August 23rd, 2012 by tradesho1
Bible Study Course Lesson 49
JESUS CHRIST said, “I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH.”
Did He build it?
That Church, said Jesus, would NEVER be extinguished. “And the gates of hell (the grave),” He said, “shall not prevail against it” (Mat. 16:18). Christ’s Church is to LAST THROUGH all ages! Has it? WHERE IS it, today?
Is it divided — composed of more than 400 different, disagreeing, arguing sects?
August 23rd, 2012 by tradesho1
What is a real Christian? Could you give the Bible definition?
Jesus gave us the very basis of real Christianity in what is commonly called the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew, chapters 5 through 7. He pointed out those characteristics, often called beatitudes, which would clearly identify His true followers.
Before we pick up the story in Matthew 5 and focus on several of these Christian characteristics, you should read the entirety of chapters 5, 6 and 7.
What did Jesus say about the poor in spirit? Matt. 5:3. When He spoke of the “poor in spirit,” did He mean they would lack the Spirit of God? Rom. 8:9; Luke 11:13
No, Jesus wasn’t suggesting that the “poor in spirit” would be lacking God’s Holy Spirit, as did the five foolish virgins in the parable of Matthew 25. Rather, He went on to show that those who are truly humble in attitude of mind are blessed because they will be in God’s Kingdom.
What are the meek in Christ destined to inherit in addition to being born into God’s Kingdom? Matt. 5:5. Was Jesus meek? Matt. 11:29 Will a real Christian exhibit meekness in the way he conducts his daily life? Eph. 4:1-2.
There is a difference between being meek and being weak. Jesus was meek but not weak! He endured abuse and injury with patience and without resentment. He didn’t deliberately try to stir up arguments and trouble.
A meek person will not try to justify the self when wrong. Neither is he revengeful. And he certainly does not feel superior to others.
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Pastor’s Comments
August 10 – August 17, 2012
“But he who ENDURES to the end shall be saved.”Matthew 24:13
Dear Brethren,
The euphoria of the two weeks of the Olympics’ in Britain has ended; the grandstands emptied and the contestants have gone their way. Some were exuberantly happy of being winners— others were depressed for either having been disqualified or having lost their events to the winners.
Considering the winners, Michael Phelps of the United States will have ended his long career as the most decorated Olympian in history.
The Internet: “Phelps will be the best medalist of all time for a while. As part of his legacy are 17 gold medals, an unprecedented dominance in any sport. The three silvers and two bronze medals will just be icing on the already sweet-tasting cake for the unflappable Phelps, as he cements his legacy as the greatest Olympian of all time.”
There is much God’s people can learn from the Olympics and the contestants for they parallel the trials and testing encountered in the true Christian way of life that must be endured and overcome to be counted worthy of being accepted by Jesus Christ when He returns to this earth.
Training for the Olympics
When studying the contestants who devoted many years in training while exerting hard enduring effort to prepare their bodies sufficiently to be accepted by the officials of the Olympics to enter their events— one could wonder what drives these people to train for such a long time and so rigorously to become the best of the best?
Considering some of their writings in which a few have expressed their thoughts reveal the answer:
Diligence, relentless drive, hard training with determination to become the best, while pursuing their dream realizing nothing is impossible if one is willing to pay the price.
Some of the same areas can be paralleled in the life of the true Christian and can be found in the booklet, “The Seven Laws of Success,” by Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong.
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