Bible Reading - The Beatitudes Matthew 5:3-12

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John 1:1-18 Reading

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The First Words Spoken by Jesus

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The first words spoken by Jesus that are recorded in the Bible are:

"Why did you seek me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" - Luke 2:49

Those words are still relevant today. Are you seeking Jesus? He’s in his Father’s house. I hope to see you there one day!

J. Clontz, The Words of Jesus

 

You have received your Consolation

 The first public address by Jesus is often referred to as the Sermon on the Plain. His first statement was:

 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.” Luke 6:24

 Hopefully you value the people that God made and not things people have made,

 Dr. J. Clontz, The Words of Jesus

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Are you a Christmas Light?

During this time of year, people are decorating their homes with Christmas lights. If you stop and think about it, God is doing the very same thing. God has decorated our entire world with lights. In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus told his listeners, “You are the light of the world” – Matthew 5:14.

I like to think about all those I know who have been changed into “the light of the world.” One friend of mine supports an orphanage in South America. Another volunteers several hours everyday on a suicide prevention hotline getting help for those in great despair. Another volunteered as a prison chaplain on weekends visiting with prisoners when no one else would come. Another is a kidney donor who saved another person’s life. Another provided and cooked over two million free meals for the homeless. Another has an autistic child that they care for every day. Another worked with the mentally ill and helped them recover their sanity. Another is a disaster relief volunteer who provides essentials for the victims of tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes throughout the USA. Another convinced drug dealers to turn in their guns and found them jobs so that they could lead normal lives.

I hope you are also “the light of the world” and God is using you to bring light to the lives of those who otherwise would be in darkness. I’m hoping your light will shine forever beside the tree of life!

Merry Christmas,

Dr. J. Clontz  - Editor, The Comprehensive New Testament

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Photo By Michael Sander

Is Water Baptism Necessary for Salvation?

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After Paul was identified as a chosen instrument - he was told to be baptized. Similarly, after God sent an angel to Cornelius he was ordered to be baptized. Both Paul and Cornelius had obviously already been called by God. However, even though they were already called by God they were still ordered to be baptized. Paul was specifically told to be baptized to wash away his sins. Additionally, 1Peter 3:20-22 states that “baptism now saves you” – “20…when the patience of God waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. 21 And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you – not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels and authorities and powers subject to him.”

1.     After Paul had his event on the road to Damascus while he was still blind Jesus told him to enter the city and he would be told what he must do. A man named Ananias was visited by Jesus in a vision and he was told to go to Paul. According to Acts 9:15 Jesus told Ananias that Paul was his chosen instrument. According to Acts 9:18 and Acts 22:14-16 Ananias baptized Paul. Look closely at Acts 22:14-16, Paul was told by Ananias the following:

Acts 22:14 “Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

If Paul who was already a chosen instrument according (Acts 9:15) was baptized to wash away his sins (Acts 9:18), then the rest of us should do likewise. The point is that even though Paul was already chosen his next step was to be baptized. Remember Jesus told him that he would be told what he must do – Acts 9:6 “and Ananias told him to get up and be baptized.”

2.     Cornelius saw an angel who told him to send for Simon Peter – Acts 10:1-5. In Acts 10:48 Peter ordered everyone at Cornelius’ house to be baptized.

Paul, Cornelius and many others are hoping to see you in Heaven!

Scripture citations from “The Comprehensive New Testament.”

Dr. J. Clontz

John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

When Jesus talks about your eyes being good or evil (Matthew 6:22-23), he is talking about whether you are generous or stingy when it comes to charity. The darkest hours are when people don’t have food to eat, proper clothing or medicine. God told Abraham (Genesis 22:17) that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars of heaven. Just as the stars of heaven shine brightest in the darkest night –the generosity of the spiritual descendants of Abraham shine brightest when they help those in need who have the least hope.

Hopefully, the darkness will never overcome your light and you will shine brightly forever in the kingdom of Heaven!

Dr. J. Clontz – The Words of Jesus

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Matthew 6:22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. So if your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! [Comprehensive New Testament]

Genesis 22:17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven.