MyBeloved

Yes, Jesus Christ really became a human being. Christ's great object was to identify Himself with humanity; not to appear to men as divine but as human. If He had come into the world emphasizing His equality with GOD, the world would have been amazed, but not saved. He was in human form but still GOD. If He were not a human being He could not save us from our sin. Galatians 3:13 "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written 'Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.' What great love is this!

Christ didn't cling to His equality with GOD because He is GOD. He is not a God as the cults teach but He is GOD Almighty!

This Book is such a wonderful part of GOD's Word. Thank you, Pastor Ralph for helping us go through it. 2:4 "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." If we focus on the abilities of others instead of our own abilities there will be unity in the church. If we think of how they are blessing us with their abilities and thank GOD for them we will appreciate what they do in the church. We need to remember to give a word of praise or thanks to our Pastors and all who have a part in the church.

As others have already said, fear of rejection or that someone may dislike us can bind our tongues so that we do not witness boldly for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. "Losing our life" for Christ, letting Him have full control of our life will give us an abundant life. Finding an opening in the conversation keeps me from a clear witness. I find that if there is an opening concerning things of the Lord the words will flow. I love the Lord Jesus and want to be an effective witness for Him.

If we do not have faith that GOD is in control, working even in the midst of difficulty we have nothing on which to stand. Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you: do not be dismayed, for I am your GOD. I will strengthen you and help you: I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." In the midst of my problems I must believe that GOD is in complete control and I base that on His Word. He cannot lie, He always keeps his Word.

When we are undergoing personal struggles, stress, and problems we must wholly lean upon the LORD and when we do it will show in our lives. Paul's witness was so powerful because he had depended upon the LORD since the day he met Him. I am not going through a personal struggle right now but I have been through many and I found that when I went to the LORD and told Him all about my problems He was there with comfort and He brought me through those struggles, stresses and problems.

Paul is telling the believers in Philipi and us today that based on our faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, GOD has declared us saints and that He will finish the work that He has started, until the Day of Christ. Paul expects GOD to do this because GOD is always faithful and He has said that He will do it. GOD cannot lie. We can expect GOD to do this for us on the same basis that Paul based his belief, on the finished work of Christ on the cross.

I cannot add anything to what has already been stated. When we become financial "partners" with a Christian missionary we are helping them give the gospel of the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ to the lost in places where we will never be able to go. When we give to a ministry that is getting the gospel out we are helping them reach many more people than we can reach in our lives. When we give to our church we are giving to our minister and we receive blessings from that ministry. We can pray for these ministries and verbally encourage them.

Because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross I belong to Him. I am His property and my life is set apart for Him. One of your definitions of slave is, "slaves" are committed to their Master for life, and that is the way I feel about my LORD. He bought me with his blood and I belong to Him. One of your definitations for saints is, "the holy ones, saints," as consecrated to GOD. Not perfect, but set apart to the service of GOD. I serve Him because I am His and I love Him.

This has been a good study and it has caused me to search my own life to see if I am living as this book has told us we should live. The part about grumbling has especially spoken to me. Thank you, Pastor Ralph for doing the study.

According to verse 14, "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him" When we are sick we call out to the LORD for healing but if it is a very serious illness the spiritual leaders in the church who are mature in the LORD and walking in fellowship with Him should pray the prayer of faith for that one who is sick.

With all of the sin that is going on around us we will become discouraged if we lack the patience to eagerly expect Christ's return. 2 Peter 3:8 and 9, "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the LORD a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The LORD is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

James is warning us that our physical life is short and we should live it in fellowship with our LORD. We should seek His will in our lives and not plan without seeking His direction. When we pray and ask for His guidance in our lives we won't be wishy-washy.

These 10 commands are vital because if we don't submit ourselves to GOD we cannot resist the devil. Trying to resist the devil on our own is futile and will cause many problems. Submitting to GOD and humbling ourselves goes against our nature because we want to lift ourselves up. We want to be the one that others see and admire.

