The End

Romans 9-16

    The end of Romans is beautifully written.  Paul tells us of our role as Christians, believers, and people.  He says that originally the Jews were God's chosen people, but because of their rejection of Jesus the gospel was opened up to the Gentiles.  This was a good thing since the Gentiles were given the gospel.  The Jews are not lost forever, though, they will also be given another shot at grace.  This shows God's love further and His hope of bringing all the lost sheep back into the fold.  Paul explains that as long as we follow and believe in Christ we will have redemption.  It is only through this faith that we are saved, actions are not enough.  Just as faith without works is dead, so is works without faith.  
      While this life maybe hard, we do have hope for a brighter future.  God calls upon us to live a perfect life in an imperfect world.  This life is full of heartache, disappointments, and failures.  Life can seem too hard at times, and above all this God is telling us that just enduring is not enough, but that we have to live the way He wants.  This could be impossible if not for Christ and grace and mercy.  That gives us hope and if we have this hope in Christ we can have peace.  No matter what happens, no matter the pain and suffering we may endure, we can still have peace in this life and hope in the life to come.  
      After we believe ourselves, then comes the serving.  Paul tells us that we are not to look down on others who have less faith.  Instead, we are to help those sheep who are lost or wondering.  It is through our actions as Christians that can determine if we lead others to Christ or away from Him.  This where being "Christian-like" comes into play.  We are to take on the body of Christ and to act as He would.  We are to encourage and love others.  We are all God's children and we all have God's mercy and goodness.  He loves everyone of us and we should love each other.  Romans is a great book that describes Christ's role in our lives.  I enjoyed reading it very much. 

Romans 1-8

        In the beginning of Romans, Paul is talking about sin.  He tells of how we all sin and fall short of what God expects from all of us.  The first few chapters describe the sin and how no man is perfect.  Paul reveals though that we can be forgiven.  The acts we do to repent of our sins can never be enough to make up for the sins we commit.  We cannot save ourselves from our sins.  God does not receive anyone who is not perfect.  So how can we be forgiven?  Are we destined to be cast into outer darkness?  If this is so what is the point of being good?  What is the point of doing good works?  While we, ourselves, can never do enough to receive salvation on our own (since no one in this life is perfect) there is one greater than us all who can save us.  It is through His grace and mercy that we can hope for salvation after this life.  This person is Jesus Christ.  Jesus who suffered and died for us to release us from the bonds of death, is the only one who can help us reach salvation.  Even though we are judged by our actions, we can still be saved from our sins.  Because of what Jesus did for us, we can ask for forgiveness when we fall short of perfection.  Through faith in Jesus and in the Atonement we can hope for salvation.  This faith is known as justification through faith.  After we do all we can, faith in Christ does the rest.  This is the message Paul was preaching in the beginning of Romans.  It is a message of peace and love.  It proves that our God is a merciful and loving God who provides for us when we can not provide for ourselves. 

1 Corinthians 8-14

Paul starts off by explaining that the culture is to believe in many gods.  He says this is wrong and that as Christians we should believe in only one god.  This is counter-cultural for the time, since this is not what the majority of the people believed and it was not generally accepted.  Besides God, Paul explains there is also the Christ who is Jesus.  He then goes on to rejoice in his Christian liberty.  He says "Am I not an Apostle? Am I not free?" (9:1) This is seems to suggest that by believing in Christ and by following Him, we gain freedom.  Paul continues to preach the gospel to all people.  He literally gives his life to this cause.  What is his reward for this?  He explains that "when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge." (4:18) He then goes on to explain that while Christ has made him free, he has yet made himself the servant to all those he preaches to.  
God seems to expect so much from those who decide to follow Him.  Paul gave up everything to preach His word to all men.  God expects us as Christians to give up worldly desires and to follow Him in whatsoever thing He asks us.  At times it can seem like too much is expected, but Paul gives us encouragement in 10:13, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."  We see that our God is a kind, loving God who does not give us trials to break us, but instead test us.  And in these trials He is always there and will guide and help us as long as we live as He would have us and keep faith in Him.  
Paul then talks about the importance of charity.  He says that all other gifts and powers are worthless unless you have charity.  He even says acts of kindness are nothing if they are not done with charity.  Paul says that charity suffers and bears all things. He also says that if you have charity you can hope for all things.  Paul ends again by emphasizing the importance of charity.

