Good thoughts and topic. I have come to believe the foundation truths are the clear commands of Christ and apostles. Matthew 28:20. When I try to study, meditate and apply all of the commands of Jesus, I am crushed by my failures to be consistent. I am 74 now, been preaching 50+ years. The older I get, the more I feel the need for Christ's mercy and grace. Jesus says we will be judged in the same manner we judge others. We are all hopefully in process of growing more into image of Christ. I believe the church should be a place where anyone at any level can become an active part of the body, be loved and welcomed, and grow. Thanks again Jack!
For a couple of years I was teaching the Bible to a group of female inmates, who (of course) had been exposed to many different teachings--or had no teaching at all. We talked around baptism and faith, etc. but never seemed to be able to get them to see the deep truths.
So one day (you can imagine that I was much younger and had the energy to do this!), I sat down with my Bible and tried to find every single scripture--mostly in the N.T.--that said "_____ will keep you out of Heaven," or "______ will assure your salvation"-- You get the idea. Any words of God, the prophets, Christ, or the apostles that indicated a link in the chain of salvation that had to be present for it to hold you fast.
I listed them loosely in topic and context and then we discussed them. It was an eye-opener to me, as well, what things were mentioned. Some were physical, observable things and some were private and of the heart. But it changed the way we talked about the issues they had. Indeed, it held up Psalm 119:160 "The SUM of thy Word is truth." You have to be familiar with the whole Bible and what it describes as God's ideal relationship with man. Then, you have a little easier time juggling the passages/ideas--whether they are of first importance or not.
Good thoughts and topic. I have come to believe the foundation truths are the clear commands of Christ and apostles. Matthew 28:20. When I try to study, meditate and apply all of the commands of Jesus, I am crushed by my failures to be consistent. I am 74 now, been preaching 50+ years. The older I get, the more I feel the need for Christ's mercy and grace. Jesus says we will be judged in the same manner we judge others. We are all hopefully in process of growing more into image of Christ. I believe the church should be a place where anyone at any level can become an active part of the body, be loved and welcomed, and grow. Thanks again Jack!
Great topic. Thanks for speaking clearly and referencing scripture.
For a couple of years I was teaching the Bible to a group of female inmates, who (of course) had been exposed to many different teachings--or had no teaching at all. We talked around baptism and faith, etc. but never seemed to be able to get them to see the deep truths.
So one day (you can imagine that I was much younger and had the energy to do this!), I sat down with my Bible and tried to find every single scripture--mostly in the N.T.--that said "_____ will keep you out of Heaven," or "______ will assure your salvation"-- You get the idea. Any words of God, the prophets, Christ, or the apostles that indicated a link in the chain of salvation that had to be present for it to hold you fast.
I listed them loosely in topic and context and then we discussed them. It was an eye-opener to me, as well, what things were mentioned. Some were physical, observable things and some were private and of the heart. But it changed the way we talked about the issues they had. Indeed, it held up Psalm 119:160 "The SUM of thy Word is truth." You have to be familiar with the whole Bible and what it describes as God's ideal relationship with man. Then, you have a little easier time juggling the passages/ideas--whether they are of first importance or not.