#and acknowledge Jesus is our Savior who died for our sins

[walkswithmyfather]

‭Ephesians 2:4-10 (NLT‬). “[4] But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, [5] that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) [6] For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. [7] So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. [8] God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. [9] Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. [10] For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

“Saved by Grace” By In Touch Ministries: “Jesus suffered and died so that all who believe in Him can live forever as part of God's family.”

“Many people believe that piling up good works can make them right with God. Yet when it comes to sin, death is the only payment that can satisfy divine justice (Romans 6:23). Since we all sin, this leaves us facing an eternity cut off from God. But grace, the expression of divine love and kindness to the undeserving, prompted the solution: Jesus. According to John 6:29, the only “work” we need to do is believe. The Savior’s death brought us:

• New Life. Our spirit is made alive in Christ the moment we acknowledge we’re sinners and believe that His death paid our sin debt in full.

• Freedom. At salvation, sin’s power over us is broken and we are set free from its hold. Now we can exercise our newfound freedom and follow the Lord.

• Security. When we accept that we are sinners and acknowledge our Savior’s sacrifice as payment for all our wrongdoing, we’re permanently adopted into the God’s family. Someday we will be seated in the heavenly realms with Christ to enjoy life everlasting with Him.

God, the One against whom we rebelled, sent His Son to receive the punishment that was rightfully ours. How will you show the Lord gratitude for His saving grace?”

[Photo thanks to Thomas Currier at Unsplash]

[unanottexxx]

idk maybe fyodor can resurrect until he reaches his goal? or maybe it's a cycle? killing a certain amount of people is his crime and dying after it only to resurrect is his punishment?

i mean his ability is 'crime and punishment' which is something two sided and one thing leads to other thing so the act of 'killing' leads to his own 'death' and his resurrection, only to repeat again and again

wait- maybe he thinks he has to remove all abilities to break the cycle but in reality he has to acknowledge his crimes to do it? maybe the narrator (asagiri himself) is tricking us to think fyodor is some sort of 'jesus' who kills and dies for our sins but in fact he is committing those crimes mainly for his own goals. he thinks, similar to razumihin (c&p); someone has to do all these and that someone is above everyone, someone who sheds blood to cleanse us, someone who sacrifices their humanity for our sins, just like a savior, a god. he believes that and persuades us to believe it too.

[freebiblestudies]

Plagues in the Bible Lesson 04: Plagues in the Wilderness

After the ten plagues of Egypt, the people of Israel were led out of Egypt by Moses.  After such an experience, one would think the people of Israel had more than their fair share of plagues.  However, they went through at least four more plagues in their wilderness journey?  What happened and why?

Let’s read together Exodus 16:1-16; Numbers 11:1-6, 18-20, 31-33; and Psalms 78:17-32,  105:40, 106:13-15.

The Bible records two times where the people of Israel were asking for meat.  Both times God responded by giving them quail.  Why did God send a plague upon the people of Israel the second time?

God showed mercy towards the people of Israel the first time they asked for meat.  However, the people of Israel demonstrated distrust of God when they asked for meat the second time.  God had already provided them food daily by giving them manna.  He also gave them water when they needed it.  Yet, the people of Israel were tired of manna and craving meat.  They even went so far as to crave the food they had when they were slaves in Egypt.

Interestingly, the name “Kibroth Hattaavah” can be translated as “graves of craving” or “graves of lust.”  God punished the people of Israel for giving into their carnal cravings.  

Let’s read together Numbers chapters 13 and 14.

Moses sent twelve spies to check out the land of Canaan.  They returned after forty days and confirmed that land was indeed bountiful.  However, ten of the spies told the people of Israel that they would not be able to conquer the inhabitants of the land, who were simply too large and powerful.

Joshua and Caleb begged  the people of Israel to follow the word of the Lord in faith to enter the promised land in faith.  However, the people murmured against Moses and Aaron, wanting to choose new leaders to take them back to Egypt. 

In response to the people’s rebellion, God sent a plague that killed the ten spies.  The people of Israel would also not be allowed to enter the promised land for another forty years.  They would all die in the wilderness, except for Joshua and Caleb.  Thus, the people of Israel were punished for blatantly doubting God’s promises and seeking to make their own way.

Let’s read together Number 16:46-50; Romans 8:34; and Hebrews 7:25.

Korah, Dathan, and Abiram led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron.  They contended for the leadership of Israel, but they failed to acknowledge that it was God who appointed Moses and Aaron to be leaders.  Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were killed by God for their presumption.

However, the rebellion did not end there.  The next day the people of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, siding with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.  God sent a plague upon the people of Israel.  Aaron rushed into the camp with a censer to atone for the people of Israel.  He literally stood between the living and the dead to end the plague.

Aaron’s intercessory action pointed to Jesus, who would stand between us and the plague of sin.

Let’s read together Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:13-15; and John 12:30-36.

Once again, the people of Israel murmured against Moses.  God sent poisonous fiery serpents to plague them in response.  God instructed Moses to make a bronze snake and set it upon a pole.  Anyone bit by a fiery serpent would live if they looked upon the bronze snake.  However, if they refused to look up at the bronze snake, they would die.

This incident foreshadowed Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.  Jesus died bearing all the sins of humanity.  Everyone who repents of their sins and accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior will be saved.  However, anyone who refuses to accept Jesus will die in their own sins.

Let’s read together Isaiah 45:22; John 14:6; 1 John 2:1; and Hebrews 12:2.

What can we learn from these plagues in the wilderness?  We will die in our sins if we rely upon ourselves.  Instead, we need to look upon Jesus and accept His infinite sacrifice on the cross.  Jesus is the only One who can save us from the plague of sin.

Friend, will you confess and repent of your sins and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

[crigil-blog]

GOD SPEAKS INTO YOUR LIFE ( 10823) "I have made your faults and sins disappear as I will make the clouds disappear in the sky; obey me again, for I have set you free (Isaiah 44:22). Whenever we have done something that we know is wrong, our conscience kicks in and triggers the feelings of guilt that lead us to repentance. The only way to obtain true peace is to first acknowledge our sin and then ask God for forgiveness, because without the Holy Spirit, who speaks to our heart, we would never realize our need for forgiveness. Sin always separates us from God and if we want to restore the bond between us and our Lord and Savior, then we need to ask God to forgive our transgression. Immediately our burden is lifted and the sweet peace of forgiveness is restored in our hearts. Sometimes, you may have a friend or family member who has sinned against God, but they are unwilling to ask for forgiveness. Though we love them dearly, we cannot ask forgiveness for them. God does not hold us responsible for the decisions of others, only our own. Nor can we repent for them, they must want and ask forgiveness for their own sin. However, we can lift them up in prayer for God to give them the strength to repent and send the Holy Spirit to speak to their hearts. We can always pray a prayer of intercession for our loved ones, especially when they are too weak to pray for themselves. CLAIM YOUR SALVATION: Suicide is not the solution to your problem. Go before "HIM" and give Him your heart. "HE" died on the cross and blotted out all your sins. "HE" will come into your life and take control, from that day forward. In Jesus' name, amen".

[catenaaurea]

The Baltimore Catechism

Part Three: The Sacraments and Prayer

Lesson Twenty-Seven: The Sacrifice of the Mass

357. What is the Mass?

The Mass is the sacrifice of the New Law in which Christ, through the ministry of the priest, offers Himself to God in an unbloody manner under the appearances of bread and wine. (Malachi 1:11)

358. What is a sacrifice?

A sacrifice is the offering of a victim by a priest to God alone, and the destruction of it in some way to acknowledge that He is the Creator of all things.

359. Who is the principal priest in every Mass?

The principal priest in every Mass is Jesus Christ, who offers to His heavenly Father, through the ministry of His ordained priest, His body and blood which were sacrificed on the cross. (Luke 22:19-20)

360. Why is the Mass the same sacrifice as the sacrifice of the cross?

The Mass is the same sacrifice as the sacrifice of the cross because in the Mass the victim is the same, and the principal priest is the same, Jesus Christ.

361. What are the purposes for which the Mass is offered?

The purposes for which the Mass is offered are: first, to adore God as our Creator and Lord; second, to thank God for His many favors; third, to ask God to bestow His blessings on all men; fourth, to satisfy the justice of God for the sins committed against Him.

