1st century Christianity in the 21st century
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us to triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?”
—2 Corinthians 2:17—
In the gospels we see Jesus inviting those who would become His apostles to “follow” Him. In John 1:40, John the Baptist pointed Andrew and another disciple to Jesus who bid them to “Come and See,” so they followed Him and stayed the entire day with Him. The next day, the Lord called Philip to “follow Me” (John 1:43), which he did, also bringing his friend Nathanael to the Lord. In Matthew 4:19, Jesus approached for fishermen (Peter, Andrew, James, and John) and called them to follow Him, that they should become fishers of men. And in Matthew 9:9, Matthew heard Jesus call out “Follow Me,” which he did, leaving his tax office behind.
Continue reading “Follow Me: Jesus’ Call To The World”
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
– – – – 2 Corinthians 5:21 – – – –
Throughout the Bible, we encounter those who suffer from leprosy. This horrid disease brought with it a host of hardships. Of the dreadful affliction, Barnes writes:
“…though the appearance of the disease is at first in the skin, yet it is deeply seated in the bones, and marrow, and joints of the body…A leprous person may live twenty, or thirty, or even fifty years, if he received the disease at his birth, but they will be years of indescribable misery. The bones and marrow are pervaded with the disease. The malady advances, from one stage to another, with slow and certain ruin. Life still lingers amidst the desolation; the joints, and hands, and feet, lose their power; and the body collapses, or falls together, in a form hideous and awful.”
Continue reading ““I Am Willing, Be Cleansed” – Embrace New Life In Jesus”
“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me … Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father, there is one who accuses you – Moses, in whom you trust. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe Me words?” (John 5:39, 45-47)
Continue reading “Exploring Jesus’ Bold Declaration: “The Scriptures … Testify Of Me””