The sent one from God

Lots of Christians still do not believe Jesus is the sent one from God and take it that it was God Himself Who came down to earth to fake his temptation and His death, because God cannot be tempted nor die.

They better look at some verses written in the Holy Scriptures which tells us that Jesus is the sent one from God.

 “ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (Joh 3:16 ASV)

 “ {1 } The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, {2 } Because he anointed me to preach {3 } good tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised, {1) Isa 61:1 f 2) Or Wherefore 3) Or the gospel } (Lu 4:18 ASV)

 “ But he said unto them, I must preach {1 } the good tidings of the kingdom of God to the other cities also: for therefore was I sent. {1) Or the gospel } (Lu 4:43 ASV)

 “ For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for he giveth not the Spirit by measure.” (Joh 3:34 ASV)

 “ Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to accomplish his work.” (Joh 4:34 ASV)

 “23  that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father that sent him. 24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life.” (Joh 5:23-24 ASV)

 “ I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” (Joh 5:30 ASV)

 “36  But the witness which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father hath given me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. 37  And the Father that sent me, he hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form. 38  And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he sent, him ye believe not.” (Joh 5:36-38 ASV)

 “ Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom {1 } he hath sent. {1) Or he sent } (Joh 6:29 ASV)

 “38  For I am come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39  And this is the will of him that sent me, that of all that which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.” (Joh 6:38-39 ASV)

 “ No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day.” (Joh 6:44 ASV)

 “ As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he that eateth me, he also shall live because of me.” (Joh 6:57 ASV)

 “ Jesus therefore answered them and said, My teaching is not mine, but his that sent me.” (Joh 7:16 ASV)

 “ Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I came forth and am come from God; for neither have I come of myself, but he sent me.” (Joh 8:42 ASV)

 “ say ye of him, whom the Father {1 } sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? {1) Or consecrated } (Joh 10:36 ASV)

 “ And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the multitude that standeth around I said it, that they may believe that thou didst send me.” (Joh 11:42 ASV)

 “ For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.” (Joh 12:49 ASV)

 “ Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.” (Joh 13:20 ASV)

 “ He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.” (Joh 14:24 ASV)

 “ But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.” (Joh 15:21 ASV)

 “ But now I go unto him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?” (Joh 16:5 ASV)

 “ And this is life eternal, that they should know thee the only true God, and him whom thou didst send, even Jesus Christ.” (Joh 17:3 ASV)

 “ for the words which thou gavest me I have given unto them; and they received them, and knew of a truth that I came forth from thee, and they believed that thou didst send me.” (Joh 17:8 ASV)

 “23  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that thou didst send me, and lovedst them, even as thou lovedst me. 24 ¶  Father, {1 } I desire that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. {1) Gr that which thou hast given me, I desire that where I am, they also may be with me, that etc }25  O righteous Father, the world knew thee not, but I knew thee; and these knew that thou didst send me;” (Joh 17:23-25 ASV)

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Wishing lanterns and Christmas

What have wishing lanterns and loving lanterns to do with Christmas.

This year it is big fashion to send a wishing lantern up in the air.
The Paper lanterns come in various shapes and sizes, as well as various methods of construction. In their simplest form, they are simply a paper bag with a candle placed inside, although more complicated lanterns consist of a collapsible bamboo or metal frame of hoops covered with tough paper.

The sellers promote it with saying that the sky lantern is like salute. The people will fly the sky lantern to the sky with their wish and prayer in a festa such as the Christmas day, the New Year, wedding ceremony, or other commemorative occasion. On the hot-air round paper lantern balloon a wish is written and by letting it go up in the air people do hope their wishes come true.

People think this is a good opener to Christmas Eve, wich refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival they say commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25.

But Jesus was born on October the 17th 4 bCE. So what has Christmas and those wishing lights and balloons to do with the birth of the promised Messiah?

In fact, Santa Claus, reindeer, bells, flickering lights, Christmas trees a.o.have nothing to do with what happened in Bethlehem at a time there could not be any snow at all. So it is very strange that we even do find in warm countries, festivities on the 25th of December, when it is high Summer there, with people wanting to put on red bonnets and having winter decorations everywhere around.

