Wherefore I will not be negligent
to put you always in remembrance
of these things, though ye know them,
and be established in the present truth.
Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in
this tabernacle, to stir you up by
putting you in remembrance: knowing
that shortly I must put off this my
tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ
hath showed me. Moreover I will endeavor
that ye may be able after my decease to
have these things always in
always in remembrance.
2Peter 1:12-15
By the words of Peter we can know that this letter was most likely written just before his death. Peter knew that he was about to die and that his death was predicted by Jesus Christ that he would suffer for Him. Today in lands ruled by Islam Christians are facing death for just being Christian. Those facing beheading, and beatings, torture for being a Christian do not shrink back from their faith. Here in the United States Christians face another form of persecution, a persecution of words and actions by those who hate God and are demanding that Christianity be removed from public places: i.e., the Ten Commandments on walls in government buildings, and now even from walls not in government buildings. Many today in the United States scoff at those claiming to be Christian and in fact many schools will not allow the Bible to be read on campus. This is a far cry from what the founding fathers believed and did, for instance even the university Princeton is built upon it former self: The Presbyterian College. Men and women who believe in ideologies contrary to Scripture have wormed their way into positions of authority, schools are teaching a remaking of history to fit their philosophy and ideology and worse this anti-Christian thinking has wormed its way into the Church teaching false doctrine. Peter reminds us: "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made know unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty" (2Peter 1:16). Christians have been asleep for too many years and apathy, and adding to Christianity this worlds culture so that the Church looks and acts more like the world and by this that Church is not persecuted as a Church or person who holds fast to Authentic Christianity.
The man who fears God seeks diligently in Holy Scriptures for a knowledge of His will: these are the words of Augustine in his book on doctrine. It is this study of God's word so not to be ignorant of those who use words in ways that Scripture, and this by the original languages of the Bible, do not admit. We are to strive to gain accuracy of Scripture, those texts inspired by the Holy Spirit for the children of God. We proceed in our studies and examination and proceed to find the solution of the ambiguities of Scripture. This we do by our study and by hearing the word of God preached by those who have studied Scripture, and uses proper words. We critically examine what is being taught to us and this we do by consulting the context, both of what goes before and what comes after, to see which interpretation, out of many that offer themselves, it pronounces for and permits to be dovetailed into itself. The thoughtful man is attentive in his perception how much wisdom there is in the words of Scripture. We are to pray for wisdom and God will give it freely if it is honestly sought, not for a person's ego, but because he or she wants to know and speak the truth as this how men and women have the true doctrine for their eternal welfare.
The time has come for "Real Christians," "Authentic Christians," to stand up for Jesus Christ, to take the Gospel to the world, to hold fast the justice of God, no matter the consequences. Be strong as Esther who would do that which could cause her death to say: "If I die, I die." You do believe, not hope, that upon your death you will arrive in heaven, do you not? So what is the problem? Is it laziness, or laxity from apathy the need to be autonomous or to avoid confrontation? Jesus was not and we are to be conformed into His image. Make your decision now to either stand with Jesus or to stand down and quit making Christianity a cause for ridicule and laughter. Change from the inside out your faith, return to Authentic Christian Faith. The Choice is yours and your choice will affect not only your family, it will affect your friends, your city, county, state and the United States. It will affect those who come after you for many generations to come. Life is a matter of choices: choose well1
O earth, do not cover my blood;
may my cry never be laid to rest!
Even now my witness is in heaven;
my advocate is on high. My intercessor
is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God;
on behalf of a man He pleads with God as a
man pleads for his friend. Only a few years
will pass before I go on the journey of no return.
Job 16: 18-22
Jesus is pleading for you: choose well
Richard L. Crumb
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