1 Corinthians 1-7

Paul starts off by telling the followers of Christ that they should be like minded.  He explains that all true saints are perfectly united in the same mind and in the same judgment.  This means that there should not be a separate set of standards for Christians, but their beliefs and convictions should be the same and be what Jesus taught.  Paul then tell that those who follow Christ should preach the gospel and in doing so they would save souls.  Paul also explains that it is not only the most religious or most prominent people who should be preaching the gospel, but anyone who believes in the gospel and has been converted to Jesus's church.  
Paul then goes on to explain that it is the spirit that will be with us as we preach the gospel.  The spirit will reveal what needs to be said when teaching others.  Those who are "natural men" will not be able to receive the gospel, because they are hardened against it.  He then goes on to talk about the milk and the meat.  When you have a baby you feed them milk until they are old enough to eat real food or "meat."  This is just like followers of Christ.  Paul was teaching them the "easier" gospel principles first.  He was giving them the milk of the gospel.  He said they were not ready for the meat.  Paul explains that all of us our temples unto God.  He says that God dwells in each of us and that we should not defile ourselves.  

Philemon and Philippians

Both of these books speak of love.  It speaks of the love between Christ and man, believers of Christ and each other, and believers of Christ and those that they spread the gospel to.  The books talk about the bond between those who do the Lord's work and carry on his will.


Paul tells how members should be of one accord and one mind.  This means that our goals and pursuits should be the same.  This goal should be to draw closer to God and do His work on earth.  


Paul talks about how he has given up everything for Christ.  He says to not look behind at sins and wrongful desires, but to look forward to the finish line.  He says that we should strive toward perfection. Paul tells us we should look toward Christ who can make our worldly, sinful bodies perfect.  Paul tells us to be honest, true, and chaste and to seek out things that are pure, lovely, of good report and praiseworthy.  If we do these things we'll have peace.  


Even though these things seem hard, Paul says they are possible.  He explains that he has endured many trials.  He says that we too will experience trials in our lives.  But he gives us hope and encouragement.  He says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). 

Galatians

Galatians was written by Paul.  The whole book is only six chapters.  Galatians begins with Paul bearing his testimony.  He preaches about the gospel and prophecies its divinity.  He then goes to Jerusalem were he continues to preach.  He then explains about Christ and resurrection.  He states, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life I live now in the flesh I live by the faith of the son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (2:20).  


Paul angrily tells the Galatians the Law of Moses is no longer needed.  He explains that Christ fulfilled this and that salvation comes through faith in Christ alone.


Paul explains that with Christ we are free.  It is only when we sin that we are put in bondage.




Throughout Galatians, Paul repeats many of the teachings that Christ himself explained.

SNAKES!!

     In Religion we have been discussing healing and snake handling.  Snake handling is actually found in certain parts of the bible, just maybe not described the way some people seem to take it.  So, what does healing and faith have to do with one another.  As long as you are faithful to God, He will protect you from anything, whether it be bodily or heavenly.  This is only if it is in God's will to do so though.  
     The people in the video, obviously misinterpreted the scriptures.  They took these verses too literally and did not find the deeper meaning.  These scriptures describe how if you are about God's work, He will protect you and keep you from harm.
     I think God tests us by giving us ailments.  Some people get well and some do not.  God has a plan for each of us and we have to have faith that He knows best.  I believe everyone should pray and ask to be healed or pray for strength to endure whatever it may be.  If this does not occur though, they should not lose faith, but just know this is not how God plans to test them. 

Acts 22-28

Acts 22-28 is the passage we were assigned to read this week.  In the beginning, Paul tells of his conversion.  The Lord appears to Paul at night.  Felix is touched by Paul's anointed speech.  Paul witnesses to Agrippa.  Agrippa perceives that Paul is innocent.
Paul warns shipmates of dangerous trip, but is ignored.  An angel then appears to Paul telling him about the trip. Paul survives vipers bite.  Paul heals someone with fever and dysentery.  Paul preached another anointed sermon and more believe the gospel.

