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2008-NIS ARTICLES 2006-ARTICLES SERMONS Discussion Forum, Questions & Answers |
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1 Pet 3:15 Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence. |
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1) What does the Bible have to say about BEING SAVED ? (Shiju) 2) When can people say that they KNOW GOD ? 3) How did great Men of God face great battles ? Where do we put our trust when we FACE BATTLES IN DAILY LIFE ? 4) How did great Men of God FACE STORMS IN LIFE ? How do we face storms in our daily life ? 5) Is our God a JEALOUS GOD ? How can God be Jealous? (Mohan) 6) What does the Bible say about GIVING GLORY to God VS Man-Pleasing ? 7) What does the Bible have to say about BLESSINGS & CURSES? Why have Canaanonites been suffering for so long? 8) What is the difference between BLIND FAITH & UNSEEN FAITH? 9) What is the SIGNIFICANCE OF EXODUS and how is it related to salvation of the new testament? (New Page) 10) What is TRINITY and HOLY SPIRIT ? (New Page) 11) What is the ROAD TO SALVATION? What is sin, redemption, paying price, sacrifice and salvation? (New Page) 12) What does the Bible say about Food and Fellowship? (New Page) 13a) I have been asking God for some needs, but they are not answered. Why is this? b) What is the meaning of in Jesus Name? 14) What is the most important commandment? Question #1) What does the Bible have to say about being saved ? (Shiju) Being saved is part of the steps to Salvation. Click to see all the steps. In the Biblical context, being saved is related to attaining salvation. We are all sinners and condemned to death. We can be saved from this bondage of sin and death only thru Jeus. This means we need to confess our sins, repent, beleive that Jesus came to die for our sins, decide to come out of the old sinfull nature, practice & propogate the Gospel till the end. Here are few steps to being saved. (A) Godly Knowledge - First and foremost, we need to know about sin, redemption, sacrifice and salvation thru the teachings of the Jesus and the Word of God. Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be SAVED. Rom 5:9 Having been justified by His blood, we shall be SAVED from wrath through Him. (Eph 1:7/Col1:14) (B) Believe - in Jesus, not in the authenticity of his presence on earth but also believe in his teachings and in the Gospel. Lets not believe in vain. Acts 16:31 Believe Lord Jesus Christ, and you and your household will be SAVED. 1 Cor 15:1 The gospel you "received" and in which you "stand", 2 by which also you are SAVED, if you "hold fast" that word which I preached to you unless you believed in vain. (C) Confess - both that Jesus is Lord and that he came in the flesh. Rom 10:9 Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, and you will be SAVED. Phil 2:10 At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 1 John 4:2 Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (D) Call - upon the Lord and you will be SAVED. (Act 2:21/Rom 10:13) Many people assume that just by calling God like we would call our servant he will turn up anytime, no matter what we do. This is the interpretation of the lazy nominal traditional (supposed to be) christian. David called upon the Lord in pain when his life was under threat from the enemy, he called the Lord with tears, prayers and worship. 2 Sam 22:4 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be SAVED from my enemies. (Psalms 18:3/116:4) Psa 91:14 Says that God will deliver and set on high those who , 15 God will answer, deliver and honor some people when they call Him; but not just anybody but those who "set their love upon Him & known Him". (Ref 2 chro 7:14) Abraham & Issac built altars before they called upon the Lord. Similarly we have to build our body as an altar and a living sacrifice to the Lord and call upon his name (Rom 12:1). Gen 12:8/13:4/21:33/26:25 He built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. Here we see instances where people called Jesus but he said he never knew them. In Act 19:13 unbelievers try to deliver using the name of Jesus and are attacked by those spirits. Mat 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven...And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you Mat 25:11 the other virgins called, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered, ‘I do not know you.’ (E) Enter the Door - who is Jesus and you will be SAVED. But not always will we be saved if we enter an open door. The door may not even open even after we knock on it if we are not worthy of it. John 10:9 Im the door those who enter by me will be SAVED. Mat 22:12 All are invited to the wedding of the Kings son, but an intruder who was not prepared is punished eventhough he was invited thru an open door. Mat 25 By the time the foolish virgins arrive at the door it is closed. And when they call at the door they are not let in. (F) Baptized - and be SAVED. He who believes and is baptized will be SAVED; but he who does not believe will be condemned (Mar 16:16). Unless you are born again thru water & spirit you will not enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:3) The Israelites were totally SAVED from the Egyptians who got destroyed only after the Israelites were baptised in the sea.(1 Cor 10:2) There is also an antitype which now SAVES us - BAPTISM (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1 Pet 3:21) (G) Endure to the end and you shall be SAVED. - Mat 24:13 Heb 3:18 those who did not obey would not enter His rest because of unbelief. Heb 4:6 those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience 11 Let us be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. (H) By Grace - you have been SAVED 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. - Eph 2:5 Question #2) When can one say that he knows God ? Jer 9:24 "Let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me and My lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD" Do we all really know God? If we know a person, the person should also know us. Everybody thinks that God knows us all. But not many people know God and are unworthy of being known by Him. But here are few instances where man did not know God and vice-versa:- John 1:10 says the own people of Jesus did not know him. John 4:22 Jesus tells a samaritan that (unlike the Jews) she does not know the god she worships. Act 17:22 people were worhipping an unknown God which Paul refered to as Jesus. Act 19:13 Jews get possessed trying to cast out demons in the name of Jesus whom they did not know. In Mat 7:23 / Mat 25:12 / Luke 13:24 Jesus says he does not know the foolish virgins and people who did miracles in his name who were unworthy. "To know God" has a very deep and powerfull meaning. The bible says that Adam "knew" Eve and had children (Exodus 4:1,25) and also Joseph knew Mary only after Jesus was born (Mat 1:25). Excluding the physical aspect, here the word "know" refers to a very deep and powerfull connection as is between married couples. The same way we need to have a personal relationship with God just as Mat 9, 21 & 25 refers to Jesus as the groom and us as the bride. Jesus is knocking at our door to enter and dine with us (Rev 3:20). We cannot have a relationship with a person without knowing them. Here are two steps on how we can know God:- 1-> We can know God by knowing Jesus:- John 14:7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. 2-> We can know Jesus from the word of God (Bible) by obeying his commandments:- 1 John 2:3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. There are 3 categories of those who knew God:- 1) Disciples - The disciples at the boat (Mat 14:33), Simon (Mat 16:15), Nathaniel (John 1:49), Martha (John 11:27) and Thomas (John 20:20) all knew Jesus and proclaimed him as the Son of God. 2) Sick - The sick, leper, centurion (Mat 8:2-5), 2 blind (9:27 & 20:30), the Canaanite (15:22) and Epileptic (17:15) were healed by Jesus since they proclaimed that they knew him. 3) Punished - At first the Pharoh of Egypt did not know Joseph or his God (Exod 1:8; 5:2). In real he did not want to know God. God decides to punish Egypt and make the Pharoh know him (Exod 7:5). 4) Dead - In Luke 16:19 a rich man knows the truth only after death but it is too late. Even the evil knew Jesus in the wilderness (Mat 4:6), legion ( Mat 8:29). In Mark 1:24/34; 3:11 the spirits proclaim Jesus as the holy one of God and are subject to him (Luke 10:17). Demons believe in God and they tremble (James 2:19). In summary we can know God thru Jesus and know Jesus by knwing and doing his will (from the word) and becomming his disciples. Some chose to know God after becoming sick or the hard way thru punishment. But if we do not then it will be too late to learn it after death. The choice is yours. Question #3) How did great Men of God face great battles ? Where do we put our trust when we face battles in our daily life ? The centre verse of the bible says that, It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man / princes. Psalm 118:8/146:3 If we put our trust in the Lord, after being righteous and humble, He will deliver us from the enemy. And we will testify of His works.:- Psalm 4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD. Prov 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding Psalm 115:9-11 Trust in the LORD;He is their help and their shield. Jer 39:18 I will deliver you, you shall not fall by sword; since you have put your trust in the Lord Psalm 73:28 I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, That I may declare all Your works. So all the great men of God won great battles by putting their trust in the Lord instead of men or their own understanding. They were worthy and humbly obeyed God and won. Similarly we too can learn from them and put our trust in the Lord and overcome the great battles in life. Below are some of these battles:- MOSES & the Israelites won the Egyptians without fighting. Exodus 14:14 The LORD will fight for you; and you shall hold your peace. 25 Egyptians proclaim that The LORD is fighting for the Israelites against Egypt 17 the LORD swept them into the sea, not one of them survived. GIDEON & 300 men won the Midianites. Judges 7:22 When Gideon and his men sounded the 300 trumpets, the LORD caused the Midianites throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. SAMSON killed a lion (Jud 14:6) and 1000 men (!5:15) by himself trusting God. DAVID killed lions and bears (1 Sam 17:37) and Goliath with his trust in the Lord. 1 Sam 17:47 it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's 50 David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. ASA was able to defeat a bigger army of the Ethiopians by just trusting the Lord, but later asked the support of Syria in another battle. Even in his sickness he trusted in physicians and died (16;7, 12). This shows that when we trust the Lord he will help us win bigger armies, but if we do not we can lose to smaller ones on our own. 1 Cron 14:11 Then Asa called to the LORD and