362. Is there any difference between the sacrifice of the cross and the Sacrifice of the Mass?

The manner in which the sacrifice is offered is different. On the cross Christ physically shed His blood and was physically slain, while in the Mass there is no physical shedding of blood nor physical death, because Christ can die no more; on the cross Christ gained merit and satisfied for us, while in the Mass He applies to us the merits and satisfaction of His death on the cross. (Romans 6:9)

363. How should we assist at Mass?

We should assist at Mass with reverence, attention, and devotion.

364. What is the best method of assisting at Mass?

The best method of assisting at Mass is to unite with the priest in offering the Holy Sacrifice, and to receive Holy Communion.

364a. How can we best unite with the priest in offering the Holy Sacrifice?

We can best unite with the priest in offering the Holy Sacrifice by joining in mind and heart with Christ, the principal Priest and Victim, by following the Mass in a missal, and by reciting or chanting the responses.

365. Who said the first Mass?

Our Divine Savior said the first Mass, at the Last Supper, the night before He died.

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

28th January >> Mass Readings (USA)

Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Doctor 

on

Saturday, Third Week in Ordinary Time.

Saturday, Third Week in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Colour: White)

(Readings for the feria (Saturday))

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Saturday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 He was looking forward to the city whose architect and maker is God.

Brothers and sisters: Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. Because of it the ancients were well attested.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go. By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise; for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God. By faith he received power to generate, even though he was past the normal age –and Sarah herself was sterile – for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy. So it was that there came forth from one man, himself as good as dead, descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sands on the seashore. All these died in faith. They did not receive what had been promised but saw it and greeted it from afar and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth, for those who speak thus show that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land from which they had come, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better homeland, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son, of whom it was said, Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name. He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead, and he received Isaac back as a symbol.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Luke 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75

R/ Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior, born of the house of his servant David.

R/ Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old. that he would save us from our sins from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant.

R/ Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the bonds of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.

R/ Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

Gospel Acclamation John 3:16

Alleluia, alleluia. God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mark 4:35-41 Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

--------------------------------

Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Doctor 

(Liturgical Colour: White)

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Saturday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading Wisdom 7:7-10, 15-16 Beyond health and comeliness I loved her.

I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit of Wisdom came to me. I preferred her to scepter and throne, And deemed riches nothing in comparison with her, nor did I liken any priceless gem to her; Because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand, and before her, silver is to be accounted mire. Beyond health and comeliness I loved her, And I chose to have her rather than the light, because the splendor of her never yields to sleep.

Now God grant I speak suitably and value these endowments at their worth: For he is the guide of Wisdom and the director of the wise. For both we and our words are in his hand, as well as all prudence and knowledge of crafts.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 119:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.

How shall a young man be faultless in his way? By keeping to your words.

R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.

With all my heart I seek you; let me not stray from your commands.

R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.

Within my heart I treasure your promise, that I may not sin against you.

R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.

Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes.

R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.

With my lips I declare all the ordinances of your mouth.

R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.

In the way of your decrees I rejoice, as much as in all riches.

R/ Lord, teach me your statutes.

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 23:9b, 10b

Alleluia, alleluia. You have but one Father in heaven; you have but one master, the Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Matthew 23:8-12 Do not be called (Rabbi,” you have but one teacher who is Christ.

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples: “Do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[mentacose-archive]

Ok but how do i get to heaven?

Hi!! Thanks for the question, I hope you haven't been waiting long for an answer. But I'll point you to some biblical verses that I looked up on the subject.

Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died for your sins, and that He rose from the dead.

Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:30-31 ESV)

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." (Romans 10:8-10 ESV)

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3 ESV)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 ESV)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17 ESV)

Confess your sins to God and repent.

And saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15 ESV)

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 ESV)

I acknowledged my sin to you,     and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”     and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.  (Psalm 32:5 ESV)

You are saved by grace, not by good works.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Eph. 2:8-9 ESV)

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (Galatians 2:15-16 ESV)

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7 ESV)

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isaiah 64:6 NIV)

I hope this answers your question! But if you want to look further into salvation, I would recommend checking out my friend's blog @thescienceofapologetics. Her #salvation tag goes more in depth about this subject.

[evigtlivihimlen]

Crucified God - The Gospel!

CRUCIFIED GOD - the message of Easter!

God dies on a bloody cross to reconcile man with himself, can it be more dramatic than that? It is love that drives this astonishing event, as it says "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life". Here we trace the reason why Jesus voluntarily walked the path of suffering on the tree of the Cross, so that man should not "be lost but have eternal life".

