Yesterday is finished… No more condemnation! Romans was a letter written by Paul to a group of Spirit-filled Jews living in Rome. They understood the Mosaic Law but it was still debated in the early church. In the first eight chapters, it seems that Paul was looking to clarify a few things about the old covenant, the bonds of sin, and walking in the Spirit under the new covenant. Chapter 1: Begins with greetings then goes on to establish that mankind has deliberately and knowingly turned from God. Choosing instead to delight in evil and follow his own sinful nature. Chapter 2: Warns against hypocrisy in judging others then explains that The Law was really about obedience rather than the letter. Chapter 3: Clearly states that all have sinned before God – whether under law or not (verses 9-12). Likewise, redemption is available to all through Jesus – whether under the law or not. Chapter 4: States that Abraham’s faith was counted unto him as righteousness, before the law was ev...
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Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines
Many of us were brought up on tales of “derring-do” and “stiff-upper-lip”, I suppose these are desirable things but if there is a “hidden hand” bringing peaceful deliverance, I for one would like to work with it! In early 1916, the Royal Flying Corps began regulating training standards, with pupils expected to fly at least 15 hours solo. Unfortunately, the ever-increasing demand for pilots at the front, and a lack of resources at the flying schools, meant some students received insufficient training and arrived at operational squadrons unprepared for combat. Partly because of this, casualties rose sharply and by the spring of 1917 the life expectancy of a new pilot on The Western Front could be measured in weeks. More than half the pilots who died in WW1 were killed in training. The aeroplanes were little more than linen-clad thin strips of wood held together with wire and attached to motorised vehicles. No parachutes, these were considered cowardly. For the Sin...
Any Deadly Thing
“Any Deadly Thing” These are some thoughts on the signs that Jesus spoke of in Mark 16:15-20; signs that would identify a Christian believer. One mentions being safe from “any deadly thing”. A little explanation of this clarifies it nicely. This is the scripture: Mar 16:18 “..... and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them;” In the Strongs Concordance (3056), the Greek word “thing” – in this instance - is logos meaning “ something said or a reasoning ” (see below). So in effect, this sign of a believer allows Christians to safely navigate the chaos and danger of false and deadly ideas, including those found in churchianity and in religious doctrine; and not be harmed. “Nothing shall by any means hurt you” Luke 10:19 indicates that the serpents and scorpions refer to the powers of Satan - in this case scribes and pharisees. The manner of protection from ‘hurt’ is from being ‘unjust’. The scripture below has the greek reference numbers. The one of i...