we should be seeing growth throughout one’s Christian journey. This might look like someone becoming more forgiving, more patient, more loving, etc. Only God can judge the heart. But if a Christian (or Christian in name) does not appear to be bearing fruit, if they continue to live a deliberate unrepentant lifestyle or their Christianity has no bearing on their actions, thoughts, or words, it could be possible that they have not experienced true grace or salvation. Closing Words This, of course, is an incredibly complex issue. The church has wrestled with this from the very beginning, and one mere article cannot tackle the issue in all of its complexity, appearances of exceptions, and expansive breadth of personal applications. With that being said, if a person experiences a genuine, transformative salvation (justification) and the Holy Spirit continues to work in their lives to help them grow to be more like Christ (sanctification) that person can be assured of their salvation. If we mess up or sin, this does not mean that we forfeit our salvation. Check out this video on a breakdown of this phrase and some assurances of salvation once a Christian makes a genuine commitment to follow Christ. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Predrag Images Hope Bolinger is a literary agent at C.Y.L.E. and a graduate of Taylor University’s professional writing program. More than 600 of her works have been featured in various publications ranging from Writer’s Digest to Keys for Kids. She has worked for various publishing companies, magazines, newspapers, and literary agencies and has edited the work of authors such as Jerry B. Jenkins and Michelle Medlock Adams. Her column “Hope’s Hacks,” tips and tricks to avoid writer’s block, reaches 6,000+ readers weekly and is featured monthly on Cyle Young’s blog. Her modern-day Daniel, Blaze, (Illuminate YA) Den (releasing July 2020), Dear Hero (releasing September 2020), and Dear Henchman (releasing 2021) Find out more about her here. Promoted Stories Ads by Revcontent 30 Second “Miracle Stretch” Leaves Chiropractors Baffled! 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What Does 1st Thessalonians 1:6 MEAN
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What Does John 18:33 Mean?
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