Should Christians Repent Of Their Sins?

I recently read a discussion online between a Catholic and an Evangelical. The Catholic guy was talking about some friend of his who had previously led a sinful life but then converted, repented of his sins and was going to be baptised, and how his decision to become a Catholic would influence his life (no more dalliances with women, either marriage or celibacy). The Evangelical guy basically told him that is all nonsense and ''works salvation" since believing in Jesus is enough, you don't need to repent and, apparently, you don't need to change your lifestyle, either. 

There is the whole Evangelical movement online which will basically tell you the same. But is it really Biblical? Can a person be truly saved if he says that he is a believer now but continues to lead the same sinful life he did before? Repentance is not optional, it is the command of God. The Gospel Coalition agrees:

While the apostle Paul was preaching in Athens, he said, “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” (Acts 17:30-31).

In other words, repentance is not optional. God will hold everyone accountable for their words and deeds (2 Corinthians 5:10).

 Read the whole article over here.

Partial Preterism

Interesting:

 Matthew 24-25 is a popular eschatological text, and it does seem to me like Jesus is talking about the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in AD 70, given that immediately before the Olivet Discourse, Jesus prophesies the temple’s destruction. Jesus prophesies the temple destruction (Matthew 24:2) and then immediately after, the scripture says that the disciples asked him “When will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (verse 3), and then the Olivet Discourse immediately follows. The immediate context would indicate that Jesus was talking about the destruction of the temple rather than the end of the world.

Fortunate Son

 

What Is A Digital Sabbath?

 An interesting article:

In response to this modern, digitally amplified rat-race, a practice called a “digital Sabbath” has become trendy, promoted by both Christian and secular sources. The idea is to take an intentional weekly break from screens and the internet to recalibrate ourselves to the real world, to real people — and, for Christians, to our very real God.

Read the rest over here

Read Your Bible, Christians!

One of the chief complaints of the Protestants during the Reformation was that the Catholic Church essentially prevented common folks reading the Scriptures by forbidding to translate the Bible into vernacular from church Latin. That's what Martin Luther did, he translated the whole Bible into vernacular and the newly invented printing press did the rest. 

Fast forward 500+ years, I'm going to tell you a true story. There is someone born and raised in a Christian (Protestant!) household and has been attending church their whole life (60+ years). And then this person switches churches and for the first time in their life hears the story of Jacob and his 4 wives (OK, 2 wives and 2 concubines, to be precise). How is it even possible? I realise it's OT, but still it's Genesis not some obscure story we are talking about here.

Another individual also has been a Christian their whole life. Born and bred in a very religious family. And yet, this person has never read the whole of New Testament, only fragments. How is it even possible??? You'll never get the full picture until you have read it in its entirety, the way it is written.

Is this what our ancestors were fighting for in the 16th century? If more Christians bothered to read their Bibles it would be much more difficult for snake oil preachers to deceive them with political agendas, whether from the Left or from the Right. Christianity is not about politics. It's about Jesus Christ. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Prayers Against Evil Leaders

 

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Here is a good compilation.

Friends Do Not Steal From Friends

You know what I mean.

Happy New Year!

 

Merry Christmas!