Richard Craig, Author at GraceAndWorks - Page 57 of 59

This is evidence of the righteous judgement of God, that you may be made worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which you are suffering–since indeed God deems it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant rest with us to you who are afflicted, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty Angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. They shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might, when He comes on that day to be glorified in His Saints, and to be marveled at in all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His call, and may fulfill every good resolve and work of FAITH to His power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the Grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

SMILE God loves YOU!!! Have a good day all.

There is ONE body and ONE Spirit,  just as you were called to ONE hope that belongs to your call, ONE Lord, ONE FAITH, ONE baptism, ONE God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

For this very reason make every effort to supplement your FAITH with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these things are yours and abound, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in Heaven for you, who by God’s power are guarded through FAITH for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your FAITH, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may rebound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Without having seen Him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. As the outcome of your FAITH you obtain the salvation of your souls.

But some will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your FAITH apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my FAITH. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe–and shutter. Do you want to be shown, you foolish fellow, that FAITH apart from works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? You see that FAITH was active along with his works, and FAITH was completed by works, and the scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness”; and he was called the friend of God.

Honor widows who are real widows. If a widower has children or grandchildren, let them first learn their religious duty to their own family and make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. She who is a real widow, and is left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day; whereas she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. Command this, so that they may be without reproach. If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially his own family, he has DISOWNED THE FAITH and is worse than an unbeliever.

Finally brethren , pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed on and triumph, as it did among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not all have FAITH. But THE LORD IS FAITHFUL; He will strengthen you and guard you from evil. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things which we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

SMILE God loves YOU!!

Have a good day all.

Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the Gospel of peace; above all taking the SHIELD of FAITH, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD of GOD. Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.