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As most of us are probably aware, there are very, very few “Unitarian Christians” in the world; i.e., Christians who recognize that Almighty God is only one person - our heavenly Father, Yahweh. In fact, the only belief that almost all mainstream churches agree on is that God is not one person, but rather that He is “three persons in one Godhead”.

As a result, the number of Unitarian Christians around the world is extremely limited - Unitarians presumably account for (much) less than 1% of all Christians. Therefore, in my opinion, it is very important for Unitarians to be able to fellowship with each other; even if we have disagreements about other issues.

by Joseph

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I found a article by way of an Answers in Genesis (AIG) post, in facebook, that I though might be of interest for a few areas of discussion for a blog post…

click here

1. Should AIG limit their website practice to Creation Science and the Biblical aspects of Science only?

2. Does AIG’s statement of faith reflect the truth of the Bible?

3. Does the AIG article give a fair presentation of how Christianity is portrayed in the Bible?

Thoughts?

It is a common assumption among both Christians and non-Christians that “faith” is some kind of mystical quality that enables us to believe in things that have little or no foundation.  It is commonly referred to as “blind faith.”  In a recent discussion on his late night talk show, Craig Ferguson made the following observation:

I always feel that people who are certain give me a problem. And I’ll tell you what I mean by that: people who say “I absolutely know what God wants.” And I say, “Well, if you absolutely know about God–that He exists and you know what He wants, and you know all this stuff, then you don’t need faith. Because faith is only for people who experience doubt. Because if you have no doubt, then you can’t have faith. You have certainty. Or…pathology. In order to experience faith, it is necessary for you to experience doubt.

“Give thanks to the LORD, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” ‘And when they began singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed.” 2 Chronicles 20:21b-22.

This story about God’s divine rescue of King Jehoshaphat & the people of Judah found in 2 Chronicles 20, is probably one of my all-time favorites of the Bible. I love it, because it sets up the scene of a completely impossible situation; circumstances that are out of their control; facing a reality which overwhelmingly spells doom and gloom for God’s people. In fact, the situation is so dire, that King Jehoshaphat was afraid and proclaims a fast throughout the land. 2 Chron. 20:3 states that the King ‘turned his attention to seek the LORD,’ and in the following verses, we can find Jehoshaphat and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, praising and worshiping God.

Thanksgiving. It’s a holiday about family, food and football. Or so most kids think. And sadly, many grown-ups, too!

Recently, as a carpool mom, one little boy sat in my car and mentioned how BORING the teaching on Thanksgiving was at school. “They teach the same thing, every year!” he lamented. “They teach about Squanto and the Pilgrims. And all the Indians had to do was to bring the deer, but the Pilgrims had to cook for days ahead of the feast!” I had to chuckle, because some Thanksgiving holidays, that’s all it seems to be to me, too. As wife and mother, I labor for hours in the kitchen the day of Thanksgiving, and often days before it, preparing a feast of delectable foods, while my husband watches football and the kids play and complain boisterously, “Do we HAVE to eat DRESSING this year?!” And I retort back, “Yes! It’s not Thanksgiving without dressing!”

I’d just like to take a little time to recognize our supernatural miracle working God and Father.  First He is our Father because of a miracle…

Mat 1:18  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
 

So our very relationship with God is a miracle!

Another miracle that stands out to me is this one…

I am doing a lot of thinking of the Pauline phrase “in Christ” (ἐν Χριστῷ). The people of the New Covenant are said to be again and again “in Christ” or one of the many variations. The picture given in Greek is a circle where the people of God are entering into. The circle is characterized by the messianic title Christ, which we all know denotes the anointed king of God’s kingdom. It seems that Paul wants to portray a reality that those who are in Christ are somewhat represented by the one man Jesus, in particular with his kingly role. A good bit of evidence can be found in the Old Testament of David the king (called the anointed one at times) who is depicted as actually representing the people of God in a way unparalleled to other Old Testament individuals. Consider the following:
(1) Isaiah 55:1, 3
Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost…Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful mercies shown to David.

Here is the link: http://www.timberlandbiblechurch.org/audio/dustin’s%20personal%20mp3s/romansaudio5.mp3

Again, please don’t comment unless you listened to the teaching. Enjoy! 

 

Summary

4:1-8 - Abraham’s faith - believing the promise.

4:9-15 - Not by circumcision and not by Torah.

4:16-17 - The whole family, according to the promise.

4:18-25 - God gives life to the dead and the meaning of Christian faith.

 

Chapter 4

Should be read in the same argument with 3:21-31. It should be taken as a single argument. Notice how chapter 4 will ultimately answer what 3:21 begins to ask:

“But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets”

Sorry that the file is in .wma. Feel free to convert it if you wish (long story).

http://www.timberlandbiblechurch.org/audio/dustin’s%20personal%20mp3s/romansaudio4.wma

Here are the notes:

Summary

3:1-8 - Questions which are raised based on what Paul has just said about being Jewish and having circumcision. 

3:9-20 - Citations from the OT concerning the witness within Torah that Jews are just a guilty as everyone else (due to their faithlessness).

3:21-31 - Christ reveals God’s faithfulness

 

(PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NIV HORRIBLY TRANSLATES THE GREEK IN THIS CHAPTER, I RECOMMEND THE NASB)

 

5 Questions are raised by Paul

3:1 What is the point of being a Jew? (9:1-5)

3:3 Has Israel’s failure nullified God’s covenant purposes? (9:6-13)

Here is the link: http://www.timberlandbiblechurch.org/audio/dustin’s%20personal%20mp3s/romansaudio3.mp3

Here are the notes:

2:1-16
-Judgment scene
-God’s impartial judgment leaves no room for moral superiority
Remember the role of the judge:
-God will judge evil (2:1-4)

-He will do it impartially (2:6-11)

 2:6
Judgment according to deeds/works
-Quoting Psalm 62:12 and Prov. 24:12.
-This principle was embraced no less by the early Christians (Matt. 16:27, 2 Cor. 5:10, Col. 3:25, 2 Tim. 4:14, 1 Peter 1:17, Rev. 2:23).
-Good works were intended to be understood as THE way of maintaining the covenant status which was instituted by nothing other than grace (Old Covenant was through election of race, New Covenant is through faith in gospel).