BORN to SAVE

 Isaiah 9:2

King James Version

2 The people that walked in darkness 

have seen a great light: 

they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, 

upon them hath the light shined.

How do you celebrate the birth of JESUS?

With family, with pomp, or simplicity?

Do you really know what His birth means?

I can't thank GOD enough for making me born again.

Only through that have I received His SPIRIT.

Who teaches me about JESUS, and Scripture.

As the years advance, I advance in simplicity, too.

Only because JESUS lived a simple life.

Why should I live any other life, if I'm His follower?

I focus on His commands, which the four gospels teach.

He never called attention to His power.

But the Old Testament did.

Through this prophecy:

Isaiah 9:5-6

King James Version

5 For every battle of the warrior 

is with confused noise, 

and garments rolled in blood; 

but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.

6 For unto us a child is born, 

unto us a son is given: 

and the government shall be upon his shoulder: 

and his name shall be called Wonderful, 

Counsellor, The mighty God, 

The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Even the LORD's childhood, adulthood, death, and ministry, were prophesied.

Isaiah 53:2-12

King James Version

2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, 

and as a root out of a dry ground: 

he hath no form nor comeliness; 

and when we shall see him, 

there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3 He is despised and rejected of men; 

a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: 

and we hid as it were our faces from him; 

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, 

and carried our sorrows: 

yet we did esteem him stricken, 

smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, 

he was bruised for our iniquities: 

the chastisement of our peace was upon him; 

and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; 

we have turned every one to his own way; 

and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed,

 and he was afflicted, 

yet he opened not his mouth: 

he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, 

and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, 

so he openeth not his mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: 

and who shall declare his generation? 

for he was cut off out of the land of the living: 

for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

9 And he made his grave with the wicked, 

and with the rich in his death; 

because he had done no violence, 

neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; 

he hath put him to grief: 

when thou shalt make his soul 

an offering for sin, 

he shall see his seed, 

he shall prolong his days, 

and the pleasure of the Lord 

shall prosper in his hand.

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, 

and shall be satisfied: 

by his knowledge shall my righteous servant 

justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore will I divide him a portion 

with the great, 

and he shall divide the spoil 

with the strong; 

because he hath poured out his soul unto death: 

and he was numbered with the transgressors; 

and he bare the sin of many, 

and made intercession for the transgressors.

JESUS declares how GOD loves, and what He was born for:

John 3:16-17

King James Version

16 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.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world 

to condemn the world; 

but that the world through him 

might be saved.

He died on the CROSS, that we may live.

Upon that CROSS, He defeated death, and the devil.

That's why He calls us to be born again, so we may understand.

John 3:5-7

King James Version

5 Jesus answered, 

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, 

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; 

and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, 

Ye must be born again.

JESUS taught us how to live, love, and glorify GOD.

He called our attention to the URGENCY of the times.

He told us what to do:

Mark 1:15

King James Version

15 And saying, 

The time is fulfilled, 

and the kingdom of God is at hand: 

repent ye, 

and believe the gospel.

And when His time has come to sit at the right hand of GOD, He left us the HOLY SPIRIT.

That we may not feel orphaned.

The born again receives instruction from SPIRIT every single moment.

It's how we got to write 111 blogs, and 24 books.

All in honor of the LORD JESUS.

And for the GLORY of GOD.

Related material:

JESUS our HOPE

JESUS is GOD

JESUS as LIGHT

JESUS 

Related videos:

The Real Ways to Celebrate Christmas | CH. Spurgeon

The Theology of Christmas (Philippians 2:5-11)

Trump's CHRISTmas message

Image: Clipart Library

KNOW these THINGS

 Ephesians 1:19

King James Version

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power 

to us-ward who believe, 

according to the working of his mighty power,

What does GOD do?

What is He capable of?

What are His purposes?

In consonance with the title of this blog, "The GOD things", we found three particular things:

A "light" thing:

Isaiah 49:6-7

King James Version

6 And he said, 

It is a light thing 

that thou shouldest be my servant 

to raise up the tribes of Jacob, 

and to restore the preserved of Israel: 

I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, 

that thou mayest be my salvation 

unto the end of the earth.

7 Thus saith the Lord, 

the Redeemer of Israel, 

and his Holy One, 

to him whom man despiseth, 

to him whom the nation abhorreth, 

to a servant of rulers, 

Kings shall see and arise, 

princes also shall worship, 

because of the Lord that is faithful, 

and the Holy One of Israel, 

and he shall choose thee.

A "fearful" thing:

Hebrews 10:30-31

King James Version

30 For we know him that hath said, 

Vengeance belongeth unto me, 

I will recompense, 

saith the Lord. 

And again, 

The Lord shall judge his people.

31 It is a fearful thing 

to fall into the hands of the living God.

A "righteous" thing:

2 Thessalonians 1:6-8

King James Version

6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God 

to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, 

when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven 

with his mighty angels,

8 In flaming fire 

taking vengeance on them that know not God, 

and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

We need to meditate upon these verses.

That we may know GOD's love, and wrath.

The "light" thing refers to His sending of JESUS for salvation.

The "fearful" thing refers to GOD's vengeance for judgment.

The "righteous" thing refers to "compensation" for believers.

We pray that you be born again.

A true believe, and seeker, of GOD's TRUTH.

Only a born again can rightfully understand GOD's WORD.

For we have the HOLY SPIRIT to teach us EVERY word in Scripture.

That we may remember, and understand, the LORD's commands.

It is a WONDERFUL thing to be BORN AGAIN!

All these things I couldn't have known, if not for SPIRIT.

All these things I couldn't have organized, if not for His guidance.

All these I would have missed, if not for GOD's GRACE.

Such is GOD's love, for believers.

And those who comb His Scripture daily.

With the objective we get GOD's WORD right.

In these end times, we have no help, but SPIRIT.

Related material:

EDUCATION from SPIRIT

Student of SPIRIT

BORN AGAIN articles

The POWERFUL record

 1 John 5:11

King James Version

11 And this is the record, 

that God hath given to us eternal life, 

and this life is in his Son.

Apostle John said it all.

The verse above acknowledges the divinity of JESUS.

Just in two powerful declarations:

"God hath given to us eternal life"

"this life is in his Son"

That was the record John spoke of.

What is a "record"?

What do other Bible versions say?

1 John 5:11

American Standard Version

11 And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1 John 5:11

Amplified Bible

11 And the testimony is this: God has given us eternal life [we already possess it], and this life is in His Son [resulting in our spiritual completeness, and eternal companionship with Him].

1 John 5:11

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

11 And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

1 John 5:11

Contemporary English Version

11  God has also said he gave us eternal life and this life comes to us from his Son.

1 John 5:11

Easy-to-Read Version

11 This is what God told us: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1 John 5:11

Expanded Bible

11 This is ·what God told us [L the witness/testimony]: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1 John 5:11-12

The Message

11-12 This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in his Son. So, whoever has the Son, has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life.

1 John 5:11

New International Reader's Version

11 Here is what God says about the Son. God has given us eternal life. And this life is found in his Son.

1 John 5:11

New Life Version

11 This is the word He spoke: God gave us life that lasts forever, and this life is in His Son.

1 John 5:11

New Living Translation

11 And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Yochanan I 5:11

Orthodox Jewish Bible

11 And this is the eidus, that Hashem gave Chayyei Olam to us, and this Chayyim is in His Ben HaElohim.

1 John 5:11

The Voice

11 And this is the truth: God has given us the gift of eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

1 John 5:11

Worldwide English (New Testament)

11 Here is what God says. He has given us life that will last for ever. And this life is in his Son.

1 John 5:11

Wycliffe Bible

11 And this is the witnessing, for God gave to you everlasting life [for God gave to us everlasting life], and this life is in his Son.

In SUMMARY, "record" means:

witness

testimony

that evidence

God has also said

This is what God told us

This is ·what God told us [L the witness/testimony]

testimony in essence

what God says about the Son

This is the word He spoke

what God has testified

eidus

the truth

what God says

the witnessing

Related material:

GOD's TRUTH

Related videos:

Ex-Catholic Exposes the TWISTED Teachings of the Catholic Church -- Mike Gendron

Session 1: Telling the Truth in a Post-Truth World -- John MacArthur

STEADINESS of GOD

 Romans 3:3

King James Version

3 For what if some did not believe? 

shall their unbelief make the faith of God 

without effect?

There is something you can trust in this world.

And in the next.

The true born again knows this.

We trust GOD.

And GOD alone.

The LORD is sure, and steady.

These verses know it:

Numbers 23:19

King James Version

19 God is not a man, that he should lie; 

neither the son of man, that he should repent: 

hath he said, and shall he not do it? 

or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Deuteronomy 7:9-10

King James Version

9 Know therefore that the Lord thy God, 

he is God, 

the faithful God, 

which keepeth covenant and mercy 

with them that love him and keep his commandments 

to a thousand generations;

10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, 

to destroy them: 

he will not be slack to him that hateth him, 

he will repay him to his face.

Proverbs 19:21

King James Version

21 There are many devices in a man's heart; 

nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, 

that shall stand.

Lamentations 3:22-23

King James Version

22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, 

because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning: 

great is thy faithfulness.

Malachi 3:6

King James Version

6 For I am the Lord, I change not; 

therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

1 Corinthians 1:9

King James Version

9 God is faithful, 

by whom ye were called unto the fellowship 

of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hebrews 13:8

King James Version

8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, 

and to day, 

and for ever.

James 1:17

King James Version

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, 

and cometh down from the Father of lights, 

with whom is no variableness, 

neither shadow of turning.

We can rely on the LORD.

He loves us all.

No matter man's unfaithfulness.

Related posts:

GOD is STEADY

GOD's TRUTH

JESUS was CONSISTENT

The PURITY of GOD's WORD in an age of hybrids

The MAGNIFICENCE and MAJESTY of GOD

BORN AGAIN articles

BIBLE of FAITH

 2 Timothy 3:16-17

King James Version

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, 

and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, 

for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, 

thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

What makes the Bible trustworthy?

What makes it the WORD of GOD?

How sure am I that it is GOD's TRUTH?

Everything changed when GOD made me born again.

I was immediately drawn to the Bible.

The Bible is like no other.

I've dropped all other books since.

And so will you, once GOD makes you born again.

Only then can SPIRIT start teaching you.

You will delight in knowing GOD's TRUTH.

And you would want to share the gospel with others.

That's the path of the true born again.

SPIRIT and I write every day.

We share GOD's TRUTH all over the world.

The HOLY SPIRIT makes me understand the Bible easily.

Something I thought would never happen.

Now, I share GOD's truth every day.

I am proud of knowing the gospel.

Romans 1:16

King James Version

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: 

for it is the power of God unto salvation 

to every one that believeth; 

to the Jew first, 

and also to the Greek.

The Word was GOD.

John 1:1

King James Version

1 In the beginning was the Word, 

and the Word was with God, 

and the Word was God.

JESUS was the WORD made flesh.

John 1:14

King James Version

14 And the Word was made flesh, 

and dwelt among us, 

(and we beheld his glory, 

the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) 

full of grace and truth.

The Bible is the WORD of GOD.

It has has a very clear purpose:

2 Timothy 3:16-17

King James Version

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, 

and is profitable for doctrine, 

for reproof, 

for correction, 

for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, 

thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Why do we need to be perfect?

1 Thessalonians 5:23

King James Version

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; 

and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body 

be preserved blameless 

unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Anything you need to know, the Bible can answer.

But you need SPIRIT to teach you.

That's why you need to be born again.

That you may receive GOD's gift of SPIRIT.

It honestly makes all the difference in the world.

Pray to be born again.

More articles here.

Related material:

WORD of GOD

The HOLY SPIRIT

BORN AGAIN articles

FAITH

BLOOKS

The number 7

 Revelation 10:7

King James Version

7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, 

when he shall begin to sound, 

the mystery of God should be finished, 

as he hath declared to his servants 

the prophets.

I can't say it happened at random.

Surely, it was by GOD's design.

There are seven main tabs on this blog:

FAITH

HOPE

LOVE

ETERNAL LIFE

GOD

JESUS 

HOLY SPIRIT

They practically spilled from my brain this morning.

In that order.

In that sequence.

Each represented by an exact verse.

Each developed from that verse.

That's how SPIRIT teaches.

In a pure, perfect, and precise manner.

And what do you know?

