The cup of Christ- Gethsemane

Does God "Give Up"?

What Is SIN?

Nearer My God To Thee

Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.
E'en though it be a cross,
That raiseth me
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.

Though like the wanderer,
The sun gone down
Darkness be over me,
My rest a stone,
Yet in my dreams I'd be,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.

There let the way appear,
Steps unto heaven
All that Thou sendest me,
In mercy given
Angels to beckon me,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.

Then with my waking thoughts
Bright with Thy praise
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I'll raise
So by my woes to be,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee.

Or if on joyful wing,
Cleaving the sky
Sun, moon, and stars forgot,
Upward I fly
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to thee
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to thee!

What has been on my MIND lately...

I am not yet sure or convinced that Pre-trib (my congregation adheres to pre-trib!) or Pre-wrath is the more scriptural position, although they are pretty similar.

I am convinced about divine election... absolutely! I have not "fully", I guess you could say, formed an opinion if election is:

1) Corporate election meaning the church (the called out ones). "You", as in 'you' plural in being corporately "in Christ" and therefore the elect of God or 2) individual election ex. God has chosen "you" in Christ singularly to be saved? We are dealing with what God thought here ladies and gentlemen... HOLY GROUND!!! Seriously though, these are honest questions from my heart (a heart God knows more than I do)...

Question: are the words like "you", "us", and "those whom" refer to the Church (corporate) or me (as individual) only? Or, is the answer to this like many other doctrines simply "yes"!?

I just started reading a book dealing with this subject called, "Perspectives" -five views on Election.

I also have not formed a solid position on whether or not the gift of tongues has ceased... again, looking into that (although my assembly teaches that they have ceased and are no longer in operation) with another book by zondervan on the different (4) views about this question.

When dealing with how God operates, I am aware of these passages...

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Is. 55:8, 9.

Deut. 29:29, "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."

Interesting that the verse in Deut. 29:29b says, "...but the things that are revealed belong to us..."

Is this a "hidden" thing for us, or something that the Lord has "revealed" in His Word for us? Hmmm?

Well thanks again for listening,

In Christ,

Jake.
Phil. 3:10

GOD'S AGAPE LOVE

I only love God in return, because He lavished His love upon me. He showed it to me and gave it to me...

I think of those verses that say this (italics added):

"We love because he first loved us." 1John4:19.

"We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?" 1John 3:16, 17.

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us." 1 John 4:7-12.

I love my Lord. I love the Lord Jesus Christ because He loved me first. I love Him because of Who He is and What He has done and continues to do!

Remember, "we love (Him), because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19. Nearer my God to thee!!!

In Christ,

Phil. 3:10.