Hey guys, it's Josh. It's come to my attention that I've made posts for a few weeks now and I haven't yet quoted a verse from my favorite book of the Bible. So after changing my original idea for a blog post, ya'll are going to learn a bit about "The Alpha and the Omega."
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." Revelation 22:13
These words were spoken by Jesus, and for a short verse, it can say a lot. I'll take this verse one part at a time. Let's start with "the beginning and the end." Jesus is the beginning of a new life for anyone that accepts him as Lord and Savior, and the end of a lifetime (and eternity) of suffering.
Next I'll tackle "the first and the last." Jesus is the first to make deaf hear and dumb speak. He allowed the blind to see. He was the first to walk on water, and He did it without tricks. He is the first and only way to salvation. He is the last (only) perfect human that will ever walk the earth
Now, there's a reason I saved "Alpha and Omega," for last. Alpha(Αα) and Omega(Ωω) are letters of the Greek alphabet. But why did Jesus choose to say that He is Alpha and Omega instead of, say, Zeta and Sigma? Well Alpha is the first letter of the Greek Alphabet (beginning) and Omega is the last (end). Omega itself has a meaning, which is "Great O," and it is used to denote the ultimate limit of a set. Alpha is used to describe the most significant occurance of something.
Everything has a beginning and an end, and it seems that we have reached the end of this post.
God bless you,
Josh
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
How we should Live
Have you ever wondered why we, as Christians, have to be good after we're saved? Well the books Ephesians and James can tell us why:
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" Ephesians 2:8
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." James 2:17
What this is saying is that we are saved by God's grace, though our faith in Him. However, that very faith is dead if it doesn't have the works to back it up. If that faith is dead, it can't really do much for you. So a Christian that is truly saved will do what God has told us to do. Wow this was a short post so I guess I'll give you some verses that say how we ought to live:
Galatians 5:16-25
Exodus 20:12-17 (Ten Commandments)
Mark 9:47
Proverbs 4:23-27
I'm sure you'll find more if you take time to read through the Bible, but I haven't had much time to write this. Anyway, do God's work and read the Bible.
God bless you,
Josh
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" Ephesians 2:8
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." James 2:17
What this is saying is that we are saved by God's grace, though our faith in Him. However, that very faith is dead if it doesn't have the works to back it up. If that faith is dead, it can't really do much for you. So a Christian that is truly saved will do what God has told us to do. Wow this was a short post so I guess I'll give you some verses that say how we ought to live:
Galatians 5:16-25
Exodus 20:12-17 (Ten Commandments)
Mark 9:47
Proverbs 4:23-27
I'm sure you'll find more if you take time to read through the Bible, but I haven't had much time to write this. Anyway, do God's work and read the Bible.
God bless you,
Josh
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Freedom of Religion
I don't know about you but I hear this phrase everyday,"Its okay they have the right to there own religion." I hear it almost everyday and it really made me think yeah they do have that freedom but whats going to happen to them after they die?
Romans 1:19-20Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
People have the freedom of religion that much is true.But I'm sorry to say if they don't believe Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior their going to hell.Plain and simple.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus clearly states it they are not going to go to heaven unless they know Jesus is the way,the truth,and the life.So again they have their right to their religion but its not there ticket to heaven or God.
But I guess what's sad is alot of the times I'm the guy saying,"They have the right to their religion." Now I know what the bible says about it.But now so do you.So may all of you know that though they have their right we have to still try to help them because you never know how long it'll be till its to late.
Romans 1:19-20Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
People have the freedom of religion that much is true.But I'm sorry to say if they don't believe Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior their going to hell.Plain and simple.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus clearly states it they are not going to go to heaven unless they know Jesus is the way,the truth,and the life.So again they have their right to their religion but its not there ticket to heaven or God.
But I guess what's sad is alot of the times I'm the guy saying,"They have the right to their religion." Now I know what the bible says about it.But now so do you.So may all of you know that though they have their right we have to still try to help them because you never know how long it'll be till its to late.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
"Your To Young To Understand"
Recently i have heard from a 15 year old that his father a Sunday school teacher had told him something that I wish to share. He said "You cant become a christian yet because your to young to understand. "That really disturbed me that a Sunday school teacher thinks young people like Josh and me are to young to know what it means to be a christian.
