Romans 2:4-5

Romans 2:4-5 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (5) But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.

Paul has made it clear that all men are sinful and practice the evil deeds listed in Chapter one. Now in Chapter two, he is asserting that even those who make a distinction between righteousness and unrighteousness by judging others are also guilty of the same evil deeds. The religious Jews of Paul’s day had the Law of Moses and believed that they had established their own righteousness through the law. This led to them judging others who in their eyes did not measure up to the law. However, Paul pointed out that they are also guilty and, through a rhetorical question, asserts they are presuming on God’s kindness and patience. They have missed the point that God’s forbearance was meant to lead them to repentance rather than thinking they had become righteous through the law.

As surely as farmers store hay and grain in barns, those who depend on the Law of Moses for their righteousness are storing up wrath for the day of wrath when God’s judgment will be revealed. Each ungodly and unrighteous sin that human beings commit is stored in their own personal sin barn. Although a person may also have good works they think will cancel out their sins, Scripture reveals that even our best works are like filthy rags and are of no value in removing our sins. Therefore, human beings have no way in and of themselves in which they can appease the wrath of God. The situation appears to be hopeless since all human beings come to the Day of Judgment with a barn full of sins. Praise God that He provides a way that Paul explains later in The Book of Romans.

Romans 2:2-3

Romans 2:2-3 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. (3) Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?

In Chapter one, Paul gives the following list for which God’s judgment rightly falls: envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness, gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. The photo above illustrates a life style from the old Wild West days where these things were practiced unashamedly. Paul is making the point that all men practice such things. Even men who think of themselves as religious, righteous, and good practice such things. Although Paul is referring to all men, he is primarily referring to the religious Jews of his day. They considered themselves righteous law keepers, and were quick to judge others who fell short of the Law of Moses. However, Paul says they did the same things. They were judging the open practice of sin in others, but ignoring their hidden sins of deeds and of the heart. They had the law and believed by affirming the law and partially keeping it, they were right with God. They were assuming God graded on a curve and their righteous performance was sufficient to escape the judgment of God.

Paul, in the rhetorical question of verse 3, gives the emphatic answer! No one can escape the wrath of God through the law of Moses. Paul makes that crystal clear in chapter 3 of Romans and elsewhere in his Epistles. After giving the bad news of human sin and God’s wrath and judgment in Chapter 1, Paul removes any hope that the law of Moses offers any solution in Chapter 2 and 3.

Romans 2:1

Romans 2:1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.

In the passage above Paul is referring to the practice of people judging the activities of other people. Man has an amazing ability to discern, judge, and condemn other people for activities that they themselves also commit. How many times have we excused our own sinful practices or seen others do likewise by saying, “Well that’s different?” It is different because fallen sinners see many reasons to justify themselves for doing the very same thing they condemn other for doing. People judge others as being liars, but see themselves as stretching the truth just a little bit. They judge others that steal as thieves but themselves as lucky when they leave a store and realize the clerk gave them too much change.

That is why impartial judges are required in many human endeavors such as baseball. If the pitch in the photo above is on the borderline, the batter will see it as a ball and the catcher will see it as a strike. Therefore, an umpire is required to give an impartial ruling. The fact that judges, referees, and umpires are needed in the world confirms the point that Paul is making in this verse. By recognizing and judging sin in others, a person is condemning sin. Therefore, any similar sin that a person has in his own life is self-condemned. Paul is stating plainly and bluntly that all men are sinners, and by judging others they are basically giving a confession of their own sin.

Romans 2 Photo Devotionals

1. Romans 2:1
2. Romans 2:2-3
3. Romans 2:4-5
4. Romans 2:6-7
5. Romans 2:8-9
6. Romans 2:10-11
7. Romans 2:12
8. Romans 2:13-16
9. Romans 2:17-24












































































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Romans 1:17

Romans 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

According to Paul, this gospel is one in which righteousness is revealed to be from God through faith. It is a righteousness of God that is obtained by faith and is nurtured by an ongoing faith. Just as the grapes in the photo above owe their existence to the vine, they also owe their growth and maturity to the vine. It is also true that salvation begins with faith and continues with faith, as Jesus made clear when he preached that he was the vine and his disciples were the branches.

There is a tendency to believe that salvation comes by faith and is maintained by works or human effort. This is a form of legalism that accepts the grace of God in justification and makes human self-effort the driving force in sanctification. Paul wrote the entire Epistle to the Galatians to refute this terrible error, and here in the theme verse of Romans he plainly states that disciples begin with faith and they live by faith. This point is beautifully illustrated in the great hymn Amazing Grace where John Newton wrote, “Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,And grace will lead me home.”

Brethren, praise God that God gives grace upon grace in salvation and grace will enable Christians to arrive safely home. With this verse Paul begins the task of thoroughly explaining the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ by first explaining the bad news beginning in verse 18.

Romans 1:16

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Jesus said that when He returns, He will be ashamed of whoever is ashamed of Him and his words. The gospel message, of universal human sin and the power of divine redemption, offends the world and the world hates the message. The world has no problem with a Jesus who was a great teacher of ethics and morals or with anyone being a follower of Jesus through self-effort, but does not want to hear about the sin of a human race they consider to be basically good. Not only are they offended by the truth of their sin; they are also offended by God’s solution for their sin, the cross of Calvary. If that were not enough, they are offended further because the gospel message does not include salvation through man made gods and false religions of their imagination. How should Christians handle these objections in explaining the gospel?

