Anna's Blog (184)

Should Pastors Be Salaried? A Closer Look At A Popular Tradition

Should Pastors Be Salaried? A Closer Look At A Popular Tradition

by Darryl M. Erkel

Historically, pastors during the first-century period were normally not paid on a full-time basis. Although they may have periodically received gifts of food, clothing, and even some monetary assistance at times, there is no historical evidence to suggest that such pastors were given a full-time salary sufficient to meet their financial needs and obligations. This is confirmed… Continue

Added by Anna on February 11, 2009 at 1:30am — 1 Comment

Jesus the Jewish Rabbi

Jesus as Rabbi

The study of the place of Jesus in the history of human culture must begin with the New Testament, on which all subsequent representations have been based. But the presentation of Jesus in the New Testament is itself a representation, resembling a set of paintings more than a photograph.

In the decades between the time of the ministry of Jesus and the composition of the various Gospels the memory of what Jesus had said and done circulated in the form… Continue

Added by Anna on February 11, 2009 at 1:15am — No Comments

Does God Hear All Prayers?

I will just let the Scriptures answer this question.

This is what the Bereans would find as an answer to that question:

Prov. 28:9

New American Standard Bible (©1995)

He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)

Surely the prayer of someone who refuses to listen to [God's] teachings is disgusting.

King James Bible

He that turneth… Continue

Added by Anna on February 10, 2009 at 8:00am — 1 Comment

How Many Times Was Jesus Called "Rabbi" in the Bible?

Jesus who was a Jewish Rabbi was called "Rabbi", many time in the Bible.

Note the following examples in the Weymouth Translation:

Mt 23:8 -

"As for you, do not accept the title of `Rabbi,' for one alone is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.

Mt 26:25 -

Then Judas, the disciple who was betraying Him, asked, "Can it be I, Rabbi?" "It is you," He replied.

Mt 26:49 -

So he went straight to Jesus and said, "Peace to you,… Continue

Added by Anna on February 8, 2009 at 10:00pm — No Comments

Jesus the Radical Rabbi

They are at it again. In this gospel lesson Jesus’ opponents enlist a lawyer to do what lawyers do best — ask a question that puts a person on the hot seat. “Which commandment of the law is the greatest?” (Matthew 22:34-40). If the law consisted of only the Ten Commandments, this would be tough enough. But the written “Torah” included many more moral, ceremonial, and dietary prescriptions.

Jesus, of course, is a radical. A “radical” is one who goes to the “radix” or root of the… Continue

Added by Anna on February 8, 2009 at 9:37pm — No Comments

The "Works of the Law"? It wasn't God's Law, as the Dead Sea Scrolls Reveal

For centuries the "works of the law" a term used only in Paul's writings was interpreted to mean "God's Law".

However this interpretation flies in the face of the plain description of the New Covenant, where the Law of God is to be written on the hearts.

This following article explains that the "works of the law" were the pharasiac-type "added laws" which Jesus had reproved throughout His ministry, which many Jews of His day, taught were salvific in… Continue

Added by Anna on February 8, 2009 at 7:30pm — 1 Comment

The Blessings of Deut 28 are Dependent on your "Keeping ALL of HIS Commandments"

Deut 28:1

And it shall come to pass,

if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do *ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS*

which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.

Too many preachers teach from this… Continue

Added by Anna on February 8, 2009 at 9:00am — 2 Comments

The Gentile Companions of Israel Required to Keep the Laws/Torah of the Covenants

It is correct to say that the New Covenant was only for Israel. But one must understand that Israel had GENTILE companions. Yeshua came to restore both houses of Israel, which included the GENTILE companions of the tribe of Judah/Benjamin and the 10 tribes of Israel.

Ezek 37:16 "Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his COMPANIONS: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of… Continue

Added by Anna on February 7, 2009 at 4:30pm — No Comments

The Truth Behind St. Valentine’s Day

The Truth Behind St. Valentine’s Day

The Jeremiah 10, the Lord tells to- Learn not the way of the Heathen. Since Valentine's day is based on pagan/heathen religion, why should a Christian celebrate it?

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St. Valentine’s Day is the world’s “holiday of love.” Since the Bible states that God is love (I John 4:8, 16), does He approve of the celebration of this day? Does He want His people—true Christians—partaking of the candy and cards, or any… Continue

Added by Anna on February 7, 2009 at 3:47pm — No Comments

The Christian use of the Cross did not begin until the time of Constantine in the 4th Century A.D.

What Is the Historic Origin of the Symbol of the Cross?

History shows that the cross was used centuries before Christ. For example, in the British Museum is a statue of the Assyrian king Samsi-Vul, son of Shalmaneser. Around his neck is an almost perfect Maltese cross. On an accompanying figure, that of Ashur-nasir-pal, is a similar cross.

