#god gave his only son for our salvation

[livingfortheheartofchrist]

“Let the wicked one abandon his way and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, so he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will freely forgive.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭7‬ ‭

[cath-lic]

Hello, I was wondering if you believe non-Christians can be saved? I know many Catholics believe everyone that doesn't accept Jesus will go to hell. Personally, I find this outlook very sad and I was curious on other points of view so please anyone respond with their own opinions. I mean to ask you this: If God is love and is forgiving of our sins, why would he send everyone to hell simply because they could not find their way to him?

hi!! YES absolutely everyone is saved!! now, everyone and their brother has a conflicting opinion on this, but i’ll throw in my two cents.

my first, more concrete point: john 3:16. the everyman’s verse!!

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.

okay, but what if someone doesn’t believeth? vatican ii’s lumen gentium, no. 16, also covers this. (italics added by me)

Those also can attain to everlasting salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the gospel of Christ or his Church, yet sincerely seek God and, moved by grace, strive by their deeds to do his will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience. Nor does divine Providence deny the help necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God, but who strive to live a good life, thanks to his grace.

however, it’s important to note LG no. 14. bear with me here.

Whosoever knowing that the Catholic Church was made necessary by God through Jesus Christ would refuse to enter her or to remain in her could not be saved.

i’m not a theologian, i’m just joe off the street—so i may be taking things out of context. forgive me!

however—as much as i am catholic, i believe that this is putting WAY too much importance on the catholic church as we know it today. it is far, far different than the original organization founded upon the rock of st. peter, and i believe that there are many things that god takes issue with in the catholic church (notoriously, jesus criticized large institutions like these). therefore, i don’t know how much i believe that the catholic church today, nor as a whole, was made necessary by god through christ.

my second point: my most fervent belief is that god is love. pretty much all of my friends are atheists, and they are kind and caring and loving people. it is, therefore, impossible for me to believe that they are not saved.

my second-and-a-half point: i take a little bit of issue with your phrasing of “send” to hell.

personally, i believe that hell is not necessarily Dante’s inferno, but a place of complete and total separation from god. i also believe that hell is not a place you are sent to, but rather a place you send yourself.

i mentioned purgatory in my earlier answer to a different anon; this is where that comes in. i generally concur with pope francis when he says that he likes to think of hell as empty (note: he was not issuing doctrine here). i believe that in purgatory, 99.999% (you get it) of people, if not 100%, are able to reconcile with god and see the consequences of their decisions, good and bad, throughout their life.

you know when you tell someone something that is true, but they keep on rejecting it, no matter what evidence you show them? that’s what i imagine is happening to the other .001%.

god is endlessly patient; he doesn’t mind spending eons trying to convince others to have empathy for their fellow man. however, humans are not as patient. they get fed up and walk away—and this is my (limited) understanding of the process of going to hell.

i’ll be honest, i don’t know if hell is permanent, temporary, etc. i’m not sure how helpful it is to debate it, either. but what i do know is very helpfully summarized in this post by the lovely hymnsofheresy.

whenever i have doubts about some aspect of what i believe being incorrect, i remind myself that god is love. he loves us more than anything in the world, and nothing we can do will ever change that. he doesn’t look for reasons for you to go to hell; he wants to be with us all the time.

thank you for sending in this ask, and i hope it helped ❤️❤️❤️

[10yrsyart]

the Lord Jesus is coming quickly!

"For the Lord Himself will come down from Heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

Jesus, the Son of God, gave His life and shed His blood for the payment of your sins. by acknowledging your sinful nature, and trusting in Him as the only means of salvation, you're included in this event! For Jesus promised in John 14:2-3, "There are many rooms in My Father's house (..) I go to prepare a place for you (..) When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so you will always be with Me where I am."

God poured out His wrath for our sins onto Jesus' body on the cross; once and for all time (Hebrews 9:28). Therefore we the Church, as the Body of Christ, cannot be here to experience God's Wrath again (1 Thessalonians 5:9). the Tribulation that is coming is the time of God's Wrath; a testing period for those still covered by their sin (Isaiah 26:20-21). but He promised He would take His followers out of the way before it comes (Revelation 3:10). we will be taken to the safe places He has prepared for us.

the time is much sooner that you think! please turn to the Lord while there is still time, He loves you and has done EVERYTHING necessary to provide salvation for you. the Tribulation will be the worst time in human history, and God desires that no one go through it. listen to the still, small Voice that is calling you to repentance. He is calling you home!

[thehermittheywarnedyouabout]

Are you ever just going about your day when it really hits you like God, as in THE ONLY God sent Its son to Earth?! God literally walked the Earth??!! Not only that, He came to SAVE US? He gave His life for our salvation!? GOD WALKED THE EARTH. He BLED and DIED for US?!!!?!!?!! AND He continues to give His Body and Blood for our salvation every day all around the world? It just hits me sometimes how incredibly awesome and literally amazing it is. How blessed are we!!!

I think it’s easy for it to become mundane when it’s one’s everyday life and routine but sometimes it really hits me, like, wow, that actually happened, holy shit (pun intended). I’m so grateful to get to experience this awe.

[godhasatenderheart]

how do you know for sure you won't end up in hell?

Hello! I saw your other message assuring me not to worry about responding because of the grieving process. Thank you for your kindness and thoughtfulness—it truly means a lot. May God bless your sweet soul. 🩷

It’s comforting to know that, because of God’s promises in the Bible, there’s assurance that we won’t end up in Hell. Many verses speak of salvation and bring peace. Sometimes, due to severe trauma, trusting in that love and safety can be difficult, but it’s a journey to trust in what God has promised.

When doubt about salvation or God’s promises arises, the best remedy is prayer and spending time in the Word. Trusting God fully and consistently is one of the hardest parts of the Christian walk, and it’s a lifelong journey. If doubt about salvation occurs, please know that it’s a normal part of the walk and can be overcome.

This world is filled with evil, and Satan continuously works to shake that faith. We face attacks, criticism, and feelings of shame and unworthiness. Yet, the Bible reveals God’s character, and when we trust in what He has said, there is assurance of salvation.

I’ll share some Scripture that speaks to our salvation under the cut, so as not to flood anyone’s timeline. I hope this can be helpful, beloved!

Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

—Acts 16:30-31 (ESV)

More Scripture of salvation assurance below:

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

—1 John 5:13 (ESV)

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

—Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

—Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

—John 3:16 (ESV)

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!

—Job 19:25-27 (ESV)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

—1 John 1:9 (ESV)

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

—Proverbs 28:13 (ESV)

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

—John 5:24 (ESV)

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

—John 10:27-28 (ESV)

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

—Romans 5:9-10 (ESV)

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

—Romans 8:16-17 (ESV)

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

—Romans 8:28-30 (ESV)

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

—2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

—Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV)

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

—Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.

—2 Timothy 1:12 (ESV)

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

—Titus 3:4-7 (ESV)

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

—Hebrews 7:25 (ESV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

—1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV)

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

—1 John 3:1-3 (ESV)

[walkswithmyfather]

John 3:16-21 (ESV). [16] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. [18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. [19] And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. [20] For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. [21] But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

“Responding to God’s Love” By In Touch Ministries:

“Have you accepted God's free gift of salvation?”

“God is love. Most likely, we’ve heard these words, but do we really understand what they mean? John 3:16 tells us: Because the Father deeply loves us, He sent His Son in human flesh to live on earth and to save us by dying. This is no shallow love.

Some people question Jesus’ sacrifice, though. They think, Certainly the Lord could have come up with a different way to offer salvation. He is God, so shouldn’t He be able to do all things? They fail to consider two of His unchangeable attributes.

First, God is holy by nature. This means He cannot look upon sin with approval. Second, He is just. As a result, all wrongdoing—without exception—must be dealt with (Romans 6:23).

We all fall short of God’s perfect holiness (Romans 3:23). But our heavenly Father desires an everlasting relationship with us, so He provided the solution by sending His Son Jesus here to live as a man and then die on the cross. This is the ultimate expression of love. As 1 John 4:10 states, “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.”

Have you accepted God’s free gift of salvation? How do you choose to respond to His amazing love?”

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

For God So Loved

16 God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. — John 3:16-17 | God's Word Translation (GWT) The Holy Bible, God’s Word® Translation Copyright 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations Mission. All rights reserved. Cross References: Genesis 22:2; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:18; John 3:18; John 3:34; John 3:36; John 3:40; John 5:36; John 5:38; John 6:29; John 6:38; John 6:57; John 7:29; John 11:25

Read full chapter

Thoughts on Today's Verses… God is not the big Scrooge in the sky, critically looking down on his flawed children waiting to condemn those who mess up. Instead, he saw how broken, flawed, and messed up we were and entered our world to save it… to save us. God's purpose in sending Jesus is our life and our salvation.

The Thoughts on Today's Verses are written by Phil Ware.

[scribeforchrist-blog]

Stay Close To the Shepherd

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK

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+ Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man

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VERSE OF THE DAY

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+ Matthew 15:24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

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** SAY THIS BEFORE YOU READ; HERE’S SOME CHRISTIAN TRUTHS **

I AM LISTENING TO MY SHEPHERD

I AM HOLY

I AM PRAISING GOD

I AM NOT BLINDED BUT I SEE

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READ TIME: 7 Minutes & 8 Seconds

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THOUGHTS:

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   The lord was sent for the lost. Many of us started as lost sheep in the world, and we didn’t know we needed him. Some of us didn’t know or realize we needed him, and he was sent here to save us from our mistakes.

he said several times about being a shepherd in the Word; for instance, he said in

    •John 10:7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.

 

  •John 10:16 16 I have other sheep not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They, too, will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

 

•John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

•John 10:15 Just as the father knows me and I know the Father, I lay down my life for the sheep.

 •John 10:14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me,

  We are his sheep. When we truly follow him, he becomes our shepherd. In these verse, Jesus said if he had 99 sheep, he would still go find the one , no matter how lost you are, always remember that Jesus is your shepherd; he came back for the lost sheep, that your special to him a lot of people don’t like to talk about the love of Jesus but he loved us so much that he gave his life to us so that we may be saved so that we may have a chance to heaven .

When a shepherd over see a pasture he doesn’t look over a couple of them he doesn’t just watch them he protects them from the enemy and a lot of allow the enemy into our environment by not staying close to our shepherd a lot of us are not reading our word feeding our selves the things of the spirit, but in order to stay protected we must stay near our shepherd and follow him where ever he go. Reading the word of God praying mediating , praise theses things are mandatory to stay prepared for what the enemy tries to do in our season .

  Luke 15:5-7 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep. ‘I tell you that in the same way, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

  A lot of us shun people who are not of the fold, and we think that because we are saved, God can't save some people because of their sins, and that’s not true. Jesus came back to save the lost, and we need more people talking about salvation than money. We need more people talking about deliverance than the money. We need more people talking about their relationship with God than gifts; sure, gifts are good to talk about, and sure, we need more money, but we are losing what is our true calling and it’s to save the lost sheep. The word says the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.

  Psalm 100:3-4 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

 The Lord Is reasonable, and we are his sheep and pasture; we must enter the gates with thanksgiving. We must always praise the lord. Some of us are saved and won’t praise him for being who he is to us and how he sent his son to be our savior. Some of us won’t praise him for what he did for us, and some of us won’t praise him for what He is trying to do for us, but we are his sheep, and this is what He is asking us to do, to worship him in spirit and truth. Our praise is our deliverance and will help our breakthrough; some of us are wondering why we haven’t been delivered. Have you praised him? Some of you are wondering why we are feeling anxious along with the spirit of doubt, and the spirit of anxiety is because we won’t release our praise!

