The only sacrifice,the only meadiator.( Hebrews 9 v11 -28)

 In the New Teastament Christians are called saints,but in the NIV Christians they are called God's 'Holy people', the meaning is one who is set apart,I wonder if NIV use  those words to clarify a confused situation. Caused by the Church of Rome and its unbiblical  teaching that saints are limited to some special group who they appoint  whereas the the Bible teaches that all Christians are saints,and then these special group whom the Church of Rome exalt to the position of  mediators for all those who pray to God,because it is not what the Bible teaches,1 Timothy 2 v5 reads 'For there is one God and one mediator between God and  mankind,the man Christ Jesus'.There is no bases for making others mediators that includes so called saints or Mary. .As there where many sacrifices under the Old Covenat these sacrifices could never take away sin (Hebrews 10 v 11),but Christ sacrifice put and end to them, by His one never to be repeated sacrifice  ,sin would be finally dealt with, Hebrews 10 v14 reads,' For by one sacrifice He has made perfect for ever those who are being made perfect.' So it is was that under the Old Covenant there many who mediated for the people of God, again that was only a temporary measure, there was a new priesthood promised (Psalm110 v4).Jesus was that person ,no other mediators would be needed,he alone qualified for that role ,no one should can  usurp His position as our great High Priest.

                                                        'It is all about Jesus'

hebrews 7 

A better world. ( Hebrews 11 v 13- 16 )

A Captian Henry Wasknow was mortally wounded in the second world,before he died he behind a letter for his family ,of akind which many young men wrote;here is part of it,' I would liked to have lived. But, since God  has willed otherwise,do not grieve too much,dear ones, for life in the other world must be beautiful, and I have lived with that in mind all along'.What lovely words they are,yet so many people live just for this world ,living with that other beauiful world in mind,does not mean escapism ,for Henry in his letter also wrote,' I have done my best to make the world a better place',and he did that by paying the ultimate price.Let us follow Henry's example, let us always keep in mind that other beautiful world, which we know as heaven,in Colossians 3 v 1 we read,'Set your hearts on things above ,where Christ is'. But let us until Christ callls us home do our best to make this world a better place.

To deny these truths.( John 20 v 31)

 Malcolm Muggeridge who professed to be a Christian wrote the following as regards the virgin birth,did he believe it?,his reply was,he did,and then he said.''but as regards a particular female,without anything else happening,concieved and bore a child and that child was Jesus.In other words, I see it as an artistic  truth rather than an historical truth'. He may have professed to be Christian,but that statement puts a big question over the reality of that. There are many people who believe in a Christ,but it is not the Christ of the Bible,Islam believes in a Christ,Mormons,Jehovah witnesses also believe in a Christ ,but the Christ that they have is far removed from the Christ in the Bible. To be a true Christian  means that we only believe what the Bible teaches, and nothing else,to stray from that brings into question any profession that we may make .We must accept the truth that He was born of Mary who was a virgin ,and that He was the Son of God (Luke 1 v34 -35/Isaiah 7 v 14). That he was truly human but also truly God (Isaiah 9 v 6/ John 1 v 1//Philippians 2 v 8.) .That He was sinless ( Hebrews 4 v15),and that He came for the purpose of saving sinners (Matthew 1v 22 ) that His death on the cross was a sacrifice for sin,that meant he who was sinless would take the sinners place,paying for our sin,that meant taking the punishment for our sins (Isaiah 53v10 /Romans 3 v25/1John 2v2/4v10) ,that means no add -ons,We must believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ .(1 Corinthians 15 ).We must believed that he ascended to heaven  and will return again (Acts 1v9 -11) To deny these truths is to deny you are a Christian.

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I will not fail you.( Isaiah 26 v3 )

 A woman read from what her fatther had written as regards his experience in the 2nd world war,he said everyone was praying,and he found a bit of paper with these words on it, 'Let not your heart be trouble'. These words are, from John 14 v1,our Saviour spoke those words to His disciples,just before He was going to die,for them it would have been a very troubled time. It didn't make sense to them, that He who they believed was the Messiah, should die and die on a cross of all things,But they would eventially understand,and they would remember His words, and how they failed to let them take root. 'Let not your heart be troubled'but it doesn't stop there,it goes unto say,'ye believe in God , believe also in me'.He is saying to saying to them ,'you trust in God' well ,'Trust also in Me', God won't fail you,nor will I,you can trust me for whatever lies ahead,all will be well ,this will not be the end,it will be the beginning of a glorious future ,an eternal future.The future may seem dark now but there will be light at the end of the tunnel.Yes I will die but death will not have the last say,I  go to prepare a place for all my children,I will not fail you.Today He says to all of us who have put their trust in Him,'Let not your heart be troubled',I will not fail you.

