Have you been crucified with Christ?

Paul strongly rejects the erroneous conclusion that being justified by faith in Christ actually made Jews sinners, thus painting Christ as a promoter of sin.  Those who attempt to be justified through “the works of the law” are “cursed” (Galatians 3:10).  If anyone attempts to reassert the “works of the law” as having any part in justification before God, the law itself convicts that person of being a transgressor (Galatians 3:19–25).  The law itself is not sinful; its purpose is to convince individuals of their personal spiritual deadness in sin outside of faith in Christ (Romans 7:7–13).

“But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not!  For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.  For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. (Galatians 2:17-19)

Rejoice In the Lord!

The word happiness evokes visions of unwrapping gifts on Christmas morning, strolling hand in hand with the one you love, being surprised on your birthday, responding with unbridled laugher to a comedian, or vacationing in an exotic locale.  Everyone wants to be happy; we make chasing this elusive ideal a lifelong pursuit: spending money, collecting things, and searching for new experiences.  But if happiness depends on our circumstances, what happens when the toys rust, loved ones die, health deteriorates, money is stolen, and the party’s over?  Running deeper and stronger, joy is the quiet, confident assurance of God’s love and work in our lives – that He will be there no matter what!  Happiness depends on happenings, but joy depends on Christ.

Philippians is Paul’s joy letter.  The church in that Macedonian city had been a great encouragement to Paul.  The Philippian believers had enjoyed a very special relationship with Paul, so he wrote them a personal expression of his love and affection.  They had brought him great joy (Philippians 4:1).  Philippians is also a joyful book because it emphasizes the real joy of the Christian life.  The concept of rejoicing or joy appears sixteen times in four chapters, and the pages radiate this positive message, culminating in the exhortation to “Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).

Are You Blessed by God?

In His longest recorded sermon, Jesus began by describing the traits He was looking for in His followers.  He called those who lived out those traits blessed because God had something special in store for them.  Each beatitude is an almost direct contradiction of society's typical way of life.  In the last beatitude, Jesus even points out that a serious effort to develop these traits is bound to create opposition.  The best example of each trait is found in Jesus Himself.  If our goal is to become like Him, the Beatitudes will challenge the way we live each day.

The Gift of Righteousness

Romans 5:8

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)

Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. (Romans 5:9-11)

All three members of the Trinity are involved in salvation.  The Father loved us so much that He sent His Son to bridge the gap between us (John 3:16).  The Father and the Son send the Holy Spirit to fill our lives with love and to enable us to live by His power (Acts 1:8).  With all this loving care, how can we do less than serve Him completely!

Who is The LORD?

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” (Exodus 3:11-13)

Moses made excuses because he felt inadequate for the job God asked him to do (Exodus 3:10). It was natural for him to feel that way. He was inadequate all by himself. But God wasn't asking Moses to work alone. He offered other resources to help (God Himself, Aaron, and the ability to do miracles). God often calls us to tasks that seem too difficult, but He doesn't ask us to do them alone. God offers us His resources, just as He did to Moses. We should not hide behind our inadequacies, as Moses did, but look beyond ourselves to the great resources available. Then we can allow God to use our unique contributions.

Merry Christmas!

I would like to wish all of my blogging friends a MERRY CHRISTMAS.  You have all been a blessing in my life and it is my hope that this blog is a blessing too you. 

May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ always remain the focus of our lives.  In everything we do we will always give God the honor and glory that He so richly deserves.  May God bless each and every one of you with His love, joy, comfort, and peace this coming year.

Humbly I pray for all who are still hurting and suffering that our Lord will touch you with His healing hands and give you comfort and peace just knowing that He is near.

God bless, Lloyd

Thank You Troops and Veterans!

2011 Christmas Lights- Thank You Troops and Veterans! Thanks for Your Votes!

(Please turn off music button on sidebar)

 I must admit that while watching this video it brought tears to my eyes. Being a Vietnam veteran in the U.S. Navy stationed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CVA-43), I was and still am PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN.

I want to thank the Mosey Creek light Display in the Southwood Community of Mosey Creek Lane, Tallahassee, Florida, for this wonderful tribute to our military men, women and veterans during this Christmas Season. God bless you.

Jesus Is Our Advocate!

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)

John uses the address “dear children” in a warm, fatherly way.  He is not talking down to his readers but is showing affection for them.  At this writing, John was a very old man.  He had spent almost all his life in ministry, and many of his readers were indeed his spiritual children.

PM Netanyahu's Christmas Greetings

PM Netanyahu's Christmas Greetings to Israel's Christian citizens and to Christians throughout the world.  (Please turn off music button on sidebar)

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Thank you PM Netanyahu for your Christmas wishes for all Christians around the world. In return, we wish Israel will have God's blessings of peace, joy and happiness and that the aggression against your people will end.

It is interesting to note that the Bible commands us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6), to speak out for Zion’s sake (Isaiah 62:1), to be watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem (Isaiah 62:6) and to bless the Jewish people (Genesis 12:3). These and many other Bible verses have one overriding message - as Christians we have a Biblical obligation to defend Israel and the Jewish people in their time of need.

Let us all join in and lift up our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus all around the world as we celebrate the birth of our Savior and Lord. Amen.

The Olivet Discourse

Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple.  And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” (Matthew 24:1-2)

The discourse of Matthew 23:1-39 had evidently been given in the temple precincts. The first temple, built by Solomon, was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C..  The second temple, built under the encouragement of Haggai and Zechariah and the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua (Hag. 1:1), was completed after considerable delay in 516 B.C..  This second temple was completely and lavishly renovated by Herod the Great.  He began the work around 20 B.C., but the renovations were not completed during the lifetime of Christ (John 2:20).  The work was finally finished in A.D. 64, and the temple stood completed for only six years before it was reduced to rubble by the Romans.

Jesus Saves Sinners!

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:14-17)

When the Israelites were wandering in the desert, God sent a plague of snakes to punish the people for their rebellious attitudes.  Those doomed to die from snakebite could be healed by obeying God's command to look up at the elevated bronze snake and by believing that God would heal them if they did (Numbers 21:8, 9).  Every time the words "lifted up" occur in the Gospel of John there is a reference to Jesus’ death (John 8:28; 12:32, 34).  When Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, those who looked at it lived.  So it is with the Son of Man (John 1:51).  Our salvation happens when we look up to Jesus, believing He will save us.  God has provided this way for us to be healed of sin's deadly bite.

Thanksgiving Day Praise!

I want to take time to thank God for everything that He has done for me, because without His love, mercy, and grace, I would have no hope, joy or peace in this world.

Thank you Lord for dying on the cross for me.

Thank you Lord for my wife, Margaret, three wonderful boys, and lots of grandkids.

Thank you Lord for providing for my family even when things were tough.

Thank you Lord for giving me and my family a loving church home.

Thank you Lord for allowing me to go out and witness in Your name.

Thank you Lord for this Christian Blog and the friendship of other Christian Bloggers.

When I think of how much God has done for me it just humbles me that even though I am a sinner He will never leave me nor forsaken me.  It is my prayer this Thanksgiving Day that everyone that reads this post will experience the love, mercy and grace of God... for without Him we are nothing.  God bless each and every one of you and your families.  

Happy 2nd Anniversary!

It is hard to believe that the Solid Rock or Sinking Sand blog has been up and running now for two years.  My whole idea when I first began blogging was to get the message of Jesus Christ out to folks that needed to hear that God loves them.  And, that God wants them to come to Him just as they are, no matter what is happening in their lives.

The more I searched the internet the more I realized that there was a need for Christian bloggers to put out the truth regarding the Word of God.  There are so many folks out there that are hurting and need to know that Jesus loves them and that He is waiting for them to humble themselves, repent of their sins, and accept Him as their Savior and Lord.

I want to thank all of my followers who have dropped by and made comments on the different posts that are published.  I sincerely appreciate your comments that you leave even if they sometimes do not agree with what I say.

It is my believe that "Unity" in the Christian community is very important and that even though we might disagree on non-essential doctrines, it is important that we come to agreement on the essential doctrines that makes us all members of the family of God.  We need to remember that the "World" is always watching us.

Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart for being a part of my life and a part of Solid Rock or Sinking Sand.    God's blessings to you all.  Lloyd

Worship God in Spirit and Truth

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.  You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.  But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:21-24)

By mentioning the two different worship sites (John 4:20), the woman at the well was perhaps trying to shift the conversation away from the subject of her own sins to theological questions. Or perhaps she realized that she was a sinner (John 4:18), and knew that she was required to offer a sacrifice.

Only Member's of the RCC are SAVED?

I thought it would be interesting to see if all members of the Roman Catholic Church had the same belief as my Christian Brother Michael regarding "Salvation".

Michael is a very outspoken member of the RCC on all doctrines and traditions.  Michael has the Christian blog "BREAD OF LIFE" and just recently posted the following teachings on "WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?"  Click "here" and read what Michael has to say, then let me know what God is saying to you regarding His free gift of Salvation.

Then I want you to answer this simple question:  In your personal opinion, what do you understand it takes for a person to go to Heaven?

Christians must test the Spirits!

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.  By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.  And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.  (1 John 4:1-3)

"Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits" means that we shouldn't believe everything we hear just because someone says it is a message inspired by God.  There are many ways to test teachers to see if their message is truly from the Lord.  One is to check to see if their words match what God says in the Bible (1 John 2:22; 1 Cor. 12:3).  Other tests include their commitment to the body of believers (1 John 2:19), their life-style (1 John 3:23, 24), and the fruit of their ministry (1 John 4:6).  But the most important test of all, says John, is what they believe about Christ.  Do they teach that Jesus is fully God and fully man?  Our world is filled with voices claiming to speak for God.  Give them these tests to see if they are indeed speaking God's truth.

Our Hope is in Jesus!

Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.  (1 Peter 4:1-2)

Some people will do anything to avoid pain.  As followers of Christ, however, we should be willing and prepared to do God's will and to suffer for it if necessary.  Sin loses its power to defeat us in our suffering if we focus on Christ and what He wants us to do.  When our bodies are in pain or our lives are in jeopardy, our real values show up clearly, and sinful pleasures seem less important.  If anyone suffers for doing good and still faithfully obeys in spite of suffering, that person has made a clean break with sin. 

Where was God on 911?

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news on September 11, 2001. Neither will I.

Are You Experiencing God’s Peace and Joy?

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)

These verses introduce a section that contains some difficult concepts. To understand the next four chapters in the book of Romans, it helps to keep in mind the two-sided reality of the Christian life. On the one hand, we are complete in Christ (our acceptance with Him is secured). On the other hand, we are growing in Christ (we are becoming more and more like Him). At one and the same time we have the status of kings and the duties of slaves. We feel both the presence of Christ and the pressure of sin. We enjoy the peace that comes from being made right with God; but we still face daily problems that often help us grow. If we remember these two sides of the Christian life, we will not grow discouraged as we face temptations and problems. In stead, we will learn to depend on the power available to us from Christ, who lives in us by the Holy Spirit.

Suffering for Righteousness Sake

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:14-17)

Since not everything in the world functions as it should, even those who do God’s will may undergo suffering. When Peter said if we should suffer "for righteousness’ sake", he is saying that believers should make certain that when they suffer it is only because they have served God faithfully and not because they have done anything wrong (1 Peter 4:14, 15). Then Peter states, "you are blessed." indicating that God specially honors those who suffer for doing what is right (see Matt. 5:10–12).