Does the man change himself or does God change the man?.. Does the man birth himself or does God birth the man?.. I would like to hear the thoughts of anyone on here who had any control in their natural birth?... In the same vain you have no control in your spiritual either... I hear some say I accepted Christ?... No Christ accepted you!... I came to Christ... No the Holy Spirit brought you because Christ bought you... You are not your own you are brought with a price... Its not because of...

Charles H. Spurgeon
August 2, 2019
Morning Reading
Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.
—Ephesians 1:11
Our belief in God's wisdom supposes and necessitates that He has a settled purpose and plan in the work of salvation. What would creation have been without His design? Is there a fish in the sea, or a fowl in the air, which was left to chance for its formation? Nay, in every bone, joint, and muscle, sinew, gland, and blood-vessel, you mark the presence of a God working...

Scripture teaches that one’s righteous standing before God can be lost.
Believers must be sanctified unto holiness progressively – for salvation is a process!

“… let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil … Whoever has been born of God does not sin (habitually) … In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest:
whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God” (1 John 3:7-10)...

28Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: 29So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. 30Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. 31Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

Many Bible scholars use the above scripture as proof positive that our Lord will return within a...

I have to ask this question because recently, I visited a church that was not receptive of my beard! I was told by an associate pastor that men growing face hair was not permissible in the church. It was not for any Biblical reasons, just a church preference. They wanted their men to be clean shaven!

I crossed that church off my list of churches to visit again!

So, what is your personal feeling about male facial hair in beards or mustaches, and should a church be permitted to be that strict?

I say yes. Your thoughts?

BELIEVE

In the NT, the Greek indicates that “believe” is a present tense imperative verb!
So, a continuing belief-faith is necessary for continuing salvation-eternal life!

“… whoever believes [present tense: continues to believe] in Him may have
[present tense: may continue to have] eternal life. For God so loved the world, that
He gave His only Son, that whoever believes [present tense: continues to believe]
in Him should not perish but have [present tense: continue to have] eternal...

Joshua Harris confesses on Instagram:

"I have undergone a massive shift in regard to my faith in Jesus....the biblical phrase is 'falling away.' By all the measurements that I have for defining a Christian, I am not a Christian."

While this is a hypothetical question at this time, it was a real question in my parent's Baptist church in rural East Texas about a dozen years ago, with one minor change: The pastor wanted to receive the Grand Dragon without baptism by immersion since the man was afraid of water. I don't know how it eventually turned out, because my mother decided to join the nearby Methodist church immediately after that question was announced.

It brings up several questions at once (1) Does one need to...

Ho′ly Fa′ther

n.
a title of the pope.
[1375–1425]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Jesus in prayer - John 17:11, ". . . And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. . . ."

Jesus' teaching on titles, Matthew 23:8-10, ". . . be not ye...