GREENE STREET LETTERS

Saturday, June 10, 2017

Romans 5:1

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ..

Within what is perceived as Christianity today, there are some words and terms that have fallen out of favor.
We no longer need them because we have moved beyond to a new awareness. Or so we think.

What are these words?
Hell.
Sin.
Sanctification.
Reconciliation

and
JUSTIFICATION!

Justified! What an amazing word.

Made Right.

Innocent.
Put in Right Standing.

Not by our own works or way. Not by our intellect and the ability to solve problems. Not by our image or interaction with others. Not by how much we give to the church or to the poor. Not by how many conferences we attended or even how spiritual we may appear.

Not by our Christian t-shirts or even the fact that we have that fish on the bumper of our car.

(IF we are truly bold witnesses, we will have the Greek letters inside the fish)

Justified....made right by the blood of Jesus the Christ.

It is my faith in Christ and the work He accomplished on Calvary that justifies me before God.

It is the shed blood of Jesus that allows God to even look at me. If not for the blood, I am lost.

IF not for the blood of Jesus, mankind stands condemned before almighty God.

I know this in my head, but when I consider what He has done for me, I am overcome.

By faith (my relying on, clinging to and trusting in Christ) I am laid hold of by God.

Claimed as His possession.
Bought with a price.

Romans 4:24-25

"It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification."
I am broke free from the slavery, bondage and ways of this world, and transplanted into God's kingdom.

What is God's Kingdom?
Wherever His rule and reign are being carried out and obeyed in the hearts of people.

That is why the Apostle Paul said that the world is crucified to him (dead) and he is crucified to the world.

The world had nothing to offer Paul.

Paul had a mission, just as Christ has given each of us a mission.
There is someone out there who needs to hear our story.
There is someone out there who needs this justification that God offers.
To be made in right standing with God.
God is no longer an enemy to you, but becomes your source of strength and life.

Justified.

Receive.
Believe.

Don't be deceived.

God on you....

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Looking At The World Through Cracked Lens

As ol' Paul wrote in his Corinthian letters.."We see in part and we know in part." Now what piece of this bit of wisdom do we not get? I wish to not run around acting and trying to be some sort of Biblical G00-Ru (I meant to spell it wrong). Or a sage of sages.

I simply want to be able to communicate some of what God has given to me. Why? Do I think what I get is better than what you may have received from Him? Nope. But I do think encouragement comes when we share our daily story of struggle and victory in an effort to encourage each other.

Thanks for letting me share.

Time to soldier on..

mbb

Our Statement of Faith

We believe that God is the eternal king. He is an infinite, unchangeable Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, goodness, justice, power and love. From all eternity He exists as the One Living and True God in three persons of one substance, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit equal in power and glory. we believe that God created mankind in His image, male and female, for relationship with Himself and to govern the earth. Under the temptation of Satan, our original parents fell from grace, bringing sin, sickness and God's judgment of death to the earth. Through the fall, Satan and his demonic hosts gained access to God's good creation. Creation now experiences the consequences and effects of Adam's original sin. Human beings are born into sin, subject to God's judgment of death and captive to Satan's kingdom of darkness. We believe that Jesus, God's Son, was sent to this world, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, Mary, fully God and fully man in one person. He is humanity as God intended us to be. Jesus was anointed as God's Messiah and empowered by the Holy Spirit, ushering in God's kingdom reign on earth, overpowering the reign of Satan by resisting temptation, preaching the good news of salvation, healing the sick, casting out demons and raising the dead. Jesus' atoning death on the cross took God's judgment for sin which we deserved as law-breakers. Jesus' resurrection and ascent back to heaven opened the door for those who received salvation to begin a relationship with God.

Little Nets Into Deep Waters

Fishing nets were designed for one purpose only. To catch fish. Nets are no good if they stay on the boat. Nets serve no purpose if they are never used. I think maybe God sees us this way. We are all created for a purpose (by the way, the creator gets to define what our purpose is). Any other use besides the one we were created for does us no good. But when the creator places His hands upon us, casting us out into those scary, dark places with deep waters, it is then we can see the reality of our purpose. He knew there would be a catch waiting for us. I think I will be the net God has called me to be.

The Twelve Steps

As a community of people in recovery, we affirm that our higher power is Jesus Christ. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Just as God told the children of Israel He was going to give them a promised land, He has revealed to us that He desires to give us a "Promised Life." When Israel got to the promised land, God instructed them to go and in a possess it, fight for it and claim it. In recovery, the 12 Steps are the directions given to us on how to fight, possess and claim this promised life.

Saturday, June 10, 2017

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THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD