Doses of Faith

 "God in Me." Is this possible?  Paul preached the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit as our Helper. Here is Jesus' message in John 14: 15 - 31.  “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.  “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”  Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that ...

 Lately, I thank God every morning for his wonderful grace. God has given me another day and another opportunity to live in the footsteps of Jesus. Instead of looking at the actions of others, I concentrate more on what I can do to show the way to God. Again, it isn't about theology or concerns with the end of the world. For me, I want to be more like Paul striving to let those in my path know that Jesus, the Son of God, died on the cross for all our sins. Jesus died, arose from the dead, and resurrected into Heaven giving us hope for a better life through our faith in our living God.  "For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8,9 This is the verse that comes to my mind when I think about God's grace and my salvation. I memorized this verse as a child. It has stayed with me reminding me that I am saved by God's love and grace. It isn't because of the years t...

 Along Paul's mission journeys, he preached salvation through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His letter to the Romans is no different. In the introduction, Paul makes it clear that Jesus Christ died for the sins of both the Jews and the Gentiles. The gospel is for all nations. As God told Abram in Genesis 17:5, "... your name shall be Abraham, for a father of many nations have I made thee."  God loves all his creation and desires for all to know the way to Him.  Then, don't overlook Jesus' commission to his followers in Matthew 28:19,20: "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing then in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  As Paul continues his letter, he stresses that no matter who you are, no matter the church you attend, and no matter what your ethnic background "there is non...

“Therefore, you are inexcusable, O man, whosoever you are that judge; for wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself, for you that judge does the same things.” Romans 2:1 Here they come. The faithful taking the same seats week after week. As they enter, some greet others and some prefer taking their seats in silence. Every week, the same faithful come sitting in the same spot Sunday after Sunday. No matter what they did during the week, they come because this has been the family ritual for generations. In fact, some take great pride in being from the line of the families who built this church. So, they come. The couple on the fifth center row on the right side, inspect everyone’s clothes as they pass by their seat. The lady’s opinion of some clothes is heard as she gasps. Another couple on the other side of the church notices an elderly lady, so the husband gets up to assist her to her seat. A very sleepy young man with bloodshot eyes slips into the seat beside his parents. Th...

  As Paul was returning to Jerusalem, he wrote to the saints in Rome. In Romans 15: 23-28, Paul writes that he is returning to Jerusalem to deliver money to the saints and to share with them about his ministry. Then, after his time in Jerusalem, he will stop in Rome on his way to Spain. Also, in Acts 19:21 as he made plans to return to Jerusalem, it is written, "Paul purposed in his spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, 'After I have been there, I must also see Rome.'" Paul's plan changed. He was arrested in Jerusalem, but his letter was delivered. He may have never met the Christians in Rome, but he loved them because of their mutual faith in God. He longed to see them and share more of the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. Paul was very direct and point on with his introduction. He introduces himself, then he quickly changes to his major theme in the letter:  "Concerning God's Son Jesus Christ our Lord,...