Showing posts with label body of christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label body of christ. Show all posts

Saturday 11 May 2019

Forming a Christian bond

We should be aware that a Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses.

In our society each individual has his or her own responsibility and should feel and show his or her connection with the others in the group.

Each person in a way should put himself or herself at the side giving himself or herself in the hands of God, doing the will of God and willing to help the community of the Body of Christ to grow.
each person calling himself or herself a Christian must bear the burden of a brother and a sister.

Monday 18 June 2018

To sacrifice our being for Christ

The Nazarene Jew Jeshua (Jesus Christ) put his own will aside and offered himself as a lamb for God, as a ransom for us all.

Now time has come that we should also let him and his heavenly Father see Who we want to follow and Who we want to have as our God. Jesus showed his love for his God, Who is the Only One God of Israel, the God of Abraham. He asked his followers to become one with his God like he is one with Jehovah God. Coming closer to the time of Great Tribulation it is time to show the world to who you want to belong. It is high time to show the world for what you care and what or whom you love.

Did you ever ask yourself for whom you would risk everything?

Today we still face this materialistic world. But we should know that time for this world is limited. Today there are still many people, kings, presidents, ministers, as leaders demanding people to follow them and who reign their country as if it belongs to them. But everything on earth belongs to the Divine Creator. When he created this world He had a purpose for it and it shall become a reality whatever man may try to do.

In the New Testament we do find Jesus telling many stories in the form of parables which should open our eyes and should let us think about the reign to come and to look for. He talks about a realm of heaven and calls us to put our hands to work and help get the ground prepared to receive the love of God.He gives many examples how faith without works is dead and how we should be careful not to loose the entrance to the Kingdom of God by not living up to God's Wishes or not fulfilling God's commandments.

When looking at the Scriptures we can see how we are challenged to train our eyes to look beyond the problems and to see the promises of the world around us. And we have been told, repeatedly, that the “reign of heaven” is small, even hidden, but it is always at work. We are called to look for the hidden treasure and to go for Biblical truth and not to be of this world, loving all those materialist and perischable treasures.

Look around us we should see what is good and what is bad and learn from it. Though there are many who think by the death of Christ everybody is saved and does not have to do anything any-more, we should know that we for sure still have to do a lot of work. Every day we should work at ourself. Every hour of the day we should try to build up our Christlike character. that shall not so easy as so many think. It demands an effort. 

Jesus asks us to come together and to meet each-other regularly to study the Word of God and to praise the Most High. Together we should form a unit, giving ourself as inhabitant of the realm of Christ. As partakers of his spiritual Body, we should feel united and work to keep everything around us pure and 'sanctified'.
Every one of the partakers of the Body of Christ should be wiling to give himself or herself to Christ Jesus, putting the own selfish I away. 


Each person on this earth should be looking for the hidden treasures of God and should know that the “reign of heaven” is like a discovery that disrupts all other priorities, and those who make the discoveries have their entire lives shaped by them. 

Those who love Jesus and want to have a good relationship with him and his heavenly Father should be prepared to put the earthly wishes aside and go for heavenly treasures. They should not be afraid for those of the world who do not want to know about God and who would laugh at those who want to give their life to God. But those who know better shall be happy to give their life to the One God and to present themselves as sons of the realm. For it is in the believe in Jesus that we want to go as partakers of the Body of Christ, willing to unite in his Church, which is the Church of God.

With the knowledge that there is the Unseen God Who has prepared the unseen realm and shall present the earthly realm to mankind, to those who are ready for it, we may have the assurance in the hope that one day the world shall have to face that reality of the Great Kingdom, which shall go above all kingdoms of the world.

Giving ourselves to Christ shall make our union sealed and secure.

The Realm of profession in Christianity

A realm can be a space or area or sphere, but also a community or territory over which a sovereign rules; a kingdom.

Christ Jesus asked his followers to have him as a cornerstone and to gather in union, being part of his spiritual body. We may look at the realm of Christ, his royal domain, the kingdom he may govern from his heavenly Father. Those belonging to Christ should all be partakers of the Body of Christ and as such also be members of the realm of Christ. Together as members of the Body of Christ the followers of the Nazarene Jeshua should have as their profession the proclamation of the Good News of the coming Kingdom of God.

In Scriptures we do find people mentioned to be part of the realm of Christ.

Prophetic Patterns and Descriptions of People Now Living Who Will Inherit the Earthly Realm of God’s Kingdom
 
Foreshadowed by the following groups or individuals:
(1) Noah’s sons and daughters-in-law (Genesis 6-9).
(2) Lot and his daughters (Genesis 19).
(3) Joseph’s ten repentant half brothers (Genesis 37, 42-45).
(4) Famine-stricken Egyptians who sold themselves to Joseph (Genesis 41; 47:13-26).
(5) Mixed company that left Egypt with Israel (Exodus 12:38).
(6) Twelve non-Levite tribes of Israel on Atonement Day (Leviticus 16; Matthew 19:28).
(7) Alien residents in Israel (Leviticus 19:34).
(8) Hobab the brother-in-law of Moses (Numbers 10:29-32).
(9) Rahab of Jericho (Joshua 2, 6).
(10) Gibeonites who sought peace with Israel (Joshua 9, 10).
(11) Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite (Judges 4, 5).
(12) Jonathan son of King Saul (1 Samuel 18; 23:16, 17).
(13) Foreigners who fought along with David (2 Samuel 15:18-22).
(14) Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10).
(15) Naaman cleansed of leprosy (2 Kings 5).
(16) Jehonadab the son of Rechab (2 Kings 10:15-28).
(17) Foreigners who prayed toward Jehovah’s temple (2 Chronicles 6:32, 33).
(18) Nethinim and sons of non-Israelite servants of Solomon (Ezra 2, 8).
(19) Rechabites (Jeremiah 35).
(20) Ebed-melech the Ethiopian (Jeremiah 38; 39:16-18).
(21) Repentant Ninevites (Jonah 3).