Beginning of the Church

It is not very often one witnesses the complete change of a person.  This is show however in the book of Acts.  Just as the church starts from pretty much nothing and grows, so does the faith of one man.  This man was Saul, who later was named Paul.  In Acts 8, Saul is first introduced.  At this time the church is just beginning and Peter and the other disciples through patience, hard work and diligence are trying to grow it.  Saul is finally blinded, healed and is baptized.  This is how it is for many Christians.  Figuratively, of course, but in a way many of us are blind to God and Christ and are finally healed by Him and later decide to live for Him. 

Peter continues his efforts to grow the church by taking the gospel to the Gentiles.  The Gentiles receive the Holy Ghost.  God grants the Gentiles repentance.  The disciples are the first to be called Christians.  Later in our reading James is martyred and Peter is freed from prison.  Saul’s name is changed to Paul. 

The church continues to grow.  The disciples continue to preach.  They continue to be persecuted, but still stay strong and do the work the Lord has for them to do.

The Afterlife

A Messiah's Death

        Jesus was the only perfect individual to walk on the earth.  He dedicated His life to others.  He taught the people, He ate with the sinners, He made the lame to walk, the blind to see, and He healed the leper.  Despite all of this He was rejected of men.  He was persecuted and hated and eventually was betrayed and killed.  Even His disciples, who by definition, are suppose to follow Him, betrayed and denied Him. 

  The Jews hated Jesus because they feared His influence over the people.  They plotted His demise and eventually found a way through Judas.  Judas was supposed to be Jesus’ disciple.  He had seen the miracles Jesus had performed and heard the lessons Jesus taught and yet was willing to sell Jesus out for literally a few pence.  He even betrayed Jesus with a kiss. 

   What could cause such animosity towards someone as loving and good as Jesus?  Even towards the end of the days He was preaching love towards one another.  John’s gospel does a good job depicting this.  In John 15:13 Jesus says “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”  Jesus is the ultimate friend.  He offers His love freely and only asks for one thing in return- that we keep His commandments. 

       It brings great comfort to know that even this perfect individual had enemies.  Jesus says “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.”  Jesus was perfect.  He is the Son of God.  He is the Messiah.  He is the savior of the world.  And yet He died between two thieves.  Jesus died the death of a common criminal.  There is no justice on earth, but Jesus did not bring justice- He brought hope. 

By Faith

            Jesus, by all appearances, was a normal man.  He was made of flesh and blood.  People knew His mother and father.  Believing that He was anything more was difficult for many people.  Even nowadays people struggle with the concept of Jesus.  At the same time, those people saw Jesus heal the sick, give sight to the blind, feed the multitudes, and even raise the dead.  So, why was it so hard for them to believe?
           In Matthew 8-20 and Luke 8-19, it tells of many things Jesus did.  It tells of how Jesus healed a leper, a Centurion's servant, Peter's mother-in-law, and many other people.  What did all these people have in common?  They believed in Jesus.  They had faith that He could heal them.  These were people who had not seen all of Jesus's miracles and yet believed in Him.  His disciples, who had witnessed all of His miracles, still had trouble having complete trust in Him.  They were fearful of the tempest, and Peter could not walk on water because of fear.
         Throughout the passages, Jesus kept talking about how it is what comes out of a man that determines what kind of man he is.  It is our words and actions, not what we hear or see, that determines if we are worthy to one day be in God's presence.  Through these passages, Jesus teaches how we can live our lives to where we are speaking and acting the way we should.

Luke 4:16-7

         At the beginning of our reading Jesus is giving a sermon in the church.  The people there get very angry with him and run him off.  The way the people viewed him was as Joseph's son.  They did not see him as the Savior of the world.  Jesus even says that no prophet is accepted by his own people.  This is because when you know someone well it makes it hard to believe they are anything, but a normal person.  
       Next Jesus goes out and heals and gets disciples.  He tells these men that they will be fishers of men.  They will not literally catch men, but they will be missionaries and disciples of Jesus to lead men to the path of truth and righteousness.  Jesus gives many parables along the way as well.   
       At the end a women who has sinned greatly washes Jesus's feet.  Jesus forgives this woman her sins.  This can be interpreted to mean that if we are willing to humble ourselves and do service for Jesus that we too may be forgiven of our sins.