Let's look back to the beginning. Man was created for spiritual and familial fellowship with God. She rebelled and wanted to be her own god; a poison of selfishness, sin and evil polluted human nature, something the world and its history clearly shows. A look in any newspaper becomes compelling. Sin is a crime against God's commandments and will, and who has not, for example, lied, slandered, stolen, treated someone badly, been unloving or selfish. This poison gives an inner emptiness and dissatisfaction as man now came outside of what she was created for, contact and fellowship with the source of life was simply broken.

But, Jesus came to us. The Son of God painfully stretched out his hands on the Cross, as if he wanted to embrace the hole world, but rough nails pierced the hands and feet of the Savior, our sins Jesus took on like a giant magnet, yes, our sins was the whipping of the Romans that beat the Master's back bloody and the hammer blow that fixed the Lord with nails on the Cross. God the Father let this happen, because the punishment was laid on Him. Jesus would deal with the "sin problem" and its terrible consequences once and for all so that every man could be forgiven of his sins and be reconciled with God.

Jesus himself took the penalty for our sins instead of us. It is, now as in a parable, if you committed a lot of serious crimes in the community and you stand in a court and are sentenced to be tortured and killed to atone your crimes, but, then someone steps forward in front of the judge and says “I take his punishment on me instead of him", and you go completely free. Jesus did this for us so that we can be acquitted and pardoned on the day of reckoning and judgment, and have eternal life in Heaven.

We can not earn this salvation, by for example bargaining with God, it is impossible to erase our evil, selfish living with good deeds. Sin must be reconciled, the price paid in full and the punishment suffered in order for eternal justice to take place; This Jesus did with love for us on the Cross. Salvation is a free gift of God's grace. We turn to God, acknowledge our need for Jesus and His salvation, and believe. Then, in this choice of faith and confession, the miracle occurs, man is born again spiritually with a restored relationship with God, a spiritual fellowship that fills us with peace and joy, a blanket of love over our frozen soul. And a crucified God, Jesus on the Cross, who rose from the dead on the third day and lives says to us: “Welcome home my dear child…

P.S! Now you can Choose forgivness of your sins. Now you can Choose eternal life in Heaven instead of eternal damnation…If you Seriously want to Turn to God and Receive Jesus and His salvation…You can pray out loud this Salvationpray from your heart to God: "God, Heavenly Father…I Confess that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior… I Believe that Jesus suffered and died for my sins…I Believe that Jesus is Risen from the dead … Lord Jesus, come into my heart…Forgive me of all my sins…Thank You for forgivness of my sins…Thank You for everlasting life in Heaven…I also receive your Spirit, The Holy Spirit…Fill me with your peace and joy…with your presence, power and love…I pray in Jesus name, Amen".

[vinceleemiller]

Understanding Good Friday | The Timeline Of Events

What Makes It Good?

On this day in history, the events that unfold mark what believers call Good Friday. This day is full of meaning, prompting us to reflect, remember, and rejoice.

As you skim through the timeline of events posted below, you will recount the trials and tribulations that Jesus endured on this day. One question will emerge: "What makes this day so good?"

To understand the answer, we must look beyond this day and the visible events. For a moment, we must look past what people are doing to Jesus and see what Jesus is doing. We need to see past the horror inflicted upon him and see the hope initiated by him.

The easiest way to see this is to understand the whole story because the events of this day are only a snippet of a larger and longer story—a story told by God. To understand the narrative, you merely need to listen to a few timeless statements that God has been communicating to us through Scripture for generations. They illuminate his plan and reveal why this day is dubbed Good Friday.

Four Key Scriptures To The Story Of Good Friday

First, God reminds us in Romans 3:23 that this world and its people are perpetually broken and separated from him by our disobedience called "sin":

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Second, Galatians 3:13 explains that because of our sins, we were cursed, and we need someone to save us. Therefore, God chose to save us himself and provided his Son, who rescued us from our sins. This text reads:

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.”

