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Benefits Of Salvation:
The Biblical Response |
Citizenship of The
Believer
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Christian Basic Training
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Introduction In this present age the Christian – especially the Christian who lives in the United States of America – has found himself in a disturbingly strange environment. In years gone by the moral standards of society closely approximated the morality that was taught by the Church of Jesus Christ. What was considered unmentionable in society was also considered sinful in Church. When the average American went to Church it was like Andy, Aunt Bea, and Opie going to Church on the old Andy Griffith Show. Someone might innocently sleep through the sermon, especially if it was a soft spoken pastor – but everyone knew right from wrong. The greatest sin that confronted the Church on Sunday was when Opie decided to do a little “horse trading” after Church, trading railroad squashed pennies for licorice “seeds”, or pulling “horsehairs” out of his coat. People knew right from wrong, and sin was exceedingly sinful. Isaiah 5:20 (KJV) "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" It's sad, but that was yesterday. People sinned in those simpler times, sinned just as heartily as they sin now, but sin was not foisted on people as if it were normal. The drunkards, like Otis Campbell (again, Andy Griffith Show) knew that what they did was sinful. They snickered at their drunkenness, but were willing to admit guilt – even lock themselves up – and certainly did not defend their actions as Godly or righteous. This is not the case today. Not only do sinners sin, but they expect those who see them sin to tolerate and call such behavior “normal”. What brought about such a condition? Two things happened in the 1960's that severely impacted our American society. First the “drug culture” came along. Whether it was alcohol, or tobacco, or narcotics, drugs suddenly became the “In Thing”. Along with the increase in drug abuse came the relaxing of sexual morality. The youth of America began to experiment both sexually as well as narcotically, and it became wrong for anyone be “square”, or conservative. As liberalism increased in this country our military power decreased. Our soldiers in Vietnam were considered evil for doing their duty. Some soldiers fell by the wayside and began experimenting with narcotics themselves. As a nation we sent our men to war, then refused to support them while they were at war. It's no wonder we lost Vietnam. As our Lord said, Mark 3:25 (KJV) "And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand." We were a divided house, a divided nation. The President supported the war, while half of Congress and the youth of our nation opposed the War. Eventually we had no recourse but to leave Vietnam to the Communists – and to the inevitable “ethnic cleansing” that it would do when we left. Television was once censored along the lines of acceptable morality. There was a time when the network censors required Barbara Eden on “I Dream of Jeannie” to cover up her belly button. There was also a time when the network censors wanted to stop Lucille Ball from appearing on television when she was pregnant. Married couples shown in the bedroom slept on twin beds. A woman who was pregnant was was considered “with child” or “expecting a blessed event”. Television was careful to monitor what it showed, lest it offend sponsors and lose income. Not so today. Today you can tell your children about the “birds and the bees” by turning the television on and letting the little tykes watch. Even alleged children's television supports immorality and loose virtues. And its a vicious cycle. The more than sin is exposed, the more it is regarded as normal behavior, the more depraved the nation becomes. Ancient Israel, exposed to the sexual excesses of the Canaanites, soon began to mimic the other behavior of her neighbors. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 (KJV) "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, {11} Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. {12} For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee." 2 Kings 16:3 (KJV) "But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel." What was considered an abomination – child sacrifice – now became acceptable. People who were cast out by God dictated policies that God's people now considered normal. Eventually this sliding and slipping of moral values destroyed the nation. Is there a parallel in America today? Absolutely! Immorality and bad behavior has now become acceptable to many in our society and in our churches. What was previously abominable has now become acceptable, and the Church of Jesus Christ – rather than preach the Gospel of Salvation – has, in many local assemblies, begun to justify bad behavior. As a result abortion is at an all time high, as is sexual immorality, drug abuse, and – sadly – murder. What hope do we have as a nation? None at all, if the Church continues to condone sin and liberalism in order to reach more people with our “Open Doors, Open Hearts, and Open Minds”. God has not called us – we who are Christians – to compromise, but to holiness: Proverbs 13:6 (KJV) "Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner." Leviticus 20:7-8 (KJV) "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. {8} And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you." 1 Peter 1:15-16 (KJV) "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; {16} Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." God wants His Church to understand that, just as Israel was a nation apart, chosen by God, the Church is a nation apart, chosen by God. The world must not dictate our walk, but God must dictate our walk. We must not lower God's standards to that of the world, but as good ambassadors we must merely speak that which God has committed into our trust. Beloved, the Church of Jesus Christ, purchased – PURCHASED with His own Blood, Acts 20:28 (KJV) "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." must return to that which God has called us to. We must stand on what God teaches in His Word as true, and preach the Gospel of Christ unashamed before this sinful generation, remembering the warning that Jesus gave us: Mark 8:38 (KJV) "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." We must remember that we as Christians belong to Jesus, not to ourselves, 1 Corinthians 6:20 (KJV) "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Corinthians 7:23 (KJV) "Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men." and since we are “bought with a price” far more valuable than anything we can imagine, we must remain true to our Lord God. “In Christ Jesus” We Have Another Citizenship 2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV) "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." A Christian is a person who, because he has accepted Christ Jesus as Savior, is righteous because of our identity with Christ. We who are believers are “in Him”, “In Christ”, that is, we are identified with Christ by faith. Let's see if I can explain it another way. When I was in the military I spent quite a bit of time overseas serving this country. Every country has a SOFA, or a “Status of Forces Agreement” with the United States. What the SOFA basically said was this – Since I am a United States Airman serving my country in a foreign land, if I got in trouble by breaking a one of that foreign government's laws, then – based on the SOFA – I would be extradited back to the United States for trial. The SOFA identified me with the United States, and because my citizenship was with the United States only the courts of the United States would judge me for my crimes. Not every country had a SOFA with the United States, and each country had a slightly different SOFA based on what its government thought was fair. For instance, if I broke a speeding law in England, I would have to pay a traffic fine, but for more serious offenses I was extradited to stand trial in the United States for my crimes. Thankfully, I committed no crimes while overseas (smile). This illustration applies to the Christian. We who are Christians live in the United States, work in the United States, and play in the United States – but our citizenship is in heaven. Because we are “in Christ Jesus” we are identified with heaven. Though we may break laws in this country, or even participate in behavior that this country considers acceptable, we are still subject to the laws of Heaven. We are in Christ, heavenly citizens, and accountable to God whether the state holds us accountable or not. Ephesians 1:4 (KJV) "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:" Philippians 3:9 (KJV) "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:" Colossians 2:6-7 (KJV) "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: {7} Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." 1 John 2:6 (KJV) "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." When I was stationed in the Philippines I was briefed as soon as I got in country that I was forbidden to go to any drugstore. In the Philippines, Thailand, and in Mexico it is perfectly legal to buy narcotics without a prescription at the local drugstore. This is because many of these third world countries have a shortage of doctors – and people are expected to medicate themselves. It was a SOFA offense that could cause my extradition and court martial if I were to even walk into a drugstore to ask directions. Believe you me, I was careful not to go into a drugstore! In the same way, though our society considers certain things to be acceptable, the Christian cannot assume it is acceptable to God. Society does not dictate policy for the Heavenly Kingdom. We who are in Christ are accountable to God regardless as to what our nation says is acceptable. Romans 8:1 (KJV) "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Many Christians or supposed Christians have become confused on this point. It may be legal for a person as an American to become intoxicated, but it is illegal for a Christian to do so: Ephesians 5:18 (KJV) "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;" What may be fine for my lost neighbor is not fine for me. What God has forbidden applies to us, even if the whole world says it is perfectly acceptable. We belong to Jesus! The Christian is different from the non-Christian, and so must act differently. Made Nigh Those who are unsaved and trapped in Satan's world order are different than the Christian – and God sees the difference. The Christian is someone who is: Ephesians 2:13-18 (KJV) "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. {14} For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; {15} Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; {16} And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: {17} And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. {18} For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." The Old Testament Temple of God was divided into several “courts” where people came to worship. The outer court, called the court of the Gentiles, could be approached and entered by anyone, regardless as to race or sex. The next court, the court of Women, was as far as a woman could go without special permission. The inner court, the court of Israel, was where the men of Israel went to offer sacrifice for their families. Woe unto the Gentile who entered this court, for even in Roman times the penalty of death was placed on anyone who defiled this inner court. But of the courts, the holiest and most restricted was the holy of holies. Into this place only the High Priest went, and then only at certain prescribed times such as Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Not even the King of Israel could enter the holiest place. Hebrews 9:2-8 (KJV) "For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the show bread; which is called the sanctuary. {3} And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; {4} Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; {5} And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. {6} Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. {7} But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: {8} The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:" Sin and the Law divided man from God. But what sin and the Law divided, the Blood of Jesus Christ united. Hebrews 10:19-22 (KJV) "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, {20} By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; {21} And having an high priest over the house of God; {22} Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." We who were Gentiles who were consigned and condemned to stay in the far court, a court at the very outermost edge of God's presence, are now brought close to God, closer than even the holy of holies, by the Blood of Christ. How should we then live? As children of the Most High, as sons and daughters of the Ancient of Days, Daniel 7:9 (KJV) "I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire." We should, with reverential awe, serve our Jesus as He has commanded. Delivered and Translated The Christian is a person who has been delivered from the slavish selfishness and self gratification of this world. Colossians 1:12-13 (KJV) "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: {13} Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:" Colossians 2:13-15 (KJV) "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; {14} Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; {15} And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it." As Christians we need to understand that the world follows its own agenda, and as Christians we must follow Christ's agenda. We are no longer enslaved to the things of Satan and of the flesh, but are translated into the Kingdom of Christ. "Translated" in Colossians 1:13 is the Greek (Aorist Active Indicative) methistemi {pronounced meth-is’-tay-mee}, which means “to change the place of, to move the stewardship of”. What God meant by using this word is that we who are His are no longer bound to this evil world, but we are bound to the powers of God's Kingdom. Barnes states: “The word rendered here “translated” is often used in the sense of removing a people from one country to another; see Josephus, Ant. ix. 11. 1. It means, here, that they who are Christians have been transferred from one kingdom to another, as if a people were thus removed. They become subjects of a new kingdom, are under different laws, and belong to a different community. This change is made in regeneration, by which we pass from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light; from the empire of sin, ignorance, and misery, to one of holiness, knowledge, and happiness. No change, therefore, in a man’s life is so important as this; and no words can suitably express the gratitude which they should feel who are thus transferred from the empire of darkness to that of light.” A Sure Foundation As translated and delivered people our foundation is on Christ Jesus, not on what others have to say. 1 Corinthians 3:11 (KJV) "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Ephesians 2:19-20 (KJV) "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; {20} And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;" 2 Corinthians 1:21 (KJV) "Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;" The Church of Jesus Christ has found itself on a slippery slope in American society because it has compromised in order to become more acceptable to the unsaved masses. There is no sure foundation in compromise – history should have shown us that. The Roman Empire, which once ruled the world, compromised with evil rulers in order to satisfy the hedonistic desires of its citizens. As a result each ruler and each generation of people moved deeper and deeper into depravity. Humans are sensual creatures, and when we gratify every evil need in time we will move into depths of depravity that shock everyone. Hitler did not start out murdering the Jews in the holocaust. He started out by getting the German legislature to pass laws making it acceptable to experiment on the mentally retarded. Once this series of laws passed, Hitler moved to justify extermination of undesirable elements from German society. With each slip of law Hitler added a stronger, more depraved law – until the German people, almost without thought, allowed the terrible abomination called the Holocaust. We are doing exactly the same thing in the Church in America. Someone proposed the idea that certain behavior was acceptable, regardless as to the teaching of Scripture. Once that behavior became acceptable, more depraved behavior became acceptable. As we became desynthesized to this behavior, further misbehavior was introduced. It is a vicious circle. Do we, as the Church of Jesus Christ, have any excuse for our behavior? Absolutely not! God has given us ample teaching in the Word of God to warn us about hedonism and its effects. Compromise of the Word of God started first in Corinth, not in New York city, and God condemned the excesses of the Corinthians just as surely as He does any who condone sin. 1 Corinthians 5:1 (KJV) "It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife." Paul, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, rebuked the Corinthian believers for having endorsed and accepted sinful behavior that was – shockingly – worst than even the unbelievers fell into. Paul told the Corinthians, “How dare you! You sin in such a way that even the Gentiles – the unsaved heathen – find shocking!” What Is The Church? The Church of Jesus Christ is first of all God the Father's gift to Jesus: John 17:6 (KJV) "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word." John 17:11-12 (KJV) "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. {12} While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." John 10:29 (KJV) "My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." God the Father gave us to Christ, and Christ was given to us by God the Father. We are a gift to Jesus, circumcised with the circumcision without hands: Colossians 2:11 (KJV) "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:" Philippians 3:3 (KJV) "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." Romans 2:29 (KJV) "But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." The Bible goes so far as to compare the Church with Israel. The Church is not Israel, for Israel still has a place in the Plan of God (see Romans 9-11). However, just as Israel is God's chosen people, the Church is comprised of God's chosen. We who are saved by faith in Christ are no longer of the world, but are of another Kingdom. The Christian is a partaker of the holy royal priesthood: 1 Peter 2:5 (KJV) "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:9 (KJV) "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:" Revelation 1:6 (KJV) "And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." The Christian is a part of a chosen generation, a peculiar or strange people. Titus 2:14 (KJV) "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." We should be considered strange by the unbeliever, for our ways are the way of God, not the ways of the world. The unbeliever who is separated from God by death and sin believes in “a god” or “a power”, but has no access to God our Father. Unless a person knows Christ as Savior, God hears no prayer but the petition of salvation. Isaiah 59:2-4 (KJV) "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. {3} For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. {4} None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity." Ezekiel 3:17-19 (KJV) "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. {18} When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. {19} Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul." Many preachers and congregations have ceased to function as a people of God, and instead have become self appointed arbitrators, trying to find a middle ground between godlessness and godliness. Some pastors and churches have placed themselves in a place that belongs only to Jesus, and have declared certain things acceptable to God even though the Scripture mandates against it. This should not be. Within The Greater Grace of God Romans 5:9-10 (KJV) "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. {10} For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." As citizens of the Kingdom of God, we have certain rights and privileges that are only for us. These rights and privileges are: 1. We are objects of His love, "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us" (Ephesians 2:4; 5:2) 2. We are objects of His Grace: a. For salvation, "For by grace are ye saved" (Ephesians 2:8). b. For keeping, "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand" (Romans 5:2). c. For service, "But to every one of us is this grace given" (Ephesians 2:7). d. For instruction, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present age" (Titus 2:12, 13). 3. We are objects of His power, "And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward" (Ephesians 1:19; Philippians 2:13). 4. We are objects of His faithfulness, "For be hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5; Philippians 1:6). 5. We are objects of His peace, "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which ye are called in one body" (Colossians 3:15). 6. We are objects of His consolation, "Our Father which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation" (2 Thessalonians 2:16). 7. We are objects of His intercession, "Seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 9:24). 8. We are Christ's inheritance: "That ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints" (Ephesians 1:18). 9. We are also partners with Christ in this life. That partnership is expressed in a number of ways: 1 Corinthians 1:9 (KJV) "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 3:9 (KJV) "For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." 2 Corinthians 6:1 (KJV) "We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain." 2 Corinthians 5:20 (KJV) "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 6:4 (KJV) "But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses," 2 Corinthians 3:6 (KJV) "Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." 2 Corinthians 3:3 (KJV) "Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart." In Conclusion Philippians 3:20 (KJV) "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:" As Christians we must stop the slide of morality in our country. How do we do this? By realizing that we are citizens of a higher Kingdom, God's Kingdom, and stop compromising the clear teachings of God's Word in order to satisfy this evil world. Some denominations of Christians are worse about this than others, but truthfully – we are all at fault. We are God's people, and the end draws near. As members of God's Heavenly Kingdom we need to follow His Word. We need to stop compromising. We need to remember the warning that God has given His Church: Revelation 2:5 (KJV) "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." We have an arrogant belief in the American Church that we are invincible to God's punishing hand. Babylon had the same belief, as did Canaan, Rome, Medo-Persia, Sodom, Gomorra, and many other great entities. Job's wife, long turned into a pillar of salt, knows better. What our Lord has done before, He will do again. Ask Israel if you doubt this. A Christian is a member of the Kingdom of God, a stranger and a pilgrim on this earth. Hebrews 11:13 (KJV) "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." 1 Peter 2:11-12 (KJV) "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; {12} Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." Unless we work together to promote God's Word in this nation, we may cease to be in this country. It has happened before – Beloved, don't let it happen again! By His hand,
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