Additionally, described prophetically as follows:
(1) Families of the ground that bless themselves by means of Abraham through his seed (Genesis 12:3; 22:18).
(2) Nations that are glad with Jehovah’s people (Deuteronomy 32:43).
(3) Righteous ones, those hoping in Jehovah (Psalm 37:9, 29).
(4) Virgin companions of the bride (Psalm 45:14).
(5) Upright and blameless ones (Proverbs 2:21).
(6) Nations being taught at Jehovah’s house and walking in his paths (Isaiah 2:2-4).
(7) Nations that turn inquiringly to the Signal (Isaiah 11:10).
(8) Nations that come out of darkness (Isaiah 49:6, 9, 10).
(9) Nation not previously known (Isaiah 55:5).
(10) Foreigners ministering to Jehovah and loving his name (Isaiah 56:6).
(11) “Wealthiness of the sea,” “resources of the nations,” those that come ‘flying like a cloud of doves’ (Isaiah 60:5, 6, 8).
(12) Strangers that shepherd Israel’s flocks, foreigners that are its farmers and vinedressers (Isaiah 61:5).
(13) Those marked in forehead by man with secretary’s inkhorn (Ezekiel 9).
(14) Persons who call on the name of Jehovah and get away safe on his fear-inspiring day (Joel 2:32).
(15) Desirable things of all nations (Haggai 2:7).
(16) Nations that become “joined to Jehovah” (Zechariah 2:11).
(17) ‘Ten men who take hold of skirt of a Jew’ (Zechariah 8:23).
(18) Nations to whom King speaks peace (Zechariah 9:10).
(19) “Sheep” who do good to King’s brothers (Matthew 25:31-46).
(20) Repentant prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).
(21) “Other sheep” who listen to the Fine Shepherd’s voice (John 10:16).
(22) Persons who exercise faith in Christ and “never die at all” (John 11:26).
(23) Creation that will be freed from enslavement to corruption and have glorious freedom of children of God (Romans 8:20, 21).
(24) Those of the world who gain everlasting life because they exercise faith in God’s Son (1 John 2:2; John 3:16, 36).
(25) “Great crowd” that serve day and night in Jehovah’s temple (Revelation 7:9-17).
(26) Anyone drinking life’s water and himself saying to others, “Come!” (Revelation 22:17).


In the Bible we find  people mentioned who as individuals showed their love for God and got them as persons separated from the nations that are gathered before Jesus his throne. They look forward to being blessed by the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and his spiritual “brothers.” So what they inherit is the earthly realm of the Kingdom, where Paradise is to be restored all around the globe. 

When Jehovah God made our earth he purposed for it to become a paradise everywhere, and he put man and woman on earth to make it that way, starting with the garden of Eden, or Paradise of Pleasure. The fall of Adam and Eve into sin and death did not deal out a defeat to God’s purpose. (Isaiah 55:11) He at once made preparation for bringing about the earth-wide Paradise by means of a heavenly Kingdom, in which his loyal Son would be the Ruler, or King. It had to be a celestial government if it is yet to crush out of existence the originator of sin and deception, Satan the Devil, a mighty spirit creature.​—Genesis 3:15.

Today we may still find people who want to be part of those close followers of Christ Jesus. They feel called by Jehovah God to unite as brothers and sisters in Christ and as such want to take up the profession of preaching the Gospel and being part of the realm of profession, the Church of Christ.

As “sons of the Realm” they want to be the children of God within that realm of profession, the Church of real followers of Christ, who want to be like a mustard seed becoming a big fruitful tree. though the real followers may be with not many, coming closer to the end times they shall find each other spread all over the world, willing to join hands and to unite under Christ.

Today Christendom, although having taken Christ’s title, is not expressing loyal love to God and his Kingdom Heir nor to Jesus Christ whom they have made into their god. Instead of remaining neutral, it has taken sides in the East-West struggle for world domination, sharing in this world’s materialism and militarism it also has taken opposition against other religions, not allowing other cultures and religions to around them, with the believe that it is God Who allows things to be. It will therefore perish with this old world at Armageddon. In that great war it are those who love God and His son who should share the brotherly love with others and show how there is a need to unite under Christ.

Unto the real of profession belong those who have Christian fruitage: sharing (Romans 15:27, 28; Philippians 1:22); holiness (Romans 6:21); goodness, righteousness, truth (Ephesians 5:9); good work ad knowledge (Colossians 1:10); praise and charity (Hebrews 13:15).

All those  things that build up character and make some one special should be mastered or professionalised by the one who wants to call himself Christian.

The test is on. To go counter to the whole world is not easy. To do so with success we must lean heavily on Jehovah’s loyal love. For our assurance He has caused to be recorded twenty-six times in Psalm 136 alone that “his loyal love is to time indefinite.” (Margin) But we must do our part, for as we read elsewhere: “All the paths of Jehovah are loyal love and truthfulness for those observing his covenant and his reminders.”—Ps. 25:10,

Tuesday 19 May 2015

Not everyone in the churches of Christ are “ungodly”

English: A of .
English: A of . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Last Thursday up tot the end of the weekend it was time again for the many communion feasts and Spring feasts in Belgium.
The Catholic churches have to face a lessening in communion feasts. The second communion is mostly placed aside to celebrate with the humanists and atheists their Spring feast.

It is the sign that more and more people are leaving church. They complain about the several acts of church people which are not acceptable by ethic and normal people. The population has encountered to many cases of paedophile clergy, which has made them lose interest in those who should preach the faith in sacred love and love for God.

Lots of people spit on the church, but they do forget that there are many more churches than the Catholic Church. They also seem to forget that not all the priests and bishops in that Catholic church are such pervert beings. Strange also when they would really believe in God, that they do not seek for other solutions, other churches, other people of God.

Would we all "have to blame Jesus Christ for Judas Iscariot?" asks also John T. Polk II.
His answers is:
No, because “Satan entered Judas” (Luke 22:3). {5-8-2015 Why Reject Jesus’ Church?}
He still considers his church as the church of Christ, the body of Jesus Christ today (Colossians 1:24), and wonders why to blame the churches of Christ for the “ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:4 NKJV)? 
But should the church not be an example for the gentiles? Should those who are in charge of the church live according to what they preach and according to what they demand from their flock?

He is right in saying:
It seems people want to dismiss the churches of Christ by emphasizing the hypocritical few.
We also may not reject Jesus because of Judas, and should not reject the church of Christ because some have failed to be faithful.
Paul wrote “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse” (Colossians 1:2).
Everyone in the churches of Christ are not “ungodly,” anymore than all Apostles are betrayers of Jesus Christ!
John T. Polk II writes

People should come to see that there are many more churches than the Roman Catholic church or any other church where they bow in front of crucifixes, graven images and paintings, contrary to the demands of the Most High God.

It’s useful to realize that we are two years away from marking the 500th Anniversary of the “symbolic” beginning of the Protestant Reformation, noted to have begun on October 31, 1517 by Martin Luther.

Peter Traben Haas  writes:
Of course, like all movements, it is impossible to peg a precise date, since often such movements emerge from within a multi-dimensional environment with diverse social factors and influences. But, for all practical purposes, Luther’s posting of the 95 Thesis is as good a moment as any to mark the Reformation’s beginning. {2020 Vision & Formation 2017}
Throughout the ages many changes took place. We even can notice when there where efforts to come back to the Word of God, the Scriptures Alone, and getting away from the idolatry, the bowing down in front of pictures, we can see in those renewal movements a shift took place after a few years and as such in many protestant churches we can find today also again a lot of pictures or Christ and of God and even of different saints.

Peter Traben Haas does think that
2015 is a good time to begin thinking about how Christianity has changed since then, and how Christianity is currently evolving, and more importantly, what might be the next phase of spiritual evolution Christianity is moving into. Everything is growing, including the sphere of consciousness in which Christianity “lives, moves and has its being,” and we would want to grow with it. Most of us are, which is probably one reason why you are reading this.{2020 Vision & Formation 2017}
For sure anno 2015 lots of 'church people' do not take much time to read the bible or to spend time with or to pray to the Most High God.
the contemplative dimension of Christianity is a niche “market,” primarily visible in monastic communities and other like-minded teachers, groups and organizations, such as Richard Rohr or Contemplative Outreach. For the majority of Christian’s, though, “contemplative” is a “boutique” way of being and doing Christian life, totally appropriate for retreats and monasteries, but not yet ready for the mainstream, so the thinking goes. But such ignoring and resistance is about to shift into attention and acceptance. {2020 Vision & Formation 2017}
writes Peter Traben, who would like to see a
Sola Silence. Sola Solitude. Sola Stillness,  Simplicity and Service.
But God perhaps does not want such a silence. God and His son want us to go out in the world proclaiming the Good News. Coming closer to the end times we should shout even more clearly and pronounce to the world the necessity to come closer to God and to worship the Divine Creator, thanking Him for His son who has brought salvation to the world.

Those who love God should let others know that they love the heavenly Father and that they would like to see that more people would come to love this Only One God. It is our task to let the world that not all people are ungodly or are people who love to tell lies or do not mind telling lies. The world has to know that there are still many people who prefer not to tell lies and to worship that One God Who did not tell lies.

That God said about the man in the river Jordan that he was His begotten beloved son. His words we should accept and spread throughout the world, so that all people can come to know Jesus Christ, our saviour, the Messiah.

We also should invite those around us to come to visit us at our meetings, our church, which is the Body of Christ. In-there we should show them what the real  love of Christ is and how we want to share that agapé love with each other. To the world we should prove that there are other churches, who have people who really want to live according to the Laws of Christ and to the Laws of God.

It is up to you, believer, to show the world not all in the Church of God are ungodly.

°°°
If you are looking for a church with men and women who want to be 'set apart' as godly people, please contact the Christadelphians.
Find the Christadelphian Church in Belgium: Ecclesia Brussel Leuven

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Thursday 19 June 2014

Vision blurred by cumulative burden of divisions

"Our vision is often blurred by the cumulative burden of our divisions and our will is not always free of that human ambition which can accompany even our desire to preach the Gospel as the Lord commanded."
said pope Francis I when he recently met the Archbishop of Canterbury in Rome for the second time since they were installed as leaders of their churches last year.

You may wonder if it are ecumenical talks the pope would like to see more, having the denominations growing closer to each other or like I would prefer it to see having the different denominations respecting each other for their own choices and teachings, loving them as being part of the Body of Christ and sharing with them the brotherly love Jesus preached.

Naturally the Roman Catholic Church may not expect the followers of Christ who prefer to the same God of Jesus, the God of Abraham, to "celebrate the Eucharist together and the Eucharist ... like the ‘burning bush’ in which the Trinity humbly dwells and communicates itself". He may think
"this is why the Church has placed the feast of the Body of the Lord after that of the Trinity.”
there are enough real Christians who only want to worship One True God, the Divine Creator of heaven and earth, of Whom no pictures or graven images may be made and certainly may not be bowded down for or prayed in front off.
For the Holy Father the Divine love of the Trinity is the “origin and goal of the universe and of every creature.”
But according to the Torah we do find in the Bereshit (the Genesis) that Jehovah God is the Divine Creator of everything. He alone is the Holy One Who is eternal, having no beginning and no end, no birth and no death.



As long as the pope considers the Trinity acting as a model of the Church where Christians are called to love with the perfect, sacrificial love of Jesus, it would be difficult to get trinitarian Christians to accept that there are also non-trinitarian Christians and also other believers in God who shall be able to be saved by the grace of God and be able to enter the Kingdom of God.

As long as the Catholic Church and several protestant churches keep up that distorted vision of the Trinity as sole possibility for people to come under God, Jews, non-trinitarian Christians and Muslims will find it difficutl to find honesty in the trials of that Church which says it is for unity and for peace between the monotheistic religions and other people living in this world.

Pope Francis also spoke emphatically of the impossibility of hatred for a Christian.
“It is a contradiction to think of Christians who hate. It’s a contradiction!”
Though I can assure you the letters (and other things), I and my church, often get in our mailbox because we are Christians not believing in the Holy Trinity, does not show much of that love.

The pope his saying:
“distinctive of Christianity, as Jesus has told us: ‘By this they will know that you are my disciples: if you love one another.’”
is often forgotten by his flock, though we must say most controversy and hate is brought to us by different protestant denominations.

Lots of Christians should come to open their eyes to see their is much variety in Christendom and that in those different denominations there are certain belief-points which may be far from each other. Unity should be felt under the choice made "Accepting Jesus as the Messiah". The way how to follow him as a master teacher is too different to bring them fast under one 'tag'.

"True love is boundless, but knows its limits in order to meet others, and respect others' freedom. " (Pope Francis I)

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Tuesday 18 March 2014

Quibbling siblings united or allied children of an organisation or a church

Coming from a 'huge' family in contemporary terms, I had lots of brothers and sister to quarrel with and we had some tussle or squabble at regular intervals. The tussles more than once in our childhood turned or became skirmish. We did dare to fight a bout. But it does not mean because we would have a brawl that we did not consider ourselves a sib or siblings of each other.

Even when we had a brush we were straight ahead there to stand up for each other. We would always be ready to stick up for each other and to cling together.

We wanted to make it through the days and the nights together, make it through the heartaches and make it through the things that crush the very Bones of the Soul, like the Southern Californian girl Roxanne would say it. {What have you learned?}

Like any child that has to grow up by falling and standing up, we fell down more than once and we had to get up more than once.  I, not believing in the Trinity and questioning lots of things, had to be collide with my parents, religious people and school teachers. Always posing many questions I can imagine I have been not an easy child and still may not be called easy. Questioning habits and being outspoken or not afraid to say my opinion, I more than once drove against walls.

Though I am convinced we are not brought into this lifetime without a mission and a purpose. Some may think we do have to fulfil all missions on our own, but I do think we also have missions we should try to fulfil together.
While our mission, in some part, might be a collective effort with others, our purpose, I have found, is singly our own to do with what we are meant to. In order to find our purpose, we must be willing to learn, not only about other people, but mostly, about who we are and what is our place in the grander scheme of things. {What have you learned?}
We do have our civil life in which we can pursue our dreams, but next to it we also do have our spiritual life, which might even be more important than many in the world would think.

The last few weeks I encountered many sites, from ex-christadelphians and from people against Christadelphians which said true but oh so many more untrue things. On several church-sites it is also presented that when there is no union in church that can not be the true church. But then they forget that they themselves seem to be connected with churches where there is even more disunity or different ideas going on than by the Christadelphians. When we look at the so called "true catholic church" there might be seen more differences between all the groups in that Catholic Church than you shall be able to find between the Christadelphian groups. In a way that is something which makes me so cross, that they can not consider that they all belong to one "church" or main group "The Christadelphians" and step over their little differences, feeling united all, willing to meet each other as brethren and sisters in Christ.

With the experience of the last few moths and some recent reactions from certain organisations who should know better, out of frustration perhaps, I ought it necessary to act and to write a "Declaration of independence" for 'my' ecclesia. [- Straight-away: To take away any misconception, know I never really consider the Belgian ecclesia as "my" ecclesia, because everything I try to accomplish I try to do it for the Most High, and not for myself. As a worker for God I would love to see His Word been spread in Belgium, and therefore I try to do all this work, but not for my own profit and not considering it as something which is "mine", because it belongs to God.]

In the Declaration of independence for the ecclesia Brussel-Leuven I mention different groups of Christadelphians.  This might give to some the impression there is much division by those Christadelphians, But when they would look close at their teachings and at their way of life, they would come to see that as a matter of fact they really belong more to one great family.


English: Picture of the Monastery of Our Lady ...
Picture of the Monastery of Our Lady of the Annunciation of Clear Creek near Hulbert, Oklahoma. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Because Belgium is a so called Catholic country, I would like to ask to see that there are more differences between groups like the Jesuits, Franciscans, Black Fathers, White Fathers, Opus Dei, Apologetic Society, Saint Willibrord Society, Thijmgenootschap, Traditionalist Catholics, Tridentines, Lefebvrists, Society of St Pius X, Priestly Fraternity of St Peter, Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, Servants of Jesus and Mary (Servi Jesu et Mariae, SJM), Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem (CRNJ), Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius (SJC), Canons Regular of the Holy Cross, Miles Christi (MC), Monastery of Our Lady of the Annunciation of Clear Creek, Monastery of St. Benedict in Norcia, Monks of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel,  Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen (CMRI), Sedevacantists, Conclavists, which include the "true Catholic Church" the Palmarian Catholic Church  and many many others.

By the Catholics as by many protestant denominations you can find "conservative", "contemplative", "traditional", "modernist" or "liberal". In a way we may see such tendencies also by the Christadelphians; There we also can find very conservative groups , more moderate groups and more liberal or progressive groups, even in one group itself.

The same as, I find in my worldly or civil family, there might be people who do not like so much to associate with one or the other. Some nephews or nieces on the other hand may like each other very much or may like not the association with each other. This is something what many more Christadelphians should come to understand. That though they are loving to have a spiritual group or organisation, not willing to be part of this world, they are living in this world and are confronted with our own particular personalities. As such it always shall happen that they will meet people where they will have not such a nice report with.

It is not because we do not like a certain group, or do not like the way a person or group does something, that we would not, or should not consider them as brother or sister. There lies the difference of real brotherhood or sisterhood, the dna-string which can not be cut. In Dutch we would say "in hart en nieren" in "heart and kidneys", all those different groups in the Christadelphian denomination are really part of one millenarian Christian group which came out of the teachings  John Thomas, who coined the name Christadelphian.


John Thomas
John Thomas (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Many from the sites against Christadelphians do accuse John Thomas of picking material of others and bringing teachings of other Christian writers together. They use it as a negative factor, I would use it as a positive factor. John Thomas, though he never saw himself as making his own disciples, in my eyes had the qualities of a good teacher in him. It is the task of a teacher to bring the right ideas together and to make a good plan or a good amalgamation of all the teachings. Bringing the biblical truth presented by many writers from different denominations, all together in a good constructed and easy to understand text, he succeeded very well in his task to teach the Gospel of the Good News.

For him it was not a matter to impose "his own" teachings onto others, but to bring biblical truth onto those to whom he could speak and to whom wanted to listen to him. After his bad experience at sea he believed that he had rediscovered 1st-century beliefs from the Bible and compared it with what he heard around him. He also exchanged ideas with many 'New World' or American Bible-Students. As many, like Charles Taze Russell came to listen to his teachings and where willing to go in debate with each other, they pollinated each other. Because there was such a fecundation made possible, they saw a progressive growth in the bible student movement. Through a process of challenge and debate and writing journals, John Thomas not only got followers, but also got others to think seriously about what at first looked controversial teachings.