                                                'Peace perfect peace,our future all unknown?

                                                Jesus we know , and He is on the throne'

                                                            Words E.H.Bickersteth

The sin of omission. ( 2 Samuel 11 v 14 - 17 )

 Silence is not always is not always golden, there is a time to be quite and a time to speak ,in these later years we have heard of  the horrendous abuse of children ,which was allowed to go on and on for a long ,long time. It took place possible all over the world in the Roman Catholic Church,many knew about it,those in authority just hushed it all up, they simple moved the person to another place ,where he would continue his abuse. Just recently a well known minister in the Anglican Church otherwise known as the Church of England died,and now it has it been revealed that for 40 yrs he was an abuser of young boys,he abused hundreds  of young people.The former owner of  Harrods Mohamed Al-Fayed,who died in 2023 abused many women,many people knew about it,including the police,and they did nothing .Silence is not always golden,far from it, those people who did nothing to stop it are guilty of the sin of omission, whatever the reasons for being silent and not dealing with the abusers they were wrong. Someone I know was harassed and threatened by someone he worked with ,he reported him,yet there was those who winessed what had happened but they did not want to get involved,so they kept silent.

                                                           'There is a time to be silent

                                                            and a time to speak'

                                                              Ecclesiastes 3 v 7.

Have Confidence ( Romans 8 v 31)

 Are you a confident person?,I am to some extent,it is easy to loose confidence,and affect one's performance if you are involved in sport.There are people who can speak words that can give us confidence,think of Winston Churchill how he spoke words that encourage a nation to hold on and not give up,when threatened by the might and power of Germany.Often I feel very inadequate and its then I look to God for a word that will encouage me to go on. Romans 8 is a wonderful chapter,the writer is the apostle Paul,a man who faced so many difficulties,yet God give him wonderful words of encouragement for God's children, Let me just highlight some of these words, v31 reads,'If God be for us,who can be against us'.It is John Stott who clarifies the 'if 'to  'since',so that right away should give us confidence that God is for us. That means no matter who or what is against us we have God with us to help us.Consider our foes the 'World', the world is no friend of God, or God's children. expect no favours from this world,be not surprised when they persecute the church,which they are doing in so many countries.Then there is the flesh described by one person as indwelling sin,our sinful tendencies, God who is for us can help us to overcome them,be they sexual,anger,lying ,love of the wrong things.Then there is the devil,he is a strong foe, who will do his best to pull us down,by hook or by crook. Self confidence is not the answer , it is confidence in our God who is for us,and that's all we need to know.

                                             ' We rest on Thee our shield and our defender!

                                               We go not forth alone against the foe;

                                               Strong in Thy strength ,safe in Thy keeping tender,

                                               We rest on Thee,and in Thy name we go.'

                                                                Words Edith G.Cherry.                                              

                                                   

                                                        

He makes all the difference. ( Psalm 23 v1)

I was in the chemist shop to collect my wifes medication,and I was asked what is your wife's birth date,and I looked at her,and said(Wait for it),'you must be joking'.I am not good at remember birthday's even though I have the task of sending birthday cards,to my five sons and their wives ,plus a mulitude of grandchildren and some great grandchildren, how do I remember their birthdays?very simple,I write  them down on a calender. Let me  just add  I have been married 40yrs,shame on me for not remembering her birth date,then I thought mybe I should have the date of her birth tattooed  on my arm. Well it was just a mad thought,I do not like pain, so no tattoo.Enough of this tom foolery ,as regards myself  I do remember my own birth date,just to prove it,oh I forget,not really.There is something I do remember ,what happened 60 yrs ago, it was a week before my 20th birthday.when I went to church with a neighbour and his wife.I do not remember what was preached,and I even thought the preachers voice sounded funny, but as he progressed I felt a deep need in my heart for Christ,that is somehing I will never forget,and life has never been the same.Oh the sixty yrs have not been all fun and laughter,but I have had the abiding presence of Christ with me all the time,and He makes all the difference.