said, "there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O LORD, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you." 12 The LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. Question #4) How did great Men of God face storms in Life ? Where do we face storms in our daily life ? God is the creator of all things. He created and controls the storms and the seas (Gen 1:20 / Jonah 1:9). God sometimes allows storms to come in our life to test ur faith and to overcome hardship but also punishes people with these storms. God is mercifull and will not destroy people if they have 10 good men amongst them Gen 18:32. Job 26:12 He stirs up the sea with His power, And by His understanding He breaks up the storm. Psa 107:25 He commands & raises the stormy wind & sea. 29 calms the storm, stills the waves. Ez 13:13 GOD: "I will cause a stormy wind to break forth in My fury; and there shall be a flooding rain in My anger. (ref Ps 83:15) Let us see how men of God faced the storms thru righteousness, obedience and faith. Also let us see how people faced shipwreck and suffer sea and storms thru sin, fear and disobedience:- Noah - God decided to destroy mankind who had become wicked except Noah and his family because of his obedience & righteousness. (Gen 6) Moses - The Israelites were pushed to the end of the sea with the Egyptians charging against them. Moses had to take that step of faith & believed God and the sea gave way for them to walk thru. It was not as easy as being on a boat but they escaped the storm thru obedience, faith, Gods Grace & Promise. Paul - Paul was many times in danger at sea storms, he escaped due to his obedience, confidence in God and selflessness (Acts 27:21-43). Some rejected faith and good conscience, suffered shipwreck. (1 Tim 1:19) 1 Cor 11:25 Paul was shipwrecked 3 times; 26 in perils of waters, in perils in the sea; Jonah - God asked Jonah to go to Nineveh. But he disobeyed so God brought out a storm. He rather suggested to be tossed off. Only after God sent a whale to swollow him he obeys God. Sometimes we are like Jonah, we disobey and it takes storms, being thrown, drowning and a bigger problem to swallow us to learn the hard way. Jesus - Jesus was asleep in the storm. He controled and stopped the wind which obeyed him. Mat 8:24 a great tempest arose on the sea 25 His disciples feared 26 But He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea In summary, if we are worthy, God will protect us like Noah, and make us walk on or thru water like Moses, Or overcome shipwrecks like Paul. Or we can chose to be like Jonah who learnt the hard way to survive. But over all its only thru faith in Christ that we can rebuke the storms and winds in our lives only in the name of Jesus and we can over come them. We all need to be in the Boat with Jesus who has the authority to calm the storms. Question #5) Is our God a jealous God ? How can God be Jealous? (Mohan) Humans experience 2 types of jealousy. Evil/Worldly jealousy is caused by the evil spirit of jealousy leading to sin, like being jealous of another persons who is better and then trying to harm them instead of improving. Num 5:14/5:30 if the spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he becomes jealous of his wife... There is Godly jealousy for the Kingdom of God. A husband that doesnt mind his wife with other men is neither jealous nor true. Similarly, the true God is jealous of his childrens total obedience & perfectness. 2 Cor 11:2 I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. Exo 20:5/Deut 5:9 You shall not bow down to others. For I, your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, Deut 6:14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you 15 Your God is a jealous God among you, lest the anger of the LORD your God be aroused against you and destroy you from the face of the earth. Yes Our God too is a jealous God, jealous for His own and will not forgive but punish those who disobey him:- Exo 34:14 You shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God Deut 4:24 Your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Ezek 39:25 GOD: ‘Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name Josh 24:19 Joshua: You cannot serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. Nahum 1:2 God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies; Question #6) What does the Bible say about GIVING GLORY to God VS Man-Pleasing ? Our God is a Jealous God and we give all the Glory and Honor to Him. At times we take all the glory or give glory to others to please them. This is unpleasing to God. 1) Give all Glory to God 1 Cor 1:31 - He who glories, let him glory in the LORD. Rom 11:36 - Of, Through and To Him are all things, to whom be glory forever 2) What all you do, do to Gods Glory Col 3:17/23 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all heartily in the name of the Lord Jesus (and not to men), giving thanks to God the Father through Him 1 Cor 10:31 Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (Ref Rom 14:6) 3) God is against man-pleasing Eph 6:5-7 Be obedient to your masters...as to Christ; 6 not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men 1 Thes 2:4 We speak, not as pleasing men, but God 5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. Gal 1:10 do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. 4) Glory God by our actions, dont keep the glory like Herod Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven Gal 1:24 And they glorified God in me (Syrians about Paul preaching the faith he once opposed) Act 12:21 Heroed spoke 22 And the people shouted, "The voice of a god and not of a man!" 23 Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. (Ref Act 4:19/5:29 - We ought to obey God rather than men) 5) Boast only in our infirmity 1 Cor 3:21 Let no one boast in men. For all things are Gods 2 Cor 11:30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. 12:5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. Question #7) What does the Bible have to say about BLESSINGS & CURSES? How can curses be changed? Why have Canaanonites been suffering for so long? 1 Cor 15:22 In Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. Rom 5:12/19 through one man sin & death spread to all resulting in condemnation, 18 even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all, resulting in justification of life. Curses Bible does talk about curses during Moses & Elisha. To begin with the sin of Adam makes us sinners (Rom 5 & 1 Cor 15). Jesus talks about the Jews inheriting their ancestors sins. From Genesis Canaan has been cursed. In Matt 15:22-26, Jesus hesitates to heal a Canaanite. The Canaanites are cursed after Noah Cursed his son in Gen 9:25 "Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants". This is also why we need to be carefull of what we speak (Mat 12:37 / 15:15 / Eph 4:29 / James 1:26/3:5-10) and also commands Children need to obey parents (2 Tim 3:2 / Eph 6:1 / Col 3:20) Exo 20:5 I am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations 2 Kings 5 Elisha curses Gehazi and his descendants forever with leprosy Mat 23:31 you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of sinners. 32 How can you escape the condemnation of hell? 36 all these things will come upon this generation. Blessings God blessed ABRAHAM to be the Father-of-Nations. He blessed Issac and has kept his promise till day:- Gen 22:17 I will bless you, and multiply your descendants 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed He also talks about how Ishmael will face violence Gen 16:11 but still blesses him to a great nation in 17:20 & 21:18 since he was born to Abraham. It is later described in Gal 3:14-29, 4:22-29 & Rom 9:6. This promise of blessing is passed on to ISSAC (Gen 26:4). In 25:23 God blessed JACOB (more than Esau because God knew Esau was foolish to sell his birthright for food (25:30) and married Canaanite women (26:34/28:8). He couldnt get it back even with tears (Heb 12:16) ). Jacob after lieing to his father (27:19) in turn was cheated by his in laws (29:18,27). He even wrestled with God (32:24), but finally did get blessed to be named Israel due to Gods plan & promise. SUMMARY - We maybe cursed thru an ancestor, but we can plead with God with faith to get his blessings like the Canaanite woman. On the other hand we maybe promised blessings, but we have to go thru hardships for God, wrestle with Him and hold on to Him to bless us and prevail. Similarly, we may be cursed and die in Adam, but in Christ we can be blessed and live thru faith and obedience in the word. Question #8 What is meant by BLIND FAITH & UNSEEN FAITH? Faith is one of the most important characters of the teachings of Christ, thru which people are still being healed (Act 3:11). We can see healing in our lives if we have faith like the centurion (Mat 8:10) and a Canonite woman (Mat 15:28) in whom Jesus saw the greatest faith. We need to express our faith like them. Unbelief can hinder healing (Mark 9:24) Gal 2:16 man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. Gal 3:11 The righteous will live by faith. Rom 14:23 everything that does not come from faith is sin. Jam 1:6 ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. Some people have Blind Faith when they believe in God blindly since they were born as christians or their parents or spouse forced them in that path. They neither know nor want to know about God. They neither know nor practice the word of God. However Unseen Faith is to have a powerfull and strong faith in the divine God in spirit and truth and not looking for proofs in things visible, physical and concrete. There are religions that fail to accept Christ since they do not discern in spirit but in flesh and want to see and feel things and think in their wordly wisdom. In the Bible we see a lot of blind people who beleive in Christ even though they cant see him (Mt 9:27/20:30/Mk 10:47/Luke 18:30). In the book of Matthew 9:27, two beggers are the first to proclaim Jesus as the Son of David. In Mark 10:47/Luke 18:31, a blind man is the first to call Jesus the Son of David in those books. When the Jewish believers feared being thrown out of the synagogue, these beggers were the first to daringly proclaim that Jesus is the Messiah mentioned in their Torah. Thats is because they had unseen faith. Those blind could see with Unseen Faith, but many with eyes cannot see. Psalms 115:5b They have eyes, but they cannot see; Here are some verses that talk about this Unseen Faith:- Heb 11:1 Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things NOT SEEN 2 Cor 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is UNSEEN. For what is seen is temporary, but what is UNSEEN is eternal. 2 Cor 5:7 We live by faith, NOT by SIGHT. John 20:29 Jesus said, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have NOT SEEN and yet have believed. Question #13 I have been asking God for some needs, but they are not answered. Why is this? Continue to Ask in Jesus Name not selfishly but in agreement with others according to His Will and keeping His Commandments after we bear fruit that our joy may be full. Ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. Lets look at these points in detail:- 1) Continue to Ask Mat 7:7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. We need to keep on asking. Sometimes if we ask our parents more than once, it is given attention. Also the more we ask the more in need we are of it and more serious we are about it. 2) In Jesus Name John 14:14 If you ask anything IN MY NAME, I will do it. John 16:23 whatever you ASK THE FATHER IN MY NAME He will give you. We need to ask God the Father in the Name of Jesus. People of other faith believe in one supreme God. But Jesus is part of the triune God and when you take Him out of that equation, it becomes another god. Meaning of "IN JESUS NAME", in next article. 3) not selfishly Jam 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Sometimes prayers are not answered since they are more selfish. Its for our worldly pleasures and greed/wants rather than our basic needs. 4) but in agreement with others Mat 18:19 If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them. 5) according to His Will 1 John 5:14 if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. Our needs must be in line with Gods will and pupose in our life. If God wants us not to marry, we must not pray for children. If God asks us to goto Africa, we must not want to goto Alaska, for better or worse. If God wants to punish someone, we must only pray for their repentance. So what we ask for must be in line with Gods will and not different from it. 6) and His Commandments 1 John 3:22 Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. John 15:7If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. It is obvious that we can ask God for our needs after we obey what He has asked us to do. If we disobey him, we should not expect Him to listen to us. 7) bearing fruit John 15:16 you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you We must bear fruit when we ask God. If we are not doing Gods will and not bearing good fruits, we are disobedient and may not be answered. 8) prayer & believing Mat 21:22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. Jam 1:6 ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 9) that our Joy may be full John 16:24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. We must ask things that will make us full with joy. Happiness is a more generic and worldly term, but we have Joy in Spiritual happiness. So if we ask something in the Name of Jesus that will give Joy in Christ, then it may be answered. Question #13b What is the meaning of "IN JESUS NAME" ? When we pray or ask anything IN JESUS NAME, we do it in agreement with His teaching. It doesnt strictly mean we are asking Him, it means we are asking God with agreement with His teachings that we believe He was the Savior and Son of God. 1) Believe His Teachings John 2:23 many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. Acts 2:38 Repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ; and receive the Holy Spirit. John 1:12 as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: John 14:26 the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things John 20:31 these are written that you may believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, believing you may have life in His name. 2) With His Authority When we do things in the NAME OF JESUS, we do it with His authority and power, not with ours. It means He is the miracle worker, he is the Authority. Mark 16:17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues Acts 3:6 In the name of Jesus Christ, rise up and walk. 16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Acts 16:18 Paul, said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. 3) Because He expects them We may do a good deed, just out of our interest or good nature, but when we do it since Jesus taught us to do so, then we do it in His Name. Many people do charity and help for different reasons, but they do not do it because Jesus said so. Let do things just to please God since it is His will, not of our interest. Mark 9:37 Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.(Ref Matt 10:42) Matt 18:20 where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. Question #14) What is the most important commandment? The greatest and most important commandment is to Love one another. 1) Love is the most important commandment 1 John 3:11 The message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, Jam 2:8 The royal law is to love your neighbor as yourself. Mat 22:37Jesus said ‘You shall love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is :‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. Rom 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 ... all commandments are summed up as “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Gal 5:14 All the law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 1 Cor 13:13 Abide faith, hope, love; but the greatest of these is love. Col 3:14 Above all things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 1 Pet 4:8 Above all things, have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 2) Love your enemies Mat 5:44 Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. Rom 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 3) Love your brothers 1 John 2:9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 1 John 3:10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 4:20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. |
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