 Isaiah 25:1 Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago

  For God has done wonderful things for us, a lot of us forgot what the lord has done for us; some of us wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the lord; we must praise him even for that; we were created to praise Him. Because he’s our shepherd, we must follow and obey him; a lot of us get lost in what’s happening to us then, by praying through it, the Holy Spirit is saying in this season that you're in, he wants us to pray and praise. Many of us forget how to do both when we are going through, but don’t allow the enemy to make you forget what your weapon is.

  ***Today, we learned that Jesus is our shepherd and that we must praise him for leading us and guiding us. Many of us have not praised him because we have never tried, but when we praise Him, we are thanking him for the hard times and the good times.

   Psalm 9:1 I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

  We must learn how to give thanks for everything, not just for the good; we must do it for the bad too , because the bad times will teach us how to appreciate the good days to come; some of us don’t render praise because we are so blinded by what’s happening that we don’t see how the enemy is making us think we have nothing to praise him for when we do, We must learn a lot about praise, but we must be ready to learn and praise God for it all. ©Seer~ Prophetess Lee

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PRAYER

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Heavenly Father, we thank you for everything, both good and bad. Lord, we praise and thank you for your actions in our lives. Lord, lead and guide us through our tough times; lord, we praise you for what you're doing and what you're going to do! Lord, forgive us of the sins we have done; lord, we ask you that you help us apply this word to our lives; in Jesus Name, Amen

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REFERENCES

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+ Psalm 145:3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

 

+ Psalm 42:11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

 

+ Psalm 71:8 My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.

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FURTHER READINGS

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 Proverbs 28

Matthew 22

Mark 9

Zechariah 1

Daniel 7

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[anastpaul]

One Minute Reflection – 9 November – “The Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory” – Dedication of The Archbasilica of the Most Holy Saviour – Apocalypse 21:2-5, Luke 19:1-10 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/ “ … He climbed up into a sycamore tree that he might see Him …” – Luke 19:2 REFLECTION – “I’m writing with the desire to see you, a bold and good shepherd, pasturing and guiding the sheep entrusted to you with perfect zeal and thus, imitating the sweet Master of Truth, Who gave His life for us who are His sheep, who have strayed away from the path of grace. True…, we cannot do this without God and we cannot possess God while remaining on earth. But here is a sweet remedy – when our hearts are reduced to nothing and feeling small, we must do as Zacchaeus did. He was not tall and he climbed a tree to see God. This zeal of his, allowed him to hear these sweet words: “Zacchaeus, go home, for I must dine with you today.” We must do this too, when we are feeling low, when our hearts are constricted and lacking in charity. We must climb the tree of the most holy Cross and there, we shall see, we shall touch God. There we shall find the fire of His inexpressible charity, the love that propelled Him, even to the humiliation of the Cross that raised Him up and made Him desire His Father’s honour and our salvation, with the craving of hunger and thirst… If this is what we want, if our carelessness does not get in the way, we can, in mounting the tree of the Cross, fulfill in ourselves, this word issuing from the mouth of Truth: “When I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw all things to Myself” (Jn 12,32 Vg). Indeed, when the soul is thus raised up, it sees the blessings of the Father’s goodness and power…, it sees the mercy and lavishness of the Holy Ghost, that is to say, the inexpressible love holding Jesus bound to the wood of the Cross. Nails and bonds cannot hold Him there, only charity… O climb this most holy tree where hang, the ripe fruits of all the virtues which the Body of the Son of God bears, ardently hasten. Dwell within the holy and sweet love of God. O sweet Jesus, Jesus love.” – St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)  (Letter 119, to the prior of the Olivetan Monks).

(via One Minute Reflection – 9 November – ‘ … We must do this too, when we are feeling low … ‘ – AnaStpaul)

[angelique-fireheart]

In Touch Bible Study Notes "Overcoming Inadequacy" 08/12/2024

"At one time or another, we've all dealt with feelings of inadequacy. Maybe it's because we lost our temper with our spouse, missed an important work deadline, or were too afraid to say yes to an opportunity at church. How did you feel afterwards? Maybe you were frustrated with yourself or felt as if you didn't measure up. In today's passage, Paul asks a question that points to this common insecurity. "Who is adequate for these things?" (v. 16)

Here's the good news: We are inadequate--but God isn't. And when we trust Him as our Lord and Savior, we become His children and He gives us His righteousness (John 1:12; 2 Corinthians 5:21) He empowers us and has promised to lead us "in triumph in Christ" (2:14). But unless we believe Him and step out in faith, we'll never experience the life He has planned for us.

Feeling inadequate isn't a sin, but using inadequacy as an excuse is. When God calls us to do something that feels beyond our abilities, we have two choices: We can focus on Christ and proceed in triumph or focus on ourselves and withdraw in defeat. It's really a matter of faith. God will always empower us to do what He asks us to accomplish. This doesn't mean we'll do everything perfectly, but each step of obedience is a victory that He will bless. (Psalm 128:1-2)."

My thoughts on this study are as follows:

It's okay to feel like we aren't enough. We are only human, and as such, we have emotions. But not allowing ourself to be the best we can be because we use that as the above study shows, "as an excuse," that is wrong. God has given us the power to do everything He set in our heart. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus. We are inadequate, but we serve THE God of the Universe. He created everything, and us too. He gave us His Son, His only Son, Jesus, so that we may be able to be saved from our sin. Hell is a very real place, and unless we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, and believe that He lived, died, and rose from the Grave so that He goes on living even today, for our Salvation, then we are just another one among the lost. We also have a given responsibility, and that is to share the Gospel with as many as we can, so they can experience the joy we do, and so they can know Jesus as well. God thought we were enough. He made us and decided to keep us. He loves us so much more than we can ever understand. So we should never think we aren't enough. We are.

Verses read:

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: to the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:14-17 KJV

But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 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.

John 1:12-14 KJV

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, by ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

2nd Corinthians 5:20-21 KJV

Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; That walketh in His ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

Psalm 128:1-2 KJV

[wisdomfish]

Christ himself, who is to be sure "the unspeakable gift" of God; who, though his Son, his own Son, his only begotten Son, the Son of his love, his Son and heir, yet he gave him to be a covenant to the people, the head of his church, the Savior of sinners, and to be a sacrifice in their room and stead: none can tell how great this gift is, which is so suitable and seasonable, so large and comprehensive, nor declare the love both of the Father and the Son, expressed in it. Thankful we should be for it; and our thankfulness should be shown by highly prizing and valuing this gift; by laying the whole stress of our salvation on Christ; by ascribing all the glory of it to him; by giving up ourselves to him, and to his interest. ~ John Gill

[livingfortheheartofchrist]

•“For the Lord is our Judge,

•the Lord is our Lawgiver,

•the Lord is our King.

•He w̳i̳l̳l̳ save us.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭33‬:‭22‬ ‭

(“Triumph of Christianity over paganism” Gustave Doré - Oil on canvas - 1899)

[orthodoxadventure]

Our Lord is boundless, and His love is ineffable. We should approach Him openheartedly and be with Him at all times, for He is with us constantly. He is the moving force of our life and wants us to understand His mind. All of His life here on earth among men was a natural life, accessible to us. He said that He was Love and explained to us that God so loved the world that He gave His Only-begotten Son for the salvation of man (cf. John 3:16). He revealed a great mystery to us, made many things known to us. He made us higher than all other creatures. Human nature, made higher than all of creation, entered into the mystery of the Holy and Life creating Trinity.

Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives

[traumacatholic]

May I have a prayer or two? For safety and to be protected from deceivers. I'm staying in a hotel away from family for a few days and I'm trying to help a friend out but I'm worried that they may try to take advantage of me but I don't want to abandon or push them away.

Of course, may God bless and protect you. I have attached some prayers under the readmore that you might find beneficial.

Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Saint Patrick's Breastplate Prayer

The full prayer can be found here: https://parish.rcdow.org.uk/greenford/wp-content/uploads/sites/127/2020/03/St-Patricks-Breastplate.pdf

But I often see it shortened to this part, so it comes down to personal preference how much of the prayer you want to say

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me

A Prayer in Time of Attack

O Lord, our God, pre-existing before all ages and remaining forever; who are as great in compassion as you are in uncontainable power; who because of your ineffable mercy bowed the heavens, came down on earth and became man for the salvation of sinners; who put on and immortalized our nature and ascended with it to the place from which you descended; hear from heaven and become merciful to all those who cry out to you with a broken heart. You, O Master of all, lend you ear and hear us. We know your undefeatable love for your creation and your inexhaustible goodness. Hence, we throw ourselves into the ocean of your compassions and entreat you: turn not your face from us nor cast us away from your countenance neither hand us over to those who are so furiously attacking us. Look upon us with your compassionate eye. Show us how to rise above both the visible and invisible enemies. Place in us a power from on high; encompass us with your almighty right hand; keep us under the protection of your wings; fortify us with love for one another and grant us unshakable peace. But before all and above all, instill in us your fear and your love that your holy name may also be glorified in us. Upon you alone we look, on you alone we have placed our hopes, and to you we send up the glory, together with your Father, who is without beginning, and the life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Cross

Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered; and let those who hate Him flee from His presence. As smoke vanishes, let them vanish; and as wax melts from the presence of fire, so let demons perish from the presence of those who love God and who sign themselves with the sign of the Cross and say in gladness: Hail, most precious and life-giving Cross of the Lord, for Thou drivest away the demons by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ crucified on thee, Who went down to hades and trampled on the power of the devil, and gave us thee, his venerable Cross, for driving away all enemies. O most precious and life-giving Cross of the Lord, help me, with our Holy Lady, the Virgin Mother of God, and with all the Saints throughout the ages. Amen.

Prayer Before Sleep

Beneath your compassion we seek refuge, Theotokos. Do not overlook our prayers, but deliver us from danger, only pure and blessed one. My hope is the Father; my refuge, the Son; my protection, the Holy Spirit. Holy Trinity, glory to you. I place all my hope in you, Mother of God. Keep me under your protection. Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy and save us. Amen.

Under the protection of your wings I shall be covered and fall asleep, for in you only, Lord, does my hope lie. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my soul and my body. Do bless me, do have mercy on me, and grant me eternal life. Amen.

Protection Prayer

Jesus, I will arise. Jesus, do thou accompany me. Jesus, do thou lock my heart into thine and let my body and my soul be commended unto thee. The Lord is crucified. May God guard and protect my senses so that misfortunes may not overcome me. In the name of God, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer Against Every Evil

Spirit of our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Most Holy Trinity, Immaculate Virgin Mary, angels, archangels, and saints of heaven, descend upon me. Please purify me, Lord, mold me, fill me with yourself, use me. Banish all the forces of evil from me, destroy them, defeat them, so that I can be healthy and do good deeds. Banish from me all spells, witchcraft, black magic, evil spells, ties, curses, and the evil eye; diabolic infestations, oppressions, possessions; all that is evil and sinful, jealousy, deceitfulness, envy; physical, psychological, moral, spiritual and diabolical ailments. Burn all these evils in hell, that they may never again touch me or any other creature in the entire world. I command and bid all the powers who assault me—by the power of God all-powerful, in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior. Through the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary–to leave me forever, and to be consigned into the everlasting hell where they will be bound by Saint Michael the archangel, Saint Gabriel, Saint Raphael, our guardian angels, and where they will be crushed under the heel of the Immaculate Virgin Mary.

Prayer to Your Guardian Angel

O Holy Angel, who stand by my wretched soul and my passionate life: do not abandon me, a sinner, neither depart from me because of my lack of self-control. Leave no room for the evil demon to gain control of me through the violence of this mortal body. Strengthen my weak and feeble hand, and instruct me in the path of salvation. O holy Angel of God, the guardian and protector of my wretched soul and body: forgive all the sorrows I have caused you, every day of my life. If I have sinned in this past night, protect me during this day. Keep me from every adverse temptation, that I may not anger God by any sin. Pray to the Lord for me, that He may establish me in His fear and make me, His servant, worthy of His goodness. Amen.

[momentsbeforemass]

Why did Jesus have to die?

