As always, our faith in God, Jesus Christ and the holy scriptures is being challenged and tested. We see this with the rise of persecution and imprisonment of believers in many countries. Rhetoric of hate is being spoken about Christianity and the Bible. Some have gone as far as to label Christianity as a religion of hate.
Considering all this many have questioned their faith. Some have stopped pursuing God and Christ and have exited the church. This does not look good. I wish I could write that things will get better but truthfully; I must say that it will only get worse.
There will be an increased falling away, our Faith in God and Christ will be tested even more, and persecutions will increase. The pressure to turn away from what we know through experience and “WHO” we know to be truth is growing.
For Jesus Christ clearly stated of himself in: JOHN 14:6. “I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE, JOHN 14:6. He also told us in the scriptures that persecutions, hatred, and a falling away will come.
Matthew 10:22
“and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
John 15:18
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
Matthew 24:9-14
9“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
Truth is a person “the person” Jesus Christ.
It is in times like these that we must affirm our conviction and faith and hold fast to what we believe; turning our eyes with joy towards Christ who has given us a blessed hope and an eternal reward because the good news is that in the end we win.
As believers in Jesus Christ our Lord and the only true and living God our father stand strong and boldly proclaim that we are and will continue to be strong in our faith no matter what.
In addition to the scriptures, I invite you to turn your attention to two historical documents that were also inspired by God in their inception and writing to renew your stance and position of faith. Those are The Apostles Creed and The Church Covenant.
Both documents embody our “WHY” as believers, affirms our purpose, our Faith in God, Jesus Christ, and our commitment to the Church that continues to be built worldwide, of which, the gates of hell shall not prevail against.
They proclaim to the world our stance in faith that:
- Though pressures and persecutions increase we will not recant and fall away from the Truth.
- Though pressures and persecution’s increase we will not turn away from the only true and living God our Father, Jesus Christ our Lord, and His Church the pillar and ground of the truth.
THE APOSTOLIC CREED
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The Holy Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, and the Life everlasting. Amen. Bishop Marcellus of Acryna 341 A.D.
THE CHURCH COVENANT
Having been brought as we trust, by divine grace, to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and to give ourselves to Him, we do now solemnly and joyfully covenant with each other, and in His strength do engage:
That we will walk together in brotherly love and will exercise a Christian care and watchfulness over each other and faithfully warn and exhort; and as occasion may require will admonish one another in the spirit of meekness, considering ourselves, lest we also be tempted, and that as we have been buried with Christ in baptism, and raised again, so there is on us special obligation henceforth to walk in newness of life;
That we will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together but will uphold the public worship of God and the ordinances of His house and will cheerfully contribute according as He may prosper us for the maintenance and spread of the Gospel and for the relief of the poor.
That we will not omit private and family devotions nor neglect the religious education of our children and those under our care for the service of Christ.
That we will seek divine aid to enable us to deny all ungodliness and every worldly lust, to walk circumspectly in the world to the end that we may by our influence win souls for Christ.
That we will be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, temperate in our lives, and by our counsel and example strive to promote every good work for the elevation of mankind.
That we will remember each other in prayer, visit and aid each other in sickness, and seek to cultivate and maintain Christian sympathy and courtesy and earnestly endeavor to avoid doing, or giving utterance to anything which may grieve or offend any from the least to the greatest of those for whom Christ died.
That we will rejoice at each other’s happiness and endeavor with tenderness and sympathy to bear each other’s burdens and sorrows.
That we will work together for the continuance of a faithful evangelical ministry in this church, as we sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines.
That we will contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.
And may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting Covenant, make us perfect in every good work, to do His will; working in as that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Capitol Hill Baptist Church Covenant 1878-1997
JUDES GLORY AND PRAISE TO GOD
JUDE 24-25 ESV Translation
24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be all glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all-time and now and forever. Amen.