Eternity of Life
New Life
"It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this." Titus 3:3-7 MSG
The Apostle Paul during his missionary journeys, moved from city to city personally teaching the gospel of Christ.
During his trips, when Paul and his missions group moved on to the next city, he left followers in charge to lead, and to oversee the churches they have started. So even then, there was already some sort of order to the church -- an "organized religion" which some have used as one reason not to attend church services in our day.
Letters of Instruction
When Paul was able to, he personally went back to visit these churches he help start. If he couldn't, he sent people to speak on his behalf or to bring with them letters that he wrote for them.
Some of the letters Paul wrote, and the letters the other disciples who were with Jesus wrote, have formed a big part of the New Testament Scriptures (these includes Paul's and the letters of Peter, James and John).
These letters were mostly letters of encouragement, of gratitude and instructions.
The passage above was part of Paul's short letter to Titus who at that time, was in charge of the church in Crete.
In this letter, Paul was reminding Titus to appoint elders in each town and he wrote how he would select them.
He reminded him to continue on teaching and among other things to continue being law abiding and give respect to their government, living in humility and peace with everyone.
Because (as we have read above) at one time we too were all foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by our passions and pleasures. We too once lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating others.
But when the love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of any righteous thing we have done, but because of His mercy.
He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we have become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Ruins of the Oldest Church in Crete
What remains of the baptistry of the Great Basilica of Gortyn (where the early believers of Crete were once baptised as Christians)
THIS IS THE 100th POST ON THIS PAGE.
"It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this." Titus 3:3-7 MSG
The Apostle Paul during his missionary journeys, moved from city to city personally teaching the gospel of Christ.
During his trips, when Paul and his missions group moved on to the next city, he left followers in charge to lead, and to oversee the churches they have started. So even then, there was already some sort of order to the church -- an "organized religion" which some have used as one reason not to attend church services in our day.
Letters of Instruction
When Paul was able to, he personally went back to visit these churches he help start. If he couldn't, he sent people to speak on his behalf or to bring with them letters that he wrote for them.
Some of the letters Paul wrote, and the letters the other disciples who were with Jesus wrote, have formed a big part of the New Testament Scriptures (these includes Paul's and the letters of Peter, James and John).
These letters were mostly letters of encouragement, of gratitude and instructions.
The passage above was part of Paul's short letter to Titus who at that time, was in charge of the church in Crete.
In this letter, Paul was reminding Titus to appoint elders in each town and he wrote how he would select them.
He reminded him to continue on teaching and among other things to continue being law abiding and give respect to their government, living in humility and peace with everyone.
Because (as we have read above) at one time we too were all foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by our passions and pleasures. We too once lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating others.
But when the love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of any righteous thing we have done, but because of His mercy.
He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we have become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
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| Photo Credit: bibleverseimages.com |
Ruins of the Oldest Church in Crete
What remains of the baptistry of the Great Basilica of Gortyn (where the early believers of Crete were once baptised as Christians)
THIS IS THE 100th POST ON THIS PAGE.
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