These three amazing ladies are three of my seven sisters-in-law still living today. The are all between 90 and 93! We had a wonderful visit this week. A lot of remeniscing. This is in our small apartment here in Canada.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Continued from this morning's: How Near?
Before you read this, make sure you read the beginning of this Post earlier this morning.
We know that the Jews did not obey God’s call here through His servant Moses, with the exception of only a few. Dear friends in Aruba, the Antilles, and throughout the world; no matter your age, sometimes when we read a portion like this one in Deuteronomy we will say, "If I had been living at that time I would have obeyed God’s word!" Today we have One greater (Jesus) than Moses who tells us very clearly in the New Testament that "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Me." (John 14:6). In another Scripture He says, "I am the resurrection and the life, He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die." (John 11:25,26 and John 14:6) Do you believe this?
It is quite possible that you have already heard and are aware of these Scripture verses, but have you obeyed them? Are you living by faith in the Son of God, Who is our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins that He might bring us to God? After all themost important thing for us in this world is in Christ. It is Christ that divides humanity in two. There are those in Christ and those not in Christ.
The most important question then is how can I be in Christ? The answer to this is in the Sacred Scriptures. Only God Himself can do something like this. And that is why He sent His only begotten Son to this earth. That is why the Lord suffered and died on the cross. He died for sins, not for His sins, but for the sins of all mankind including all of us that are living today and for all such who will yet be born. The only way for you and I to be IN CHRIST is to repent of our sins, confess and accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.
Without repentance there is no forgiveness. How NEAR are we? How NEAR are you? The answer is in the Scriptures. If a person is not IN CHRIST he is OUTSIDE. No one can be both. It is one or the other: We are either in Christ or not in Him.
We know that the Jews did not obey God’s call here through His servant Moses, with the exception of only a few. Dear friends in Aruba, the Antilles, and throughout the world; no matter your age, sometimes when we read a portion like this one in Deuteronomy we will say, "If I had been living at that time I would have obeyed God’s word!" Today we have One greater (Jesus) than Moses who tells us very clearly in the New Testament that "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Me." (John 14:6). In another Scripture He says, "I am the resurrection and the life, He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die." (John 11:25,26 and John 14:6) Do you believe this?
It is quite possible that you have already heard and are aware of these Scripture verses, but have you obeyed them? Are you living by faith in the Son of God, Who is our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins that He might bring us to God? After all themost important thing for us in this world is in Christ. It is Christ that divides humanity in two. There are those in Christ and those not in Christ.
The most important question then is how can I be in Christ? The answer to this is in the Sacred Scriptures. Only God Himself can do something like this. And that is why He sent His only begotten Son to this earth. That is why the Lord suffered and died on the cross. He died for sins, not for His sins, but for the sins of all mankind including all of us that are living today and for all such who will yet be born. The only way for you and I to be IN CHRIST is to repent of our sins, confess and accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.
Without repentance there is no forgiveness. How NEAR are we? How NEAR are you? The answer is in the Scriptures. If a person is not IN CHRIST he is OUTSIDE. No one can be both. It is one or the other: We are either in Christ or not in Him.
HOW NEAR?
The Scriptures say "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old has gone, the new has come."! It makes no difference who we are - if we are in Christ we are new creatures. What does that mean?
It is very important that we pay attention to what this Scripture is saying. To begin with it does not say that if we are for example if a Jew is in Christm nor does it say if a Gentile is in Christ, or if a man or a woman, etc,. It simply says "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature."
Actually the word "anyone" means any person that is in Christ. That simply means the truth revealed here is that there is no exception with God, because all have sinned. Another truth revealed in this portion us that there are those in Christ and then there are such who are not. Note carefully that it does not say here that if a person is in this or that religion, he is a new creation. There are many people in the world today, including all who live in Aruba or the Antilles, that are trusting in their religion for their eternal destination.
The time has come and is now for us to repent of our sins and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our only and sufficient Savior. In the Book of Deuteronomy, the 4th book in the Old Testament, we can read what Moses declared to the Israelites a little while before he died, saying: "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that Ihave set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live, etc." Take time to read both these chapters.
I need to sign off for a bit, but will come back later on to continue on this subject!
It is very important that we pay attention to what this Scripture is saying. To begin with it does not say that if we are for example if a Jew is in Christm nor does it say if a Gentile is in Christ, or if a man or a woman, etc,. It simply says "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature."
Actually the word "anyone" means any person that is in Christ. That simply means the truth revealed here is that there is no exception with God, because all have sinned. Another truth revealed in this portion us that there are those in Christ and then there are such who are not. Note carefully that it does not say here that if a person is in this or that religion, he is a new creation. There are many people in the world today, including all who live in Aruba or the Antilles, that are trusting in their religion for their eternal destination.
The time has come and is now for us to repent of our sins and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our only and sufficient Savior. In the Book of Deuteronomy, the 4th book in the Old Testament, we can read what Moses declared to the Israelites a little while before he died, saying: "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that Ihave set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live, etc." Take time to read both these chapters.
I need to sign off for a bit, but will come back later on to continue on this subject!
Friday, July 3, 2009
Without Exception!
The Bible contains many amazing declarations, as much in favor as well as contrary to what people think. The title of today’s message is about one of them.
In accordance with the Scriptures, amongst the billions of people living in our world today, there is not one just person before God, not even one! Scripture emphasizes that declaration by saying, "There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory." Since this is so, and the Scriptures are inspired by God Himself, Who cannot be wrong, it simply means that NO ONE can escape that accusation. There is no excuse for no one. Read Romans 1:20 and Rom. 3:4
Dear friends of all ages, what can we say about these declarations in the Scriptures, which were written by men, inspired by God Himself, and preserved for us, making it possible for us to have them today in our very own languages? What can we say in view of the fact that there are umpteen religions and religious groups existing in our world today? Is there any religion today that is able to justify man before a Holy God, Who lives in inaccessible light, Whom no one has ever seen nor can see? (Take a moment to read 1 Timothy 6:13-16)
The answer to the above questions based on the authority of the written Word of God is NO. There has never existed a religion or religious group that is able to make a human being worthy to appear before an all-powerful God, Who exists from eternity. However, thanks be unto this same Holy and All-Mighty God, who made it possible for us, through the various means of communication today, to proclaim loud and clear, that
The answer to the above questions based on the authority of the written Word of God is NO. There has never existed a religion or religious group that is able to make a human being worthy to appear before an all-powerful God, Who exists from eternity. However, thanks be unto this same Holy and All-Mighty God, who made it possible for us, through the various means of communication today, to proclaim loud and clear, that
YES, there is a PERSON, and not a religion, Who is able to present us without spot or wrinkle before this Powerful God revealed in the Scriptures, and Who can be visualized through the works of His Hand in Creation. (Read Romans 1:18-20)
This Person, Who presents each one of us clean and without stain before the Father is: "Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God." We are able to declare to you today, with all authority and assurance, that "salvation is found in no one else for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:11,12)
Dear friend, fully understand this: Today, salvation is offered to you through the Lord Jesus Christ, and not through any religion. This is a personal invitation, because even if your father and your mother are true believers in Jesus Christ, they cannot make you a child of God. Each one of us individually must admit before a Holy God that we are sinners and that we must repent from a sincere heart, and personally accept Jesus Christ, Who died for our sins on the cross, as our Lord and Savior.
The Bible clearly says that without repentance there is no forgiveness. That is why we must take heed that this is not some religious game. This matter of sin is serious and profoundly offensive against the holiness of God. And since He loved humanity so much that He did not spare His only begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, that He might bring us to Him. (Make sure to read Romans 8:28-39).
If anyone reads this short message and is convinced of the truth, and are in accord with what the word of God says, then obey right now, and do not look at any obstacles that might be lurking around. The One who has called you is faithful, and will help you on this day of salvation. (Read 2 Cor. 6:1,2)
Be sure no matter what age you be, that the Lord, our God fulfills His Word.
Be sure no matter what age you be, that the Lord, our God fulfills His Word.
Take a moment to write us a note, if you read this message at bbhenriquez@shaw.ca
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)