1 Timothy 4:12 "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."
What was Paul,the author of 1 Timothy,trying to say. If we are to young to become Christians then why did Paul say what he did. We kids today have it easier than they did before in religion and in life. Before Jesus was born the Jewish children had to memorize the first five books in the Torah,or the old testament. How many of us even read our bible once a month?
We young Christians are not so well treated because we give them no reason to treat us any different. We need to set examples as Paul says we need to do. Setting at home complaining about it doesn't help anything go out and share God with the world like your suppose to! And let me tell you you will be treated bad for it,you will be laughed at for it,and you will be questioned for it. But as the young people we are we are going to come together and change our world and set new standards for all young Christians alike. So may you learn that age doesn't get you to heaven but spirituality. Happy Mothers Day to All You Awesome Mothers.David Thompson
1 Timothy 4:12 "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."
What was Paul,the author of 1 Timothy,trying to say. If we are to young to become Christians then why did Paul say what he did. We kids today have it easier than they did before in religion and in life. Before Jesus was born the Jewish children had to memorize the first five books in the Torah,or the old testament. How many of us even read our bible once a month?
We young Christians are not so well treated because we give them no reason to treat us any different. We need to set examples as Paul says we need to do. Setting at home complaining about it doesn't help anything go out and share God with the world like your suppose to! And let me tell you you will be treated bad for it,you will be laughed at for it,and you will be questioned for it. But as the young people we are we are going to come together and change our world and set new standards for all young Christians alike. So may you learn that age doesn't get you to heaven but spirituality. Happy Mothers Day to All You Awesome Mothers.David Thompson
Saturday, May 1, 2010
The Marks of Christ
We all know that the world today hates us as Christians, so why are we supposed to witness to people about God? I mean, people are going to hurt us and call us bad names, etc. If you want the answer to this question, read Romans 8:17:
"And if children, the heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
To me this says that if we suffer like Christ did, we will inherit Heaven as our home. Now, when I say that we should suffer like Christ, I don't mean that we should carry a wooden cross up a hill and have someone nail us to it. See, since the world hates Christians, we would constantly get beaten everytime you talk about Jesus. There are some countries where people are killed if they talk about Him. Acts 16:22-23 says:
"And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely"
This is what happened back then when you talked about Christ in some places. People were beaten, whipped, thrown in prison, and other worse stuff. Did that ever stop a child of God? Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 and find out:
"Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more: in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among the false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and in nakedness."
I don't know about you, but to me it sounds like the Apostle Paul suffered a lot for the cause of Christ. He had a lot more courage than many Christians nowadays. Now if someone so much as slaps one of us across the face, we normally say, "I'm done. This is too hard." But Paul was beaten, stoned, and thrown in jail, and he still didn't stop doing God's work. I want you to think about that next time you're out talking to people about Jesus Christ. Galatians 6:17:
"From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus."
Paul could rightfully say that in my opinion. Before I end this post, I want you to ask yourself a few questions. Do you bear in your body the marks of the Lord Jesus? Are you doing God's work? Will you try harder to preach the Word in the future? Are you willing to be beaten for the cause of Christ?
God bless you,
Josh
"And if children, the heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
To me this says that if we suffer like Christ did, we will inherit Heaven as our home. Now, when I say that we should suffer like Christ, I don't mean that we should carry a wooden cross up a hill and have someone nail us to it. See, since the world hates Christians, we would constantly get beaten everytime you talk about Jesus. There are some countries where people are killed if they talk about Him. Acts 16:22-23 says:
"And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely"
This is what happened back then when you talked about Christ in some places. People were beaten, whipped, thrown in prison, and other worse stuff. Did that ever stop a child of God? Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 and find out:
"Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more: in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among the false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and in nakedness."
I don't know about you, but to me it sounds like the Apostle Paul suffered a lot for the cause of Christ. He had a lot more courage than many Christians nowadays. Now if someone so much as slaps one of us across the face, we normally say, "I'm done. This is too hard." But Paul was beaten, stoned, and thrown in jail, and he still didn't stop doing God's work. I want you to think about that next time you're out talking to people about Jesus Christ. Galatians 6:17:
"From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus."
Paul could rightfully say that in my opinion. Before I end this post, I want you to ask yourself a few questions. Do you bear in your body the marks of the Lord Jesus? Are you doing God's work? Will you try harder to preach the Word in the future? Are you willing to be beaten for the cause of Christ?
God bless you,
Josh
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