Part 1 of 2. A look at the return of the Lord through the Acts age and the apostles to the circumcision. We again focus on the spheres of blessing and remind ourselves to rightly divide the differences. #theology

We never want to diminish the experience of the birthing of the new nature in the believer when he or she comes to acknowledge the finished work of the Lord Jesus as his or her only hope, but we also never want to lose sight of the primary hope of the new birth. Deaths reigns from Adam until this very hour. It is our "enemy." The Lord conquered it in his resurrection and one day, because of what he accomplished on our behalf, the believer will experience it as well. No matter the plan of God before any group of believers, no matter the sphere of blessing, the great gift of immortal life through resurrection must shine through. #theology #christian

We take a look at the Lord's response to a question he received from his disciples on the Mount of Olives concerning the end of the age ("world" in some translations). We're centered on Matthew 24 in part.

We use this backdrop concerning the plan for the Kingdom (the gospel of the kingdom being for Israel and involving the earthly plan) to set us up for a look at the hope of the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, and its place in the plan of God.

We never want to take away from what God is able to do. We never want to discourage believers from seeking God's intervention in our lives. But when we visit passages for other callings, we have to be careful. We must discern those things which speak of God's abilities and God's attributes. But that is quit a different matter than claiming things for ourselves that are neither directly given to us nor are they for our calling and age.

We have previously looked at passages in the the Psalms and in the Prophets, today we turn to Isaiah 61. #theology #christan #biblestudy

Living in the Parenthesis

The Age of the Silence of God

Walking According to Our Calling in the Current Age

We revisit the Democratic presidential candidates' policy positions from the 1984 campaign, compare that to McGovern's 1972 platform and modify previous statements about the Democrats and tariffs. Suffice to say it's a mixed bag.

Then we move to our seemingly never-ending parade of "real" Catholics telling me that popes can be wrong and we don't really need to listen to them on matters of faith or morals, we can made those distinctions ourselves. My response: Welcome to the Reformation!

Pope Francis has been great. He has been able to get the most conservative, hardcore, militant Catholics to suddenly adopt the position that Catholics are free to contradict the Pope. One odd argument, we don't have to listen to Urban VIII on salvation because "that was, like 800 years ago!" but somehow the current pope (who would presumably be the most accurate teacher of the faith using that reasoning) is the worst of the all? Hmm... #catholic #catholicism

We look over Ephesians 5 and Paul's warning that we walk in the Light of the new nature lest we risk losing the inheritance. We distinguish between the sealed free gift by grace alone of resurrection life, secured by the perfect, finished, and pure sacrifice of Christ on our behalf versus the inheritance of rewards, crowns, and the prize based on our walk and service as believers.

We start by stopping in on Paul's time before the Sanhedrin and the High Priest and note Paul's submission to the Law in that age. Never to either gain or maintain the free gift of salvation by grace, but in light of the promised Kingdom to be restored one day in Israel.

A study on the the necessity of walking in the light (in our new nature) for the believer of the current age. There are two inhertnaces for the Christian. One is secure and cannot be lost (the gift of resurrection life by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone) and the inheritance in the age to come which can be forfeited (loss off rewards, crowns, and the prize) if we choose to walk in the flesh.

Acting in the flesh is to act selfishly and can take on many forms. But for the believer, any gratification of self is short-lived and will end in sorrow and loss (either now or in the age to come).
 
Any interested in joining our studies are welcome to sign on through the paltalk app or site, Tuesdays, 8:30PM (EDT), "Musterion" room.

We chat about denominational systems and the pastor/priest system seriously clouds our responsibility as individual believers to "study to show [ourselves] approved unto God, rightly dividing the Word of Truth" (2 Tim 2:15). The system also creates an enormous entryway for error and heresy and even a denial of the foundational truths of the faith (including a denial of the finished work of Christ). Surrendering our individual responsibility before God has destroyed many believers and has destroyed the truths of the revelation of our Apostle for this age, Paul.

"A booklet by Charles Hummel that explores the problem of living in a world of constant urgency and distraction. Learn how to prioritize the important tasks and avoid the tyranny of the urgent."
-C.S. Lewis Institute

We ponder the implications of the "urgent" things in our lives that rob us of peace. We examine, in brief, the booklet cited and I offer my opinion as to its conclusions and directions (the good and the questionable). We briefly comment on the activities of the new administration and remind all of us to question ANYBODY with power. No blank checks here and neither do we approve of blanket condemnations.

Exposing waste and exposing corruption must be seen as a good thing if the information is proven to be accurate. We need to judge each action on its own. In the end, we're all on the same team despite the powers that be wanting us to choose sides.

I used to have a list of doctrinal beliefs that I thought were biblical... then I started to compare scripture with scripture and interpretation with what I saw around me. So, I set out to compare what I said I believed and applied to all the Bible and to my own life. For example, if you think the red letters are for you, have you sold all you have? If you think you attend an "Acts Church," do you live communally? Do you separate Jewish believers from Gentile believers? This is called "comparing the things that differ" and studying to see why they differ. Finally, if we do discover discrepancies between what you say you believe and what you experience, we must be willing to change our interpretations. #theology #christian #christianity