It is essential to pay the price. You will never fulfill God’s purpose for your life if you fail to pay the price. The Lord expects us to count the cost of everything in our lives, according to the passage in Luke 14:28-32. In order to have a successful journey you must pay the price. In the third chapter of the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians, we read of two groups of materials for edification of the church: wood, hay and stubble, and gold, silver and precious stones. The most obvious difference between the two groups is the price. For lack of willingness to pay the price, most Christians prefer to build with wood, hay and stubble, because these materials are less expensive. 1. There is a price tag for everything of value Normally the price involves money, time and energy, pleasure, sleep and relationships. Other times the price involves pressure, criticism, isolation, pain and financial sacrifice. Most people seek out wide doors and wide paths, because they are not willing to pay the price or because they imagine that all of the things that God offers are free (Matthew 7:13, 14). Choose both the pain and sacrifice of discipleship today or you will reap the pain of repentance tomorrow. We cannot flea-bargain the price of victory. You have just as much time as anyone else, so pay the price and make the most of it. 2. You can achieve anything depending on the price that you are willing to pay. The Lord told Matthew, "Follow me and abandon everything, including the table on which you charge taxes" (Matthew 9:9). You can predict the future success of the student by the price that he pays in school. How to recognize a winner: • By his commitment to excellence • He never measures himself by the mediocre • He pays attention to ... ... middle of paper ... ... are easier, but the last are more difficult. 9. The real price will increase while the perception of the price will decrease when your desire to improve grows and you become more and more intimate with God. Everything in life is a preparation for the next step. When an opportunity presents itself, it is too late to prepare for it. The price is not paid at the beginning of the race, but at the end. The price may increase, but our desire to pay it makes it seem like a good bargain. 10. You cannot obtain something tomorrow that you refuse to pay for today All spiritual payment is in cash. You cannot attain tomorrow what you refuse to pay for today. You cannot reap what you have not planted. We exaggerate what we have gone through, overvalue tomorrow and undervalue today. It is sad to see someone who has nothing to contribute today, because they paid no price yesterday.
When one reads the New Testament, a contradiction appears in reading Paul and James’ teachings concerning ‘faith’ and ‘works’. There is also question about the word ‘justified’ as to its meaning. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, Paul writes this “16 yet we know that a person is justified[a] not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.[b] And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ,[c] and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law,” in 2:16. (NRSV) And in Galatians 3:6-7 says this, “6 Just as Abraham “believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” 7 so, you see, those who believe are the descendants of Abraham.” (NRSV) Paul also stated in Romans a similar idea, “28 For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law,” in 3:28. In chapter 4 of Romans, Paul uses Abraham as an example from
For centuries it has been debated whether Paul and James contradict each other’s theology. At times, they do seem to make opposing statements. The Book of Galatians affirms over and over that we are justified by faith in Christ alone, not by works of our own. Most evangelical Christians agree to that concept of sola fide. We are faced with an interesting dilemma when James famously says, “faith without works is dead.” Martin Luther, himself, felt that the Book of James should be removed from the canon of scripture because of such statements. When one looks at the context of these verses, we realize that the theology of both books complement rather than contradict each other. Although they both deal with the relationship between faith and
Biblical Essay: Analysis of Paul's Letter To The Galatians. When Paul attended the Jerusalem Conference in 48 or 49, a decision was made. was made that gentiles would be allowed to become Christians without becoming Jews first (i.e. have circumcision, and follow the Jewish Laws). Paul, being the one that defended the Gentile's right to be Christians. became the apostle to the Gentiles. Why would Paul, a Jew, want to be an. apostle to the Gentiles?