Next, Colossians 2:14 explains that God planned to pay our sin debt for us. The Cross is where this debt was paid. This text reads:

[God] by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 

Last is 2 Corinthians 5:21. It clarifies that the payment had to be made by someone sinless. Our sins were purchased and paid for with the currency of a sinless Son who died at the hands of sinful men to save us. The text reads:

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

One Cohesive Story

These Scriptures tell one cohesive story—a story of divine intervention and redemption. On this day, 2000 years ago, Jesus saved the world from sin. Despite the injustice he endured—sentenced, scourged, mocked, and crucified—Jesus was simultaneously executing a divine plan. He was redeeming us, lifting the curse by bearing our sins upon that Cross. In this act, he paid the penalty and canceled our debt, purchasing our salvation with his righteousness.

Those unwilling to see the divine story and accept their own sinfulness find this event perplexing and the brutality unjust. But for those of us who have acknowledged our disobedience and sin, we see the Cross for what it is—Good News. For us, this day is profound. It's the day when a sinless Savior took upon himself the punishment we rightfully deserve so that we might be righteous before God.

That's what makes it Good Friday.

  The Timeline of Good Friday By The Hour

6:00 AM - Zero Hour Jesus Stands Trial Before Pilate. (Matthew 27:11-14; Mark 15:2-5; Luke 23:1-5; John 18:28-37) Jesus Sent To Herod. (Luke 23:6-12)

7:00 AM - The First Hour Jesus Returned To Pilate. (Luke 23:11) Jesus Sentenced To Die. (Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:23-24; John 19:16)

8:00 AM -  The Second Hour Jesus Led To Calvary. (Matthew 27:32-34; Mark 15:21-24; Luke 23:26-31; John 19:16-17)

9:00 AM - The Third Hour Jesus Is Crucified. (Mark 15:25) Father Forgive Them. (Luke 23:34) Cast Lots for Jesus's Clothing. (Mark 15:24)

10:00 AM - The Fourth Hour Jesus Is Insulted. (Matthew 27:39-40) Priests And Teachers Mock Jesus. (Mark 15:31) Soldiers Mocked Jesus. (Luke 23:36-37) Criminal Insults Jesus. (Luke 23:39)

11:00 AM - The Fifth Hour Jesus And The Criminal. (Luke 23:40-43) Jesus Speaks To Mary And John. (John 19:26-27)

NOON - The Sixth Hour Darkness Covers The Land. (Mark 15:33)

1:00 PM - The Seventh Hour Jesus Cries Out To The Father. (Matthew 27:46) Jesus Is Thirsty. (John 19:28-29)

2:00 PM - The Eighth Hour It Is Finished. (John 19:30) Into Your Hands, I Commit My Spirit. (Luke 23:46)

3:00 PM - The Ninth Hour Events After Jesus's Death. The Earthquake and the Temple Veil Is Torn. (Matthew 27:51-52) The Centurion Believes. (Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:47) The Soldiers Break the Thieves' Legs. (John 19:31-33) The Soldier Pierced Jesus's Side. (John 19:34) Jesus is Laid in the Tomb. (Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42)

Check out this episode!

[itsyourchoicedevotionals]

Setting Debate Aside

“Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.” Luke 23:43NIV

Jesus committed no sin; walked perfect before Yahweh in every way. Still, hated because He couldn’t be controlled by religion— man-made laws, He was hung upon a cross. Pictures show Him lifted high above the throng, but truth, He was slightly above the height of men. Religious rulers, onlookers, and soldiers ridiculed Him; spat on Him; mocked Him— ‘come down from there, if, You’re the Son of God.’ Those who He’d fed and healed, turned their backs on Who He was, as He hung upon the cross.

Two thieves hung one on either side of Him. One mocked and ridiculed Jesus with the rest of the crowd. The second thief said— V40-41NLT “…“Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this Man hasn’t done anything wrong.”

Churches debate how to become born again. One side declares— you absolutely must repent of all sins, and be baptized to be born again. Legalism demands repentance and adhering to the Israelite Laws. More liberal thinkers: just acknowledge Jesus is God’s Son with the mouth —salvation happens immediately.  

Setting debate aside— Thief confessed his sins, not to Jesus, but before Jesus to the other thief. Was that repentance? Baptism wasn’t available nor allowed, he was dying, hours away from eternity. Many people call this a deathbed conversion. What Thief did have was the knowledge that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. 

Thief didn’t have the opportunity to follow and keep Old Testament Laws. There wasn’t time for restitution; asking forgiveness for his entire list of sins; no time to confess Jesus before men as his Savior. Only one thought was in Thief’s mind— ‘I want to go where You go Jesus.’ The response from Jesus’ mouth was Thief’s salvation— forgiven, accepted— the first recipient of God’s grace.  

