Hey Folks!

Up here in Colorado at the moment.

I flew up here to help a friend with some business dealings he has.

Had a great night, hanging out with some new friends, talking about the things of God.

Never under estimate the value of friendship and the possibility of divine appointments.

See you Sunday!

Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine
living with Jesus a new life divine.

Willing to take the cross was He,
willing to suffer misery,
willing to go to Calvary, laying His glory aside;

willing to hang there on the tree,
willing to bear the agony,
willing to die for you and me; Jesus crucified.

Philipp Melanchthon said:
“It is possible that we should tolerate as brothers Christians who err but who do not defend the error; yet those that can not be regarded as brothers who promote and defend teachings that have no scriptural foundation”

I got to thinking about this and I must agree with what Melanchton said. but what I got to thinking about was, wouldn’t it be nice if there was a general statement that focused on the essentials of our faith, a plumb line as it where by which we could assess whether someone was in error or not.

I found the following. It is entitled the “16 Articles” and was drawn up by protestant divines in the 1650’s at the request of Oliver Cromwell.

(1) That the Holy Scripture is that rule of knowing God and living
unto Him which whoso does not believe cannot be saved.

(2) That there is a God who is the Creator, Governor and judge of
the world, which is to be received by faith, and every other way of the
knowledge of Him is insufficient.

(3) That this God who is the Creator is eternally distinct from all
creatures in His Being and Blessedness.

(4) That this God is One in Three Persons or subsistence.

(5) That, Jesus Christ is the only Mediator between God and Man
without the knowledge of whom there is no salvation.

(6) That this Jesus Christ is the true God.

(7) That this Jesus Christ is also true Man.

(8) That this Jesus Christ is God and Man in One Person.

(9) That this Jesus Christ is our Redeemer, who by paying a
ransom and bearing our sins has made satisfaction for them.

(10) That this same Lord Jesus Christ is He that was Crucified at
Jerusalem, and rose again and ascended into Heaven.

(11) That this same Jesus Christ being the only God and Man in
One Person remains for ever a distinct Person from all saints and
angels notwithstanding their union and communion with Him.

(12) That all men by nature were dead in sins and trespasses, and
no man can be saved unless he be born again, repent and believe.

(13) That we are justified and saved by grace and faith in Jesus
Christ and not by works.

(14) That to continue in any known sin upon what pretence or
principle soever is damnable.

(15) That God is to be worshipped according to His own will, and
whosoever shall forsake and despise all the duties of His worship
cannot be saved.

(16) That the dead shall rise, and that there is a day of judgment
wherein all shall appear, some to go into everlasting life and some
into everlasting condemnation.