About a year ago I read a Piper quote about how when you need assurance of God's immense love, you must look to the Cross. My immediate reaction was, "What? Why would I look to the Cross to see love? I don't see love when I look at the Cross, all I see is how much I cost. All I see is my overwhelming guilt." I knew immediately how wrong that thought was, and prayed for God to teach me rightly about the love displayed on the Cross. I already knew the sacrifice was for me and I could give you lots of right answers, I just didn't feel love when I meditated on it. I felt shame. I would run to promises of how God was going to make me better if I wanted to feel hope that one day I wouldnt be so shamed at the Cross. I knew this ought not be.
The issue Paul addressed in Philippians 3 that he already was forced to address in his letter to the Galatians is the justification by faith in Christ and the vision of freedom from the Mosaic Torah. Paul’s mood during this part of his letter was angry. While using the Hebrew language to indicate how he feels.
Philippians is one of Paul’s four prison epistles, whereas like Ephesians, Paul wrote to the Philippians from a Roman prison. He begins his letter in Philippians 1:12-14, “Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the good news. For everyone here, including the soldiers in the palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, many of the Christians here have gained confidence and become bolder in telling others about Christ.” Paul continued to express the seriousness of his circumstances in Philippians 1:19-26, where he speculates about the fate of his future, whether he would live or be executed. While imprisoned in Rome, Paul received a visitor name Epaphroditis. Epaphroditis was a member of the church in Philippi, who was sent to Rome to deliver a financial gift from the church to Paul and to learn of his circumstances and upcoming trial in prison. There are
In Paul’s letters he wrote as Christians we are to give up our lives to serve Jesus. In the context where Paul says, “Beware of dogs.” I gather this to mean impure, unclean or even unholy people who would consume you. Paul probably gave this moniker because of how the people spoke against the principles of the gospel. They were wanting to chomp those who were combating their wrong doing.
For my essay I have chosen to focus on Paul’s concerns of christian freedoms in his letter to Corinth. Paul seemed to be very concerned with this issue and he used two different chapters to discuss it. To examine these issues i will use the New International Version, King James Version, and New Living Translation. Throughout my essay I hope Paul answers the following three questions; 1. Was idol worship a major concern in the church? 2. How did Paul suggest the people deal with this issue? 3. How can these texts be applied in christian life today?
In Romans 12, Paul finally challenges us to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God….that you might prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of
Christ demonstrated an attitude of economic virtue as he went about his ministry. He utilized the resources He had to bless and lift others wherever He went. Even when the resources were limited, he used them to feed thousands. He asked much of the people who followed Him, but He delivered more unto them in return. As Latter-day Saints, we are doing our best to follow Christ and develop the traits which He has demonstrated to us.
The relationship between a figure in authority and one who is subordinate is a focus of Paul’s epistle to the Colossians. One of the relationships discussed is that between a slave and his master. It is also the main theme of Paul’s letter to Philemon, his fellow brother in Christ. In his letter Paul urges Philemon to accept his earthly slave, Onesimus, back in love and as a brother rather than merely a slave. It is evident in both epistles that Paul seeks to enlighten his audience to a new perspective on these relationships. While he addresses both the master and the slave, he often puts the core of the responsibility on the master. On the other hand, he often even refers to himself as a prisoner in chains or a slave to God so that the function
“If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.” Ecclesiastes 10:10.
Christianity and Wealth 'Jesus said to the rich young man, "Go, sell all that you have and
William Shakespeare shows the reader that religious hope is easy to come by when life is going well, but in the case of the persona it is even easier to fall away from religion. All that anyone truly has to fall back on is love. Love exists for both the rich and the poor, the powerful and the powerless. It costs nothing, and it breeds hope as well as happiness. To Shakespeare and his persona hope and happiness are worth more than all the jewels and gold a king could have. Gold and jewels are just items, and while they may glitter and shine, they cannot bring a man to Heaven. Whether it is physical, emotional, or religious, only love has the power to bring a man to the gates of Heaven.
“None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him—for the redemption of their souls is costly, and it shall cease forever—that he should continue to live eternally, and not see the Pit. For he sees wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless person perish, and leave their wealth to others.” (Psalms 49:7-11)