Walter Kirchbauer’s Post

The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is studying the book of 1 Peter. The thing that separates Christianity from other religions is grace. It is simply God doing something for you with no strings attached. God’s grace is solely motivated by love: deep, abiding, unconditional, sacrificial love. Peter wrote this letter to Christians who were going through various trials. The apostle knew that a severe “fiery trial” was just around the corner, and he wanted to prepare believers for it. God’s message to us is, “Be hopeful! Suffering leads to glory! God can give you all the grace you need to honor Him when the going gets tough! The future is still as bright as the promises of God, so—be hopeful! In our study we have concluded that; It is Jesus Christ who is the source and center of our spiritual unity. If we center our attention and affection on Him, we will walk and work together; if we focus on ourselves, we will only cause division. Unity does not eliminate diversity. The absence of diversity is not unity; it is uniformity, and uniformity is dull. St. Augustine said it perfectly: “In essentials, unity. In nonessentials, liberty. In all things, charity. (love)” If the church is to be an example of how people are to live together as God wants, then we need to do it God’s way under His authority. In other words, we need to submit to God’s authority and do it God’s way. We need to do it for the sake of the lost, the Lord’s sake meaning that we are representatives of Jesus and it’s our responsibility to show the character of God, and for our own sakes, in order for Christians to be optimistic and positive in the face of persecution. #unity #authority #Christians #suffering #persecution #optimistic #positive

By Experience. Pros and Cons of Denominations. By Apostle Edgar Kapanga. The body of Christ has found itself divided yet still claiming to follow The Same God and Christ . A brief history. Christianity,  Judaism and Islam are cut from The same cloth, all are The seeds of Avraham (Abraham) and heirs to The Promises of God to man.  In Christianity/The Faith's of Abraham... We have the Jews in JUDAISM ( Jesus was Jewish) Pros. Follow The traditions of God and the First to see God face to face.  Cons. They believe The Messiah hasn't come ISLAMPros. Traditionalists, committed, invested,  zeal Cons. They dont believe Jesus was Gods Son, God cannot have children, but see him as  prophet, like Mohammed. Christian denominations . PROTESTANT (anglican, Methodist etc)Pros. Stick to The word, traditionalists. Few controversies.  Known figures include Desmond Tutu. Cons. They do not flow in the gifts of The Holy Spirit though they acknowledge them. CATHOLICSPros. Keepers of knowledge and history of The church. Traditionalists, biggest following. Cons. Dont flow in the gifts of The Holy Spirit,  but acknowledge them. Have a man (pope) as The head (idolatry). CHARISMATICS. ie megachurches including TD Jake's and Paula WhitePros. Attracts youth, lively, popular. Flow with The gifts of The Spirit and practice the Word. Cons. A lot of deception,  money and popularity centric  Dont cater enough to The Soul, more the flesh. PENTECOSTALS. Pros. Move with The gifts of the Spirit,  emphasize prophesy, healing and words of faith. Stemmed from The great revivals. Cons. Focus more on the Prophet than Christ. Lot of deception/false prophets. Lot of witchcraft and false spirits . Jehovah's witnesses completely miss The doctrine of Christ, so it's a non starter. Dont find yourself there. For the rest mentioned,  pray for discernment.  Not everything that appears to be from God, is his. Spend time in your OWN prayer closet and one on one time with God. Be blessed.Welcome for any feedback

July 16, 2024 Be Truly Converted “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19) To be “converted” can mean many things. The Greek word simply means to “turn” or “change directions.” Christian conversion, however, refers to turning away from the whole world system and turning to God through Christ. Similarly, to “repent” in the Greek essentially means to “think differently” and, in a Christian context, to change one’s whole thought process from worldly reasoning to spiritual, centered in Christ and the Scriptures. Genuine Christian repentance and conversion result in having one’s “sins...blotted out” and thus true “times of refreshing” from the Lord. But without real repentance and conversion, there is no salvation. Jesus said: “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5), and He also said: “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). There are, sad to say, multitudes of men and women who think they are Christians but are not. This is evidenced by the lack of real change in their thinking and living from the beliefs and practices of the world. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Christ Himself has warned that “many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord,...And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you” (Matthew 7:22-23). Therefore, it behooves all who profess Christ to seriously review their personal belief and behavior in terms of their conformity to the world of men or to the Word of God. As Paul exhorted: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves” (2 Corinthians 13:5). HMM

Christ is the ultimate, and every Christian knows it. God speaks a word of justification to the sinner by grace through faith: you are right with God on account of Christ's love and work for you in the flesh, at the cross, and beyond the grave. This word in Christ is the final word for you as a Christian: final in that none comes above it, final in that, after everything else, it remains. This ultimate word has a way of defining who you are and what really matters. It secures your eternity. It also profoundly impacts how you view everything that happens, leading to this ultimate word. Read more: Christ is the Ultimate https://lnkd.in/ewxYP4Tc

The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is studying the book of 1 Peter. The thing that separates Christianity from other religions is grace. It is simply God doing something for you with no strings attached. God’s grace is solely motivated by love: deep, abiding, unconditional, sacrificial love. Peter wrote this letter to Christians who were going through various trials. The apostle knew that a severe “fiery trial” was just around the corner, and he wanted to prepare believers for it. God’s message to us is, “Be hopeful! Suffering leads to glory! God can give you all the grace you need to honor Him when the going gets tough! The future is still as bright as the promises of God, so—be hopeful! You would think that those who walk in hope and holiness would be able to walk in harmony, but this is not always true. Last week in Session 4 we started a discussion about the real need for us, the church, to be spiritually unified. We need to be spiritually unified because; we are all in the same family, we are stones in the same building, we are priests in the same temple, and we are citizens of the same nation. We finish that discussion in this section. We concluded that; It is Jesus Christ who is the source and center of our spiritual unity. If we center our attention and affection on Him, we will walk and work together; if we focus on ourselves, we will only cause division. Unity does not eliminate diversity. The absence of diversity is not unity; it is uniformity, and uniformity is dull. St. Augustine said it perfectly: “In essentials, unity. In nonessentials, liberty. In all things, charity. (love) ” #unity #UnityInFaith #family #priest #building

BeAwareWhatYouWishFor #love As a Christian, I want to offer you an important perspective: the Bible teaches that we are called to be the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world" (Matthew 5:13-16). Our presence in this world is crucial for preserving goodness and revealing truth. It’s a profound irony that many who reject Christianity also desire the removal of Christians. They may not realize that our presence, empowered by the Holy Spirit, helps maintain a level of moral order and safety in the world. Currently, the world might seem relatively stable and comfortable to many. You benefit from the moral framework provided by the Holy Spirit through Christianity without always recognizing its ultimate source, which is God Himself. What you might not see is that the influence of Christians helps to restrain the worst of human depravity. Wanting us gone is like asking for the very influence of God that prevents the world from descending into greater chaos to be removed. The Bible warns that as we approach the end times, people will increasingly reject God and, consequently, Christians. Evil will intensify beyond anything we’ve seen before (Matthew 24:21). Historical events such as genocides, slavery, and modern atrocities are horrific, but Scripture indicates that these past evils will seem minor compared to what is coming (Revelation). The increase in moral decay and suffering, once God and His people are removed from the earth, will be unprecedented. You will get what you ask for. While Christians contribute to restraining the worst aspects of human evil, it is ultimately God who holds back final judgment. The "restrainer" mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 is understood to be the Holy Spirit working through the church. This divine restraint prevents the full extent of evil from manifesting until God’s appointed time. Therefore, instead of wishing for the removal of Christians, which would mean rejecting the very restraint and protection we provide, it’s wiser to acknowledge the positive impact we have. The absence of Christians will lead to a significant increase in moral and societal darkness, as foretold in biblical prophecy. I urge you to reconsider your stance. The world benefits greatly from the presence of believers. To those who mock or resist us: you may wish us away, but in doing so, you are asking for the very thing that will bring your worst nightmare. The world will descend into chaos like never before. Instead of wishing for our absence, pray that we stay longer, so you can turn to Christ and be saved before it’s too late.

Faith In Your Redeemer's Eternal Fire The phrase "Faith in your Redeemer's eternal fire" can be interpreted in a few different ways, depending on the context. Let’s break it down: Redeemer: In religious contexts, particularly in Christianity, the term "Redeemer" refers to Jesus Christ, who is believed to save humanity from sin and eternal separation from God. The "Redeemer" represents someone who rescues or delivers others from a negative fate. Eternal fire: This phrase is often associated with ideas of divine judgment or the afterlife. In Christian theology, "eternal fire" could refer to the concept of hell, a place of everlasting punishment for the wicked. However, it can also symbolize the unending and all-consuming power of God's judgment, or it could metaphorically represent the divine presence or a purifying force. Faith in your Redeemer’s eternal fire: The phrase seems to suggest that one should have faith or trust in the ultimate power and judgment of the Redeemer (often Jesus Christ). It might refer to believing in the Redeemer's ability to bring either salvation or judgment, depending on one's actions and faith. In a more symbolic or metaphorical sense, it could suggest faith in a divine force or a purification process that is eternal and unyielding, which could either offer redemption or act as a form of correction or consequence. Its meaning could be further influenced by its surrounding context. For example, in a poetic or artistic context, the phrase may not strictly reference hell but could instead be a more abstract reference to the strength and eternal nature of faith or divine judgment. In any case, the phrase emphasizes the enduring power of belief in a higher, divine force that is both purifying and absolute. https://fiyre.printify.me/

The Christian's Similarity to Jesus Christ. The assertion that Christians should be "real" like Jesus Christ is a profound call to authenticity. It suggests that a true Christian embodies the genuine, unfiltered nature of Jesus, who was renowned for his sincerity, compassion, and unwavering commitment to his mission. Key Aspects of Jesus' "Realness". Authenticity: Jesus was known for his honesty and transparency. He didn't shy away from expressing his feelings, even when they were difficult. Compassion: His empathy and understanding for others were unparalleled. He demonstrated genuine care for the marginalized and suffering. Humility: Despite his divine nature, Jesus lived a humble life. He served others and avoided ostentation. Purposefulness: His life was driven by a clear sense of mission. He knew his purpose and was unwavering in his commitment to it. How Christians Can Emulate Jesus' Realness. Honesty: Be truthful with yourself and others. Avoid pretense and hypocrisy. Compassion: Show genuine care for others, especially those who are struggling. Humility: Acknowledge your limitations and be willing to serve others. Purposefulness: Live a life of purpose and meaning. Seek to make a positive impact on the world. The Challenge of Realness. Being "real" in today's world can be challenging. We are often pressured to conform to societal expectations and to hide our true selves. However, the call to be like Jesus is a reminder that true authenticity is ultimately rewarding and fulfilling. The comparison of Christians to Jesus Christ is a powerful call to live a life of authenticity, compassion, and purpose. By striving to emulate the realness of Jesus, Christians can make a significant difference in the world and truly live out their faith.