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Sons of the Kingdom

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  Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."         John 3:3-8 Jesus introduced the principle of personal salvation as a living faith in Jesus as Messiah (and God) to Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, and some say, the brother of Josephus, the historian. Being born of the Spirit means ...
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What is Forgiveness?

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C. S. Lewis once said, “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” To fully appreciate the quality of kingdom life for the Christian, the believer must appreciate the value of forgiveness and be willing to pass it on. Making this connection real begins with an acceptance that the new covenant offers the believer total forgiveness for all sins, past, present, and future. In Hebrews 8:12, " FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE ."  "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed [ hagiazo – regard as holy, venerate] be Your name. ' [Let] Your kingdom come. [Let] Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 'Give us this day our daily bread. 'And forgive us [ aphiemi – pardon] our debts [ opheilema – that which is owed], as we also have forgiven our debtors. 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For ...
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Grace is our Teacher

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  Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect. For the grace of God has appeared [ epiphaino – brought to light] , bringing salvation to all men, instructing [ paideuo - activity directed toward the moral and spiritual nurture and training of the child, to influence conscious will and action] us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly [ sophronos – of sound, sober mind], righteously [ dikaios – honestly, without injuring anyone], and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds .              ...
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Experiencing God

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Denominationalism refers to the existence of separate and distinct organizational branches within a broader religious tradition. In a Christian context, this term describes the various expressions of the faith that have developed differing doctrinal emphases, liturgical practices, and organizational structures while still upholding foundational elements such as the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Denominationalism in Christianity encompasses a range of fellowships, from ancient traditions such as the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches to more recent groups established during and after the Protestant Reformation. Many of these groupings arose from theological disputes and reform efforts stemming from differing interpretations of Scripture and worship practices. Despite variations, most denominations affirm the authority of the Holy Bible, including central teachings on redemption and the shared commitment to proclaim the good news of salvation. Although denominations...
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