Today’s Gospel is John 3:16 - “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.”

It’s beautiful. But it also begs a question, one that I struggle with. Why did Jesus have to die?

When you ask why Jesus had to die, once you get past the basics (“Christ was killed for us, His death washed out our sins, and that by dying He disabled death itself.” – C.S. Lewis), the usual responses get into theories about how salvation works. Things like atonement, forgiveness, suffering, sin, reconciliation, etc.

Important stuff, to be sure. But it really doesn’t answer the question.

Why did Jesus have to die?

That is, if God is God, then God can do anything (that’s part of what it means to be God). So, couldn’t God have done it some other way?

The answer is an unqualified yes.

Then why didn’t God do it some other way?

The best answer that I have found (by “best,” I mean most unsettling, most disruptive to the preconceived notions and limits that I am way too comfortable putting on God’s love) comes from St. Isaac of Syrian.

“Not that God was unable to save us in another way, but in this way it was possible to show us His abundant love abundantly, namely, by bringing us near to Him by the death of His Son.

If God had anything more dear to Him, He would have given it to us.”

That last sentence is everything.

Through the greatest example possible (the way of salvation for all of humanity). One which is at the same moment the most personal example possible (because God would have done exactly the same thing if you or I were the only ones who needed to be saved). God shows us what love truly means.

Love is not an exchange. If it’s a transaction, it’s not love.

Love is not measured. If it’s limited, it’s not love.

To truly love, as God loves (the One whose very nature is love), means not counting the cost.

This is how you and I are called to love.

Because this is the love that God has for you.

Today’s Readings

[thoughtfulfoxllama]

A member of our Stake Council was doing Stake Announcements today, and he gave a quote from Pres Snow

“God has fulfilled His promises to us, and our prospects are grand and glorious. Yes, in the next life we will have our wives, and our sons and daughters. If we do not get them all at once, we will have them some time, for every knee shall bow and every tongue shallo confess that Jesus is the Christ. You that are mourning about your children straying away will have your sons and your daughters. If you succeed in passing through these trials and afflictions and recieve a resurrection, you will, by the power of the Priesthood, work and labor, as the Son of God has, until you get all your sons and daughters in the path of exaltation and glory…. Therefore, mourn not because all your sons and daughters do not follow in the path that you have marked out to them, or give heed to your counsels. Inasmuch as we succeed in securing eternal glory, and stand as saviors, and as kings and priests to our God, we will save our posterity.” Lorenzo Snow – The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, p 195

I love this quote for a huge number of reasons. I love it because in just a few words, it tells you everything about the hereafter we need to know:

Nature of Relationships- Relationships are of endless importance. So much that we will have our loved ones with us. Elder Holland said what without Pat, heaven wouldn't be heaven (and approaching my 1 Year Anniversary, I can testify that, despite occasional disagreements and annoyances, even paradise would be a Lone & Dreary place without my wife)

Nature of God- God is not cruel, but loving. He wants all his children to be happy, and will give us chances to keep improving until we are where we want to be, with the people we want to be with

Nature of Exaltation- Spirit Adoption made more sense to me than Viviparous Birth. But regardless, part of the Station of Godhood is parenthood. I believe that President Snow is speaking not only of our Mortal Children, but our Spirit Children. We will know the Joy of seeing our children improve, of reaching your station. I believe firmly that the role of a parent is to make sure your children surpass you. While we cannot surpass God in power & authority, as we become more like him, we can eventually match him in creativity, in love, in joy, and in wisdom

Nature of Agency- The Plan of Salvation was about Agency. Lucifer sought to destroy our Agency so that "not one would be lost." How does this match with what Pres Snow said? It is not an issue of ends, but means. Mankind, I believe, will gravitate towards the Celestial Kingdom, as we are the Children of God (and God is Love). However, Mortality is an inherently Traumatic Experience, where we are blinded to our true nature. God's Plan was to let us become who we are on our terms (because he knew we would all eventually be okay), Lucifer's was to force the process (which would, ironically, not make us Celestial at all)