No scripture describes what happened to Thief better than Romans 5:8HCSB “But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us!” Thief is and was the epitome of grace covering even the worst of the worst. What God couldn’t look upon because of His holiness, He lovingly sees through the blood of Jesus— that’s grace. Mercy drew Jesus’ love and grace to Thief. 

Another lesson can be found in the salvation and death of Thief. Some hold to the teaching— our bodies lie in the grave awaiting one resurrection of the dead. How can this be with those who were buried at sea, or cremated? Thief received his spiritual body at the same time as Jesus received back His spiritual body— when they arrived in Paradise. 

There’s a new timeline for soul and body to meet. But is the timeline really new? God created time. He stands outside of time. What we measure as time is nothing to God. “…forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” 2Peter 3:8ASV. Yahweh sees the beginning of time, the end of time and everything in between at the same moment. He’s at the beginning of our lives and the end of our lives at the same moment, knowing the end from the beginning, see Isaiah 46:9. 

When we exit time through death, we’re immediately with the Lord, “today you will be with Me.” We’ll have our new bodies with flesh and blood bodies no longer necessary. Everything will be explained “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…and we shall be changed.” 1Corinthians 15:52ESV. Are you ready to end the questions about grace forever? Here’s your answers. Will you use them? It’s your choice. You choose.

LET’S PRAY: Almighty God, Your plan of salvation is the only way we could ever approach Your holiness. Thank You for giving us grace, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

by Debbie Veilleux

Copyright 2023 You have my permission to reblog this devotional for others. Please keep my name with this devotional, as author. Thank you. 

[unitedbyprayer]

(via The Lord Jesus Is A Fitting Companion)

The Lord Jesus Is A Fitting Companion

https://www.unitedbyprayer.com/.../the-lord-jesus-is-a... 

The Lord Jesus Is A Fitting Companion to accompany each one of us as we journey through the ups and downs of this fallen world - for He knows and understands all the circumstances that can cast a shadow across our Christian walk or cause us to become weary or distressed. And He cares for each situational barb that wounds our soul so deeply, like a shepherd cares for his straying sheep. The wicked are the ungodly men and women who refuse to acknowledge Christ as Savior and because of their wrong choice, they remain under condemnation. They may be 'religious' and they may be 'moralists' but they are under God's wrath because they have not believed on the only begotten Son of God. The righteous one has recognized that they are a sinner in need of salvation and believes that God sent His dearly beloved Son to die on the Cross for the forgiveness of sin and life everlasting. They believe that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again on the third day, according to the Scripture.  Praise God that Jesus knows the way of the righteous. He knows the way we take, and as we submit to the trials that inflict our soul and the inevitable 'child-training' we will face in life, 

He has purposed to draw us ever closer to Himself.For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Our United Prayer:

Dear Lord and Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus is our worthy High Priest and that He has walked this earthly pathway before us. Thank You that He knows and cares about the difficulties we face in our earthly walk. Thank You that the Holy Spirit of Christ is accompanying us through all the changing scenes of life and is with us in every daily task we undertake. May we rest in Your love more each day, in the assurance that You know the path we take, and are bringing to completion the good work that You have started in us. In Jesus' name we pray, AMEN.

[pooma-bible]

How can human beings receive salvation according to the scriptures?

💢

According to Christian belief, salvation is received through faith in Jesus Christ. The process of receiving salvation, as outlined in the Scriptures, can be summarized as follows:

1. Recognizing the Need for Salvation: The Bible teaches that all humanity is affected by sin, which separates us from God (Romans 3:23). Recognizing our own sinfulness and the need for forgiveness is the first step towards salvation.

2. Repentance: Repentance involves a sincere acknowledgment and turning away from one's sins. It is a heartfelt decision to change and align one's life with God's will (Acts 3:19). Repentance demonstrates a genuine desire to live a transformed life.

3. Faith in Jesus Christ: Salvation is received through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Believing that Jesus is the Son of God who came to save humanity, died on the cross for our sins, and was raised from the dead is central to Christian salvation (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10).