The ancient Greek goddess Diana is pictured with a cross over her head, in much the same way the "Virgin Mary" is… Continue

Added by Anna on February 7, 2009 at 2:41pm — No Comments

To the Jew First, and Also to the Greek

To the Jew First, and Also to the Greek

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Everyone!

Paul has just used that wonderful word "everyone" in Romans 1:16, "The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes." O, what an exhilarating word to those of us in this room who feel that there is something about… Continue

Added by Anna on February 7, 2009 at 12:00pm — No Comments

The LORD our Righteousness - "YHWH Tsidqenu"

"The LORD our Righteousness"

Buried within the pages of the book of Jeremiah lies one of the most precious and revealing prophecies of the Messiah to be found within the bounds of the Hebrew scriptures. In it, we see revealed that the Messiah, the Branch whom God was going to raise to fill the throne of David, would be given the name of the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, YHWH Tsidqenu. As we will see below, this phraseology points us to the divine nature of the Messiah, specifically… Continue

Added by Anna on February 7, 2009 at 4:30am — 1 Comment

True Biblical Faith is not Passive

Many people think that faith is belief. Belief that God exists . . . that Jesus is the son of God . . . that Jesus rose from the dead. Intellectual assent to all these truths is of course important, and is an indispensable part of the act of faith. Such belief often leads to religious actions – the hanging of crucifixes in our home, the wearing of medals, the recitation of prayers. These acts of piety are also good.

But mere belief and acts of piety are not enough to save us. Those… Continue

Added by Anna on February 6, 2009 at 8:32pm — 1 Comment

The Grace of God - Mentioned in the NT

God had been gracious to mankind for 4000 years before The Messiah was born. Adam & Eve, Noah, Abraham, Lot, Moses, the Children of Israel, David and many more OT saints, were repeatedly beneficiaries of the "Grace of God."

Our Messiah, was the ultimate fulfillment, the embodiment of the "Grace of God".

The following are texts where the "Grace of God" is mentioned in the NT:

Luke.2

[40] And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and… Continue

Added by Anna on February 6, 2009 at 12:58am — 1 Comment

Divine Grace in the Old Testament

Divine Grace in the Old Testament

Unless one understands that Grace is an attribute of God, and realizes God grants grace repeatedly in the OT, beginning in the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve sinnend, one does not really have a proper understanding, or perspective of God's nature and character:

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Divine Grace in the Old Testament

One of the attributes of God, signifying His loving-kindness and mercy, and particularly His… Continue

Added by Anna on February 6, 2009 at 12:45am — 2 Comments

The Modern Valentine's Day Celebration - Originated in "The Lupercalia" a Roman Festival to a pagan god

Once Christians learn about the celebration of pagan god in which this festival is rooted they should obey God's word found in Jeremiah 10 - Learn not the ways of the heathen:

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The Lupercalia: A Roman Festival: It Developed Into the Modern Valentine's Day

By the time Augustus came into power, the Romans had forgotten which god this festival honored. Highly practical people, the Romans invented a new god to explain it.

The temptation to compare… Continue

Added by Anna on February 2, 2009 at 11:54pm — 1 Comment

The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad

The Sabbath in the Early Church and Abroad

By COGwriter

What day of worship was practiced by early Christians? Was sabbath-keeping only a Jewish practice? Does history show that the Sabbath was kept by Gentile peoples throughout history?

This article will look to the Bible, the practices of Jesus and Paul, and early writings to answer these questions.

Sabbath or Sunday?

Which day does the New Testament emphasize the seventh day Sabbath or… Continue

Added by Anna on January 31, 2009 at 8:12pm — 2 Comments

The Perpetuity of the God's Law

The Perpetuity of the Law

Where must all men appear?"

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." 2 Cor. 5:10.

What will be the standard in the judgment?

"So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty." James 2:12 (Rom. 3:19).

In what condition are all men?

"For all have sinned, and come… Continue

Added by Anna on January 31, 2009 at 12:39pm — No Comments

"Dancing" before the Lord

Clearly the Bible speaks of Dancing before the Lord, as David did, however, what type of dancing is appropriate in a worship service should be the question.

The link below is to a video taken of a Church Anniversary celebration in the Church's sanctuary.

I would like to have comments from any and all, regarding the appropriateness of this type of dancing in a sanctuary:

Church Anniversary Dance (Celebration of 4 Generations at Greater Travelers… Continue

Added by Anna on January 31, 2009 at 11:21am — No Comments

Christ IS OUR PASSOVER.

Christ IS OUR PASSOVER.

Passover in the New Testament

Everybody knows that Passover is a big festival for the Jews, but not many people realise it was also an important festival for the Church during the first century, and should still be observed by Christians today, since there is no Biblical reason for dispensing with it.

The rules for observance of Passover are given in Exodus 12:1-28, Leviticus 23:4-8, Numbers 9:1-14, Deuteronomy 16:1-8. The festival… Continue

Added by Anna on January 30, 2009 at 7:04am — No Comments