The new trend of the wishing lampoons adds a new pagan tradition to the many Celtic ones/ Now the Thai and Japanese traditions and gods become introduce in the Christian traditions.

But can real Christians agree to go along with that?
Is it not better we do not go with such traditions and keep our hands off such actions?

Perhaps you think it does not harm to go along with such sorts of traditions. But we should remember that for that we do have perhaps a jealous God (Exodus 34:14; 1 Corinthians 10:22), who does not like any connection with falls gods or falls believes.

The universe belongs only to Jehovah ((Exodus 9:22) and we do have to honour only the One God and may not take His Name in a worthless way. (Exodus 20:7;Deuteronomy 4:24; 10:17; 2 Samuel 22:32; Isaiah 12:4; Acts 4:12)
We have to keep our hand off everything that smells to idolatry. (1 Corinthians 10:14; Deuteronomy 4:25; Colossians 3:5; 1 John 5:21)

As Christians we do have to be careful when we want to celebrate the end of the year in the cold and dark period not to give the impression on others that we do agree with the festivities for the goddess of light, which her birtday and celebration is on December the 25th.

Any uncleanness in our actions we do have to throw over board. It may be a big desire to enjoy the Christmas celebrations like they are done in many Christian countries, but do they really honour Jesus Christ? Check what the main focus is by those celebrations? Try to see certain connections of introduced figures and ornaments.

Is the Christ manifest at those celebrations? Or is the main accent on a Santa Claus and presents? Can you agree with the tale of the Santa Claus and would you see a connotation with the Christmas Man and the man they are so called to celebrate: the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ?

Perhaps there was a time that we all did those very things. But when we got baptised did we not choose to follow Christ Jesus and his followers, who did not celebrate the birth of their master. do you think Jesus himself would have loved that his birthday was considered the most important day to feast?
Did God not give the Pascha? Should 14 Nisan not be the most important 'day to remember'?

Does the Apostle Paul not write: "If, then, you were raised with Messiah, seek the matters which are above, where Messiah is, seated at the right hand of Elohim. Mind the matters above, not those on the earth. For you have died, and your life has been hidden with Messiah in Elohim. When the Messiah, who is our life, is manifested, then you also shall be manifested with Him in esteem. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: whoring, uncleanness, passion, evil desire and greed of gain, which is idolatry. Because of these the wrath of Elohim is coming upon the sons of disobedience,1 Footnote: 1Eph. 2:2, Eph. 5:6. in which you also once walked when you lived in them. But now, also put off all these: displeasure, wrath, evil, blasphemy, filthy talk from your mouth. Do not lie to each other, since you have put off the old man1 with his practices, Footnote: 1Rom. 6:6, Eph. 4:22. and have put on the new one who is renewed in knowledge according to the likeness of Him who created him, where there is not Greek and Yehud?ite, circumcised and uncircumcised, foreigner, Scythian, slave, free, but Messiah is all, and in all. Therefore, as chosen ones of Elohim, set-apart and beloved, put on compassion, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, patience, bearing with one another, and forgiving each other if anyone has a complaint against another, indeed, as Messiah forgave you so also should you. But above all these put on love, which is a bond of the perfection. And let the peace of Elohim rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one Body, and be filled with thanks. Let the Word of Messiah1 dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing with pleasure in your hearts to the Master in psalms and songs of praise and spiritual songs. Footnote: 1John 12:48, Dt. 18:19, Rev. 19:13. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Master יהושע,  giving thanks to Elohim the Father through Him.
(Colossians 3:1-17 The Scriptures 1998+)

We do know that millions of people around the world with no Christian or religious affiliation or background also celebrate Christmas and Christmas Eve. The emphasis of celebration on Christmas Eve varies from country to country and region to region.

In case we use those dark days to come together and enjoy a family gathering, lets do that in honesty, not adhering to the symbols of pagan traditions. In cold, dark regions, fire and light may bring some sunshine in the house, and a spar or Chrismastree may bring some air-refresher in the room. But be honest and keep clean in the eyes of God, and withhold yourselves from those things God would not want.

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Please do read:

Jesus begotten Son of God #1 Christmas and Christians

The Anointed begotten Son of God 1.     Jesus and Christians All Christians think they do know Christ Jesus. We as Christians can only do hope that those who want to become a Christian and those who call themselves Christian sincerely would be willing to investigate who that Jesus from Nazareth, who was called the Messiah, [...]

Jesus begotten Son of God #2 Christmas and pagan rites

6. Interweaving with heathen or pagan rites
We as sincere Bible Students and followers of Christ should take the Words of God into account and should know that God does not like us to interweave with heathen happenings and idolatrous things. Christmas time is not a season of revival and up-building in the Church of [...]
Christmas, Saturnalia and the birth of Jesus
Christmas trees
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Achtergrond Christelijk Kerstfeest

Wie staat er vandaag nog stil bij de ware achtergrond van het Christelijk Kerstfeest? Herinneren wij de verlossende liefde van Jezus Christus die werkelijkheid is geworden? Vlees en bloed dat op een goddelijke wijze ter wereld is gekomen om mensen te verlossen. Durven wij aan die wereld te tonen welk een zegen wij in onze [...]


Jezus, Heer maar niet God

Jezus Christus, Messias, Heer, maar niet God 1.Geboren Op 17 oktober 4 jaar voor onze gewone tijdrekening werd er in Bethlehem een jongen ter wereld gebracht en door zijn moeder Maria in een kribbe gelegd, tijdens het verblijf op hun … Verder lezen →

Voorspellingen van de Eniggeboren zoon

“Met de geboorte van Jezus Christus is het zo gegaan: terwijl zijn moeder Maria verloofd was met Jozef, werd voordat zij waren samengekomen bevonden dat zij zwanger was uit den Heiligen Geest.” (Mattheus 1:18 LEI)

Wat betreft Korte inhoud van lezingen: Bijgeloof en feesten

 Bart Lauvrijs heeft een stek waar hij over het geestelijk bestel wil nadenken. Citaat Korte inhoud van lezingen Bijgeloof en folklore   * algemene vragen: wat is bijgeloof?; wat is folklore?; bijgeloof in deze tijd; bijgeloof bij onze jeugd; iedereen is bijgeloviger dan hij of zij durft toe te geven; het verband met menselijke psychologie; [...]


Wat betreft Kerstfeest

Wat betreft KERSTFEEST Op de verscheidene webpagina’s van de Christadelphians kan je meer lezen over het Kerstfenomeen. Het is belangrijk dat wij er bij stil staan wat wij en hoe wij iets vieren. Citaat KERSTFEEST KERSTBOODSCHAP     Alle christenen van de wereld vieren elk op hun eigen wijzekerstfeest. Kerstfeest kwam slechts in voege in  [...]

Kerst en wenslampions
Om lekker gezellig samen te komen in de winter en samen gezellig te tafelen en te keuvelen is er geen bezwaar. Maar als men kerststalletjes, rendieren, kerstmannen gaat opzetten en allerlei flikkerlichtjes gaat installeren is er wel een probleem.
Wat hebben Kerstmannen, kerst-sleden en rendieren eigenlijk te maken met het gebeuren van oktober in Bethlehem, waar in die tijd helemaal geen sneeuw kon liggen?


Related articles:

Jesus begotten Son of God #3 Messiah or Anointed one

The Anointed begotten Son of God   9. Messiah or Anointed one
As Christians we do speak about Jesus Christ the Messiah. The term Messiah is derived from the Hebrew root word mashiach. The verb is used when an object, an altar for example, was consecrated for a sacred purpose. The noun mashiach is used [...]

The Seed Of The Woman Bruised

How The Seed Of The Woman Was Bruised On The Heel
How Christ Fulfilled The Promise. In fulfilment of the promises of God, Jesus, as “the seed of the woman,” was born of the virgin Mary by the overshadowing power of the Holy Spirit. His mother was told: “The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, [...]

Jesus begotten Son of God #12 Son of God

The Anointed begotten Son of God 28. Son of God
In Hebrews 1:5ff three corroborating proof texts take us to the origin of the Son. 2 Samuel 7:14 reinforces Psalm 2:7 and speaks of the moment when God becomes the Father of Jesus the Son (“I will be his father and he will my son”). [...]

The wrong heroIn the Western World we can find people who love to honour a creator that is far beyond any human person. In the East people worship other gods, but also do have three or two headed divinities. The clergy and followers of the many sects of Christendom worship also such more than one in one god, but they prefer not to give them a specific name. A lot of those worshippers give preference to have a nameless triune lord or do not know the name of their God. though the one who created the earth, heaven and everything around us, has a name that He picked out Himself - YaHuWhah = Jehovah.
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You may take Jesus as your hero, but do not make him more important than he is and do not give him a higher position than he himself would want to take. Listen carefully to his words and those of his Father. In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways. He also had given us his son, the Master teacher. Because in these last days God has spoken to us by his Son, we better take note of what that son said.

Jezus, Heer maar niet God

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Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes

November 2011 Articles to read

In the Weekly World Watch 30th Oct - 5th Nov 2011‏ Preparations are under way to attack Iran. What will Israel and America do? > CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEKS WWW

6th - 12th Nov 2011‏ Still not sure if Israel attack Iran ... Speculation mounts that they will.... CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEKS WWW

13th - 19th Nov 2011‏ It's all talk of war - even nuclear.... CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEKS WWW

20th - 26th Nov 2011‏
Syria threatens Israel... CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEKS WWW

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The last few weeks we can see that more social workers do come under attack and that older people do become more fragile in their environment. In several countries the home carers are independent, voluntary, or working in the not-for-profit and statutory sectors who are under grated and not as such respected for what they have to do. A model for monitoring the supply and demand of social workers in England was been made public at the National Children and Adult Services Conference (NCAS) in October > Home care industry not valued.
The financial markets got out of hands and pulled down many countries.Several people felt it in their pocket and found it high time to react.  Many got panicking over the state of the economy and the effect it might have on their money if the country’s banking system would collapse and went to collect their money, which made it worse. collapses While some people thought it best to transfer their money to an other bank, an Occupy Movement came as a virus over the world and is obviously growing into a bigger social revolution. But those acting upon their desire for significant, positive change in a broken system were being physically attacked for their non-violent resistance. The world got a 'New Spring' revolt in the Arabic countries and undignified ‘Los Indignados’ went from Portugal and Spain to Belgium to let Europe hear that it could not go on like this. People questioned if they could belong to one or an other group but saw that there is a major group of 99% against 1% or another 53% (Tot de 99% of de 53% behorende +Oprukkende armoede in Noord Amerika  + Onderbroeken, vreemdelingen en rechtsstaat + Occuppy Acties en Sociaal Engagement)

With all those problems people wondered who could bring them safety. The world could also wonder how far they want to go in their solidarity.When we look at President Obama how he has to fight against a brick wall to get some social measure to protect the fragile you can wonder.
> Voice for the plebs + Oproep van president Obama om stem te laten horen +
Steering captain Obama + Occuppy Acties en Sociaal Engagement + Violence or an other way to win + Justififiable anger or just anarchism + Banktransfer to one bank bad idea + Shame on American police
In a certain way people can find solutions to have an reasonable good life. Some crisis brought the country were people were living in such danger that it either broke down and became part of an other country or it grew stronger and became more united. But at the moment the world should note that several people are deprived of the necessary materials to stay in life. too many people are dying from bad conditions created by other human beings.

Kwetsbare mens in het Europa van morgen #1 Colloquium +

Kwetsbare mens in Europa van morgen #2 Te veel mensen gaan kapot aan deze samenleving +

Nearly 50 milion poor North Americans + Ecological economics in the stomach #1 Alarmbell + Ecological economics in the stomach #2 Resources + Ecological economics in the stomach #3 Food and Populace + Ecological economics in the stomach #4 Water + Ecological economics in the stomach #5 Right to food + Stimulating ideas on how to re-engineer our monetary systems + Ability for a community to come back from a crisis +

Sense or nonsense of “Human Fragility” should make us think about the situation now and about the future. As Christians we should be aware that we do have to take the right attitude in all of this.

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In November we looked at the language of the Holy Scriptures and looked forward to celebrations people hold to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

Another way looking at a language #1 New Year, Books and Words

Posted on November 13, 2011. 

Another way looking at a language 1. New Academic Year = New books Every new academic year we go over to use another Bible translation in our ecclesia, to keep the minds going and to give opportunities to hear another voice or see another angle of lightning. It is a way of broadening the horizon. [...]

Another way looking at a language #2 Meanings

Posted on November 15, 2011.

Another way looking at a language 4. Changing meaning In Dutch we could find that when we would take a translation of the 1970ies the same word would have just the opposite meaning in the 2010′s. It can happen that at a certain time one word can have the opposite meaning depending whom it is [...]

Another way looking at a language #3 Abraham

Posted on November 17, 2011.

Another way looking at a language 8. Proverbs and verbatim As today in Dutch ( Nederlands), and probably also in other languages as in English, we can find a lot of words which got a totally different or new extra meaning, so it happened in the early centuries of our Contemporary Timetable as well. Though [...]

Another way looking at a language #4 Ancient times

Posted on November 18, 2011.

Another way looking at a language 11. Misreading in early times Already in early centuries of our current time we got some misreadings in the most ancient Greek manuscripts (Second and Third Centuries of the Common Era) could only have happened by misunderstanding a Peshitta-exclusive reading. How careful translators and readers of translations have to [...]

Another way looking at a language #5 Aramic, Hebrew and Greek

Posted on November 20, 2011. 

Another way looking at a language 13. Aramaic Aramaic is to believed to be originated in what is modern-day Syria. Between 1000 and 600 BCE it became extremely widespread, spoken from the Mediterranean coast to the borders of India. Its script, derived from Phoenician and first attested during the 9th century BCE, also became extremely [...]

Another way looking at a language #6 Set apart

Posted on November 22, 2011. 

Another way looking at a language 18. The Church The second biggest teaching in Scripture is that our Creator and Saviour are building a “Set Apart Nation” (“church” never occurs in Scripture!) never heard of in modern Christianity before, called “YAsarel” (Almighty YAH Reigns)! It may be a chock to some not to find anywhere [...]

Another way looking at a language #7 Lingua Franca

Posted on November 23, 2011. 

Another way looking at a language 20. Aramaic or Greek Lingua Franca All of Rav Shaul’s epistles (with the possible exception of Philemon since it was sent through a Roman contact, then to the assembly) were sent to Synagogues that contained Jewish and Gentile believers whose halakha (legal faith practices) were governed by Ya’akov HaTzadik [...]

Jesus begotten Son of God #1 Christmas and Christians

Posted on November 28, 2011. 

The Anointed begotten Son of God 1.     Jesus and Christians All Christians think they do know Christ Jesus. We as Christians can only do hope that those who want to become a Christian and those who call themselves Christian sincerely would be willing to investigate who that Jesus from Nazareth, who was called the Messiah, [...]

Jesus begotten Son of God #2 Christmas and pagan rites

Posted on November 29, 2011. 

6. Interweaving with heathen or pagan rites We as sincere Bible Students and followers of Christ should take the Words of God into account and should know that God does not like us to interweave with heathen happenings and idolatrous things. Christmas time is not a season of revival and up-building in the Church of [...]

Jesus begotten Son of God #3 Messiah or Anointed one

Posted on November 30, 2011. 

The Anointed begotten Son of God   9. Messiah or Anointed one As Christians we do speak about Jesus Christ the Messiah. The term Messiah is derived from the Hebrew root word mashiach. The verb is used when an object, an altar for example, was consecrated for a sacred purpose. The noun mashiach is used [...]

Message from the family tree in the Tanakh

From Adam to Noah, ten generations. At the time of Noah there was made an end to a world. The ten generations of this world view, if we translate the names, show us the whole message of the gospel.

(Some words have more than one translation. Not all translations are listed here.)

1. Adam = Man

2. Seth = Is placed

3. Enosh = Mortal

4. Kenan = Sorrow

5. Mahalalel = Blessed God

6. Jared = Shall come down

7. Enoch = teaching / Anointed

8. Methuselah = His death brings

9. Lamech = Flavors / Taste

10. Noah = Rest / Comfort

Man is as a mortal placed (in) pain
but the blessed / praised God
shall His teachings / Anointed / Messiah do come down.
His death will bring peace and comfort and will let it taste.

Dutch original > Nederlands origineel > Boodschap van de geslachtslijn in de Tenach

Seeing the world through the lens of his own experience

"Everyone sees the world through the lens of his own experience. We perceive our world from a particular time and cultural background. It is easy to assume that Jesus and his disciples were much like ourselves. In our movies about Jesus he is often portrayed as a "hippie" with blond hair and blue eyes. It is not as easy to see Jesus as a homely, middle eastern Jewish rabbi who spoke Hebrew and went by the name "Yashua Ben Yoseph".

If we want to understand Jesus and his message in its original context we have to try to understand the world from his point of view. The most natural assumption in the world is that we put ourselves in the mindset of a first century Jew. If we read the Gospel from this perspective, does the message change? An intellectualized Gospel of the 20th century North American or a Social Justice Gospel which resonates so well in Third World today may miss the message found in a 1st century story of a Jewish Messiah.

Long ago, God chose a special people for himself. He promised Abraham and his descendants that through them would come a redeemer who would bless all nations. So it was that Israel looked forward to the coming Messiah (anointed one). Jesus was very clear in regard to the spiritual authority God had bestowed upon the Jews. We see this in his remark to the Samaritan woman in John 3:22. The Samaritans worshipped the God of Abraham too, but they worshipped him according to their own standards.

Jesus said:

"You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews." John 3:22

The Gospel has become many things in the name of "spirit and truth" (John 3:23) yet God chose to bring forth salvation from within a Jewish context. Jesus cannot be properly understood apart from Old Testament Judaism.

Despite this reality, the Christian world has generally abandoned the Jewish context in which the Gospel was born. Gentile believers, in a reaction against Jewish "traditionalism", commonly discard all things Jewish as obsolete. As a result, Christian traditions have replaced the old Jewish ones.

Over the centuries, the Church developed a version of faith which accommodated its own cultural expressions. This is most readily illustrated by noting the many pagan practices that have been "christianized" and assimilated into our faith experience. It is just as revealing to note how little Jewish tradition was adopted. These "new" traditions are now so embedded we can hardly imagine Christianity without them. Imagine trying to live without Christmas or Easter, both pagan in origin, now fundamental centerpieces of the Christian experience.

There has been a paradigm shift from a Middle Eastern Jewish Messiah to a Western Greco-Roman Christ. So much so, in fact, that Christianity today bears little resemblance to the religion Jesus participated in on the earth. In the minds of most Christians, Judaism may as well be a different religion altogether.

I will suggest that Judaism is not a "different" religion. Rather, Christianity and Judaism are two perspectives of One God. Christianity is no more complete without its Jewish heritage than Judaism is without the Messiah. We may not be comfortable with accepting that Jesus and his disciples were all proud Jews, but I firmly believe it is in our interest to do so.

It is good to remember that the foundation for "Jewish" culture was established directly by God himself. Judaism is the original backdrop of the Gospel story. The Jewish Torah is our own beloved Christian Old Testament. Our God is One, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Christians should take pride in the fact that this Jewish heritage as it is ours as well. Even we Gentiles have a just spiritual claim to all things promised to the Jew through Jesus our Messiah (Christ)."
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GB - The Agora

"This is what the LORD Almighty says: "In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem (tzit zit) of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.'"
Zechariah 8:23

+ About looking throught the lens > If we view the whole world through a lens that is bright

Your Sins Are Forgiven

In a sense it is true that none could forgive sins but God alone, except as his
anointed and authorized agent and representative, and in his appointed way.  The divinely appointed way for the cancellation of sins was by means of the ransom as the legal settlement of the penalty, and faith in Christ the Redeemer.  — Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22; 1 Timothy 2:5,6.
The forgiveness of sins was one thing, and the healing was another; and Luke’s words as recorded in Luke 5:17 lets us know that the same divine authority that was necessary to the forgiveness of sins was also necessary to the healing; and that if the forgiveness of sins was blasphemy, so also was the healing.
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It will be observed that all the healings performed by our Lord were both instantaneous and complete, showing the fullness of his authority and power, and they included the worst forms of disease — leprosy, paralysis, blindness from birth, and even awakenings from death.
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And God had given authority to Christ to forgive sins.

> Find more at the RL Weekly Bible Lessons 'Your Sins Are Forgiven'

A study of Luke 5:17-26.

You may view the latest post at
http://lessons.reslight.net/?p=130