4. Grace and Forgiveness: Salvation is a gift of God's grace, not something earned through human efforts (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is through God's mercy and forgiveness that we are reconciled to Him. Our sins are forgiven through the sacrificial death of Jesus, who paid the penalty for our sins.

5. New Life in Christ: Salvation brings about a transformation in the life of a believer. Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, believers are empowered to live a life that honors God and reflects His love and righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20).

6. Relationship with God: Salvation not only reconciles us to God but also establishes a personal relationship with Him. Through faith in Jesus, believers become children of God and can have an intimate relationship with Him (John 1:12, Romans 8:14-17).

7. Eternal Life: Salvation provides the assurance of eternal life with God. Believers have the hope of being in God's presence forever, experiencing the fullness of His love and joy (John 10:27-28, 1 John 5:11-13).

It's important to note that different Christian denominations may have variations in their theological understanding and emphasis on certain aspects of salvation. However, the core elements mentioned above are widely accepted within Christianity as the means by which human beings can receive salvation according to the Scriptures.

[benlau89]

“𝘔𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘮𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘦? 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦, 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨? 𝘖 𝘮𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘐 𝘤𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵." Psalm 22:1-2 As we remember Good Friday today, this psalms portray the cries & laments of an individual who experienced a deep sense of injustice and forsakenness. Despite his pain & cries to the Lord, he still acknowledged the holiness of God, and trusted in Him for vindication. Verse 1 here prefigures the cries of our Lord Jesus Christ, when He was crucified on the cross, and at that very moment, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). We too may be experiencing a sense of injustice in our lives today, we maybe feeling forsaken by God, where our cries & pain seems to be unheard. However, let us remember that our Lord Jesus Christ also went through such "God-forsakeness", where He experienced the full weight of sin of the world upon Himself. Christ died for all of us even those who are feeling God-forsaken, and that is the truth of the gospel message that we can seek comfort and trust that Jesus can vindicate us from this experience. As the psalmist realized God has delivered our forefathers, we too know that He will deliver us as well through His Son, our Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ! It's Friday... But Sunday's Coming! https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqs2vjayVcH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[crigil-blog]

GOD SPEAKS TO YOUR LIFE: (82823) "But if we acknowledge before God that we have sinned, we can be sure that he, who is just, will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." ( 1 John 1:9 ) Too often, people go through life with no thought for the future, living for the moment and partying. They are so focused on themselves that they forget about the needs of others. Before you know it, you will be like the prodigal son in the Bible, who lost everything and hit rock bottom before he looked up and saw that he needed a Savior. It is when you have nothing left, that you realize that with Christ everything is enough. He will bring you eternal happiness. Stop living for "yourself" and start living for Jesus - it's the only way to live the "joy-filled" life God wants you to have! So it doesn't matter how selfishly you've lived in the past, what mistakes you've made or how long it's been since you've attended church. It's not too late to give your heart to God, because He loves you more than anyone could, and He is waiting to welcome you with open arms! PRAYER OF SALVATION. Lord, I know I am a sinner. I want to ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. That He died for my sins and that You raised Him from the dead. I want Him to come into my heart and take control of my life, from this day forward. In Jesus' Name, amen". PRAYER FOR OUR SICK BROTHERS: Lord, there are brothers and sisters who are facing various illnesses today.Give them the hope and courage they need today and every day. Heal their pain, calm their fears and surround them with Your peace. In Jesus' name, Amen. ❀ There are loves that last a lifetime, but only God's love can last an eternity.

[catolinewsdailyreadings]

Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of Saturday, January 28, 2023

Reading 1

Heb 11:1-2, 8-19

Brothers and sisters: Faith is the realization of what is hoped for  and evidence of things not seen. Because of it the ancients were well attested. 

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance;  he went out, not knowing where he was to go. By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise;  for he was looking forward to the city with foundations,  whose architect and maker is God. By faith he received power to generate,  even though he was past the normal age and Sarah herself was sterile  for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy. So it was that there came forth from one man, himself as good as dead,  descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky  and as countless as the sands on the seashore.

All these died in faith. They did not receive what had been promised  but saw it and greeted it from afar  and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth,  for those who speak thus show that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land from which they had come,  they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better homeland, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God,  for he has prepared a city for them.

By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac,  and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son,  of whom it was said, Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name. He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead,  and he received Isaac back as a symbol. 

