Biblical Teachings

Naked but Not Ashamed

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Reflections And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. (Gen. 2:25) This is God’s description of humanity BEFORE Adam’s sin. Thus, it is His original design. Man was created to be, “naked but not ashamed.” To be naked is to have NOTHING of yourself as a resource for life. Now note: This was not a bad thing, but a God-ordained thing. Man was MADE to have nothing in himself for life – God created man to BE naked. Why? Because man was created one with God – and thus all resources for life were …

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Are You Focusing on God or Obstacles?

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Focusing on obstacles distorts your vision, if God has called you to something, there is no barrier He won’t remove. Numbers 13:25-14:10 (KJV) 25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. 26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely …

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The Law of Moses and the Law of Christ

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The Law of Moses and the Law of Christ This excerpt from Arnold Fruchtenbaum’s “Messianic Bible Study” radio program is vital, because many believers are not sure just how they relate to the Law of Moses today. This is a particular problem for Jewish believers. Our purpose, then, is to deal with the Scriptures from a perspective that is both Jewish and biblical, so that we might help clarify and resolve this issue that is so crucial and prevalent for those of us working here at Ariel Ministries, and Jewish missions and evangelism, in general. INTRODUCTION If there is one …

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The dove came in to him in the evening.” Genesis 8:11

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Blessed be the Lord for another day of mercy, even though I am now weary with its toils. Unto the preserver of men lift I my song of gratitude. The dove found no rest out of the ark, and therefore returned to it; and my soul has learned yet more fully than ever, this day, that there is no satisfaction to be found in earthly things–God alone can give rest to my spirit. As to my business, my possessions, my family, my attainments, these are all well enough in their way, but they cannot fulfil the desires of my immortal …

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The Crown of Righteousness

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Jack Kinsella In many churches, those members who study Bible prophecy are relegated to the lunatic fringe or dismissed out-of-hand for wasting their time trying to divine the future. The Bible says that there are other rewards, or crowns, set aside for those that dedicate themselves to Christ in a number of different theological disciplines. Not so. Christians that study prophecy are not trying to “divine the future” – they are earning the “Crown of Righeousness” promised to all those that love His appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8) The Judgment Seat of Christ is the place where all of the deeds …

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Facing Death Unprepared

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Since salvation has nothing to do with our works, faith is the way to prepare for death Luke 23:32-43 32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. 33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them …

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Ephesians 2 says, “By grace, through faith….unto good works

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Ephesians 2:1-10 (KJV) 2 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great …

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The Other Side of Travail

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Reflections A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow…but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembers no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. (John 16:21) When we are suffering, our attention is upon the suffering. But Jesus is reminding us that something is being birthed that will, in that day of birth, change our perspective. He is talking about a new revelation of Himself through suffering. “You cannot see the Truth now. But you will. Hold fast by faith until that day.” In one sense of the word, …

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“But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:19

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There was an exercise, on the part of this blessed woman, of three powers of her being: her memory–she kept all these things; her affections–she kept them in her heart; her intellect–she pondered them; so that memory, affection, and understanding, were all exercised about the things which she had heard. Beloved, remember what you have heard of your Lord Jesus, and what he has done for you; make your heart the golden pot of manna to preserve the memorial of the heavenly bread whereon you have fed in days gone by. Let your memory treasure up everything about Christ which …

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Life After Death

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Believers have no reason to fear death, as life on earth is just the beginning of their eternal existence. Life After Death Luke 12:16-20 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, …

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The Eternal Word

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Reflections From the Psalms The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. (Ps. 12:6-7) It does not matter how the Truth of God is challenged, discredited, and attacked – in the end, the Truth of God will be shown to BE TRUE. This is not only true out here in the world, but it is true within the believer. That which is of Jesus Christ can endure any fire. That which is NOT of …

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Adjusted to the Truth

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Reflections No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (2 Pet 1:20) This verse has been made to mean by Roman Catholics that the church has the right of interpretation for the individual. But that is not the meaning. Peter is simply saying that I cannot adjust the Truth to fit myself personally. Rather, I must be adjusted to fit the Truth. And the fact is, we are ultimately going to do one or the other. All of us have fallen into the trap of accepting whatever feeds us – if something feeds me, then this must be …

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Contrasts

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Contrasts   Religion: Promise God you will be good enough. Truth: Confess to God you can never be good enough.   Religion: If we love God, He will love us. Truth: Because God loves us, we can love Him.   Religion: Give in order to get. Truth: Freely you have received, so freely give.   Religion: Go to church to meet God. Truth: Meet God in Jesus Christ and carry Him into church.   Religion: Peace at any cost. Truth: Truth at any cost.   Religion: Make people feel good about themselves. Truth: Set people free from themselves to Christ. …

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