I think Dr. Thomas would not have been afraid to go into debate and to take his Bible to compare it with others their Bible. He for sure was not afraid to compare his teachings with that of others. So why should we avoid such comparison or to be afraid to compare with others their teachings? It is by his preparedness to go in discussion with others that he could bring people together and bring people to believe in what he believed and what he was preaching. This way a number of people became convinced and set up various fellowships that had sympathy with that position, where John Thomas also never claimed to be the one and only to be followed or to be the patron of those ideas.

Already from the beginning the New World saw several groups associated with John Thomas which met under various names, including Believers, Baptised Believers, the Royal Association of Believers, Baptised Believers in the Kingdom of God, Nazarines (or Nazarenes) and The Antipas. Some of those groups still continue their activities today.


Christadelphian Hall in Bath/England
Christadelphian Hall in Bath/England (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
John Thomas did not like it that people just would follow him or would take him as 'a god' or only special leader.  Jesus should be the leader and not a specific organisation. It was Robert Roberts, who in 1864 began to publish The Ambassador magazine, who formed a structure for the community of those who followed the teachings of John Thomas. But the debates did not stop in the many different groups and some did find to have clear doctrines or rules to which members of their community should keep. The different ideas were not always appreciated by everybody and brought some into discord. The disagreement and way of handling then as today disenchanted several people. Some might have had a dream of a peaceful Christian community and had to face people who acted childishly or with envy. This jealousy and contempt for others created different streams or little groups. A century later it looks like nothing has changed yet. Several who left the Christadelphian community uttered their voice of being disenchanted. And for me this nearly would have been the same reason I would have left the community.

It was a sore disillusionment how certain organisations, which I considered of much importance in the community, acted against each other and took repercussions against my own person, because I did not want to pull "one string". The foolhardiness of two parties insisting on their right of ruling in Belgium and not willing to have people from each organisation meeting with each other, so that they could be with more, was going against the grain with me.  Particularly when both parties started throwing all sorts of accusations to each-other and to us, who tried to reconcile both parties.

My fault was also that I had concentrated to much on 'organisations' instead of trusting God, Who is the One Who calls people in His time, and not ours. I did not forget that, but I perhaps wanted to press the time a little bit more, having our ecclesia grow. This way I could receive a good lesson. Up unto recently my eyes have been on an organisation I really thought their main concern was to do missionary work, and to have as many brothers and sisters in the world, having better opportunities to meet with each other. I was mistaken.
One of the parties might perhaps have hoped that I would become so disillusioned that I would leave the community for what it was.

But perhaps they overlooked something, or better did not take into account those who by the years either where children from one of those great teachers, the Christadelphian forefathers or 'granddads'. Or those who by the years had also found that this (the Christadelphians) was a Christian community which kept to the right teachings, according to the Word of God and did not want to hold on to doctrines laid up by people.
Like in a big family it is in time of trouble that brothers and sisters can show that they are there for each other. And that is what happened the last few days.

It is in such small, and sometimes very hidden actions, that valuable relief can be given, and proof is been given that there is more unity and brotherhood than the world can see by first glance. Those, from places far away, who gave little pads on my shoulder, gave proof that there is more to the Christadelphian community than can be seen from outside, or others want to believe.
Knowing the time of encouragement and daring to take action, is what shows to be a brother or a sister.

People may accuse the Christadelphians having several groups separated from the main body of Christadelphians, but they should look at the people in those several groups, who still have the same string as the founder of the community, and are willing to be part of the one great family, though there might, by now, be many households all over the world.

Outsiders, ex-Christadelphians, those against Christadelphians and non-trinitarians, like to focus on the shortcomings of the people who run the many Christadelphian organisations. They do not see beyond those organisations and their leaders. They also forget that in all the other denominations you can find similar divisions. Often they forget that it is even worse in many other denominations.

In Belgium we have seen many battles going very strongly between many religious groups. Lots of people lost their lives for their religious conviction. Many religious leaders tried to pull more people to them but also abused their position to enlarge their power, fill their pockets with money or even to abuse children; or bishops helping them to get away with it (in the Catholic church). Some would say
"Truth can’t change, nor can it be devalued by the unworthiness of those who are supposed to defend it, or the blindness of those who can’t get the message – often, because they have never been taught it properly " {Convert To The One Church, Not To Francis.}
Instead of navel-gazing, some in the Christadelphian world would better not have such an introspective view of their closed community, but would better open the doors to look more what happens outside their community. Others who spit on the Christadelphian community would also better to the same exercise.

Perhaps we better listen also to "the one who likes to be cleansed", Mundabor, a Catholic who writes:
This is why many, like me, criticise the Pope – and boy, how could one not do it who has eyes to see! – without this denting their Catholic faith in the least. On the contrary: if my faith is tested by a bad Pope, I will strenghten my faith by clinging to the Church even more closely; praying more; learning more about Her; praying more for the wayward Pope; putting all my trust on heaven, not on the reckless statements of a man drunk with popularity, and as vain as a peacock. {Convert To The One Church, Not To Francis.}
It is not by criticising an organisation or more organisations that we would not like them or would be totally against them. Out of concern we do have to come out of our personal little shell.

Sometimes we may not like it ourselves, to quarrel or to lay open a dispute, but only by trying to go in debate we can perhaps fall and have to stand up again, but shall give ourselves opportunities to learn and grow and to show how we need each-other and how we care for each other. It is this caring for each other and more important, caring for the Truth that should keep us going.

We should not be afraid to avoid strong regulating organisations, being afraid we shall not be able to feel united as brethren and sisters. We also should not be afraid to face those unpleasant moments, and should not try to hide them. Better we should be open and honest, showing how things go and how we do try to cope with such circumstances, helping each other to fall not to badly  and even more help them to stand up on stronger legs. As followers of the Word of God as it is written in the Holy Scriptures, we should guard our community that it no becomes enslaved by those who would like to take charge of it and would like to have controlling organisations. To avoid doctrinal teachings it is important that no such controlling organisations take over in the community. Independence and freedom for all members to discuss believes, teachings and organisations is what a community keep free from any wrong dogmatic teachings. It will always be better to have little different ideas, which can not all be right, than having one uniform idea where more teachings could be severely wrong or where people believe their dogmatic teachings are right and to be followed by everybody in the community. The Christian world is already full of such dogmatic churches and does not need another one.