Responsorial Psalm

Lk 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75

R./ Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior, born of the house of his servant David. R./ Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old. that he would save us from our sins from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. R./ Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the bonds of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. R./ Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

Gospel

Mk 4:35-41

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

[seekfirst-community]

The following reflection is courtesy of Don Schwager © 2023. Don's website is located at Dailyscripture.net

Meditation: What's the significance of a name? For the Jewish people the giving of a name had great importance. When a name was given it represented what that person should be in the future. An unknown name meant that someone could not be completely known. To not acknowledge someone's name meant both denial of the person, destruction of their personality, and change in their destiny. A person's name expressed the reality of his or her being at its deepest level. A Jewish male child was named at the time of circumcision, eight days after birth. This rite was instituted by God as an outward sign to single out those who belonged to the chosen people (Genesis 17:10-12). It was a sign of the covenant that God made with Abraham and his posterity.

Jesus - the eternal Son of God who was born of a woman to become our Savior

In fulfilment of this precept, Mary's newborn child is given the name Jesus on the eighth day according to the Jewish custom. Joseph and Mary gave the name Jesus because that is the name given by God's messenger before Jesus was conceived in Mary's womb (Luke 1:31, Matthew 1:21). This name signifies Jesus' identity and his mission. The literal Hebrew means the Lord saves. Since God alone can forgive sins and free us from death, it is God who, in Jesus his eternal Son became a man to offer up his life as the atoning sacrifice to save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). The son that Mary bore is both God and man - the "Word who was God" (John 1:1) and who "became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). That is why Mary is not only called the mother of the Christ (the Greek word for Messiah in Hebrew) but also the mother of God or Theotokos in Greek which literally means "God bearer."

Jesus - the name above every other name

In the birth and naming of this child we see the wondrous design and plan of God in giving us a Savior who would bring us grace (the gift of God's favor), mercy, and freedom from the power of sin and the fear of death. The name Jesus signifies that the very name of God is present in the person of his Son who became man for our salvation. Peter the Apostle exclaimed that there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved (Acts 2:12). In the name of Jesus demons flee, cripples walk, the blind see, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised. His name is exalted far above every other name (Philippians 2:9-11).

The name Jesus is at the heart of all Christian prayer. It is through and in Jesus that we pray to the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit. Many Christians have died with one word on their lips, the name of Jesus. Do you exalt the name of Jesus and pray with confidence in his name?

"Lord Jesus Christ, I exalt your name above every other name. For in you I have pardon, mercy, grace and victory over sin and death. You humbled yourself for my sake and for the sake of all sinners by sharing in our humanity and by dying on the cross. Help me to always praise your holy name and to live for your greater glory."

The following reflection is from One Bread, One Body courtesy of Presentation Ministries © 2023.

PEACEMAKING

“The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!” —Numbers 6:24-26

For almost fifty years, the popes have been calling us to devote this first day of the year to praying for peace and justice. Few Catholics have listened to the popes, and we have reaped the wages of our disobedience in war and death (see Rm 6:23).

May this New Year’s Day be new. May we obey and be peacemakers (see Mt 5:9). Mary, the queen of peace, is praying for her children to obey the pope, their spiritual father, and pray for peace. Mary is repeating her Fatima messages and calling for prayers and sacrifices offered for many conversions. When the Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, and secular humanists throughout the world also come to Jesus, then we will have true peace. We will have Jesus, our Peace (Eph 2:14). Then, after the whole world has been able to hear the Gospel (see Mt 24:14), Jesus will come back and take us home to heaven (1 Thes 4:16-17). There our prayers for peace will be answered perfectly. We will have perfect peace.

On the first Christmas, the angels sang: “Peace on earth; good will to men” (see Lk 2:14). Today pray for peace on earth, Christmas peace, “heavenly peace.”

Prayer:  Father, I will pray with Mary in the upper room for a new Pentecost of peace (see Acts 1:14). May we “sleep in heavenly peace.”

Promise:  The shepherds “went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby lying in the manger.” —Lk 2:16

Praise:  “The Virgin Mary, being obedient to His word, received from an angel the glad tidings that she would bear God” (Against Heresies, St. Irenaeus, Second Century).

Reference:  (For a related teaching on Mother Mary, view, download or order our leaflet on our website.)

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from December 1,2022 through January 31,2023. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio April 12, 2022"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements