There is only one true and living God who is the same God in both the Old and New Testaments (Isaiah 45:22; Eph. 4:5,6).
God, who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, created the heavens and the earth in six 24-hour days (Genesis 1).
The word of God, as recorded in the Textus Receptus and manuscripts that support it, is a true account of events from Genesis to Revelation. Therefore, true believers can place total trust in what it says and should look to God’s word for guidance in how we should conduct ourselves individually, corporately, publicly, and privately.
God manifests himself in three persons–the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit–and these three are one (1 John 5:7).
All human beings are sinful from the moment of conception–a trait we inherited from the first man, Adam, and the first woman, Eve.
Because of our sinful nature, we are in need of salvation from our sins since it is our inherent wickedness that keeps us separated from God.
Jesus Christ is God who appeared in the form of a man by birth to a virgin named Mary. This Jesus of Nazareth was conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, this Jesus, who is Christ (the Messiah, the anointed one) was without a sinful nature (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:14, 15).
Jesus Christ is the only way to get to God, for he said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6).
Jesus was crucified to death, laid in a tomb, and rose from the dead on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4).
Jesus came to earth from heaven to die for our sins so we could be saved from our sins by believing in him (1 Corinthians 15:3). We are saved by grace (unmerited favor) through faith in Christ, not by works such as baptism, communion, or any other good work (Ephesians 2:8, 9). Good works are a result of our salvation, not a means to obtain it or keep it.
March 23, 2007 at 6:30 am |
AMEN!!!
May 12, 2007 at 2:31 am |
http://koti.phnet.fi/petripaavola/YeshuapromisedMessiah.html
Scriptures says that all Israel (remnant of last days) will be saved and they believe that Yeshua is the Messiah! In the last days being remnant of Israel will be saved after they have repented and believed that Yeshua is the Messiah and so all Israel will be saved! Blessed is this promise and may G_d bless Israel in the Messiah!
May 14, 2007 at 1:45 pm |
Hello Harry,
my friend claims we should call Jesus by name of Joshua or Yeshua only, since that was His original Hebrew name, that the name of Jesus came to be only in 15th century when they wrote the KJV. And that the name Jesus is Greek, and it has pagan origins?
What do you think about this?
Joe D
May 14, 2007 at 5:03 pm |
Jesus is just the translation of Yeshua, just like Christ is the translation of Messiah and Jehovah is the translation of Yahweh. I wouldn’t worry about it. Your friend is splitting hairs.
November 26, 2007 at 1:58 pm |
True, Jesus is a Greek name, but all of our names are different in other languages. If Jesus had a problem with it, he would have told the Greeks and Romans to address him differently. Besides, didn’t He create all the languages?
January 24, 2008 at 11:09 am |
Hello Harry,
to what extent is my responsibility to my mother? She is 83 and her health is failing. She needs some home care, shopping, dr’s appointments, cooking, cleaning, and help using rest room and shower at times. She can barley walk, her knees are shot. She is widowed.
I am 42 and single, no kids, but have my own life and a high pressure business to run. My older brother lives 3 hours away, he is the POA and contols all her affairs and finances and medical issues. He wants me and my twin brother to just help when needed. My twin brother is married with 3 kids, so he is limited with his assistance to her as well.
My older brother won’t work with us to devise a plan for regular paid care, etc. Bottom line, he and my mom don’t want to pay. They expect us to visit, sleep over, do shopping, and be regularly involved in her life, preferable on a daily basis! I live about 20 minutes away from her.
My mom refuses to sell the house and go into assisted living,etc. She is determined to spend her last days at home, (which is burdening all of us). She is very stubborn, difficult to deal with and most times unhappy and miserable. She is catholic and not saved. She could live another 10 years! We don’t have the closest relationship, no one does in our family.
I can see if I was her daughter, it’s easier to care for her, etc. But as a man her demands are getting frustrating to me. I tell her I will hire someone to sleep over and to do shopping etc. She fights that, as she wants me to do it. I do understand a lot of this is for her to get my attention as I try to make myself scarce as much as possible, I am driven away by her and her situation. But even when I do do things for her and try to set plans in place, etc, it’s never good enough. She’s never satisfied.
Women have told me if they were married to me they’d never tolerate my mom’s actions. Some have told me mother controls me. She does try to manipulate me for her own good. But on other side of coin I am trying to not to neglect her. She has always been difficult my whole life, now it’s worse as she now needs care. And she just calls me and expects me to drop my life, business, enjoyment, etc to go cater to her? I mean I know I’m her son and I have to be there for her, but at what point do you draw the line? When is it control?
And if I try to give her advice about what she needs to do as far as moving to Asst Living, downsizing, etc, she doesn’t listen to me. She only listens to my older brother, she respects him more. But, he wants to give her her wishes, but he lives 3 hours away and is here sporadically, and therefore the final responsibilty for her is being dumped on me!
For some reason, this still does not make sense to me. I feel I do need to help her, but I have my own life, is she controlling me? Honestly, I have no desire to help her due to her demands, expectations, and disrespect towards me. It’s all duty and no love. I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do.
Could I ask you your advice on what you think I should do or how to handle this? I would appreciate anything at this point! Thank you so much!
Joe
January 26, 2008 at 3:22 pm |
Joe,
I’ll start off by saying I hesitate to try to give advice on such an emotional matter as this one because there may be a whole lot of things going on in this situation I’m not aware of. I was told once that there are at least 3 sides to every story–the side of each opposing view and the truth.
But based on what you’ve said here, I would say that what you should do should be based on what is commanded or suggested in God’s word. That is your first obligation as a Christian regardless of what your family or friends say or do. You should read 1 Timothy 5 for what Paul commands with regard to widows. Throughout the Bible, we are commanded to honor our parents, which includes taking care of their needs in their old age. That’s why Christ strongly rebuked the religious leaders in the gospels when they, by their traditions, compelled people to give money to the “church” instead of helping out their aging parents.
Paul says clearly that believers who don’t take care of their widows are worse than unbelievers (1 Tim. 5:8). Paul states that it is the widow’s saved relatives that have the primary responsibility for seeing to their needs, not the church’s or by implication any other institution (1 Tim. 5:4, 8, 16).
This belief runs contrary to American culture because we are so preoccupied with ourselves and getting more things and being independent. That’s why we have so many elderly people in nursing homes instead of living with their families. In other cultures, such as Latin America, Africa, parts of Europe, and Asia, it is customary for several generations to live under one roof so they can take care of each other. This is actually more normal and more in line with what God wants than what we see in America.
It sounds like part of your problem may be your own selfishness, but I’m saying this out of love, not to slam you in any way. However, this doesn’t mean you should have to spend all of your spare time with your mother. You’re an individual who has your own life to live. So you have to ask God for wisdom and advice from the word and the Holy Spirit to guide you on some kind of compromise with your mother. But, of course, I would warn you that doing what pleases God may not be in line with how you feel. You are commanded to love your mother no matter how she has treated you, yet at the same time you don’t have to take whatever she dishes out. There’s a delicate balance to this situation and I’m sure God will lead you in the right direction if you let him.
It’s not just a coincidence that you live only 20 minutes away from her. People all over America drive longer than that to get to their jobs everyday to provide for their families. Maybe you can designate a certain amount of days or hours to be physically there for her every week and keep it a strict schedule that resists anyone’s manipulations or excuses, including your own. Then on the days you’re not there, you can call her at least once a day for a few minutes or less to make sure she’s alright. Doing this may avoid you both from driving each other crazy.
When you were a child did your mother ever make sacrifices for you, such as nursing you back to health when you got sick and had to stay home from school or attending a school function for you? If you have your own business, a decent place to live, and your basic needs taken care of, then my guess is that she had some type of positive influence on how you got where you are. If nothing else, she carried you to full term during her pregnancy and went through labor so you could walk this earth. Many babies nowadays are not given that opportunity, so maybe you should count your blessings.
February 19, 2008 at 3:02 pm |
Thanks Harry,
you’re right. I have to be more patient and understand her more. I will give more of an effort…
Thanks again,
Joe D
May 27, 2008 at 5:01 pm |
Harry,
That is so wonderful! Joe’s problem is not just his; we all face this dilemma some time in our lives.
Thank you Harry for the great work.
-Rup
May 27, 2008 at 7:34 pm |
I feel great sorrow for you and those who think like you. I am a pagan of many years and your information is in no way correct. We do not worship or acknowledge what you refer to as the devil, satan, lucifer or any other such thing. These are all inventions of the christian community! We are a nature based religion that existed long before christianity. To put the record straight, please note sir that the true purpose of life is that we should love our fellow man and the wonderful earth that the creator provided for us.
We are all personally responsible for what we do, you cannot excuse your actions by inventing a separate entity to blame, regardless of what name you care to give it. We are all on this earth to fulfil a purpose and pagans believe if you mess up this time you will re incarnate until you experience all you need to do on earth until you can become one with the creator. Please, please, stop spreading hatred in the name of your religion. Open your eyes each day and look around and see the miracle of divinity all around you in everything you see. All life is a miracle and we are on this earth to love each other, not hate!
Please feel free to contact me anytime.
ps. The pentagram I wear as a symbol of my faith stands for earth, fire, air, water and spirit and no other rubbish! My eye amulet is quite simply an amulet of protection against those who would wish me harm and actually has a basis in a rather lovely old legend about someone who showed great compassion to a fellow human being! Blessed Be!
May 27, 2008 at 7:52 pm |
this is just by way of a word of support to the guy joe d and his dilemma over his mother? I am in England and in a similar situation with my own mother who is also in her eighties and in need of similar help.
Also, I too have an older brother who has far more influenze over our mother than I but expects others to do the actual hands on assisting!
My advise? Make sure your mothers basic needs are catered for according to your own perception not what anyone else says including employing outside help if necessary but also be quite firm about the fact that you also need time to yourself as well and make sure you take it without feeling guilty.
May 27, 2008 at 9:35 pm |
rozene,
No need for you to pity me concerning my views on paganism. It’s not hate speech as you claim, but is LOVE speech. Like my Lord Jesus, I love people enough to tell them the truth about their sin and God’s way of escape from sin to salvation through the sinless sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who died to save mankind and rose from the dead with power over death and hell. Any other form of worship, including yours, can only provide the eternal death sentence of hell for a person, so I choose to warn people about the danger that lies ahead for them if they keep going down the wrong road. That’s definitely not hate.
Your claim of setting the record straight only made it crooked. The greatest commandment for mankind is to love the Lord God (who is Jehovah, the only true god) with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Then after that we are to love our neighbors (fellow humans) as ourselves.
I know what wiccans (pagans, white witches) believe and your statements only verify what I said, so thank you for that much. If you believe that the god and goddess you serve are non-Satanic, you are greatly deceived. Satan has blinded you to the truth and you have made it all too easy for him to deceive you by your disbelief that he exists. That makes you such an easy target for him, whether or not you acknowledge it. So if anyone needs their eyes opened, it’s you.
All of us are indeed responsible for our decisions and that includes our decisions to accept and follow God’s truths or to accept and follow Satan’s lies. In the end, we are the only ones who will have to answer to Jesus Christ for our decisions, so no one can blame Satan for their choices and I never stated they could blame Satan, as you implied.
You’re in for a very rude awakening when your present life ends. If you hold to the false belief that you’ll get a reincarnation to try to fix your screw-ups, you’re wrong. We are only given one life to live, and after that comes God’s judgment. That’s the whole truth and nothing but the truth as it pertains to life.
Your continuing arguments against the truth as found in God’s word, the Bible, will not in any way change the truth one iota. I hope and pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that you will accept the truth before it’s too late for you.
March 20, 2009 at 9:21 pm |
!!!AMEN
May 22, 2009 at 4:26 am |
In response to Joe D – You have done the right thing in helping with your mother, having read harryagaylord’s reply – he is right. (not sure Harry wether you have a problem of an elderely relative – but if you have, trust me it is a huge and hard responsibility). My father used to beat me on many occasions – I was his whipping post for the frustations in his life and I would be lying to say that I loved him – I hated him.
If you had told me when I was young that I would end up looking after him in his old age (90) I would have laughed in your face. But hey, the Lord changes things – and he lives with us that is my husband and son. He is totally dependant on us – and it is the work of my Jesus.
My father has apologised for way he used to hit me – and though I do not respect him as he was a bully. I respect the fact that I have to honor him and look after him.
My father is also a Christian and he does realise the damage he has done. My younger brother was not hit at all.
Not easy Joe, but since when were promised an easy ride. One promise that most of us do not want to acknowledge is the one about tribulation.
Act 14:2 … and that we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God.
So every blessing to you in your commitment to your mother. And know that other know how you feel.
Just for the record – I have 4 children – first one at 17 last 35 – and my latter years I feel are ‘me’ years. I and my husband would love to be free and to be able to travel and not have the responiblility of an old and difficult man. However God knows what He is doing. And many lessons to be learned.
Every blessing to everyone who is in this position. You are not alone.
May 22, 2009 at 4:30 am |
Meant to tick the e-mail box – if anyone wants encouragment please free to contact me.
I did not mention that I have been looking after my father for 11 years. He has survived one massive heart attack – cancer 3 times reoccurring and he is stooped with old age.
ylb@culla.co.uk
June 12, 2009 at 11:56 am |
I seek clarification…
When you say,
“There is only one true and living God who is the same God in both the Old and New Testaments”, “God, who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent”, and “God manifests himself in three persons–the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit–and these three are one”
which of the following scenarios would best fit with your belief set:
1: God, which is YHWH, is Jesus, is the Holy Spirit, i.e. God(YHWH) = Jesus = Holy Spirit .
or
2: What we call God is comprised of, YHWH, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. God = YHWH + Jesus + Holy Spirit.
(I hope you can see the difference between the two scenarios…)
Thanks.
June 12, 2009 at 11:26 pm |
penultima,
I would say God is the Trinity. He is the Father. He is the Son. He is the Holy Spirit. He can reveal himself as all three separately and as one together. Those of the Apostolic denomination (like T.D. Jakes) deny the Trinity and claim God is Jesus only. I am very opposed to their concept of who God is.
June 15, 2009 at 5:01 pm |
Could you expound on why you are opposed to that concept?
June 16, 2009 at 8:21 pm
I believe scripture bears out the fact that the Godhead is more than just Jesus Christ. For instance, during the creation God refers to himself in the plural–”And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” [Genesis 1:26].
Even God’s name in this passage–”Elohim”–is plural. Although it is referring to the one true God, it means “gods” or “divine ones.” Jesus even said, “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.” [John 5:26-27]. Jesus says they can exist separately, but are equal and one.
It is because of the many complex aspects of our God that it is difficult for our human minds to fully understand how this can be, so instead of accepting it, some people in ages past came along and decided that it would be easier if we overlook such scriptures and state that God is Jesus only or that there is no Trinity.
July 10, 2009 at 8:52 pm |
There seems to be confusion on the sacred names. First YAHWEH named Himself and His Son . It is in the bible. Now the word jesus is only 350yrs old and was never heard or written during YAHUSHUA’s life time. He never heard the word. The name HE gave to be saved by was not jesus . people do not have a right to change the names YAHWEH gave to Himself and His Son. There is no verse for it. Churches just do not want to use Hebrew names even tho we use foreign leaders names all the time and we don’t change them. The Savior was a Hebrew , HE will come back as a circumcised Hebrew Man to YAHWEH’s chosen city Jerusalem and His chosen land Israel. Hebrew are the chosen people .
July 14, 2009 at 9:30 pm |
Hebrews are the chosen people, indeed, since the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. However, because the Hebrews have rejected the Messiah, all Gentiles who have accepted Jesus Christ have been grafted into God’s kingdom. The Bible does not require us to use God’s name as it is in Hebrew. God is concerned about us acknowledging who he is. When we call out to him in his Hebrew name or the English translation of his name, he knows who we’re talking to based on what is in our hearts. So you’ve made a mountain out of a molehill with your statement. Next, you’ll be telling us we have to be physically circumcised to be saved.