Al is a born-again Christian who believes the inerrant Word of God. She received through faith God's gift of salvation by accepting Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior in 1991. But Al has stayed away from the precepts of contemplative spirituality and other trends popularized by many churches of today. Since 2009, Al has continued in the faith while listening to church services online, including the Radio Free Church. From then on, Al has witnessed that one's spiritual growth and deepening comes from no other but the One True Vine, Jesus Christ. The following Scriptures are just a few of the verses that guide Al in her Christian walk.
12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:12-13, KJV)
12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:12-13, KJV)God's Word is perfect and powerful.
16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
We are created after the image and likeness of God, not after the "poof" theory.
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26)
God is a jealous God and so He commands us not to bow down before images.
4Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; (Exodus 20:4-5) God loves us so much, He wants us to be certain of our eternal life before we die.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23) Jesus teaches us the fear of God. And yes, "hell" is real. 4And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. (Luke 12: 4-5) Jesus is the only way.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)
30And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:30-31)
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)
We are saved by grace through faith and not by works.
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8–10) | ". . . [Be] born again." 3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:3-7) _______ You and I can be born again when we trust in Jesus Christ and make Him the Lord of our life. You may utter this prayer of repentance and invite Him to come into your life right now: Lord Jesus, I have sinned against You, please forgive me. I cannot save myself, but You saved me from eternal punishment when You died on the cross and completely paid for all my sins. Nothing in what I can do can add or diminish what You did on the cross. Thank You Lord Jesus for this gift of salvation. I now put my trust in You and receive You to be my Personal Lord and Savior. Amen. _______ Should we or should we not tithe anymore? Whether or not we do, we can always give our offerings in love. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30) 24And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? 25He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? 26Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. 27Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. (Matthew 17:24-27) _______ _______ We must worship God in spirit and in truth. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24) Do not be deceived. 4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (Matthew 24:4-5) |
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Believers have been continuously warned from deceptions lurking in the church. One such warning calls Christians to be on guard against contemplative spirituality. To learn more about this warning, please read "What is Contemplative Spirituality and Why Is It Dangerous?" by John Caddock.
Al is also blessed to find online the ministries of Understand the Times, Radio Free Church, and Lighthouse Trails Research Project.
