Faith: A believer's Patmos
Faith
Al is a non-denominational, Bible-believing Christian who came to know the Lord Jesus Christ in 1991. As she continues to learn and unlearn matters concerning the faith, she has decided to stay away from the precepts of contemplative spirituality and other trends popularized by innumerable churches of this day (visit link below or click "read her book online"). Consequently, she ceased attending a physical church and tithing in 2009, but continued in the faith by going back to what the Bible says.
One's spiritual growth and deepening indeed comes from no other but the One True Vine, the Lord Jesus Christ. The following Biblical passages, books, and related links are just a few of the inspirations Al reflects upon in her walk with God.
For 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. Neither 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)
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)
Should a Christian celebrate Christmas?
(link reposted on Al's Blogger)
Among the emergent churches in the Philippines and the reasons I left them (Revised Edition)
Al Sabado
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)
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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 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 as receive You to be my Personal Lord and Savior I live according to Your Word. Amen.
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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)
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Read more on tithing, Tithing: Low-Realm, Obsolete & Defunct.
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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)
Let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No,' 'No'...
Un-celebrating birthdays, a liberating experience
Yes, I've stopped tithing and attending a physical church
Unlearning Calvinism, lordship salvation, et al.
Check out the blog and videos online
Lists of false (Christian) authors, churches, groups, leaders, practices, movement, teachers, etc.
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.(Romans 16:17-18)But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.(John 4:23-24)Do you believe in Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God who died for all our sins so that by grace through faith we may receive salvation. Are you saved?
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.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)
Why do we need salvation? We need salvation because without it, we will spend eternity in the fires of hell. Is hell real? Psalm 9:17 is just one of the many verses in the Holy Bible that mentions hell.
The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.(Psalm 9:17)
Is there any other way that can keep us from hell? None. 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)
What about purgatory? Aren't we given a second chance to do what's right after we die? To say that purgatory exists so that we can undo the unrepentant life that we lived and be saved from hell contradicts God's Word, which clearly says that theLord Jesus Christ is the ONLY way (John 14:6) and that we are saved by grace through faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Contrary to the concept of purgatory, we only die once and after that we face judgment--just as the Bible says:
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)
For this reason, God sent His only begotten Son to bear all our sins:
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)
Salvation is a gift from God; but it can only be yours and mine when we accept it. Once again we quote these verses:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
How do we accept it? We accept this free salvation when we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)
Listen to God's Word . . .
. . . while cooking, gardening, walking, exercising, shopping, driving, etc.
via free streaming and download from KJVaudio.com
An ideal gift item too!
Saved to DVD disks, micro SDs, and other data storage systems compatible with laptops, cellphones, etc.
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. . . [Jesus] answered and said,
It is written,
Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word
that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God.
(Matthew 4:4)
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Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.(Proverbs 30:5-6)_______
The Holy Bible (King James Version)
- Read online print
- Read/Listen to online audio/print
- Download and listen to online audio in MP3 format or via AudioTreasure.com
"Why believers should not attend church"
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.(1 John 2:27)Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. . . .(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)(Philippians 3:2, 18-19)"Tithing is not a Christian doctrine."
Read "Should the Church Teach Tithing?"
Tithing: Low-Realm, Obsolete & Defunct
Matthew E. Narramore
Uncelebrating occasions
Just because I don't greet people "Happy birthday" (along with "Merry Christmas," "Happy New Year," "Happy Valentine's," "Happy Mother's Day," "Happy Father's Day," "Happy Anniversary," etc.) doesn't mean I don't care. I don't even celebrate mine. :) Why? It began the time I realized the practice (along with the others I mentioned) came from pagan roots, not from the example of the Lord Jesus. Only two instances in the Bible refer to birthday celebration and both pertain to death, not birth. God's Word says,
But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. (Galatians 4:9-11)