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Is belief necessary for salvation?

Is belief necessary for salvation?
Author of The Missing Gospel of Modern Christianity
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)
… whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:15-16)
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:18)
… these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:31)
But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. (Acts 4:4)
Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul . . . (Acts 4:32)
But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. (Acts 8:12)
… a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. (Acts 14:1-2)
For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’ (Romans 4:3)
Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. (1 Corinthians 15:11)
For we who have believed enter that rest . . . (Hebrews 4:3)
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)
I have sometimes thought when I have heard addresses from some revival brethren who had kept on saying time after time, ‘Believe, believe, believe,’ that I should like to have known for myself what it was we were to believe in order to our salvation. There is, I fear a great deal of vagueness and crudeness about this matter.3
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Abortion. Do little lives matter?

Abortion. Do little lives matter?
Can you make a difference?
“Hi Jude, I don’t know if you remember me, but we had met at the abortion clinic I was about to abort my baby and I saw you and your friends of your church there and after talking to you and one of your friends I had decided not to and we had found out this past Monday that we were going to be having a girl and now I believe I’m 17 weeks and me and my husband are so thrilled because we have three boys and we only had one girl and he had been praying for a girl and I can’t be more thankful for you and your friends for saving my baby because I constantly think if I would’ve had the abortion we wouldn’t be this thrilled to be expecting our baby girl in October and he’s very excited so I just want to thank you and let you know that not a day goes by that I constantly don’t think about you and what you did for me. Thank you so much God bless you.”
What can you do to help?
Questions often arise from those viewing the ministry at abortion centers, such as:
- Videos provide a witness to any criminal activity aimed at them. As you might have seen, a gun was drawn on one of our friends a couple of months ago at the Fort Worth abortion center. Police can use the footage if needed.
- Most law enforcement officers do an excellent job of keeping the peace and performing their job in a just manner. However, on rare occasions, an officer will make an unjust command for the Christians to stop speaking and even write a citation for doing so (as was the case last month in Dallas). Fortunately, that entire episode was recorded and will hopefully be used in court.
- Many of those arriving to have an abortion are hoping to end the life within them in secrecy. However, when they arrive and see witnesses in the parking lot, some even with cameras, it is hoped that the exposure might cause them to pause and reconsider their decision.
- Videos also allow multitudes of Christians who never have gone to the abortion mills to be exposed to the realities of abortion. Think about it; except for a few volunteers with their phone cameras at these facilities, there is no media attention given to the 3300 innocent babies who are murdered each day in the U.S. The hope is that more people will be made more aware of the atrocities being committed, and take steps to help, volunteer, educate, and pray that abortion is abolished.
- Planned Parenthood Dallas
- Southwestern Women’s Surgery Center Dallas
- Whole Women’s Health Fort Worth
- Planned Parenthood Fort Worth
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10 Ways to Keep COVID from Causing Conflict in Church

10 Ways to Keep COVID from Causing Conflict in Church
By Trey Talley
Author of The Missing Gospel of Modern Christianity
The world, our country, states, governors, politicians, medical experts, news outlets, and social media are all divided over how to righty respond to COVID-19. Some people believe that the COVID-19 response from the world has been a massive overreach, while others might think that it was not nearly strict enough. Some think we should get back to life as usual ASAP, while others would prefer to keep stringent measures of isolation in place for the foreseeable future.
One thing seems to be for sure, everyone seems to have an opinion on the matter. Now it is one thing to watch the politicians and medical experts aggressively fighting each other about how we should all be responding to COVID-19, but what will you do to avoid the fighting from flowing into your church? Will tempers flare? Will friendships be lost. Will your church divide?
COVID-19 appears to be on the decline, and the world on its way to recovery; however, the damage done to the unity of your church could last much longer. How could this be? I mean, after all, as Christians, we are all part of the body of Christ. We have the same salvation, same Savior, the same indwelling of the Holy Spirit, etc. As Christians, we are even commanded by God to be patient, peaceful, and understanding people, who strive to live at peace with one another. However, sometimes, even Christians are caught off guard by controversies and how to handle them correctly.
While much more could be said, hopefully, these practical steps will help you to keep peace within your church.
1. Close your mouth.
“Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.” (2 Timothy 2:23)
2. Love others even if it hurts.
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:7)
3. Be a peacekeeper.
“Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (2 Corinthians 13:11)
4. Honor one another, even if you disagree.
“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10)
5. Be a good listener.
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20)
6. You don’t have to talk about COVID.
“When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.” (Proverbs 10:19)
7. Strive to keep harmony.
“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:5-6)
8. Be quick to forgive.
“Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21-22)
9. Be kind.
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)
10. Don’t let your anger grow.
“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:26-27)
As your local congregation begins to come back together, do all that you can do to keep the unity of peace that is found in Jesus Christ. Remember, who you are and how God has called you to live. Love God and love His children.
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