The Christadelphians should be content to be a construction of different necessary parts in the Body of Christ.

We should also learn to be not so uncomfortable and more willing to take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake:
 for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9,10).

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Wednesday 12 February 2014

Disciple of Christ counting lives and friends dear to them

In the early days after Christ had died several of his pupils found it necessary to continue the work of their master. Like their rabbi they wanted to get to know their Father in heaven and worship Him. They, as their teacher, were students of the Word, “proving all things”, that they may be able to comprehend with all those who were set apart, like them, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passed knowledge, that they might be filled with the fullness of God; and so understanding what is the will of the Most High.

English: Jesus Christ, polychromed and gilded ...
Jesus Christ, polychromed and gilded woodcarved relief by Martin Vinazer (* 1674 in St. Ulrich in Gröden; † 1744) signed MVF (MV Fecit) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

They came together in their houses to be together as brothers and sisters in Christ. In him, they found that they were united and one in spirit. For them, Jeshua (Jesus Christ) was the former of their faith. In him, they trusted and were assured he would come back again one day. For them, it was not necessary to have any other leader than Christ Jesus. They all considered themselves equal in the family they wanted to see growing.

For them, it was important that they helped each other to stand strong, to face the heathen or those who did believe other things than what their master had taught them. Having the desire to receive the love of Christ they all wanted to share that love of Christ and help each other to grow closer to their master and the Great Master of the master. they not only wanted to be a disciple of rabbi Jesus they wanted to be a disciple of the Word of God.

Coming together in each-others houses, forming housechurches as a church of disciples they also were an assembly of learners. We too so many years later should be like them a church of Christian disciples and an assembly of persons who believe the things of the Kingdom of God, and of the name of the lord Jesus, and, thus believing, have been immersed into Christ and patiently continue in the faith and well-doing of their vocation, reading, marking, learning and inwardly digesting all things revealed in the scriptures of truth.

Brother John Thomas wrote about those ‘Christian Disciples’:

“Such were the disciples first called Christian at Antioch. These Christian disciples shone as lights in the world, holding forth the Word of Life. They counted not their lives dear unto them: but hazarded everything, reputation, liberty, wealth and friends, for the Word’s sake. Their treasure was in heaven; therefore their anchor was within the veil. The icy coldness of their old nature was thawed into the genial sympathies of the new man by the benevolence of God. Heart clung to heart, and hand joined in hand, the expressive symbol of unity and love. We want to behold a Church of Christian Disciples such as these; we fear that such an one is yet a stranger in our world. When such a community of churches is restored, we shall glory in it as a Reformation in verity and deed.”(The Faith in the Last Days, p. 237.)

The love of Jesus for God, and his willingness to do whatever God asked him to do, whatever the cost, was the inspiration of the first followers of Jeshua.Those who want to call themselves Follower of Jesus or Christian should be aware that Jesus did not want to do his own will but always did all efforts to do the will of his Father. (Luke 22:42) We too, should give ourselves to the Most High and should try to do the Will of God and not ours, but also should not be bounded to do the will of certain men or women who want to control everything in this world. It is not by human persons that we do want to be directed and moulded to their liking.

By the mercies of God, we should not present our bodies to one person in power of an organisation, but should present our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Those avoiding or taking care that the willing can not meet with each other, are more concerned about worldly goods, material gain and power. Power belongs to God and not to man. Therefore we should know under whom we would like to stand. We should choose if we want to have a worldly leader or a spiritual leader from heaven.

Cover of
Cover via Amazon

When we choose to become brothers and sisters in Christ we should choose not to be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind, thanks to the offer of Christ and the Grace of the Most High. Willing to be under the Law of Christ we shall have to be willing to act accordingly. Jesus asked his pupils to come together regularly and to go out into the world, showing that they are one in spirit. Jesus his followers had to take on the right attitude proving what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Those who are under Christ and in Christ should not consider themselves more or better than any other in the community.  We are all equal under the Grace and should all be happy that the grace is granted to us. Being aware of that we should, like the apostle Paul, know that every man among our community has his or her value in the Body of Christ and that none may think more highly of himself than he or she ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgement, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)

In early Christianity the few people tried to get members of their family and friends into the faith.  They were not afraid to invite others to come and listen to each other and to listen together to the Word of God. Those who were baptised were invited to share the symbols with each-other. wherever they might have gone to, they could find houses where they were welcome to join the gathering of believers in Christ.

The apostles did not want that the individuals became personal followers of themselves. they were not interested to have more followers than another apostle or other brother. In the Acts of the apostles, it is shown to us that they like us also were just human beings with their own peculiarities and that some of them could feel happier with one or the other. It is human to feel more for one person than the other, and nobody would object to that, but in the community of followers of Christ every body should try to accept each other for what they are and for what they feel, as long as it does not go against the Will and commandments of God.

Their concern was to spread the faith in the Gospel of the Good News of the coming Kingdom of God. They were aware of the different personalities and allowed their members to go with one or the other to take up the task given by Christ. They were always there to help and defend each other who wanted to be part of that Body of Christ. As they knew we also should know that we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. (Romans 12:5)

We should be pleased when we received such gifts from God, but should not boast about them as if they are our own. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:5-8)

Avoiding that people can come together and meet with like-minded is not an act of love. The love God demands from us is one without hypocrisy. It should and may not be a love for personal gain, but should be a submission to the Law of God in the submission of the welfare for all. It should be putting the self away for the better of all. Everybody of us in the community should try to make the best of the community. Everyone in the community should try to build it up and should take care no evil shall be able to destroy the goodness of the community, where everybody shall try to cling to what is good and to devote to one another in brotherly love; giving preference to one another in honour; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Most High Elohim Jehovah. (Romans 12:11)

The beginning nor the end of the ecclesia should be one or the other person. God is the beginning, because all created things began with Him, including fundamental attributes of existence, such as space and time. We are now living in this world bounded by the facts of this world and by the time of this world, but it should not mean we should be of this world.  We should be of the world of God and not of the world of man.

Those following Christ Jesus (Jeshua from Nazareth) should be honoured that they may walk in the footsteps of those men and women who have seen Jesus or heard from first witnesses what he had done. We only do have the books which can tell us what had happened in the last centuries. together we should listen to those stories from the old days and learn from them.

God communicated His purpose through the prophets and His beloved Son and wanted to be “all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28). As God’s Son, the lord Jesus shares God’s eternity, and so he also says,

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Revelation 22:13).

In him we should put our hope, and not in any other human being. He should be our high-priest and mediator by God, not any other human person who wants to be The leader. Jesus should be our leader, because he is the cornerstone of the Church of God.

Having found Jesus we should share our love for him and his Father with others, with whom we can rejoice in hope, persevering in tribulation, and be devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the ones who are set-apart of this world. All those who claim to be Christian, and as such to be a follower of Christ should share the same love and hospitality. (Romans 12:12-13)

Our thoughts should not so much be concerned about ourselves but about all who are willing to form the community of followers of Christ, Christians, and would like to live in the city of Christ (Christadelphia) as brothers in Christ or Christadelphians. Sharing each other’s life we should bless those around us, but also those who persecute us; bless and curse not.  (Romans 12:14) we should come together in peace to rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15) And what is most important is that we show our love for God together in the same spirit of love. The gathering should be considered one of the important elements of our community, showing to the world how much we love to be with each other and how much we love to concentrate on the Word of God and remember the actions Jesus undertook for us all.

For us, it is important that we be of the same mind toward one another. Having the love of Christ we also have the love of sharing with each other everything which can bring the other also closer to God and create easier ways to enter the Kingdom of God. Therefore any attitude against making it possible to share time with each other is unaccepted. Those who are haughty in mind are not the right persons to be in an ecclesia and certainly not to become leaders of the ecclesia. All those wanting to be a Christadelphian or Brother in Christ should share the love of Christ and be willing to share with everybody and associate with the lowly. None of us may think higher than the other or may be wise in their own estimation. (Romans 12:15-16)

Trying to make more than one community in a region we should take the Bible as our source of  our inspiration and working on it that as many as possible can come under the spirit of God His Son. (Galatians 4:6; Romans 8:15). Remembering that the Kingdom of God should be within us (Luke 7:20-21) and that Jesus gave us only two commandments, namely to Love God and our neighbour (Matthew 22:36-40). We should be fully aware that God’s Kingdom equates “to Love”.  And love is an act of “giving” more than of ‘receiving’.

Those loving God should remember that Jehovah God Himself is Love (1 John 4:16). Being followers of Christ, taking heed of his wishes, we should create places of love. We should create places where all men and women would be loving each other as Christ first loved us. All would be willing to lay down their life daily a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God for each other.  They would sacrifice desires and wants to edify and give into the happiness of their fellow man. All would pray for those who spitefully used them and never say a cross word about anyone.  We would give all we had to the poor and never worry about our own needs. (1 Corinthians Chapter 13 and Matthew 6:33)

Those who want to be honoured as the leader, are not the right ones for the Church of God. when a man prefers him to be the focus he forgets that Jesus should be the focus of all and that all should have a love that does not manifest itself in the world because if it did, we would have heaven here on earth, and we would have no teacher.

All have to work on it to show each other equality and love. We can show God’s love from within and teach others what Jesus has taught us. Though it is not to judge, we should be careful who we allow speaking and guiding members in the ecclesia. Though we should not condemn, and to be not condemned, we should be careful to not allow false teachers or people who want to harm the community of followers of Christ. We always should believe in the people, but as soon as they have given enough proof that they are not worthy to be edifiers of the community, we should protect the community of believers. We always should pardon when something went wrong and the person shows remorse so that we also will be pardoned. But when the wrongdoer does not show to the community he regrets what he or she has done and still does not want to do the best for the community, we should distantiate from that person and leave him or her to go his or her way.
But we may not leave him to go on his/her own. We always should keep an open hand to receive him/her again in the community, as soon as he/she showed to repent and proves he/she has changed his/her life. But we always should stand ready to receive the person back in the community and show him or her our love.

We always, also in bad circumstances should be ready to give and to be of good measure. Even when pressed down, shaken together, run over, we should allow them to pour into our lap. For by our standard of measure it will be measured to us in return. (Luke 6:37-38)

Those who want to have a leading function should also remember that they themselves may not be blinded by the desires of this world.

“he also told them a parable: “can one blind man lead another blind man? won’t they both fall into a pit?” (Luke 6:39 CJB)

Let us therefore make sure that we measure the right way and that we try to create heaven here on earth by being Jesus’ ambassador and acting on His behalf. Acting as he would act. We all know the saying “What would Jesus do” (WWJD). Let us always keep that in mind.

When we become older and more considerate we know we can take the lowly place and allow others to sit in the place of honour. We know then it is not important so much who is in front as long as he is telling what has to be told in accordance with the Will of God. As we mature in Christ, we see his teaching manifesting itself in our daily lives.  We grow and consider others, looking to please God and His son Jesus and emulate their actions and teachings.

We do know not all Christians can have the same knowledge. Not all of them can have the same competence. One can be capable of being a good administrator but awful in social actions. One can be very able to see everything is in place and ready for service. Another might be gifted to welcome everybody whilst another is efficient to let everybody feel at home. We should recognise the skills of everybody and give them duties accordingly, but also may not forget to praise them for their work, so that they to can fele that whata they are doing is good for the ecclesia and is appmreciated by the members of the community.

I do agree that is one of the weaknesses we all have, that we sometimes need a tap on our back, to know we are doing good. Everything we do we should do in honour of God, but everything others do we should respect and give honour to them and to their leader Christ, because of their Christ like actions.  All people on this earth are in some form of growth. This earth is our school and we are learning how to be sons of God.  Some people are in the first grade and some are in college, never the less, we are all learning from adversity and overcoming through obedience to the Word of God.

Through Grace, we are saved… Through adversity, we are learning how to be like Christ.