James refers to church members as "adulteresses" because we are the bride of Christ and when we love this world system more than we love Christ that is what we are, adulteresses. 1 John 2:15 "Do not love the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." The aggrieved husband is Christ. The American Heritage Dictionary explains "friend" as one who supports, sympathizes with, a comrade. If that is the way a believer in Christ is toward the world system then that believer is unfaithful to Christ. Christ should be first in our lives.

Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart." This verse says it all. If we are walking in fellowship and obedience with the LORD He will give us the desires of our heart because they will be in line with His will.

I Samuel 16: 6. 7 When Samuel saw Eliab he thought that because of his appearance GOD had chosen him as the next king of Israel. But GOD told Samuel that He "does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." When we look at a person that appeals to our human nature we tend to favor them above others. Favoritism will cause us to judge for that one that appeals to us and our ways over those who do not meet our standards or approval.

I discriminate or avoid people who are in cults that come to my door. I have tried to talk to them about salvation by grace through faith and they always quote their false doctrine. Usually I have to just shut the door because they will not leave. Thank GOD they do not come around that often but I would really like to be able to reach them for Christ. Our church does not try to impress anyone. Everyone is welcomed and received graciously.

Taming the tongue and caring for the poor is a testimony to others of our relationship with Christ. If we are hurtful with our tongue then people cannot see Christ in our lives. If we turn our backs on the poor we are not identified with Christ. Quality time and worship are things that we do privately and the world does not see it.

The "perfect law" that James mentions is Christ's law of love. It is the law written in the heart of the one who has received Jesus Christ as personal Savior. It is the same as the "royal law" It brings liberty in that we are free in christ. Free to live Luke 6:27-28.

We are fooled into thinking we are living out righteous lives because we read the Bible and attend church services out of habit or duty. We do not take in the Word of GOD and do what it says. Satan doesn't care if we read GOD's Word out of habit or duty as long as we do not respond to what it is telling us to do.

"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of GOD. 1 Peter 1:23 The gospel of Jesus Christ is the "word of truth." GOD uses the word of truth, the gospel of Jesus Christ to show us our sinfulness and our need for salvation. As I look back to those days leading up to my coming to know Jesus Christ as my personal Savior I see that many verses from the word of truth brought me to Him. We could not know spiritual life apart from the word of truth, GOD's Word.

The promise to claim in verse 5 is, that if we ask GOD for wisdom He will give it generously to all without finding fault. The condition in verse 6 is that we must ask believing that we will recieve that for which we ask. Trials help us receive this wisdom because we come to realize there is no other one that has the answer for us but GOD and Him alone.

Trials cure us of "doublemindedness" because we go to GOD. Often times during a trial we will try to figure a way out or go to a human when we should go directly to the only One Who can bring us through the trial. Trials help us grow in faith because we spend more time in prayer and seeking the face of our Lord and Savior. When He brings us through the trial we love Him more.

Before I respond to today's questions I would like to speak to Brian. If you have received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior you have His Spirit within you and you need to get into GOD's Word so that you will be aware of Satan's ways. If you memorize Scripture you will find that you will be more focused on GOD and the temptations will not be as strong. Ephesians 2: 1-13 are very good verses to memorize. Take a week to memorize a verse, go over it several times a day and you will find that you will receive a great blessing. People blame GOD for evil because they do not personally know our wonderful, loving, holy GOD. It seems that mankind today must blame someone else for everything. No one wants to take responsibility for anything. No, GOD never tempts us with evil as James 1: 13 reads. Why would a holy GOD use evil to tempt humans? No, GOD does not tempt sinful people with evil. We have the sinful nature that draws us to sin and if we have not received the spiritual nature by receiving Jesus Christ as our personal Savior we have nothing with which to resist sin. GOD allows people to sin because He has given us a free will and we make the decision to sin. He wants us to love and serve Him but we must make the choice. GOD allows evil to exist for now but one day Satan will be thrown into the lake that burns with fire and he will no longer be around to cause people to sin.