Midterms

     "The problem for the president is the Republican and independent voters who supported him in 2024, but are not his natural constituency. Polling suggests most of them are happy with his foreign policy, but unhappy with his economic policies. From tariffs to running roughshod over allies, these voters prefer him to the alternative, but they may not show up in the midterms." 

Erick Ericlson

     "They want some accountability for the president, even if it means 
Democrats take control in Congress. That is the historic nature of midterm elections. Trump remains a transcendent politician, but the rules of politics still apply. Midterms tend to benefit the party out of power. The party out of power is more motivated to vote and the president's voters who are not actually his strongest supporters tend to stay home."

"If you're somewhere right now in a world

where you don't think you're loved,

you need to know Jesus loves you."

Billy Graham

Things That Matter 

     Do we organize our life by distractions, or purpose? 

     Do our activities leave us exhausted, not fulfilled? 

     Does our success and happiness crowd out contributions? 

Hmmm. I'm not scoring high.

     Does our attention skip meaningful work?

     Are daily habits aligned with deeply held values?

     Do we focus on meaningful service to others? 

Well, once in a while. 

     This is from Joshua Becker, 51, a former pastor and now state senator. He is also an author, speaker and philanthropist. What else does he ask?

     Do we make room for what deserves lasting attention? 

     Do we ever rethink success itself?

     Does meaningful life depend less on what we accumulate than on what we choose to prioritize? 

              Jimmy

Continuation of Saturday's list concerning salvation

Four additional ways, if...

...we are conscious of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. "This is how we know that he (Jesus) lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. - 1 John 3:24 

...we strive to follow Jesus' example and live as he lived. "Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." - 1 John 2:6. 

...we believe, accept, and remain in the "Word of life." i.e. the living Christ (1 John 1:1, and in the original message of Christ and the NT apostles. 

...we have an earnest longing and an unbending hope for Christ's return to receive us to himself. "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be, has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure." - 1 John 3:2-3; John 14:1-3. 

 

 Assurance of Salvation

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. - 1 John 5:13

We have assurance of eternal life if... 

...we believe in the name of the Son of God. There is no eternal life without an earnest faith in Jesus Christ that confesses him as God's Son, sent to be our Lord and Savior.

...we are honoring Christ as Lord of our lives and are sincerely trying to obey his commands. The man who does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. - 1 John 2:3-5 

...we love the Father and the Son rather than the world, and if we overcome the influence of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. - 1 John 2:15-16

...we habitually and persistently practice righteousness rather than sin. He who does what is sinful is of the devil. - 1 John 3:7-10 

...we love our brothers and sisters (in the Lord). This is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence. - 1 John 3:19-20.  

Four more ways, tomorrow. 

 Assurance of Salvation

     How we avoid hell is a topic Jesus referred to numerous times. Everyone should know there is a horrible eternity for minds, hearts/souls and emotions - whatever survives death of the body. Jesus spoke of "fear of the Lord." He made heaven and earth, and that includes hell. 

     In recent times preachers have focused on salvation, without addressing the alternative. It's in the Bible we claim to trust - in Matthew, Mark and Luke. Tomorrow and into Sunday we will list nine ways to be sure of eternal life, thanks to John. 

     John was one of Jesus' 12 disciples. While dying on the cross, Jesus gave John responsibility to care for his (virgin) mother. John ministered as well as other disciples, but he used letters in old age, 60 or more years after Jesus returned to heaven. 

    John wrote one of the four Gospels (good news). Read the awesome first 18 verses of chapter 1. He also wrote 1 John, emphasizing truth and righteousness, and repudiating errors by false teachers. 2 John's theme is walking in truth. And 3 John emphasizes acting faithfully.

     John also wrote Revelation. It begins with John's encounter with Jesus the king of kings (not the human), prophecy, letters, visions, truth, faith, and more. And the last three chapters: the thousand years, the new heaven and earth, and Satan's doom. 

     Tomorrow, we go to 1 John for nine ways to know that we are in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Our Views had over a thousand readers (a record) yesterday when the word "hell" was in our title. Friday, we will respond to this, and on the weekend, we will provide nine ways to assure salvation, directly from our Bible. 

Justified by Faith 

     We follow up on yesterday's faith of Abraham (Genesis chapter 22), who became "father of us all." There were no laws to obey. 

     Centuries later, the "Son of God" was born, grew up without sin in an unimportant town, began his teaching and healing, and finally gave his life in the most painful way. Religious rulers knew he miraculously healed people, but when Jesus declined to evict Roman soldiers and restore the nation (like David might?) they begged Pilate the governor to crucify him. Before he died, Jesus forgave them. 

     This occurred by divine providence. Jesus paid the price all humans in all history deserve, and when he returned to life, he instructed his disciples and appeared to others over 40 days. They saw him return to heaven. He sent the Holy Spirit to earth, and the "good news" has been spreading over the world ever since. 

     Jesus spoke from above to an intelligent Jewish leader named Saul, also called Paul, who was persecuting Christians. Paul became a believer and revised his thinking. Among his many letters, four written while he was in prisons, Paul addressed Christians in Rome in A.D. 57. 

     "Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring - not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all." - Romans 4:16 

     "The words 'it was credited to him' were not for him alone, but also... for us who believe in him (God) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." - Romans 4:23-25  

How We Avoid Hell 

     In the first book, Genesis, we find the answer in chapter 15-v. 6. Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. 

     Is it that simple? When God promised Abram and his wife a child, and they both were beyond child-bearing years, Abram still believed God. Is that all? 

     Believe (Hebrew 'aman') means to persevere in trust and belief with obedient faithfulness. Abram trusted God. He was in a right relationship with God and his will. He received God as his shield and reward. So, no, belief isn't a one-time statement that carries us through to salvation. 

     In Genesis 22 Abraham's faith was tested when God told him to take his son Isaac to a mountain and sacrifice him as a burnt offering. When this father had raised his knife, an angel intervened, saying, "Now I know that you fear God..." Now, God knew that Abraham was a God-fearing man whose chief concern was to do God's will.   

     Abraham had many offspring, and today he is considered the "father of all who believe." - New Testament, Romans 4:11. 

     Has yours truly been tested? Yes, but I didn't have to threaten my kids to prove my faithfulness. Have you been tested? We recommend you read all of Genesis chapter 22.

           Jimmy