According to Ed. F. Vallowe's "Keys to Scripture Numerics", the number SEVEN stands for:

COMPLETENESS -- SPIRITUAL -- PERFECTION

According to Vallowe's book, the number SEVEN is used throughout the Book of Revelation:

-- SEVEN churches

-- SEVEN Spirits

-- SEVEN stars

-- SEVEN seals

-- SEVEN trumpets

-- SEVEN vials

-- SEVEN personages

-- SEVEN dooms

-- SEVEN new things

And that the number SEVEN has been used over 700 times in the Bible.

I don't know about you, but this much I know:

I just follow SPIRIT's prompts in all of my blogs.

The prompts come any time.

The verses are given precisely.

I know when they feel right for the post.

Of course, that's always SPIRIT for you.

Couldn't have created anything on my own.

Save for the SPIRIT of GOD.

Who I listen to, closely.

Being born again is really the most wonderful thing in my life!

Now, I can understand the Bible, through SPIRIT.

Everything becomes so easy.

Related material:

GOD's numbers -- 7

The 7 churches

Book of Revelation

WORD of GOD

SPIRIT of GOD

STRANGE new blog

 Psalm 40:5

King James Version

5 Many, O Lord my God, 

are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, 

and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: 

they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: 

if I would declare and speak of them, 

they are more than can be numbered.

This is a very strange blog, indeed.

Of how it was hatched.

And grew.

And developed.

The title just "popped" out.

Then the tab headings followed.

In sequence.

All seven of them:

FAITH

HOPE

LOVE

ETERNAL LIFE

GOD

JESUS

HOLY SPIRIT

Wherein SPIRIT led me to a verse, for each tab.

With an empty body, for starters.

Just tabs, perfectly positioned.

Very strange indeed.

As if SPIRIT knew I'd fill it in.

And that we'd work on it.

As we go along.

Which we did, of course.

A tab at a time.

An essay at a time.

With the verses serving as framework.

Strange thing also, is that we'd work on a tab.

Then SPIRIT comes up with another post.

So, we work on that.

Then, we work on another tab.

We shift, here and there.

That's not how SPIRIT and I used to work for the last 73 blogs.

Although there was an inkling from yesterday's post.

I knew something had changed.

True enough, this blog you're reading now.

Creating itself.

Almost effortlessly.

But that's how it is working for JESUS.

He takes charge, if you don't take charge.

How it ought to be anyway.

John 3:30

King James Version

30 He must increase, 

but I must decrease.

If you want sterling work, get out of GOD's way.

Let JESUS show you the way.

More articles here.

Related material:

JESUS is the WAY

SPIRIT of GOD

GOD's GLORY blogs

The GOD things

 James 1:17

King James Version

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift 

is from above, 

and cometh down from the Father of lights, 

with whom is no variableness, 

neither shadow of turning.

Welcome to "The GOD things".

Expect things to look forward to.

And find hope, truth, love, clarity, and certainty.

As revealed in the Bible.

After all, where does a born again look for answers?

Only the Bible holds our answers.

The Bible reveals all.

Or, at least, whatever GOD wants us to know.

If JESUS were to reveal all His works, the world won't be able to hold it.

Apostle John told us that himself.

John 21:24-25

King James Version

24 This is the disciple 

which testifieth of these things, 

and wrote these things: 

and we know that his testimony is true.

25 And there are also many other things 

which Jesus did, the which, 

if they should be written every one, 

I suppose that even the world itself 

could not contain the books 

that should be written. 

Amen.

Everything on this blog will be in a conversational manner.

In the crisp, clear, and concise manner SPIRIT taught me.

I consider it a review of sorts.

At least for me.

Of how much SPIRIT had taught me.

The wonderful things I learned from the Bible.

It's been a 40-month immersion in Scripture.

I'm eager to share these with all of you.

In fact, SPIRIT already categorized it.

And here's what showed up:

FAITH

HOPE

LOVE

ETERNAL LIFE

GOD

JESUS

HOLY SPIRIT

GOD's will

Those are all GOD things.

All power come from GOD anyway.

As you shall find out as we develop this blog.

Dive right in now and check those seven links.

Prepare for a wonderful adventure!

More articles here.

Related material:

GOD is STEADY

GOD's endearing ways

GOD's quirky WAYS

Three GOD traits

It is GOD Who SPEAKS

EYES of the LORD

FOCUS on THINGS above

BORN AGAIN articles

BLOOKS