![[Jacques Home Page]](thumbnail/openbibleemitting65x53.jpg "[Jacques Home Page]")
![[Articles Directory]](thumbnail/prophet53x53.jpg "[Articles Directory]")
![[Blurbs Directory]](thumbnail/fruit53x53.jpg "[Blurbs Directory]")
![[Poetry Directory]](thumbnail/heart38x53.jpg "[Poetry Directory]")
Mature Religion
If you are content with believing the unquestioned, unrefined religion of your ancestors then you should not be offended in suffering for the sins of your fathers because your sins are one and the same.
Exodus 20:5 (NIV84)
You shall not bow down to them or worship them (speaking of false gods, false concepts and false beliefs); for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
If you want to be treated favourably as a diligent individual then you should prove all things and keep what is true and just and right and good in the eyes of God in your thoughts and actions. This is mature religion and mature living. Then God will be able to judge you by your spiritual growth and works.
Exodus 20:6 (NKJV)
but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 (NKJV)
Test all things; hold fast what is good.
2 Thessalonians 2:13–15 (NKJV)
But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
Unfortunately most people were taught lies. Now they have to repent and turn to the truth of the gospel. "Repent of what? It's not my fault." so many tell themselves. They should repent of being so gullible for one, repent of being too lazy or not willing to read the Bible, repent of not proving things for themselves and repent of rejecting the true God and His spirit of truth.
1 John 4:6 (NKJV)
We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Galatians 1:6–10 (NIV84)
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel, which is really no gospel at all. (Note that this was happening about two thousand years ago and is today the most popular form of "Christianity" or should I say non-Christianity.) Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Don't believe me, believe Jesus. Here is what He warned as recorded in the New Testament.
Matthew 24:4–5 (NKJV)
And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
I say a great many. Don't be one of them. Don't get lost in a crowd. Don't develop a crowd mentality.
More things to meditate on:
Isaiah 1:18–20 (NKJV)
Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Isaiah 55:9 (NKJV)
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Be a mature Christian, reason with God not apart from Him.
John 10:7–10 (NKJV)
Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
2 Thessalonians 1:3–12 (NKJV)
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2018 Jacques Gauvin
Search for related topics. * United Church Of God - UCG - ucg.org