Rev. Sawyer presently assisting Pastor Emmett Gagnard with Brother’s Keeper aftercare program for men returning to society from prison in Marshall Texas, Teaches Understanding Prayer and Intercessory Prayer At Bradshaw State Prison in Henderson TX wrote:

act of kindnessImagine if we would carry this attitude of love all the time and with all people whether they deserved it or not.  If we act as Christ ask us to act then the rewards of His Glory will rest on us and no man or action on this earth would move us.  I know many great Saints that are not much to look at, do not have great stature or wealth, but are treated with much honor and love because of their Christ like attributes. They do not want for much and have many church members looking to serve them simply because they are attracted by the Godliness within.  True wealth is not personal appearance or riches, rather the kingdom of our Lord dwelling inside.

Putting away our own self, applying God’s laws to our lives, we will be considering others before ourselves, looking for a way to be a blessing to others and not worrying about our own desires.
Randy Sawyer continues:

This concept of living has been advocated by great men for from the very beginning because it was commanded by God in Leviticus 19:18. The kingdom of God does not come to us by observation but by action. Once we start practicing these laws and principals then the kingdom principals become a habit and produce a personality in Christ.  God’s laws and principals were place here on the earth to guide us and show us the way to the Kingdom. They cannot fail, just like gravity, when you turn loose of an object, it will hit the floor, works every time. As God made gravity, He also made other laws to govern our existence and lead us into His kingdom. They work everytime.

We know that the world and its laws are contrary to God’s kingdom and are an enemy of the Lord (1 John 2:15).

We war within ourselves with the lust of our flesh (Galatians 5:16-17).

Those who preclude the possibility that those who want to follow Christ could come together are the adversaries of God.

“Satan is the anti-Christ and is set against mankind (1 John 3:7-10).” writes Sawyer.

The writer of the article “Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come and thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”” tells us that:

If we can do one simple thing, we can beat Satan in the spiritual world, Paul told us this very simple task in (2 Corinthians 10:5)” casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ”.   Bring every thought into subjection to the Word of God, then we can enter into the Kingdom of God right here, right now.  We can have this kingdom if we are willing to sacrifice ourselves daily, holy and acceptable to the Lord. This sacrifice comes from giving up what we want to do and focusing on what God wants us to do and serving our fellow man within His love.

argueThere is no way you can control the world and the people in it. Think about it, you can’t even control your neighbor’s dog. How are you going to affect the problems of this world without the Lord?  You can affect your arena and the people therein.  You can influence those who God has put into your sphere of influence and share His Love, Light, Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding with them. You can bring the Kingdom of the Lord into their lives through your actions.

We should believe in the words of Christ or on account of the works by Christ themselves. Jesus did not do anything by his own. (John 5:19) How dare we than to think we could do something out of ourself? We should be happy that we may offer ourselves as an instrument of God and that He wants to use us. We should be grateful for that but also subservient and humble.

We should be pleased that we may be ambassadors for Christ and for God, being receivers of the Grace of God, accepted as His Sons.

If we are going to be a son of God in the Kingdom of God, then we want to be one now right here on earth.

It will take some time before we are there.  Our desire should be not to please man but to please Him, who is the Most High Elohim. We should all be willing to help each other to reach the goal and to finish the race together. this can only be done by the preparedness and willingness to show each other the necessary love to work together as one unit in union with Christ.
together we should all work together towards all He has for us.

Sawyer puts it this way:

Never-the-Less Lord, I don’t want the less, I want the most you have for me.  Mold me Lord, teach me and show me how to become as Jesus is, now.

We are all working towards perfection in Christ. So let us all band together and try our best to be His children by obeying the Lords commands to us.



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  100. True riches
  101. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us
  102. Walking in love by faith, not by sight
  103. My faith
  104. Making church
  105. Fellowship
  106. United people under Christ
  107. Rebirth and belonging to a church
  108. A learning process for each of us
  109. Being of good courage running the race
  110. An ecclesia in your neighborhood
  111. Intentions of an Ecclesia
  112. Church sent into the world
  113. Religious Practices around the world
  114. Religion and spirituality
  115. The first on the list of the concerns of the saint   
  116. Character transformed by the influence of our fellowships
  117. Self-development, self-control, meditation, beliefs and spirituality
  118. A Living Faith #10: Our manner of Life #2
  119. God showing how far He is willing to go to save His children
  120. Careful what you sow, it might grow
  121. Testify of the things heard
  122. Proclaiming shalom, bringing good news of good things, announcing salvation
  123. Breathing to teach
  124. How shall the film of your life be?
  125. Only the contrite self, sick of its pretensions, can find salvation
  126. Choose you this day whom ye will serve
  127. It is a free will choice
  128. For those who make other choices
  129. Your life the sum total of all your choices
  130. Answering a fool according to his folly
  131. You cannot change anything in your life with intention alone
  132. What’s church for, anyway?
  133. Feeling-good, search for happiness and the church
  134. The one who has not had a taste of love
  135. Casual Christians
  136. Don’t be the weakest link
  137. Christianity is a love affair
  138. The Law of Christ: Law of Love
  139. What Jesus did: First things first
  140. The first on the list of the concerns of the saint
  141. The Greatest of These is Love
  142. A treasure which can give me everything I need
  143. The task given to us to love each other
  144. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love
  145. God demonstrates his own love
  146. Agape, a love to share with others from the Fruit of the Spirit
  147. Unarmed truth and unconditional love
  148. Unconditional love
  149. The Spirit of God imparts love,inspires hope, and gives liberty
  150. No fear in love
  151. When we love we do not need laws
  152. Love envieth not
  153. Love turns one person into two; and two into one
  154. Love is like playing the piano
  155. Love will cure more sins than condemnation
  156. If we love one another, God lives in us
  157. Spread love everywhere you go
  158. Love and cultivate that which is pure
  159. Blessed are those who freely give
  160. Those who make peace should plant peace like a seed
  161. Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair
  162. Work with joy and pray with love
  163. Self-preservation is the highest law of nature
  164. Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness
  165. Growth in character
  166. God let my compassionate affection be tolerant and kind
  167. Observing the commandments and becoming doers of the Word
  168. A Living Faith #2 State of your faith
  169. A Living Faith #3 Faith put into action
  170. A Living Faith #5 Perseverance
  171. Parts of the body of Christ
  172. Breathing and growing with no heir
  173. God loving people justified
  174. United people under Christ
  175. Small churches of the few Christadelphians

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