Paul tells us in this verse that he is not ashamed of the gospel and that he will proclaim it as it was delivered to him directly from Jesus Christ. Therefore, he rejects sugar coating the gospel so as not to offend the world. Unfortunately, Paul’s gospel is a gospel that many today, that claim Christ, do not proclaim. Instead, they edit, discard, ignore, reinterpret, and minimize portions they are ashamed to preach to the world. There is currently a movement that denies Christ’s death as atonement for the sin of believers. They call themselves followers in the way of Jesus and they are ashamed of the gospel as Paul lays it out in Romans. Other highly educated professing “Christian” scholars assert that redemption and salvation can be obtained by religions other than Christianity. They are ashamed of the gospel as presented in Romans and by the words of Jesus (John 14:6). Other false teachers fill huge mega-churches and preach a message of using Christianity to achieve health and wealth. They are ashamed of the true gospel that might cause a mass exodus from their services and collection plate.

Praise God that Paul was not ashamed of the gospel and presented it in great detail in the Book of Romans!

Romans 1:7-15

Romans 1:7-15 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. I want you to know, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

Just as Air Force pilots are under obligation to the Air Force due to their very expensive training, Paul asserts in verse 14 that he is also under obligation. In this epistle to the Christians in Rome, Paul states that he is under obligation to preach the gospel of God. After beginning this epistle by explaining his call, role, and purpose, Paul in these verses turns to addressing the recipients of his call to apostleship. By addressing this letter to the saints in Rome he is, by extension in scope, including all future believers. What is the gospel of God that Paul referred to in verse 1?

The gospel is the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, and Paul says he is under obligation to preach it to the believers in Rome. What reason would he have to preach the gospel to believers other than to insure that they understood it correctly? While salvation comes from faith and not knowledge, it is obvious that Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, asserts the importance of correct doctrinal knowledge. In the Epistle to the Romans, Paul thoroughly explains the gospel of God for both believers and unbelievers. This is a gospel that is in eclipse in our day as many claim Christ but refuse to believe parts that go against worldly principles. Others claim that the gospel is not valid at all or if it is valid, the details are not important. Praise God that Paul has thoroughly explained it for those who have ears to hear both now and forevermore.

Romans 1:6

Romans 1:6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

Paul, in this verse, tells the Romans they are included in those who are called to the obedience of the faith. They are also called to belong to Jesus Christ. What does it mean to belong to Jesus Christ? This is made clear by Paul later in Romans 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. Therefore, those that are called by Christ, have faith in Christ, belong to Christ, and have the Spirit of God dwelling in them.

Believers, through regeneration and faith, have the Spirit of God dwelling in them and belong to Christ. They have been called for the purpose of belonging to Christ. That is why Jesus said in John 10 that my sheep know my voice and listen to me. Jesus has equipped his sheep to know His voice, listen and follow Him. While His sheep will sometimes lose their way and get lost, He has promised that He will not lose or permit anyone to snatch His sheep from His hand.

Praise God that being called to faith in Jesus Christ means a believer belongs to Christ and is secure from all dangers. Believers are also enabled to follow Christ and, through the POWER of the Holy Spirit, they will succeed even though they stumble along the way to their eternal home.

Romans 1:5

Romans 1:5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,

Paul acknowledges in this verse that his apostleship, like all the other apostles, came directly from the call and grace of Jesus Christ, and none of those called responded by telling Jesus they would think and pray about it and get back to him. No, this grace was applied to Paul and the other Apostles with divine POWER and they obeyed and followed immediately. This power enables humans to willingly abandon their bondage to the flesh and follow Christ. For Paul this happened on the Road to Damascus. There have never been or will there ever be any other apostles but these, and anyone else that claims to be an apostle or prophet of God is a false apostle or prophet.

Next in this verse Paul tells the purpose for which he was called. This purpose was and is to bring about the obedience of faith to all nations. God called and made known His gospel to Paul. In His gospel, righteousness is required and the only way for human beings to obtain this righteousness is through obedience. However, the obedience needed is not one of works or law keeping, but is an obedience of faith in Jesus Christ. Through faith, the righteousness of Jesus Christ is credited to the person exercising this faith.

Lastly, Paul tells us why God has provided grace to planet earth. It is for the sake of His name. This is another way of saying it is for His glory! Praise God that He called Paul, in a very dramatic way on the Road to Damascus, to save sinners in a manner that does more than make salvation possible. It secures salvation for those God calls.

Romans 1:4

Romans 1:4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

The many prophets and founders of all the false religions throughout history share one thing in common. They all died when their bell tolled and stayed dead just like everyone who has ever lived except for one person. This proved they were peddling a false, powerless religion. In contrast, Jesus Christ demonstrated, through many miracles and his resurrection from the dead, that he was indeed the Messiah that the prophets of the Old Testament predicted would come and deliver his people. Jesus told his disciples exactly what was going to happen with His crucifixion before it happened and then met with them after his resurrection to prove he had risen and to give them their instructions. In addition to these Apostles, He was seen by over 500 witnesses. Paul, as recorded in Acts 17:30-31, explained why Jesus was raised from the dead:

“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

God demonstrated His power by declaring that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and He is commanding all people everywhere to repent. Notice that Paul does not say that God is inviting and asking people to let him come into their hearts. No, God is commanding people everywhere to repent and believe because the times of ignorance is over.

Romans 1 Photo Devotionals

1. Romans 1:1
2. Romans 1:2-3
3. Romans 1:4
4. Romans 1:5
5. Romans 1:6
6. Romans 1:7-15
7. Romans 1:16
8. Romans 1:17
9. Romans 1:18
10. Romans 1:19-20
11. Romans 1:21
12. Romans 1:22-23
13. Romans 1:24-25
14. Romans 1:26-27
15. Romans 1:28-32

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Caution Loons at work!

CAUTION LOONS AT WORK!
The global warming hysteria lunacy will soon begin to cost America in an extreme way if this government is handed over to democrats……………

Obama said in January, 2008:
”So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it's just that it will bankrupt them because they're going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that's being emitted.”