Living up to Jesus

          What did Jesus say?  In Matthew 5-7 is Jesus's famous Sermon on the Mount.  In this speech, Jesus sets up a new ideal to live by and teaches how to pray.  Jesus explains how He has come to fulfill the old law.  So what exactly did this mean for the people Jesus was preaching to?  And what does it mean to us today?
          Jesus came to fulfill the law.  Because he fulfills the law, we can live by a higher standard.  We all fall short of perfection, yet we are commanded to be perfect, because through Christ we can be made perfect.  In these scriptures Jesus gives an impossibly high standard by which to live.  Yet, if we try to live it, even though ultimately we will fall short, Christ will complete were we fail.  
          Also, Jesus was giving a better way to live, to set Christians apart from non-Christians.  This way Christians can be the example to the world and be a witness of Jesus.
          The standards Jesus sets in the Sermon on the Mount seem impossible.  Yet, as Christians, we are commanded to live this way.  I feel that Jesus is not necessarily saying we will reach this goal in life, but the closer to the goal we are, the more prepared we will be to meet God.  At the end of Matthew 7 Jesus gives the parable of the wise man, who prepared his house on a firm foundation and was able to meet the rain fearlessly. I believe if we build a firm foundation through striving to live up to Jesus's ideal, we will be prepared to meet any "rain."

Star on top of the Christmas Tree

Pictures of Christ

The place in the Old Testament that tells of Christ is in Malachi.  Here Christ is prophesied of.  The Old Testament should be used to understand Jesus because it prophesies of Him and describes His purpose.  The painting shows the suffering of the Jews and a need for a Messiah.  Mark refers back to Isaiah and explains Jesus and His purpose.  

Jesus and John Comparison

           Mathew, Mark, Luke and John are all accounts of the same story.  This is the story of Jesus.  In religion this week we are talking about Luke's account of Jesus's and John's births.  I especially like Luke's point of view, because he goes into more detail then the other doctrines.  
           In Luke, he gives a comparison of John the Baptist and Jesus.  Both Elizabeth, John's mother, and Mary, Jesus's mother, are very faithful women.  They both except their roles when the angel Gabriel tells them they are to bear these great men.  Both in essence are born to save souls.  John is born to baptize children of God who wish to repent and Jesus is here to save them.  
           Luke talks about both of these men's humble beginnings, their trials and their temptations.  

Just a Savior, or Something More?

          Since I was a little girl, I have been going to Sunday School.  For the most part, every lesson has had something to do with Jesus.  For most Christians, Jesus is the cornerstone of their religion.  In these lessons at church, I learned about how Jesus died for us, how He suffered on the cross, how He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and how He taught in parables.  I learned all about acts He performed, lessons He taught, miracles He astounded people with, but I never really had lessons about who Jesus was.
          So, who is Jesus?  Ask any Sunday School teacher, church authority, or parent, and they will probably say a teacher, a leader, a savior, and an example.  In Matthew chapters one through four, Jesus is introduced.  At the beginning, His lineage is  described. You find out that Jesus is a descendant of King David and among other important Biblical figures. With further reading you discover, Jesus is the Son of God. This shows that while Jesus is mortal, He is also divine.
           Jesus Christ, we discover is a savior. He is the Savior of the world. Even though He is such an important figure He is still persecuted and tested. Throughout these trials, He remains true and is revealed as the ultimate example. He reinstates this fact when He is baptized. Jesus who is perfect and has no need to be baptized, still performed the act. He is also a preacher and a leader.
          Jesus is the only truly perfect person to walk on this earth. He is everything we hope and strive to be. He is love personified. In Matthew 1-4, He is introduced to us. This passage describes the humble beginnings of the most important being to ever exist.

Cruelity of a Pagan people

         The Roman people were an extremely cruel people.  Their punishments for crimes were severe and swift.  The Romans wrongly accused Christians of crimes they did not actually commit. 
          Certain symbols in Christianity, such as partaking of the blood and body of Christ and brotherly love confused the Romans and made them think Christians were perverted and blood thirsty.  Romans considered Christians as superstitious. Romans did not care for Christians and used them as scapegoats and punished them severely. 
          Being persecuted and blamed for things that they did not do, is something that still happens today.  Many groups are used as scapegoats for problems that they had nothing to do with. 
       
 

Judas

Christmas Tree (: