So, if you're a Christain......

Amen!

Get ready, you should know what's coming.

Hi David,

You tell us, "Maybe you're Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Church of Christ, Roman Catholic, please understand and put this verse in your heart:

Peter says in 1 Peter 3:15: 'But in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence.' "

I agree that this Scripture verse should be one that we all commit to memory, and to heart.  But, let's look more closely at that Scripture verse to better understand the full message contained there.  We can break this verse down into four major components.

1 Peter 3:15, "But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence."

1. Sanctify Christ as Lord!  That is always number one.

2.  Always be ready!   How do we make ourselves ready?  First, we assure that we have a saving relationship with the Lord.  Then, we prepare ourselves by daily being in His Word, daily working to grow more mature in our knowledge of God's Word.   Ephesians 6:10-20 instructs us to put on the "Full Armor of God" -- which includes "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" (verse 17).  We must be ready to share the Gospel with the lost of the world and we must be ready for when He comes to gather us home.

3.  For the HOPE that is in you!   What is that "hope that is in all believers"?  It is the fact that we KNOW that our Lord is going to come again to gather His church, His body of believers, out of this world and into the home He has prepared for us in heaven (John 14:1-3, I Corinthians 15:50-53, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).  We call that the Rapture, when He will appear again in the clouds to call out His church.

We find that in Titus 2:11-13, "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus."   That is our blessed hope!

4.  Share His Gospel with gentleness and reverence!  Yes, even when we must, at times, agree to disagree -- there is no reason we cannot do this in a civil manner and with respect.  As long as we, by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, have believed and received His gift of eternal life -- and share the same Essential Christian Beliefs -- we are Christian brethren:

A.  The Bible is the Written Word of God and is inerrant in its original manuscripts and in its unchanged message of salvation and eternal life.

B.  There is one God, manifested in three distinct Persons:  Father, Son, Holy Spirit -- all co-equal, all sharing the same attributes.

C.   Salvation by Grace:  By grace you are saved, through faith in Jesus Christ -- plus nothing else.

D. The Resurrection of Christ:  He rose from the dead, that we may also be resurrected into eternal life.

E. The Gospel:  The birth, death, resurrection, ascension, and imminent return of Jesus Christ according to Scripture.

F.  Heaven and Hell:  Both are real places and are the only two eternal destinations available to all mankind.

Everyone who shares these beliefs and has put his/her faith in Jesus Christ for eternal life -- is my Christian brother/sister.  It does not matter if we disagree on eschatology, time and method of baptism, and other non-essential Biblical issues -- we are still Christian brethren.

So, David, I agree with you about this Scripture verse.  But, let's not overlook any aspect of this blessed teaching.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

I think it's wonderful for billie to take this time to talk down to all of you

stupid people. I know the "Thank You" notes will flood the rainbow hut

in flaming California. The obvious and unsolicited verbal beat down by

an idiot is just a great way to start a what could have been a nice day.

_________

It can still be a nice day. Even if I were to read his post, I wouldn't let the village idiot ruin my day. You just have to consider what he is & who he works for. He gets his morning high by coming on here & talking down to all of the stupid people.

Hi Vic and Chick,

My Friends, I am sure that David did not take my agreement with her as talking down.   All I did was expand upon the truth she had shared, a truth with which I totally agree.

And, of course, I am sure that she realizes that someone must teach the few, such as you two, Biblically illiterates on the Religion Forum who insist upon jumping into every discussion -- even when having no idea what is being discussed, nor how to offer an intelligent response.

I suppose there are folks like you who, when having no knowledge of the subject being discussed -- actually believe that just making noise is sufficient.  Oh, well, we had such children in grade school who tried so hard to get attention -- and I suppose some of you just have not grown up.   So be it.  Rant on, my Friends.  Since you do not have God, you need something to brighten your darkness.

Bless your lost little hearts!

Bill

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Luke 19 1-10.