Since 50% of our electricity is generated by coal, this is very serious. Oh, by the way these extremists do not want to use nuclear either. They want to rely on things that might be developed by and by. Instead of developing these things first and then doing an orderly transition, they want to press on full steam ahead.......

America, I know you are mad at George Bush, but do we really want to turn our prospertity and well being over to these LOONS!!!!!

Donate now

To donate to the National Republican Trust PAC, which will be running T.V. spots showing Obama's racist anti-American pastor, go to: goptrust.com

Obviously time is important..........

The Tyrannical Democratic Party Tactics

The Joe the plumber outrage:

The personal attacks on Joe the Plumber have been the worst example of political ethics I have ever seen in my lifetime. The man simply asked Barack Obama a question as Obama walked through his neighborhood. It was a valid question that Obama could have answered in a way that would not have revealed his Marxist leanings. The person and background of Joe the Plumber was totally irrelevant to the question and to Obama’s answer. If he had been the worst of criminals, it would not have changed the validity or importance of the question.

Yet in the grand ole style of democratic politics, the liberal media and many democratic operatives immediately sought to destroy the character of Joe the Plumber. This tactic served to distort and cloud the real issue, which was the question and Obama’s answer. It is the tactic of the politics of personal destruction that democrats and their allies have developed to an art form. It was successfully used on George Bush, and has been partially successful on Sarah Palin. At least Bush and Sarah Palin are in the political arena, but Joe the Plumber is just an average working American who asked a legitimate question of someone running for office. It is an outrage and makes an absolute joke out of the democrats claiming they want to bring people together. The truth is they want to eliminate dissent and bring everyone to accept their left-wing polices without question or opposition. The politics of personal destruction has been working very well for the Democratic Party and I see no reason they will change as long as enough people can be duped and manipulated by their outrageous tactics.

Unbelievable that the liberal media thinks the background of Joe the Plumber is important, but have no interest in checking into Obama’s connection with the radical Marxist terrorist Bill Ayers and racist former pastor Jeremiah Wright. It amazes me how they do not understand that people like me to not believe anything they report!

I for one will firmly oppose the left-wing Democratic Party agenda on day one if Obama is elected. My opinion of the Democratic Party cannot get any lower.


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No Obama, I think it’s good for everybody when you spread freedom, work and responsibility around.

Obama told Joe the plumber, “I think that when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.” I must take exception. People that have freedom and apply themselves through work and accessing educational opportunities can create their own wealth. A society that is foolish enough to think the government can create prosperity by spreading the wealth around by taxing the “rich” and giving to the poor and middle class will eventually end up spreading poverty and misery around. In gaining this shared poverty and misery societies lose their freedom in exchange for tyranny and totalitarianism. The Obama policy will result in trading opportunity for equal outcomes. It will cause poverty rather than eliminate it. One only has to look at the societies that have tried this lunacy to see the end result. It is noteworthy that Obama's friends such as the Marxist Bill Ayers and former anti-American preacher Jeremiah Wright advocated this nonsense. However, it must be noted that utopian government rhetoric has never fed a hungry child.

In a speech to Planned Parenthood Obama declared the culture war as being "so nineties" and over. Let me assure you that the clash of world-views that is the culture war is not over. If you are elected, those who oppose the world-view that you are promoting should on day one begin working with enthusiasm to see that such polices are not enacted. Since you have made your wrong-headed polices crystal clear, there is no need for anyone to delay their total opposition to your bad policy preferences.

I for one will engage in lawfully trying to see that your agenda is thwarted.

rrr

Life in Kooksville

Here at Jazzycat we often document the people who leave Sanitytown and move to Kooksville. It is an alarming thing to watch this process unfold in the United States on a daily basis. Having never visited Kooksville, I became curious as to how people there went about their daily lives. Therefore, a couple months back I commissioned my old friend, Lefty Leaner, formerly of WLIE-TV and Agenda Weekly Magazine to infiltrate Kooksville and bring back an in depth report on the life styles and daily life in the ever growing city of Kooksville. While Lefty agreed with the world-view that is imposed on all who live in Kooksville, he consented because the financial deal I offered him exceeded his standard of personal ethics. In short, financial gain trumped his ethical concerns and he agreed to spy on his liberal brethren. A like-minded spy was necessary because the residents of Kooksville become extremely intolerant of anyone who does not share their world-view. Therefore, the PC police are trained to spot even the slightest lack of conformity to the accepted standards of post-modern dogma. One innocent comment like mentioning how the glaciers have expanded in Alaska, or how nuclear power might possibly be a solution to America’s energy problem is enough to land one into eco sensitivity training school. These schools require incarceration until accepted behavioral standards are met and certified by eco-friendly groups like Green Peace and Earth First. It is a great risk for someone who is not on board with liberal activist lunacy to go there. That is why someone of Lefty’s character and world-view is required to perform the mission without detection. He looks and acts like a community activist organizer and in fact had been a community organizer with ACORN in his college days.

The following is the report that Lefty brought back from his journey to Kooksville:

Entry into Kooksville is on Pro Choice Avenue which leads to a town square in the center of town where a huge statue of Charles Darwin is located in the center of the park. All the businesses around the town square have names that end with the word commune such as The Kooksville Hardware Commune. Many activist organizations such as Code Pink, PETA, NOW, ACORN, ACLU, Green Peace, Amnesty International, Save our Planet, Earth First, Rainforest Action Network, and many more have their offices on the town square. Everything in Kooksville is painted green except for a few signs by Code Pink the anti-war organization. By edict from the town council, all churches must be located on Pluralism Drive and agree that all spiritual views are equally valid and true. Tolerance in Kooksville has a new enhanced meaning. Not only must all spiritual views be allowed to peacefully exist, they must be acknowledged to be equally true with all other spiritual views. Tolerance of all views is required as long as these views fall under the umbrella of the primary post-modern secular world-view. In short, all views must pass the Kooksville politically correct test. If any view is deemed to fail this test, then it is automatically brought before a board composed of one member of each organization located on the town square. Any view that is not approved by this board, is labeled as hate speech and banned from Kooksville. Thus for politically incorrect views the only view tolerated is intolerance. This means Kooksville only extends tolerance to approved views and embraces intolerance of all others.

In the residential sections of Kooksville, solar panels and windmills are required for the generation of electricity and waterless toilets are required to protect the environment. The only exception is that toilets may use water if all the fluids are recycled and reused. Grass and shrubs are allowed as long as nothing is used that would leave a carbon footprint. This includes any carbon foot print generated by shipping which effectively limits grass and shrub purchases from local sources only. Vehicles in Kooksville must get 80 miles per gallon of gas and the carbon foot print must be offset by buying carbon credits. These vehicles are basically golf carts that are totally enclosed with reinforced aluminum foil. Since airbags would cause the aluminum foil exteriors to explode, they are not used in these vehicles. The only house in town that does not have an Obama yard sign is for sale by Save the Rain Forest Reality Company. The previous owners became so depressed about the plight of polar bears and snail darters that they were committed to the Al Gore Asylum for the mentally ill located on Global Warming Boulevard. For the extreme delusional patients, the asylum has a conspiracy wing where every room is numbered 9/11 and has a picture of George Bush and Dick Cheney. Ward Churchill of the Univ. of Colorado comes by to visit these patients on a regular basis. In Kooksville the ratio of the mentally ill to physically ill is 10 to 1. It is estimated by the local planning board that the Al Gore Asylum will have to be tripled in size should Obama lose the election.

Commercial activity in Kooksville is tightly regulated and nothing is allowed that may in its production or usage contribute to global warming, destruction of the ozone layer, or restrict the life, freedom, and access of any animal species. In Kooksville, animal life has been elevated to equal human life and in many cases animal life is given more protection than human life. This is best illustrated by the fact that human abortion is completely unrestricted while animal eggs are protected from harm. Needless to say Kooksville residents must be vegetarians by law. The two major industries in town are publishing and art products. The Bill Ayers Publishing Company, which publishes Marxist, anti-American, and anti-capitalist books is located at corner of Propaganda Lane and Terrorist Way. The Ralph Nader College is also located on Propaganda Avenue between Brainwash Street and Communist Avenue. The Michael Moore Center for film documentaries is located at the exact center of the college. In elementary school reading, writing, and arithmetic is deemphasized in favor of liberal activism and singing the Obama is going to change it Hollywood produced classic.

The most popular activity in Kooksville is to hike and jog to the top of Deceived Mountain and look down into the neighboring city of Sanitytown. From this vantage point residents can easily observe and criticize the activities and life styles of the conservatives that live in Sanitytown. From this hill one can grieve and lament the excesses and actions of people who do not seem to have any concern for global warming, the ozone layer, the rain forest, the spotted owl, or saving the planet. In spite of the inevitable and predictable outcome of self-loathing, a Kooksville nut may be able to get a whiff of the aroma of steaks grilling on the grills of Sanitytown conservatives and for just a brief moment imagine they were residents of Sanitytown with no more blame America first guilt.

Filed by:
Lefty Leaner
Agenda Weekly Magazine

Obama economics

Plumber to Obama: “Your new tax plan is going to tax me more. Isn’t it?”

Obama: “It’s not that I want to punish your success, I just want to make sure that everybody that is behind you, that they have a chance for success too. I think that when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.”

No, Mr. Obama it is not good for everybody. It is called socialism and it never works. Government does not give people a chance for success by spreading wealth around from those who produce to those who don't.

Government gives people a chance for success by giving them freedom, liberty, and a free enterprise economic system that can be accessed by anyone willing to work and achieve on their own. This system produces prospertiy and is why, as you have said, America uses 25% of the world's oil while only having 3% of the world's population. PEOPLE PROSPER UNDER CAPITALISM AND THEY STRUGGLE UNDER SOCIALISM. Obviously this is not what you learned from Bill Ayers or Rev. Wright.

The real Obama problem with Bill Ayers

Obama’s claims that since he was eight years old when Bill Ayers was involved in terrorist activity. This is supposed to somehow make his very recent relationship with Ayers O.K. The problem with that is Bill Ayers became a terrorist because of extremely radical anti-American political views, and these political views of Ayers have not changed as he has said that he wished they had done more. He has even been photographed standing on a wadded up American flag to demonstrate his contempt for America as we all know and love it today. These things have happened after his relationship started with Obama and obviously Obama has not been eight years old for a long time. Thus, the 8 year old argument totally misses the mark as a defense for his Bill Ayers relationship.

The huge problem for Obama is what did an extreme left wing radical (Bill Ayers) see in Obama when he hosted an event in his home to launch Obama’s run for the state senate of Illinois? Are we to believe that Ayers was supporting someone who did not share his extreme left wing views? Are we to believe that Obama did not have a clue about the extreme leftist anti-American views of Ayers? Does the eight year old smoke screen help explain this connection? Obama also worked with Ayers and served on the same board of directors. Obama was chosen by Ayers to disburse money from a foundation to promote radical education policies. Does the ole eight year old argument when Ayers was engaged in criminal activity sanitize Obama’s relationship with a man who has not changed any of his radical anti-American Marxist views?Obama’s problem with Ayers does not have anything to do with being eight years old when Ayers was engaged in terrorism.

Obama’s problem with Ayers concerns his relationship when he was in his thirties and forties because Ayers is the same despicable anti-American now that he was forty years ago.

Romans 1:2-3

Romans 1:2-3 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, (3) concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh

For many years, politicians at the Neshoba County Fair in Mississippi have made stump speeches and promised many things if only they could be elected to the office they were seeking. Most of these promises never get fulfilled, but they keep coming as surely as the sun rises every morning. The promises of men may or may not be fulfilled, but the promises of God are sure and certain.

Paul states in verse 2 of Romans 1 that the gospel of God was promised beforehand by the prophets of the Old Testament. This prophecy pointed to Christ and the fulfillment of this gospel. This can be seen most vividly in Isaiah 53 where Isaiah said in verse 5, “But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.” The Old Testament is full of passages written hundreds of years before Jesus was born, passages that point to His life and correctly predict specific events of his life. Unlike the politicians at the Neshoba County Fair, these predictions of the prophets of God were promises that were absolutely certain to be fulfilled. They were fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ, and the Apostle Paul thoroughly presents and explains this gospel in the Epistle to the Romans.

Praise God that Paul was called and set aside by God to be an Apostle and to give us the Book of Romans as well as all the other great things he did in service to Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:1 (Called!)

Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

The bell shown in the photo above was used to call slaves from the fields for a lunch break about 150 years ago. This was a call they anticipated and welcomed as it gave them a brief break from the hard labor they were forced to perform. Paul, on the other hand, received a call that was not expected on the Road to Damascus. It was a divine call that came with power from Jesus Christ. It changed Paul’s entire world-view and perception of reality and truth. It was a dramatic and irresistible call that immediately transformed Paul from an extreme anti-Christian persecutor of Christians to a zealous crusading follower and preacher of Christianity. While Paul willingly and enthusiastically embarked on his mission as a great apostle, he did not do this in and of himself through his free will. Paul was powerfully called and set apart for the gospel of God. He did not make a decision for Christ based on human knowledge alone. No, he was changed by God Himself in the person of Jesus Christ. Just as Moses was transformed by his burning bush encounter, Paul was transformed totally on the road to Damascus. It was the makeover to end all makeovers.

Paul thoroughly explains the gospel of God in the book of Romans, and you can be totally confident that the power of God that called and transformed Paul has insured that Paul understood the gospel of God and communicated it without error.

New series.........

Stay tuned for new series on Romans! We will begin with Romans 1:1 and let the Paul and the New Testament interpret the Old Testament.

Sola Fida or Perish

Romans 2:6-7: He will render to each one according to his works: (7) to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;

In the book of Romans, Paul begins to explain the gospel in Rom. 1:18 by first giving the bad news of the unrighteousness of men before God. He continues through Rom. 3:20 with the bad news of the sinful and helpless state of all men, both Jew and Gentile. After explaining the condition of all men before God in Chapter 1, he turns his attention to the Jews in Chapter 2. Although the Jewish people had the law of God, Paul makes it clear the law condemns them because they were unable to keep it. Thus, Jews and Gentiles are both in trouble in their standing before God.

In Rom. 2:5 Paul states that they are storing up wrath for themselves for the day when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He also says the Gentiles are in the same boat because, although they do not have the law, they by nature do what the law requires. In other words they have a God given sense of right and wrong. In Chapter 2 of Romans, Paul has not yet gotten to an explanation of grace alone through faith alone; therefore, he is talking about unbelieving Gentiles and unbelieving Jews. He is talking about unregenerate sinners who have not been saved by grace. In Romans 2:6, Paul explains their works will determine their eternal state. In verse 7 he is clearly talking about obtaining eternal life by works. This of course is a mission impossible as Paul goes on to state in Romans 3:20. Therefore, no one will be saved by their works and no one will be saved by Romans 2:7 since no one can merit eternal life through patience in well doing.

Once Paul begins to introduce the gospel beginning in Romans 3:21, he explains how Christians who have been regenerated and are in Christ by faith will NOT have their eternal destiny determined by their works. Believers will have eternal life based on being in Christ through faith (Romans 8:1), and not by their own works. They will be covered by the righteousness of Christ and justified by His righteousness. If they stood before God’s throne clothed in their own righteousness for judgment, they would suffer the same fate as unbelievers who do have to stand before God with their own righteousness.

Yet, many assert that Romans 2:7 is referring to both unbelievers and believers. They state that unbelievers will fail to have the works to receive eternal life, whereas believers will have works that demonstrate their faith is genuine. However, you cannot get away from the fact that this text, in context, is judging works for eternal life and not the genuineness of a person’s faith. So, to assert that this passage includes a believer’s works of sanctification is to say that God judges the genuineness of faith by works and awards eternal life based on works of sanctification. This is wrong, as eternal life is all grace and is a gift from God without works (Eph. 2:8-9). Certainly genuine faith comes from regenerated believers who produce works, and there is also a false dead faith as James explains in James 2:14, but Romans 2:7 is referring to God giving eternal life based on works. Paul explains to unsaved Jews in verse 12 that everyone who attempts to justify himself under the law will be judged by the law [works]. He states it very clearly in Romans 3:20 which launches him into explaining justification by faith alone.

Since the reformed faith holds that God knows those who are His (Romans 8:29-30) and affirms justification by faith alone, God certainly does not need to judge works of sanctification to determine who are truly elect. If Romans 2:7 could save even one person Sola Fida is untrue, and Paul would not have said in Galatians 3:2-3 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? (3) Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Later in Romans 8 Paul explains fully that the law kills and the Spirit gives life. Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. Being in the flesh and approaching God through one’s own works is spiritual death, but being in Christ sets one free from the law and being judged by one’s own works.

Justification is by faith alone and this precludes God’s judgment of works for eternal life through Romans 2:7 from applying to regenerated blood bought believers who are covered in the righteousness of Christ. TRUE FREE GRACE saves sinners totally and completely.

New covenant power

The Old covenant kills because it relies on man power! The new covenant gives life because it is powered by God! God transforms his people into the same image. If a person is not being transformed by God through sanctification that results in discipleship and obedience, then he is not in Christ and he is in need of saving faith. If you consider yourself a carnal Christian, I urge you to pray that God would give you the gifts of faith and repentance. When these are granted a person will then become a saved disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ and will have spiritual life that is powered by God rather than the flesh. For as the following passage points out the flesh kills, but the Spirit gives life and it gives it now:

2 Corinthians 3:5-18 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Photos of Jazzy and Cuffy

Sweet Jazzy Cat will focus elsewhere for a brief time

Notice!

I will be taking a brief break from posting here in order to concentrate the new team blog that Mark Pierson (AKA Bluecollar) and I have started. It is titled TRUE FREE GRACE and the link is directly to the right on the sidebar. Click on the True Free Grace logo and you will be there. Please check out on the right sidebar for links to the many resources from past postings here at Jazzycat.

To quote an ole General, "I shall return" if the LORD is willing!

Proverbs 4:26

Proverbs 4:25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.

There is great wisdom in this brief proverb. To be successful in life and in Christian growth and sanctification it is important to focus on things upcoming. Looking forward with a gaze of discernment and concentration is needed to avoid dangers and traps that are inevitable for life in a fallen world controlled by the prince of darkness. Christians should look straight ahead to avoid physical harm and pitfalls, and they should also look directly to Christ for strength, courage, purpose, knowledge, and wisdom to have a spiritually strong foundation.

The temptations come fast and often in a world dominated by sin and worldly pursuits of the flesh. Christians that avoid turning to the left or right and remain on the Biblically tried and true straight course will reap rewards and contentment in this life as well as have the inner peace of knowing that it is well with their souls. The photo above shows a little boy in the 1940s, just beginning his life and pulling his wagon with his gaze focused straight ahead. There will be many opportunities in his life to veer off the straight way and end up on a wrong path with only sin and misery to reap. These consequences of sinful decisions can sometimes last a lifetime.

However, by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ this little boy can be led in the paths of righteousness and reap all the benefits that are a part of being a son of God. Indwelt by the Spirit of God, Christians are led by the Spirit and more and more conformed to the image of Christ. Brethren, we should keep our eyes pointed straight ahead and our hearts in tune with God’s sanctifying grace. Praise God that we will reap eternal life through faith in Jesus with our gaze fixed and locked directly on Him.

New Group Blog

True Free Grace

The new True Free Grace Blog will highlight some aspects of the Reformed Doctrine that are being misrepresented. The doctrines of Grace will be discussed as well as the emphasis for evangelism and witnessing that is a part of the Reformed Faith that is also called Calvinism. It is our hope to provide many resources for research and study as well in our links sidebar.

Proverbs 4:14

Proverbs 4:14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil.

The paths of the wicked often cross our daily lives as we go about our normal activities. Although these paths are sometimes hard to discern, Christians should be able to recognize and avoid them through a thorough understanding of the Law of Christ. In the photo above, the path of the wicked is easy to discern as people must make a conscience effort to walk this path. The consequences of walking this path are well known, and the results are not in doubt. The wicked who run these gambling boats do not conceal the fact that the mathematical advantage will always make them very successful. They are open 24 hours a day every day of the year. They provide entertainment, free drinks, and they will put you up in a hotel and even send a limo to pick you up if you participate enough. This proverb exhorts Christians to refrain from these paths and to avoid the way of evil.

How can Christians successfully refrain from evil and avoid wicked paths? Attempting to do it by relying on the flesh and self, through law keeping, is a recipe for failure. Instead, Christians should understand that they are no longer under law but are under grace. Through God’s grace and reliance on the indwelling Holy Spirit, we are to serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the law. With a focus on prayer and the leading of the Spirit, Christians are empowered to have victory over sin. Although we may stumble and struggle with sin, a heart that is in tune with God’s grace and Spirit will prevail and not succumb to following in the path of the wicked.

We are not only saved but also sanctified by grace through faith. Praise God that Christians are conformed more and more to the image of Christ by his grace and indwelling Spirit.

Proverbs 3:25-26

Proverbs 3:25-26 Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

Even with plenty of people around, it certainly gives a person pause upon suddenly seeing this character in the stairway opening of a solid wall. The first visual image was viewed out of the corner of my eye as I passed the corner of the walkway and the staircase. Then upon turning my head, I saw this person standing stationary as if he were setting an ambush. I suspect, at night and alone, this sight would have caused a maximum adrenalin surge. However, we are reminded in this proverb to not be afraid when sudden terror comes because of our trust in God. He is our confidence and we know that nothing can harm us apart from His providence. While this does not mean that sudden calamity will never harm us, it does mean that all things are under God’s control and work for good to those that love Him and are called according to His purpose. For Christians, even death is but a portal to eternal life and serene peace with our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Therefore, if the character in the photo above were really dangerous and meant harm, we have nothing to fear since there is nothing he could do to affect our eternal life.

This proverb also has the promise of keeping and preserving us from the ruin of falling into the schemes and pitfalls of sinful pursuits. Those who are led by the Spirit of God have the power to resist and avoid these temptations. Praise God that we can have confidence and trust in the Lord to protect us from being ensnared by evil activities as well as being eternally secure from any harm that evildoers may do.

Proverbs 3:11-12

Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

When a sinner is saved and justified by God’s grace, he is adopted into the family of God. He becomes a son of God and is led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14). God’s love is set upon him and He will express this love through discipline and reproof (Hebrews 12:6). This is similar to the discipline that an earthly father will dispense to a son in whom he delights. This proverb exhorts God’s children to not despise His discipline or grow weary of His reproof. The Lord disciplines those he loves. While this will sometimes be unpleasant and possibly painful, the purpose of discipline is not punishment but rather training in righteousness. It could come in the form of a heightened conviction of sin along with regret and guilt or, in more extreme sin, it could come in the form of a restraining injury. Being exposed and embarrassed, as well as church discipline, could also be the result of such discipline. Whatever form it takes, it is meant to restrain and get the attention of God’s children before their sin grows into more severe and damaging consequences.

Therefore, believers should not despise or grow weary of this discipline and, in fact, should be thankful because God only disciplines those he loves. Those whom God does not love with the same enduring love of his adopted children, he gives up to pursue their lusts and impurities (Romans 1:24). These lusts of the flesh may provide pleasure for a season, but the wages of sin is death and the end result is not only spiritual ruin but also temporal ruin from the ravages of sin. Sin may be wrapped in pleasure, but it provides its own punishment. Many ruined lives languish in prison as a result of sin and unrighteousness.

Praise God that those who accept His discipline will also finish the race and gain the prize just like football players that accept the discipline required to be a successful winning team.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (6) In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

In the photo above, my brother in Christ is enjoying the festivities at our church picnic. He is viewing the picnic through the lens of sunshades that protect his eyes from too much ultra-violet radiation. In one lens you can see a reflection of my wife and me taking the photo, and in the other lens you can see the catering trailer that cooked the catfish along with people standing and talking.

In a like manner, my brother in Christ also views the world through the lens of God’s revelation. In short, he has a Christian world-view to guide him as he journeys through his life. He does not lean on his own understanding but trusts in the wisdom of this world-view to aid him in navigating through the many temptations and dangers that are a part of living in a world that is dominated by the prince of the air. In this proverb, God promises that He will make straight paths for all who acknowledge Him by trusting in Biblical revelation. By God’s grace redeemed sinners are empowered through faith to find these straight paths and walk in them.

Praise God that, through the work of the Holy Spirit, He changes the hearts of those he redeems and enables them to willingly walk by the Spirit and not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). Christians can rejoice in knowing that the desires of Spirit will reap straight paths and life while the desires of the flesh will reap crooked paths that lead to death.

Happy Memorial Day

Let Us Remember...........
It is the VETERAN, not the preacher, who hasgiven us freedom of religion. It is the VETERAN, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the VETERAN, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble. It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial. It is the VETERAN, not the politician, Who has given us the right to vote.

Proverbs 1:10

Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

Many Christian ministries have cruises where their supporters can come together for fellowship and Bible study along with enjoying a scenic vacation. However, even in this setting the lure of sin is close at hand in the form of gambling as the photo above shows. With the advancements that our society has in transportation, recreation, and information technology, the availability and diversity of the enticements Christians receive from sinners pose an ever-present danger. Many of the desires of the flesh mentioned in Scripture are readily available in our culture and some can be gratified with a few clicks of a computer mouse. Sinful and unrighteous activities have increased and become more accepted in the last few decades and access has become much easier. Gambling, pornography, drugs, prostitution, perversions, homosexuality, promiscuity and gang activity have become widespread in America and the enticements start early in the lives of young people and even children. These enticements come regularly as young people are encouraged to conform to the ways of the world through advertising and peer pressure. It is not a matter of if children will be enticed but rather of when and how often.

However, this proverb gives the wise solution to this problem when it warns do not consent. Don’t participate in unrighteous and ungodly activities. Don’t experiment with behaviors and activities that can and do ruin lives. Sin is its own punishment. These very temptations that appear to offer pleasure and happiness often bring misery and destruction. To pay for a short season of pleasure with a lifetime of regret and misery is not a good trade. Therefore, heed this parable and do not consent to the enticements that can ruin your life. The Apostle Paul in Romans 12:2 said: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Yes, we can't

Barack Obama said the following yesterday………

“We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times ... and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK,"

Hmmm, we must seek the approval of other countries and if they don’t say O.K., we will have to give up our SUVs, go hungry, and give government power over our thermostats. I believe Kerry called this lunacy meeting the global test. Evidently in these people’s eyes we should submit to a coercive global government and reduce our prosperity to the world average to be kind and fair. Can you imagine the world-view one must have to make such a statement. Actually I can. It sounds like a statement that would come directly from a sermon by Obama's pastor, Jermiah Wright.

No, Mr. Obama! The solution is to bring freedom and capitalism to the rest of the world so they can raise their prosperity. Destroying the American economic system is not the answer. The danger of believing the manipulated global warming hysteria is displayed here for all to see.

WAKE UP AMERICA…………
Let us not leave Sanitytown to follow these loons to Kooksville. Marxism does not work!

Green guilt my foot!

U.S. Today reported in a survey that the percentage of people suffering from "green guilt" has risen from 20% to 22% in the last year. It is incredible that so many people can be manipulated by activists and the agenda based media. Here it is May 17 and I have my heat on in the southern part of Mississippi. This has been the coolest spring I can remember since at least the seventies when they were warning of the coming ice age. Yet not only have 22% of the American people bought into this hogwash, they actually feel guilty about their carbon footprint. As a proud member of the 78% let me say that I have no guilt for my carbon footprint. When I see Al Gore and the other celebrities reduce their carbon footprint to my level, I will still not feel guilty for the global warming hysteria farce, but I will promise to moderate the total disdain and contempt that I now view these people. I have a suggestion for the 22% that feel guilty! Turn off you air conditioners and show us some action instead of wringing your hands and just talking the talk. Walk the walk. However, don’t expect me to be walking with you on your journey to Kooksville.

I Know Whom I Have Believed

2 Timothy 1:12 I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.

The flag in the photo above was torn and tangled by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but the lighthouse is still standing guard in Biloxi, Mississippi. An image of this old lighthouse is shown on the latest Mississippi car tags as a symbol of endurance and trustworthiness. In a like manner the verse above and the hymn below point to the trustworthiness of our triune God. Paul, in the verse above, expresses full confidence in the gospel of Jesus Christ and Christ’s power to guard what has been entrusted to him by divine revelation.

In the beautiful hymn below the author, Daniel Whittle, lists many things that he does not know about the workings of God’s amazing grace. He is puzzled as to why God made his wondrous grace known and how his saving faith was sealed in his heart. He doesn’t understand how his faith produced peace in his heart, or how the Spirit moves convicting us of sin. He admits that he does not know what good or ill awaits him in this temporary life, and that he doesn’t know when Christ will return. BUT, he does know whom he believed and is persuaded that He is able to deliver the promises of the gospel good news. Brethren, praise God that we can rest in the promises of God for our eternal future.

I Know Whom I Have Believed
Words by: Daniel W. Whittle

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

But I know Whom I have believèd,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.

I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.

I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing us of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.

I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.

I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I walk the vale with Him,
Or meet Him in the air.

How Great Thou Art

Job 38:25 “Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain and a way for the thunderbolt,

God in chapter 38 of Job outlines His incredible awesome acts of creation. In the hymn below, some of these acts are also outlined. When these awesome acts are considered, a human being can only stand in wonder and amazement. How great thou art is a natural reaction to all that God has created and sustains. When you then meditate on the fact that God sent his son to planet earth to die on the cross of Calvary as an atonement for the sins of all who place their faith and trust in him, then adoration, praise, and worship are the proper responses to such a great salvation. If our sin debt is so great that Jesus must die in order for us to be reconciled to God, then what an insult it is to Him for anyone to assert that human self-effort or allegiance to false gods of human imagination will also be acceptable to God for our salvation.

Brethren do not be fooled by the spirit of the age into thinking that there is any other way to eternal life other than through grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. Be secure in peace and comfort if you are resting in Christ alone to take you home on that great day when he returns, and we who are found in Him will be able to sing, “How Great Thou Art.”

How Great Thou Art
Words by: Carl Gustav Boberg

O Lord my God! when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed:

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul! my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!

I Saw The Light

John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Hank Williams, the great Country and Western singer of the 1940’s and 1950’s, wrote the spiritual song shown below. It has a beautiful melody and sound theological insight. The first stanza relates how human beings resist and reject Jesus with their own sinful rebellious will. Then just as Jesus tells us in John 3:3-8, the Spirit moves like a stranger in the night and sinners are changed in an instant and enabled to see the light. The sinners response of being born again by the Holy Spirit is to shout, “Praise the Lord, I saw the light”. The song goes on to show how the sinner is literally blind until Jesus gives him sight and the power to see spiritual light. Once a sinner sees this light he is enabled to walk in a new way with a new heart. He is indeed a new creation in Christ with new affections and desires.

The Barnyard Opry, shown in the above photo, entertains patrons free of charge twice a month and always bears witness to the spiritual light that is found in Jesus Christ. In this photo the moon has been enlarged about ten fold. While most may not have even noticed the moon on this night, they would certainly have noticed had it appeared as shown above. The same thing happens when the Holy Spirit shines spiritual light into the hearts of sinners. Brethren, Praise the Lord if you see this light.

I Saw The Light
Words by: Hank Williams

I wandered so aimless, life filled with sin;
I wouldn't ask my dear Saviour in.
Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night;
Praise the Lord, I saw the light!

I saw the light, I saw the light.
No more darkness; no more night.
Now I'm so happy no sorrow in sight.
Praise the Lord, I saw the light!

Just like a blind man I wandered alone,
Worries and fears I claimed for my own.
Then like the blind man that Jesus gave back his sight;
Praise the Lord, I saw the light!

I was a fool to wander astray,
For straight is the gate and narrow is the way.
Now I have traded the wrong for the right;
Praise the Lord, I saw the light!

I Love To Tell The Story

Psalms 66:16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.

Do you love to tell the story? The bottom line of this story is given in Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. God is holy, loving, and just and, while He loves human beings, He is also just and must punish their sin. All men are sinners and cannot save themselves by their works or good deeds. They are helpless in and of themselves. However, God solved this problem by sending His son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross and suffer the penalty for the sins of those who place their faith in Him. Through trusting in faith in His death and resurrection, sinners not only have their sins paid for by Christ, but they also have the righteousness of Christ imputed to them. Salvation and eternal life is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. This is the story of Biblical salvation and there is no other way by which men can be saved.

Praise God for this gospel story. Brethren, rejoice if you trust in this story by faith because you are rich and healthy spiritually even if you are on your deathbed without a penny to your name. What a wonderful story we have to tell!

I Love To Tell The Story
Words by: A. katherine Hankey

I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story, because I know ’tis true;
It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.

I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems
Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams.
I love to tell the story, it did so much for me;
And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.

I love to tell the story; ’tis pleasant to repeat
What seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story, for some have never heard
The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song,
’Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.

I Need Thee Every Hour

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

As the photo above shows, clocks are everywhere. Time creeps or flies by, depending on our circumstances. Human beings by nature are in a constant state of need. Oxygen, food, water, proper body temperature, and complicated bodily functions are needed constantly for human beings to survive physically. Since God provides all of these needs for our physical well-being, all human beings are in constant physical need of God’s provisions. In a like manner, Christians need God constantly for their spiritual well-being. The power that comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit is a constant source of nourishment for the spiritual needs of Christians. For blessings, peace, instruction, inspiration, and for avoiding temptations the Lord is needed every hour. This hymn points out that the Lord is needed in all circumstances of joy or pain.

Praise God that He responds to these needs no matter our location or the time of day. He is there in our joy and He is there in our pain. He is even there when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Brethren, we need the Lord every hour and He will always be there for us. What comfort and peace is ours for the asking.

I Need Thee Every Hour
Words by: Annie S. Hawks

I need Thee every hour,
most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

I need Thee, O I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is in vain.

I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessèd Son.